An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, another three years have quietly passed.

Deep within the mansion, in the First Madam's courtyard, an atmosphere of lingering anger and helplessness permeated the air.

The First Madam sat upright on a carved rosewood chair, her chest heaving slightly with anger. She stared at the Fourth Prince, who had grown into a tall and handsome young man, yet still retained a hint of unruliness in his eyes, and felt an inexplicable fire surge to the top of her head.

The handkerchief clutched in his hand was almost torn to shreds. Finally, unable to contain himself any longer, his voice was filled with obvious exasperation: "You damned brat! I'm telling you right now, if you keep making excuses and refuse to properly go and meet the girl, I'll risk all my pride and tie you up and send you straight to the bridal chamber. Let's see what you can do then!"

Although these words were a threat spoken in anger, they also revealed her deep anxiety and worry as a mother, seeing that her other children had all started their own families and were even enjoying the company of their own children, while the marriage of her youngest son was still undecided.

This fourth son, after passing the imperial examination and obtaining the title of Xiucai many years ago, seemed to have completely grown tired of the proper path of the imperial examination and officialdom. No matter how his family tried to persuade him, he refused to bury himself in his studies and strive for a higher title.

Even the leisurely official positions offered by his family's influence were completely disregarded by him, as he stated that such a life was restrictive and boring, and not what he desired.

This lack of ambition caused the First Madam countless hairs to turn white with worry.

However, things are unpredictable. In the last two years, this young man seemed to have suddenly changed his ways and turned over a new leaf. He no longer idled away his days or spent his time composing poems and enjoying the moon with a few friends. Instead, he took the initiative to volunteer to the old general and his wife, taking on the management of all the estates and shops under the mansion's name.

What's even more amazing is that he seems to have an innate talent and keen intuition for this field. Those industries that were barely surviving or barely making a profit before he took over have all been revitalized after his reorganization and innovation, whether by adjusting product categories, improving business strategies, or opening up new business routes.

In just two years, the harvest in the manor and the profits in the shops were more than 50% higher than the average of previous years. The old general was so pleased that he stroked his beard and praised him, saying that although this young man did not enter the officialdom, he had made a name for himself.

But ironically, this man, who had turned his life around and was thriving in his career, reverted to his old ways when it came to marriage, even becoming more demanding. No matter how much his wife pleaded or invoked the authority of his father and brothers, he simply refused to agree to meet any young ladies for marriage.

Even at the beginning of the year, when the First Madam had specially prepared a spring flower-viewing banquet for him and invited many ladies from prominent families, he still managed to find an excuse to slip out of the mansion a day early and not return until the banquet was over. This made the First Madam so angry that her heart ached, and it also left the guests who were waiting to see the fourth son of the Jing family disappointed. This aroused a lot of speculation and criticism, causing the First Madam to lose face, but she was helpless.

"I...I will not marry anyone but that fat girl from the Yan family!" On this day, perhaps because he was pressed too hard, or perhaps because the emotions that had been building up in his heart had finally reached a breaking point, after being scolded by the First Madam in the study for a full hour, Si Lang finally, like a stubborn ox that had been pushed to the limit, sullenly but with a do-or-die determination, squeezed out this earth-shattering sentence from between his teeth.

The First Madam was taken aback at first, but then her anger was instantly dissipated by the sudden confession, replaced by a sense of realization and urgency.

She stood up almost immediately, her face instantly brightening, and her tone becoming lighter and more promising: "My son! Since you already have someone in mind, why didn't you tell your mother sooner? It's not difficult at all! Although the Yan family is just a merchant family, they are an honest and upright family, and I think that girl is a lucky one."

Since you are so fond of her, I will—no, I will send someone with generous gifts and an official matchmaker today—to propose marriage on your behalf! I will ensure this marriage is a grand and successful one!

However, Shiro's face did not show any joy at his mother's words. Instead, he became even more embarrassed, and even showed a rare look of dejection and frustration. He lowered his head, his voice becoming increasingly muffled, with a hint of barely perceptible grievance mixed in.

"But...but it's no use...that fat girl...Yan family sister, she...she said that she can marry any young man in the capital, but...but she won't marry me, Jing Silang..." Her voice trailed off, almost inaudible, but it was like a bucket of cold water poured over the First Madam's enthusiasm.

