The first month, Zhao Jiaqi was in confinement, while the house in Xiushui Village was also tidied up by the special envoy, making the entire room warm and ready for the owners to retreat.
However, not long after they moved to Xiushui Village, they suddenly heard that Fan Yao had become the emperor of Yun Kingdom and had already ascended the throne.
Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao were both stunned. They looked at each other for a long time, unable to find any answers in each other's eyes.
"What's going on?"
Fan Zehao spread his hands, his face equally innocent, "I don't know."
"That scoundrel, he neglected his own inner city and actually went to Yun Kingdom to be emperor. When I catch this brat, I'll skin him alive."
This second son, weighing ninety-nine catties, ninety-eight point nine ounces of which were pure defiance. A few days later, Prince Xian and Prince Xiaoyao, these two brothers, swaggered into Xiushui Village and became neighbors with Fan Zehao's family.
This time, the brothers were showing off in front of their couple, so happy and excited, praising Fan Yao as a good child.
"My nephew is truly amazing. I'm proud to have such a nephew."
Prince Xiaoyao fanned himself and chuckled behind his hand, joining in teasing the couple, "I say, Fan Yao really has the demeanor of an emperor. You two haven't seen how handsome Fan Yao looked in his dragon robes. He's truly more imposing than you, his father."
Zhao Jiaqi, holding her child, didn't want to listen to their nonsense. She desperately wanted to know how Yao Yao had become the emperor of Yun Kingdom.
She asked Prince Xian and Prince Xiaoyao, "Can you two speak sense? How did you trick Yao Yao?"
Prince Huangfu Xian blushed and chuckled at Zhao Jiaqi, "Sister-in-law is truly amazing, guessing it right away. But it's not our fault. Yao Yao lost to us in tactics, so he accepted his defeat and that's why he went to be emperor."
Prince Huangfu Xu quickly explained, "Sister-in-law, don't worry. Yao Yao will only be emperor for three years, that's all."
That's all? Zhao Jiaqi would be a fool to believe their lies.
However, Yao Yao deserved it. These two old foxes had eaten more salt than he had rice. He actually gambled with them, and it was no wonder he lost.
The couple living in seclusion in Xiushui Village, men plowing and women weaving during the day, became an ordinary couple at night.
But such a good life was indeed difficult to maintain. Occasionally, letters would come from Yun Kingdom, with Fan Yao asking for decisions on national affairs, and if he didn't understand, he would ask his parents.
Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao, while remotely guiding their second son, also had to keep an eye on their eldest, and occasionally, when they rested, they were occupied by the Huangfu brothers.
Either it was mahjong with one seat missing, or the two of them quarreling, asking them to mediate, and even Fan's second family joined in the fun.
Just as their youngest son had just learned to walk, Pin Ting's belly began to swell again. Zhao Jiaqi looked at her increasingly large belly and was quite impressed.
She touched Pin Ting's belly and asked with emotion, "Sister, this is your how many child?"
"Can we persuade Fan's second to not be so diligent? You've been either on the road to giving birth or rushing towards giving birth all these years. Your speed is truly admirable."
Pin Ting blushed, and touching her belly, she was also helpless, "I don't know what's wrong with my body. It happens with just a touch. We were careful enough after giving birth this time, and we drank contraceptives every time, who knew we could still get pregnant like this."
Zhao Jiaqi sighed. Well, this fertile constitution was truly unstoppable. Counting their children, they had three daughters and three sons, and now another one was on the way. This was truly blessed with many children.
Time flew by, and three years passed. Zhao Jiaqi stood at the village entrance with her third child, looking into the distance. After standing there for a while, her mother-in-law and father-in-law came out of the house.
"Father and Mother, it's quite cold outside, you should go back inside."
Zhang Cuihua looked in the direction of the village entrance and waved to Zhao Jiaqi, "My grandchildren said Jing'er is coming back for New Year's today. It's almost noon, I guess they'll be here soon. Let's wait here for a while."
Seeing her mother-in-law's determination, Zhao Jiaqi took off her cloak and draped it over her, fearing that the cold wind would freeze the elderly woman.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted intermittently, "Mother, they say grandparents are more affectionate towards grandchildren, and it seems to be true. Fan Zehao and I come back once a year or so, and you're not this anxious."
Zhang Cuihua chuckled. Although her daughter-in-law's words seemed like complaining, she knew that Qi Qi didn't mean it that way, but was simply a little jealous of her grandson.
She said earnestly, "Zehao is my son, flesh and blood from me. Although you are not my biological daughter, I truly regard you as my daughter. When you two go out, I naturally worry, but I know you are steady and smart, and with you, Zehao won't get into any trouble, so I can rest assured."
"But in the time you are away, I've been looking forward to your return day and night. Each time I put on a brave face, but only when someone announces your return at the door does my heart finally settle."
This was the first time Zhao Jiaqi had heard her mother-in-law speak such heartfelt words. In the past, when they went out and returned, her mother-in-law was always inside the house. They thought she was at ease with their departure, but they didn't know the hardship in her heart.
"Mother, this time we won't leave you again. We'll stay by your side, watch the sunrise and sunset with you, and also teach us to farm and teach our little grandson the Four Books and Five Classics."
Zhang Cuihua's lips curved into a smile, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes deepened. She was happy from the bottom of her heart, "As long as you're not afraid I'll teach the grandson badly, then teach him to me quickly."
As she spoke, her hand touched the head of the little grandson who seemed to understand but not understand, her kind face smiling happily.
As they were talking, several luxurious carriages entered the village. They were led by fine horses, riding forward with great spirit. Zhao Jiaqi looked closely and saw that it was Yu Meng and Jin Li.
Looking further down, Zhao Jiaqi almost screamed in shock, "My heavens, she's already pregnant and dares to ride a horse? Isn't she afraid of dying?"
Zhang Cuihua, however, felt that her eldest granddaughter was remarkable. "Our Fan family, only Yu Meng is most like her father, brave and resourceful, daring to do and dare to admit. I like that."
Zhao Jiaqi was speechless about her grandmother's favoritism towards her granddaughter. She had completely different attitudes towards her grandsons and granddaughters.
Sometimes Zhao Jiaqi wondered if it was because she had too many grandsons that the grandmother favored granddaughters?
But after hearing her mother-in-law's words today, she somewhat understood. None of the three grandsons had the adventurous spirit of her husband, only Yu Meng was exactly like Fan Zehao.
Therefore, her mother-in-law loved Yu Meng because of her love for Fan Zehao, showing her special preference.