Chapter 291: Grand Finale
The next morning at dawn, the Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo stood at the city gate, looking toward the direction of the city.
Behind him followed a vast procession, and these people were not only his guards but also responsible for escorting supplies.
“Young Master, we should go,” the attendant beside him reminded.
“Got it.” The Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo took one last look toward the city, mounted his horse, and prepared to leave.
“Wait a moment…” someone shouted loudly.
The Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo turned back and saw another group of men and horses rushing toward them.
Leading them were people from Prince An’s Estate.
As the caravan approached, the person in the horse-drawn carriage stuck out their head and said to the Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo, “Have you brought enough medicinal herbs?”
The Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo saw Jiang Jing, his eyes lighting up: “Why are you here?”
“Since there’s an epidemic in Jincheng, how can I, as a doctor, stand by and do nothing?” Jiang Jing said. “I borrowed a team of men and horses from my adoptive father to help escort the medicinal herbs to Jincheng. Young Master, do you mind taking me along?”
“Not at all.” The Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo was instinctively delighted, but soon the smile vanished from his face, his expression turning grave. “There’s not only an epidemic there, but also riots by rebels. You, a young lady…”
“You dare to underestimate me?” Jiang Jing said, waving the silver needle in her hand, her eyes carrying a hint of threat.
“But…”
“No buts. Why are you being so nagging?” Jiang Jing said impatiently. “Are we going or not?”
“Let’s go.” The Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo shouted loudly. “Depart.”
Su Yaoguang and Zhou Wangshu stood on the City Wall, watching Jiang Jing lead the people from Prince An’s Estate and the Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo leave the capital city.
“Do you think Jing’er has a chance with this young heir?”
“That’s their story; they should write it themselves. We’re just onlookers.” Zhou Wangshu said, embracing Su Yaoguang. “Chunni’s family is discussing a marriage proposal today. Want to go take a look?”
“Yes, let’s go.” Su Yaoguang pulled Zhou Wangshu and ran down the City Wall.
The passing soldiers looked at the running figures with bewildered expressions.
“Wasn’t that the Prime Minister who just ran by?”
“That’s the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister’s Wife. No need to make a fuss; you’ll get used to it soon enough.”
Jia Chunni’s arranged meeting for marriage went very smoothly, and her marriage engagement was settled.
The other family was an Imperial Merchant family with a very large business, and Jia Chunni was meeting their only son.
Since the arranged meeting succeeded, the next step was to exchange the six etiquettes and set the wedding date.
Boss Song, whom Zhang Pandi married, was also in business. Though not as grand as an Imperial Merchant, he wasn’t far off. In terms of family background, the two families were well-matched. However, with Jia Chunni having an External Surname King uncle-in-law and the Prime Minister as her cousin’s husband, that Imperial Merchant surnamed Cheng was actually marrying up.
After the arranged meeting succeeded, Zhou Wangshu and Su Rende had both met the young man from the Cheng family and given their approval.
Jia Chunni was still young, so after settling the marriage engagement, they could delay the wedding by two years and observe a bit more.
Peach Blossom Workshop’s business grew larger and larger, with dozens of branch stores across various places. Su Yaoguang trained a group of confidants to inspect the branch stores everywhere under heaven, while she herself became a hands-off shopkeeper.
Zhang Zhaodi, as the Prince An’s Wife, was not at all accustomed to the ways of noblewomen from prestigious families and still liked to play in the fields.
She selected a place with beautiful mountains and clear water, turning it into a large estate with not only a hot spring but also all sorts of vegetables and fruits. Flowers bloomed all over the hills, like a fairyland.
Zhang Zhaodi and Su Rende lived in the countryside, occasionally snatching over their younger son and a pair of twin grandsons to play in the stream catching fish.
Zhou Wangshu, as the Prime Minister of the nation, was at the age to pursue his career. Even if he envied his father-in-law’s life, he couldn’t become a hands-off shopkeeper like him.
Thus, the Emperor dumped the young Crown Prince on Zhou Wangshu and ran off to join Su Rende in playing countryside farmer.
In the early stages after the country merger, various folk turmoils kept emerging. Zhou Wangshu led the civil and military officials in drafting many policies beneficial to the people’s livelihood, allowing the formerly hostile people to quickly accept their new identities.
Under Zhou Wangshu’s governance, the people’s lives grew better and better. Even if it hadn’t reached the point of not needing to lock doors at night, at least no beggars could be seen on the streets.
Another New Year’s Eve.
The entire capital city was decorated with lanterns and streamers, the people’s faces beaming with happy smiles.
“It’s snowing!”
Snowflakes drifted down, and the people reached out to catch the falling snow.
Children holding candied hawthorns ran along the street.
Su Yaoguang stood on the street. Dressed in a red fox fur coat, she shone brightly, like a teenage young girl radiating dazzling light.
She spun in a circle and said to Zhou Wangshu beside her, “It’s snowing, husband.”
Zhou Wangshu had been holding a snow-covered child in each hand, but now he let go of them, took Su Yaoguang’s hand, and said to her, “There’s an archery game to win lanterns up ahead. Want to go see?”
Su Yaoguang nodded repeatedly: “Yes.”
Zhou Yunqi held Su Yaoguang’s hand, Zhou Xiaoxu held Zhou Wangshu’s hand, and the family of four walked toward the lantern stall opposite.
Zhang Zhaodi and Su Rende brought Su Yunji over.
“Little uncle… Mom, Dad, it’s little uncle…” Zhou Xiaoxu shook off Zhou Wangshu’s hand and ran toward Su Yunji in the distance.
At this time, Su Yunji was already eight years old, half a head taller than his peers, with an exceptionally sturdy build. A sword hung at his waist, and he looked heroic.
“Sister, brother-in-law, I’ll take them out to play,” Su Yunji said.
Zhou Wangshu waved his hand in disgust: “Take them away quickly.”
Su Yaoguang pinched his arm: “Is that how a father should act? It’s New Year’s Eve, and you’re sending the children away.”
Zhang Zhaodi said with a smile, “We’ll watch the children today. You two go have fun.”
Su Rende bought some small fireworks and handed a burning one to Zhang Zhaodi: “Wife, this is fun. Take a look…”
Zhang Zhaodi said irritably, “At your age, still playing with kids’ stuff.”
“If you dare say that about me, do you dare say it about him?” Su Rende pointed in the distance.
Zhang Zhaodi looked in the direction he pointed and saw the retired Emperor and Empress Dowager. At this moment, the former Emperor was also like an old child, holding a small firework.
Now the country was peaceful and the people content; even the Emperor had no worries.
Zhang Zhaodi’s mouth twitched.
If someone had told her a dozen years ago that she would become friends with the Empress Dowager, she would have thought they were crazy.
But now, the former Emperor and Empress Dowager often went traveling mountains and rivers with them, and the Empress Dowager was even urging her daughter to have a girl, wanting her family’s child to become the Empress.
However, upon hearing the Empress Dowager’s idea, Su Yaoguang, who had originally planned to have another child, decided not to.
The Su family and Zhou family were already prosperous and wealthy enough; they couldn’t climb higher, or it might backfire.
Now the world was at peace, their little life was calm, and they just needed this happiness to continue—that would be perfect.
