Madam Gong did not originally want to pack up her daughter's things so actively. It was just that the young master in her family, standing there, involuntarily emitted an aura of nobility and prestige, making her feel somewhat apprehensive every time she saw him.
Moreover, when tidying up Xiaohua's room, he was standing on the side. If she missed anything, it seemed that she could feel the cold air he emitted.
Fortunately, a bed was left in the end. Even so, she could feel the annoyed emotion from her young master.
Qin Chuyuan frowned at the two or three small packages on the ground. How could a lady's things be so few? However, thinking that Xiaohua was from just a declining family, living on a meager salary every day with poor family conditions, it was reasonable.
In the future, he could hand over all his family property to Xiaohua to manage.
After leaving the Gong family, Qin Chuyuan did not go back to work. Instead, he returned to the Qin residence directly with the servants.
Watching the departing figure of the young master, Madam Gong asked her son, "What does your brother-in-law mean? Doesn't he allow your sister to stay overnight at her maternal home from now on?"
"It's obvious, Mother. It seems that my brother-in-law is a strict husband."
"It does look like it. Then your sister will have to rely on herself for happiness. I don't dare interfere with your brother-in-law."
"Mother, you are really useless."
"Yes, yes, yes. Mother is useless. In the future, if your sister suffers grievances, then you will have to rely on yourself."
"Of course. I am his only younger brother. If not me, who else?!"
"It's not in vain that your sister has doted on you. I won't talk to you anymore. I have to go to your uncle's house to spread the good news about your sister."
When Qin Chuyuan returned to the Qin residence, he met his mother at the entrance of the Qin family.
Madam Qin was attending a banquet, but upon hearing the inside news that her daughter-in-law had won a great victory and would likely become the first female general in Ye Country's history, she hurriedly left the banquet and rushed back to the Qin residence.
Seeing the servant behind her son carrying several packages, she asked, "Ah Yuan, what's this?"
"Replying to the Third Madam, these are the Madam's things. The young master fetched them back from the Gong residence today," the servant replied.
"What good things could she have that warranted you to fetch them back? It's not like we lack the money to buy new things! If others find out, they would think that we abused our daughter-in-law by not giving her money for household expenses," Madam Qin reprimanded Qin Chuyuan.
Hearing his mother disparage Xiaohua like this, Qin Chuyuan disapproved, "Mother, these are items that Xiaohua uses frequently. Moreover, Xiaohua is my wife. I hope you can treat her the same way you treat elder sister-in-law from now on. She also deserves respect from all of us."
"Alright, I know. When your wife is angry with me, how come I've never seen you take my side? It's like I gave birth to you for nothing," Madam Qin said guiltily.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship has always been difficult to resolve. Qin Chuyuan silently chose to keep quiet.
"Mother, your son still has some matters to handle and will take my leave first."
"That works out well. I have some things I want to ask you. I'll come along with you."
The two walked together towards Bi Court.
"Ah Yuan, at the banquet today, I heard that your wife won a major victory against the Wei Army. Is that true?"
"Yes, it's true."
Upon hearing her son's affirmative answer, Madam Qin heaved a deep sigh of relief. "My heart can finally rest easy. Ever since you issued that military order last time, I've lost sleep every night."
"I've made Mother worry. It was my fault," Qin Chuyuan bent over to salute her apologetically.
"No need for that. Initially, your eldest brother died tragically at the hands of the Wei Army. Now that your wife has dealt them a severe blow, it is considered avenging your elder brother. She should be our benefactor."
"But Ah Yuan, the battlefield situation changes rapidly, fraught with danger. So persuade Xiaohua not to take up the general post when she returns from the border. It is good enough for her to remain Chief Superintendent in the Ministry of Justice. It would be best if she resigned from that post too and focus on having children with you — that's the most important thing right now."
"Mother, Xiaohua has her own ideas. We have no right to interfere. Furthermore, His Majesty would not agree to Xiaohua rejecting the general post right now."
"Why?"
"His Majesty is highly capable and ambitious. Ye Country has been oppressed by Wei Country ever since he ascended the throne, which has always been a thorn in his side. Now that Xiaohua has dealt them a severe blow, shattering their imposing manner, His Majesty will certainly reuse Xiaohua."
"But didn't you say before that His Majesty does not allow noble families like ours to build up private armies? Now that Xiaohua is a Qin family woman, how would he allow her to take up the general post?"
"That's something His Majesty didn't anticipate when he arranged the marriage. But the Gong family currently has little influence and they're easy to control. On top of that, the court is lacking in military talent. With the imperial tactics of manipulating men, His Majesty is not muddleheaded."
Hearing this, Madam Qin felt even more anxious. She was really afraid that her daughter-in-law would get into trouble someday and her son would be devastated.
"Alas, how could a woman create so much chaos?!"
"Mother, for people at the bottom rungs of society in the capital, even getting enough food and clothing is difficult. Sometimes, accidentally offending nobles could even invite catastrophic repercussions. Regardless of gender, everything is just for survival."
In the study of the Third Prince's Residence, the Third Prince was currently focused on looking at a painting at his desk.
This painting copied the sketching technique that Gong Xiaohua had demonstrated previously.
The Third Prince loved painting and calligraphy, but no matter how many times he imitated Gong Xiaohua's painting style, he was unable to grasp its essence.
The Sixth Prince was sitting on a couch to the right of the desk. Since the Third Prince's mother status was lowly and disliked by the Father Emperor, he could not participate in court politics despite being older than the other princes.
Therefore, every time he came to the Third Prince's Residence, he would report everything that happened at court.
Seeing that his third brother was still immersed in the painting before him, he couldn't help but speak again, "That Gong family woman is about to return and will soon be conferred the rank of general. In the future, she will wield military power while the Qin family's influence grows. Moreover, the Crown Prince is on good terms with the Qin family, which will surely affect our grand cause in the future. We have to find a way to stop this."
"This Gong family woman does have some ability after all. But ultimately, she is just a insignificant woman. Why be so nervous?" The Third Prince continued to study the figure painting in his hand, still unable to grasp how to express the upright posture.
"Then what do you propose we do to resolve this?"
"If I remember correctly, she took matters into her own hands when she dealt with Gao Hu. She also violated regulations by promoting inmates and commoners. Even if she memorialized it afterwards, it can still serve as an excuse. Furthermore, don't you have people in the army camp as well? Whether she can return alive depends on if you are willing to take the risk." The Third Prince spoke nonchalantly.
Hearing this, the Sixth Prince sitting on the couch started looking silently at the teacup in his hand.
"Third brother, please excuse me first as I'll be taking my leave."
After the Sixth Prince had walked some distance away, the steward came in and asked, "Your Highness, are you going to make a move?"
"No need. When the snipe and clam grapple, the fisherman profits."
