Chapter 62

"Excuse me, is Madam Zhou living here?" The young man who appeared was not very old, about twenty years old.

He was tall and slender, with dark skin. However, he spoke with a clear Mandarin accent, indicating that he was from the capital.

Liu Dagui knew that his second young lady had married someone with the surname Zhou, but he had never met him. Now, when he saw the young man looking for Madam Zhou, he hesitated for a moment. "May I ask, young general, who are you?"

The man was dressed as a soldier, with a sword hanging from his waist, holding a horsewhip in his hand. Behind him was a spirited horse, exuding a heroic aura.

"I have come by order to invite Madam Zhou, as well as Mr. Song and their family, to the capital for an audience," the young general gestured towards the direction of the capital.

"What, what's this all about?" Liu Dagui was completely shocked, almost jumping up in surprise.

The young general reassured him, "Don't be afraid, it's good news. Go and pass on the message. I still need to pick up Wang Gonggong from the post station. As for the details, let him explain it." Without waiting for Liu Dagui's reaction, he mounted his horse and rode off.

Liu Dagui was stunned for a moment, then he slammed his thigh in frustration, exclaiming, "Oh my goodness!"

He closed the door and rushed into the courtyard, shouting, "Old Master, Old Madam, Second Young Lady! Something big has happened, something big!"

"Going to the capital?" Song Dingxiang was also confused. "Why didn't the young general mention the reason for going to the capital?"

Liu Dagui, trembling as he spoke, replied, "He didn't, he didn't say. Oh, he just left without explaining. Oh, and he also mentioned that Wang Gonggong will be coming. Goodness, isn't Gonggong someone who serves the emperor?"

Song Dingxiang also felt a little uneasy. She had watched palace dramas before and knew some of the rules of the ancient royal family.

In theory, she was just a commoner, so how could the emperor possibly summon her for an audience?

And to think they even wanted her grandparents to come along?

It was said to be a good thing, but after all, it was meeting the emperor, and a single misspoken word could turn things sour. She really didn't want to deal with those privileged nobles, the class oppression in ancient times was too evident.

She, a small wealthy commoner, would rather just quietly shut herself in and live her days in peace.

The whole family sat in a circle, unsure of how to digest this news.

Liu Dagui was even more confused. He thought the family he served was just wealthy farmers, who would have thought that they now had the opportunity to meet the emperor?

Who knew if they would suddenly rise in status?

If the master attained favor, his position as a so-called steward would be greatly elevated.

Thinking this, he became energized.

"Old master, old madam, please sit here. I'll go wait at the door for that official mentioned. Maybe he can explain this matter clearly, we're just guessing here."

"Go quickly." Song Xingyi hurriedly waved his hand. "Wait properly. Oh, Dingxiang, bring out the tea leaves given by the official, boil some water. And, someone from the eldest son family, hurry and go out to see if you can buy a chicken, some meat, and more eggs to treat the honored guests. Shouldn't we change into new clothes?"

Li shi also snapped back to reality, hurrying off to her courtyard. Her realm was not just limited to the kitchen anymore, and she liked to occasionally sit in the front hall, feeling the freshness of having a house. "Quickly change your clothes, make sure they are clean and tidy! Dagui, take the children to the backyard and watch over them, don't disturb the guests."

The entire family had been bustling about in a hurry for quite some time. Just as they finished changing their clothes, Liu Dagui barged in with the guests.

"Should we...kneel down?" Song Xingyi asked quietly as he greeted the guest.

Song Dingxiang was also unsure, saying, "It's better to show respect, so...let's kneel." She had knelt a few times when meeting Wang Yuanwai before, but once their families became closer, they hadn't knelt again.

Now, having to kneel again made her feel uncomfortable.

As soon as Wang Gonggong entered the courtyard, the Song family members all knelt down. He chuckled and said, "Oh, what is this? Please rise, please rise quickly."

He then helped Song Xingyi to his feet.

Song Xingyi was trembling all over, unable to say a word.

Seeing this, Song Dingxiang quickly stood up and said, "Eunuch Wang, please come inside and take a seat."

Wang Gonggong looked Song Dingxiang up and down, getting an idea. Song Dingxiang also evaluated the official and the two young gentlemen behind him in her mind.

"Official, you've come from afar, and we don't have much to offer. Please have some tea to refresh yourselves from the heat." As she led the official to sit in the main hall, Song Dingxiang took the teapot from Bai shi and poured tea for them.

