They originally planned to hit the road before it started to snow, but unexpectedly the snow in the northwest started to fall at any time. When they retreated from Liangchuan, they only had time to return to Gaotang, but they would not be able to return to Beijing in time.
Thinking about a stall as big as Gaotang, it would be impossible to leave it untied. It would be better to spend the whole winter tidying it up.
Fu Jin sent a long letter.
Unlike before, this letter contains no nonsense and is all about important matters.
He analyzed the situation in the capital in detail, telling them what kind of situation they would face if they returned to the capital, how to deal with it in Gaotang, and their dealings with the Zong family and others.
The emperor's edict ordering him to return to his clan established his identity, but at the same time, it also tied his hands and feet.
He can no longer command troops, let alone interact with important ministers. If he dares to do this, without the emperor having to say anything, those ministers will jump out to criticize him first.
Because of his embarrassing status.
With the example of the two county kings before him, he will be treated more harshly.
But this step cannot be ignored.
It is good to develop his strength in the dark, but he has not been able to clear his name for a long time. When the opportunity comes, he will have no chance to fight for the position.
Gaotang cannot be released. After two years, this trade route has been firmly tied to them and will become their biggest source of wealth. Therefore, Feng Yi, the magistrate of Gaotang County, must pay special attention to it. In the future, he must always pay attention to it.
The two positions of county magistrate and pastoral supervisor must be acquaintances.
Fortunately, the position of pastoral supervisor was not important, and Zong Xu agreed to deal with it for him and asked him to retain someone to succeed him.
With Zong Xu, he never mentioned his status as teacher and student. When he returns to Beijing in the future, he just needs to maintain a relationship that is neither far nor close.
After all this, it wasn't until spring that they packed up their carriages and horses and set off back to Beijing.
Yang Shu did not leave with Zong Xu.
He doesn't plan to have anything to do with Zong Xu anymore, so it's best not to go the same way.
So, one party started from Baimen Gorge, and the other party started from Gaotang.
Yang Shu's motorcade arrived in the capital just one day earlier than Zong Xu.
When the Northwest Army stepped up its march into the city, they had already arrived.
Mingwei took Duofu and Hou Liang back to Ji's house.
Hou Liang even wanted to go back with Yang Shu.
After all, he is now His Royal Highness the King of Yue. When he comes back, he will definitely open an independent government. When the time comes, he will also be able to hold an official position.
However, Mingwei ruthlessly shattered his dream.
Although this guy is not a demon at the moment, his integrity is really worthless. Instead of staying with Yang Shu and being corrupted by glory and wealth, it is better to bring him back to her for use.
Aunt Tong is old and it’s time to take care of herself. Su Jie and Bing Xin are inexperienced and lack the enthusiasm to do things. Hou Liang, who has no integrity, just happens to help her do some shameful things.
So Hou Liang could only follow Mingwei back sadly.
His dream of becoming an official... was shattered again...
But thinking about it carefully, he was balanced again.
This time his background has been completely cleared, and since there are few people around the girl, he is willing to put in the effort and become his confidant faster.
As a confidant of Miss Ming, although there is no official position, it seems that the treatment is better?
For example, Mr. Yang...oh no, His Highness the King of Yue was more polite to him.
When the Ji family returned home, Mingwei had already settled down.
We haven’t seen each other for more than two years, so it’s natural for us to be affectionate.
Then the family eats.
Ji Xiaowu also came back, his fiancée came home, and Taoist priest Xicheng specially gave him a holiday.
Mingwei originally thought that he had grown a lot, and after eating it in one meal... Well, it turned out that even Zhu Er's status was higher than Ji Xiao Wu's...
After dinner, Ji Xiaowu was rushed to cultivate a relationship with his cousin.
The two of them were sitting on the roof next door, and he looked hopeless.
"How is your cousin doing with your art?" Mingwei gave him half of the green dates.
"Okay, very good!" Ji Xiaowu took the date as her, took a bite of it, and asked, "Will you break off the engagement or not?"
Mingwei spit out the date core and asked: "Does my cousin want to break off the engagement? It doesn't matter to me, go tell your uncle!"
Ji Xiaowu said angrily: "Shouldn't you tell me?"
Mingwei blinked: "Don't you want to break off the engagement?"
"Hey!" Ji Xiaowu was angry, "You hooked up with a wild man, why did it become my problem again?"
"Look what my cousin said." Mingwei wiped his hands slowly with a handkerchief, "If you break off the engagement, it means that I am despised by you. It's my problem to tell you. If I break off the engagement, it means that I don't look down on you.
Cousin, won’t my cousin be laughed at?”
She whispered softly: "Think about the difference carefully. The one whose engagement was broken off has a bad reputation, right? I felt guilty, so I gave you the opportunity to break off the engagement!"
Ji Xiaowu scratched his head.
It sounds so reasonable!
Previously, the niece of the sister-in-law Qi next door had her engagement annulled. Now it is not easy to get married again. This shows that the girl's family has a bad reputation for being annuled.
but……
"That one has been crowned king. If you have a bad reputation, will you be disliked?"
Mingwei raised her head and smiled at him.
After not seeing each other for more than two years, she has also grown.
The face that was originally a bit childish has turned into a very bright one.
Such a smile under the moonlight is like a famous flower in full bloom. Even the beauty and fragrance of the country are not enough to describe it.
"My cousin is so kind to me." Mingwei held his hand and said movedly, "But you don't have to worry about this. Without a test, how can we show his sincerity?"
Ji Xiaowu nodded involuntarily.
That’s right! If he wants to marry his cousin, who is such a beauty, he has to pay some price, right?
Well, that’s it!
"Then I'll go tell dad?" Ji Xiaowu was gearing up.
"Go!" Ming smiled, "I support you!"
Encouraged by her, Ji Xiaowu jumped off the roof and ran to the next door, shouting: "Dad, I want to break off the engagement!"
Mingwei slowly jumped off the roof, took the tea from Aunt Tong, and listened to Ji Xiaowu's screams from over there.
"Hey, Dad, why did you hit me?"
"My cousin said it! She said she wanted to break off the engagement!"
"I didn't lie!"
"real……"
"Miss, do you really want to break off the engagement?" Mother Tong asked.
Mingwei put the tea on the table and said, "It doesn't matter whether we retreat or not, but if we don't retreat, the Ji family will have a bad reputation."
She and Yang Shu will definitely continue to interact. It was not so eye-catching before and it was reasonable. Now that his status is different and she is older, there will definitely be rumors.
"But Fifth Young Master..."
"Even if I don't break off the engagement, there will be no future with my fifth cousin." Mingwei said, "Mom, can't you see? My fifth cousin is truly a pure-hearted person and is not interested in emotional matters. I think
He will become a monk soon."
"This..." Nanny Tong thought about the possibility that Ji Xiaowu would become a monk, but she thought that Mr. Ji would not allow it.
"Everyone has his or her own path, and others cannot hold back. If in the future, my fifth cousin wants to get married, he can return to secular life!"
Grandma Tong sighed.
The Ji family is such a good family, but it’s a pity that they have no fate with the young lady. (To be continued)