So when Chen Ruochu left the Chen family, Chen Haigang decided to give him a small house they had bought in the eastern part of the city, along with one thousand taels of silver.
Even though Lady Jiang was very unwilling, Chen Haigang was the head of the household. Now that she had finally managed to get rid of this thorn in her side, granting him a house and so silver was of no consequence.
Snorting through her nose, Lady Jiang twisted her hips and went back to her room.
Holding the silver note and property deed given by Chen Haigang, Chen Ruochu struggled to calm his emotions. Although the thought of leaving the Chen family had lingered for quite so ti, he hadn’t expected that his father, who had always been indifferent to him, actually cared for him deep down.
Especially when Chen Haigang handed him the silver note with a deeply aningful remark: "Ruochu, with your intelligence and capabilities, you’ll certainly accomplish great things. Don’t refuse this silver; consider it capital from your father to help you start fresh."
Chen Ruochu nodded solemnly and silently vowed to achieve great success, living up to his father’s expectations.
Of course, he also wanted to make Lady Jiang regret everything, waiting for the day when she begged him to return to the Chen family.
As the new year approached, it was ti for Lady Fan and her family to set out for Lin Family Village.
Early in the morning, Lady Liu took a few children out of the city to He Family Village to see off Lady Fan’s family as they returned to their hotown.
Xiao He had already prepared his luggage for the journey ho, remarkably packing several bundles, both large and small.
Included were clothes and fabric for Aunt Wang, as well as Capital-city delicacies for everyone.
In addition, Lady Liu and Lin Yuan had also prepared so things for Xiao He to take back to Aunt Wang’s family.
Lin Jiaxin, of course, hadn’t forgotten to send a few New Year goods back for Lady Yang and Lin Jiazhong’s family.
Lady Fan’s family had already packed their belongings too. Liu Zhiguang, half a year ago, had joined the Xia Family Army as a low-ranking soldier thanks to Xia Zheng’s connections.
Although he was just a small soldier without the opportunity to step onto the battlefield yet, half a year of training had greatly strengthened his physique.
Moreover, Lin Yi’s position within the Hidden Guard had allowed him to recruit several skilled Hidden Guards to train Liu Zhiguang in secret. He had even provided him with nurous military strategy books.
Now Liu Zhiguang was no longer the sa person he used to be. Beyond his now-burly figure, he had also gained the rare composure of a true soldier.
When Ding Ming and Ding Liang saw him, they were utterly stunned, clearly not expecting him to have undergone such a remarkable transformation.
This ti, Ding Ming and Ding Liang were also returning ho together. Lin Yuan had arranged for a carriage for them and Xiao He, ensuring they’d have an easy trip back and could return together after the New Year.
Seeing Liu Zhiguang’s transformation, a sense of ambition began to stir in Ding Ming and Ding Liang’s hearts.
What hot-blooded young man doesn’t dream of valor and grandeur?
The two brothers, though silent about it, were secretly plotting to discuss joining the Xia Family Army with Lin Yuan after the New Year.
As for Liu Zhiyang, his changes weren’t as striking. Though he was now enrolled at Lingfeng Academy, the finest institution in the Capital city, his aloof deanor hadn’t shifted much.
However, what surprised Lin Yuan most was her second cousin’s newfound liveliness. He no longer resembled the prematurely old and somber youth of before; instead, he now exhibited the vibrance typical of soone his age.
Lin Yuan was genuinely pleased by this transformation. It seed he’d found like-minded friends at Lingfeng Academy, leading to this positive change.
Upon eting Lin Yuan, Liu Zhiyang spoke briefly before pulling her aside to ask about Young Master Ma Junying’s current situation in a hushed tone.
Lin Yuan froze, not because Liu Zhiyang’s inquiry surprised her, but because she had no idea how to respond.
In truth, she had only recently learned that Ma Junying, as a newly crowned scholar-ranked official, was highly regarded in court.
However, Ma Junying was puzzling. One day he seed close to the Second Prince’s faction, and the next he was seen having tea and chatting with supporters of the Third Prince, leaving everyone uncertain of where his allegiances lie.
"I heard that Young Master Ma and the Second Prince..."
"Second Cousin, Young Master Ma probably has his own plans."
Seeing Liu Zhiyang’s look of regret, Lin Yuan couldn’t help but feel a pang of compassion. "I understand; the Second Prince doesn’t have the best reputation in court. But Young Master Ma has his own choices. I did hope he could assist my eldest brother, but later I ca to understand that court politics are ever-changing. One day soone might align with the Second Prince’s faction, yet the next day they could be supporting the Third Prince."
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