With apprehension and anticipation, Qin Youyi left her mother's house with her sons and returned to the Zhenxi Hou Mansion. A few days later, the palace summoned Qin Bai into the palace to talk to the emperor. Less than half a day after he returned home, the Hou Mansion in Zhenxi sent Qin Youyi's mother-in-law over and sent Qin Bai two pots of wax plum blossoms and two pots of golden chrysanthemums.

At this time, it is still early, in fact, it is not the season of wax plum blossoms, so the two pots of flowers are just a few half-opened buds, barely a little cold fragrance, and more are small flower bones the size of soybeans. But for the golden chrysanthemum, the middle of October is a little late, and the two pots of golden chrysanthemum have already bloomed a little, I am afraid that they will not last a few days, and they will begin to wither. These four pots of flowers are used as gifts, and I really don't know what to say.

Fortunately, Qin Bai was very reasonable and understood that this was actually just an excuse for Mrs. Zhenxi Hou, in order to let people come to find out what he had gained from entering the palace.

He was a little helpless about this, and said to his little granddaughter Qin Hanzhen in private: "Mrs. Zhenxi Hou is also too anxious, I just came out of the palace." Even if I mentioned to the emperor the old trouble of Zhenxihou, it would not be possible to have a letter so quickly? I am just a talker, and it is still the emperor who decides how to decide. I've been waiting for more than ten years, so what's the point of waiting a few more days?"

Qin Hanzhen said with a smile: "I'm afraid that Mrs. Zhenxihou is looking forward to Zhenxihou returning to her home in the capital for the New Year, right? In fact, she is so anxious, why does she refuse to ask her son to go to the book and ask for the emperor's grace? Grandfather told the emperor that Zhenxihou had old injuries like a writer often gossiping, and the emperor always had to verify it before he would consider issuing an order to call people back to the court, and at the same time he had to arrange someone to take over the position of Zhenxihou. The southwest border is thousands of miles away from the capital, and it will take two or three months to make proper arrangements. If Mrs. Zhenxihou is really in a hurry, wouldn't it be better for her own family to come forward? The emperor didn't have to stay in the southwest of Zhenxihou, and he didn't even agree that people wanted to go home to recuperate. To put it bluntly, it's just that Mrs. Zhenxi Hou wants to disobey her husband's wishes, but she is afraid that he will be angry, so she can only take a roundabout route and find a way from the emperor's side. Now that you have made up your mind, you have to be patient. ”

Qin Bai shook his head: "It's human nature for her to care about it." It's just that I originally planned to act in secret, not to alarm outsiders, and not to let Zhenxihou know. But Mrs. Zhenxihou is so anxious, I'm afraid my plan won't work. ”

That's right, Mrs. Zhenxi Hou can only go back to her parents' house three or twice a year with her daughter-in-law, and she has no contact with Yongjiahou Mansion, so she suddenly sent a few pots of flowers to Qin Bai, obviously there is a problem. Outsiders may not know the inside story, but as soon as Zhenxi Hou returned to Beijing, it was easy to find out what was going on.

Thinking of this, Qin Hanzhen was a little angry: "Mrs. Zhenxihou didn't dare to ask her son to go to school, it must be because she knew that Zhenxihou refused to leave the southwest border. She wanted to make her own decisions, cutting first and then playing, but she pushed the pressure on her grandfather's side. Besides, Mrs. Zhenxihou inexplicably sent flowers to our family, and if outsiders guessed what you said to the emperor, it would be a lot of criticism, saying that your relatives were interfering in politics. This is really a loss-making business, if it weren't for the little aunt, who would be willing to help their Su family?!"

Qin Bai smiled and said, "It's okay. Mrs. Zhenxihou begged me, and I spoke to the emperor, but I was just helping to talk, so why did my relatives say that they were interfering in politics? Even if someone really interfered in politics, it was also the family members of Zhenxihou who asked for something. As for Zhenxihou's complaints, I can't care about so much. The Marquis of Zhenxi has been stationed in the frontier for many years, defending the country against the enemy, and has worked hard. Seeing that his old injuries are getting worse, it is okay for him to be loyal to his duty and refuse to leave, but I can't watch the heroes suffer and lose their longevity. As long as he can recuperate as soon as possible after returning to Beijing, and continue to serve the imperial court for a long time, what does it matter if I have a few complaints?"

