The Convex-Shaped Residence

Sure enough, just after Wushi, the family property was divided up. Zhao Yuanxun sent someone to summon Xu Xi to the ancestral hall, where he watched as the Ninth Elder wrote Zhao Jingli's name under Zhao Yuanliang's name in the family genealogy, and then added Zhao Ruxi's name under Zhao Yuanxun's name.

Girls from noble families were different from those from ordinary families; they might marry into the royal family and become noble ladies. Therefore, their names would be recorded in the family genealogy.

However, she was only recorded by name and did not need to come to pay her respects in person. Xu Xi was not qualified to enter the ancestral hall. But the Zhao Family had lost her for more than ten years and felt indebted to her. In addition, Zhao Yuanxun insisted repeatedly, so the clan members allowed her to enter the ancestral hall.

At that moment, Zhao Jingli and Xu Xi knelt down and kowtowed before the ancestral tablets in the ancestral hall. Thus, the two returned to their respective places.

After seeing off the relatives and the members of the second and third branches of the family had all left, Zhao Yuanxun said to Xu Xi, "Our family's affairs have reached the ears of the emperor. It's not good that your household registration isn't moved back; otherwise, someone will report you and you'll be punished. Tomorrow I'll go to Beining County and move your household registration back."

"As for whether you can still study at the Beining Women's Academy, I'll have to inquire at the academy. Although we can use our connections with Grand Princess Shangde to have someone put in a good word for you, this matter involves a great deal of power struggles within the palace, not just personal relationships. So it's best to ask the academy directly. I'll go and inquire after I've completed my household registration in Beining. If Grand Princess Shangde thinks you can't stay there, then you can go home. Your parents will hire a tutor to teach you at home."

Xu Xi was naturally reluctant to leave Beining Women's Academy. She also didn't want to be an ancient woman confined to a secluded mansion.

However, the Earl of Suiping's Residence had just angered the emperor, and there were countless people in the court who were on good terms with Wei Qiu and wanted to find fault with the mansion; the Zhao Family also had Zhao Yuankun, who regarded the old lady and the eldest son's family as enemies, and might even have someone impeach Zhao Yuanxun in court. Xu Xi naturally could not act willfully because of his own selfish desires.

She nodded and said, "I will follow Father's arrangements."

Ever since he learned that this was his daughter, and after hearing his mother and wife praise her every day, when Zhao Yuanxun went to pick her up from the academy that day, he couldn't help but think that his daughter was good, beautiful, and intelligent. His loving fatherly heart could no longer be calmed.

Seeing his daughter so obedient, he couldn't help but reach out and pat Xu Xi's head, laughing, "Good girl."

Xu Xi was originally only close to the old lady and the first wife, and had little contact with Zhao Yuanxun, so she still felt a sense of estrangement. But now, after he patted her and heard the word "good girl," her last bit of defenses crumbled instantly.

The First Madam was overjoyed to see her husband and daughter so close.

After parting ways with her husband in the front yard and seeing her mother-in-law back to the Rongxi Hall, the First Madam said to Xu Xi, "Come to my place, I have something to say to you."

Xu Xi followed the First Madam to the main house.

After she entered the house and sat down, the First Madam told her, "Let me tell you the details of the family division."

She pointed outside. "This house is divided into three parts. We'll take the middle, larger part. We'll give them the courtyard they're currently living in, seal off the archway leading this way, and then open a large gate on the other side."

Xu Xi nodded.

The way the house is divided is reasonable.

Although she was only back for a limited time, she still managed to walk around the entire house during her after-dinner stroll.

The house occupies a large area. The Zhao Family ancestor was a military general, a rough and uncultured man. He never thought about creating any scenery or a special garden. Instead, he wanted to have many children and grandchildren and build many houses. Therefore, he built a cluster of courtyards on the east, south, west, north and the central axis.

First, there's the central axis, which includes the main hall in the front yard, the Rongxi Hall in the back yard, and the large courtyard where the eldest son's family now lives.

There are two large courtyards in the southeast and southwest corners of the outer courtyard. The southeast corner is now the study for the gentlemen, while the southwest corner is the guest courtyard.

The second house was located in the northeast corner, and the third house was located in the northwest corner. The servants of each house lived in a row of servants' quarters built behind each house.

For ease of management, each courtyard was initially separated by walls, with only arched gates for entry and exit. After nightfall, each room would be locked or guarded, each responsible for its own security.

Now the two-bedroom and three-bedroom houses are directly separated from each other, leaving the house with a "convex" shape.

The remaining house was also quite large, with so many courtyards. In Xu Xi's opinion, it was already very good; at least the eldest son's family couldn't possibly live there all at once. Even if Zhao Jingtai had five or six sons in the future, they would still have plenty of room to live in.

However, in ancient times, people preferred houses to be square and upright, which is called having all four corners. It is considered unlucky for a house to be missing two corners. The old lady is probably a perfectionist, otherwise she wouldn't be so reluctant to separate the family because of this house. These two missing corners probably make the old lady so upset that she can't sleep at night.

"Each family owns one shop, both relatively small and in average locations. The second branch of the family received 250 mu of farmland, and the third branch received 360 mu. Because these two farmlands are located in different counties, and the acreage is limited, this is the only way to divide them for ease of management. Your third uncle will compensate your second uncle for the difference with silver."

As she spoke, she laughed and affectionately tapped Xu Xi's forehead, saying, "We were able to divide it this way thanks to you, child."

"Huh?" Xu Xi blinked innocently. "What does this have to do with me?"

"I told your grandmother about your idea to rent out the house. As soon as she heard the idea, she immediately agreed to separate the house where the second and third wives live. She was just worried that I didn't have enough money and that if I listened to you and rented out the house, others would laugh at our family."

Xu Xi couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh, looking as smug as a little mouse that had stolen some oil.

"And there's still money," the First Madam sighed. "The family estate currently has 5,352 taels of silver. We own about 80% of the land and shops, so this cash should have been distributed as well. Luckily, you reminded me, and your father went to the yamen to have someone copy the midwife's statement. He then presented it to your second and third uncles, and they had nothing to say."

"But Lady Wei gave the midwife three thousand taels. What about her wet nurse and that nanny? Even if Lady Wei's private funds were involved, Grandfather must have given each of them at least three thousand taels, right? Even if it's divided equally, they would only get two thousand taels. Besides, they can only get twenty percent," Xu Xi said.

"It's easier to make them spit out what they've already swallowed. Your second uncle kept saying it was Lady Wei's dowry, but I told him I knew exactly how much dowry Lady Wei had when she married into the family, and whether she had any hidden money in her dowry, before he finally shut up. They were originally planning to fight over the land and shops again, but as soon as I brought this up, they had nothing to say."

The First Madam shook her head with a wry smile, "Your third uncle also said that this was your grandfather's private savings, and he could give it to whomever he wanted. Since it wasn't given to your father, then he has no share. Now that the family is being divided, this can't be mentioned at all. It made your grandmother and your father furious."