Chapter 369: Chapter 9: Time Flows Like a White Horse
In the autumn of the thirteenth year of Kangping, Hami experienced another great harvest, with the aroma of fruits and grains filling the air.
Due to the rare peace over the past three years, people lived and worked happily, and the population reached a historical high.
The residence of Hong Sheng, the Commander of the Hami Guard.
"Young Master, good Young Master, please come down! If my sister finds out, she’ll beat me to death!"
A boy dressed in a blue outfit, sturdy and honest-looking, tilted his head to look up at a tall laurel tree.
"Bai Yue, you’re lying again! Last time you said Sister Linglong would hit you! Sister Linglong wouldn’t lay a hand on you!"
On a sturdy branch of the laurel tree, sat a small child wearing a light purple robe.
The child appeared to be only three or four years old, with a bun-like hairstyle tied with a small sapphire blue scarf.
Judging by the clothing, it should be a boy, but with a delicate little mouth, graceful nose, and a pair of phoenix eyes on the face, anyone would mistake this child for a girl dressed in boys’ clothes.
A child so young sitting on such a tall tree, showing no fear, spoke calmly, making the boy below couldn’t help but roll his eyes.
"My sister doesn’t hit, but she’ll have Sister Linlang do it."
Finishing with a plea, he said, "Young Master, please come down! Grandma might come back at any moment, and if she sees you up the tree again, even Mr. Xin can’t save you!"
The little master on the tree, thinking of his mother’s fondness for issuing shared punishment, helplessly said, "Ah, women, your name is Unreasonable!"
"Is this the insight you gained in my absence?"
Susu stood not far away, looking at her son in the tree, smiling as she asked.
The little one was startled, almost losing his balance, nearly falling but suddenly supported by someone.
"Young Master, be careful!"
Somehow, a young girl appeared behind him, and the little one nodded to her, "Thank you, Aunt Piggy!"
Then he smiled down at the tree, "Mother, I missed you so much!" saying this as he prepared to jump down.
A series of gasps arose below, and Bai Yue, disregarding Susu’s presence, rushed forward to act as a cushion.
Unfortunately...
The attempt to be impressive failed; the opportunity to heroically save failed to materialize.
"Aunt Piggy!"
The little one was insistent but was scooped up by the young girl at his back and flown down from the tree.
Knowing Piggy was there, Susu watched her son fool around without a hint of fear, and when Piggy brought him down, she extended her hand to take him, pinching a face identical to her own.
"What did you promise me before I left? Saying ’Mother, Mother, I’ll be so good, so cute, listening to Father.’ Huh?"
Susu imitated her son’s adorable and innocent voice, then shifted her tone to one resembling an old witch, "Is this your idea of being cute and obedient?"
The child, nicknamed Mantou, officially named Hong Feng, clung to his beautiful mother’s neck, letting her pinch his little face, earnestly saying, "Yesterday, I learned a term with Master, called ’looking far from a high place.’ Father wouldn’t let me view from the tower and had no time to take me to the mountain."
Seeing his master behind his mother, he blinked, feeling a chill, internally calling it bad, as he heard his tricky disciple say, "Master Xin said this laurel tree in the main courtyard perfectly embodies this term!"
Susu, without turning, knew how dark Mouse Heart’s face must be, smiling slightly, "And how was your experience?"
The child tilted his head, innocently adorable, "The wall is too high, Bai Yue is too noisy!"
Wall: ... (Blame me!)
Bai Yue: ... (Can’t love anymore!)
Susu helplessly pinched him again, "Listening to your nonsense!"
Looking at her son, who appeared serious but was truly cunning, Susu couldn’t help but sigh at how time flew, realizing three years had passed in a blink.
These three years were likely the most fulfilling for Susu since arriving in Great Chu.
Besides managing family affairs and teaching children, her social engagements were handled with ease, and even the family business expanded more than tenfold under Susu’s management.
Earnings from fields and shops weren’t much; it was mainly her collaboration with the Song Family, along with Aunt Qin, now the Northwest Governor’s wife, that nearly monopolized the Northwest fur market.
