A life of ups and downs is pure joy

It rained heavily during the Qingming Festival, with misty spring rain falling every few days. Lin Qinghuan was locked up and could not go out. Every day he stayed in the Lingzhu Garden, reading books and listening to the rain.

Seeing that her daughter was extremely bored, Chuxia picked a large bunch of flowers, walked over with a rusty copper bottle, and placed it on the table in front of her.

"Miss, the mistress used to be very good at flower arrangement. I was young at that time and secretly hid behind Aunt Xue to watch her. I thought the flowers and people were very beautiful." Chu Xia said as she trimmed the flowers in her hand with scissors, picked them up gently to look at them, and continued trimming.

"What kind of flower is this? It's quite unique." Lin Qinghuan picked up a white flower cluster with small green buds like small lanterns and six white petals.

"This is called six-petal goose down flower, with small green buds. It is everywhere in the mansion in the spring. Just sprinkle some water on it, expose it to the sun, and it will bloom as long as there is soil." Chuxia picked up a six-petal goose down flower, carefully cut off the broken leaves below, leaving only a few complete and beautiful green leaves, and then gently inserted it into the bottle.

"I know this one. It should be called crabapple flower, also known as the flower of speaking, right?" Lin Qinghuan picked up the crabapple flower, which was gradually turning pink from white and looked like a small flower umbrella, and smelled it. The fragrance was so strong that he was afraid that the flower would fall asleep late at night, so he lit a tall candle to illuminate its red makeup.

"The girl is half right. This variety is called the weeping crabapple. The stamens hang down and the flowers bloom downwards." Chuxia inserted the flowers while holding them from a distance, half-squinting her eyes to look at them carefully, and then smiled with satisfaction.

"Well, girl, I feel like something is missing." Chu Xia held her cheek with her hand and muttered to the vase.

Lin Qinghuan looked around the yard and stood up. Seeing this, Li Xue held up a paper umbrella and walked with her to the tree where the flowers were in full bloom. Lin Qinghuan stood on tiptoe and picked off a pear blossom.

"Seeing the pear blossoms tinged with the night moon, and the crabapple blossoms half-covered with the morning rain, this is just right for the scene." Lin Qinghuan walked back to the pavilion and carefully placed the flowers in the vase.

"Girl, the line you just chanted about pear blossoms and crabapple rain was so beautiful." Chu Xia looked at the vase in her hand, then at her girl, and said happily.

"Begonia and rain, pear blossoms and snow, people who are elegant and noble like them." Lin Qinghuan said softly.

"Girl, since you started to like reading, your conversation has become much more interesting." Li Xue squatted beside Lin Qinghuan and looked at her seriously.

"Can you read?" Lin Qinghuan asked curiously.

"I don't know." Li Xue and Chu Xia shook their heads.

"Li Xue, go to the room and get the pen, ink, paper and inkstone. Today I will teach you how beautiful the words 'Li Xue' and 'Chu Xia' are." Lin Qinghuan ordered, and Li Xue happily jumped back to the room.

The spring rain was as precious as oil, and the fragrance of flowers was alluring. Three girls were lying on the stone table, writing big characters one by one. Seeing this, Mother Huang asked the maid to bring over a small table and set up afternoon tea for Lin Qinghuan. Then she sat at the door of the small kitchen in the distance, picking vegetables and watching the girls with a comfortable smile.

At the gate of Jinhan City, the brothers Xiao Yu and Xiao Yi were sitting in a carriage. Liu Ye outside handed the Xiao Mansion token to the soldier guarding the city gate. The strong and dark-faced soldier took a look and immediately waved to the people on both sides. The soldiers stopped the civilians coming in and out on the left and right, and waited until the carriage slowly entered the city before letting the civilians go. Some people in the crowd were grumbling, and some were whispering. When the sound of horse hooves died down and the dust settled, everything returned to calm.

