Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 427 Suzaku

Without hesitation, Nianyao replied, "No, no, I'm not wronged. The place recommended by Lord Zheng is definitely not bad, how could I be wronged?"

Zheng Chu said, "When the late emperor was young, he owned a small house in Tongxin Lane, which he named Tongxinzhai. It was uninhabitable due to years of disrepair, so last year Prince Rui sent people to rebuild it, and it was finally completed this year."

I visited it last month. Although small, it has everything you need. The small courtyard has a screen wall, main room, side rooms, and kitchen. The furniture is arranged quite well, and the tables, chairs, and benches are all made of Phoebe zhennan wood.

"A house needs to be lived in; otherwise, it'll deteriorate quickly. It's perfect for the Crown Princess to live there, Peacock, what do you think?"

What else could Lady Xue think? "Of course, I will follow His Highness the Crown Prince's arrangements."

Zheng Chu suddenly realized and turned to Luo An: "What does Your Highness think?"

Luo An's tone was indifferent, and he didn't seem to appreciate it: "There's no need to be bound by the rules, and no need to care about gossip. The Crown Princess can stay wherever she likes."

Everyone thought Luo An would say yes, but no one expected him to answer like that.

Zheng Chu and Madam Xue were both stunned. Nian Yao's eyes instantly welled up with tears, and her nose stung with emotion.

After leaving the palace, Madam Xue and Nianyao walked slowly along the street, and neither of them spoke for a long time.

Even if Luo An didn't care, Zheng Chu had already said it this far, and it made sense. Nian Yao shouldn't stay at the Xue residence for long under any circumstances.

Since Zheng Chu had already recommended a house, it wouldn't be appropriate for the Xue family to buy another house for Nianyao.

Nianyao broke the silence first: "Aunt, aren't you called Xue Zhuque? Why does Lord Zheng call you Kongque?"

For many years, no one had called Madam Xue "Peacock," so long that she had almost forgotten the name.

Madam Xue was lost in her memories: "My original name was Kong Jiaque. It is said that when I was born, sparrows were chirping under the eaves. So the adults just casually named me Jiaque, and my nickname was Que'er."

Later, when I traveled the world and opened an inn, I felt that the name "House Sparrow" was too stingy, so I changed it to "Peacock." Back then, I was young and flamboyant, and I liked to wear brightly colored clothes.

The guests then called me "Peacock Flower." They called me that with a grin, and I responded with a grin. I knew they were teasing me, but I didn't care; after all, I was making money off them.

Later, your uncle said, "Don't assume all girls in the world are as alluring and provocative as I was. The late emperor was with him at that time...and several other women as well."

They were mostly dressed simply, and even when they wore bright colors, they looked radiant and dignified. I suddenly began to dislike the name "peacock." Later, my inn burned down, and I had nowhere to go, so I stayed with your uncle, becoming one of his soldiers.

When I ran the inn, I offended a lot of people. The inn was destroyed and I lost my place of refuge. I could no longer use the name Peacock to avoid attracting enemies, so I decided to change it back to my original name.

Your uncle said the name "Kong Jiaque" (孔家雀) is too petty and unsuitable for a chivalrous and skilled martial artist like me. He suggested "Zhuque" (朱雀), one of the four celestial birds, an ancient divine bird, majestic and grand.

That's true, but why the surname Xue?

Nianyao: "Then why not the Vermilion Bird?"

Madam Xue's tone grew increasingly agitated: "Your uncle said that information travels very well in the martial arts world, and the surname Kong is rare here. If I were surnamed Kong, people would immediately recognize me. He also said that the soldiers of the Xue family army all refer to themselves as Xue when they are out in the world."

Nianyao asked doubtfully, "Back then, the Xue family army had tens of thousands of people. They couldn't all have the surname Xue, could they?"

Madam Xue said indignantly, "I was young then, and all I could think about was making money. Unlike your uncle, who was cunning and scheming. My inn, which I had worked so hard to build, burned down, and I had no choice but to stay with your uncle. I was depressed and confused, and I didn't think about anything else."

Nianyao wanted to laugh, but coughed softly to suppress it: "Did Uncle burn down Aunt's inn?"

Madam Xue stopped and looked at Nianyao, her expression uncertain, hesitating whether to answer.

Nianyao quickly took Madam Xue's arm and half-dragged, half-pulled her forward, changing the subject: "Aunt, Lord Zheng is just a chef, but I feel that all the miscellaneous affairs of the inner palace are under her control?"

When this topic came up, Madam Xue relaxed: "When the late emperor was alive, he originally wanted to appoint Zheng Chu as the chief steward of the harem. Zheng Chu said that food is the most important thing for the people, and taking good care of the late emperor's three meals a day throughout the year was the most important thing in her opinion."

When the late emperor was alive, he entrusted Zheng Chu with most matters, large and small. If he was out of the palace, he instructed that anyone in the harem should consult Zheng Chu for any issues. Before the emperor's marriage, Zheng Chu was the undisputed mistress of the harem.

Now that the topic had been brought up, Madam Xue decided to speak freely: "Nianyao, our Xue family used to be lively with many children, but now it's becoming quieter and quieter."

Qi Yang and Le Xi used to live at home often, and we always treated them like our own children. Now that they've gotten married and moved out, we only visit them as relatives.

Yunfan and Qiyang are often away in the army and rarely come home, leaving Yunyao alone at home. Yunyao spends her days practicing martial arts, and now that she has hired a female martial arts instructor, she is not home during the day either.

So we're all happy to have you back. It's just an extra pair of chopsticks; the Xue family can certainly afford it.

However, Zheng Chu brought it up in front of the Crown Prince, and what he said made sense. As subjects, we must ultimately consider their opinions and their feelings.

Nianyao nodded: "Even if Lord Zheng hadn't mentioned it, I was planning to move out anyway. I just hadn't had the nerve to tell my aunt before. But don't worry, even if I move out, I can still come back to the Xue family often. Tongxin Lane is only three miles away from the Xue family, it's very close."

Mrs. Xue breathed a sigh of relief, feeling both gratified and heartbroken: "That's how it is when children grow up; they each have their own families. We're old and have nothing else to say but that you children are safe and healthy, and that your families are harmonious."

Su Wuming stood at the entrance of Leju and saw Lexi sitting in the courtyard brewing tea. He raised his voice slightly and said, "Sister-in-law, my mother went to Xiangguo Temple to pray for blessings and picked some loquats from the back mountain of the temple. She asked me to bring them to you."

Soapberry was always somewhat afraid of Su Wuming, and upon hearing the voice, she quickly ran over and took the basket from him: "Young master, Madam invites you to come in and sit down."

As usual, Su Wuming delivered the items and was about to leave: "No, I have to rush back to cook."

Su Wuming would come over every few days, always saying he was on Madam Su's orders to bring them things: fresh vegetables, the best rice, and newly arrived fruit...

Out of courtesy, Zaojiao always invited Su Wuming to come in and sit down.

Su Wuming never came in, and his reasons were always that he was just passing by, in a hurry to get home, or busy with official business. In short, he didn't have time.

Come to think of it, Qi Yang is rarely home. If Su Wuming frequently visits Leju, and considering his father's behavior, rumors would surely spread like wildfire.

Lexi sometimes finds it strange: such an unruly father, yet his two sons are quite well-behaved.

Le Xi waved the letter in her hand: "Wuming, your brother sent me two letters this month."

Su Wuming immediately stopped in his tracks, nearly losing his balance as he turned around abruptly: His brother could actually write letters?!

My wife is definitely more important than my younger brother!