The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 496: Golden Ring Housekeeping
In the courtyard of the Marquis Mansion, where Wu Youdi lived, Fu Jinhuan and Yang Qiaolian, two daughters-in-law of the Zhu family, accompanied their mother-in-law and sat around the stove, telling interesting stories about Zhu Xiu's childhood. The two sisters-in-law were also holding half a foot of cloth and studying baby clothes with great interest. .

Fu Jinhuan was not embarrassed at first. After all, she had only been married for more than two months, and her stomach had not moved yet. It was too early to study this.

Unable to resist Yang Qiaolian's enthusiasm, she happened to be chatting with Wu Youdi. Fu Jinhuan could only listen to her sister-in-law's experience in raising children with a red face.

After all, she is a woman who has given birth to two children. When it comes to this matter, she is quite good at it. She can talk freely. After all, they are women, so there is nothing to be taboo about.

As he listened, Fu Jinhuan was really entranced. He caressed his belly unconsciously, his soft face full of longing.

"I heard from my mother that Brother Xiu was a polite boy when he was a child. He was very particular. He never got dirty when playing outside. He knew how to avoid people even when he was peeing at a young age. He talked and acted like those people. He is a scholar who is neither hasty nor slow, and is gentle and polite. People in the village say that he is the life of the young husband."

Yang Qiaolian couldn't stop talking about family matters, and told Fu Jinhuan all the interesting things she heard from Wu Youdi.

"When I married your eldest brother, Brother Xiu was already a famous young scholar in Dingyuan County. I heard that even the county magistrate and the state doctor of Confucianism praised him for being able to pass the Jinshi examination.
Alas, it's a pity. If it hadn't been for what happened later, our Zhu family might have produced a Jinshi long ago!
Damn the Khitans! ~”

Fu Jinhuan comforted him and said: "Sister-in-law, don't worry about it. Although brother Xiu didn't have the opportunity to take part in the imperial examination, in our Zhou Dynasty, he was a veritable literary figure. The Imperial College and the Imperial College often invited him to teach, and the two bachelor's degree students even gave him honors. He gave him a fancy name and called him the ‘No. [-] Scholar’, saying that he did not have the title of No. [-] Scholar, but he had the talent to do so!”

Yang Qiaolian looked proud of herself: "That's right! Our brother Xiu is Wenquxing who came to earth!"

Wu Youdi was wrapped in a thick coat and was leaning softly. She was holding a needle and thread in her hand, sewing and mending with her eyes narrowed. She wanted to make a small coat for her third grandson with her own hands.

Talking about homework, Yang Qiaolian said: "Sister, I have discussed with your elder brother. After a few days when the city is more peaceful, we will move out with Liangwa Daya!"

Fu Jinhuan said in surprise: "Okay, why do you want to move out?"

Yang Qiaolian smiled and said: "Although we are a family, now that Brother Xiu has married you, it is not appropriate for us to continue to live in the Hou Mansion! Brother You is now a mess under Li Dadu's inspection, and he can be regarded as a Officials, both big and small, should move out and live in another place due to emotions and reasons. We can't always rely on the help of the government for this matter of life!"

Wu Youdi also nodded and said: "It's okay to move out. Both brothers are married. It's not good to squeeze into the same room! In my hometown in the countryside of Dingyuan, the family should have been separated long ago, otherwise it would cause gossip."

Yang Qiaolian smiled and said: "Mom, Dalang and I moved out to live in another house. The conditions are not as good as those in the Hou Mansion. You are inconvenient, so you should stay in the Hou Mansion. There are many people to serve. I will come back to see you every now and then!"

Wu Youdi was busy with her needle and thread, and muttered: "Take care of Dalang, don't always miss my old lady, just let Liangwa and Daya come back to see me~"

Yang Qiaolian pretended to be aggrieved and said: "We haven't even separated yet, and you already dislike me?"

Wu Youdi glanced at her: "I know you have saved some money. In the past two days, you have followed several groups of gangsters to visit the house and walked to many places!"

