The sickly son died young? After the marriage exchange, I will bring prosperity to his entire clan f

Actually, upon returning to the Wen family, Du Mingxian should have visited the women in the inner courtyard, but not knowing the current situation there, it was more important to visit Lord Wen first.

Those who heard the news in Lord Wen's courtyard couldn't wait any longer and didn't wait inside, but instead waited directly in the courtyard.

He was already conflicted as he stood there, feeling that waiting in the courtyard made him seem too anxious, so he wanted to go in, but he also wanted to see Du Mingxian as soon as possible.

After much hesitation, Du Mingxian and her companion entered.

"It's so cold, why is Father standing in the yard? Doesn't he get cold?" Du Mingxian said as soon as she came in.

The weather isn't very good today; it's overcast and windy, and it feels like it's going to snow.

Lord Wen was originally conflicted, but when he heard Du Mingxian say this, his eyes reddened slightly. In the past few years, apart from his younger brother, no one else around him cared about him; they only wanted to gain benefits from him.

"I'll wait for you here."

At times like these, Lord Wen is even more composed.

"Father, please come inside. You should put on a cloak. It would be terrible if you caught a cold," Du Mingxian said with a smile, as she stepped forward and took Lord Wen's arm, leading him inside.

Ling Silang was like a transparent person, following two people inside.

As soon as they entered, servants brought out a lot of pastries and tea. The pastries were the ones that Du Mingxian liked to eat when she was in the mansion.

Lord Wen stared at Du Mingxian, "She doesn't look like she's lost weight."

"Of course, my family treats me very well. Even on the way to Beijing, we were eating, drinking and having fun. I haven't lost weight at all, but my father looks a bit thinner."

Lord Wen didn't reply, "You're not leaving this time you're back?"

"I'm not leaving, my husband has to take the imperial examination."

Lord Wen knew about this and said, “That’s good. Do you want to go to the Imperial Academy? I still have a recommendation quota.” He was referring to Ling Silang.

After hesitating for a moment, Ling Silang agreed, "Then I'll trouble you, Father-in-law."

"It's alright. You need to get better so that she can get better too."

Du Mingxian smiled. She had received little fatherly love, but she never expected to receive it from Lord Wen in this lifetime.

Why didn't you bring the children?

"He's still young and just arrived in the capital. The weather isn't very good today, so I didn't bring him."

Lord Wen wasn't angry. "I'll go see the child another day."

“Okay, Father, come here. Let me tell you, my second sister-in-law is a great cook. She can cook for you herself.”

"And your cooking is delicious?"

Du Mingxian quickly shook her head, "What I make can't compare to what my second sister-in-law makes. My second sister-in-law is a master chef, her skills are truly excellent. We were even thinking of opening a restaurant in the capital."

"Hmm." Lord Wen nodded thoughtfully. "Then I'll go try it later."

"well."

The group chatted idly for a while before Du Mingxian remembered Wen Yibin, "Isn't Uncle here?"

"There's a case outside Beijing involving multiple mysterious deaths, and he's gone to investigate it."

"Oh."

Du Mingxian had heard about this on the road. In a county, every other day, someone would die in a village. Everyone was taking precautions, but people still died.

The people who die are not fixed; sometimes they are children, sometimes the elderly, people of all ages and genders. There is nothing in common, as if it is a random killing.

"Father, shall I go see Grandmother?"

"Go ahead, I'll take you there."

Lord Wen deliberately skipped the morning court session today, staying home to wait for Du Mingxian. He didn't really want to go to his mother's place, but he was worried that people would gossip about Du Mingxian, so he figured it would be better to go anyway.

The group walked together toward Old Madam Wen's courtyard.

"Father, is Shiyan coming back? How is she?"

She only arrived in Beijing yesterday, and she hasn't properly inquired about the Wu family yet, so she doesn't know how they are doing. She still has to seek revenge.

“She lives outside with her mother. After Cheng Yu left home and the Wen family, Shi Yan lived with her. She didn’t get along well with Wu Erniu. Sometimes they lived together, and sometimes Wu Erniu didn’t bring her home at all.”

"Does Father know anything about the Wu family?"

Lord Wen turned around in surprise, "Why are you asking about the Wu family?"

"There's some history between us, and I'm even planning to settle accounts with the Wu family."

“I know some of it, but I haven’t paid much attention to it. What I know most about Shi Yan is about the Wu family. I haven’t paid special attention to the Wu family. If you want to know, I’ll have someone look into it later.”

Du Mingxian refused, "It's nothing, I was just asking casually. My father doesn't know, I'll have someone around me check."

"The person given by the Crown Prince?"

"Yes."

Lord Wen said nothing and continued walking forward.

"Does Father have any suggestions?"

After hesitating for a moment, Lord Wen stopped and turned around. He glanced at Ling Silang before turning to Du Mingxian and whispering, "After this imperial examination, the Emperor will abdicate."

For an emperor who is still in charge to choose to relinquish power and step down to the background, it takes immense courage; most people wouldn't do that.

Many people like to hold power and will not relinquish it until the very last moment.

"Father, is there something wrong with the Emperor's health?"

If you calculate the time, the emperor must have already passed away in his previous life. The fact that the emperor is still alive now means that his health is failing.

Lord Wen shook his head. "No, His Majesty is in good health. However, he had an accident before. I don't know where the Crown Prince got the miraculous medicine from, but it saved His Majesty. He almost died once. Now His Majesty only wants to enjoy himself and doesn't want to care about anything else."

"Nowadays, the Crown Prince is in charge of many things in the capital. Other princes also want to take the throne, but I think... their chances are very slim."

"What's your opinion, Father?" Judging from this, things aren't very peaceful in the capital right now.

"The Crown Prince is good, but some of the other princes are troublesome. I'm afraid the Crown Prince won't be able to keep them in check."

Du Mingxian, however, felt she could trust the Crown Prince, saying, "The Crown Prince can definitely do it."

Lord Wen chuckled, “You’ve already chosen sides early on. As long as the Crown Prince ascends the throne, it will benefit you in the future. This imperial examination is to select people for the Crown Prince.”

With each new emperor comes a new court. Except for a few particularly important ministers, everyone else may have to step back and make way for the crown prince.

"Perhaps it was just good luck."

She saved her grandmother early in her life, so at that time she sided with the Crown Prince, it was all preordained.

"Not everyone has your luck."

Du Mingxian sensed worry in his voice, "Father, has something difficult happened?"

She had secretly taken her father to the Crown Prince's residence before. In other words, her father was now the Crown Prince's man, so why would he have such a worried mood?

"No," Lord Wen shook his head. "I just suddenly feel old. I've served two emperors. If the emperor abdicates next year, shouldn't I, as a minister, also retire and take a good rest?"

But when he thought about taking a break, he realized he had no one close to him, not even his children or family. He felt lonely and thought it would be better to stay in the court and fight with those old foxes; that would be a kind of fun too.