A life of ups and downs is pure joy

Lin Qinghuan sat cross-legged on a bamboo chair next to the waterfall. Xiao Yi probably feared that she would accidentally fall into the river, so he built a fence along the river to prevent her from viewing the waterfall.

Xiaobai ran around happily beside him, occasionally looking up and howling at Lin Qinghuan.

"Xiaobai, come here quickly and ask your sister to hug you." Lin Qinghuan stretched out her slender arms and picked up the little Poro beast.

"Miss, Xiaobai has been feeling particularly cheerful since he came to Xiao Chunfeng." Chuxia brought a thin robe to Lin Qinghuan, "It's still a little chilly in early spring, so please wear more clothes."

"Even Xiaobai knows where the most comfortable place to live is." Lin Qinghuan picked up Xiaobai and nuzzled it, "Hmm... Xiaobai, you should take a bath. You've become a stinky little Poro."

"Give it to me, I'll let Lixue and Luhua give it a bath." Chuxia took Xiaobai, turned around with a smile, and her smile disappeared instantly.

"Aunt...Uncle...Uncle is here." Xiao Yi came at some point, and the two girls didn't notice at all.

Lin Qinghuan sat on the bamboo stool and looked back at Xiao Yi, then turned around and looked at the waterfall and said.

"You came here and didn't say anything, secretly listening to the girls' whispers. How rude of you."

"Son-in-law... sometimes our girls talk..." Chu Xia wanted to explain to Xiao Yi after hearing this.

"You go down first." Xiao Yi nodded to Chu Xia and said. The worried girl looked at her girl's back again, then carried Xiaobai out of the backyard.

"I heard that you want to change the name of this garden?" Xiao Yi asked as he sat next to Lin Qinghuan.

"Is it okay?" Lin Qinghuan turned around and looked at her husband who was a complete stranger to her and asked.

"What name do you want to change to?"

"Taohuawu, Xiaochunfeng is a good name, but you said that you gave this garden to me, so I want to give it a new name of my own." Lin Qinghuan looked at Xiao Yi and smiled faintly.

"It's up to you."

"Sister Hongqi, please pick that flower for me. It will look best with the vase that Sister Wan brought yesterday." Lin Qinghuan suddenly stood up and pointed at the small wild flowers in the distance towards the waterfall and shouted.

Xiao Yi was stunned for a moment before he saw Hong Qi playing with the two swords on the rock at the top of the waterfall.

"Girl, how many flowers do you want?" Hong Qi asked, standing next to the cluster of flowers.

"I just want the most beautiful one." Lin Qinghuan's eyes curved into a small crescent with joy, and her dimple-shaped smile was like a spring breeze blowing through a forest of peach blossoms.

Xiao Yi looked at Lin Qinghuan's smiling face with a gentle light in his eyes. He looked at her like this for a long time, then reached out and pinched the peach petals on her hair.

Lin Qinghuan looked back at him in surprise, and then saw the flower petals on his slender fingers. In order to hide her panic, she continued to look at Hong Qi who was picking flowers for her. However, she could feel from the corner of her eye that Xiao Yi seemed to be looking at her.

"The wind is strong by the river. Come back to the house with me to play chess for a while." Xiao Yi said, and Lin Qinghuan had no choice but to go with him.

Yunxiang and Luhua stood in the yard, watching the two people playing chess by the attic window, their hearts filled with joy.

"The young lady lives so far away, yet the eldest master still comes to see her. I feel that it is impossible for the eldest master not to like the lady." Lu Hua said. After all, Lin Qinghuan was as beautiful as the fairy goddess she had visited in the temple when she was a child.

"It's a pity that our young lady is still young and not smart enough." Yun Xiang glanced at the attic and shook his head helplessly.

"Hmm?" Luhua looked at Yunxiang with a puzzled look.

"Silly girl, go and put the flowers that the young lady just brought back." Yun Xiang smiled at the younger Lu Hua, then tapped her head and said.

Although Lin Qinghuan likes playing chess, her chess skills are not very good. Lin Yuzhi taught her many skills during the years she spent at her mother's house, but she could only beat Lin Qingyi, her sister who was even dumber than her.

"Place your piece here." Xiao Yi saw her hesitantly putting the chess piece down and picking it up again and again, changing its position several times, and he couldn't help but give her some guidance.

Lin Qinghuan glanced at him, and after making his move, he suddenly found that his thoughts became clear.

"Well, you're quite smart." Lin Qinghuan said approvingly as he looked at the situation on the chessboard. Then he realized that he seemed a little too familiar, so he stole a glance at the man opposite him and happened to meet his eyes.

"What are we having for dinner?" Xiao Yi asked.

"Chuxia, Brother Xiao is asking you a question!" Lin Qinghuan didn't know what delicious food Mother Huang was busy making in the kitchen, so she asked the maid who was ironing her clothes.

"Ah? What did my brother-in-law say? I was far away and didn't hear it." Chu Xia looked at Xiao Yi with a confused look on her face.