The official was of medium height, fair-faced with no beard, dressed in a well-made but plain robe. His manner of speaking was not as exaggerated as the eunuchs on TV, just a soft and gentle voice.

"Is this Madam Zhou? General Zhou mentioned you, and I could tell at first sight," Wang Gonggong said, appearing approachable as he picked up the tea bowl and sniffed it. "Oh, this is a top-quality pre-rain Dragon Well tea."

Song Dingxiang smiled and replied, "We can't tell if it's good or not, but this tea was given to us by a close friend of ours, Wang Yuanwai, who lives in town. It's known to be good tea, so we usually save it and only serve it to esteemed guests like yourself."

The official smiled as he took a sip of tea. He could see that this whole family really did come from a farming background. They didn't have strict protocols for hosting male guests, and even when hosting, the women of the house didn't always hide away.

Now, the entire family sat nervously in the living room, with stiff smiles on their faces. Only Madam Zhou seemed noble and composed, without the typical mannerisms of someone from the countryside.

Seeing Wang Gonggong drink the tea, Song Dingxiang continued, "Eunuch Wang, we're all villagers here, and we've just recently moved to live in the county town. We're not very familiar with customs, so please forgive us. It's just that we don't quite understand - the young general who came to deliver the message said... he mentioned that we should all go to pay respects to the Emperor? We're not sure why."

Wang Gonggong chuckled and explained, "This is a good thing. Madam Zhou, you probably don't know yet. Your younger uncle, Song Zhixuan, achieved the highest score in the imperial examination. He was supposed to enter the Hanlin Academy, but he voluntarily went to compile agricultural texts. You know, the Emperor is young and deeply cares for the country. Every move Song Zhixuan makes pleases the Emperor. This is one reason."

"Secondly, congratulations to Madam Zhou - your husband has accomplished great feats in the North, slaying the foreign king and forcing them to sign a peace treaty for a hundred years. The Emperor was delighted and appointed General Zhou as a fourth-rank general of military prowess."

"Knowing what your family has done for the soldiers in the North, the Emperor wishes to meet you."

Song Dingxiang hurriedly responded, "It's just... what we've done is nothing but a small effort. Why would the Emperor bother about us?"

The official replied, "Don't be modest, Madam Zhou. The Emperor values those who have made contributions, and he has specially arranged for you and your family to come to the capital, with further rewards awaiting you once you arrive."

Song Dingxiang looked worried and said, "But... as you can see, we are just a group of farmers. We don't know the customs for paying respects. If we upset the Emperor..."

"The Emperor is not the kind of person who nitpicks over details, so you can rest assured, Madam. As for the etiquette, we will be learning along the way, so it's not a big deal."

Song Dingxiang sighed, knowing that she couldn't avoid an audience with the Emperor. She also thought that the Emperor was really bored.

If he wanted to reward someone, he could just give them money directly. Why bother bringing them all the way to meet him? She couldn't understand why the Emperor would want to see them in person.

After the official and his party finished their meal, they promised to set off for the capital in three days.

Once they had left, Song Xingyi finally recovered from the shock of the day's news. It was so sensational that it left him both surprised and delighted, unsure of how to express his emotions.

His mouth twitched for a while, frightening Li shi into thinking the old man was having a stroke, so she slapped him across the face.

"Ouch!" Song Xingyi held his face, wide-eyed and speechless. "What are you hitting me for, you old woman?"

Li shi let out a sigh of relief and said, "I thought you were going to pass out. As long as you're okay."

After receiving a slap, Song Xingyi calmed down. "Shouldn't we inform the fifth and sixth brother's family before we go to the capital? What if they come looking for us?"

Song Dingxiang also calmed down and suggested, "Let's leave Uncle Dagui's family here. If they come, they can come straight in. However... we should inform them that only the fifth and sixth elders' families are allowed in, others should stay out."

Li shi disagreed, "I think we shouldn't say anything. Let's not stir up unnecessary trouble. We can slip away quietly and return quietly."

Song Dingxiang pondered for a moment and added, "We should inform Wang Daren as well. He is well-informed, so we shouldn't make him feel neglected. Also, we need to pack the necessary clothes for the long journey to the capital, maybe buy some fashionable outfits. Let's not buy them here; we can do it in the capital, even though it might be more expensive."

