***
"Mother, I really can't drink any more. You can drink these, mother." Since returning to Ganzhou, Chen had people prepare various tonics for her daughter every day. Yang Zhi had a poor appetite to begin with, and she felt even more sick after drinking too much. However, it was her mother's care that she couldn't refuse, so she could only act like a spoiled child, wrinkling her nose and pouting her lips.
Chen pointed at her forehead and said angrily, "You are about to become a mother, but you still act like a spoiled child in front of your mother. How can you take care of your husband and children and manage your own family in the future?"
"Don't worry, mother. Qin Lang is different from others. Oh, I don't know what to say. Anyway, Qin Lang..." Yang Zhi really didn't know what to say. She couldn't say that Qin Mu didn't want her to always look serious.
"Zhi'er, after what happened at the wedding banquet, he still treats you like this. This is the blessing you have cultivated for several lifetimes. You must not be arrogant because of your favor. The more you are like this, the more you must abide by the duties of a woman."
"Mother, I understand. You don't have to worry too much. Qin Lang is a man who keeps his word. He promised me that he would stay with me forever."
This is true. Qin Mu was so angry that he risked his life to go to Nanchang to rescue Li Xiangjun despite the public outrage. After he came back, Yang Zhi kept making excuses for him. At that time, Qin Mu did promise to never leave her.
But Chen felt that a man's promise could not be fully trusted, so she said sternly, "Zhi'er, everything is mutual. If you can't do it well, what qualifications do you have to ask him to keep his promise and stay with you forever? Even if he doesn't do anything to you, but lets you stay alone in an empty room for the rest of your life, your life will be miserable in the end."
"Mom, my daughter really knows."
Speaking of Qin Mu, Yang Zhi couldn't help but look out the window. The snow in the backyard had not melted yet, and the cold was pressing. As soon as her husband returned to Ganzhou, he didn't even take a good rest, but immediately led people to inspect the counties. In this cold winter, riding a horse and running around, I don't know how much suffering he has endured, and there is no one who knows him and takes care of him, I don't know if he is cold or hungry.
When Chen saw her daughter frowning as she looked out the window, she knew what she was thinking. Thinking that Qin Mu had only come to the back office to greet her when he returned to Ganzhou and said nothing else, and then hurried off to inspect the prefectures and counties, Chen couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"My daughter, you must tell me the truth about your father and what he has told you. Otherwise, I will be uneasy."
Yang Zhiyi went into her mother's arms and whispered, "Mom, haven't I told you everything? Qin Lang said that he really has no intention of rebelling against the Ming Dynasty, but he also said that the Ming Dynasty is doomed and can't be saved. He also said that the Manchu Tartars outside the Great Wall will sooner or later learn from the Mongols and spy on our Central Plains. Everything he is doing now is to deal with the invasion of the Manchu Tartars. I hope that father can give up his prejudice, look at the problem from a higher perspective, and put the survival of our Chinese bloodline first."
"I am a woman who doesn't understand these things. I just want to know what he will do to your father."
"Mother, you must understand that you are the only one who can persuade father. Qin Lang said that Daming is like an old man who is terminally ill and his body is stiff. If we support him reluctantly, we will not only fail to save Daming, but also lose the last chance to strengthen ourselves and resist the invasion of foreign races. Mother, Qin Lang will not say anything nonsense. I believe in him. You should persuade dad more. Qin Lang wants Lu Daqi to recommend dad to be an official in Nanjing, but if dad is still the same as before, Qin Lang..."
"how is he?"
"What else can he do? He has to let Dad go back to his hometown to rest in peace. Mother, I think what Qin Lang said makes sense. You should persuade Dad first. He should think about Qingping. Well, the other daughters also know what to say. Let Qin Lang talk to Dad."
Thinking of her father's stubborn character, Yang Zhi frowned even more tightly. That day, she had only hinted at letting her brother study at Yuelu Academy, but her father reacted so strongly. It was obvious that convincing him was not an easy task at all.
Now she can only persuade her through her mother. Chen also knows what her daughter is thinking. In fact, as a woman, she doesn't want to interfere too much in state affairs. She pays more attention to the conflict between her husband and son-in-law. If it can ease the conflict between the two sides, she is willing to persuade her husband.
