Chapter 253

After returning home.

Qin Luoxia prepared a bedroom for Zi Congheng.

He didn't feel like a guest.

Because the Jiang family was also settling in.

Everyone was essentially moving into this house at the same time.

New residents of the same period.

At Jiang Mianmian's insistent request, Brother Chong was to live next door to her.

Zi Xiaochong didn't say anything, but he had lived at the Jiang's house for a while when he was young.

Qin Luoxia still remembered this child's preferences.

The bed sheets and quilt covers had to be of a single color. If there were floral patterns, he definitely wouldn't be able to sleep. This child would count the flowers on them, and if one side had even one more flower, he would be uncomfortable.

She chose navy blue, layered with thick quilts, fumigated with charcoal fire.

Seeing her own little one bouncing around before her eyes, Qin Luoxia felt a bit nostalgic for Aunt Yin.

Although she no longer needed Aunt Yin's guidance in managing the household, and could be said to be quite adept at it now.

But that Mianmian, she still needed Aunt Yin to keep an eye on her.

Otherwise, she'd keep flitting about before her eyes, making her dizzy.

Qin Luoxia personally made the bed, only considering it done when she felt it was dry and warm to the touch.

The room was relatively simple.

Bed, desk, bookcase, wardrobe, bathroom.

There were plenty of windows.

The layout was the same as Mianmian's side.

While Qin Luoxia was tidying up, Jiang Mianmian was chattering away beside her.

"Mother, we also need a large jar. My brother has a small turtle. Mother, why don't you make a nest for my little tree? I don't want a jar, just give me a box of soil."

Qin Luoxia glared at her daughter. Who puts a box of soil in their room?

"I think you're like a jar yourself. Take Brother Heng out to the courtyard for a stroll to aid digestion. Don't go far."

Jiang Mianmian heard the nickname "Brother Heng".

Suddenly she felt that she had little "heng" (horizontal) and "shu" (vertical) trees around her. With both horizontal and vertical, it was perfect.

This homophone pun was really not funny...

She turned to look at her mother, whose big eyes were glaring at her. If Brother Chong wasn't here, mother's big palm would have already swooped over.

It's not easy, newly arrived in the capital, having to behave cautiously outside, and now having to be careful at home too.

Zi Congheng followed little Mianmian as they walked in the courtyard, watching her arrogant gait, always feeling as if a long tail had grown out of her back.

Swaggering proudly.

Zi Congheng turned his head to look at the trees beside him, no longer watching Mianmian.

But his mouth was slightly open, as if he wanted to laugh.

He very seriously held it back.

Jiang Mianmian took Brother Chong for a stroll in the courtyard.

It was cold, but there was no wind.

It was a bit chilly, but jumping around made it bearable.

Zi Congheng's original clothes were somewhat thin, but once he got home, Qin Lady gave him an additional cape.

With the cape added, he looked even more handsome.

Usually, he liked to walk alone at night, walking very calmly.

But at this moment, there was always someone in front of him who liked to talk while walking.

"Brother, have you attended any gatherings in the capital? What kind of gatherings are fun?"

"Brother, what time do you go to school every day?"

"Brother, do you get up for morning exercises? If so, let's do it together."

"Brother, after all these years, do you still dislike eating green onions? My mother likes to put green onions in noodles. If you don't like it, tell her first."

...

The sky had grown very dark.

The light and shadows in the courtyard were flickering.

She chattered on endlessly.

Her breath formed white mist as she spoke.

Zi Congheng walked calmly.

In front of him was always someone who liked to skip while walking.

Without realizing it, they had made several rounds.

Digestion completed.

Perhaps it had been a long time since he had seen so many colleagues.

In Jingzhou, towards the end, colleagues stopped socializing.

At the beginning, everyone was quite friendly.

Jiang Changtian had a shy appearance.

It was still dark.

Dawn was breaking.

In the faint light.

Jiang Changtian standing there was like a painting.

He made the official uniform of his rank look a bit better.

Making people can't help but take a few more glances, wondering if he wore the wrong uniform.

Some old officials were yawning.

The silk ribbons on their hats swaying back and forth.

Some cunning old officials squinted, sizing up others.

Some officials skilled in socializing were chatting everywhere, looking energetic.

Some officials who had too rich a nightlife the night before had dark circles under their eyes and weak legs.

While Inspector He had no one within six zhang of him.

Jiang Changtian stood there, a newcomer with striking looks.

For now, no one paid attention to him.

There were whispers though.

There are no secrets in officialdom.

Ordinary minor officials were all ignored.

But if you had a special background or something else, everyone was well aware.

They were all shrewd people here.

A minor official from a small place, with a background of being a pardoned rebel, who had been promoted to the imperial court due to exceptionally good political achievements.

No backing.

Their rebel leader Zi Lu had died not long ago.

He couldn't make any waves now.

Rebels who don't rebel, with no troops in hand, are just waiting to be boiled alive.

Anyway, he had no future.

After all, this was officialdom, not gentle, good looks were useless.

When one becomes high-ranking and powerful, any look becomes handsome.

Jiang Changtian obediently observed everyone's expressions, looking exactly like a shy newcomer who had been isolated.

This was the scene Meng Qingshe saw when he arrived.

He could have stood at the front, but he still stopped and walked to his in-law's side.

Eagerly conversing with his in-law, wanting to support him.

With Jiang Changtian and Meng Qingshe standing together, Meng Qingshe seemed more like the one with a rebel background.

Meng Qingshe's voice was loud and rough.

Jiang Changtian was soft-spoken, very gentle.

Old General Meng led a large army guarding the frontier, a powerful military leader with troops under his command.

Now that the Emperor was old and increasingly suspicious, if you showed any desire to befriend him, your future would be ruined.

It was tacitly agreed in the court that a bunch of civil officials would criticize General Meng in various ways, picking on trivial matters.

The Emperor would come out to play the good guy, rejecting these criticisms.

Although rejected, if the criticism was good, the Emperor would still promote them.

The result-oriented approach became: criticize General Meng, distance yourself from General Meng, and you could get promoted.

Watching Meng Qingshe go over to greet Jiang Sima,

The other officials subtly distanced themselves from the two.

Suddenly, a bell rang.

Seeing all the officials hurriedly walking inside,

Jiang Changtian also pulled Meng Qingshe along.

Walking behind, Meng Qingshe shared his experience: "Brother, walk slower, stand back here. When court dismisses later, we can be the first to run out, avoiding the carriage traffic jam."

Jiang Changtian looked at his in-law with mixed amusement and exasperation.

He really lucked out with this relative.

"Alright, Brother Meng is so clever, with such thoughtful ideas. But I'm new here and haven't even seen what the Emperor looks like yet. I'd like to get closer, just to catch a glimpse of His Majesty's face. Then I can brag about it to Xia when I get home," Jiang Changtian said sheepishly.

Meng Qingshe thought, if he just wants to see what the Emperor looks like, that must be accommodated. So he led Jiang Changtian to squeeze further inside, pushing several officials out of the way with a series of bumps.

...