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

"Si Lang is now the top scholar in the imperial examination. With his talent and the backing of the Crown Prince, it will be easy for him to rise to the top. So, no one dares to touch such a popular person. Even if they do, they have to think twice."

Wen Yibin comforted them, "Don't worry about being bullied in the capital. You still have the Wen family backing you."

“Okay,” Du Mingxian replied, “I was wrong.”

Lord Wen looked at Du Mingxian and opened his mouth several times, but didn't say anything. Wen Yibin noticed this and said directly, "Brother, just say what you want to say. We're all on the same side. What are you hesitating about?"

"I...I just wanted to ask, Mingxian, how is your mother...?"

Their great-aunt, his half-sister.

“It’s all good. We went to pay our respects before the New Year. The Cheng family was punished, and that was the end of it. Now my husband has passed the imperial examination, and I have nothing to do in the capital, so I’m thinking of going home.”

Lord Wen frowned. "Your mother and father have already divorced. Now that she's going back, she'll be all alone anyway. Why doesn't she stay in the capital? Is she uncomfortable living at home?"

She lived with the Ling family. Although they appeared to be family, they were still relatives, so it was definitely inconvenient.

“I still have houses. I’ll pick one out for your mother to live in, and then I’ll send a few people over to take care of her.”

"No, no, Father, my mother is worried about my grandmother."

"Your maternal grandmother?" Lord Wen was confused; he had never heard of her.

Du Mingxian then recounted the events surrounding the Du family and Old Mrs. Xu at that time.

That's how it happened, and that's how we came to have dealings with the Crown Prince.

Lord Wen and Wen Yibin both understood.

Wen Yibin was particularly impressed, saying, "You can pick up someone of such high status even if you just pick them up casually. That's really amazing."

"Luck? Fate?" Du Mingxian chuckled.

They had lunch at the Wen family's house and took a nap there. Du Mingxian took Ling Silang and An'an to the courtyard where she had lived before her marriage. The courtyard was still being cleaned, and the rooms were exceptionally clean.

They played until the afternoon. When Du Mingxian left, Wen Yibin asked her to have dinner before she left. They had dinner together before the three of them parted ways.

Wen Yibin specially escorted them to the gate, saying, "Come back often when you have time. When your older brother saw you come back, he ate two extra bowls of rice."

"Okay, I understand, Uncle. Go back now."

"Ah."

Du Mingxian and Ling Silang took An'an home. It was still early, and Ling's parents were still awake, so Ling Silang went to their room.

As soon as Ling's father saw him come in, he guessed something was wrong. "What's wrong?"

My son is in high school, and he has a lot to do. If he comes to their room at night when it's time for him to go to sleep, he must have something to say.

"Dad, Mom, my mother-in-law is going back to her hometown. I'm thinking that Da Bao should also go back to prepare for his wedding. Why don't we let him go back with my mother-in-law?"

Father Ling nodded gently, “Yes, Da Bao’s marriage is settled. Now that spring has arrived, it’s time to go home and prepare. But… how about I go back with you and let your mother stay here to help you take care of An’an?”

Ling's mother's face turned pale, and she said in a trembling voice, "I...I'll go back with you."

"No need, you stay in the capital, I'll keep an eye on things when I get back."

Da Bao is their eldest grandson. They were not there for Da Bao's wedding, and they always felt regretful.

"Dad, you don't need to go back. My mother-in-law is worried about the elderly at home. Dad and Mom are still with us. Before Da Bao gets married... we'll see. If I can't go back, Ming Xian can take you all back to attend Da Bao's wedding, okay?"

"That works too." Father Ling was very happy. It would be fine to go back after the wedding. Anyway, it would only be a few days back. They could come back after watching their eldest grandson get married.

Ling's mother didn't say anything.

Ling Silang said, "Then I'll have Mingxian make the arrangements. I'll also need to inform Dabao about going back."

“Okay, from now on, we’ll be in the capital. They can come whenever they want; it won’t be difficult.”

"Ah."

“I’ll talk to Da Bao about it. You’re busy with your own things, so go ahead and do your thing. We’ll take care of things at home.”

"Okay, Dad, Mom, it's getting late, you should get some rest."

The next day, Du Mingxian began preparations for Da Zhou Shi and Da Bao to return to their hometown.

She went to find the escort agency with Chunfeng and Xiayu. As for Xiangyang... she told him to go with Da Zhou Shi, since she didn't feel comfortable leaving Da Zhou Shi alone.

Xiangyang didn't have any particular thoughts on this. She would follow whoever her mistress told her to follow, and her mistress's mother was also a very kind person.

She wasn't as skilled as Chunfeng and Xiayu, and wouldn't be of much use by the Madam's side. It would be better for her to stay by Da Zhou's side.

After contacting the escort agency, Du Mingxian and Xiao Zhoushi started buying gifts for their family.

There were gifts for the villagers, gifts for family members, and gifts that Xiao Zhou asked Da Bao to take back to her parents' home; everyone was taken care of.

They bought three truckloads of gifts, and it was only thanks to the escort agency that they were able to bring them all back.

Time flies, and ten days have passed.

Ling Silang was left in the capital, as was Jiang Liting, and they both entered the Hanlin Academy.

Ling Silang was a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, a sixth-rank official; Jiang Liting was a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, a seventh-rank official.

The two have now officially started working.

That day, Du Mingxian accompanied Madam Zhou in the carriage, holding her hand with great reluctance. Xu Tingting was also sitting next to her.

Xu Tingting's eyes were red. "Auntie, I want to go back with you."

“You should stay here and behave yourself. You know what your grandmother is thinking. If you go back, you'll be wasting her good intentions.”

"But I'm even more worried about staying here."

"Just stay put. I'll take care of things at home. I'll write to you if anything happens. Don't worry."

Xu Tingting wanted to go back, but Madam Zhou objected. Before leaving, Old Madam Xu had told her that she hoped Xu Tingting could go her own way and live happily outside, instead of staying by her side to take care of her.

"Mother, you must take good care of yourself after you get home." Du Mingxian was genuinely worried about Da Zhou Shi.

Madam Zhou nodded, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself. You've arranged for Xiangyang to stay by my side, how could I not take care of myself? Don't worry, besides, Silang now has an official position in the capital, so after I go back, no one will dare to bully me."

Du Mingxian believed this.

"Write to me if anything comes up."

"know."

Once they were outside the city, Madam Zhou wouldn't allow them to leave any further. The escort agency's men were also waiting at the city gate. Du Mingxian and Xu Tingting got off the carriage, said goodbye to Madam Zhou, and watched them leave.

Xu Tingting sniffed. "I really want to go back."

Du Mingxian knew she was upset. "Alright, your grandma will be sad if you go back. I hope you can have a better future."

"Yes, yes, I know. I'm not saying anything more. Let's go back to the city."

"It's good to know."

The two had just lined up to enter the city when Du Mingxian stopped. She saw a familiar figure, and Xu Tingting tried to pull her away twice but couldn't. "Mingxian, what's wrong?"

"You go back first, I have something to do." Du Mingxian said and hurriedly followed after him.