Li shi said, "We have enough money to buy a few pieces of clothing, but what about the children? If the Emperor wants the whole family to go, should the children go too? If the children don't go, their mother won't go either. But this is an important occasion to pay respects in the capital, it's a big celebration. Leaving one or two at home will weigh on our minds."

"In that case, let's hire a couple more carts. I was just talking to Uncle Dagui about going to the market to see if there are any mules for sale. Let's get this done in the next couple of days. Having our own carts will make it easier to transport things."

"Bring along only a few pieces of jewelry; traveling dusty and disheveled, it's best to keep a low profile and not attract the wrong kind of attention."

"Do we still have pickled vegetables, tofu, and those preserved eggs at home? Bring them along. If we can't adjust to the food along the way, we'll need to rely on what we bring ourselves. Oh, buy some herbs and ointments for treating colds and inflammations."

She sent Liu Dagui to inform Wang Yuanwai's family that they were heading to the capital, then went back to the village with Song Zhiyuan to inform the sixth uncle's family that they would be out for a while, but someone would be looking after the house, so they could go there if needed.

Three days passed quickly, and by the time Wang Gonggong arrived again, they were all well-prepared.

Wang Gonggong didn't need them to hire carts as he arranged two horse-drawn carriages from the nearby garrison. Along with the carriage he arrived in and the Song family's large mule cart, it was enough to accommodate the whole group.

The journey to the capital was a thousand miles away, taking at least half a month to reach. They were escorted by soldiers along the way and despite some minor setbacks, everything went smoothly.

They were provided with everything they needed for food and lodging, so there was no need for them to spend any money. However, the journey by cart was quite tiring; the children managed fine, but Song Xingyi and Li shi looked visibly tired.

As the towering city walls of the capital gradually came into view before Song Dingxiang's eyes, she looked at the majestic walls, and suddenly her anxious heart relaxed.

"What is there to be nervous about," she said to herself.

In her past life, the family had visited the place where the concubines and the Emperor lived, now it's just a matter of meeting the people who live inside.

"Just listen more, speak less, and avoid unnecessary questions. As for the rest, let's leave it to fate."

Wang Gonggong arranged for them to stay at the inn in the capital city and even provided them with a small courtyard. After a few brief instructions, he hurriedly left to report back.

Song Dingxiang quickly arranged for her family to rest and then took Bai shi to the market to buy clothes. Most of the others were unwilling to leave the house, except for Bai shi who had some experience in the outside world and reluctantly agreed.

The clothes in the capital were far more fashionable compared to their hometown, with soft fabrics and bright colors, but the prices were also astounding. A simple dress cost at least two taels of silver, which could have been enough to make new clothes for the entire family back home.

Nonetheless, the money had to be spent, so they each bought new clothes and some food from outside eateries. Feeling disinterested in strolling, they carried their bags and headed back to the inn directly.

"Dingxiang?"

As soon as Song Dingxiang entered the courtyard, she heard someone calling her name, however, the voice sounded unfamiliar yet urgent.

She looked up and saw a tall man standing in front of her, his face somewhat familiar, dressed in light armor. Who could it be other than Zhou Yinuo?

"Zhou Ge?" Song Dingxiang was shocked.

After six years, Zhou Yinuo had completely transformed from a 17-18 year old young man into a towering adult. His once youthful face had matured, his shoulders broadened, and he had grown significantly taller.

Upon hearing the phrase "Zhou Ge," Bai shi immediately recognized the man in front of her. She suppressed a smile, saying, "You two catch up, I'll go inside and put things away," taking the package from Song Dingxiang's hands and skipping away.

"My dearest," Zhou Yinuo's face lit up with a radiant smile, revealing a row of pearly whites. With a purposeful stride, he approached Song Dingxiang, his heart filled with anticipation. He gently pulled her into a tender embrace, his arms wrapping around her with a loving warmth. "My exquisite bride," he whispered softly, his voice filled with adoration.

Song Dingxiang suddenly blushed.

After embracing his new bride for a while, Zhou Yinuo reluctantly let go, chuckling, "After all these years, why are you still so short?"

Song Dingxiang: ?!?!?!

"After all these years, you seem to have grown bolder!!!" She rolled her eyes, lifting her foot to walk towards the hall, "How did you come here?"

Zhou Yinuo followed behind like a big dog, saying, "I knew you had arrived when I saw Wang Gonggong return, so I hurried over, but you weren't here. I waited for half the day."

