Mei Qingxue made arrangements for the construction of the bridge in the South of the Yangtze River. She also taught the locals how to dig canals and divert water. In previous years, she had also sent people to do this. This time, fearing that the old duke might intervene personally, she made everything well - organized before preparing to leave.
The long - ill concubine in the Prince Rui's Mansion, Rong Yu'er, who was supposed to have "died suddenly", was now dressed as a commoner. Today, the Marquis of Anning would come personally to pick her up and take her back.
"Sister Princess," Rong Yu'er was about to kneel gracefully. "Miss, she is the Crown Princess now," Nanny Wang whispered behind Rong Yu'er to remind her.
"Sister, thank you for taking care of Yu'er all these days," Rong Yu'er wiped away a few tears.
Mei Qingxue looked at the middle - aged man standing in the courtyard. "Since you're dressed as a commoner, there's no need for formal greetings. We'll talk when we have a chance in the future. It's better to leave early. From now on, there'll be no more Rong Yu'er. Remember this well."
"Thank you!" The Marquis of Anning clasped his fists and bowed. Previously, both the Eldest Prince and the Third Prince had tried to win him over. Later, the Third Prince even proposed to marry his daughter Yu'er. Everyone in the world knew that the Third Prince had strange fetishes. How dare he marry his young daughter to such a man?
He had no choice but to seek protection from the Sixth Prince and thus managed to avoid this disaster.
"The journey ahead is long. May you have a smooth trip. In the future, marry a good husband and don't forget to write to me in the capital!" Mei Qingxue knew that Rong Yu'er had fallen for that man who was said to be a curse to the country after just one glance.
"Yes, sister. In the future, I'll marry the son of father's friend."
Rong Yu'er was smart. She knew that Mei Qingxue had seen through her feelings. She also knew that there was no room for anyone else in the relationship between those two. So she said this on her own. One reason was to let go of her feelings, and the other was to reassure Mei Qingxue.
The Marquis of Anning looked at his daughter strangely. Her age was still young, and the matter of her engagement would have to wait for a few years. He didn't know why she said such things.
Mei Qingxue nodded. "When it's time for your engagement, the Crown Prince will give you a grand gift," making her marriage a magnificent one. She hoped Rong Yu'er would stop thinking about her man all the time. Why did her man have to be so good - looking? In the future, she would make him cover his face when going out.
"Let's go..."
Mei Qingxue waved her hand. The father and daughter bowed to Mei Qingxue and then turned to leave. Rong Yu'er took a look at the courtyard where she had lived for quite a while. Knowing that she had no fate with that man in this life, she let out a soft sigh.
"Daughter, why are you sighing?"
"Dad, I don't want to talk."
"Alright, let's hurry on our journey. We're always uneasy when we're not on our own territory."
"Dad, you have so many things to worry about. Do you think the South of the Yangtze River, a land of peace and prosperity, is just any place?" Rong Yu'er sat in the carriage and glanced at her father.
The Marquis of Anning knew that his daughter had grown up and must have her own thoughts. He smiled gently. "Don't you miss Dad after so long?"
"Of course I do. I miss Mom and my three elder brothers. Dad, why did you bring my half - sister here to be my hair - dressing maid?"
"Her mother has passed away. I wanted you two sisters to get closer and live with us in the future."
"Okay. She's family, and it's only right. But Dad, in the future, don't have any more younger siblings. I already have three elder brothers. You don't lack sons."
"It's only been a short time since we last saw each other, and you've become so sharp - tongued," the Marquis of Anning doted on his daughter. His half - daughter was in another carriage. From now on, she would be a proper Miss Rong.
"Dad, daughters always have to grow up," Rong Yu'er looked at the increasingly distant mansion. "Didn't you say that the son of your close friend is very good?"
"Yes, so what?" The Marquis of Anning only felt that his daughter's words were strange. He really didn't expect her to bring this up on her own.
"In the future, you can choose him as your son - in - law. It's settled. My half - sister is also at the age for engagement. Dad, you should be more careful!"
"Oh?" The Marquis of Anning looked at his daughter in surprise. He didn't expect that his daughter would choose her own engagement partner. "Dad, it's decided like this." She also wanted to be like Sister Princess. She didn't want to be a weak woman. As the daughter of a general's family, she couldn't let down her father's reputation. "Dad, who says I can't make my own decisions?" Rong Yu'er looked at the Marquis of Anning. "My half - sister used to live in the side courtyard. You should help her find a good and caring husband."
"Of course. Wasn't it just a moment of confusion back then?" The Marquis of Anning said embarrassedly. He didn't expect that his delicate daughter had changed her temperament. She could not only consider others but also make her own decisions.
"Tell Dad, what happened recently?"
"Dad, I think it's good to be like the Crown Princess. She can lead troops, manage the household, and cook. Dad, although I didn't have freedom for a few months, you let me meet a remarkable woman. Dad, from now on, she'll be my role model."
"Good. Dad also thinks the Crown Princess is a remarkable woman. That battle was a classic in the Feng Kingdom and will surely be recorded in history," the Marquis of Anning praised.
