"Yes," the deputy general immediately responded respectfully. Then, he led the two squads of soldiers back to the Imperial Capital.
After watching the deputy general leave with his men, An Jing asked with a smile, "Youbao, Wuyu, are you also heading back? Or would you like to come see the new home your master and I have set up?"
Li Wuyu immediately replied with a smile, "Of course, we’re going to visit the master and master’s husband’s new home; we haven’t yet had the chance to see it."
An Jing and Xiao Changyi’s new home was located six miles from the Imperial Capital, the only household in the area. Eight elegantly arranged buildings, nestled beside a mountain and near water, with clear streams and picturesque scenery—especially in the spring, making the landscape particularly pleasant, as if it were a paradise on earth, a celestial realm of incomparable beauty.
An Jing was very satisfied with the place and immediately praised Meng Zhuqing, "Your choice of location is excellent."
She particularly liked it.
Meng Zhuqing truthfully replied, "We selected this site according to the lord’s and madam’s requirements; this was the only suitable location."
Li Wuyu said, "Master, the beauty of this place is undeniable, but don’t you think it’s too remote? It seems quite unsafe."
An Jing laughed and said, "Are your master and I easy targets? Besides, Meng Zhuqing will often roam around these parts; nothing will happen."
Meng Lanqing hesitated before speaking up, "Madam, why not let your subordinate patrol this area daily as well?"
An Jing shook her head, "There’s no need; you continue to focus on the rice shop business."
Speaking of that, An Jing stopped elaborating on the rice shop business, trusting that Meng Lanqing would understand.
They were planning to expand their rice shops throughout the entire Xiyun Kingdom, which was also an important matter.
Meng Lanqing really did understand. They had discussed this before, and as soon as An Jing mentioned it, he refrained from insisting on patrolling the area.
"Jingjing, why is your family opening so many rice shops?" Gong Juechen suddenly asked with a teasing smile.
An Jing felt a twinge in her heart but didn’t show it outwardly, replying irritably, "To make money, of course."
"Are you short on money?" Gong Juechen’s peach blossom eyes held a depth of meaning as he gave her a look that said she needn’t bother lying.
An Jing huffed, "Who doesn’t find money useful? Youbao used to be so wealthy, and yet he still worked hard to make money."
Gong Juechen knew An Jing was fibbing, but he did not dwell on it and instead went on to playfully tease An Yiqing, who laughed heartily with a mouth wide open, resembling a Maitreya Buddha.
Seeing that Gong Juechen didn’t press the issue further, An Jing quietly heaved a sigh of relief and then began to unload the items from the carriage.
Xiao Changyi had already been unloading things. There really were many items, on both the carriage and the horses. They would be living here for many years, and almost everything that could be brought had been brought.
Wang Youbao and his companions also helped with the unloading.
After all the items had been unloaded and placed inside the house, Wang Youbao and Li Wuyu returned to the Imperial Capital.
"There’s nothing else for you here; you may leave as well," An Jing said to Meng Zhuqing and Meng Lanqing.
When Meng Zhuqing and Meng Lanqing left, they also took Gong Juese and Gong Juechen with them.
Gong Juechen originally didn’t want to leave and had wanted to stay with An Jing and Xiao Changyi, citing the availability of vacant rooms, but neither An Jing nor Xiao Changyi agreed. In the end, Gong Juechen had no choice but to follow Meng Zhuqing and the others.
Meng Zhuqing and Meng Lanqing were returning to the General’s mansion.
Ever since they had become subordinates to Xiao Changyi, they seldom returned to the General’s mansion, always following their lord Xiao Changyi. Now that they were back in the Imperial Capital and their lord didn’t allow them to stay by his side, they had no choice but to live inside the Capital City.
Upon learning that her husband was a general, Gong Juese immediately turned to brag to her brother, "Brother, I’ve married a general. Impressive, right?"