"I went to buy clothes," Song Dingxiang drank a glass of water and glanced at Zhou Yinuo. Nope, her face was still turning red.

She coughed a couple of times to conceal her embarrassment, saying, "These years must have been tough for you out there."

Zhou Yinuo sat in the chair, pulling Song Dingxiang's hand towards him and looking at her carefully, saying, "Yes, it was tough indeed, but knowing that as long as we are victorious, I can come home to see you and my parents, the hardship is worth it."

"I heard, heard that you defeated the king of the enemy tribe?" Song Dingxiang looked at her hand held tightly by the other party's large hand, feeling her heart pounding in her chest.

“I thought I was too old to be affected by men like that,” she mused, even at her age. “But seeing Zhou Yinuo still makes my heart flutter.”

She blamed him for becoming more and more attractive, more and more masculine. A man so handsome, even an older woman like her might find herself drawn to him. His allure was undeniable, a captivating force that seemed to defy age. She couldn't help but feel a pang of longing, a flicker of desire she hadn't experienced in years.

Zhou Yinuo nodded, saying, "I infiltrated the enemy tribe for over two years, finally found an opportunity." He didn't want to talk much about it, just smiling and saying, "I got promoted, darling, from now on, you're the official lady."

Song Dingxiang's fingers, as light as gossamer, traced the barely visible scar on his face. Her gaze was soft, filled with a tender concern that belied the strength of her resolve. "If becoming the official wife means placing your life in jeopardy," she whispered, her voice barely audible, "I would rather not have it."

After spending over two years undercover in the enemy tribe, starting from the time she stopped receiving letters from home and being told it was a secret mission, it turned out to be so perilous. One misstep, and he could have been gone for good.

“Being a soldier,” Zhou Yinuo said, his voice low and filled with a mix of determination and vulnerability, “is a gamble. You could find yourself in the heart of battle, facing an uncertain future. Or, you could seize an opportunity, take a risk, and perhaps, just perhaps, emerge victorious. Maybe even with a commendation. I was fortunate enough to have that chance.”

He squeezed her hand, his touch gentle yet firm, as if reassuring her of his unwavering resolve. Their eyes locked, a silent conversation passing between them. Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in the intensity of their gaze.

Finally, Zhou Yinuo broke the silence with a playful grin. “Honey,” he said, his voice filled with a hint of mischief, “how about a kiss?"

Song Dingxiang felt her face burning, scolding, "Why are you so improper? Broad daylight! Have you seen my parents since you arrived?"

"I saw dad, dad said mom and grandparents are resting, I asked dad to rest too. You must be tired all the way here, right? Have a good night's sleep today, and tomorrow you have to meet the emperor. Let me tell you, you don't have to be afraid, the current emperor is very kind, just speak to him as you would to anyone else. Even if you say something wrong, he won't mind."

Zhou Yinuo stood up, his heart pounding with anticipation, "I, I'll accompany you to sleep."

His young wife, the young wife he had missed for six years, was finally in his arms again.

He missed her so much!

"What sleep, I still have something to ask you!" Song Dingxiang pushed Zhou Yinuo back onto the chair, torn between her desire for him and her pride. "I heard Eunuch Wang says you were appointed as the fourth-ranked General of Xuanwei, are you going to stay in the capital from now on?"

Zhou Yinuo shook his head, "No, why should I stay in the capital, it's full of powerful people, one wrong move and you offend someone. I told the emperor I want to go back to my hometown, our home is also in the north, I can stay there to guard the northern region and have some peace. My wife... you, you don't want to stay in the capital, do you?"

Song Dingxiang breathed a sigh of relief, "I don't want to stay here at all, what's good here, everything is so expensive. A piece of clothing costs two taels of silver, it breaks my heart."

Zhou Yinuo's smile was a gentle caress, his eyes sparkling with a warmth that made Song Dingxiang's heart flutter. He leaned in and pressed a tender kiss to her hand, a gesture of affection that spoke volumes without a single word.

"Do you know why the emperor wants to see us?" Song Dingxiang asked, her voice soft and filled with a hint of anticipation. The question hung in the air, a delicate thread of curiosity that connected their thoughts.

