Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The case was personally ordered for investigation by the Emperor, which naturally made everyone in the various departments extremely cautious. The officials were all on high alert, busy with their tasks.
In contrast, Gu Bei found himself at leisure due to the restrictions of his status, unable to move about freely.
With some time on his hands, he began preparing accommodations for the six families upon their arrival.
Since he couldn't go out himself, he entrusted the housekeeper to scout around the capital for suitable residences.
After waiting anxiously for several days, Ye Xiaohan and her group finally arrived in the capital.
"Wow!" Six Seven peeked through a small gap in the carriage window to look at the bustling street outside. "Sister-in-law, there are so many people and so much delicious food!"
Following her gaze, Ye Xiaohan saw that indeed there was a dazzling array of sights and a throng of pedestrians.
However, for someone accustomed to the crowded scenes of modern holidays, even if they often experienced being packed like sardines, the liveliness of ancient times was nothing new.
Seeing their excitement, Ye Xiaohan didn't want to dampen their spirits. She smiled and said, "This is just the outer city; once we get inside, there will be even more amazing things."
"That's incredible!" Six Seven's eyes sparkled as she excitedly hugged Ye Xiaohan's arm. "Sister-in-law, the capital is so much fun! I really like it here!"
Not only Six Seven but even Six Yang was filled with anticipation, feeling somewhat nervous in front of this bustling metropolis.
Ye Xiaohan saw through their feelings but chose not to point it out. She simply smiled and said, "It's normal to feel a bit out of place in a new environment at first. After a few days, you'll get used to it."
No matter how mature Six Yang seemed, he was still just a child who hadn't fully grown up. Having lived in the countryside all his life, his experiences had been quite limited.
Now that they were in the capital, he would have the opportunity to learn much more. Not only were the educational resources better than those in their town, but there were also many things that couldn't be learned back home.
Gu Da drove ahead and stopped the carriage in front of an inn.
"Miss Ye, the General is waiting for you inside," Gu Da said as he led them in and stopped in front of a door on the second floor, knocking gently.
As soon as the knock on the door faded, it opened slightly, and Gu Bei leaned to the side, saying, "Come in quickly!"
After closing the door, Liu Yang and Liu Qi joyfully pounced on Gu Bei. "Big Brother!"
"Be good, you must be exhausted from the journey," Gu Bei said, lifting Liu Qi into his arms. Seeing that they both seemed in good spirits relieved him.
Ye Xiaohan chuckled, "You're being too dramatic. Am I supposed to sell them off on the way? But you, why are you being so mysterious? Why did you specifically arrange to meet at an inn?"
Gu Bei set Liu Qi down, allowing her to play on her own. "The General's residence is being watched. I don't want you two to get caught up in my troubles. For now, let's stay at the inn until we find a suitable house to move into."
"That's fine. It’s indeed inconvenient for me with my family in tow," Ye Xiaohan replied, understanding. Although Gu Bei hadn't elaborated on his difficulties, she could imagine the general situation.
Gu Bei couldn't linger outside for long and exchanged a few more words before heading back. Ye Xiaohan and her group settled into the inn.
With Gu Da's assistance, finding a house went smoothly. It didn't take long before they identified a place.
Ye Xiaohan personally went to inspect it and felt quite satisfied upon seeing it.
"This location is secluded, perfect for you as it won't attract attention. I've looked into the house; its background is clear," Gu Da explained as he led Ye Xiaohan inside.
Upon entering, they saw a woman standing in the living room with an anxious expression. When she noticed their arrival, she approached them.
"You've come! I've been waiting for you. This young lady must be the buyer? May I know your name?" The woman was poised and clearly well-educated.
Ye Xiaohan stepped forward to face her and smiled, "My surname is Ye; you may call me however you like."
"Ah, Miss Ye," the woman responded without much formality and got straight to the point. "Let me show you around first and see if this house meets your expectations."
Ye Xiaohan smiled back, "That would be very kind of you."
