Just as Xiao Yu arrived at the entrance of Prince Rui’s Residence, she happened to encounter someone from the Xiao Residence.
Only then did she learn that her elder brother, Xiao Wang, had returned to the capital with his family to take up a new official post. They had arrived just yesterday.
Xiao Yu was overjoyed. Without delay, she gathered the gifts she had prepared in advance and headed back to the Xiao Residence to visit her brother.
Xiao Wang had not even been able to return in time to attend her wedding.
In fact, it had already been several years since she had last seen him.
The moment she entered the courtyard, she saw a tall man playing with a little boy.
The child was her five-year-old nephew, Xiao Chang’an.
“Brother!”
Xiao Yu called out, but her voice immediately choked with emotion.
“Yu’er!”
Xiao Wang turned around and was equally overwhelmed with joy.
He crossed the distance between them in two large strides and pulled Xiao Yu into his arms.
The moment Xiao Yu saw her own brother, all the grievances and sorrow she had endured surged to the surface at once.
She burst into tears.
Xiao Wang’s eyes also reddened. Just as he had done when they were children and Xiao Yu would throw herself into his arms whenever she was wronged, he gently patted her back.
He was tall and broad, and Xiao Yu barely reached his chest while standing in his embrace.
It was not until her sister-in-law, Madam Liu, approached with her little nephew by the hand and tearfully called out to them that Xiao Yu finally wiped her face and stepped away from her brother with a smile.
“I’ve embarrassed myself in front of Sister-in-law.”
Madam Liu gently stroked Xiao Yu’s head.
“Yu’er, Father already told your brother what happened to you. You’ve suffered so much.”
“Now that your brother is back, no one will be allowed to bully my little sister again!”
Xiao Yu finally smiled through her tears.
It felt wonderful to have her brother by her side again.
“Are you really my aunt?”
A sweet, childish voice drew Xiao Yu’s attention.
She crouched down and looked at the adorable little boy standing before her, his face round and fair like a little dumpling.
“Yes, I’m your aunt. Little Chang’an, will you let Auntie give you a hug?”
“Yes! Auntie, don’t cry. Father said we won’t be leaving again this time, so you can come visit us often.”
Little Chang’an solemnly reached out and wiped the tears from Xiao Yu’s face, comforting her like a tiny adult.
Xiao Yu burst into laughter.
“Of course I will. Auntie likes you very much. Chang’an is such a good boy. I brought you lots of wonderful things. Shall we go inside and take a look?”
“Yes! I like Auntie too!”
The moment little Chang’an heard that there were gifts waiting for him, he eagerly grabbed Xiao Yu’s hand and pulled her inside.
Madam Liu and Xiao Wang remained behind, laughing at the sight.
“It’s good to be back.”
“Yes. We won’t leave again. From now on, I’ll stay here with you and An’er—and protect Yu’er.”
Xiao Wang wrapped an arm around his wife, his expression gentle yet determined.
Xiao Yu had brought many little gifts for Chang’an, including several valuable items.
Madam Liu felt that some of them were too precious and tried to make Xiao Yu take them back.
“Sister-in-law, Chang’an is my own nephew. He’s already five years old, yet this is the first time I’ve ever met him. Of course I have to make up for all the gifts I’ve missed giving him over the years! I already think these are too few. I’ll be giving him plenty more in the future, so you can’t refuse me every time.”
Xiao Wang smiled at his wife.
“Just accept them. She’s quite wealthy now!”
Only then did Madam Liu accept the more valuable items on Chang’an’s behalf, leaving him with only the smaller toys to play with.
Knowing that the siblings must have plenty to talk about, she took Chang’an and the nanny to play in the western room.
Xiao Wang looked at his younger sister, who had clearly become much calmer and more mature, and his heart ached.
Their mother had passed away early.
As her elder brother, he had not even managed to return for his sister’s wedding.
Just thinking about it filled him with guilt.