***
Qin Mu finally returned to Ganzhou City on the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month. The streets in the city were decorated with lights and colors to celebrate the coming of the New Year. Compared with other places, the people of Ganzhou were lucky. Qin Mu not only implemented many policies to benefit the people, but also vigorously encouraged industry and commerce. For now, the route from overseas goods to Guangzhou and then to Jiangxi and Huguang via Ganzhou is safer than the waterway along the Yangtze River. Therefore, many caravans choose to transport goods through southern Jiangxi.
Qin Mu not only encouraged the establishment of private business groups to make them stronger and bigger, but also provided large loans to businesses through banks. Today, southern Jiangxi has become a commodity distribution center connecting Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Huguang.
There were many shops in the city with a wide variety of goods. Even though it was almost the end of the year, there was still a constant stream of caravans coming and going in the city. Qin Mu and his party entered the city from the south gate, and the crowded streets took them a whole incense stick of time to reach the governor's office.
Ganzhou originally had the Gannan Governor's Office, which had five floors in front and back halls, two corridors in the hall, several rooms in the main gate and ceremonial gate corridors, a bedroom on the east left, and a reward hall on the east. Outside the main gate, there were two memorial archways, Fu'an and Zhenjing.
To the south of the screen wall, the Sansi Hall was built as a place for patrols and military preparations to hold meetings and report matters. The dome-shaped hall is high and majestic, with high walls and magnificent layout, which is not seen in other towns. All government orders are issued and rewards and punishments are given here. The generals also go here to send troops, receive laws, and offer sacrifices. If there is any slack in the administration of the counties and prefectures, they must report it here before they dare to stop.
Qin Mu is now the governor of southern Jiangxi officially appointed by the court. This time he came back, he naturally stayed in the governor's office in southern Jiangxi. Sima An, Tian Yimu and others are now living in the east dormitory. They have been inspecting the local areas in the wind and snow for ten days and are very tired. In addition, Qin Mu discussed with them about the system reform on the way back. Sima An and others need time to think before they can give suggestions. So Qin Mu ordered everyone to take a rest first and hold a meeting to discuss in two days.
Yang Zhi was still living in the prefectural yamen with her parents. In the spacious and magnificent governor's back office, only Dong Xiaowan and a few maids lived there, which seemed a bit deserted. When Qin Mu stepped into the back office, he heard the sound of a piano coming from the attic. The elegant piano sound echoed in the quiet back office. Qin Mu couldn't help but slow down his footsteps and slowly walked towards the attic.
Although Dong Xiaowan had had physical contact with him, Qin Mu never asked her to play the piano again after she refused. He didn't have much time to listen to the piano, and when he did, he would ask Yang Zhi to listen. Dong Xiaowan also never took the initiative to play the piano, so this was the first time Qin Mu heard her piano.
Qin Mu held the hilt of his sword and went up to the attic to stop the maid at the door from reporting. At the same time, he found that the little girl at the door was a little out of breath, obviously she had just run, and she didn't seem too surprised to see Qin Mu's sudden appearance. Such a reaction made Qin Mu's mouth curl up slightly.
The fact that she wasn't surprised indicated that the girl had already known in advance that he was returning to the yamen, and she was still breathing heavily, which was very intriguing.
Qin Mu walked into the building lightly. Dong Xiaowan was playing the piano facing the back window with her back to him. Qin Mu stood behind her and listened quietly without saying anything. Slowly, he noticed that Dong Xiaowan's cheeks were reddening... ... ...
After the song was over, Qin Mu clapped and said, "Good, good, good."
Dong Xiaowan quickly stood up and looked back, her face turning even redder, "The master is back." She lowered her head, not daring to look Qin Mu in the eye, as if she was a thief caught on the spot.
"Hahaha..." Qin Mu couldn't help but burst into laughter. It seemed that he really fell in love with her after a long time! This zither was obviously played for him... He smiled and said to the little girl at the door, "Go and prepare some hot water. I'm frozen stiff. I need to take a bath. A good bath."
Fortunately, the term "picking up girls" did not exist in that era. Dong Xiaowan didn't know the other meaning of "picking up girls properly", but when she heard the different meaning in his loud laughter, she felt even more uneasy.
Qin Mu stepped forward and pinched her chin, lifting up her dreamy face. He kissed her forehead lightly and smiled again: "You played the piano very well today, not bad, hahaha..."
Dong Xiaowan knew that he had seen through her thoughts, and for a moment she really wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
"Come on, accompany me to take a bath, and then play a song, how about that?" (To be continued...)
...