Yang Qiaolian was surprised and said: "You stay in the house all day and don't go out. There is something going on in this house that I can't hide from you!"

Wu Youdi pointed to her ears and heart: "My old lady has bad eyesight, but she is neither deaf nor blind here!"

Yang Qiaolian and Fu Jinhuan looked at each other and asked tentatively: "A few days ago, did you also know about Brother Xiu's imprisonment?"

Wu Youdi put down her needle and thread and sighed: "In the past two months, everyone in the house was crying and mourning. How could I not guess it? If you don't tell me, I won't ask. I know my son. He can do big things. It can be done!"

Fu Jinhuan gently held her skinny hand and said softly: "Mom, it's our fault that we make you worry."

Wu Youdi smiled and said: "Mom knows that you are all good children and you are capable of supporting our Zhu family. I will leave the family to you. Mom can rest assured!"

Fu Jinhuan and Yang Qiaolian looked at each other with red eyes and smiled. In this turbulent era, their family relied on each other.

There was a "clang" sound, and the door of the house was pushed open violently. Zhu Wu stood at the door panting, followed by Ma Qing, Bi Zhenhai, and Hu Guangyue, all with ugly and solemn faces.

"What's going on? You're scared to death!" Yang Qiaolian slapped her chest and stared at her husband.

Zhu Wu pretended to be calm: "Brothers and sisters, come out, I have something to say."

Fu Jinhuan's heart skipped a beat, and he felt a strong sense of uneasiness.

Wu Youdi watched her two daughters-in-law walk out of the house, put down their needlework, tightened the wrinkles on her forehead, and sighed deeply.

"What's wrong?" When she came to the courtyard, Yang Qiaolian looked at everyone and asked suspiciously.

Zhu Wu's face was a little pale, and his lips pursed, as if he couldn't speak.

Fu Jinhuan frowned, Ma Qing and the others lowered their heads, not daring to look at her.

"Brother, if you have anything to do, please tell me!" Fu Jinhuan said.

Zhu Wu swallowed and his voice trembled: "Brother Xiu, something happened to brother Xiu!"

Yang Qiaolian asked strangely: "Brother Xiu went to visit Mr. Feng and then went into the palace? What could happen?"

Fu Jinhuan didn't speak, his bright eyes stared at him closely, and his clenched hands trembled slightly.

Zhu Wu took a few deep breaths and tried to keep his tone calm: "Brother Xiu was assassinated at Feng's house and was seriously injured. Madam Feng has rushed back and stayed by her side for treatment! The bleeding had stopped when I left."

Yang Qiaolian opened her eyes wide and was too shocked to speak.

Fu Jinhuan clenched his fists, his nails digging into his flesh, and his whole body couldn't stop trembling: "Master Hou, how injured is he?"

After hesitating for a moment, Zhu Wu sighed: "I heard from the Feng family that the assassin seemed to be heading for Mr. Feng. Brother Xiu happened to be around and stopped the assassin, but he was injured and stabbed in the chest with a dagger."

Yang Qiaolian was frightened and quickly covered her mouth.

Fu Jinhuan staggered, and Yang Qiaolian hurriedly supported him. "Are you worried about your life?" Fu Jinhuan's face suddenly turned as pale as snow.

Zhu Wu hurriedly said: "Ms. Feng checked the injury, and said that the dagger is only an inch away from the vital point of the heart. It is a matter of luck!"

Yang Qiaolian was so anxious that she slapped him: "As long as it doesn't hit any vital points, if you don't tell me earlier, you'll be in a hurry!"

Zhu Wu smiled bitterly and said in a low voice: "But Mrs. Feng said again, although no vital parts were injured, she lost too much blood. Whether she can save her life depends on God's will."

Yang Qiaolian froze for a moment, her lips trembled and she couldn't speak.

Fu Jinhuan's face turned pale again, and Yang Qiaolian, who was supporting her, could feel that she was trembling all over.

Ma Qing knelt down, eyes red and gritted his teeth as he said, "I have followed Lord Hou all the way from Cangzhou and gone through countless hardships. I will never believe that Lord Hou will be killed by a mere assassin!"

