Nanny Qian rose early, happily preparing to cook. But just as she stepped over the threshold, she discovered Yu Qingwu in the kitchen stealing eggs to eat.

Nanny Qian: “…”

She was truly impressed.

She asked irritably, “What, when you went to sleep last night things were fine with Shanjun, but after one night you’ve quarreled?”

Yu Qingwu said worriedly, “Yes.”

Nanny Qian could guess the reason for his recent sulking. She rolled her eyes, “You deserve it!”

So affected.

She said: “That General Hu with his face full of beard, both dark and fat—would Shanjun fancy him? They’ve just gotten closer, that’s all normal. Why are you jealous about this?”

Yu Qingwu: “He can lift a two-hundred-pound Xingtian hammer!”

Nanny Qian: “But you can cry.”

She coaxed, “Men should be fair and clean to look good. There are many capable men, but those as handsome as you are rare.”

Yu Qingwu thought about it this way, “That’s true too.”

When he cried, it was like pear blossoms in the rain. When that General Hu cried, he looked like a black bear spirit.

Ew, unbearable to look at!

He immediately gained confidence and went out clutching two eggs.

Nanny Qian grumbled, “Eggs are getting more and more expensive these days, really!”

What kind of household dares to eat eggs like this?

She hurriedly prepared a simple breakfast.

Stewed corn, pork buns, a plate of dumplings.

First, she fed the two who had to go on duty until they were full, then she had to hurry out to buy vegetables.

Shanjun liked eating pig’s feet, Qingwu liked eating duck feet.

She herself liked everything and wasn’t picky, so along the street she bought walnut cookies, plum flower cakes, cool bamboo tube drinks, and braised chicken wings.

At noon, she also went to a restaurant.

The children weren’t eating at home, and she didn’t want to cook, so she simply ate out.

She had her own preferences for eating at restaurants—not only did the food have to be good, but the service had to be good too.

Getting three cents’ worth for every cent spent—that’s what you call knowing how to live.

The shopkeeper here was an old acquaintance of hers. Seeing her arrive, he personally attended to her, smiling and saying: “Nanny Qian, the usual?”

Nanny Qian nodded, “Yes.”

The shopkeeper sent her three dishes and a pot of good wine. Nanny Qian invited him to sit down and eat together. The shopkeeper said: “In another two months, I’ll be returning to my hometown.”

When people grew old, they had to return home. The shopkeeper had earned money his whole life—not a small amount. He wanted to return home to spend his remaining years in comfort.

Nanny Qian was very envious, “You’re so fortunate. Not like me, alas, a life of toil.”

The shopkeeper poured wine for her, “If you were willing, you could afford several mansions in Luoyang City.”

He praised, “You are the pillar of Lord Yu and General Lan. Everyone knows that last winter when you fell ill, both of them took leave to return home and attend to you—”

Nanny Qian was extremely pleased but still had to say something proper, “Oh my, that was the masters’ kindness. How would I dare be arrogant?”

Just as she was speaking, she saw a father and daughter who sang for money enter below, wanting to beg the shopkeeper for some food.

Nanny Qian was in high spirits and gave them a dish she hadn’t touched, “Have the server take it down. Add two more bowls of rice. Poor things, look at that girl so thin and small—she must be starving.”

The father and daughter expressed a thousand thanks and wanted to kowtow.

Nanny Qian wouldn’t accept this and quickly waved her hand, “It’s just a bowl of rice.”

The daughter began to cry, saying: “Along this road, it’s only because we’ve encountered kindhearted people like you that we can survive.”

The old man said: “Our fate is bitter, but fortunately heaven doesn’t cut off all paths. A’Nuan, we’ve reached Luoyang. Let’s go report to the officials. The magistrate will give us justice.”

The shopkeeper asked, “What justice? From your words, you have some grievance?”

The old man was about to kneel and speak.

Nanny Qian took a deep breath.

Nanny Qian picked up her bowl and chopsticks and swept all the vegetables from the plate into her bowl to eat.

Her movements were quick. She had already eaten most of it, so taking big bites like this, three to five mouthfuls, and the rice and vegetables in the bowl were immediately swept clean.

She slammed the bowl and chopsticks on the table and, before the shopkeeper and the singing father and daughter could react, grabbed her vegetable basket and ran.

Don’t let her age fool you—her legs were good.

She ran extremely fast. Only after she had vanished did the shopkeeper come to his senses.

The shopkeeper: “…”

The singers: “…”

The two exchanged glances and smiled bitterly.

This was bad now.

It really was bad.

Nanny Qian angrily cursed the shopkeeper to Yu Qingwu and Lan Shanjun, “How much money have I spent there! Other restaurants’ food is just as good—why wouldn’t I go? Wasn’t it just because I saw he was old but still had some elegance, spoke nicely, and often sent me a few dishes?”