Hami’s golden camel hair was marketed overseas, and just from this distribution alone, Susu earned tens of thousands of taels of silver annually.
The Song Family’s caravans to and from the Northwest had military escorts, undaunted by bandits, saving much on protection fees.
The money saved, when only half was used, ensured everyone in Hami Guard was well-greased and comfortable.
The Song Family earned more silver, giving Hong Sheng an opportunity to drill troops, and every soldier benefited from an extra allowance, further endearing them to Hong Sheng.
In just three years, Hong Sheng had effectively erased Commander Liu’s marks from the past seven or eight years, silencing dissent.
In the military, having the soldiers’ respect is a superior’s backbone.
Everything in Hami seemed headed towards prosperity, but only Susu knew the longer time flowed, the more her heart tensed, uncertain when it might break.
Meanwhile, in the Capital, although things appeared calm on the surface, there was turmoil below.
Just speaking of Prince Ke Mansion, Sister Ten had another son. Though no one harmed her directly, having taken a knife for Prince Ke, her health was not good. This childbirth was a narrow escape.
The child was born safely, but it took half her life, and she remained bedridden for three months, unable to conceive again.
Fourth Miss safely gave birth to a daughter, and due to Consort Xi’s request, the Emperor decreed her as Princess Qingpan.
Although not comparable to the Commandery Princess born to the Princess Consort, she was the only titled grandchild among the Emperor’s many illegitimate granddaughters.
Fourth Miss felt complete with a daughter and ignored even Bai Lili, causing regret among the female members of Prince Ke Mansion’s back courtyard, who had been enjoying the rivalry’s spectacle.
The Annan Earl Mansion was continuously blessed with new additions, and now Old Madam was surrounded by children and grandchildren.
The Heir’s wife finally bore the Song Family’s fourth-generation legitimate son at the year’s start but did not hold the eldest position.
Second Granny Song had already given birth to two children in three years after entering the family, with her firstborn being a son, forming a complete ’good’ character.
Even Third Granny Song had a son last year, illustrating the immense pressure on the Heir’s wife.
Even the Old Madam expressed empathy in letters, stating that the Heir’s wife was verging on madness.
Had Old Madam not intervened, the Heir’s wife would have sought a concubine for the Heir, a desperate measure.
After careful consideration, Susu decided to send the Fertility Incense to Old Madam, leaving its use to her discretion.
Judging from the Mid-Autumn Festival gifts sent by Old Madam in August, the Heir’s wife used it.
The sixteen-year-old Sixth Miss was engaged this year, with the future Sixth Son-in-law being the Legitimate Son of Marquis Wu’an—the son of Prince Ke’s maternal family, one of the Six Founding Marquis.
The Wu’an Marquis Mansion had guarded the Southeast Coast since Great Chu’s founding, with the Capital’s Marquis Mansion being merely symbolic, and its family members mostly residing there.
Last year, the Wife of Marquis Wu’an visited Shangjing to see her daughter—the Heir’s wife at the Annan Earl Mansion. During her visit, she met Old Madam and Sixth Miss several times.
The legitimate third son didn’t like martial arts, favoring literature, and being particularly skilled at painting. He followed his mother to Shangjing to participate in this year’s imperial exam.
Whatever the stories involved may be, Susu believed more in the idea that "a thousand miles of destiny are bound by a thread," with the lively young girl set to become a bride next spring!
While contemplating these matters, Susu held her son’s hand, walking towards the house, and multitasked in answering her son’s questions.
"Mother, does Grandma Qin miss me? Does Cousin An like the gift I prepared for her? And also, Little Aunt Zhen, Uncle Xuan..." His small mouth rattling off like beans dropping.
"Grandma Qin certainly misses you and wonders why you, the little heartless one, haven’t visited. And there’s Sister An, who thinks it’s touching how, being so young, you’re mindful of him..."
The servants behind watched this mother and son pair, as if crafted from the same mold, listened to their exchange, feeling that even the free wind was charmed by the beautiful scene, coming to a halt.
"Time of peace and tranquility!"
These four words silently crossed everyone’s mind!
