A life of ups and downs is pure joy

Su He lived in the inner courtyard.

"Huan'er, why didn't you tell me these things? I just found out that my mother's previous maid is still alive." Lin Qingwan said while teaching Lin Qinghuan to play the piano.

"Sister Wan, Sister Mo said these things have nothing to do with you, so there is no need to make you worry about it." Lin Qinghuan said with a smile.

"I don't have a deep impression of Feng Sanniang. I only remember that she was my mother's maid. I didn't expect that she would come to harm you." Lin Qingwan said helplessly.

"Well, it's all over." Lin Qinghuan patted Lin Qingwan's hand and said, "I always have trouble talking about this part. Sister, teach me again."

"Okay." After Lin Qingwan finished speaking, the melodious sound of the piano echoed in Suheju again. Mother Huang was sitting under a tree, picking vegetables while looking at the two sisters in the pavilion comfortably.

After Lin Qingwan returned home, Lin Qinghuan kept thinking about what Feng Sanniang had said to her, "Do you really think I will let you give birth to this child safely?"

"What else has Feng Sanniang done that I don't know about?" Lin Qinghuan murmured helplessly, not knowing why this woman wanted to hurt him like this.

"Girl, are you calling me?" Chu Xia asked as she was tidying up Lin Qinghuan's quilt.

Lin Qinghuan shook his head.

"Young Madam, Baizhi is here." Yun Xiang knocked on the door and replied.

Lin Qinghuan frowned and said to Chuxia who was walking towards him, "How did she find her way here?"

"Miss, I'll go open the door and take a look." Chu Xia said when she saw this.

"Forget it, let her come in."

Lin Qinghuan always felt that Bai Zhi was very strange, and she almost became Brother Yu's concubine, so she was a little wary of her.

"Young Madam, Bai Zhi is sorry to bother you." The maidservant beside Grandmother Xiao came in and bowed to Lin Qinghuan and said.

"What's the matter?" Lin Qinghuan looked at her and asked.

"It's because of Bai Tao." Bai Zhi said.

"White peach?" Lin Qinghuan was stupid for three years after pregnancy, so she didn't understand what it meant for a while.

"It's the former Madam Hu, now she has restored her slave status and goes by the name Bai Tao." Bai Zhi replied respectfully.

"What's wrong with her?" Lin Qinghuan asked curiously.

"The eldest son meant that it was entirely up to the young lady to decide. The old ancestor has been a vegetarian and a Buddhist for most of her life, and she loves everyone. She only asked me to bring a message. After all, she has served the old man for more than twenty years. I only hope that the young lady will spare her life and send her to Luancheng to do hard labor."

After Bai Zhi finished speaking, she looked at Lin Qinghuan again, only to see that there was no unusual emotion on her face.

"Since it came from Grandma's room, it should be dealt with by Grandma."

Lin Qinghuan said calmly that she had never thought of taking the concubine's life from the beginning. After all, she was Xiao Yi's first woman. If she really wanted to kill her, he would naturally not say anything since they were in love with each other now. However, if they were to become estranged in the future, it would be a hidden danger. She still understood the principle of forgiving others when possible.

"I hope Madam Li will be able to return home to celebrate the New Year. I hope Young Madam can forget this unpleasant incident and rest assured to take care of her pregnancy. I have been bothering you for quite some time, so I will return to serve you now."

Bai Zhi said softly, then bowed and walked out.

Chuxia walked to the door and watched Baizhi leave the inner courtyard, then went over to help Lin Qinghuan who was about to get up.

"Miss, your brother-in-law will be here in another incense stick's time. Do you want to go upstairs and rest for a while?" Chu Xia asked.

"I'm not tired. Didn't Xier come with me? Why haven't I seen her for a long time?" Lin Qinghuan asked curiously.

"Miss Xi is helping Hongqi pack her things. Aren't we all going to the Xiao Mansion with you today?" Chu Xia said.

"Xier treats Hongqi very specially, but Hongqi still has valuables to pack. I thought she and her two swords were all her belongings." Lin Qinghuan said jokingly, and Chuxia also laughed when she saw this.

"Where is my sister?" Lin Ancai's voice came from the outer courtyard. Lin Qinghuan looked outside curiously and saw Lin Ancai, who was now praised by Jin Han's female relatives as the second most handsome man in Dasheng, walking in. The most handsome man was Ning Sijue, the sixth prince born to Empress Xiao.

"It's not even dinner time yet, why are you here?" Lin Qinghuan asked his silly brother.

"Why didn't you see Xiao Qiannan when you came back these times?" Lin Ancai asked curiously.

"Nan'er has recently been called by her aunt to the palace to learn etiquette, and I can't see her at home every day." Lin Qinghuan looked at Lin Ancai and suddenly realized that this silly brother had become a little smarter.

"I thought you two were having a fight again. After all, you were inseparable before." Lin An sat down and started to put the walnuts and cashew kernels in the fruit plate into his mouth.