He actually dared to make her into Judge Bao.

Fortunately, her mouth was big. She couldn’t become Judge Bao, but she could sweep all the rice and vegetables clean—not wasting a single grain of rice.

“If I’d spent silver without finishing the food, I would have been angry!”

Lan Shanjun laughed, “How did you figure it out?”

Nanny Qian: “Hmph, my eyes are very sharp!”

Besides, normal people wouldn’t cry about their grievances after eating just one bowl of her rice.

“If they really came to the capital to submit a petition to the Emperor, they must have enemies. They would be hiding and concealing themselves—how could they so quickly tell their past to strangers? And tell me of all people. What kind of important person am I~”

Moreover, even if it wasn’t a grievance but their own wound, they wouldn’t be willing to easily expose it in front of others.

So she judged it was a trap.

Yu Qingwu praised greatly: “Though they were coming for us, because we have a wise elder like you, things have been much easier for us. We haven’t gotten involved in many muddled affairs.”

Nanny Qian was pleased again, “Just look at who I am.”

When she was young, she followed Old Master Wu and the Old Madam. She had always been like a seventh-rank official at the Prime Minister’s gate. She had experienced many things.

Then she asked Lan Shanjun, “Has Huihui still not sent word today?”

Lan Shanjun nodded, “Right. But she should be returning soon.”

She had gone to see Nanzhou before. Now that she’d finished looking, naturally she would return.

Lan Shanjun said: “It’s been two years since we’ve seen each other.”

She missed Huihui very much.

Sure enough, before long, Huihui returned to Luoyang.

This was spring of the fifty-fifth year of Yuanshao. Throughout Luoyang City there were flower-viewing banquets everywhere. As soon as she returned, she received quite a few invitations.

Huihui refused them all.

Zhu Shi was overjoyed beyond measure, cried for several days, holding Huihui and calling her “my darling” repeatedly, sleeping together for half a month straight.

Only after half a month did Huihui have time to come out and tell everyone about the scenery and customs of Nanzhou.

She said: “It really is very different there. As soon as I arrived, I saw many young women and married women outside. Some sold porcelain, some sold tea, and some sold cloth.”

It seemed everyone could do business.

“I also took over a shop, but I don’t know what to do yet. I’ll decide when I go there.”

Zhu Shi was about to start wiping away tears again. She asked, “Must you go?”

Huihui nodded, “Yes.”

This time her future husband had also come along. The two got along well and wanted to be together constantly. Seeing this, Zhu Shi compromised.

She said: “Now, I don’t ask for anything else, just that you be happy.”

Huihui then said: “Mother, if you want to go to Nanzhou, you can come with me.”

The world outside was broader—perhaps it would also be a kind of liberation for Mother?

But Zhu Shi was unwilling. She said: “Your grandmother is getting old. I need to show filial piety. Your brothers’ children are also grown. I still need to help watch over them.”

Huihui didn’t force her. She said: “Then I’ll write letters home frequently.”

Zhu Shi: “Just write frequently to your Sixth Sister. Now she’s a favored person in the palace. With your good relationship, as long as she’s there, no one will dare bully you. Even if you marry into Nanzhou, the Zhe family will have to respect you.”

Huihui smiled and said yes. When she went to the Yu household, she said to Lan Shanjun: “It would be wonderful if you could go see it.”

Nanzhou was really very good.

Nanny Qian came over bringing food and, hearing this, asked curiously, “I’ve heard that every household in Nanzhou enshrines Lady of Tea Mountain. Is this true?”

Huihui nodded, “It’s indeed true.”

Now, Lady of Tea Mountain was also a predecessor she admired.

Nanny Qian: “So your husband’s family are her descendants? They all have the surname Zhe.”

But Huihui shook her head: “Lady of Tea Mountain had no descendants.”

She had read Lady of Tea Mountain’s biography.

Historical records showed she was born into a branch family of the Zhe clan from three hundred years ago. Because of her humble family background, she married a young master from a certain aristocratic family in the capital as a second wife. But because she loved growing tea, she received an imperial decree to manage tea gardens in Nanzhou. After establishing a firm foothold in Nanzhou, she gradually built up business in Nanzhou tea horses and Yuezhou celadon, giving women of Nanzhou at that time much more work to do.

About a dozen years later, when she had achieved success and no longer needed to rely on her husband’s family name to deal with local aristocrats and officials, she divorced her husband and spent her entire life in Nanzhou spreading the way of tea.

Because of the distant era, who her husband’s family was could no longer be verified, but the four characters “Lady of Tea Mountain” were passed down, becoming the name worshipped by the tea-growing common people of Nanzhou.