"You...you little rascal!" The First Madam was stunned for a moment, then realized that this brat must have offended the young lady completely sometime and for some reason! She was so angry that she trembled all over, and raised her hand to slap him hard on the back and arms several times, until her palms were numb and painful, before she stopped panting.

She pointed at Si Lang, both angry and heartbroken. After a long while, she suppressed her anger and her mind raced, finally coming up with a potentially feasible solution. She took a deep breath, her tone resolute and unwavering: "Fine! My old face is probably useless now! I'll go to the palace to find Xi'er! She's always been very resourceful and gets along very well with the Yan family's girl; she'll definitely be able to find a way to resolve this injustice!"

Meanwhile, far away in Jian'an County, Xiao Lian ultimately chose to stay on the land where she had poured so much effort and where her new life had been born. Last spring, she happily married Yan Huai, who had always silently protected her and shared the same ideals, and began a new chapter in her life.

Mingrong, however, could not ultimately defy the stubborn old lady. Seeing that Mingrong was getting older, the old lady kept delaying the marriage and could no longer wait for her to agree herself. In early spring of this year, the old lady almost forced her, and then, with a mix of coercion and pity, put her into the bridal sedan chair of Magistrate Li Ziwen, who had come to fetch her.

As the bridal sedan chair departed, Mingrong wept inside, while the old lady secretly wiped away tears at the gate of the mansion, hoping that this marriage, which Li Ziwen had sincerely promised, would ultimately have a happy ending.

Xu Li and Xu Yi began their formal education at the age of three. The two children studied under Jing Chengrui and Jing Changning, two learned and highly respected imperial tutors, and showed extraordinary talent from a young age.

The elder brother, Xu Li, was calm and steady, with a photographic memory for reading and writing, and was exceptionally intelligent; the younger brother, Xu Yi, was lively and unrestrained, quick-witted, and able to grasp principles immediately and distinguish right from wrong.

Although the two brothers had very different personalities, they had a deep bond. They were friendly and respectful to each other, complementing one another. They also received careful instruction from their two close relatives, the Grand Tutors. All the officials said that the imperial family had a worthy successor.

In the forty-first year of the Daqing reign, joyous news spread throughout the palace: Jing Chunxi had given birth to twins again in late autumn, a boy and a girl. The news brought jubilation throughout the nation; the emperor granted a general amnesty, and all celebrated, praying for the birth of these royal treasures in this prosperous era.

However, just as the moon waxes and wanes, so too does life's course. In the forty-second year of the Daqing era, the vigorous and powerful Emperor Wu of Yan was unfortunately wounded by a suddenly enraged beast during a spring hunt. Although the imperial physicians did their utmost to treat him and his external wounds gradually healed, one day when he tried to get up, he suddenly found that his legs were weak and he could no longer stand up.

Even though Jing Chunxi used all the rare and precious medicines and prescriptions treasured in the spiritual spring space and used the spiritual spring water to treat and soak the Emperor Yanwu's legs, they still showed no improvement and seemed to have lost all vitality and sensation.

The emperor who once looked down upon the world could only be confined to a wheelchair, gazing at the sky outside the palace walls, his eyes growing more and more desolate each day.

In the forty-fourth year of the Daqing era, after Crown Prince Xu Zize had been assisting in the government for two years and gradually taking over the affairs of the court, Emperor Yan Wu, who had been confined to a wheelchair for more than two years, finally passed away due to his injuries and illnesses.

After the nation mourned, Crown Prince Xu Zize ascended the throne with the support of his ministers. In accordance with the will of Heaven, he changed the era name to "Da Kang," signifying a new era and praying for national peace and prosperity for the people. An old era quietly came to an end, and a new era was slowly beginning.

On the day Emperor Dakang ascended the throne, he immediately bestowed the title of Empress Jing Chunxi, with the honorific name of Lisheng, and there were no more concubines in the harem.

Li – Li Zun Li Gui, Di Li Hou Mei, Unique and Side by Side; Sheng – Sheng Shan Guang Yun, Rui Zhe Ci Ming, Hua Si Fang.