"Nan'er and I are very good friends. Why did you come back so early today? Don't you have to practice in the barracks?" Lin Qinghuan also sat down opposite Lin Ancai and asked.

"We have trained in the morning. The New Year is approaching, and I have been going to the palace more often recently. My second brother-in-law is very busy with the security arrangements for the palace banquet, so I went to watch for fun." Lin Ancai said with some comfort. It seems that he has been very free recently.

"Grandmother has recently been thinking about bringing Zhichuan back to Luofeng. I see that Daddy is suffering from his old illness and new injuries. Mother also intends to move back to Luofeng in the spring. My eldest sister is about to give birth, and after she finishes her confinement, she will return to Yinan with her eldest brother-in-law. After Fourth Sister marries Brother Li, you and Xiaozhu will be the only ones left in the mansion."

Lin Qinghuan said that he didn't expect that after counting the lively and bustling mother's family, there would be only a few left.

"I will arrange Mother Huang in the big kitchen, and Xiaozhu and I will have meals in Tengjing Pavilion every day. Anyway, you can only come back every few days, and you are not the only one here. My second sister, third sister, and fourth sister will come back together every time. We still have to go to the main hall to eat." Lin Ancai said.

"It's up to you to make the arrangements. You're grown up now and will inherit the title in the future. You also need to learn to handle many matters in the mansion. Big sister and brother-in-law will be staying for a few months. You should learn from them how to be the head of the family when you have nothing to do. You can't be so cheerful all day long."

After Lin Qinghuan finished speaking, he patted his twin brother's shoulder. Only then did Lin An change his usual playful smile and nodded seriously.

"Is Hongqi going to the Xiao Mansion with you?" Lin Ancai asked again when he came in and saw the busyness in the outer courtyard.

"Well, she will be going on a long trip with me in the spring. With her protecting me, your brother-in-law will feel more at ease while he goes about his business." Lin Qinghuan said.

"Then should we take the female doctor in your house with us? She's a very fierce one. You should take her with you. After all..." Lin Ancai pointed at Lin Qinghuan's belly and said.

"Xier is going with us...don't worry." Lin Qinghuan said with a faint smile.

"Why hasn't my brother-in-law come yet? I'm so hungry. I smell that the small kitchen has made a lot of delicious food again." Lin Ancai touched his rumbling stomach and said complainingly.

"It's the new year now. I see him and my father-in-law going out early and coming back late. Although I don't know what they are busy with, I have heard some things. It seems that the eighth princess Ning Anruo is going to marry a foreign prince. I remember seeing her in the palace. She doesn't seem to be older than Nan'er." Lin Qinghuan muttered.

"It's perfectly normal for a princess to marry a foreign prince. She's the daughter of an unfavored concubine, and she's not as favored as the eldest princess." Lin Ancai said.

"How pitiful! She doesn't even know what the person she's going to marry looks like, let alone marrying so far away." Lin Qinghuan muttered softly.

"Why are you worrying about someone you don't even know?" Lin Ancai looked at his sister who had a worried look on her face and asked with some confusion.

"Now it's a bit of empathy." Lin Qinghuan said with an awkward smile.

"I'm so hungry, Qibao, go to the door and see why your brother-in-law hasn't come yet." Lin Ancai stood up and shouted towards the outer courtyard.

"Okay, Second Young Master!" Then the voice of Qibao was heard.

After the dishes were laid out on the table, Lin An sat down and began to eat voraciously, but Lin Qinghuan had lost her appetite. Xiao Yi asked Da Yuan to come and reply, and stayed in the East Palace. Lin Qinghuan looked at the table full of Xiao Yi's favorite dishes and felt unhappy.

Liu Xi sat next to Lin Ancai and looked at this handsome man in amazement as he could eat so much. She kept drinking water while looking at him.

Lin Qingru came to Suheju after class. She was observant and could see that her sister Huan was unhappy.

"Sister, try this winter bamboo shoot. I remember mother said it's your favorite." Lin Qingru obediently picked up some food for Lin Qinghuan.

Lin Qinghuan looked at her sister's round face and all the gloom disappeared.

"You are the most considerate. Look at that person, he is only focused on eating and drinking. What's worse, he breaks the appointment at the last minute for dinner. It's really annoying to see him." Lin Qinghuan pinched Lin Qingru's face while smiling and cursing.

"Sister Huan, don't be angry with your brother-in-law. He is also busy with work. If you are really angry, just take it out on your second brother." Lin Qingru said mischievously.

Lin Ancai looked up at the two sisters and said speechlessly, "They always bully me. I have always been the biggest bully since I was a child."

"Hehe... Second brother is the best." Lin Qingru said with a happy smile, and Liu Xi also smiled faintly at the group of siblings.

Lin Qinghuan looked at her loved ones and smiled knowingly. She really loved her family and secretly vowed to protect this hard-earned family relationship.

Xiao Yi looked at Ning Jinyang and Princess Minghui Tao Baiwan sitting in the boat with a serious face.

