Lu Nian Fu was very busy.
Since she came out of confinement, she had seemed to take on Cupid's role, busy with one couple after another, and finally even busy with her own mother.
When she heard the report that the Madam of Pingning Bo had arrived, she genuinely considered pretending she wasn't home for a moment.
Inquiring about elders' romantic relationships was definitely the most ridiculous thing she had ever done.
"Mother, you're here," Lu Nian Fu felt a pang of guilt facing Ban Shi.
Madam of Pingning Bo's expression was rather complicated. She sighed and said, "Why did you dismiss Uncle Yan?"
"Mother, Uncle Yan and I had an employer-employee relationship, not master-servant. If he wanted to leave, I couldn't stop him, could I?"
"You... but you shouldn't have incited him to become the steward at Pingning Bo's residence."
Lu Nian Fu raised four fingers: "Mother, I swear, this matter of becoming your steward was truly not my doing. I've been so busy these days that I didn't even know you were looking for a steward. Besides, why did you dismiss the household staff? Is the mansion running short of funds?"
Speaking of which, she brought out a vanity case and took out the silver notes from the very bottom. "Mother, this is all the family has. You can use it for now, and I'll have Qing Ya send you more in a few days."
Ban Shi quickly declined, "That's not true. Dismissing the household staff was simply because there were too many people needed. With just the Marquis and myself, we don't need over thirty servants. And I didn't hire a steward; it was Qiang Wei's own initiative, but I didn't expect it to be your Uncle Yan."
"Aunt Qiang Wei is like Jiang Taigong fishing, and Uncle Yan is a willing catch."
"Xi Xi, Mother is talking about serious matters with you."
"But it's no use talking to me about it. Uncle Yan helped me in secret for so many years. How could I repay his kindness by interfering with his good fortune?"
Ban Shi's expression was hard to describe. "You call this good fortune?"
"Isn't it?" Lu Nian Fu held her hand. "Mother, what do you think about this matter?"
"What is there to think about? Xi Xi, although your father wronged you, he did indeed help the Ban family during their most difficult time. At that time, your maternal grandfather was beaten, your maternal grandmother was greatly shocked and fell ill, and your two maternal uncles were still young. If it weren't for Pingning Bo's residence, the Ban family would have been ruined long ago."
"But Pingning Bo married you back then with ill intentions. He was only attracted to your looks and was certain that with your family declining, you would be at his mercy."
"Xi Xi, sometimes one cannot ask for too much. The path Pingning Bo offered back then was already the easiest one. Otherwise, with my abilities, what could I have done to protect my family besides falling into prostitution?"
"Isn't there Uncle Yan?"
"Do you know how much money it takes to bribe people on the road to exile? Moreover, your maternal grandparents needed medical treatment, expenses that would have crippled your Uncle Yan's family. I will definitely fulfill the promise I made back then and be a good wife dutifully. Although Mother also feels that his illness is retribution, I cannot be involved with your Uncle Yan while he is ill."
She paused. "Moreover, your Uncle Yan could have had much better options."
Lu Nian Fu was somewhat exasperated.
She never expected that her mother, after being tormented for so many years, would still be mindful of that kindness.
But thinking about it from her mother's perspective back then, she must have believed that trading her entire life for the safety of her parents and young brother was an extremely profitable transaction.
She cautiously said, "Mother, have you ever thought about what would happen if Pingning Bo died? You can't possibly still intend to remain chaste for him, can you? The court even encourages widows to remarry."
Ban Shi was stunned. "I haven't thought about that. Xi Xi, he indeed wronged you, but in the eyes of outsiders, you are his daughter. You must never say such curses against him in front of others in the future, or someone might label you as unfilial."
"I never intended to be filial to him anyway."
"Xi Xi!!!"
"Alright, alright, your daughter understands."
The love-hate relationships of elders were clearly incredibly complicated, and Lu Nian Fu had no way to persuade them, so she could only let them be.
Back in Huige City. Hanting.
Situ Yan and Meng Chang Dong walked the streets in Da Yin attire, yet they didn't seem out of place, as there were many merchants from Da Yin here.
Situ Yan had only just learned that even after so many years of war between the two countries, trade could still be so prosperous. Were the battles fought at the border just for show?
Yesterday, Huige had welcomed the peace delegation into the imperial palace, but unfortunately, the process was not very smooth.
Huige had clearly split into two factions, and the peace faction was currently being suppressed by the war faction.
This morning, Gu Rong received an invitation from the First Prince to meet at a teahouse for a detailed discussion. Upon receiving the news, Situ Yan voluntarily offered to go in Gu Rong's stead.
He and Meng Chang Dong had arrived at Hanting earlier than Gu Rong's entourage and had a much better understanding of the situation than Gu Rong.
For example, the old King of Huige and the First Prince were both members of the peace faction, but the Fourth Prince, for the sake of the throne, had colluded with the Northern Xinjiang.
With the old King of Huige poisoned and unconscious, and the Fourth Prince supported by the Northern Xinjiang, the First Prince was in a considerably passive position due to the disparity in troop strength. The arrival of the Da Yin delegation had become his only lifeline.