A life of ups and downs is pure joy

"Sister-in-law, you must not let Dad and Big Brother know about this."

Xiao Qiannan lay on the bed and looked at Lin Qinghuan pleadingly.

"Nan'er, how can I feel at ease if you say this?"

Lin Qinghuan said uncomfortably that such a good girl would be left with a leg disease. Xiao Qianwen pulled down Xiao Qiannan's trouser legs to cover the big scar left by the arrow wound that injured the bone.

"I'm glad Brother Ancai is okay. Now that he's here in Tianmen County, the people of the entire county can live a stable life. Everyone praises him as a young hero. I know he's no ordinary person."

When Xiao Qiannan mentioned Lin Ancai, her little face was filled with admiration, and the corners of her mouth were always smiling happily.

Xiao Qianwen glanced at Lin Qinghuan and sat down next to her.

"Sister Xi, is Shen Xin good to you?"

Xiao Qiannan looked at Xiao Qianwen and continued to ask.

"Well, the Shen family treats me very well. Nan'er, your legs..." Xiao Qianwen looked at Lin Qinghuan before she finished speaking.

"It doesn't matter, I'm just lame. Brother Ancai said he will protect me forever."

Xiao Qiannan looked at Lin Qinghuan and Xiao Qianwen and smiled slightly.

On the way back, Lin Qinghuan kept frowning.

"Sister-in-law, is there still a chance for Nan'er and Master Ancai?"

Xiao Qianwen broke the silence and asked.

"The more military power An Cai holds, the more His Majesty will be wary of our Lin family, and the less likely Nan'er will be with him."

Lin Qinghuan shook his head helplessly and sighed.

Before Lin Mudang returned to Luofeng to recuperate, although he handed over part of the military power to the Saint, there were still two largest military powers. One was in the hands of Uncle Lin from Yinnan, and the other was in the hands of Lin Ancai from Tianmen County. Moreover, as the eldest brother-in-law of the King of Yinnan, he already had military power in his hands, and everyone knew that the Lin family army's military morale was with the Lin family rather than the royal family.

"I really don't understand. Even if the Xiao and Lin families are powerful, it's still the Eastern Palace that's powerful. Sooner or later, the world will be given to the Crown Prince. Why is His Majesty so wary?"

Xiao Qianwen asked in confusion.

"Your Majesty is in his prime, and the princes are all very talented. How can we know now who will eventually inherit the throne?"

Lin Qinghuan suddenly understood the burden and pressure on Xiao Yi, especially since Ning Jinyang was so mediocre compared to the other princes. Now, more and more people in the government were leaning towards the third and fourth princes.

"Then why did they appoint a crown prince so early?" Xiao Qianwen asked.

"That was paid for with the Sixth Prince's misery and our Second Uncle's life."

Lin Qinghuan thought of Ning Sijue, and suddenly felt relieved.

"In fact, it would be better to give the throne to him." Lin Qinghuan murmured.

"Who did sister-in-law tell this to?" Xiao Qianwen asked.

"Ah... no... no one. By the way, Wen'er, is Shen Xin treating you well?"

Lin Qinghuan suddenly realized that he had said something wrong and quickly changed the subject.

"Sister-in-law, the Shen family will treat me well. After all, I am marrying into the family as the eldest daughter of the Xiao family."

After Xiao Qianwen finished speaking, Lin Qinghuan looked at her and couldn't help but think of the first few years after he and Xiao Yi got married. He took her hand and started chatting.

"Wen'er, when your eldest brother and I first got married, you went away to study. We were so unfamiliar with each other. I remember that we didn't see each other for more than a year at the beginning."

"Sister-in-law, I know everything. Since I have married him, I will definitely take care of my husband and children and respect my parents-in-law in the future."

"Wen'er, I'm not asking you to be a good daughter-in-law in the Shen family. Your happiness is the most important thing. No matter what, the Xiao family still has me and your elder brother. We are your eternal support."

Lin Qinghuan said as she looked at Xiao Qianwen, who had been the most sensible since childhood.

"Well, I know that you have always treated me well, sister-in-law. Don't worry, I can take care of myself in the Shen family."

Xiao Qianwen nodded, and the two of them walked towards Qingbo Courtyard.

"Hongqi has been waiting for you in her small courtyard for a long time. Go ahead." Lin Qinghuan said as they reached the gate of the courtyard.

A smile appeared on Xiao Qianwen's face, and then she said goodbye to Lin Qinghuan and strode towards the next yard.

Lin Qinghuan returned to the house with sadness on her face again. What she was worried about now was not only Xiao Qiannan's lameness, but also the future happiness of her younger brother and sister-in-law.

