My sister became the empress, but I'm still growing vegetables and raising chickens

Qiu Nanzhi became the Crown Prince's wife, and Du Qiu's intelligence was also discovered by the Du family.

The child, both silly and clever, amused the entire Du family.

"He can actually remember everything he reads. I remember when I was a child, it took me three days to memorize this passage, which was considered fast. How could he memorize it after reading it only three times?" Prince Du exclaimed in amazement.

"Who said he's a fool? That makes me look like a fool." It was rare for Master Du to be home, and he looked at his little brother with great curiosity.

Du Qiu grinned, looking utterly simple-minded.

Princess He Ji said, "Alright, stop teasing him. Heaven has found it too unfair to him. He can't understand human relationships, so it has given him more talent."

After saying that, he instructed his grandsons: "Your uncle is not quite right in the head. If he is out and about and someone bullies him, you must protect him."

In the past, because Du Qiu wasn't very bright, he was basically kept at home. Now that he's grown up and has a photographic memory, wouldn't it be a waste to keep him at home?

Moreover, Du Qiu herself always wanted to go out and have fun.

Princess He Ji simply had her grandsons take care of him.

Time flies, and another year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Si Muyan stood beside the pasture, watching the lambs grazing inside. The sheep she raised were all plump and strong. Their wool was sheared and sent to textile factories to make various wool fabrics, while the sheep were slaughtered after they grew up and sent to various restaurants for supply.

Lai Qianniang said, "Miss, this wool sweater has indeed become just as popular as the down jacket since it came out."

Si Muyan stretched and said, "Good business is good."

Noticing her weariness, Lai Qianniang asked, "Is something troubling you, Miss?"

Si Muyan shook her head: "No, not really. It's just that if I do the math, I'm twenty-eight now, or thirty by the reckoning. Time really flies; thirteen years have passed in the blink of an eye."

She has been in this world for thirteen years.

Everything seemed to have become perfect.

Lai Qianniang didn't understand what she meant, thinking that these thirteen years referred to her thirteen years of business.

He laughed and said, "It's because of Miss's strong abilities. In such a short time, everyone in the Great Zhou knows about Miss's business, and she's doing an excellent job."

Si Muyan did not respond.

Just then, a maid rushed over and said, "Miss, Miss, something terrible has happened! Madam has fainted."

"what?"

Shao Qin fainted.

After she fainted, her condition did not improve. The doctor said that her health was not good to begin with, and that her time was running out.

With careful treatment, it should take about six months.

Si Muyan was heartbroken, but she had to force herself to suppress her grief. She wasn't the original owner of this body, and she no longer felt the same way about the original owner, but after thirteen years together, they were all her family.

After learning about Shao Qin's illness, Si Xingzhi was stunned for a long time. After that, he rarely went fishing or daydreaming anymore, but always stayed by Shao Qin's side.

Shao Qin loved painting, so he would grind ink and mix colors beside her, and the two of them would paint together.

Shao Qin wanted to see flowers, so he took her hand and led her through the flower gardens of the estate.

Si Muyan withdrew her gaze and asked the maid, "Where is the princess now?"

The maid replied, "They went to the Northeast. There was heavy snow this winter, and the princess and the prince are there dealing with the snow disaster."

Si Muyan nodded and wrote a letter: "Send it to the Northeast urgently so that the princess can return as soon as possible."

She also sent a letter to the palace, informing her younger sister of Shaoqin's health condition so that her sister could be prepared.

The following spring, Shao Qin's health deteriorated further, and she even had difficulty getting up.

She herself sensed something was wrong and said to Si Xingzhi, "Xingzhi, am I no longer capable?"

Si Xingzhi did not offer any words of comfort, but said, "We are old and have lived most of our lives. Now that our children are doing well, we have nothing to worry about."

Shao Qin nodded: "Yes, in the blink of an eye... half a lifetime has passed."

She looked at Si Xingzhi with longing, and Si Xingzhi looked back at her.

"Xingzhi, would you...please talk to me?"

"Okay." Si Xingzhi moved closer and whispered in her ear about things from childhood to adulthood.

“You probably don’t remember the first time we met. You were little then, being held in someone’s arms, wearing a bright red cloak, all red, like a little lantern. I tugged at my mother’s hand and asked, ‘Mother, I want a red lantern too.’”

"As I grew up, I was never happy because everyone said I should be ambitious and work hard. Feng Ziheng, who was younger than me, became famous at a young age and was mature beyond his years. Zuo Lan, who was about my age, was upright and capable, and could shoot two arrows at once at a young age. Only I didn't like to discuss politics. I only knew how to paint and write poetry every day. I didn't even like to take the imperial examinations. I didn't care much about a hereditary official position."

"But Ah Qin, I'm also glad that during that unhappy time, I met you. You told me that everyone has their own ambitions and there's no need to care about other people's opinions. You also said that Feng Ziheng is mature beyond his years and is destined to have a hard life, and that Zuo Lan is too competitive and easily stumbles. As for me, being down-to-earth is the most important thing."

"Aqin, marrying you is the happiest thing in my life."

Si Xingzhi felt his wife's hand go limp in his grasp, devoid of any strength. Tears streamed down his face.

"Don't worry, Qin. The children have all grown up and we don't need to worry about them. Besides, we'll be able to see Yu and Yuan soon. They've been away from us for so long, they must miss us too."

……

Shao Qin died, and Si Xingzhi, holding her hand, also passed away.

When Si Muyan received the news, she felt dizzy and almost couldn't get up.

She asked the doctor, "My father was always perfectly healthy, how could he have passed away as well?"

The doctor sighed, "The Marquis has long been on his deathbed; it seems he has been waiting for this moment all along."

Si Muyan could no longer hold back and burst into tears.

There was no elaborate burial.

Si Xingzhi had already told Si Muyan that he and Shao Qin both loved the rural scenery and hoped to see the scenery of all four seasons in the future.

Si Muyan chose the center of the flowerbed as their burial site.

"In this way, Father and Mother can see the blooming flowers no matter when."

The whole family was present at the burial.

Even the younger sisters in the palace disguised themselves and went out of the palace to stand in front of their parents' graves with red eyes.

This is probably the first time in many years that the family has been able to get together.

The three sisters, who were born together, used to have similarities, but now they seem to be quite different.

The only one who hadn't changed much was Si Muyan. She remained as serene as ever. Her features had softened, but the fine lines around her eyes told everyone she was no longer young.

The second sister was originally the most beautiful, like a goddess descended from heaven, but years of exposure to the elements had made her the roughest of the three sisters. Yet, she was radiant and full of vitality, completely transformed.

The biggest change is in the younger sister. Her former gentleness has faded, and even in casual clothes, her cold temperament can still be seen at a glance.