"He asked you what delicious food you want to have in the evening." Lin Qinghuan repeated.

"I'll go downstairs and take a look." Chuxia put down the work in her hands and ran downstairs with a thud.

"I'll pick you up at the Spring Hunt the day after tomorrow. You can wear comfortable clothes."

"Chun Lie, I remember when I was fifteen, I was hit by a palm strike from the Chun Lie. It was called the Xiao or something divine palm. It almost killed me." Lin Qinghuan said.

"I'm here this time, so no one will hurt you. Can you ride a horse?" Xiao Yi asked.

"I've never even left the house before. I married you after I recovered from my illness." Lin Qinghuan said, "Can I bring Hongqi with me?"

"Hong Qi's identity is a mystery, and she has super hearing, so she can't enter the royal hunting grounds."

"Okay, then forget it. Do you want just me to go with you, or do both Madam Li and Madam Hu go?" Lin Qinghuan asked.

"All female relatives are allowed to enter." Xiao Yi said and looked at Lin Qinghuan again, "If you don't like them, they can stay in the mansion."

"No, no, no... I'm just asking to see if my dad can take Aunt He with him. She's a very accurate archer." Lin Qinghuan explained quickly to prevent him from thinking that she was petty again.

The two began to play chess awkwardly again, without any more words.

Inside Anyou Hall of the Xiao Mansion.

"Grandma, my husband is extremely kind to this young lady. A lady of the Xiao family doesn't have to live in the mansion." Hu Tao Niang said as she massaged Grandma Xiao's legs.

"Are you talking about Huan'er? Where else would she live if she doesn't live in the Xiao Mansion?" Grandmother Xiao asked curiously.

"I heard that this young lady doesn't like the Xiao Mansion's restrictions on her, so she either returns to her parents' home or lives in the peach blossom forest in the south of the city." said Hu Tao Niang.

"Ridiculous! What will outsiders say if this gets out? Won't your mother say anything?" asked Grandmother Xiao.

"Mother is just too kind. I heard from the servants of Qingyin Pavilion that the young lady doesn't even go to greet us in the morning or at night. They said... because her mother's family is more powerful, the Xiao family indulges her a lot, and mother has no choice." said Hu Tao Niang.

"This is called being spoiled and arrogant. What about Yi'er?" asked Grandmother Xiao.

"My husband seems to have gone to the peach blossom forest to visit the young lady."

"Send someone to call Yi'er back and tell him that I have something to talk to him about." Grandma Xiao instructed Nanny Dong beside her.

"Grandma, don't be angry with your husband. He is the most filial to you. Don't be angry with the young lady either. After all, she is young and has a good family background, so she is naturally treated differently." Hu Taoniang poured a cup of tea for Grandma Xiao and said.

"What's so special about that? Since I've married into the Xiao family, I have to respect the rules of the Xiao family."

After dinner in Taohuawu, the two people sat by the window next to the attic and looked at the bright moon for a while.

"Where is the bracelet your grandmother gave you?" Xiao Yi asked.

"It's in the dressing box. If you want it, I can give it to you. It's not appropriate for me to give it to you." Seeing this, Lin Qinghuan got up and went into the house to get it.

Xiao Yi suddenly grabbed her arm.

"The one your grandmother gave you is not suitable, but the one your second brother gave you is very suitable, right, Madam?" Xiao Yi's tone suddenly turned cold. Lin Qinghuan felt that the bracelet on her wrist that Xiao Yi was holding was very hot.

"The gift from my grandmother is too expensive. I'm afraid it might get damaged. I don't even remember who gave me this bracelet. Brother Xiao has a good eye. If it doesn't fit, I'll just take it off and throw it away." Lin Qinghuan said while standing in place pretending to be calm.

"No need, wear whatever you like. I promised the Lin family that I won't force you or wrong you."

"That's the case. It's getting late. Brother Xiao, please go back. Don't leave the beautiful lady in the mansion alone in the empty room." Lin Qinghuan suddenly felt very bad. She tried to shake off Xiao Yi's hand and said coldly.

"If you don't want me to come, I won't disturb the young lady's peace in the future." Xiao Yi gently released Lin Qinghuan's wrist, stood up and went downstairs. Outside the yard, the nanny sent by Grandmother Xiao also arrived and greeted Xiao Yi with a serious face.

Lin Qinghuan touched her red wrist, angrily removed her headdress and threw it into her dressing box. Then she looked at the bracelet on her wrist and cried sadly on the table, crying about her miserable marriage and her unfortunate love.

Hong Qi climbed in through the window outside, patted Lin Qinghuan, who was crying very sadly, and handed her a handkerchief.

"Girl, there's something...I...I've been hiding it from you."

"What's the matter?" Lin Qinghuan looked at her with tears in her eyes.

"About Xiao Yu." Hong Qi said.

"What happened to Brother Yu?" Lin Qinghuan burst into tears as she mentioned the longing in her heart.

"He was imprisoned in the palace by the Sixth Prince, so there has been no news for over a year."

