After the thorough internal change ended, Xiao Hao’er’s family's accusations were cleared on the day when the documents came down. Madam Gong’s wish came true and her health suddenly collapsed. She entrusted Xiao Hao’er to Qin Shiyi and passed away without regret.
Xiao Hao’er returned to the capital and entered the Qin residence. His original family name was Su. Gong Xiaohua recognized him as a younger brother. In the Qin residence he went by his original name Su Hao. Every day, in addition to studying with Qin Ziyu, he also had to practice martial arts with Gong Xiaohua. No one in the Qin family dared to give him a hard time.
Due to Zhao Rou’s opposition, Qin Ziyu only required Xiao Hao’er to strengthen his body when it came to martial arts practice. His future would still mainly be on the civil service path, as Qin Ziyu preferred reading over martial arts practice.
Su Hao, on the other hand, admired Gong Xiaohua tremendously. In addition to studying every day, he asked to practice martial arts with Gong Xiaohua. This child had gone through a major setback in life, and was very resilient, keeping his schedule full every day.
His future was also as one of the seven masters under the Qin family, known as Jade Faced Fox, and was notorious for his sinister cruelty.
On her way back from the north earlier, Qin Chuyuan had already told Gong Xiaohua that the Emperor rewarded her with a private garden because of the farming system.
It was only during her break that she went to take a look. Although the garden could not compare to the mansions of prestigious families, it was not small either. Qin Chuqin had found several old servants from outside to maintain it.
Since this garden was a private property rewarded by the Emperor, she could have full control over it. She planned to have her father, mother and younger brother move there.
Before leaving for her mission, she had gone to check on Gong Xiaonan’s foot at the Gong family home, which had recovered very well by then. Now, more than three months after the surgery, the splint could be removed already.
After looking at the garden, she went to the Gong family home, where only Madam Gong was home.
"Mother, where is Xiaonan?"
"That boy, unable to sit still, went to work again."
"How could he go back to work so soon? What about his foot?"
"It's fine. Other than some discomfort in the joints on rainy days, it’s no different than before." Madam Gong said happily.
"That's good. Remind him usually not to participate in strenuous tasks."
"Ok, I heard Xiaonan say last time that he wanted to be a soldier with you. Your father and I didn't agree. He is still too young. Your father and I don't feel assured. Let him grow a few more years older first before letting him follow you to gain some experience." Madam Gong said.
"Alright."
"Mother, the Emperor rewarded me with a private residence. I want you to move there."
"That won't work. That Chongren district is where prestigious families live. We would not fit in there."
She had not considered thoroughly. The Gong family was just a petty official's family. Moving there might lead to discrimination from others. It would be more comfortable to stay in this commoner's lane.
She did not insist further. After dinner at the Gong family home, she went to the trade market.
On her way back from the north this time, she discovered that living supplies were extremely scarce in the north, especially medicines, salt and other daily necessities that commoners could hardly afford. But animal hides and furs were plentiful in the north and priced very cheaply. Yet in the capital they were rare treasures. If she could start a business trading goods between the north and south, the potential would be unlimited.
Gong Xiaohua shared this information with her cousin and Gou Dan, for them to consider on their own.
Gong Dafu had no interest at all in this kind of north-south trade. His pickled vegetable business had huge market potential in the future, so he had no need to divert his attention to other businesses.
In the end, Gou Dan decided to go into this business. He had always wanted to trade goods capitalizing on regional differences.
Gong Xiaohua also knew he had this idea of traveling south and north. This could be seen from his habit of buying goods brought in by out-of-towners, stockpiling them, and taking them out to sell when the market was in shortage.
Gou Dan knew the profit margin in between was considerable, but he was still too young himself, and had never travelled far, and didn't know which places lacked what. Blindly venturing far would likely lead to losing his capital.
Now that he knew what the north lacked, he could slowly stockpile goods, and find trustworthy people to escort them north next spring after the snow melted, to test the waters. When he grew up in the future, he would not only do business domestically, but take it to foreign states as well.
These mundane affairs were just a part of Gong Xiaohua’s life. Her daily priorities were still on the military. She planned to use modern special forces training methods to give elite training to the Xiyuan troops. In the future, she would make the Xiyuan Army an unstoppable, iron-blooded force on the battlefield that would strike terror into enemies.
During the time Gong Xiaohua was vigorously training the Xiyuan troops, the imperial court in recent days had been continuously discussing the mission of persuading an alliance with Liang Country.
Although the political situation in Dayi Dynasty had stabilized, the five states continued to surge darkly underground.
Among the five major states in the world, Wei Country had the strongest military, followed by Liang Country. After that came Qing Country, Yan Country, and lastly Ye Country.
Ye Country bordered Wei Country in the north, and the endless sea in the south. It faced Liang Country from afar to the west, separated by thousands of kilometers.
Beyond Liang Country were Yan and Qing Countries. Those two countries were close to Liang Country, but very far from Ye Country.
Yan and Qing Countries had long ago formed an alliance to jointly resist invasion from Liang Country.
Wei Country harbored ambitions to rule the world, but because its land and climate were not suitable for farming, resulting in lack of grain and fodder domestically, the primary issue they needed to resolve if wanting to go to war was food supply.
Therefore, their first target was to capture Ye Country. Wei Country and Ye Country intersected in the north, and their geographical locations were just right. Ye Country’s land was fertile and suitable for farming, with ample food supply.
If they could capture Ye Country and use it as a grain depot, then move on to take over the other three countries, unifying the world would be imminent.
Ye Country was culturally strong but militarily weak. It had been enhancing its forces over the past few years, with remarkable results, but still insufficient to confront Wei Country.
Once the balance among the five states was disrupted, there would be dire consequences.
To maintain a lifeline, and to avoid future turmoil and humanitarian disaster in the world, Ye Country planned to send envoys to persuade an alliance with Liang Country, the second strongest state, to jointly resist Wei Country.
The imperial court had been debating for a long time without deciding who to appoint as envoy.
Gong Xiaohua was fully supportive of the court’s decision to send envoys in her heart.
In Ye Country, she had a harmonious family, an obedient younger brother, and loving parents. She also had the thousand gold and private residence bestowed by the Emperor.
Moreover, the current Emperor was a wise ruler, and the Crown Prince would also become a wise ruler when he succeeded to the throne smoothly. When the external threats to Ye Country were removed, the common people would surely live in peace and contentment.
By then, she could resign and become a rich leisure man, touring the great landscapes of the country without regret for life.
So Gong Xiaohua resumed her daily routine of working for the government. Apart from military affairs, she generally ignored other matters of the court.
Until a month later, the court finally decided to appoint the Crown Prince as chief envoy, the Ministry of Rites Vice Minister, and Qin Chuyuan to assist in the mission to persuade an alliance with Liang Country.
Additional escorting personnel included Gong Xiaohua, the Crown Prince’s guards commander, several palace guards, and the forbidden guards leader. They were the elites among elites of Ye Country’s guards.
