The surroundings fell silent instantly... Jin Shanyao stood on the oxcart, looking around, "Line up, one family at a time..."
Before the words were even finished, the Fu Household had already lined up in an astonishingly fast manner.
Old General Fu was leading the group, was grinning at her. Jin Shanyao was momentarily speechless. Lu Chi was all alone, squeezed next to Old General Fu, looking at her expectantly.
Beside him was Madam Su's father, Song Henian, the Vice Minister of Ministry of War, who was about the same age as Old General Fu, with gray hair and the audacity to snatch the ox rope from a younger man.
Looking at Qiao Qingran again, her eyes were moist as she looked at Jin Shanyao, swallowing her tears. She couldn't afford to offend anyone present.
If she had known this would happen, she should have asked her father-in-law to come. They're both high-ranking officials, so who's afraid of whom...?
Jin Shanyao gave her a reassuring look, then turned a cold gaze to the crowd, "What kind of behavior is this, all this noise and commotion..."
She picked up a bundle from the oxcart. "Who are Madam Su's family members?"
Song Henian smiled and raised his hand, "I'm Zhiwei's father..."
Jin Shanyao handed him the package, "These are clothes your daughter made for her mother. Remember... they're for her mother, don't give them to the wrong person."
"Don't worry, Miss Jin, I can handle this little matter," his daughter wrote in her letter. She said that the Fu Household were all military men, and he couldn't just take it by force. She told him to first get acquainted with Jin Shanyao and then slowly build a relationship with her.
Old General Fu glanced at him sideways, "You've taken the things, aren't you leaving?"
"Mind your own business..." Song Henian retorted, his voice choked with embarrassment. Then, he raised his smiling face and stared at the Jin Shanyao. This was a master with extraordinary abilities; he had to share in his good fortune.
Old General Fu gave a soft snort, his eyes fixed on Jin Shanyao, waiting for her to speak.
Jin Shanyao, making room for the oxcart, and beckoned Qiao Qingran to sit down. Then she said to everyone, "Everyone, please go back. I need to go home with Madam Qiao to look after the house..."
After saying that, he called out to Qiao Qingran's coachman, "You lead the way..."
"Hey, hey..." The coachman dared not stop, hurriedly drew his whip and cracked it in the air. The carriage swayed and was about to enter the city gate.
Lu Chi rushed forward, "Master... the Ji Household is not a good place to go. It's better to stay at my place where there's peace and quiet."
Upon receiving news of Jin Shanyao's arrival in the capital, he prepared a separate courtyard, ready for her to Jin Shanyao in.
Jin Shanyao said calmly, " Lu Chi, we are no longer master and servant. Don't call me master anymore."
Lu Chi felt a sudden pang of despair, as if he had fallen into a bottomless pit. His face turned deathly pale, and his expression was worse than if he were crying.
"Master, you don't want me anymore..."
Jin Shanyao looked at him with disapproval. "You used all your redemption money to buy a mountain. Now you call me master, do I have to pay you back? No, no... Ten thousand taels can buy a lot of servants. Lu Chi absolutely cannot accept it."
Lu Chi was about to say something when Meng Anci interrupted him, "Master, you are the Prefect of the Capital, and your master is the Emperor... It's inappropriate for you to address your aunt like that."
Lu Chi suddenly snapped out of his daze, his sharp gaze instantly fixed on Qiao Qingran. Qiao Qingran's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly waved her hands, "I didn't hear anything."
Only Fu Congxi can keep Lu Chi, that mad dog, in check; she wouldn't dare provoke him.
Lu Chi withdrew his gaze and looked at Jin Shanyao again, saying sincerely, "I spoke without thinking, but the Ji Household is really not what you think. I'm worried about you taking care of two children alone."
Jin Shanyao pondered for a moment, her eyes narrowed, "You know nothing about my strength."
Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci in unison. Their aunt never held grudges when fighting and had never been at a disadvantage.