The courtyard was a nice one, not large but exquisite. The pavilions and towers were cleverly arranged, clearly showing that a lot of thought had gone into its construction.
The woman's words confirmed Ye Xiaohan's guess: "This house was originally a property my husband gifted me, a place to enjoy and take in the scenery. It's quiet here, and the view is lovely; living here would never become tiresome."
"You must be right. I find the house quite appealing; it resonates with me," Ye Xiaohan said, growing more satisfied as she looked around, pleasantly surprised that she could acquire it for such a low price.
The woman seemed to understand her thoughts and sighed, "If it weren't for our desperate situation, I wouldn't want to sell this house. Ever since my husband passed away, there's been no one to take charge of the family."
Ye Xiaohan had heard from Gu Da that the owner of this house was originally a wealthy merchant who had suffered significant losses in business a few years ago. Not only did he lose everything, but he also owed a considerable amount of money to others.
Most of the valuable items in the house were sold off to pay debts. The merchant, seeing his lifetime savings vanish in an instant, became despondent and hanged himself.
This left the family in chaos. With no savings and no source of income, they dismissed all the servants they could do without. Several concubines received a share of the inheritance and left on their own.
In just a few months, the once large family fell apart completely, and they had to move out of their original mansion. Only the main wife remained with her young children in this secondary residence.
At least there were still some resources left in the house. A widow with her orphaned children managed to hold on for a few years, but when they could no longer bear the expenses of living in the capital, they decided to sell this house and return to their hometown.
The woman said, "Miss Ye, if you still like this house, please buy it. I assure you I won't deceive you. Look at this study."
She led them inside and pointed to a room full of bookshelves. "The collection here consists of books my late husband left behind; I couldn't bear to sell them. The moment I saw you, I knew you were a good person who would cherish this house. If you buy it, I won't take these books with me; I'll give them all to you."
This was indeed a great surprise. Ye Xiaohan took a quick look around. The study was filled with an extensive collection of books across various genres; if she were to buy them herself, it would cost a fortune.
Moreover, for someone who already loved reading, such treasures were priceless joys.
"Alright, I'll buy this house!" Ye Xiaohan decided on the spot. It suited her perfectly; if she missed out on it now, there might not be another opportunity like it in the future.
The next day, Ye Xiaohan sent over the money and received the deed in return. From then on, they had a warm home in the capital city.
Madam hurried home, and after receiving the silver, she quickly tidied up and returned to the countryside. The house was well-preserved, and with a little renovation, it was ready for someone to move in.
Li Yang was also very satisfied with the new home, especially the study. He dove into it, spending almost all his time buried in books except for necessary daily activities.
Seeing that he liked it, Ye Xiaohan decided to turn the room next to the study into his bedroom, allowing him easy access. Li Yang happily accepted.
Gu Bei occasionally came by to check on them. Although they didn't have many chances to meet, the distance wasn't far, and they felt as if they were still living together without any sense of separation.
However, his case had not made any progress, and he had no idea when he would be cleared of suspicion.
Staying at home all the time wasn't a solution; idly consuming resources wouldn't do. He needed to find something to do.
Ye Xiaohan decided to return to her old profession and open a shop in the capital again. So in the following days, she went out every day to look around, searching for suitable storefronts and observing market conditions before deciding what type of business to pursue this time.
That noon, Ye Xiaohan returned home for lunch, planning to go out again after eating.
However, during lunch, she found herself wolfing down her food while the two of them looked listless.
"What’s wrong with you two? You can’t even eat properly; your spirits are low!" Ye Xiaohan teased them with what they cared about most. Usually, this would be enough to get them to improve their picky eating habits.
But this time it had little effect; both of them still seemed dispirited, completing their meals half-heartedly.
"Sister-in-law, my tooth hurts!" Li Yang said, one hand clutching the specially customized chopsticks she had made for him while the other hand pitifully covered his cheek.
Comment 0 Comment Count