"What's that? Dad, you don't know. Sister Princess has done so many things. It's a pity I can't tell you," such as building roads and bridges, and constructing granaries.
There was also the time when she blatantly accepted bribes in the mansion. At that time, Rong Yu'er looked down on her. She never thought that those treasures would be used for such a purpose. No one else would believe it either. A mountain of treasures was used to exchange for grain. The people in the South of the Yangtze River saw Sister Princess as if they were seeing a Bodhisattva.
She didn't have the chance to be the Plum Blossom Fairy in this life. She would guard the border of the Feng Kingdom with her brothers and husband. Mei Qingxue had said that as long as a person did one thing well, it was enough.
"Then let's hurry on our journey! Your mother must be worried," the Marquis of Anning looked at his daughter with a smile. He liked the changes in his daughter, and it was this remarkable woman who had brought great influence to his daughter!
"Okay, Dad," Rong Yu'er lay in the carriage at ease. Her father was by her side, and they were on their way home.
Watching Rong Yu'er's carriage go far away, Mei Qingxue finally let out a sigh of relief. If she hadn't solved this trouble, she wouldn't have been able to feel at ease even when going home. Moreover, there would surely be many things to pay attention to in the future. Mei Qingxue didn't know that while she was away from the capital, Du Guqing had learned her trick of "exposing beauties to the sun" to perfection, which was how he managed to stop the emperor from choosing a concubine for him.
However, Mei Qingxue always felt uneasy in her heart because Du Guqing was really not a reassuring person. He was so strikingly handsome. After finishing the business here, she would go home to discipline him.
"Guo Ming, I'll return to the capital tomorrow. Keep an eye on Grandpa. Don't let him overwork. If he doesn't listen, tell me, and I'll replace him," Mei Qingxue said this in front of the old duke and the old lady. The old lady smiled. "Yes, I support Xue'er. If the old man doesn't listen, replace him immediately." As an old couple, didn't she know what the old duke was thinking? If she didn't find something for him to do, he would surely pester the grandchildren at home.
"Can't I just listen? Managing money means when someone comes to claim it, I'll have someone check the amount, send Guo Ming and someone else to verify if it's true, and then give the money. Right?"
"Right!" Mei Qingxue nodded. "I'm just finding something for you to do so you won't be bored. It's not to make you work hard. This money is very important. Grandpa must keep a good watch."
"Don't worry!"
"Then I'll take my leave, Qingxue."
This time when she went back, she would also take Eunuch Tang with her. Last time she just went back to handle some business. Now the chance of her returning to this mansion was almost zero. Mei Qingxue sighed silently. She really liked this place. If Du Guqing wasn't obedient, this place would be her home.
"Eunuch Tang, let's return to the capital."
"Yes, now that you're the Crown Princess, it wouldn't look right not to take the chief steward back with you," Tang Yide said with a smile, looking at the current Crown Princess. "It's going to be a tiring journey. I'm afraid you'll be exhausted. Otherwise, you could stay in the South of the Yangtze River to retire and help me take care of this mansion?"
"I'll just run back and forth between the two places. It's boring for an old man like me to stay here alone without the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess," Eunuch Tang insisted on returning to the capital. The emperor must be eager to see him after not seeing him for so long.
"Alright then. Pack your things. Instruct the guards of the mansion to take good care of this place. I'll come back to live here in the future."
Mei Qingxue looked at her courtyard reluctantly. Finally, she resolutely got into the carriage and didn't look back.
"That's the Crown Princess's carriage,"
"Plum Blossom Fairy, Plum Blossom Fairy..."
For some reason, everyone knew that the Crown Princess was leaving the South of the Yangtze River. The road was blocked tightly. Everyone was crying and reluctant to let Mei Qingxue leave. They were deeply afraid that once she left, there would be people like Su Minghui again.
"People, don't worry. Just like when I was still Miss Mei, I won't ignore the people in the South of the Yangtze River. You can rest assured. The current prefectural yamen was personally selected by me. Do you trust me, Mei Qingxue?"
The female voice in the carriage gradually calmed the people down.
"We trust you. We just can't bear to let you go!" The common people said in unison.
Such a good person would never come back once she left. The common people blocked the road and stopped the carriage, shedding tears. "If I don't return to the capital, how can I supervise my husband? What if he takes a concubine while I'm away?"
Mei Qingxue's words made the people around the carriage burst into laughter.
"Don't worry. I'll come back often because my mansion is right here." Mei Qingxue pointed at her own mansion. "The South of the Yangtze River has beautiful scenery and simple - minded people. I'm also reluctant to leave. Everyone, please make way, okay?"
The people wouldn't refuse what Mei Qingxue said. Just like when Mei Qingxue collected grain, they didn't hesitate to take out most of their rations. Although Mei Qingxue had compensated them later, the people's kindness couldn't be declined. Knowing that Mei Qingxue had to leave, they stuffed the gifts in their hands into the carriage one after another. When the carriage was full, they hung them around the necks of the guards and on their horses.
They didn't stop until they really couldn't carry any more.
Looking at the simple and honest faces of the common people, Mei Qingxue shed tears.