dering her walk at all.Even walking this road into the mountains, I felt like I was getting more familiar with it.Gradually, Fang Mingxia also realized something was wrong."Jinxiu, it's so dark in the...Zongpingchuan lowered his head and glanced at Yuan Xiangli, his expression neither happy nor sad. Over the years, she rarely could tell what her husband was thinking from his face.

Besides his father, no one else could fathom his thoughts.

Yuan Xiangli was a little afraid of Zong Pingchuan.

She feigned weakness, gazing up at him expectantly.

After a moment of silence, he finally received a slight response from Zong Pingchuan. A hint of fatigue appeared between his brows, and he nodded slightly.

"Hmm."

"I'm going to bathe first."

Yuan Xiang was overjoyed. As long as her husband was willing to speak to her proactively, it meant the previous argument had been put aside. This had always been the case over the years.

"Okay."

"The hot water has already been prepared by the maids, my husband. Allow me to attend to your bath."

Yuan Xiang's eyes were filled with spring, she timidly looked at the man.

A hint of impatience appeared on his cold face.

"Perhaps another day, Your Majesty. Today is a busy day with preparations for your birthday feast and the Ministry of Revenue has much to attend to. I'm feeling quite weary."

Zong Pingchuan refused Yuan Xiangli's advances, which left her feeling embarrassed and more disappointed.

She lowered her head, and seeing this, Madam Wang immediately withdrew the attendants serving around them, leaving the space alone to the mistress and her husband.

"Master, are you displeased with your wife for growing old"

After all, they've been married for over a decade. It's understandable to get tired of things, isn't it

The noblewomen of Beijing all have a set of methods to control their husbands, after all, as they age, their beauty can't compare with those youthful girls.

Even if they were reluctant, they would take concubines for their husbands, to show their magnanimity and consideration as the main wife.

Those concubines they personally selected, of course, were also easily controlled by the legitimate wife.

Before, Yuan Xiangli would go to gatherings with these noblewomen and be especially proud. Her husband was the paragon of integrity in the capital city.

Their household's backyard was also clean and tidy, free from the troubles of concubines vying for favor.

Could she be walking down this path now, too

Zong Pingchuan saw that her eyes were red, and he finally reacted, letting out a slight sigh.

"My lady has overthought this."

"If you're talking about age, I'm the older one. I'm over ten years older than you. You didn't mind my age, so why would I mind yours"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Xiangli's dejected mood improved slightly. She naturally leaned into the man's embrace.

Zongpingchuan frowned and hugged the person.

"Don't think too much, my husband is really tired."

"How has Taiwu been doing with his business ventures lately"

As soon as her husband mentioned their youngest son, Yuan Xiangli's sadness vanished instantly. She perked up and responded with all her might.

"He's doing alright, after all, he's just starting out. Taiwu opened a teahouse the other day and plans to run it himself. That boy is quite proactive and has his own ideas."

Upon hearing this, Zong Pingchuan's brows furrowed even tighter.

"Where's a good restaurant around here"

"I didn't tell him to go and contact Jinxiu Garden, to take this deal and do it well"

"This is a surefire deal."

The future prospects of the Jinxiu Cai Zhuang were so bright that even he, a person in the court, knew about it.

Sometimes, colleagues would chat about family matters during downtime, bringing up the three meals a day. They would always mention Jinxiu Cai Zhuang, and without exception, they would praise it.

Based on this alone, the estate had already established a firm foothold in the capital.

Yuan Xiangli heard about this from her youngest son two days ago. A vegetable vendor actually made such a big scene, and wanted others to compete for the position and cooperate.

She scoffed, "He's just a vegetable seller, putting on airs and spreading rumors. He hasn't even arrived in the capital yet, and he has us all running around like headless chickens."

"What competition and cooperation is there still"

"Since our mansion is willing to come looking for them, they should be burning incense with gratitude."

Zong Pingchuan had long since become accustomed to Yuan Xiangli's way of speaking.

"So, Tai Wu messed this up"

Yuan Xiangli may look down on others, but she still values her husband's feelings.

Seeing his face darken again, she hurriedly explained to her youngest son.

"It wasn't Taiwu who intentionally messed things up. These people haven't even shown their faces yet, where are we supposed to find them to cooperate"

Zong Pingchuan had a headache, so he rubbed his nose bridge.

The head of Jinshiuzhuang has gone to the capital, and news of it is spreading everywhere.

"Forget it, I'll have Zhong Bo handle this matter. You should let Tai Wu focus on running his tavern."

He is known to everyone in the court, yet these two mother and son remain unaware. Zong Pingchuan sometimes can't help but feel disappointed.id not fall on him, as his elder brother, the eldest son, inherited it. Zhao Yun secretly joined the army before his ancestral fame joined the military and he had already become a fifth-rank military...