Had he not volunteered all those years ago to take an official post outside the capital, Xiao Yu would not have been left alone to endure so many grievances.
“Brother, you don’t need to feel guilty. You went away to serve as an official because you needed to build your career. Without a promising future, how could you protect your little sister? If Father weren’t already such a powerful official at court, perhaps you would have been transferred back long ago.”
In Donglin, it was not uncommon for fathers and sons to serve as officials at the same time.
However, the higher their positions became, the more wary the emperor would inevitably grow.
After weighing his options, Xiao Wang had chosen to remain far from the capital.
Seeing that Xiao Yu understood the painstaking reasons behind his decision brought him considerable comfort.
Now that their father’s influence was declining, this was the perfect time for Xiao Wang to be transferred back.
Emperor An likely also intended to draw the Xiao family closer to his side.
“I received the letter you sent me earlier, and I did everything you told me to do. Fengzhou is a good place. The weather has been favorable these past few years, and the people have enjoyed abundant food and clothing, so we managed to stockpile a considerable amount of grain. But Yu’er, how did you become involved with the Ninth Imperial Uncle?”
“Brother, I’ll explain everything to you in detail later. I believe that within half a month, news regarding what the Ninth Imperial Uncle predicted will arrive. Have you decided what you’re going to do?”
“Yes. I’ve already thought it through. I’ll persuade Father to step forward and contact several court officials. We’ll find an opportunity to inspect and replenish the grain reserves throughout the various regions and make the necessary preparations.”
Hearing that Xiao Wang already had a plan, Xiao Yu finally relaxed.
With her brother handling the matter Gu Jiuci had entrusted to them, there should be no problem.
Besides, even if someone tried to interfere, Gu Jiuci himself was still there.
Less than half a month later, the temperature suddenly plummeted.
When Xiao Yu woke one morning, a thick blanket of snow had already covered the courtyard.
“The weather changed so suddenly!”
Xiao Yu’s heart grew heavy.
With such a drastic change in temperature and such heavy snowfall, countless commoners must have already been affected by the disaster.
“This snow disaster is extremely severe. Even though we made preparations beforehand, it is still a devastating catastrophe for the common people.”
Gu Jiuci’s voice was low, carrying the same trace of concern.
Having lived through this once before, he had already done everything within his power to prepare.
At the very least, things would not become as tragic as they had in his previous life.
“News from the northern border should be arriving soon.”
Just as he finished speaking, Yuyan entered from outside, brushing the snow from her clothes.
“Your Highness, the Ninth Imperial Uncle has sent word. A month ago, the northern border was ambushed by the Northern Di. Marquis Weiyuan led his troops in a desperate defense and was severely wounded. His soldiers have already retreated to Guancheng. The border city has fallen into the hands of the Northern Di, who have been burning, killing, and pillaging. The entire city has become a living hell.”
Xiao Yu froze in shock.
She had never expected the situation to be so serious.
“Are the Northern Di really that powerful?”
Yuyan’s expression became complicated, filled with both anger and hatred.
“According to the reports, there was a traitor within the army. If Marquis Weiyuan hadn’t always maintained such strict discipline among his troops, their losses would have been even greater.”
“How badly injured is Marquis Weiyuan?”
Yuyan shook her head.
He was severely wounded, and in such extreme weather, his chances of survival were slim.
If the people sent by the Ninth Imperial Uncle reached him in time, perhaps there would still be a chance to save his life.
Gu Jiuci comforted Xiao Yu.
“You don’t need to worry. Marquis Weiyuan will survive. I will make sure he is saved. However, when the time comes, the news of his survival will be concealed. If you’re worried about Lin Wan, you can go keep her company once the official news arrives. But for Marquis Weiyuan’s safety, you must not reveal the truth to her.”
Hearing this, Xiao Yu finally felt somewhat relieved.
“With the heavy snow last night, the commoners outside the city must have suffered badly. I wonder how they’re doing.”
