C207

As the New Year approached, the capital became increasingly lively. Even ordinary citizens would come out to the streets to buy things to keep for their families to eat during the new year.

The identity of Xu Family was different from before. For this year's New Year, even if Xu Shiqiu was unable to return in time, Dong Shu would have to accompany the Old Madame Xu into the palace to accompany Her Majesty and the Empress to celebrate the New Year's feast.

Therefore, even though Xu Family could purchase these things, most of them were used by the servants in the family. As for the master's house, it was unknown what kind of scene it would be at the end of the year, so they were not in the mood to care about these things.

Even Dong Shu thought that they would probably leave the capital by the end of the year. Although she had prepared a lot of things, they could still be used on the road.

Both Dong Shu and the Old Madame Xu thought that he wouldn't be able to make it back here in time the previous year. They didn't expect that he really wasn't able to make it back in time, yet Xu Yanhao and Ye Shuo had actually made it back to the capital first.

When Dong Shu and the Old Madame Xu heard that Xu Yanhao and his son had returned, they were so happy that they did not know what to do. But at night, when the two of them left the Emperor Ruikang Palace and reached Xu Family, they knew that although they were in the first place, Xu Shiqiu would not be able to return in a short time.

"Grandmother, Third Aunt. After Third Uncle received the news, he immediately arranged for me and cousin to return to the capital as soon as possible. But there are too many things that have happened in the northern border, he will need at least half a month to settle this matter. " After Ye Shuo went to the northern border this time, he had obviously grown up quite a bit.

When he mentioned about the chaos in the Northern Frontier, a cruel look flashed past Ye Shuo's face, but he did not mention anything about what happened in the Northern Frontier.

"Cousin is right. Third Uncle wanted us to return earlier than us, except that it was because of the marriage between us at Zhang Family and me. He was also worried that we wouldn't be able to make it back before the end of the year, which was why he wanted us to return earlier."

When Xu Yanhao said this, even Dong Shu understood what he meant.

Xu Yanhao and Zhang Family were originally set to be married two years ago and a year later.

However, because he had been following the army out the entire time, the days that they had originally agreed on were being pushed aside time and time again. Although Zhang Family could understand his helplessness as a martial general, it was not good to keep the other girl waiting for him.

There were still two good days before the new year. The reason why Xu Yanhao had returned this time was because he wanted to set the marriage before the new year.

As for Ye Shuo, it was even simpler.

It was no longer a secret that the Emperor Ruikang wanted to pass on his position to him on the New Year's Day.

As Ye Jingxing's son, although he was only the second son, he was still one of the three sons he had now. Thus, at the end of the year, he had to be present.

Other than these two reasons, there were also many things that happened in the northern border. After Xu Shiqiu received news of Yan Ye's return, he was worried that he would not be able to return by the end of the year.

Although there were not many people present, and they might not guarantee their success, if something really happened, with these people, they would be able to safely send Old Madame Xu, Dong Shu and the others out of the capital and protect them.

Regarding the last reason, Dong Shu did not expect it, but Old Madame Xu had guessed it from Xu Yanhao's and Ye Shuo's reactions.

Seeing Xu Yanhao and Ye Shuo, the Old Madame Xu calmed herself down, then looked at Ye Shuo and asked. "If your Third Uncle still has half a month before he can resolve the situation in the northern border, then wouldn't it be too late to rush back here by the end of the year?"

"Grandmother, this might be true." When Ye Shuo heard the Old Madame Xu ask about this, she was obviously a little embarrassed. She thought for a moment and decided to speak the truth in the end, "The soldiers that Cousin Brother and I brought back this time were mostly officers who were lightly injured. The dozens of Iron Eagle Brigade soldiers were specially assigned to protect this group of people. "

Just as Ye Shuo finished speaking, Xu Yanhao laughed and continued: "Third Uncle was worried about the soldiers being lightly injured, so we were the ones to bring them back first. That's why our return speed wasn't that fast. If the Third Uncle were to return to the capital, with a dozen heavily injured soldiers, he would definitely stay at the northern border to recuperate.

After listening to Ye Shuo and his group finish talking, the Old Madame Xu looked at them and nodded, "Since that's the case, let's put this matter aside for now."

After speaking to the two of them, Old Madame Xu looked at Xu Yanhao alone once more and said: "Yanhao, does your mother have a day to discuss your engagement with Zhang Family?"

