Chapter 222: Xiao Yanyan Is Giving Birth
Hexi Fort, Han Family!
That is Han Ying’er’s maternal home.
In the former Royal Court, the Han Family was a great clan.
For three consecutive generations, there were people serving in the Imperial Court, and the current patriarch Han Jiuguang even served as the Royal Court Southern Privy Councillor, equivalent to the Prime Minister.
The second master Han Jiuyuan was somewhat inferior, but he was once the Minister of Revenue in the Royal Court.
Even after coming to Jin Prefecture, he was still trusted by Li Xiao and managed the financial power of the Northern Frontier.
On this day, the Han Family members were eating breakfast.
Lady Han stood up to add a bowl of millet porridge for Han Jiuyuan and advised, “Master, you’ve lost a lot of weight these days.”
“Official duties are endless, but you still need to take care of your health.”
Since coming to Jin Prefecture, Han Jiuyuan was even busier than when he was the Minister of Revenue.
Lady Han had complained many times already.
Clearly, Jin Prefecture was just a prefecture, yet there were more things to do than in the Great Liao central hub.
Han Jiuyuan was busy every day without touching the ground, and there were even more white hairs at his temples.
“Places like Eastern Capital and Seven Rivers have just been incorporated into Jin Prefecture, and many things haven’t been sorted out yet, so it’s normal to be busy.”
“It’ll be fine after this period.” Han Jiuyuan chewed slowly on naan bread with pickles and said softly.
“Even so, you can’t do everything yourself. What if you get sick from exhaustion?”
“Moreover, although the Great Protector’s Mansion has been established, your official position hasn’t moved up at all.”
“The Great Protector is really something, just letting the donkey pull the mill~”
Han Jiuyuan suddenly choked on the porridge, coughed a few times, glared at Lady Han, and said, “Shut up.”
“What does a woman like you know?”
“Just take good care of the home honestly, and don’t worry about outside matters.”
“What belongs to this old man, no one else can take away.”
Han Jiuyuan snorted lightly, afraid that this old woman would babble outside and Li Xiao would hear it, thinking he Han Jiuyuan was a power-hungry person.
In fact, Han Jiuyuan was quite capable in financial management, and all the Northern Frontier financial matters were under his control.
He was just lacking an official title.
At this time, he had to be honest and diligent, work hard without making mistakes.
The position of Adviser in the Ministry of Personnel would be his sooner or later; it couldn’t escape.
So Han Jiuyuan wasn’t afraid of being tired and didn’t want anyone to help share the work.
He only wanted to be an old yellow ox, letting Li Xiao see his ability and attitude.
When the Great Protector’s Mansion was truly established, that would be the day the Han Family firmly stood in the Northern Frontier.
His daughter entering Li Xiao’s back residence would also be completely stabilized.
After being lectured by Han Jiuyuan, Lady Han didn’t take it to heart at all; she had always been this straightforward.
After a while, she excitedly brought up matters about Dragon City again.
“Master, I heard the Inner City is almost built. Will we move into the Inner City later?”
“Mm!”
Han Jiuyuan just finished the last sip of millet porridge and nodded lightly.
“That’s good.” Lady Han smiled happily.
“Hexi Fort is nice, but living in the city feels more comfortable.”
Different people have different feelings. Lady Han had spent the first half of her life in Kuyun-Ordu City, accustomed to living in a mansion, so these few thatched houses in Hexi Fort were really uncomfortable.
“Will we need to buy a residence then?” Lady Han asked again.
Han Jiuyuan put down his bowl and chopsticks, nodded lightly: “We do need to buy a house in Dragon City, but with this old man’s hard work, the Great Protector will surely grant us a courtyard.”
Lady Han then said, “We have a big family. The eldest, second, and third masters are all married, and the fourth is almost.”
“One residence definitely won’t fit everyone; we can buy a few more with money then.”
The Han Family was a standard gentry family, with a flourishing population.
Besides this main wife, Han Jiuyuan had five or six concubines.
These wives and concubines had given him quite a few children.
Among them, the older sons had joined the Jin Prefecture Army and become low-level officers.
The eldest had even become a Centurion.
These sons were also married and even had grandsons.
This was also why Lady Han urgently wanted to move into Dragon City; this residence in Hexi Fort simply couldn’t hold so many people.
“When the tree grows big, it branches out; that’s always been the case.”
“But the eldest and others are all grown up. Over these years, following the army on campaigns in the south and north, they should have saved some money.”
“Don’t worry about the residence; let them handle it themselves.”
Han Jiuyuan cleaned the rice grains from his beard and sighed lightly.
When they came from Kuyun-Ordu to Jin Prefecture, most of the Han Family’s money had been lost.
Over these years, through diligent work, Li Xiao had rewarded them with quite a bit of money.
But they weren’t rich enough to buy many residences in Dragon City.