Zhou Yinuo nodded and said, "General Zhong sent the best things from the North to the capital, and he wrote a lot of good things about our family in the letter. Plus, I have also performed well, which pleased the emperor. Also, our younger uncle is going to compile agricultural texts, which is exactly what the emperor needs. He thinks that although our family are farmers, being able to raise such a good family is really commendable, so he wanted to meet us."

Song Dingxiang felt a bit embarrassed and said, "But is it just writing about pickled vegetable, gloves and the like, is that enough?"

Zhou Yinuo replied, "Do you know that besides the military funds allocated by the treasury, the things sent to the North were from our family? Gloves, woolen blankets, pickled vegetables. Which of these are not the most needed in the North? Especially during the great drought, you even sent two carts of buckwheat seeds, which the general distributed to nearby garrisons to plant. Even in the midst of a drought in the North, we did not starve. If you say I have merit, then our family also has merit, right?"

"It was just a small effort..." Song Dingxiang was almost floating from the praise.

Zhou Yinuo laughed, "In the capital, which family isn't wealthy, but how many are willing to make a small effort? The emperor was genuinely pleased when he learned about what our family did."

On the day the emperor said he wanted to invite the Song family to the audience and reward them, some ministers criticized it as inappropriate.

The emperor immediately became angry and said, "Inappropriate? A mere farming family knows the hardships of the soldiers in the North, scrimping and saving to provide them with food and clothing. But what about you? All you care about is your own interests and petitions. Who would think about whether the soldiers in the North are well-fed and warm? I want you all to see them, just to show that a mere farming family is stronger than you!"

After the emperor's speech, the group of royal relatives and ministers blushed with shame, wishing they could find a hole to hide in right there in the hall.

Song Dingxiang listened to Zhou Yinuo's vivid description and couldn't help but laugh, saying, "It's not really that great. At first, we only thought of sending things because you were there, afraid that you would suffer on your own. It was only later with the help of General Zhong that we could make more things for the soldiers. Otherwise, we wouldn't even know where to get wool, let alone where to find gloves to send."

Zhou Yinuo chuckled, her laughter a soft melody that echoed through the quiet room. Song Dingxiang realized she was being a bit silly and blushed slightly. She poured a glass of water and handed it to Zhou Yinuo, "Here, have some water. After seeing the emperor, can we go home?"

Zhou Yinuo nodded, her eyes sparkling with a mix of contentment and longing. "Yes, I just want to go home now and snuggle up on our big kang bed. I'm so tired of all the pomp and circumstance of the capital."

After a few more jokes, Zhou Yinuo suddenly said, "Oh, I just remembered something... Xu Qiang went to a county in Ganning to serve as the county magistrate, did you know about that?"

"Why bring him up out of nowhere?" Song Dingxiang held her teacup and said, "I only know that he became a county magistrate, but I don't know where he went."

Zhou Yinuo said, "Ganning also raises sheep, and Xu Qiang seems to have figured out how to weave gloves. He bought a lot of wool and even opened a wool workshop there."

Song Dingxiang thought for a moment and said, "Maybe it was Song Taohong who stole the method? She went to see Xu Qiang, and it's been three years since we last saw her, I wonder how she is doing. But Xu Qiang opening a wool workshop is also a good thing, at least it provides another way for the local people."

Zhou Yinuo shook his head and said, "I'm afraid it's not that simple. I only heard a rumor that Xu Qiang colluded with merchants, bought wool at a low price, and sold it at a high price, making a lot of money. Someone thought the wool stuff was fresh and sent it to the emperor, but by then the emperor already knew that our family was sending wool to the North, so... the emperor was very angry. It is said that he has sent people to investigate Xu Qiang's background, it's worrying..."

Song Dingxiang jumped in shock and said, "If he has done something wrong, will it implicate our family?"

Zhou Yinuo said, "It shouldn't implicate us, after all, his last name is Xu, while ours is Zhou and Song."

Song Dingxiang said, "But his wife is Song Taohong!"

Zhou Yinuo continued, "Yes, and also... I heard that his wife over there seems to not have the last name Song, but Shi."

"What?" Song Dingxiang was stunned, "Taohong changed her last name? Is that necessary?"

——— Author's Note:

"I want to change the name of my character, not called Song Family Eatery, but rather Song Family Dingxiang."

Originally intended to write about an eatery, ended up getting off track, and now realizing it's hard to go back to the original intention.

PS: Because this is my first ancient Chinese novel, it has many shortcomings. Please show your appreciation and enjoy it.