"I'm going to help them anyway."

Lin Qinghuan clenched his fists and muttered.

On August 20th, it was Lin Qinghuan's 19th birthday. Xiao Yi put all his official duties aside and got up early to make a bowl of longevity noodles for his daughter-in-law.

Lin Qinghuan looked at the bowl of watery noodles on the table, but still happily finished the whole bowl.

"My husband's skills are getting better and better now."

After finishing the meal, Lin Qinghuan did not forget to praise the hero who had been busy all morning. Although Yun Xiang couldn't understand how a bowl of noodles could be ruined by the eldest son like a thief in the kitchen, seeing that the two masters were more affectionate than before, his heart was as sweet as if he had eaten candied fruit.

Before noon, birthday gifts from Qifeng Palace and the Eastern Palace arrived, and they were personally delivered by the Sixth Prince's concubine Bai Weian, which surprised Lin Qinghuan.

"Why did Sister Bai make such a trip in person?"

Lin Qinghuan called Chu Xia and helped Bai Weian into the main house.

"I went to the palace to pay my respects to my mother, and only then did I find out that today is Sister-in-law Xiao's birthday. I hurriedly prepared a small gift, and I just hope Sister-in-law doesn't dislike it."

After Bai Weian finished speaking, he asked the servants to bring up a wooden box and gestured for it to be opened.

"This is the luminous bead that General Bai brought back from the South China Sea. There are no more than three of them in the entire Jinhan so far."

Xiao Yi glanced at the huge pearl in the wooden box and said.

"It's so valuable, I can't accept it, absolutely not."

Lin Qinghuan originally thought that the bead was unusually large, but after listening to Xiao Yi's knowledge sharing, he was instantly surprised and quickly shook his head and waved his hands.

"What's so precious about it? It's just a pearl after all. I liked you very much when I first met Sister Xiao, so you deserve any good thing."

Bai Weian generously stuffed the wooden box into Chu Xia's hands. The little maid held it in her hands in fear, looking at Lin Qinghuan and Xiao Yi at a loss.

"this…"

Lin Qinghuan looked at Xiao Yi again.

"Since it's a gift from the concubine, you should accept it. She's right. No matter how good the gift is, you deserve it."

Xiao Yi looked at Lin Qinghuan lovingly, and gestured to Chu Xia to put it away.

"Husband, how can you speak so recklessly..."

Lin Qinghuan looked at Bai Weian embarrassedly and glanced at Xiao Yi with resentment.

Bai Weian smiled slightly, then continued.

"Master Xiao is telling the truth. By the way, sister-in-law, take a look at the birthday gift given by our mother, and you will know what a good thing is."

Bai Weian looked at Lin Qinghuan expectantly, then turned to the birthday gift covered with yellow cloth carried by the maid.

Lin Qinghuan walked forward curiously and lifted the drape.

"Aunt is really partial to my sister-in-law. This set of hairpins, necklaces and earrings was given to my aunt by the Empress Dowager when my sixth brother was born. I asked for this necklace several times, but she was reluctant to give it to me. Now she gave the whole set to my sister-in-law."

Xiao Qiannan's voice came from the door, and Lin Qinghuan saw a pair of white hands picking up the golden and exquisitely carved necklace inlaid with blood jade.

"It's so precious, how can I afford it? Maybe the maid took it by mistake."

Lin Qinghuan turned to look at her husband with a confused look on her face.

"Haha...Sister-in-law Xiao is such a jokester. How could she have taken the wrong one? This was taken out by our mother herself and covered with a yellow cloth. She also said that a beautiful headdress must be matched with the most beautiful lady in our Dasheng."

Bai Weian smiled slightly and said again.

"Aunt has always liked my sister-in-law. Tomorrow I will go to the palace to ask Aunt for a birthday gift."

Xiao Qiannan reluctantly put down the collar, and then said indignantly.

"It's still early for your birthday, what gift have you prepared for your sister-in-law today?"

Xiao Yi knocked on Xiao Qiannan's forehead and asked.

"Of course I prepared a gift for my sister-in-law, but I won't tell big brother, humph!"

Xiao Qiannan rubbed his forehead, then said to Xiao Yi in a playful manner.

"Okay, you three can chat first. I'll go to the study for a while."

Xiao Yi said this very tactfully, and then walked out.

"Husband..."

"You're here, go in, they're inside."

Xiao Yi's voice came from the yard.

"It's Sister Li who's here."

Lin Qinghuan heard that it was Li Jiaxin's voice, and then looked towards the door with a smile.

