Chapter 526: Chapter 526. New Year
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
When Su Qing was about to reach Jingshi Dao, she met Zhong Yong, who was rushing back. She told him about Qiu Yongkang’s death. Zhong Yong’s eyes turned red as he cried out,
“Mother, did you hear that? My master has avenged you!”
Xiaoying lowered her head in self-reproach. In the cave, she asked Qiu Yongkang why he had killed his G.o.dmother. Qiu Yongkang said that it was because his G.o.dmother wanted to s.n.a.t.c.h her away, so he had no choice but to kill her.
This made Xiaoying feel a strong sense of guilt. She also felt very awkward knowing she had been engaged to Zhong Yong as a child. She did not know how to face Zhong Yong.
If he insisted on fulfilling the engagement, what should she do?
“Zhong Yong, don’t be sad. Go back and pay respects to G.o.dmother’s grave before coming back to celebrate the new year with us. Don’t be alone.”
Su Qing advised Zhong Yong. He was the most pitiful one. She was worried he would spend the New Year alone, so she asked Zhong Yong to come to Jingshi Dao to spend the New Year with them.
Zhong Yong shook his head, his voice filled with unconcealable sorrow.
“Master, I won’t be coming to Jingshi Dao. After I pay my respects to Mother’s grave, I’ll go to Luo City to help Eldest Brother.”
“Alright.”
When Su Qing heard that Zhong Yong was going to Luo City, she took out the new clothes she had made for Xiao Zeyu and asked Zhong Yong to take them with him.
After sending Zhong Yong off, Su Qing and Xiaoying entered Jingshi Dao. Yan Shikuan saw Su Qing and quickly led the army to welcome her. Initially, there were only a few thousand soldiers in the city. Now, there were more than ten thousand soldiers. They were all rallying under the Xiao family’s banner. Many able-bodied men joined the army because of the Xiao family’s army.
Su Qing was delighted after seeing the appearance of the Xiao Family Army led by Yan Shikuan. She took out a thousand taels of silver and gave it to Yan Shikuan, telling him to prepare food for the army for the new year. She wanted to let these soldiers who followed the Xiao Family Army know that following Xiao Zeyu would bring them meat.
Yan Shikuan didn’t expect the young madam to be so generous in providing welfare for the army. One thousand taels of silver could buy so many fat pigs and white flour. This was the best New Year for the Xiao family’s army.
Yan Shikuan raised the banknotes and shouted at the soldiers of the three
armies,
“Soldiers, thank you for your consideration and loyalty to the young master.
“I swear my loyalty to the young master.”
The three armies roared in unison, shaking the mountains and rivers. Su Qing nodded in satisfaction. With this momentum, they would be invincible.
When Herkan and the soldiers he had brought heard this earth-shaking shout, they ran out of the relay station to watch the show. Seeing the imposing manner of the three armies, they were speechless. ‘Who could defeat this team?’
Since he came out of Mo City, Herkan had been wondering what had happened to the future princess consort. If something happened to the future w.a.n.gfei, how would he explain it to the emperor when he returned?
Now that he saw Su Qing and Xiaoying in the carriage, Herkan’s anxious heart finally relaxed.
After Su Qing rewarded the three armies, she took Xiaoying back to her house. Grandpa was staying at her house. He played chess with Luan Qingshan daily and talked about state affairs. He chatted with Su Qing’s father, Su Hanxuan, and Zhou Bo about the five elements and gossip. He also teased Xiao Chen when he was free. Grandpa was very comfortable and not lonely.
It was just that it was almost the new year, and it was inevitable that he would miss his grandchildren and granddaughter-in-law.
“These heartless people don’t want to return for the new year?
Yang Ruxue and Su Hanxuan also missed Su Qing and their son-in-law. They had left as soon as they married, so who wouldn’t want a family reunion during the New Year?
Zhou Bo also said bitterly,
“The Qing girl still owes me a hundred jars of wine!”
Luan Hong laughed when she heard that.
“Uncle Master, you haven’t stopped drinking these days. Doesn’t it count?”