Hu Guangyue also knelt down and said: "Madam, don't worry, Mr. Hou is blessed by God and will be safe and sound!"

Bi Zhenhai said: "Please give me an order, madam. I will lead people to the Feng family immediately and stay by the Marquis's side day and night!"

Zhu Wu said in a seductive voice: "Brother and sister, please give me an idea on what to do now!"

Fu Jinhuan suppressed his sadness and took a deep breath: "You three, please stand up!"

After a pause, she said in a low voice: "Brother, please send someone to report this matter to the court. Prince Huaiyang's Mansion and Princess Shou'an's Mansion, who are usually on good terms with the Marquis, please make a trip in person."

Zhu Wu nodded heavily: "Don't worry, brothers and sisters, I'll do it right away!"

Fu Jinhuan said again: "Ma Qing takes good care of the house and strengthens the guards. Everything else remains as before!"

"I obey my orders!" Ma Qing thought for a moment and then asked: "Are we going to issue a gag order to prohibit discussion in the house?"

Fu Jinhuan said: "No need! Just say that the Marquis was injured by an assassin in the Feng family. Don't say anything else! Blindly concealing it will only make people think."

"Little man understands!"

"Hu Guangyue, I know that you have an important task entrusted to you by the Marquis. You must not delay and set off as soon as possible!" Fu Jinhuan said again.

Hu Guangyue hesitated. Previously, the Marquis asked him to investigate Zhai Shouxun, Li Chongjin's aide, and then rushed to Taiyuan to find a way to establish Zhai Shouxun's identity as a spy of the Northern Han Dynasty.

This matter is difficult, and he must do it himself.

But now that the Marquis is seriously injured and his life or death is unknown, he doesn't want to leave at this time.

Fu Jinhuan said sternly: "Since the Marquis has entrusted you with an important task, we cannot delay such a big thing! Set off immediately and complete your errands, otherwise I will see how you explain it when the Marquis wakes up!"

Hu Guangyue hurriedly bowed down and said loudly: "I will obey Madam's order! When the Marquis wakes up, please Madam tell the Marquis that I will live up to His high expectations!"

Fu Jinhuan said to Bi Zhenhai again: "Immediately select a hundred warriors from the Zhenhai camp, and take a hundred soldiers from the Tiger Guard to rush to the Feng family to guard the Marquis! Take Shi Dalang with you, and from today on, the Marquis is not allowed to leave. Your sight is too small!"

Bi Zhenhai clasped his fists and accepted the order: "I obey the order!"

"Where are Lingyan and Mrs. Zhou?"

Yang Qiaolian said: "It seems that we were invited to visit Jingdezhen."

"Send someone to call them back and ask them to go directly to Feng's house."

Everyone left, and Zhu Wu hesitated: "Should I hide this from my mother first? I'm worried that she won't be able to bear it."

Yang Qiaolian also agreed, but Fu Jinhuan said: "It's better to tell mother the truth. Mother has a clear mind. If you can't hide it, it will make her worried."

The three of them discussed for a while, then entered the house and stood in front of the collapse.

Wu Youdi looked at the three of them and sighed: "Tell me, is it Brother Xiu's business?"

Fu Jinhuan sat beside the couch and briefly explained the situation in a low voice.

Wu Youdi was speechless for a long time. She closed her eyes and muddy tears fell on the mattress.

"Mom, don't worry. Brother Xiu is very lucky. The assassin didn't hit any vital points. He just fell into a coma due to blood loss. Just wake up."

Fu Jinhuan held back Lianlian's tears.

Wu Youdi held her hand tremblingly: "Go ahead and take good care of Brother Xiu."

"Mother, do you want to come to Feng's house with us?" Fu Jinhuan asked softly.

Wu Youdi shook her head and murmured: "I won't go. My child is so injured that my mother doesn't dare to see it, so she will wait for you at home."

The three of them said goodbye, the door closed, and a deep sigh sounded in the slightly dark room.
　I wish you all a happy new year and a happy family!
　　Thank you all for voting!

　　Goodbye~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)