"You haven't been back for a year, but you don't seem to miss the scenery in Jinhan City at all." Xiao Yi said to his brother who was sitting quietly.

"I have seldom stayed in Jinhan City since I was a child, so naturally I don't have much interest in the outside world. Is my grandmother back?" Xiao Yu lifted the curtain of the carriage and took a look at the bustling scene outside. There were hawkers pushing carts and hawking their wares on both sides of the road.

"My grandmother is still in her hometown, and Tao'er is serving her. Jinhan City is the most prosperous capital among the nine countries. Your Majesty is wise, and now the prince also follows your way of governing the country. Only when the people live a prosperous life can the country be prosperous." Xiao Yi picked up a cup of tea and took a sip.

"I don't understand politics. I'm just a quack doctor." Xiao Yu has always been indifferent to state affairs, but Xiao Yi is like the second Xiao Bowen.

"Father has turned down his official duties today and is waiting at home. Like mother, he misses you very much." Xiao Yi said.

"I understand, elder brother." Xiao Yu replied with his head down.

The Xiao Mansion is located near the imperial city, in a quiet place in the center of Jinhan City. It is adjacent to several intersections and alleys and is the main city road of Jinhan. Two streets next to the Xiao Mansion is Ning Junze's Feng Mansion. The Lin Mansion is separated from the Fourth Prince's Mansion by a long corridor.

"Yu'er, this palace boiled chicken has been your favorite since you were a child." Liu Ji looked at her little son, her eyes full of smiles that she couldn't hide, and she kept putting food into Xiao Yu's bowl.

"Mother, the food in my second brother's bowl is about to overflow, but mine is still empty." Xiao Qiannan was jealous and acting coquettishly beside him.

"Come, this pearl abalone soup is my Nan'er's favorite." Liu Ji stood up and took a spoon to pour soup into Xiao Qiannan's bowl. Liu Rong, who was sitting next to her, quickly stood up and took the soup bowl from Liu Ji's hand.

"Nan'er, you are so ignorant that you let your mother get up to serve you soup." Xiao Bowen looked at Xiao Qiannan sternly, then turned and said gently to Liu Ji, "Your waist and legs are not in good condition. You should not spoil your child like this in the future."

"Daddy, Nan'er knows." Xiao Qiannan pouted and muttered unhappily.

"Come, have a piece of Taibai fish." Xiao Yi touched Xiao Qiannan's hair and picked up a big piece of fish for her. Xiao Qiannan's mood immediately turned from cloudy to sunny. She looked at Xiao Yi with a cheerful look and smiled sweetly.

"Yu'er, where did you travel last year?" Xiao Bowen looked at his youngest son, and a low voice came out of his throat.

"Dad, I went to Canci Shenzhou, Yan State, and Dakun with my master." Xiao Yu put down his chopsticks, stood up and bowed in reply.

"Sit down. There's no need for such formalities when a family is having a meal together." Xiao Bowen raised his hand and waved it downwards, then continued, "What have you gained from this trip?"

"Canci Shenzhou is a warm and humid area with a wide variety of rare medicinal herbs. My master asked me to compile a collection of hundreds of medicines, and half of them come from this place. Dakun has vast land and lush grasslands, which is a good place. As for Dayan, I went to see Ajue and also went to look for the legendary dragon fruit flower." Xiao Yu raised his head and looked at General Xiao and said seriously, his throat clear and elegant, as smooth as jade.

"Dragon fruit flower." Captain Xiao's expression changed slightly, and he murmured, "What is this?" Then he asked calmly.

"It's just an ordinary rare tonic herb. People want to find it because it is extinct." Xiao Yu replied.

"Well, did you find it?" Liu Ji asked curiously.

"No, they have all been destroyed. There is no such medicine in the world anymore." Xiao Yu looked at Liu Ji and said.

"That's a pity." Liu Ji said regretfully.

"It's not a pity. Yu'er said it's just a precious tonic herb, not a miracle drug that can bring the dead back to life." Xiao Bowen looked at Xiao Yu meaningfully and said.