The four women sat in the room and started chatting, laughing and talking. Even Xiao Xingjian was quite sensible today and didn't cry at all the morning.

Before lunch, Lin Mo and Lin Qingwan also came with birthday gifts.

After lunch, Lin Qinghuan's two sisters returned home, and Xiao Qiannan also went to Qingyin Pavilion with Bai Weian and Xiao Qianwen.

"Huan'er, are you happy with so many birthday gifts?"

Xiao Yi hugged Lin Qinghuan from behind as she was studying the Queen's reward.

"I'm so happy! I never thought that a small birthday would bring me so many treasures. Even Nan'er gave me her favorite dagger and sword, even though I don't know how to use it."

Lin Qinghuan picked up Xiao Qiannan's dagger and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Nan'er is very generous this time. This precious sword can cut iron like mud, so you'd better not touch it unless you have something to do."

Xiao Yi took the generous gift from his sister from Lin Qinghuan.

"Husband, I'm not a child anymore, how could I hurt myself? But why did my aunt give me such an expensive gift?"

Lin Qinghuan looked at the pile of gold and splendor again and asked.

"Auntie likes you, just keep it. Huan'er, are you tired?"

Xiao Yi kissed Lin Qinghuan and then asked.

"I'm not tired."

Lin Qinghuan looked at Xiao Yi with a happy smile and said.

"Then it's time to go check out my gift." Xiao Yi bent down, picked up Lin Qinghuan horizontally, and walked towards the door.

In the yard, Xiao Xingjian was pointing at Hua Ji and talking nonsense. The maids, old women and wet nurses all gathered around him to tease him. They saw that the eldest son was holding the young lady and didn't even look at his son, and walked out of the yard.

"This... do we need to follow?"

Yun Xiang asked puzzledly.

"Brother Dayuan didn't say anything, so it probably isn't necessary!"

Chuxia saw Dayuan follow the two of them out of the yard without looking back.

"Whatever gift it is, can't I just walk and see it myself?"

Lin Qinghuan felt a little embarrassed being stared at by the maids and old women along the way.

"I want to hold you."

Xiao Yi said, Lin Qinghuan felt that he was in a very good mood.

When they arrived at the gate of Chenyu Courtyard, Xiao Yi gently put Lin Qinghuan down.

"Husband, didn't you say that this yard needed to be renovated? Could it be that it has been renovated?"

Lin Qinghuan asked curiously.

"Go and open the door."

Xiao Yi said mysteriously while holding Lin Qinghuan's hand.

Lin Qinghuan was extremely curious, yet also a little nervous, not knowing what her husband was up to. She gently reached out and pushed open the tightly closed wooden door.

Lin Qinghuan was stunned by the sea of phoenix-eye flowers in front of him, and forgot to put down his hands.

"This...it's not even Phoenix Eye flower season yet, and this flower can't live without Luo Fengtu at all. Husband, how did you do it?"

Lin Qinghuan looked up at Xiao Yi after a long time and asked.

Xiao Yi gently took Lin Qinghuan's hand and helped her into the yard. Da Yuan sensibly closed the door for them.

"Huan'er, you always say you want to go back to Luofeng. I'm busy with official duties and can't accompany you. I always feel that I owe you a lot. Now I have thought of a way to let this phoenix eye flower bring you comfort. When I have free time in the future, I will definitely accompany you back."

Xiao Yi and Lin Qinghuan walked into the sea of flowers, then hugged the beauty in his arms tightly and said.

"Husband, Huan'er really likes this birthday gift."

Lin Qinghuan happily stood on tiptoe, hugged Xiao Yi and kissed him, then looked at him with a beautiful smile.

The man touched the woman's face, then kissed her deeply. The sea of flowers was quiet and the fragrance was faint.

In the Huaying Pavilion, Michelle Reis touched the sleeping Yong'er's little face, smiled slightly and murmured.

"I think Qinghuan must be very happy to see the phoenix eye flowers all over the yard. Now mother is also very happy to have you."

Early the next morning, Lin Qinghuan got up, packed up, and went to the palace with Xiao Qiannan. After all, the Queen Mother had given her such a precious birthday gift, so she had to go and express her gratitude and pay her respects.

When the carriage arrived at the palace gate, the two got off. The senior palace maid who came to pick them up had been waiting for a while.

"I haven't seen my aunt for several months. I miss her."

Xiao Qiannan said while holding Lin Qinghuan's arm.

"Aunt misses you very much too. She kept talking about you when she came to pay her respects last time."

The guard at the palace gate looked at the two men's backs, then continued to stand guard at his post with an expressionless face.