Lin Qinghuan covered her mouth and cried desperately, "Will his life be in danger?"

"Don't worry, young lady. The Sixth Prince has only one son, Xiao... Gong Heyu will be fine. The young emperor of Dayan is dying. The Sixth Prince himself will not be the emperor, but his son will, so Gong Heyu will be fine." Hong Qi said.

Lin Qinghuan burst into laughter and said, "As long as Brother Yu is okay, that's fine."

"Miss, if Gong Heyu becomes the emperor of Dayan, he... he will marry the empress Wei Lan from the foreign land of Shenzhou. All the empresses of Dayan in history were empresses from the foreign land of Shenzhou." Hong Qi finished her words in one breath.

"Hongqi! Why are you saying these things to the girl?" Chuxia heard the conversation between the two at the door and ran in in panic and shouted.

"Chuxia, you know too?" Lin Qinghuan looked at her and asked.

"I didn't know he would become the emperor of Dayan. I only knew that all the queens of Dayan in history were empresses from foreign lands." Chu Xia said in embarrassment.

"Girls always need to know. It's better to know it earlier so that they don't have to live with unrealistic hopes." Hong Qi said.

"It's okay. I accepted my fate a year ago. Now that I heard he is still alive and well, I am not scared anymore." Lin Qinghuan smiled bitterly, and tears flowed into his mouth. The tears of despair were bitter and salty.

Yun Xiang and the other two maids in the yard saw Xiao Yi walking out of Taohuawu with a gloomy face. They immediately looked up at the attic with candlelight on.

"Sister Yunxiang, it seems that the eldest master left in anger." Luhua said with a disappointed look on her face.

"I saw it..." Yun Xiang said listlessly.

Xiao Yi came out of Anyou Hall after being lectured. Da Yuan followed beside him and felt helpless. The eldest son had come out of Taohuawu in anger, and now he was lectured by the old lady who had always been very kind. He felt really unfair for his own son.

"Husband, why are you walking so fast?" Hu Tao Niang caught up with Xiao Yi from behind and said.

"Husband, grandma is angry with the young lady. I have also advised her. This young lady is different from us. It's just that grandma cares about you and mother more. Husband, don't be angry." Hu Tao Niang said as she followed Xiao Yi.

"Why do you feel sorry for your mother?" Xiao Yi looked at her and asked.

"Mother has a good temper. The young lady never goes to her room to greet her in the morning or evening. She doesn't say anything because she loves her husband. But if this gets out, mother will be ashamed. Even if the young lady is of noble birth, she is still a junior." Hu Tao Niang said cautiously.

"I understand. When you have nothing to do, go and serve mother more often." Xiao Yi said.

"Even if my husband doesn't tell me, Tao'er knows it. Are you planning to go to Huaying Pavilion tonight?" asked Hu Tao Niang.

"No, let's go back to Qingbo Courtyard." After Xiao Yi said that, he quickened his pace and walked away. Hu Tao Niang took a few steps forward, but Da Yuan stopped her.

"Young Master is in a bad mood today, please go back to the courtyard."

Hu Taoniang looked at Xiao Yi's back and said, "Husband, you can only be mine."

Lin Qinghuan lay on the soft couch and used a small bamboo pole to prop open the wooden window. The sunlight was very warm, staining her entire exposed white arms like gold powder. The faint fragrance of peach blossoms in the peach blossom forest also filled her nose. What smelled even better was that a group of maids sat next to Mother Huang in the yard, watching her brew peach blossom wine, and Hongqi carried buckets of well water for Mother Huang.

She suddenly felt that this situation was pretty good. These people were like her relatives, and it was very warm and comfortable to stay with them in Taohuawu every day.

"Why didn't the young lady call me when she woke up?" Yun Xiang said as he came up with a wooden basin for washing.

"I see you are all surrounding Mother Huang. The peach blossom wine is so fragrant." Lin Qinghuan said.

"Young Madam, your eyes are still a little swollen. Don't be angry with the eldest young master. He...he..." Yun Xiang thought that Xiao Yi was a good young master, so she always wanted to speak for him.

"Yun Xiang, I'm curious about one thing. Madam Hu and Madam Li have been with Brother Xiao for so many years, but why don't they have children? Especially Madam Hu, isn't she very loved?" Lin Qinghuan asked.

"Young Madam, I won't hide it from you. If you hadn't married the eldest son, the old lady would have wanted Madam Li to give birth to a child, even if it was a concubine's son. After all, Madam Li is the daughter of an official, and it would be normal for her to become the mistress in the future. But Madam Hu can't. The mother of the Xiao family's concubine's son cannot be a maid of humble origin, so she has to drink soup. But the eldest son seldom visits Madam Li. Now that you are the young madam, I guess Madam Li will also want to drink soup." Yun Xiang said.

"What kind of soup do you want to drink?" After all, Lin Qinghuan didn't quite understand the rules of the royal family and nobles in Jinhan City, so he didn't understand what Yun Xiang meant.

"It's contraceptive medicine."