Time Travel: The Noble Family-Chapter 1105 - 467: Mingzhu Leaves the Capital
An Zhichen went to the Northwest, and Yueyao was also busy every day. The three sons were not as well-behaved as Kexin; although they were only ten months old, they never stopped moving, so Yueyao could only paint when they were asleep.
Brother Shengsheng and his brothers were very active, and couldn’t be placed on the bed, as it was too small for them. Watching over them, one slip from the maids or the old nanny and they’d roll off the bed. Yueyao had no choice but to order an empty room to be cleared, with thick carpets on the floor and some toys recommended by Yuehuan, allowing the three boys to play freely in the room.
Yueyao was in the room with the kids when Mingzhu arrived.
Mingzhu brought her two younger ones over, and Mingzhu actually liked the way Yueyao had set up this room. She wanted to do the same, but as soon as she suggested it, Niu Yanghui vetoed it, believing that raising children this way could spoil them. Niu Yanghui usually catered to Mingzhu’s wishes in terms of living arrangements, but when it came to their son’s education, he stood firm, not even compromising when Mingzhu sent him to the study to sleep. Mingzhu was left with no choice but to drop the matter.
As soon as Mingzhu entered the room, she found that the room had changed again, with various animals painted by Yueyao hanging all around the walls, with names written above them: "The children are so young, and you’re already teaching them to read? You’re too impatient!"
Yueyao laughed and said, "The children are so small, they can’t even talk, how could they recognize words? They’re just hung here for them to see frequently."
Because Yueyao knew Yuehuan’s background, she followed Yuehuan’s advice to start nurturing the children from the fetal stage. Now, she also took a lot of Yuehuan’s advice on educating the children. For example, preparing this room and the paintings on the walls were suggestions from Yuehuan. Moreover, Yueyao read the Book of Songs to her sons as a lullaby at night.
Mingzhu let her two children crawl on the floor, turned to Yueyao, and said: "The matter of Niu Yanghui’s assignment has been settled; he will be serving as the Magistrate of Suzhou Prefecture." Because Niu Yanghui was the Top Scholar, he started at a higher position than others—coming out with the Fifth Rank, and after six years in the Capital City, he was promoted a level. Now, with this assignment, he has risen another level. As long as Niu Yanghui doesn’t make any major mistakes in his career, his future is promising.
Although Suzhou doesn’t compare to Yangzhou, it’s also a beautiful place with pleasant scenery. Yueyao intentionally joked: "Suzhou is known for its beauties. When you go to Suzhou, make sure you watch over your husband so that he doesn’t get enchanted by Suzhou’s beautiful women."
Mingzhu bristled at these words: "Who dares?"
Seeing this, Yueyao immediately restrained her smile and said: "I’m not kidding. You really have to be serious about this. Besides, Niu Yanghui’s official position was not very conspicuous in the Capital City, but it’s different at the local level. Niu Yanghui, being only twenty-three years old and already a local magistrate, is young and capable, and looks handsome and charming. You need to be careful and can’t just quarrel with him like in the Capital City, understand?"
Although Niu Yanghui had a good background and appearance in the Capital City, many of his peers shared similar backgrounds and looks, and Niu Yanghui wasn’t the most outstanding one. Besides, with the Empress Dowager and the Marquis as his protectors, any sensible person wouldn’t try to antagonize Niu Yanghui. As for the likes of Lan Xuan, they’re not even considered. But it’s different at the local level; Niu Yanghui, being a young magistrate with a prestigious background, capable and talented, and with a good appearance that young ladies admire, it’s no wonder that those women aiming to rise by marrying up would try all means to become Niu Yanghui’s concubine or that daughters from officials’ families would be moved by him.
Mingzhu laughed and said: "Don’t worry; my husband is not that kind of person." Mingzhu was quite confident in Niu Yanghui.
Yueyao said solemnly: "I know Niu Yanghui is not the type of man who’s lecherous, and I know you have a deep marital affection. But you still need to be vigilant; with your temperament, I’m worried that one day when you have a quarrel with him, those women who have been waiting for a chance might take advantage, and you could end up unable to stop him from taking another woman. You often go out; you must have heard of cases where concubines supplant wives. Niu Yanghui wouldn’t favor concubines over his wife, but if he really takes a concubine, you definitely won’t be able to handle it."
Mingzhu replied reassuringly: "It won’t happen. After the incident with Lan Xuan, he’s now quite cautious around women."