"Daddy is right." Xiao Yu replied calmly.

"Yu'er, go to the palace to see your aunt tomorrow. She has been thinking about you for a long time." Xiao Bowen patted Xiao Yu's shoulder and said kindly.

"Yes, I understand." Xiao Yuyan said.

"It just so happens that I'm going to the palace to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince tomorrow. Yu'er can come with me." Xiao Yi said.

"I want to go play with my prince brother too." Xiao Qiannan said coquettishly.

"You will accompany your second brother to visit your aunt tomorrow, so don't act naughty." Xiao Bowen pointed at Xiao Qiannan and said.

"Oh, Nan'er understands." Xiao Qiannan has been naughty and unreasonable since she was a child, but she is most afraid of her father, so as long as Xiao Bowen's face gloomy, she will immediately be obedient.

After a family dinner, Xiao Yu helped Liu Ji to go to Qingyin Pavilion. Xiao Bowen called Xiao Yi to the study, as the father and son had some political affairs to discuss.

"The spies said that the Fourth Prince goes to the Lin Mansion every day. Is Lin Mutang's eldest son working in the Censorate now?" Xiao Bowen picked up the teacup and asked Xiao Yi.

"Father, Lin Yuzhi has found a sinecure in the Censorate, but he brought back a scholar from Luofeng named Li Duo. This man is full of knowledge and has many talents. It would be best if he could be employed by the crown prince. But if he is employed by the third prince, he would be a difficult person." Xiao Yi said in a low voice.

"The Third Prince has a lot of private interactions with the Minister of Personnel Zheng Hui. I heard that every now and then they would sit and chat for a whole day in the name of having tea at the Third Prince's residence." Xiao Bowen frowned and said with a worried look on his face.

"He Sheng from the Ministry of Personnel is a talent that can be used. He is different from Zheng Hui." Xiao Yi thought deeply about it and then remembered this person. This person has always been dissatisfied with Zheng Hui and is a good candidate.

"Then you should make more friends privately and work hard for the Eastern Palace." Taiwei Xiao patted his eldest son's shoulder and said, "You've been traveling for several days. Go home and rest early."

"Father, I'm leaving now." Xiao Yi stood up and left.

"Forget about that thing at Le Yin Fang... Let's go back and rest first." Xiao Bowen waved his hand, and Xiao Yi left the study.

Xiao Yi and Da Yuan walked to Qingbo Courtyard. Li Jiaxin was waiting at the gate of the courtyard. When she saw Xiao Yi, she shyly stepped forward and saluted, "My husband is back."

"Well, it's so late, and you haven't rested yet." Xiao Yi glanced at her and continued walking towards the study without stopping.

"I'm not sleepy. It's late at night. Does my husband still want to go to the study?" Li Jiaxin asked from behind, her anxious tone unable to suppress a hint of grievance.

"You should go to bed early. I still have official business to attend to." After saying that, he walked into the study without looking back. The attendant Da Yuan beside him saluted to Michelle Reis and followed him into the study.

Li Jiaxin returned to her room in frustration, muttering to herself with tears streaming down her face, "Why is my husband so cold to me? Is there something I haven't done well enough?"

The maid Ruyi beside her looked at her distressedly, "Madam, the eldest master is not cold to you, he is just too busy."

"But he doesn't like me after all." After saying that, Michelle Reis lay down on the dressing table and cried sadly.

It had been raining in Luofeng City for two whole weeks, and the sky finally cleared up today. Lin Qinghuan raised her hands to cover her eyes, letting her face feel the warmth of the sun. The weather was so good, she definitely couldn't be confined to this boring Lingzhu Garden.

"Qinghuan, come out quickly." Just as she was planning where to go, Lin Qingyi heard the voice before she saw the person, and rushed in from outside the yard in a hurry.

