Chapter 63 "Madam's health has been poor these past few days..."

Chapter 63 "Madam's health has been poor these past few days..."

"Madam's health has been a little weak lately, which seems to stem from worry. We should start by slowly nourishing her body for a few days, and then switch back to some nourishing and beautifying stews or calming and soothing dishes. Just remember to relax and not worry too much in the meantime." After taking Madam Yang's pulse, Zhou Baishu immediately arranged a dietary therapy prescription.

Upon hearing Zhou Baishu mention his worries, Yang's gentle smile faded, and she sighed but said nothing more.

After Zhou Baishu had taken everyone's pulses in turn and arranged the autumn and winter health-preserving soups for them, he was led away by Qingfu. Only then did Madam Yang sigh again, "My eldest son hasn't returned for a year, and I can't help but worry."

She frowned slightly as she looked at Xiao Yan Hui: "The news from Yunzhou only says that the chaos will be quelled, but when exactly will Da Lang return? There's no definite news, which is really worrying."

“My husband wrote that everything is fine. I think he will be able to return once Prince Cheng has cleared out the last of the rebels. I’ve calculated the days, and once the last batch of supplies is sent over, my husband will probably be able to return by ship. Besides, our family is only transporting some supplies, so Prince Cheng probably won’t let my husband go to the front lines. His safety is guaranteed, so Mother, please don’t worry.”

Based on the supplies the Qin family had transported over the past year, they were practically the goose that laid golden eggs for Prince Cheng. If he had any sense or rationality, he wouldn't have let Qin Ji risk his life on the front lines. Therefore, Xiao Yan's words of advice were not unfounded.

"Yes, Mother, please rest assured. They will protect my elder brother for the sake of the money," Qin Baozhen added, trying to comfort her.

“Maybe my brother can come back before winter,” Qin Baozhu added.

Looking at the three people below, whose faces showed longing but not much worry, a hint of unease flickered in Yang's eyes, but she didn't say anything more.

"Speaking of which, my eldest brother can't leave Yunzhou for the time being, but my second brother, judging by the time, has already finished the autumn examinations and the results should have been released some time ago. Why haven't we heard any news from him? It's really worrying!" Qin Baozhu complained as she mentioned Qin Hao, the second son of the Qin family, who had been keeping a low profile since he went to the capital to take the exams.

Qin Baozhen was more composed. Upon hearing this, she secretly glanced at her younger sister as a warning, implying that their mother was just worried about their eldest brother, and now she was bringing up their second brother's imperial examination. Wouldn't that only cause more worry?

Seeing her sister's "I know I was wrong" look, Qin Baozhen continued to gently comfort Yang: "Perhaps the journey is long, and the messenger is still on the way." As she spoke, her gaze unconsciously drifted towards the outside of the hall.

Xiao Yanhui put down her teacup upon hearing the sisters' conversation: "There's still no news from my eldest brother, and I haven't heard any word of anyone passing the imperial examinations in the city. It seems the results will be released later this year than in previous years. My second brother is exceptionally talented, so there will surely be good news from this autumn examination."

With a polite smile on her face, she analyzed the matter logically and with evidence, but in her heart, she couldn't help but think of her eldest brother when the autumn examination was mentioned. He was taking the exam in the same year as Qin Erlang, and she wondered how he would do.

"He passed! He passed! Madam, our second son has passed the imperial examination!" It was quite a coincidence that just as the group was talking about their second son, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the flower hall.

As soon as the maid lifted the curtain, she saw Qin Bo, the head steward of the Qin family, leading a young boy who looked like a page, followed by a number of maids and servants who had come after hearing the good news. Everyone walked over quickly with joy on their faces.

Of course, the maids and servants who weren't part of the main courtyard didn't dare enter, but they didn't leave either, just lingering outside exchanging good news. In no time, the news of Erlang's success in the imperial examinations spread like wildfire throughout the Qin family compound.

Zhao Shi stood up excitedly upon hearing the good news in the flower hall, and the head steward had already pulled the pageboy Mo Yan to bow to her repeatedly.

At this moment, the head butler was completely devoid of his usual composure. Even his voice was several octaves higher than usual, and his face was flushed with excitement: "Madam, great news! Our second son has passed the exam! Not only did he pass, but he also got the best ranking—twenty-third place!"

As he spoke, he patted Mo Yan's shoulder forcefully, indicating that this was the message Mo Yan had brought back.

"Really?" Yang's face lit up with immense joy, but her eyes were fixed on Mo Yan as she asked him for confirmation: "Mo Yan, did Hao'er really pass? He ranked twenty-third?"

Mo Yan knelt down with a thud and replied loudly, "Reporting to Madam, it is absolutely true. I was the one who went to check the rankings. Our Second Young Master is indeed twenty-third on the list of successful candidates. The messengers who came to deliver the good news brought the news to our residence in the capital with gongs and drums. That's when Second Young Master sent me and Guard Chen back home to report the good news!"

"That's wonderful! Second brother is amazing. He'll be a scholar in the imperial examinations, and then an official." Qin Baozhu and Qin Baozhen held each other's hands, their faces full of smiles.

The maids standing in the flower hall were all overjoyed upon hearing this. Seeing their masters' delighted expressions, they all curtsied and offered their congratulations in unison.

Madam Yang was beaming from ear to ear, repeatedly saying, "Good, good, good, my son has made something of himself." Then she asked if anyone had been sent to the merchant guild to inform the master of the good news, and said that she would give the whole family a generous reward so that everyone could share in the joy.

