Armed with a machete and a gun, armed with a system, they fled the famine.

Moreover, her belly isn't too big yet, so as long as we lay a few more layers of quilts in the carriage, the journey shouldn't be too bumpy.

Tian Xiu'e, holding her youngest son, smiled and said, "Yan'er, this is a good idea. It's not too cold this year, so if we go to the capital early, we can see how lively the Lantern Festival is there."

Upon hearing that they would be spending the Lantern Festival in the capital, Zhao Xiaomi and the others immediately cheered with joy.

Zhao Xiaomi: "Mom, shall we set off tomorrow? The capital is so lively, it must be even more lively during the Lantern Festival. I want to go and see it."

Yuan Tianbao also tugged at his grandfather's arm and shook it, saying, "Grandpa, let's go to the capital too. I haven't been out and about in ages."

Although the three Zhao brothers didn't say it, it was clear that they also wanted to go out.

After discussing it, Yuan Yutang and Su Yanzhi immediately said, "Okay, everyone is willing. Let's pack our things today and set off first thing tomorrow morning."

"Good! Good!"

Zhao Xiaomi and Yuan Tianbao, along with a few other children, immediately jumped and danced.

Zhao Yan sighed helplessly to herself.

I've taken them to Beijing every year for the past two years, is it really necessary to be this excited?

After lunch, everyone quickly dispersed and went home to pack their things.

They stayed in Beijing for a while last year, and thinking they would go back every year, they left all the things they had bought in the Beijing house.

Therefore, Zhao Yan didn't pack anything this time, only the things she needed for the journey.

Others basically shared the same idea.

Early the next morning, they boarded a carriage and set off in a grand procession onto the main road.

Because Dou Xingyan was pregnant, they did not travel very fast and did not arrive in the capital until three days later.

It was already the eighth day of the Lunar New Year.

Dou Xingyan didn't want to go back alone, so she shamelessly followed Zhao Yan and the others to their house.

After tidying up the house, everyone had a good night's sleep.

When I woke up the next day, I found that the sky, which had been gloomy for several days, had suddenly turned bright and sunny.

Zhao Yan and the others' mood instantly brightened.

After breakfast, Zhao Yan, Dou Xingyan, and Tian Xiue lingered under the eaves of the courtyard, basking in the sun.

In the courtyard, Chen Qingjiao was playing happily with Zhao Xiaomi and several other children.

It presents a picture of peaceful and idyllic life.

Dou Xingyan smiled and gently placed her hands on her stomach.

"After this baby is born, I will have a few more younger brothers and sisters. With more children in the family, there will be no end to the laughter and joy."

She doesn't reject children, but seeing Xiaomi and Xiaofu Niu so happy every day makes her even more determined to have more children in the future.

Zhao Yan glanced at her and couldn't help but joke with her, "Okay, after this one in your belly is born, you can get pregnant with twins next time. The house will be so lively from now on."

Upon hearing this, Tian Xiu'e hugged her youngest son and laughed heartily.

Dou Xingyan suddenly lowered her head and muttered softly, "That would depend on whether Brother Shen has the ability."

Anyway, she can't handle this by herself; it depends on what Brother Shen does.

Zhao Yan narrowed her eyes slightly and said to Dou Xingyan with a smile, "I was just joking with you, you actually took it seriously."

Having twins is no easy feat, especially in ancient times when everything was backward.

After everyone had laughed and joked around for a while, Dou Qingran suddenly arrived in the afternoon.

When Dou Xingyan saw him, she immediately smiled and said, "Brother, could you find some time to invite my sister-in-law out so we can meet her? The daughter of the Minister of Revenue? I don't remember her at all."

She had spent quite a bit of time in the capital, but she really had no recollection of the daughter of the Minister of Revenue.

Dou Qingran smiled and said, "Your mind is on other things, so naturally few people know about it."

Thinking of Lu Min's timid and sensitive nature, he pondered for a moment and suddenly said, "Your sister-in-law is sensitive. Be gentle with people when you meet them, don't scare them."

Dou Xingyan had never seen her brother care about other women before, so she immediately teased him: "Oh my, brother, you've even started caring about women now. It seems you really like your sister-in-law."

Zhao Yan, Yang Sanlang, and the others all had a strong gossip-loving look in their eyes.

Even though Dou Qingran was used to facing many ministers, he still felt uncomfortable being looked at with such mocking eyes.

He coughed twice and quickly changed the subject.

"By the way, why did you come to Beijing so early? Didn't you say you'd come after the New Year?"

Zhao Yan smiled and explained to him, "The weather is warm this year. We were thinking of coming to the capital sooner or later, so we might as well come earlier and visit the Lantern Festival in the capital."

Dou Xingyan chimed in, "Yes, Sister Zhao is right. Look, the sun is out as soon as we arrived in Beijing, which means even God is welcoming us."

Dou Qingran didn't think much of what he said, but nodded with a smile and agreed, "Yes, you're right. It's good that you came early, otherwise I was worried that the sky would never clear up again."

After everyone laughed and joked around for a while, and then had dinner together, Dou Qingran prepared to return to the palace.

Before leaving, Dou Xingyan repeatedly emphasized to him, "Brother, remember to invite your sister-in-law out for dinner on the Lantern Festival."

Zhao Yan squinted and said, "Yes, I'm also quite curious about what kind of woman you're so interested in."

"Yes, I'll try my best."

Dou Qingran responded and hurriedly got into the carriage and left.

It felt somewhat like they were fleeing in panic.

On the way back, Dou Xingyan was still complaining to Zhao Yan: "I don't know what my brother is so reserved about? We're not tigers or wild beasts, are we going to eat our sister-in-law?"

Zhao Yan smiled and said, "Maybe your brother is just worried that your sister-in-law is shy and has too much face."

Dou Xingyan frowned and thought for a moment, then immediately said, "Then we'll speak more gently then, so my brother won't have to worry."

She felt that neither she nor Sister Zhao were the kind of women who could shut someone up with their words.

I don't know what her brother was thinking.

A few days later, the annual Lantern Festival arrived.

Before it was completely dark, all the streetlights on both sides of the road were already lit.

The lanterns were covered in colorful paint, making the road look quite beautiful.

Zhao Yan and Yang Sanlang each carried one child, with Zhao Xiaomi and others following behind. The group strolled leisurely down the street, laughing and joking.

Dou Xingyan walked at the front, supported by Shen Yu's arm. Whenever she saw something new or interesting, she would call out to Zhao Yan and the others to hurry over and take a look.

Zhao Yan said she didn't find it novel at all, since modern Lantern Festivals have all sorts of things, and she's long been used to it.

Zhao Xiaomi and the others, on the other hand, found it all very novel. When they saw something they had never seen before, they would open their mouths in surprise and exclaim, just like country bumpkins who had never seen the world before.