"Fourth sister, don't be in such a hurry after you got bruised and battered in my Lingzhu Garden." Lin Qinghuan looked at her with a smile and shouted.

"Come on, come on, the spring bamboo shoots in the back mountain have sprouted, let's go pick some." Lin Qingyi came over and pulled her out.

"Fourth Miss, please let me put on a robe." Chu Xia ran after her anxiously with clothes in her hand.

"Why are you wearing such a robe? It's so inconvenient to walk in the bamboo forest." Lin Qingyi looked at Chuxia with disdain and pushed the clothes away with her hand.

"Chuxia, please send me back. I'm not cold. Come find me later." Lin Qinghuan waved to Chuxia who was standing still, and followed Lin Qingyi to the back mountain without looking back.

Lin Ancai stood there with a few bamboo shoots sticks in his hand, frowning at his two sisters and saying, "You're so slow! I've been waiting for a long time."

"How about you sisters? After you pick the spring bamboo shoots, you still need Mother Huang to make bamboo shoot and venison slices for you." Lin Qinghuan said.

"Let's go quickly, my two good sisters." Lin Ancai stepped forward and pulled them into the bamboo forest.

"Qinghuan, you are not strong enough, so pick the thin, long and soft ones. Those kind of bamboo shoots will break easily. Look, here is one, try it." Lin Qinghuan looked in the direction of her finger and saw a delicate, yellow-green and tender bamboo shoot hidden between two bamboos. She squatted down and followed the method taught by Lin Qingyi. It was very easy to do. She happily waved to Lin Ancai in the distance while holding the bamboo shoot.

"Be careful around here and pick out this kind of bamboo shoots. I'll go over there and take a look." Lin Qingyi pointed to a large bamboo shoot field not far away and said while walking and looking back.

"Go ahead, go ahead. Today it depends on you or An Cai who can book the bamboo shoots from Lingzhuyuan for the next few days." Lin Qinghuan said happily while looking at the two of them.

Time passed quickly while picking bamboo shoots. Lin Qinghuan watched the sun setting in the distance and suddenly remembered that her parents were still alive at that time and took her to the mountains to collect folk songs. She remembered that spring in the south, with flowers, birds, fish, insects, and the mysterious bamboo forest. She kept pestering her parents to take her in to catch rabbits and encounter fairies. Her parents told her that rabbits and fairies were only found in the bamboo forests in storybooks.

Before sunset, Lin Qingyi and Lin Ancai each carried a bamboo basket filled with fresh spring bamboo shoots, which felt like enough to eat for several days. Chuxia helped Lin Qinghuan slowly return from the bamboo forest to the back door of the Lin Mansion. Lin Ancai and Lin Qingyi were running and playing in front, chasing the sunset. At this moment, the spring breeze was so comfortable and gentle.

Mother Huang peeled and washed all the bamboo shoots, picked out a few crisp and tender ones, and had them sent to Anxinzhai. The old lady also loved the taste of the tender bamboo shoots. Lin Qingyao and Zheng Linfeng, who came here due to the fragrance, also sat down in Lingzhuyuan. The small courtyard was filled with laughter. Lin Mo was studying how to mix her favorite herbs into food. In her words, food supplements are also a method of treatment.

Xue Feng has been in good spirits recently, and Lin Qinghuan's mood has also become very relaxed. She plans to go to Chenxiang Garden tomorrow to chat with her and sing some songs for her. Lin Qingyi also said that she would go and play with a stick for Aunt Xue to make her happy. After the dinner, they each returned to their respective courtyards.

Lin Qinghuan was sleeping soundly at night, and her dreams were full of the wonderful time she spent on vacation in the mountains with her parents. Chuxia's hurried knock on the door woke her up from her sweet dream, "Girl, girl, wake up."

"What's wrong, Chuxia?" she asked, sitting on the bed with a confused look on her face.

"Miss, Aunt Xue is gone." Chu Xia ran in crying and knelt on the ground with a thud.