When it came to this matter, Xu Yanhao was somewhat embarrassed, but he still replied as he looked at Old Madame Xu: "Because we didn't deliver the news to our home earlier this time, mother only received the news when we entered the capital. When Cousin and I entered the palace, we immediately came to pay our respects to Grandmother. However, I've already sent someone back to send news to Father and Mother. I expect that they will arrange for such things. "

Old Madame Xu was still quite at ease with her eldest son's wife. Knowing this, she would definitely take care of it well.

"Since that's the case, then you and Brother Shuo should hurry back. Once your mother has set the date, immediately send someone to inform Grandmother that this is a major matter of our Xu Family, and it will not be good for us to wait any longer either. "

Once Old Madame Xu's words came out, Xu Yanhao and Ye Shuo, who were also thinking of returning home, stood up at the same time and bowed before leaving.

It was already very filial for the two of them to come directly to the Xu Family to see the Old Madame Xu after entering the palace. They had received the news that they wanted, so the Old Madame Xu naturally could not keep them.

After the two of them left, Dong Shu looked at Old Madame Xu and said: "Mother, Yanhao and Shuo Ge'er brought back a lot of furs and medicinal herbs, they said that Master had brought them in from the north." When she mentioned those thick fur and medicinal ingredients that looked good from a glance, Dong Shu's crescent eyes had always been smiling.

It wasn't that Dong Shu hadn't seen good stuff before, these few months the Empress Hu s in the palace had given her plenty of good stuff.

She only liked the feeling of being targeted by Xu Shiqiu.

When Old Madame Xu heard Dong Shu, her face revealed a happy smile, "It's good that you like the things that we buy. The man in Xu Family is a martial general, if you have the chance in the future, you will definitely receive special products from other places."

The reason the Old Madame Xu could say such a thing was naturally because when she was young, every time Xu Shiqiu's father went out, he would bring her quite a few things.

The most important point was that although fighting outside the city was extremely difficult, after one enemy was killed, they would clean up the place. After the soldiers had fought to the death, they would always have to get some precious items, such as gold and silver.

As long as there weren't too many of them, there was no need to register them.

The soldiers had to share some of what they had taken away with the general. The general naturally had to take responsibility for them. If this matter was exposed, the generals would be held accountable.

However, this matter had already become a common practice. As long as the generals were not too greedy, they would register themselves after collecting a large amount of gold and silver and bring some back to the capital to hand over to the kingdom, they would not take the initiative to mention this matter.

After all, the soldiers who risked their lives to go out and fight were bound to give them some benefits.

Previously, even though his Xu Family only had Xu Zhenbei as a martial general, his family's business in Xu Family was truly not small.

Especially those things that were hard to sell and were difficult to take away. More than a decade ago, when something happened in the Xu Family, Old Madame Xu had kept those things well, and arranged for a few of her trusted aides to watch over them.

These things belonged to the Old Madame Xu's private rooms and had not been distributed among the other families.

This was also the reason that the Old Madame Xu still had some connections in the capital. With these things, as long as Xu Family did not need to keep a low profile, then they would be able to quickly return to the top of the influential families in the capital.

It was just that after experiencing the previous events, Old Madame Xu wasn't really willing to watch the Xu Family return to the peak of power.

Now, she only wanted her Xu Family to tide through this crisis and take revenge. In the future, she would no longer be in charge and would peacefully take care of matters at home.

Dong Shu didn't know what Old Madame Xu was thinking at the moment, but upon hearing her words, her face revealed an expression of joy but also reluctance, "Although I like these things, I am still unwilling to part with Hubby from the capital for too long." After saying this, Dong Shu thought for a moment, then continued to speak in a low voice: "I don't know if Brother-in-law will agree to bring her family when we leave the capital at this time of year."

It was a rule for a military general's family to stay in the capital.

The first reason was that it was indeed dangerous for a martial general to travel. The second reason was that they wanted to keep the families of the martial generals in the capital as hostages.

Once the military generals had the intention of bringing honor to themselves, the families that they left behind in the capital would become tools used by the royal family to threaten them.

Old Madame Xu understood this better than Dong Shu, so after hearing Dong Shu's words, she smiled towards him.

If their son-in-law could really successfully ascend to the throne at the end of the year, then in the future, their Xu Family might not need to go all out like that.

After all, the later generations were unable to control a large amount of military power.