In Love With My Fierce Farming Wife!
Chapter 1138 - 1050: Summoned

With formidable strength and an absolute sense of the times, they were content to turn a blind eye and stand aside, coldly observing those with unseemly manners vying for power. However, the newly raised "heroic contributors", though despised by the meat eaters, found the sudden wealth and glory overwhelming. Unable to move their feet, shift their gaze, or control their hands, they focused only on the benefits right under their noses, stretching their hands too far and grasping too much, having long forgotten their initial resolve and their place!

Drink today if there’s wine today!

These upstart forces in the Imperial Court were like starving thin ducks, eager to snatch food to fill their bellies, their manners quite unsightly. But the officials comparable to fat ducks wanted to disengage; however, faced with the overwhelming tide, they too struggled to remain uncorrupted, passively dragged forward, fearing they would miss out on their share if they lagged behind.

Amidst the need for widespread restoration, even though the Court was on the rise and the commoners’ lives were significantly better than during the past chaotic battles, Shengjing’s prosperity was now comparable to the glorious zenith of the Great Zhou dynasty.

But although Prince Huainan, Qin Hong, outwardly submitted, his covert actions never ceased; Qin Hong, though confined to a small territory, continued to stir up trouble; there was also Qin Feimo, the Virtuous King who had once been Emperor...

Especially when the Civil and Military Officials were clearly divided as such, where should the money come from?

Between the thin duck and the fat duck, how should he choose?

In the following two days, Qin Yi suddenly became busy, hardly seen each day.

But it was New Year’s time, and since Su Pan’er had already promised Little Yanyan to take her out of the palace to appreciate lanterns again, without finding Qin Yi, they naturally couldn’t proceed, which frustrated Little Yanyan enormously.

Seeing the New Year disrupted by this drama didn’t bode well, so Su Pan’er had someone summon people from both the Qin and Su Families into the palace to chat, emphasizing the juniors of both houses, and also specially invited Lui Muyi and his son to the palace. With an edict from the Empress to meet, who among them would refuse?

On the third day of the new year, people from the three families gathered in Huayang Palace.

Brother Jing, the child of Su Huarong, had just turned five after the New Year but stood diligently by his parents’ side, greeting Su Pan’er with impeccable manners. Additionally, resembling his mother, his delicate, fair little face immediately captivated Little Yanyan.

Without caring about her own foul mood, she immediately smiled and took Brother Jing aside to play, followed by Little Sugar Bean, who walked with a wobbly gait.

The unmarried girls from both the Qin and Su Families also followed Qin Shuan’er and joined in.

Soon they were all playing together.

Having not seen each other for a long time, Su Pan’er felt everyone had changed. The youths from the Qin and Su Families seemed much more composed than before, no longer resembling their former selves in the countryside, which momentarily disoriented her. After regaining her composure, she inquired about everyone’s marriages.

"Qin Hui and the others have considered several families, but nothing is completely settled yet. Once this servant has a clear idea, I will certainly bring it to the Empress to review," Qin Yueshi said lightly with cheerfulness all over her face.

She was dressed in the attire of a sixth-rank official’s wife, her hair meticulously arranged. Her whole demeanor had undergone a radical transformation; she no longer looked like the meek, long-suffering daughter-in-law of the past.

The marital affairs of people like Qin Hui had already been discussed with Qin Yueshi a few days prior; they had settled on the daughters of officials in the Court. Although not formally agreed upon, these daughters were more than a match for the Qin Family’s boys. Qin Yueshi’s current words merely suggested that the marriages hadn’t been finalized, likely out of consideration for the reputation of the women involved.

"That’s good."

Su Pan’er responded, looking at the two juniors hiding behind Qin Xiao with their heads drooping; she couldn’t even recall the names of Qin Xiao’s two sons: "As the Su Family’s eldest daughter-in-law and their second uncle’s juniors, you should also put in some effort. The same brush cannot paint the character ’Qin’ twice, so you should take more care."

These words caused Qin Yueshi’s smile to stiffen, and after some hesitation, she still agreed.

Qin Xiao stood still, as if the person Su Pan’er had mentioned was not him, rooted to the spot like a wooden post. However, his two sons, clearly elated, came forward shyly to thank her.

Su Pan’er watched coldly, praising the two children and turning her gaze back to the several nephews of the Su Family, her thoughts drifting back to the past.

Back then, she had narrowly escaped death and was rescued by Ye Han. Upon returning to the Su Family, her brothers had argued about splitting the family property. Afterwards, Su Laosan had been adopted into the branch family, and Su Lao Wu had simply returned to his maiden family as a live-in son-in-law. Unexpectedly, after Su Pan’er’s status had changed, Su Laosan and Su Lao Wu stirred up Patriarch Su once again and came back to the Su Family... Patriarch Su had initially refused, but somehow the two brothers had convinced him, and he rejoined the Su Family...

Her mind then turned to Su Huarong, who had gone to Qilian Mountain to start a horse field and was working tirelessly, and the eldest sister-in-law who had always lived with her maiden family.

A ledger full of bad debts, which was giving Su Pan’er a headache.

After thinking it over, she added a few more instructions, "You are all descendants of the Su Family, remember to prioritize the Su Family and to enhance its glory. If you look up to me as your cousin and find suitable matches, come and inform me. It would also please me to eat a few wedding sweets."

Unexpectedly, the Empress still remembered them.

The two cousins of the Su Family were overjoyed and hurriedly came forward to offer their thanks.

After discussing a variety of matters, and catching up with Mrs. Su-Hua and Su Lao Si for a while, Su Pan’er turned her attention to Lui Ming and his son.

In fact, she had noticed the two of them early on. Perhaps out of consideration, Lui Ming and Lui Muyi stood to the side, a distance away from the group.

"Seeing Uncle Lui still healthy brings me great comfort!"

Lui Ming showed none of the nervousness one would expect upon meeting the Empress, casually fist-bumping and laughing heartily with a voice harsh as a cracked bell, "Thanks to the Empress for remembering this lowly subject. This lowly subject is ashamed. Lately, perhaps because my days have been comfortable, I’ve indeed put on a few pounds."

Su Pan’er was instantly amused!

"It’s good to have a little more flesh, as that shows Big Brother Lui is filial and has put Uncle Lui at ease, naturally resulting in a little weight gain."

"Indeed, that’s exactly the reason."

Lui Ming too laughed heartily along.

The two joked back and forth, but Lui Muyi kept his head down, not even glancing at Su Pan’er.

This made Su Pan’er feel as if she had countless things to say, yet unable to speak any of them.

Seeing that it was getting late, after some more casual conversation, everyone moved to the nearby Warm Pavilion’s greenhouse garden. She ordered a meal to be served and allowed everyone to dine together.