Huihui greatly admired her life.

“I want to try too.”

She also had many things she wanted to do.

Lan Shanjun smiled and said: “If you’re willing, then go ahead and do it freely. Whatever I can help with from Luoyang, I will help you.”

Huihui threw herself into her arms acting spoiled, “Sixth Sister, I knew you treat me the best.”

Then turning around, she saw Sixth Brother-in-law in the distance reluctantly saying: “Shanjun, General Hu is here.”

Hearing this, Lan Shanjun immediately said: “I’ll come right away.”

After the person left, Huihui asked curiously, “Who is General Hu?”

Yu Qingwu: “A black bear spirit.”

Huihui closed her mouth.

She went back and said to Third Sister-in-law: “Sixth Sister and Sixth Brother-in-law have such a good relationship.”

Third Young Madam, holding her daughter and playing, smiled and said: “Those two are indeed good.”

Couples who had experienced life and death together always had deep affection. Like her and Lan San, they were like two leaves from one tree falling to the ground who, because they were swept together by a broom, were tied together.

Fortunately, she still had her child.

The innocent words of children could always comfort her.

In the evening, just as she was about to hold her daughter and sleep, she heard a commotion outside. Third Young Madam quickly called a maid to hold her daughter. She put on clothes and went out, just in time to see First Sister-in-law covering her face and running out of the room.

“First Sister-in-law, what happened?”

First Young Madam said aggrieved: “My husband wants to take a concubine.”

If it were any other concubine, that would be one thing, but it happened to be someone from Prince Wei’s side.

She said: “Sixth Sister’s relationship with our family isn’t good to begin with. If he takes a concubine from that side, I’m afraid Sixth Sister will turn hostile.”

Third Young Madam couldn’t help rolling her eyes.

She said: “This family, the names really were chosen too well.”

Lan Zhi, Lan Zhang—put together, weren’t they “mentally challenged”?

She shook her head, “Don’t worry. He won’t be able to take her.”

First Young Madam sobbed and asked, “How can you tell?”

Third Young Madam: “Your Third Brother is very honest now—he hasn’t gotten few beatings.”

Sure enough, within a few days, Lan Zhi was beaten.

He hadn’t dealt with Yu Qingwu before and didn’t know the reality. He still yelled about reporting to the authorities. But Zhu Shi stopped him, stammering: “Forget it. Family harmony brings prosperity.”

She said worriedly: “You too, don’t oppose him in the future. When this person hits people, he’s ruthless. Your Third Brother suffered greatly from him—haven’t you noticed that these past two years, A’Zhang avoids him when he sees him?”

He’d been beaten into fear.

Lan Zhi angrily slapped the bed, “Third Brother doesn’t resist?”

Huihui said cheerfully: “He resisted, but got beaten even harder.”

Lan Zhi: “…”

Only then did he give up.

After beating this side, Yu Qingwu didn’t spare Prince Wei either.

He submitted several memorials impeaching Prince Wei, saying he was courting court officials and forming factions for private gain.

The Emperor was very satisfied. He actually found Prince Wei quite irritating too.

Prince Qi had tripped him up, and of course Prince Wei had tripped him up too. It was just that Prince Qi was ruthless, while Prince Wei’s methods were stupider.

For instance, his current way of courting others was giving them concubines—many years ago when he wanted to steal people from the Emperor, he also gave them concubines.

Yu Qingwu laughed, “Tsk tsk, so many years, why doesn’t he adapt a bit?”

But the Emperor suddenly asked, “Did Prince Wei ever send you concubines back then?”

Yu Qingwu didn’t dare laugh anymore: “Your Majesty, you can’t talk nonsense. These words can’t be said.”

The Emperor then mocked: “I heard from General Hu that you’re very difficult with him?”

Yu Qingwu waved his hand, “How am I difficult with him?”

“He’s so big, like a black bear. How could I beat him?”

The Emperor: “But you giving him a nickname in the first place wasn’t right.”

Now people outside all called him Black Bear General.

Yu Qingwu: “Doesn’t that sound good? Others call me Jade-faced Young Master. Have I said anything about it?”

The Emperor didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “At least apologize to him.”

Yu Qingwu reluctantly agreed.

He told Nanny Qian, “Help me buy some pig stomach, and also help me buy some chicken intestines.”

“Mix them together and stir-fry them. I’m going to host a guest.”

Nanny Qian was puzzled: “Who are you hosting? A small stomach and chicken intestine feast?”

Wasn’t this insulting people?

Naturally, he was hosting General Hu.

General Hu went to complain to the Emperor again.

The Emperor was also annoyed. He simply avoided seeing him and went back to hold Yuanniang and sleep.

