“Da Mu.” Zi Ying grabbed Zhao Yuanxi’s sleeve and called out weakly.
Da Mu had seemed to turn fierce again just now, making him somewhat afraid. Had he said something wrong?
Or did Da Mu not like him?
Tears welled up in Ziying’s eyes once more, but he dared not cry aloud, fearing that Da Mu would dislike him even more.
“Why are you crying again?” Zhao Yuanxi pulled the child into her arms, wiped away his tears, and coaxed him, “I need to leave the palace for a while later. Would you like to come with me?”
Little Ziying stopped crying, tightened his grip on her sleeve, and asked somewhat indistinctly, “Can I?”
“Of course you can. But you can only go out with me. If anyone else tries to take you out, you must come and tell me first.”
Although Zhao Yuanxi wasn’t Ziying’s biological grandmother, legally this little bean was indeed her grandson – his actual guardian.
So young, yet becoming a grandmother without going through childbirth – Zhao Yuanxi’s feelings were quite complex.
But well, since the little bean was so adorable, she might as well accept this ready-made grandson! After all, she had already calmly accepted a fully grown ready-made son!
Zhao Yuanxi rubbed Ziying’s little head again.
Hehe, nice texture!
In the carriage, Ziying was half-held in Zhao Yuanxi’s embrace, curiously looking around.
He was only three years old now. Ever since he could remember, he had been staying in Yongcheng. The people around him didn’t like him – only Zhong Fu cared about him.
Others said his father had committed a grave mistake, and according to Qin’s laws, he should have been demoted to commoner status, but the King had mercifully spared him.
Yet Zhong Fu also said that his father was only trying to reclaim what was rightfully his, and that the King had forced his father onto that path.
Ziying didn’t understand why their stories differed, so he wanted to ask the King directly – whether his father had truly done wrong, or whether his father had been forced by the King.
When Zhong Fu said that as long as he pleased this Da Mu, he would be able to meet the King, Ziying turned his little brain around and agreed.
Though the child had some brains, they weren’t many. After being coaxed by Zhao Yuanxi, he spilled everything he knew like beans pouring from a bamboo tube.
“Da Mu, did my father really do something wrong?” Little Ziying blinked his eyes and asked tearfully.
Zhao Yuanxi patted the child’s back. “I don’t know. But you’re right – if you want to know the answer, you can ask your uncle – hmm, that is, the King.”
Zhao Yuanxi truly didn’t know.
Who Chengjiao was, she had only dug out from Zhao Ji’s memories.
Unfortunately, Zhao Ji didn’t know much about him either. When Chengjiao rebelled, she was busy fooling around with her male favorites – why would she care about such irrelevant matters? By the time she came to her senses, Chengjiao was already dead.
Ziying nodded, his expression suddenly turning fearful. He burst into loud tears, “Zhong Fu said I shouldn’t tell these things to anyone else! I told Da Mu! Wuwuwu, I’ve betrayed Zhong Fu!”He struggled to break free from Zhao Yuanxi’s embrace, lying on the carriage’s small window, wailing miserably while continuously crying out, ‘Zhong Fu—Zhong Fu, where are you?””
Zhao Yuanxi was so frightened her face nearly turned pale. She quickly pulled the child back, firmly holding Ziying’s body with both hands to prevent him from running around again. “Don’t cry, don’t cry. I won’t tell anyone. I’m your Da Mu. If you and Zhong Fu have secrets, then let this be a secret between you and Da Mu, alright?”
Ziying’s face was already smeared with snot and tears. Hearing these words, he finally stopped crying, “Really? Da Mu won’t tell others?”
Hmm? If you ignored that snot bubble, he was still an adorable child. Zhao Yuanxi took a handkerchief and wiped away Ziying’s snot and tears, “Of course. Do you only trust Zhong Fu and not Da Mu?”
Ziying panicked, tightly clutching Zhao Yuanxi’s sleeve as he explained, “Ziying trusts Da Mu. Zhong Fu is a good person, and Da Mu is also a good person.”
Zhao Yuanxi smiled without speaking, but grew increasingly curious about this Zhong Fu of Ziying’s.
Perhaps she should find an opportunity to meet this Zhong Fu of Ziying’s.
Chu was hoeing in the fields when he spotted from afar the carriage of Madam Zhao from yesterday approaching.
He straightened his clothes and went forward to greet her, “Greetings, Madam.”
Zhao Yuanxi carried Ziying down from the carriage, set him on the ground, then straightened his clothes for him.