On the contrary, the sons like the eldest and second who joined the army had made a fortune from war spoils in the past two years, looting quite a bit.
So, Han Jiuyuan didn’t plan to worry about their matters anymore.
Understanding Han Jiuguang’s meaning, Lady Han was surprised: “Are residences in Dragon City that expensive?”
“Not cheap.” Han Jiuguang nodded.
Although building Dragon City wasn’t his responsibility, as the financial overseer of the Northern Frontier, selling houses would fall to him.
So, Li Xiao had discussed pricing with him.
He gently picked up a cup of after-meal tea, drank it, and said, “Even the most ordinary single-entry courtyard requires two hundred sheep.”
“That expensive?” Lady Han was surprised.
This price was almost catching up to the most prosperous period of Kuyun-Ordu.
But still far inferior to those cities in the Central Plains.
During the Northern Song’s Bianjing City was known as ‘every inch of land worth its weight in gold.’
In Emperor Shenzong’s time, an ordinary residence in Bianjing City sold for ten thousand strings, that is, ten thousand sheep.
Now under Jin Dynasty rule, Bianjing City’s political status had declined, but housing prices were still around a thousand strings.
Dragon City’s prices were only a fifth of Bianjing’s, but this was the frontier.
The population was far less than Bianjing’s.
“That expensive, and people will buy?” Lady Han asked puzzled.
“Yes.” Han Jiuyuan said confidently.
“And definitely quite a few people.”
Don’t think Jin Prefecture people are all poor; in fact, the Jin Prefecture garrison soldiers are quite wealthy.
Over these years, Li Xiao led the Jin Prefecture Army on campaigns, successively conquering the Royal Court, Gaochang Uyghur, Western Xia, Naiman, and more.
Countless gold, silver, and treasures looted.
The soldiers also received large amounts of money, cattle, and sheep due to military merit.
It could be said that every household of veteran Jin Prefecture garrison soldiers was wealthy.
Two hundred strings of copper coins was a lot, but not unaffordable.
Li Xiao’s insistence on building Dragon City was not just for political significance; the economic meaning was more important.
The purpose was to create consumption.
Soldiers having too much money was not good.
It could lead to laziness, lack of ambition, no drive to strive.
So, Li Xiao had to take the money back from the garrison soldiers, creating urgency so they couldn’t slack off.
This way, they could continue to fight bravely on the battlefield, contributing to Jin Prefecture’s strength and expansion.
But Jin Prefecture’s light industry and handicrafts weren’t developed yet; garrison herdsmen had money but couldn’t spend it.
Thus, Dragon City rose at the right time.
Buying houses to pass down to descendants was an obsession deep in many Han people’s bones.
Dragon City’s developer was the Great Protector’s Mansion.
The money from buying houses naturally returned to the Great Protector’s Mansion, which could be used for many things.
The soldiers without money would then need to kill enemies on the battlefield and grab more money.
The Northern Frontier’s war machine could continue rolling forward.
“Don’t underestimate Jin Prefecture people. Looking across all of Hexi Fort, which household isn’t richer than us?”
“Currently in Jin Prefecture, the trend is to value military over civil. Civil officials have no chance to amass wealth, and it’s easy to get investigated.”
“In contrast, generals loot openly on the battlefield, and no one can say anything.”
“Often after one war, they earn more money than ordinary people in a lifetime.” Han Jiuyuan sighed lightly.
There was even a hint of envy and longing on his face.
“If this old man were ten years younger, perhaps I’d already be on the battlefield fighting for a martial future.”
Who didn’t have dreams of battlefield glory in their youth?
Han Jiuyuan was young once too, but unfortunately, the Liao State was already declining then.
Domestic nobles indulged in pleasure, having long stopped expansionist wars abroad.
Most importantly, as a Han person, even if he wanted to fight, he couldn’t control military power, topping out at mid-level general.
So, Han Jiuyuan could only follow the civil official path like his father, ancestors, and brothers.
But the world is unpredictable; the Northern Frontier was like a seed of hope sprouting from the rotten corpse of the Royal Court.
Jin Prefecture’s iron cavalry was gradually crushing the old nobles’ crowns, with new order quietly growing.
But looking at his own decaying body, Han Jiuyuan could only sigh helplessly: “Born at the wrong time!”
Born twenty years too early.
Since he was destined to miss it, Han Jiuyuan could only pin all hopes on his sons and daughter.
He would do his utmost to build a foundation for the Han Family.
Making the next generation of the Han Family military nobles and imperial relatives in the Northern Frontier.
“Usually, you should visit the Great Protector’s Mansion more, and keep in touch with Lady Li and the Old Lady.”
“If Ying’er really has any issues, there’ll be someone to look out for her.” Han Jiuyuan said to his wife.
He himself had several concubines, so he understood the difficulties of being a concubine.