Well, there is no one with this kind temperament of my grandfather. Qin Hanzhen could only mutter: "Yes, we do good deeds without expecting anything in return." Anyway, my grandfather didn't like to go out to socialize, so if he didn't go to meet with Zhenxihou, could he still come to the door? Wouldn't that be dissatisfied with the emperor's benevolence? I don't think he would be so stupid. ”

Qin Bai glanced at his granddaughter speechlessly, but couldn't help but laugh.

Within two days, a decree came down from the palace. For the matter of changing the southwest garrison to Shudi, the emperor wanted to summon the commanders of the two armies, and the Marquis of Zhenxi was going to Beijing to face the saint, and his position in the southwest army was temporarily represented by his lieutenant general, and his eldest son also received grace and was allowed by the emperor to enter Beijing with his father. There is news in the court that this is the emperor who saw that the Su family father and son had been stationed in the border for many years, working hard, and wanted to give them a reward. For a time, the Zhenxi Hou Mansion became the center of heated discussions in the elite circle in Beijing. There are many more banquet posts sent to his door than in the past, and there are more people who give gifts.

Zhenxi Hou Mansion was as low-key as ever, and all the gifts sent to the door were politely declined, and the post was accepted, but he didn't say whether he would attend. This is what the Su family has always done, and it has not caused others to discuss. However, it was the family of Mrs. Zhenxi Hou or her eldest daughter-in-law, and more female relatives took the initiative to visit.

In this wave of excitement, many people also noticed that Su Zhongying, the second son of Zhenxi Hou, specially visited his wife's uncle Yongjiahou's house and brought a cart of gifts, and I don't know what it was. He stayed in Yongjiahou's Mansion for half a day, and he also kept food before turning back with the empty carriage.

When Qin Hanzhen went to the Chengenhou Mansion to find the lobby brother Qin Jian to speak, he couldn't help but spit out about it: "Mrs. Zhenxi Hou asked her little uncle to pull a large cart of things, all of which are quite valuable silk, furs, tea, medicinal materials, antique calligraphy and paintings, etc. If it is said to be a thank you gift, this is too exaggerated, it really makes people wonder, does she want to use these things as a thank you gift, which means that my grandfather helped their Su family this time, and they gave gifts even if it was evened? Anyway, they are relatives, so it's too much of a slap in the face, right?

Qin Jian frowned and said, "Not only your family, but in fact, we have also received a gift from Mrs. Zhenxi Hou, which may be slightly smaller than that of the third uncle ancestor, but this is not how things work." Although my grandmother didn't say anything, she was actually angry in her heart. My mother directly said that the gift was a New Year's gift, and she asked the people below to prepare a similar one, and sent it to the Zhenxi Hou Mansion in the month of preparation, which was considered a return gift. My mother was actually a little unkind to do this, but my grandmother was angry and didn't stop her. I'm afraid that when the time comes, it's still my little aunt who will feel embarrassed. ”

Qin Hanzhen couldn't help but ask: "Didn't the little uncle pay a compensation?" His own mother slapped his in-laws in the face like this, if he understood in his heart, he should also apologize, right?"