"Brother Yi, have some tea." Tao Baiwan handed the tea he ordered himself to Xiao Yi.

"Ahem... I don't even have the honor to drink Wanwan's first cup of tea." Ning Jinyang said humorously.

"I'm not thirsty. The prince is here. You must not be so ignorant of etiquette in the future." Xiao Yi shook his head and said.

"Hmph, second brother, look at how serious Brother Yi is. Weren't we all like this when we were kids? When do we need to care about etiquette?" Tao Baiwan angrily placed the tea in his hand on the table, and with great force, the tea spilled out, spilling all over the table.

"That's Yi'er's personality. It's not the first day you've known him." Ning Jinyang saw Tao Baiwan with a wronged face, and then spoke calmly.

"It's obvious that everything has changed since I came back this time. Maybe it's because my mother passed away. No one will treat Wanwan like before. It's just that the world is cold and indifferent, and people's hearts are cold." Tao Baiwan wilted with grievance.

"Oh, why do you sound more and more aggrieved? Is your brother not good to you? Last time you quarreled with the seventh brother in the imperial study, father and I were standing by your side the whole time." Prince Ning Jinyang glanced at Xiao Yi, then coaxed Tao Baiwan.

"My uncle treats me the best, but some people are different from before. After marrying my sister-in-law, he no longer pays attention to me. All our feelings for each other for so many years have been wasted on that ungrateful man." Tao Baiwan said while looking at Xiao Yi, and then began to cry in grievance.

"Why are you crying again? Yi'er is accompanying you to listen to music." Ning Jinyang winked at Xiao Yi, then patted Tao Baiwan on the back and said.

Xiao Yi glanced at the girl who was crying very sadly, then picked up the tea on the table and drank it.

"Look, Yi'er is drinking the tea you ordered yourself. Don't cry." Ning Jinyang said quickly.

"Hmph..." Seeing Xiao Yi like this, Tao Baiwan let out a soft and tender groan, then wiped her tears and smiled faintly.

When the wooden boat docked, Zi Yan and a group of maids and servants greeted them at the dock and then they entered Le Yin Fang.

"Why haven't I seen Sister Chang Le these few times I came here?" Tao Baiwan asked curiously.

"Um... Chang... Chang Le is sick and is now recuperating in the yard." Seeing that Xiao Yi didn't say anything, Zi Yan could only reply angrily.

"I'll go see her later." Tao Baiwan said.

"Let's go listen to some music first." Ning Jinyang greeted Tao Baiwan, and then they went to the front hall of Le Yin Fang.

The siblings in Su Heju had finished their meal, and Hongqi's things were loaded onto the carriage. Lin Qinghuan and Liuxi got on the carriage, while Hongqi sat in the front and drove the carriage towards the Xiao Mansion.

When they returned to Qingbo Courtyard, Shuyin had already asked people to clean up Hongqi's small courtyard. Because Hongqi had to practice sword every day, Lin Qinghuan specially asked people to tidy up the courtyard to be very spacious and without any obstacles.

"Young Madam, when I saw Hongqi for the first time, I thought you had brought a young man here. I was so scared." Shuyin sighed as she helped Lin Qinghuan into the house.

"Haha... Hongqi has always dressed like this. I'm used to it and don't think it's weird. Xier always thought Hongqi was a boy before." Lin Qinghuan always found it funny when he thought of this, and he couldn't help laughing at this moment.

"She is indeed very pretty. I guess there are a group of young ladies peeking at her when she goes out. But I'm curious why she wears a mask to cover her eyes." Shuyin helped Lin Qinghuan sit in front of the dressing table and began to take off her exquisite headdress.

"I don't know either. Maybe all masters are so mysterious." Lin Qinghuan said.

Shuyin nodded in agreement.

"Shuyin, you have made great contributions in finding the murderer this time. What reward do you want?" Lin Qinghuan asked Shuyin in the bronze mirror.

"Shuyin has never thought about any reward, and is willing to share the worries with the young lady." Shuyin stopped the work in his hands and said.

"If you don't want to tell me, then I'll make the decision for you. I've thought of two places for you. You don't have to reply to me in a hurry. There's plenty of time for you to consider." Lin Qinghuan turned around and said.

"What does the young lady mean?" Shuyin knelt down and looked at Lin Qinghuan.

"If you want to stay in the Xiao Mansion, I can take you into my husband's backyard, but you know my husband's character. If you behave yourself and don't fight with the world, you can live a life like Madam Li, which is simple and plain. But if you are too individualistic like that Walnut Lady, I naturally can't keep you." Lin Qinghuan stopped halfway and looked at Shuyin.

"Young Madam, Shuyin no longer has such extravagant thoughts. The eldest master treats you wholeheartedly, how could Shuyin not see it? Shuyin just wants to stay by your side and serve you, nothing else." Shuyin said hurriedly and anxiously.

"There is one more place." Lin Qinghuan said with a smile.