His daughter’s personality was soft and indecisive.
Especially with Li Xiao’s main wife being Xiao Yanyan, and the other concubines not pushovers, Han Jiuyuan worried Han Ying’er would be bullied too harshly.
“Don’t worry, I’ve been keeping in touch with the Li Family.”
“Although Ying’er is just a concubine, our Han Family can’t be looked down upon.” Lady Han said firmly.
Her personality was straightforward, like a simple-hearted woman, very warm and able to get along with anyone.
So, in the two years since coming to Hexi Fort, she had become best friends with Qin Dani.
At that moment, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and a girl hurried in.
Seeing her, Lady Han stood up immediately: “Little Grass, why are you here?”
“Is it something about Ying’er?”
This girl was Han Ying’er’s maidservant, who had served her since the Kuyun-Ordu days.
The couple had just mentioned worrying about Han Ying’er being bullied when her maidservant appeared, naturally making them very worried.
Fortunately, the maidservant looked excited and said upon entering the room, “Master, Madam, it’s good news.”
“Miss is pregnant.”
Hearing this, the couple was stunned, then Lady Han looked delighted and grabbed Little Grass’s arm.
“Really?”
“Ying’er has a child?”
“Yes, the doctor just checked.”
“Good, that’s great.”
Lady Han laughed excitedly: “Ying’er’s belly has finally done something right this time.”
Beside her, Han Jiuyuan also showed a rare smile, stroking his beard and nodding.
The child in Han Ying’er’s belly had come at just the right time.
The Han Family’s status in the Northern Frontier was secured.
……
The Han Family was naturally thrilled, and on the other side, the Old Lady and Qin Dani came over from the old residence upon hearing the news.
They looked at Han Ying’er’s belly with beaming smiles.
“Good, many sons many blessings, many sons many blessings.”
The wrinkles on the Old Lady’s face bunched up like flowers as she nodded and smiled continuously.
She then looked at Xiao Yanyan sitting nearby, with her huge belly, who was even more important as she was about to give birth.
“A Man, women are at their hardest at this time; you must be extra careful as usual.”
“Don’t hurt the child.”
Listening to the Old Lady’s nagging, Xiao Yanyan could only smile and say “yes.”
But actually, she didn’t feel that uncomfortable; she could eat and drink, feeling pretty good.
Unlike Han Ying’er, who from discovering the pregnancy just last night had vomited many times.
Breakfast had many things prepared, but she couldn’t eat anything.
This made even Xiao Yanyan tired just watching.
So, she gently patted her belly and chuckled, “Son, you’re the one who gives Grandma peace of mind.”
As soon as she spoke, Xiao Yanyan felt her belly skin stretch a bit; the little one had kicked her, seeming angry.
Kicking her belly with feet.
“Hehehe~”
Xiao Yanyan laughed; this little one’s temper was quite big.
Soon after, Lady Han came over with things, talked to Han Ying’er for a good while, then chatted with Qin Dani.
Clearly a talkative woman.
At night, the family ate together, and Qin Dani mentioned something to Li Xiao.
“I’ve inquired these days; Lord Chen Chong has a daughter, just sixteen, knowledgeable, gentle and virtuous, and quite pretty.”
“I think Er Hu is at marriageable age too. Should we let him meet the Chen girl?”
Hearing this, Li Xiao frowned slightly: “Chen Chong’s daughter?”
Qin Dani nodded quickly: “Yes, and she’s the daughter of his main wife.”
Although the Old Master and Old Lady were still around, they basically didn’t handle these matters anymore.
Er Hu and San Bao’s marriages naturally fell to her as their mother to choose.
And Li Xiao, as the patriarch, had the most important opinion.
Li Xiao slowly put down his chopsticks, pondered for a moment, and said softly, “Chen Chong is slick in personality, but capable enough; his daughter probably won’t be bad.”
Chen Chong had been Yelü Zhilugu’s Imperial Secretary, a deputy chief of staff.
Now responsible for land reclamation in the Great Desert, capable and a doer.
Personality flaws were no big deal; after all, in these chaotic times, it was all for survival.
The only thing to consider was linking civil and military.
Er Hu was Li Xiao’s blood brother and Jin Prefecture’s Myriad Household Commander, now commanding troops in Yili.
Chen Chong was a key minister in the Great Protector’s Mansion, future Adviser candidate.
If his daughter married Er Hu, Chen Chong’s personal interests would bind with Er Hu.
For Li Xiao, it was a hidden risk.
But no big deal.
Adjust later!
Just let Chen Chong retire early.
After all, even if Er Hu married someone else’s daughter, the father-in-law’s position would get promoted soon.
In any era, marriage ties were the firmest foundation of rule.
The current Northern Frontier couldn’t escape this rule yet.