Yuanniang’s health had improved a lot recently. But because of the damage from those years, she still slept longer than others each day.

Every time the Emperor saw her sleeping, he was very worried.

Once he couldn’t resist and pinched her nose with his hand, and she woke up and scolded him for quite a while.

“Are you sick in the head!”

The Emperor said sheepishly: “I just wanted to see if you’d get up and hit me.”

Actually, he wanted to check if she was breathing. But he felt this was very inauspicious, so he simply pinched her nose.

Yuanniang then said to Shanjun: “Tell me, is he sick?”

Lan Shanjun: “…”

She didn’t dare say this.

She quickly pulled A’Man: “Let’s go practice with the knife.”

Yuanniang laughed, “Why are you running? I didn’t tell you to scold him with me.”

But between sisters, one would generally say: “He is indeed sick. I told you long ago.”

Lan Shanjun laughed aloud, “It’s evident that because of His Majesty, our relationship has become more distant.”

Yuanniang laughed endlessly.

A’Man sat on the side feeling drowsy, lazily yawned, then after thinking suddenly asked, “Mother, Auntie, what is Breaking Point Illumination?”

Lan Shanjun startled, “Who told you? Or where did you see these three characters?”

A’Man: “My palace maid Jingyu said it. She said because Auntie hated the late rebel prince, she gave him Breaking Point Illumination.”

Yuanniang’s face turned cold, “Where is she?”

A’Man: “I had someone interrogate her.”

Although she pretended to say it unintentionally and knelt on the ground explaining the circumstances, A’Man still felt this person was playing hard to get, leading her to investigate privately.

But why should this kind of thing be investigated privately?

“I can just ask you directly.”

Lan Shanjun then smiled, “Right, you can just ask me directly.”

Now when she spoke of these three words, she no longer felt afraid. She said: “Breaking Point Illumination—it was a punishment Prince Qi wanted to inflict on someone else, namely my master, your parents’ grand-uncle.”

“But because we won, this punishment didn’t fall on us but instead fell on him.”

A’Man understood somewhat.

Yuanniang directly said, “Your aunt was avenging me. Back then, Prince Qi wanted my life—even now my health still isn’t good.”

A’Man nodded. She knew this.

She thought about it and asked puzzled: “Why did she come to tell me about this? Although she’s followed me for many years and we’re like sisters, I still wouldn’t harm Auntie because of her.”

Lan Shanjun: “It’s to make you think I’m a cruel and ruthless person?”

Though she wouldn’t think she was wrong now, once there was conflict in the future, the prejudice about her character would enter A’Man’s heart.

Yuanniang said with disgust: “It’s only been a few years. Are they trying to stir up trouble again?”

There must still be fish that escaped the net back then. Yuanniang comforted Lan Shanjun: “I’ll definitely have them investigated.”

But Lan Shanjun looked gently at A’Man, “Thank you for trusting me.”

A’Man remained lazy, “I think they’re so stupid! I never suspected Jingyu. If she’d stayed by my side, she might have had greater uses.”

But Yuanniang scolded: “With something like this happening, you didn’t tell me and even had everyone hide it from me!”

A’Man just smiled: “I was just testing whether I had such ability. Auntie and I are both learning military strategy, but military strategy doesn’t necessarily have to be used only in war.”

Use it wherever it can be used.

She stood up, “I’m going to play with Elder Brother.”

A’Li was practicing calligraphy. Compared to A’Man following Lan Shanjun around learning whatever she wanted to learn, A’Li suffered more.

As Crown Prince, besides studying with Yu Qingwu, he also had other teachers.

Of twelve hours in a day, if he could rest for three hours, that was already quite good.

Though it was hard, he didn’t dare slack off. Even though Father Emperor and Mother Empress’s health was much better than before, they were still somewhat weaker than ordinary people.

He knew he had to quickly shoulder this burden. His temperament was steady, and his characters were written steadily too—stroke by stroke, all proper and regular.

A fruit was tossed onto the desk in front of him. A’Li smiled. Without lifting his head, he knew who had come.

He set down his brush and walked to the window, “What is it?”

A’Man: “Uncle-in-law invited General Hu to dinner, cooking all small stomachs and chicken intestines.”

A’Li laughed heartily, reached out his hand to pat A’Man’s head, “Go listen again. If there are other funny things, come back and tell me.”

A’Man nodded and left.

A’Li continued back to write characters. Yu Qingwu came in from outside. A’Li lifted his head and teased him with a smile: “Grand Tutor, you’re too petty.”

Yu Qingwu asked: “Your Highness, have you memorized today’s essay?”

A’Li’s face fell, “Alas, not yet.”

Yu Qingwu: “Hurry up! Your aunt will be going back soon, and this subject wants to leave with her.”