Lu Chi was stunned. "Boss, this is the capital, not Little River Village, nor Willow and Poplar County... This place is full of ghosts in human skin."
Jin Shanyao his chin slightly and said, "Not afraid of ghosts..." He was about to swat the ox's rump when the old ox mooed and started walking away first.
Fu Congxi walked to Lu Chi's side, "Don't worry, with Miss Jin's abilities, the Ji Household can't do anything to her..."
Lu Chi naturally took her hand, but before he could speak, he heard a loud shout, " Lu Chi, let go of my hand!"
Old General Fu strode forward and snapped their clasped hands apart. He glared at Lu Chi and said, "You dare to try and steal my granddaughter's hand from me? I've known you're no good since you were a child."
You always act weak and helpless in front of Congxi, and the first thing you did after coming back from the dead was to propose marriage to me. Humph... If it weren't for the fact that Congxi has some feelings for you, I would never have let you into my Fu Household.
"Now I need to reconsider your marriage." With that, he pulled Fu Congxi toward the city gate. Fu Congxi smiled and waved to Lu Chi.
Old General Fu said angrily, "What time is it? You're still getting entangled with him. We're enemies now. You need to recognize your side."
Before we've taken the Jin Shanyao home, we mustn't associate with him, lest word get out."
Fu Congxi couldn't help but chuckle, "Alright, I'll do whatever Grandfather says."
Fu Congheng strode forward and whispered in his grandfather's ear, "If you want Jin Shanyao into our house, just send one person?"
Old General Fu stopped and glanced at him sideways. "Who?"
"My cousin, Fu Congzhao... Jin Shanyao over him."
"What..." Old General Fu and Fu Congxi asked simultaneously. Fu Congheng pulled his cousin over and pushed him in front of them, "Tell me... does Jin Shanyao Yaoxi even want you?"
Fu Congzhao's ears turned bright red, and he stammered, "She just mentioned it casually... it's not appropriate..." Before he could finish speaking, he was abruptly interrupted by Old General Fu's "Good!"
Old General Fu excitedly patted Fu Congzhao's shoulder repeatedly, "My dear grandson... although you are not worthy of Miss Jin, it is already a blessing from many lifetimes that you can be her intimate guest."
"Our Fu Household isn't old-fashioned, so go ahead and do it... Your grandfather supports you."
He said this with a smile on his face and a look of satisfaction in his eyes, but when he turned his head and saw Fu Congheng grinning foolishly along with him, his face instantly turned cold.
"Nothing at all???"
After saying that, he put on a smiling face again and looked at Fu Congzhao, "You should exercise well during this time, especially your waist... and this," Old General Fu slapped Fu Congzhao on the buttocks.
Fu Congzhao blushed instantly, "Grandfather... it's not what you think. Miss Jin and I are completely innocent."
"Nonsense... What do you mean by 'pure and innocent'? You're not allowed to say such unlucky things anymore... It's depressing..."
Old General Fu walked home with his back straight and hands behind his back, full of vigor. As the saying goes, if you're going to have children, you should have boys. Indeed... having more children does have its advantages.
He seemed to have thought of something, and looked at Fu Congheng with disdain, "All show and no substance, utterly useless."
Fu Congheng???? What happened to him again???
Fu Congxi patted Fu Congheng on the shoulder, walked past him, and gave his younger brother a thumbs-up when he reached him.
"I've had high hopes for you since you were a child..." After saying this, he hurriedly caught up with Old General Fu and lowered his voice, "Grandfather, my younger brother really needs a couple more layers of clothing."
"Tian... Our Fu Household values reputation, we can't let your brother dress so shabbily," he turned to look at the uncomfortable Fu Congzhao, and nodded in satisfaction.
That grandson of his, I'm not exaggerating... you can't find anyone in the entire capital as handsome or as fit as him.
Hehehe... That's great, I didn't raise this grandson for nothing.
Song Henian, who had been following behind, rolled his eyes and came up with a plan.