Perhaps unaccustomed to being carried like this, Ziying’s face was slightly flushed, his hands unconsciously clutching the hem of Zhao Yuanxi’s clothes.
Wherever Zhao Yuanxi went, he followed.
Noticing the extra child beside Zhao Yuanxi, Chu asked with a smile, “Is this your child, Madam?”
“My little grandson Ziying. I brought him out for a stroll today.”
“This young master doesn’t seem like an ordinary child – more like a little immortal from the temples.”
Zhao Yuanxi laughed heartily. No wonder parents love hearing others praise their children – such words were indeed delightful to hear.
She ruffled little Ziying’s head, affirming Chu’s compliment, “Ziying is indeed very adorable.”
Ziying immediately blushed, hugging Zhao Yuanxi’s leg and hiding behind her.
Zhao Yuanxi couldn’t help laughing again, teasing, “If Ziying hugs my leg like this, I won’t be able to hold your hand while walking.”
Ziying peeked out his head to see a large hand extended before him, while Da Mu was looking at him gently.
He took a deep breath and firmly grasped Zhao Yuanxi’s hand.
Since they weren’t far from Lüge Dock, Zhao Yuanxi chose to walk in, taking the opportunity to inspect Chu’s work from this morning along the way.
It had to be said that professional work should indeed be left to professionals. In less than two hours, Chu had already tilled a large area of land, completely meeting her requirements.
Chu’s two sons were burying seeds in the soil.
Chu’s eldest son was named Chu, the second son Shu – their names roughly meaning medicine pestle and door pivot.
When they saw Zhao Yuanxi approaching, both bowed their heads, not daring to look at her, while little Ziying watched them with curious eyes.
Since they were surrounded by trusted people, Zhao Yuanxi let go of his hand, allowing him to play on his own.
Ziying looked up at Da Mu who was speaking words he couldn’t understand, feeling slightly dizzy. When a cricket jumped past, it immediately caught his attention, and he went chasing after it with his bottom stuck out.
Chu said: “Although Madam’s methods of composting and composted manure are good, they might not meet the needs of this land.”
While plant stalks and manure aren’t valuable, collecting sufficient quantities isn’t easy.
There are nearly ten thousand Qin Mu of land here. Even if Madam Zhao only requires fertilizing the cornfield portion first, the small amount of fertilizer from his household would be completely insufficient.
Zhao Yuanxi said: “No matter. I’ll have people deliver those fertilizers to you.”
Though the population of Yongcheng’s inner city can’t compare to the King of Qin’s palace, there are still nearly a thousand people. Combined with the pigs, ducks, cattle, and sheep raised there, the daily household waste produced is sufficient for this land’s needs.
Chu muttered to himself, what kind of household could produce so much fertilizer? He also began to question Lady Zhao’s identity.
When Cui Jia came to collect the rent, he only said this land belonged to the most noble person in Xianyang.
In Chu’s understanding, the most noble person in Xianyang was their king. At that time, he thought Cui Jia was just boasting to him.
But now it seemed Cui Jia’s words weren’t entirely false.
Lady Zhao’s identity was definitely extraordinary.
With his mind racing through countless thoughts, Chu became increasingly respectful toward Zhao Yuanxi. “Madam asked about my elder brother yesterday. He returned home last night. If Madam still wishes to see him, I can have him come over immediately.”
Zhao Yuanxi nodded. “I have an appointment with He, so I’ll go with you.”
Chu recalled how his wife had been busy cleaning the courtyard when he left in the morning and had spent a long time in the kitchen. Suddenly understanding, he quickly made way.
Zhao Yuanxi looked down to find Ziying and happened to see him taking a grass horse from Shu’s waist.
Shu instinctively wanted to avoid it, but when he saw Ziying looking at him, his hand protecting the grass horse fearfully loosened.
Seeing this, Zhao Yuanxi couldn’t help but frown. “Ziying, come here!”
Hearing Da Mu’s angry voice, Ziying looked confused.
He glanced at Da Mu and saw her staring at the grass horse in his hand. After hesitating for a moment, he threw the grass horse on the ground and said obediently, “Da Mu, don’t be angry. I won’t play with it anymore.”
Zhao Yuanxi felt helpless. That wasn’t what she meant.
“Does Ziying like this grass horse?”
“I like it.”
“Then when Ziying took it, did you ask for its owner’s permission?”
Ziying’s small eyebrows furrowed. Couldn’t he just have it? As the King of Qin’s grandson, when he wanted commoners’ things, it was their honor.
“But he didn’t object either.”
Zhao Yuanxi’s eyelid twitched violently. Indeed, troublesome children have existed since ancient times.