With words spoken to this extent, the matter was no longer mentioned!
This trip, Fan Zehao had finally vented years of pent-up frustration, especially after hearing their apologies!
The issue resolved cleanly, Fan Zehao embarked on his next journey, heading to Shangmen Village in Jianghe Town to visit Chen Yusheng and to inspect how the Hedong Prefecture was being governed.
They departed, but Prince Xian did not accompany them this time, stating they would rendezvous at the Binyue Inn in Hedong Prefecture.
Huangfu Xu stealthily sidled up to Fan Zehao, whispering mysteriously, "Brother, do you think Prince Xian will give his concubine a good scolding, and then throw Fan Shurong and Fan Fu out of the manor?"
Fan Zehao, upon hearing this, didn't even spare him a glance.
Huangfu Xu, undeterred, continued to relay gossip he had heard, "Fan Shurong's father-in-law used to be the Minister of Revenue, Liao Zheng. It's said that Liao Zheng initially looked down on his son-in-law, claiming that marrying his daughter to him was entirely due to Prince Xian acting as a matchmaker. But now... it's Fan Shurong who looks down on his father-in-law!"
Ever since they left Prince Xian's manor, his mouth had been running incessantly, not stopping for a moment.
Finding it too noisy, Fan Zehao finally looked at Prince Xiaoyao properly and asked, "Are you thirsty?"
"Haven't you heard 'One should always reflect on their own faults when sitting quietly, and refrain from gossiping about others' affairs when chatting'? I wonder how your tutors taught you!"
Huangfu Xu was taken aback by his retort, especially since he had used idioms, which surprised him greatly. He shook his flamboyant red fan, "Brother, this is rare! You actually understand the meaning of these two phrases. Remarkable!"
"Tell me, who did you learn this from? I want to become their disciple too, perhaps my speaking skills can improve significantly!"
Upon hearing that he wanted to take a disciple, Fan Zehao’s lips curved into a wide smile. He raised his chin and gestured towards the carriage, "My master is in that carriage. Do you want to go pay your respects? I believe that if you learn from my master, your inner depth can ascend another level!"
Hearing that he was referring to his elder sister-in-law, Zhao Jiaqi, Huangfu Xu immediately dismissed the idea of becoming a disciple. He would rather mess with anyone else than her; that woman was ruthless, and could somehow wring some money out of you for no reason.
He sat up straight and sheepishly said, "Ah... no wonder Brother's knowledge is so good. So you learned from Elder Sister-in-law. I won't become a disciple of this master, nor can I!"
Fan Zehao, confused, frowned and asked, "Why?"
He replied, "If you sleep with your master, you'll learn even without trying!"
He couldn't possibly claim Zhao Jiaqi for himself; if he did, his ribs would likely be broken into several pieces.
After he said this, Fan Zehao also understood his meaning – this scoundrel was trying to poach his wife! His face instantly fell, his eyes widened in anger, and he gritted his teeth, shouting, "Huangfu Xu, you son of a bitch, watch me cripple you!"
Huangfu Xu burst into laughter and suddenly spurred his horse, galloping away. Fan Zehao chased after him. Inside the carriage, Zhao Jiaqi, bewildered, looked at the two lunatics and asked Xiao Ce, who was driving the horse carriage, "What's wrong with them!"
"I'm not sure. I just heard something about taking a disciple or not," Xiao Ce replied with a simple smile, concealing some of the truth.
Actually, he felt sorry for Prince Xiaoyao. If the Princess Consort knew she had been teased by Prince Xiaoyao, her methods of dealing with him would probably be even harsher than the Prince's, and she would definitely make Prince Xiaoyao remember it for a lifetime!
They traveled along, bickering and laughing, enjoying themselves immensely!
Riding on the road, their horses galloped with the wind whistling past. The gloom in their hearts dispersed, and they suddenly felt much more at ease, with smiles on their faces!
Upon entering Jianghe Town, under the jurisdiction of Hedong Prefecture, Zhao Jiaqi arranged for everyone to stay in the town. She and Fan Zehao headed off alone, primarily to avoid attracting too much attention from onlookers.
"Xuxu, you stay behind and inspect the town. Inquire discreetly about how the common people in the town have been living these past few years, and whether the town mayor and county magistrate have been doing their duty for the people. This arduous task is entrusted to you!"
"Xuxu," such an intimate term of address she had never used for him before. Fan Zehao's expression soured, and he narrowed his eyes, staring at the person opposite him who was smiling as radiantly as a blooming flower.
"Elder Sister-in-law's assigned task, Xuxu will naturally do his utmost to complete it. I will absolutely not fail Elder Sister-in-law's great kindness!" After saying this, he provocatively raised his eyebrows at Fan Zehao, his smug expression making Fan Zehao wish he could go up and beat him.
The two of them engaged in silent competition, much like children who couldn't get candy.
Zhao Jiaqi tugged at the person who was about to lose his temper and quickly led him away.
The two walked along a country path, reminiscing about their early days of struggle. They had been shoulder to shoulder then, laughing and chatting. Back then, they would leave early and return late, working tirelessly from dawn till dusk, yet they didn't feel tired.
Zhao Jiaqi glanced at the person beside her and took his rough, large palm in hers. "Recalling when I married you, life was very fulfilling. Every day I thought about making money. When I earned the first sum of silver, my drive became even stronger!"
The memories of yesterday also captivated Fan Zehao. He sighed, "Back then, for the sake of three meals a day, earning a meager few copper coins, and having some income each day, we felt life was sweet. Thinking back now, those times were still beautiful!"
He reached out and pointed to the distance, where farmers were busy picking corn in the fields. "We were like them before, just trying to fill our stomachs. I would go up the mountain to hunt, and you would manage the household and also figure out ways to earn money. Now... the burdens on our shoulders are heavier. We are no longer striving just to eat and stay warm. To be honest, I miss returning to those carefree days. Even if I earned just a little silver, I would be willing!"
Zhao Jiaqi smiled, looking at the corn in the fields growing very well. The joy of a bountiful harvest was evident on the faces of those farmers.
"Although we are tired, look at the common people who are well-fed and warm. Don't you feel a sense of accomplishment?"
"Although your original intention for joining the army was not for them, but now that you have the ability to let them live good lives, this is your achievement. Not for anything else, but for the common people like us to live well, not to be extorted by officials with miscellaneous taxes, and not to suffer the ravages of war, that is enough. You have already done very well!"
Fan Zehao lowered his gaze and asked the question that had long been in his heart, "Why do you always care about these common people who have nothing to do with you?"
Zhao Jiaqi was taken aback. She had never really thought about this matter before!
After a long silence, she replied faintly, "In my previous life, I was also from a rural village and got into university, leaving the mountains and ditches behind. There was a certain difference between me and children from the city. Perhaps it was inferiority, or perhaps subconsciously, I didn't want others to look down on me!"
"So when I came here, my focus was on hoping the common people could eat their fill, that children could go to school, that both adults and children would be literate, know etiquette, understand what is good and evil, what is filial piety, and what should and should not be done!"
"Or perhaps, it's simply that I pity them. Anyway, within our capabilities, thinking for them is not wrong."
She smiled, "Money is something you can't bring with you when you're born, nor take with you when you die. In the end, it all goes into that rectangular box, covered with a lid of earth, and your life is over. But as a person, you cannot be pointed at by others, and you cannot be ashamed of your conscience."
Fan Zehao took a deep breath and shook his head slightly. His wife's way of thinking was truly peculiar, but he still agreed with her words!
As someone from a farming background, even though he was now the Regent, he could never shed the moniker of a 'mud-legged peasant.' Therefore, he could understand the things his wife did!