Qin Jian said: "The little uncle did whisper a lot of words of thanks in private, but he is a filial son, so it is not good to openly say that this matter is his mother's fault." He sighed, "It's not easy for my little uncle. He discussed with his little aunt and wanted to be released, but in fact, he couldn't stand Mrs. Zhenxihou's temper. Helplessly, a filial piety word was pressed on his head, and no matter how many grievances he had, he couldn't say it. ”

Qin Hanzhen snorted: "After all, he is also a rising star in the army, they all say that he is good at governing the army and is good at training, and he must not be a weak person in front of the soldiers, but he can't do anything about his own mother." Zhenxi Hou has been tough all his life, but with such a wife and son, I think it is even more difficult for him. ”

Who said that if you don't obey your mother's words, you must help you go back? Can't you outwit? Can't think of a way to outwit, it can only show that the little uncle Su Zhongying is not strategic, and even if he is released, it is difficult to guarantee that he can stand alone. Qin Hanzhen was a little worried about his grandfather. He was kind enough to help Su Zhongying and Qin Youyi, but if Su Zhongying couldn't help him, if something went wrong in the future in the future, Qin Bai would definitely feel guilty.

Qin Jian somewhat disagreed with her cousin's opinion: "Is Mrs. Zhenxi Hou a fool? She is from a family, extremely shrewd, and stern, and has always had a lot of ideas. She has her own reasons for everything she does, so what else can her uncle do? She can't really fall out with her biological mother because of these little things. He was raised by Mrs. Zhenxihou herself, unlike his brother, who has been by Zhenxihou's side since he was a child. Mrs. Zhenxi Hou insisted on opposing it, and he disobeyed it once, and he felt sorry in his heart. ”

This is brainwashed since childhood, right? Qin Hanzhen suddenly felt a little pity for his little aunt Qin Youyi. Qin Song and the Xu family will take a fancy to the Su family, and they are completely optimistic about the power of the Marquis of Zhenxi and Su Zhongying's character. But before Qin Youyi married into the Su family, how could she know that the Su family was in such a situation? Zhenxihou went to the southwest for more than ten or twenty years, and rarely returned to Beijing to get involved in court politics, Su Zhongying was detained by his strict mother, and he couldn't even take charge of the upbringing of his own son. Fortunately, he is not a completely stupid person, and for the sake of the future of his two sons, he knows that he can be saved. Otherwise, Qin Youyi's life, I really don't know what hope there is.

Speaking of which, people like Mrs. Zhenxi Hou are really indescribable. She has a good background, she is not stupid, her husband has been on the frontier for many years, she has been staying at home, supporting the family business, and raising her young son, which is not easy. But what she does is always unacceptable. In the past, she was estranged from her relatives and friends, and she rarely interacted with her, even if she had more contact, her attitude was still so cold, who wanted to interact with her often?

If she hadn't been worried about Qin Youyi, she was afraid that when she asked her youngest son to deliver the two carts of gifts to the Qin family's door, the people of the Qin family and the two mansions would be able to throw things out of the door. But she hadn't crossed the bridge seriously, and the emperor just summoned the father and son of Zhenxihou back to Beijing to face the saint, and he didn't say that he wanted to keep them in Beijing, so she was so anxious to draw the board, wasn't she afraid that she wouldn't even be able to cross the bridge?

Qin Hanzhen pursed his lips, and he didn't bother to say anything to complain. Anyway, now that the Qin family's east and west mansions have been met by Mrs. Zhenxihou, when Qin Youyi and his wife are successfully released, they don't have to deal with Mrs. Zhenxihou anymore, let her stay where she is cool!

Qin Hanzhen turned to Qin Jian and talked to Qin Jian about the "business" to be done during this visit: "Brother Jian, has Mr. Zeng been very busy recently? Has the fifth sister been looking for her to make up for her lessons? That day, the little aunt came back to save her relatives, and it was the first snow of this winter, and the second aunt stopped the class of the boudoir. I still haven't finished half of the piano music before, and I was looking for Mr. Zeng to make up for the lesson, but I sent a post to Mr. Zeng every day, and Mr. Zeng said that he was not free and wanted to go to the Chengenhou Mansion to fulfill his responsibilities. I know that the fifth sister has just returned from the third aunt's hometown and needs to make up for the lessons, but this is also too diligent, and I haven't seen her so studious before. When is she going to make up for this? Can you make up for half a day, let me find Mr. Zeng, and finish learning that half of the music?"

Qin Jian was stunned when she heard this, and her expression suddenly became a little strange.