Chapter 1345 – Raising Daughters (1)
Before Haozhou fell, the news of Huang Song’s capture had already spread.
For Qi Chaolan, this news was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue. Even though she somewhat prepared herself mentally, she was still heartbroken beyond measure.
Her first reaction wasn’t to follow Huang Song; instead, she chose to take her children back to her parental home, pleading with her parents and brothers to care for her offspring.
However, her typically doting father refused to see her, her mother hesitated with words on the tip of her tongue, and her brothers sighed and sent her away.
Her mother said, “Your father says… the situation in Dongqing is settled, and Liu Xi will likely not make things difficult for you and the children given past ties.”
With a dry throat, Qi Chaolan spoke in a nearly powerless tone, “If Uncle Gao perishes, Liu Xi indeed may not trouble us, but their futures will be grim. If father and mother could take them in and raise them properly, the Gao branch could stand up again…”
If something were to happen to Huang Song, as a woman from the inner court, she couldn’t provide her children with a comprehensive education; there always needed to be a male elder supervising and teaching. Coming from a prominent family, where educational standards were high, she thought to entrust her children to her maternal family for a few years of nurturing and guidance.
The reason noble families could maintain their pride for centuries wasn’t solely because they possessed educational privileges ordinary people could only dream of?
Qi Chaolan didn’t want her children to lag behind in their learning after Huang Song’s death.
If they failed to become accomplished, within a generation or two, Huang Song’s line would be utterly extinguished.
Moreover, she feared that the chaos outside would harm the children, so she wanted to hide them in her maternal home for a while.
Unexpectedly, her mother appeared torn and revealed a harsh truth.
“Daughter, you know Liu Xi’s attitude towards noble families. In the past, our family had close dealings with Uncle Gao; it’s hard to ensure that Liu Xi won’t turn against us because of this. Your father doesn’t love you any less, but he must consider the family’s greater plans; he cannot take in Uncle Gao’s children.”
No one knew of Jiang Pengji’s stance on Huang Song.
According to the idea of rooting out the problem completely, Huang Song’s children might meet a bad fate—if they survived, it would only be a case of being pampered to death.
In a chaotic world, the dynamics were confusing; some fought fiercely, some merely watched, and others cautiously searched for a balance between the two.
The Qi family represented the typical example, wanting to enjoy the benefits of development while unwilling to bear the corresponding risks.
Initially, Qi Chaolan’s father set his sights on Huang Song, believing this young man had a bright future. Coincidentally, Qi Chaolan was also interested in him, so her enlightened father played matchmaker for the two. In the subsequent years, Huang Song didn’t disappoint his father-in-law but provided plenty of assistance discreetly.
Yet who would have thought—
Her father would even refuse to see his own grandson and granddaughter.
“What does it mean by ‘Uncle Gao’s children’? Mother, aren’t they your own grandchildren?” Qi Chaolan was already exhausted, and at this moment, she broke down completely, tears welling in her eyes. “I only ask for my parents to temporarily take them in. If Liu Xi truly bears a grudge, I will surely take the children back and never be a burden to you or the family. Is even this not possible?”
Although Qi Chaolan was her parents’ most beloved daughter, her father had a cold heart; a married daughter was like spilled water.
If it were merely to accept Qi Chaolan, her father would not refuse. But taking in Huang Song’s children, he absolutely would not agree.
He could never bring disaster to the family!
Qi Chaolan’s mother had always listened to her husband. Faced with her daughter’s cries, she felt pain but what could she do?
“Lan’er, you should go back first. I will try to persuade your father again.”
This was merely a delaying tactic.
Qi Chaolan’s heart sank completely upon hearing this. She took her three children back home by ox cart.
Children are the most sensitive by nature; her eldest and second son, only a year apart, had already been trained for three years and appeared somewhat steadier than ordinary kids.
“Mother, aren’t we visiting our maternal grandparents?”
Every time the children visited their mother, they would see their kind and gentle grandfather and grandmother, but today they only saw their grandmother.
Qi Chaolan forced herself to hold it together and replied softly, “Grandfather isn’t well and doesn’t want to pass his illness on to you; you’ll see him again later.”
While she spoke to her mother, the three children had been playing with the maid in the adjoining room and were unaware of what had happened.
Her second son suggested, “Mother, the young doctor at our house is very skilled; why not let him take a look at Grandfather?”
The three-year-old daughter was quiet and adorable, her black pearl-like eyes gazing at her mother and brothers.
She innocently asked, “Is Grandfather sick?”
Qi Chaolan felt her freshly held back tears begin to overflow again.
Without the children, she might want to live or die together with Huang Song, but with the children, she couldn’t dare to think that way.
Losing her father meant losing protection; if she were to lose her mother as well, she would have to depend on others and suffer endlessly.
Qi Chaolan got herself together and ordered her three thousand troops to join the city defense efforts.
Although her military strategy wasn’t top-notch, it was certainly better than the average person’s.
Alas, the trend had shifted; her struggles were in vain.
Jiang Pengji passed the battle report to Huang Song, who was so frantic he could hardly speak and bit his tongue multiple times.
“How is my lady?”
Jiang Pengji reassured him, “Huaiyu is meticulous and cautious; she won’t harm your lady and children. They are very safe.”
Huang Song still felt worried; this big man was holding a battle report with red eyes, looking extremely sad and wronged.
Jiang Pengji didn’t react yet, but the viewers in the live stream couldn’t hold back anymore.
【Midnight Peach Eater】: Wahhhhh, suddenly feeling all the love for Huang Song, the baby!
【Fully Fed】: Looks like Huang Song and his wife have a great relationship; it’s rare for a man in ancient times to be this caring.
【Full of Energy for Weight Loss】: I feel like Huang Song is willing to surrender rather than commit suicide; it’s probably because his wife put in a lot of effort.
Jiang Pengji comforted him, “Since you’re so worried, I’ll arrange for you to head to Wanzhou swiftly. Your lady will also be sent there.”
Huang Song asked, “What about you?”
Jiang Pengji replied, “Hujun, Haozhou, and Chenzhou are all urgent matters; I might not make it back before the New Year.”
If the back-up group heard this, they would undoubtedly celebrate, finally able to enjoy a good New Year.
Of course, Han Yu and the others wouldn’t be so happy to hear this.
As for how to govern Changye, Jiang Pengji had already drafted the plans; putting those plans into action would be up to Han Yu and others.
“Lord, the accounts have been prepared.”
Han Yu handed a thick ledger to Jiang Pengji.
To manage Changye, not only was manpower required, but a detailed budget was necessary, such as how much food daily laborers would consume, how much salary would be provided each month, fabric allowances for every worker’s clothing… After all, winter was approaching; they couldn’t let them work in tattered clothes.
Besides these, Han Yu also calculated the progress of work for such a large number of people, ultimately estimating the total expenses needed for the whole governance process.
With the accounts laid out clearly, the more detailed they were, the better every penny would be utilized correctly, preventing any corners from being cut or embezzlement.
Han Yu’s nature was as uncompromising as his “way,” allowing no hint of dirt or corruption.