“The wine you brew is far inferior to the wine Qing girl brews.”
Zhou Bo looked at Luan Hong with disdain. He had to make do because he ran out of wine.
Luan Hong’s face was filled with black lines as she pouted unhappily.
“Then don’t drink it!”
“Just making do with it. Consider it as helping Qing girl pay the interest. Su Qing and Xiaoying kept sneezing on the road. When they entered the door, they heard Grandpa scold them for being heartless. When they heard Uncle Master say that she owed him wine, Su Qing smiled.
“Grandpa, we returned to spend the new year with you, and you still scolded us for being heartless?”
“Uncle’s Master, you can’t forget the wine I owe you. You only say more and not
less.”
“Qing’er.”
When Yang Ruxue saw her daughter return, she excitedly walked over and held her daughter’s hand. She looked her up and down, her eyes filled with heartache.
“Qing’er, you’ve lost weight.”
“Mother.”
Su Qing smiled and called her mother. Although Su Hanxuan didn’t make it as apparent as his wife, he couldn’t bear to take his eyes off his daughter. He missed Su Qing no less than his wife.
“Big sister.”
Little Chen was wearing a red cotton jacket with the word “Tuan Fu” on it. His hair was tied up in two pet.i.te bangs, and he looked like the little golden boy of Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Seeing that his sister had returned, the little fellow’s calves were as if they had been installed with hot wheels. He plunged into his sister’s arms.
Xiao Qi was so scared that she jumped out of the system and stood before Su Qing. Master was pregnant; how could she withstand Little Chen’s impact?
“Xiao Qi?”
Seeing Xiao Qi suddenly appear before him, Little Chen forgot about his sister. He hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. Su Qing saw her sad look and shook her head while holding back her laughter.
One thing can defeat another. Xiao Qi’s nemesis was Little Chen.
“Grandpa.”
Xiaoying ran to greet her grandfather. After greeting her grandfather, she greeted Su Hanxuan and Yang Ruxue. She put her hands on her waist and bowed, looking like a lady from a wealthy family.
“h.e.l.lo, Uncle Su, Auntie Su.”
“h.e.l.lo,”
Yang Ruxue liked Xiaoying very much. This girl had no temper at all. Su Qing was lucky to have such a sister-in-law.
“Xiaoying, didn’t you see Martial Uncle?”
Seeing that Xiaoying didn’t greet him, Zhou Bo’s temper flared up. He asked Xiaoying with a straight face.
“Martial Uncle, great blessings.”
Xiaoying paid her respects to her uncle’s master again. Zhou Bo smiled again. “No need to be polite. Martial Uncle will give you a small gift. You must wear it on your body.”
Zhou Bo took out a folded talisman and handed it to Xiaoying. Su Qing smiled at him. ‘Here he goes again. Couldn’t he change the gift?’
“Thank you, Uncle Master.”
Xiaoying took the talisman from her uncle’s master with both hands and carefully placed it into her purse. She was different from Su Qing. Since she was young, she had heard from her foster father that his senior brother, Zhou Bo, was mighty in divination. He could even use talismans to mobilize ghost soldiers. The talismans he drew could not even be bought with 1,000 gold.
“Did you see that? Qing’er, this is the proper way to receive talismans.” Zhou Bo saw that Xiaoying was so knowledgeable and immediately beamed with joy.
“Hah!”
Su Qing gave a noncommittal laugh. Although she admitted that Zhou Bo’s talisman was powerful, she did not need it. She only believed in herself. “Father, Mother, I have prepared a New Year gift for you.” Su Qing ordered people to bring frozen tofu, four bear paws, and a bag of half-meter-long fish.
There was also rouge powder, lipstick, perfume, a jade thumb ring for her father, and a brush made of jade for her uncle. These were all gifts for her family.
After giving the gifts to her parents, Su Qing took out a set of clothes made of golden thread that she had prepared for her grandfather. It was rich and imposing.. Zhou Bo was eager to see Su Qing’s New Year gift-wine!