“Although the snow has blocked the roads, fortunately, we made preparations beforehand. The counties and prefectures stretching north from the capital now have established lines of communication. If there is no word from a particular area for an entire day, troops will immediately be dispatched to clear the roads, provide assistance, and investigate the situation.”
There was no point in worrying endlessly.
Xiao Yu decided to return to the Xiao Residence and visit little Chang’an.
The hotpot business at the residence had already begun once the weather turned cold, and Jinniang had even managed to grow some fresh green vegetables.
As it happened, one of Xiao Yu’s estates had just delivered two tender young lambs.
There was no point in eating so much meat alone, so Xiao Yu divided one lamb into portions, leaving some for the main kitchen. The other lamb was placed in the ice cellar to be frozen for later.
She personally picked two baskets of fresh vegetables and prepared several portions of lamb.
One portion was sent to Lin Wan, while another was taken to the Xiao Residence for her sister-in-law, Madam Liu.
There, everyone gathered in Xiao Wang’s courtyard and cooked vegetables and lamb around a bubbling hotpot.
Two braziers of charcoal were burning inside the room.
Charcoal supplies in the capital had already begun struggling to meet demand.
Xiao Yu had secretly brought some charcoal for her brother and sister-in-law, telling Madam Liu to come to her if they ran out.
Madam Liu thanked her gratefully.
Because she and Xiao Wang had lived away from the capital for so long, she did not manage the household. Madam Qin distributed their supplies according to the household allowance.
But with the weather turning cold so suddenly, every courtyard had rushed to request more charcoal.
Consumption had risen sharply, and the residence had not yet had time to purchase new supplies. For now, everyone was using the charcoal left over in the storerooms from previous years.
“Mother was worrying about the charcoal supply today. She said the servants went out to buy more, but not only has the price risen, there isn’t enough to go around. Every noble household in the capital is scrambling to buy it. They barely managed to secure a little, and it will probably only last us a few days.”
Xiao Yu thought about the charcoal she had secretly given Madam Liu.
Sooner or later, Madam Qin would discover it. If that happened, things might become awkward.
So Xiao Yu leaned close to her sister-in-law and whispered a few words into her ear.
Madam Liu’s expression changed from surprise to delight before she finally smiled and nodded.
She certainly saw nothing wrong with Xiao Yu making money from her own maiden family.
After all, Madam Qin was only Xiao Wang’s stepmother, not Madam Liu’s true mother-in-law.
Madam Liu knew perfectly well how Madam Qin truly felt about them.
During the early years of her marriage, Madam Qin had occasionally made things difficult for her, both openly and subtly.
Fortunately, Xiao Wang was fiercely protective of his wife.
After learning what had happened, he had warned Madam Qin directly.
From then on, Madam Qin treated them politely on the surface, though there was no telling how much resentment she harbored toward them in her heart.
This time, if Xiao Wang had not been promoted and transferred back to the capital, and if Madam Qin’s two sons had not potentially needed to rely on him in the future, her attitude might not have been nearly as pleasant.
As far as Madam Liu was concerned, Madam Qin had to buy charcoal from someone anyway.
It was better for Xiao Yu to profit from it than a stranger!
Xiao Yu had yet to begin selling the charcoal she had stockpiled.
The charcoal shops in the capital could probably hold out for another few days, while prices continued rising with each passing day.
She planned to wait another two days before putting her own supply on the market.
The timing would be perfect.
Chang’an ate with his eyes shining brightly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
It was his first time eating such a fresh and delicious bubbling hotpot, and he was absolutely delighted.
Although restaurants called this way of eating “hotpot,” the common people preferred calling it a “bubbling pot.”
The name was simple, vivid, and perfectly fitting.
“Auntie, I like bubbling pot!”
“If Chang’an likes it, then you can ask your mother to make it for you often, all right? If there’s anything you don’t have at home, just tell Auntie. I’ll send it over for you!”
“Auntie is the best!”