“Mother, find a time to invite Chen Madam to the old residence for a chat, and bring her daughter to see.”
“If her character is fine, then when Er Hu returns next time, let them meet.” Li Xiao nodded lightly.
“It has to satisfy Er Hu to settle this marriage.”
A main wife didn’t need to be stunningly beautiful, but at least passable; Er Hu’s satisfaction was key.
“Alright, then find a time to invite Chen Madam over.” Qin Dani said excitedly.
Chen Chong was slick, but his wife wasn’t good at socializing.
Completely opposite to Han Jiuyuan’s couple.
So, even after two years in Jin Prefecture, Qin Dani and Chen Madam hadn’t had deep interactions.
“Right, how’s Da Hu’s side?”
“Has Second Uncle and Second Aunt found a girl they like?” Li Xiao asked again.
Da Hu was a year older than Er Hu.
He was long at marriageable age, and Second Uncle and Second Aunt had been looking for candidates early.
Women were naturally very interested in matchmaking.
Qin Dani often exchanged with Second Aunt, so she shared with Li Xiao: “Of course~”
“Your Second Aunt likes the daughter from the Liu Family in Bohai Fort, but after Second Uncle saw her, he thought she was too thin, lacking martial spirit.”
“He took a fancy to a Chiliarch’s daughter from Second Town; we’ll see when Da Hu returns.”
“I reckon it’ll be up to your Second Uncle in the end.” Qin Dani said mysteriously.
On children’s marriages, women had a say, but men made the decisions.
Li Erjiang always thought Da Hu was too ‘scholarly,’ compared to Er Hu of course, but after so many wars, Da Hu had transformed into a fierce general.
But Li Erjiang still thought it wasn’t enough.
So he wanted a sturdy daughter-in-law to bear a sturdier grandson.
“Hehehe~”
“Da Hu has plenty to choose from.” Li Xiao said with a chuckle.
“If really hard to pick, let him take them both.”
Of course, besides Da Hu and Er Hu, Er Feng’s marriage also needed to be arranged soon.
Countless people wanted to marry Er Feng, but she seemed unsatisfied with them.
Second Uncle and Second Aunt kept helping her pick.
At night, Li Xiao personally escorted the Old Lady, Qin Dani, and San Feng home.
The current residence was newly built, just a short walk from the Li Family old residence.
Besides the Old Lady and the other two living there, there were several maidservants and guards specially arranged by Li Xiao.
But on the way back, the Old Lady inevitably started nagging again.
Since Tang Valley was established, the Old Master seemed to have a second spring, devoting himself to blacksmithing, coming home less and less.
This had made the Old Lady complain a lot to Li Xiao.
She even demanded Li Xiao bring the Old Master back, saying blacksmithing at home was the same.
Li Xiao could only agree repeatedly.
Mainly because the Old Master was too old; Li Xiao didn’t want him overexerting, health was most important.
With Li Sanzhi’s skills, he could handle Tang Valley’s affairs.
After sending the three back home, just as Li Xiao was about to leave, Qin Dani mysteriously pulled him aside.
She whispered, “What about the Wei Family girl? What do you plan to do?”
Wei Family girl?
A girl’s figure instantly appeared in Li Xiao’s mind.
It was the girl he rescued from Sanhe Fort back then.
Wei Xuan’s sister, Wei Erya.
“This girl has grown up now; she came to our Hexi Fort a while ago.”
“I saw her; she’s quite striking, very pretty.”
“Heard her brother is picking suitors for her, but she refused them all.”
“I think she’s set her sights on you.” Qin Dani said.
Hearing this, Li Xiao was silent for a moment.
The little girl back then was very pretty, but too young.
Li Xiao couldn’t make a move.
These years, Li Xiao had been mostly campaigning outside, indeed neglecting the little girl.
Recalling her appearance, Li Xiao still felt a stir.
Since the girl had intentions, Li Xiao wouldn’t hold back.
“Find a time to drink with Wei Xuan!” Li Xiao thought to himself.
Then, Li Xiao returned home and first spent some tender time separately with Xiao Yanyan and Han Ying’er.
Then he was shooed out by them.
In their condition, they definitely couldn’t serve Li Xiao.
So he went to Tajiguli’s room.
“Master!” Seeing Li Xiao, Tajiguli’s eyes lit up.
Seeing Han Ying’er pregnant had made her extremely envious.
She was already eager for Li Xiao’s favor.
But when she went to help Li Xiao change clothes, he directly scooped her up horizontally.
“Ah!”
The rising and falling voices continued until late at night.
However, just as Li Xiao was preparing to cease fighting and rest, chaotic noises suddenly came from the opposite room.
A maidservant hurriedly ran to Tajiguli’s place but didn’t find Li Xiao, then came to Tieni’s door.
She called urgently, “Great Protector, Madam’s belly hurts.”
“She might be giving birth.”