"Quickly pass on my message: everyone in the household will receive an extra two months' salary." As soon as the wife finished speaking, the joyful atmosphere in the house became even stronger.

Xiao Yan was naturally overjoyed for her brother-in-law, but now that news had arrived from the Qin family, she wondered if her elder brother had passed the exam.

She was thinking of asking Mo Yan about it. He had just said that he looked at Qin Erlang's grades, and given the relationship between the Xiao and Qin families, there was no reason why he wouldn't look at Xiao Heyou's grades.

Just then, the head steward smiled sincerely at her again, then bowed deeply and announced the good news in a loud voice: "Congratulations, Madam! Your brother from your maternal family has also passed the imperial examination and ranked thirty-seventh."

"Oh my! Double happiness! Double happiness!" Madam Yang was overjoyed. "My brother-in-law also passed! Good, they are all good children." She took two steps forward, took Xiao Yan Hui's hand affectionately, and patted it hard.

Qin Baozhen and Qin Baozhu immediately gathered around and sincerely congratulated her, saying, "Congratulations, sister-in-law!"

Congratulations to my sister-in-law on her brother's success in the imperial examination!

Xiao Yan's earlier worries immediately dissipated: It's good that she won!

Why does this steward speak in such a roundabout way? He insists on announcing this happy news in two parts. When he didn't mention that Xiao Heyou had also passed the exam, Xiao Yanhui thought that her elder brother had failed this year.

"Our two sons passed the exam together this time, and they both passed with flying colors. It is truly a great blessing. Give the order to grant them an additional month of experience."

Upon hearing this, the flower hall erupted in joyful congratulations.

Moreover, not only did Madam Yang receive a reward, but Xiao Yan also added a monthly allowance for everyone in the mansion. Even the two young ladies generously took fifty taels of silver each to the kitchen, saying it was to provide extra food for everyone in the mansion.

Not only were the rewards from the manor generous, but Madam Yang also ordered the preparation of various gifts for Xiao Yan to take back to her parents' home.

She would definitely have to go back to her maternal family to celebrate her brother's success in the imperial examinations, and the Qin family would naturally prepare gifts to congratulate her in-laws, so they would prepare them in advance for her to take back with her.

In addition to this, the family also needs to hire people to choose an auspicious date for the wedding banquet; these are all standard procedures. It is foreseeable that both the Qin and Xiao families will be very busy for some time to come, but of course, they will also be very happy to be busy with such a joyous occasion.

......

"Come in quickly, come in quickly. I've been calculating the time, and I thought you should be arriving by now." The First Madam hadn't seen her daughter for several months, and as soon as she saw her daughter get off the carriage, she quickly grabbed her hand.

"Why did Mother come to greet me at the door? It's getting colder every day, be careful not to catch a cold." Xiao Yan returned the gesture, grasped the First Madam's hand, checked its temperature, and only felt relieved when she found it was warm.

"When we received the good news at home yesterday, I knew you would definitely come today." The First Madam couldn't stop smiling as she spoke.

She was genuinely happy, feeling that nothing but good things had happened around her this year.

Just a few days ago, my daughter sent word that her husband would be returning from Yunzhou soon. Then yesterday, I received more good news: both our sons who went to the capital to take the imperial examinations passed with flying colors.

From now on, the Xiao family will no longer be an ordinary merchant family. This year has been full of happy events, making the First Madam practically laugh in her dreams.

The mother and daughter walked hand in hand, talking as they went.

“Your father is still away and hasn’t returned home yet, but I’ve already sent him a message. I think he’ll be back in the next few days. Would it be convenient for you to stay at home for a few days?” If it were any other daughter, the First Madam wouldn’t have asked this question, but the Qin family hadn’t paid much attention to these things over the past year. During her birthday banquet earlier this year, her daughter had also stayed at home for three days, so she tried asking this time as well.

“I already told my mother-in-law when I left that I would be staying at home for a few days. Mother, don’t worry, I can stay at home with you for three to five days without any problem.”

Xiao Yan had naturally considered this issue as well. Before leaving home, she had already mentioned to her mother-in-law, Madam Yang, that she would be staying at home for a few days, and Madam Yang had readily agreed. So she readily agreed at this moment.

"Your mother-in-law is truly wonderful; I've rarely seen anyone treat her daughter-in-law like that." Even the First Madam couldn't help but exclaim upon hearing this.

Thinking about her daughter's life after marriage, even she, as the mother, had no complaints about the Qin family, but... sigh! If only her son-in-law hadn't been trapped in Yunzhou and all that trouble.

Fortunately, the hard times are almost over.

"Your son-in-law is coming back soon, so you should pay more attention to him, understand?" After returning to her room, the First Madam whispered this in Xiao Yan Hui's ear.

"Mother, what do you mean by that?" Xiao Yan was completely bewildered when she saw her mother suddenly acting so strangely.

Moreover, she felt that she treated Qin Ji quite well and wasn't indifferent to him.

"You're still pretending not to understand." The First Madam gently patted her and complained, "Don't think your mother doesn't know, the two of you haven't consummated your marriage at all. I don't care what you were thinking a year ago, but you can't be willful anymore after your son-in-law comes back this time."

"..." Xiao Yan returned to silence.

Wasn't I supposed to be home to congratulate my older brother on his high school graduation? Why did the conversation suddenly jump to this topic without any hesitation?