After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

"Young Master, four hours have long passed!"

"Ah."

Li Mo was full of energy. In fact, he only needed three hours of sleep, but the young master had given him orders, so he stayed in bed for a full four hours.

"Hehe, young master, are you going to soak in the hot springs again today?"

"Let's do it later. I've eaten a lot today, so let me soak it after it's been digested."

"Alright, young master, don't soak for too long, lest you catch a cold."

Li Mo still stubbornly believed that his young master's sneezing yesterday was due to catching a cold.

"By the way, this is for you."

"Young master, what is this... clothes?"

Li Mo initially thought it was just bath towels again, but the young master had already given him two yesterday, which was enough.

When I got it, I realized it wasn't what I expected. Although it was also white and made of soft fabric, it had sleeves and even a hood.

There is a long strap in the middle, which is about up to the calf.

"This is a bathrobe, something to wear for a short rest after a long soak. Don't wear it around town!"

Li Mo's face flushed. How could he possibly go out wearing clothes meant for hot springs? Young Master, you're really joking.

Jiang Xiaoqi knew that people were easily embarrassed at this time, so she didn't tease him too much. She just told him that he didn't need to be served and that he should go play by himself.

Lin Yueniang and Fuling ate at Madam Cui's place before returning to the guest courtyard. By the time they got back, the lamps were already lit.

If it weren't for Master Cui's presence, Madam Cui would probably have let the two of them continue playing "Happy Two Against One" after dinner.

Mrs. Cui is clearly addicted. Beginners are easily addicted when they first learn something, but it will get better after a while.

However, I won't completely abandon these fun cards. Dozens of cards can kill too much boring time at home.

The two had just returned to the courtyard and were planning to rest for a while before going to the hot springs when Jiang Xiaoqi brought over two sets of bathrobes.

Unlike Li Mo's outfit, these two are light pink and light blue.

Lin Yueniang felt that pink was too delicate and not suitable for her at the age of forty-four.

The pinkish color was given to Fuling, who was in her teens, while she herself chose the light blue one, which was simple and elegant.

Fuling held the light pink bathrobe with great delight, "Madam, this bathrobe is so soft, even softer than the bath towel."

It's just a bit short, only reaching the calf; it would be better if it were a little longer.

Lin Yueniang nodded with a smile, "But it's not an outfit to wear outside. It's just something I wore temporarily during a break from soaking in the hot spring, so I wouldn't catch a cold when I came up for tea."

"I see. Young Master, you are so thoughtful. You not only prepared bath towels, but also bathrobes. Did you plan to find a place with hot springs to stay in when you were in the capital?"

"Uh, no, we chose Chunyi halfway through the trip. These bathrobes and towels might not have been bought in Beijing, maybe they were bought along the way?"

Lin Yueniang was also a little unsure. They only had one carriage for luggage, so how did Mingfei manage to keep bringing out new and interesting things?

A bundle? Impossible. Fuling had already packed the wooden box used for luggage. The box she used when she pretended to go to the Shu King's mansion to propose marriage was taken out of the carriage.

Back then, they had never seen bath towels or bathrobes. However, it was only two hundred li from Yuanzhou City to Chunyi County. There were markets along the way, but they didn't see any bath towels or bathrobes for sale.

Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore. Mingfei probably just wandered into some unknown shop and bought it, Lin Yueniang thought.

Anyway, my son wouldn't steal anything; he's not short of money.

The two were only puzzled for a moment, and after soaking in the hot spring, they immediately forgot about the topic they had just discussed.

During the tea break, I dried myself off and put on a bath towel, which was indeed convenient and comfortable.

At this moment, Jiang Xiaoqi was also carrying a bath towel and bathrobe, preparing to go to the pool where she had soaked yesterday, but the flute music from yesterday rang out at the same time.

Jiang Xiaoqi frowned. This person was so casual while staying at someone else's home.

It's already dark. If the host is used to going to bed early, this is considered disturbing their sleep, isn't it?

However, since the Cui family had no objections, and he, being a guest himself, naturally couldn't cause trouble, he decided to just consider it as hiring a flute player.

Don't those famous bathhouses in the Northeast play movies or music while customers are soaking in the tub?

This live performance is even more sophisticated than a recording.

However, the flute music suddenly stopped as soon as Jiang Xiaoqi entered the hot spring pool.

Good, at least I can have some peace and quiet. I lay a thick towel on the edge of the hot spring, rest the back of my head on it, and close my eyes to relax. "Daddy! Let go! Let go! My ears are going to fall off!"

"Your ears are going to fall off! You think your ears are ears, but other people's ears aren't? Blowing away so late at night! What are you blowing for!"

"Father, please let go, please let go!"

Master Cui released his grip, angered by the boy's lack of resistance.

"Dad, I didn't play badly, did I? Why don't you care about other people's ears?"

"Hmph! How dare you talk back! We have important guests at home now, can we treat things the same as usual?"

Just as Cui Xi was about to retort, she realized that her parents had never stopped her from playing the flute at home before.

It seems there are some important guests at home. How important are they?

"Alright, let's stop bragging these days. If you really want to brag, go outside. Didn't you often go to the woods outside the city before?"

"Just go back to that place. There are fewer people and more trees there, and the birds and animals won't mind you bothering them."

Master Cui spoke earnestly, and the more he talked, the more he felt that the woods outside the city were quite suitable for his son.

"Dad, I won't play anymore, okay? I've been to that grove many times, and I haven't run into it again... It's not interesting anyway~"

"Something's not right with you! And you haven't run into anyone else?"

"No, no one!"

While Jiang Xiaoqi was still enjoying the hot spring, little did he know that a chaotic scene was unfolding between father and son next door.

However, the sound of the flute was never heard again in the days that followed.

Beijing——

"Inspect the river? Why do you suddenly want to inspect the river?"

Zhao Hongsheng repeated the entire set of words that his personal eunuch, Xiao Dezi, had taught him, word for word.

It's nothing more than sharing the burdens of the ruler, rambling on about the approaching spring and summer flood season, which sounds quite reasonable.

Emperor Zhao Yong of the Great Zhou Dynasty frowned as he looked at his fourth son, Zhao Hongsheng. It had been half a year since he last asked the Jiang family for a job in the capital.

Now that he's suddenly being asked to inspect the river for him, is it because of the Jiang family again?

He remembered the Jiang family; the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works was surnamed Jiang, and a minor official in the Ministry of Revenue was also surnamed Jiang.

None of them were high-ranking officials; they were just related by marriage. Oh right, it seems they were from Consort Liu's maternal family.

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works was only a fourth-rank official, and the Principal of the Ministry of Revenue was only a minor seventh-rank official, not even qualified to attend court.

Why would the fourth son pay attention to the Jiang family, who are related to Prime Minister Liu by marriage? Could it be that the Tong family wants to befriend the Liu family?

But Consort Liu had her own biological son, and the Liu family's status was higher than the Tong family's, which doesn't quite make sense...

Emperor Zhao Yong remained silent, which made Zhao Hongsheng a little flustered.