Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 722 Grand Finale (26)

Once Xue Zhi came to his senses, he sought out Xiu Aotian, hoping to use him to convey a message but couldn’t even enter the door of the Xiu Family. Xiu Aotian refused to see him. Having no choice, Xue Zhi turned around to return home. After two months of reflection, he decided to find a scenic place to live in seclusion. Just when he was about to sell his property, his beloved son caused a huge disaster. After getting drunk at a restaurant, he cursed the current Emperor and Empress. Just then, an Imperial Censor passed by and heard everything. The next day, during the morning court session, the matter was reported. The Emperor didn’t get angry but laughed instead, which scared all the Ministers. They didn’t dare to breathe until they were almost suffocating. Finally, the Emperor spoke, ordering the Dali Temple to investigate. Within a few days, everything was uncovered, resulting in the Xue family being exterminated and their property confiscated, reducing the noble families of the Capital City yet again.

What was once the power of five major noble families had now dwindled to two, the Xiu Family and the Bai Family. When Bai Pengju, who was far away managing the Pear Garden, heard about the events in the Capital, he simply smiled faintly and, accompanied by his son Bai Lang, continued to prune the newly planted pear trees.

Yet Bai Lang felt a chill of fear in his heart. If his father hadn’t insisted on managing the Pear Garden, the Bai Family might have been the next to be destroyed. Gazing southwest towards the direction of the Capital, he sighed bitterly, realizing he might never return to the Capital in his lifetime.

Seeing his son’s bitter smile, Bai Pengju stepped forward, patted his shoulder, and said, "Son, be composed in your endeavors."

"Father, are we to guard this ’Pear Garden’ for the rest of our lives? I am not content with that," Bai Lang said, some resentment and more grievance in his heart.

"Why not? This is a fine place for cultivating one’s character. I’m old now, and in the future, I truly wish to settle here."

"Father, this place is nowhere as good as the Capital."

Bai Pengju handed the pruning shears to his son, turned around, and walked out of the pear orchard. With heartfelt words, he said, "Do you think Her Majesty the Empress would place me, and you, here for no reason?"

Bai Lang was stunned and looked at his father doubtfully, "Isn’t that the case?"

"The Emperor’s action serves a dual purpose: one is to test us, and the other is to protect us in disguise. You should be grateful. I believe that soon, like Xiu Bingxi, you too will achieve greatness," Bai Pengju instructed solemnly. "Remember, never harbor a change of heart. The current Emperor is not a foolish ruler. Although the Crown Prince is young, he already possesses some of the Emperor’s qualities. No doubt he will do great things in the future. Since heaven has given us this chance, you must seize it. The rise and fall of our family now rest on your shoulders."

Bai Lang took the lesson to heart, and in later years, when he reflected on this conversation, he couldn’t help but admire his father’s wisdom.

"An imperial edict is here," a voice with a drake-like tone suddenly resonated in the ’Pear Garden,’ interrupting the father and son’s conversation.

"By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor decrees... Let it be known,"

"We thank His Majesty. Long live the Emperor, long live, long live," Bai Pengju knelt in front while Bai Lang took a step to the side and knelt behind his father. After hearing the imperial edict, his heart surged with ecstasy. Just as his father had said, the Emperor really had reassigned their family back to the Capital.

The Seven Hidden Clans scattered in various places also learned about the happenings in the Capital. Eager to emulate the Bai family, yet lacking the connections and entry into the Imperial Palace, they turned their attention to the Feng Family village, to Feng Xi. Apart from the Xuanyuan Hidden Clan, the other six Hidden Clans did their best to ingratiate themselves with Feng Xi, cautious not to be overly intimate. Whatever Feng Xi produced, they bought out, taking it back to sell and earning a good sum of silver. At first, Feng Xi did not take notice, but after happening two or three times, he discerned the pattern. He wrote to his sister in the palace, revealing everything. Once Feng Xuxu got to the bottom of it, she smiled knowingly and replied to her brother with a letter, telling him to act at his discretion.

Upon reading the letter, Feng Xi summed up his response in two words and didn’t ponder over it any longer. He simply devoted himself to hard work; as long as nobody violated his rules, anyone could take the goods as long as they paid silver.

One year later

The comprehensive military reforms had been fully implemented. After more than six months of hard work and adjustment, the soldiers were now far more reliable than before. Though there were no wars now that the country was unified, Marshal Dugu Chen still issued a strict order that the soldiers must get up early for physical training. And, suiting the advice of his wife, all male citizens of Xueyan Country had to join the military for two years upon reaching the age of sixteen, after which they could return home. The announcement of this policy caused quite a stir.

After two years of recovery, Luo County’s economy was beginning to show signs of revival. Feng Xuxu developed part of the sea’s bounty into a series of dried goods, and another portion as fresh seafood, shipped to the relatively nearby Date Garden logistics center. Once the next batch of people came to pull date wine, the fresh seafood was sent to the halfway point, ’Zuiyun Pavilion,’ where the chefs turned it into dish offerings for sale.

Merchant of Xueyan Country craved a taste of the fresh seafood and would travel several days by coach to sample it, spawning even more business opportunities. For instance, opening the ’Pear Garden’ when the pear blossoms were in full bloom attracted a crowd. When tens of thousands of acres of pear flowers blossomed, the sight was unprecedentedly rare, and even the air was filled with the scent of pear blossoms—fragrance wafting for miles, reaching all the way to the Capital of Luo County.

Dugu Chen stood on the corner tower of the Imperial Palace, gently embracing Feng Xuxu, overlooking the thriving panorama of the Capital. Looking down at his wife in his arms, his heart overflowed with gratitude and even more love.

Feng Xuxu felt his intense gaze on her and, looking up into his affectionate eyes, she smiled lightly with pursed lips, "Husband, do I have something on my face?"

"No."

"Then, do I look pretty to you?"

"Pretty."

"Do you love me?"

"Very much."

Feng Xuxu smiled and rested her head on his chest, closed her eyes, and listened to the sound of his beating heart, feeling blissful inside.

"My dear, am I handsome?"

"Handsome."

"Does my dear love me?"

"Very much."

"How much do you love me?"

Feng Xuxu paused for a moment, then pulled his hand to her heart, "Can you feel it?"

"I can feel the heartbeat."

"It beats for you."

Dugu Chen knew his wife loved him, but he had never thought that her love was so deep.

Just as Dugu Chen was lost in thought, Feng Xuxu suddenly asked, "Why did you always tease me when we first met?"

"I don’t know, I always liked seeing you get angry and your changing expressions. I always felt that such a lively you was very lively, and I liked that about you." Dugu Chen thought that maybe this was how love begins without knowing.

"My dear, do you regret marrying me?"

But Feng Xuxu shook her head, "No, I have never regretted it. If I were to do it all over again, I would still wait for you in the same place, wait for you to come and marry me."

"My dear..."

As the sun set in the west, behind the turret, a long shadow of two people embracing each other was cast on the wall, and even the surroundings were filled with the scent of happiness.