The head of the Red Mansion

The Jia family was worried about Yingchun's marriage, but unexpectedly, Jia Min introduced Yu Zhijian's youngest son to them.

Yu Zhijian rose through the ranks from his position as the Prefect of Tianjin.

He was just appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of Liaodong this year.

His youngest son, Yu Pei, has just passed the imperial examination and is now studying at the Imperial Academy.

Lin Ruhai helped me look up the information and found it quite helpful.

Because of Jia Min, Madam Yu had also given two lectures at the girls' school. She had a very good impression of Yingchun. When she heard that Jia Min wanted to marry her niece to her, she was so happy that she even gave her a tiger skin.

Jia She originally wanted to try and smooth things over, but back when he was dealing with the Japanese delegation, Lord Yu risked his life to help him, and that young man was indeed quite capable.

Forget it, let it be!
He resigned himself to the fate of going through the marriage process for his daughter.

Fortunately, the emperor granted Lord Yu a mansion in the capital. Lord Yu could not return, but Madam Yu did.

"Auntie...!"

Seeing the dowry that Shen Ning had prepared for her, Yingchun's eyes couldn't help but redden.

When the family property was divided, the eldest aunt helped each of them obtain three thousand taels of silver for dowry (property) and allowed them to manage it themselves.

Those things may not mean much to them now, but they were extremely rare at the time.

Because she was an illegitimate daughter, and her father had lived in the East Courtyard for a long time, she was essentially living with her second uncle and aunt at the old lady's place.

Her father and second uncle and aunt didn't get along, so she was the kind of person who wasn't loved by her father, her mother, or her brother and sister-in-law.

Yingchun dared not do anything out of line, and simply lived a dutiful and honest life.

However, she also knew in her heart that her future would not be very bright.

The lessons of her three illegitimate aunts were there for all to see. When they got married, the Jia family was still at its peak. But when it came to her... she didn't even know if she would ever be able to have the freedom that an ordinary family could have.

Once upon a time, Yingchun was very worried!
Until her aunt gave her a copy of the Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government)...

Everything changed from that moment on.

She began to grow closer to her father and stepmother, and even her brother and sister-in-law would speak a few words to her gently.

In those years, they studied at Ningcui Pavilion in the East Mansion while learning how to manage a household.

If there were any good things in the mansion, the eldest aunt, eldest brother, and eldest sister-in-law would be given to them first.

Even after transferring to a girls' school, she, as a concubine's daughter, never felt the slightest bit stage fright.

Yingchun knew that she was someone she never dreamed of being today.

"Silly girl, you're reluctant to leave your aunt? That's alright, just come back and visit often in the future."

Shen Ning watched her grow up, and actually felt even more reluctant to part with her.

The little girl she cherished and pampered was about to be taken away, even by someone else.

It's a shame that while society is progressing, it hasn't progressed to the point where girls can choose not to marry.

"Even after you get married, you must first go to Lord Yu's place. When he examines you later, you must also come back."

"..."

Yingchun lay on Shen Ning's lap, feeling a stinging sensation in her eyes.

She knew that once she got married, she couldn't just come back whenever she wanted.

To say nothing of the distant past, even my fourth aunt went to take up her post with my uncle and hasn't been back for more than ten years.

Once a female classmate gets married and moves to another place, it's incredibly difficult for her to return.

The old lady was getting old, and her mother was the only one she was close to.

Fortunately, they are all in good health.

She wasn't that worried.

But my aunt~
Having given birth to her younger sister at an advanced age, coupled with the grief of losing her uncle and subsequent assassination attempts, means that even with the best care, she falls ill once or twice a month.

Yingchun was worried about her, saying, "Aunt, please take good care of yourself. I will take care of you in the future."

"That's natural!"

Shen Ning smiled, "My aunt is still hoping to live to a ripe old age and hear about your experiences in various places." She was very curious about Nurgan Commandery, Nanghar Guard, and other places, but unfortunately, she couldn't go there in person. "I've heard that there are mountains and forests further north. If you have the chance in the future, when you get there, please ask someone to help me travel further inland and draw a map." If you go north across the Bering Strait, you can see the North American continent.

Those were vast tracts of land.

Although she didn't know what the future held, knowing that there were vast tracts of arable land there would always attract people willing to risk going there.

"I heard from Yu Pei that as soon as Lord Yu arrived there, he organized a team to scout the way."

After they got engaged, their elders arranged for them to meet several times at home, in temples, and Taoist monasteries.

The two of them were quite awkward at first, but Yu Pei made conversation and told her everything.

On several occasions, Yingchun saw him blush as he spoke.

"is it?"

Shen Ning exclaimed in surprise, "I heard it's very cold over there."

"It's very cold over there in Nurgan Commandery. I heard the team set off in the summer."

Yingchun could tell that her aunt was genuinely curious about that place, and she secretly made up her mind to form several more exploration teams to go and take a look when they arrived there in the future.

The sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month is an auspicious day for marriage. She got married on that day. The following year, after returning to her parents' home, she went with her mother-in-law and husband to the Nurgan Regional Military Commission where Lord Yu was stationed.

She became pregnant while she was there, and Yu Pei returned to the capital to take the imperial examination, but never came back.

Fortunately, Yu Pei was also appointed to an official position here. She went to Fuyu County with her husband to take up his post for three years, and then transferred to Heihe, Buludanhewei, Ononhewei, Ulaanbaatar and other places.

He moved from Outer Northeast to Outer Mongolia, spending nearly eighteen years there before finally returning to Beijing.

At that time, she was already a mother of three.

However, because she missed her hometown so much, she specially found a pair of gyrfalcons and asked the imperial court's animal trainers to train them. They helped her deliver official documents and also helped her and Yu Pei send countless letters to her parents-in-law and the capital.

Fortunately, although my grandmother had passed away when we returned to the capital, my aunt and stepmother were still able to come out of the capital to welcome me.

At this time, she had been granted the title of Lady Wenhua by the emperor, a first-rank imperial decree, because she had vigorously promoted education and the Chinese language, whether in Outer Northeast or Outer Mongolia.

Of course, there were rebellions along the way. Yu Pei was a civil official, while she came from a family of military generals. Because of her, the military and government cooperated very closely, and rebellions were often suppressed as soon as they started.

Lady Wenhua was bestowed this title by the emperor due to her accumulated merits.

People say she is the female Zhuge Liang behind Yu Pei.

However, upon returning to the capital, the female strategist cried herself to death in front of her elderly stepmother and aunt.

The crowd that came to greet her wept, their eyes also reddening.

"Aunt, Mother, I will never leave again."

Her grandmother passed away, and she could only pay her respects from afar.

Although the old lady didn't love her very much, she still gave her a period of peace and stability.

now……

"Don't worry, I won't leave again."

Looking at her daughter, who had been far away all these years but had always been there for her, Madam Xing's eyes were filled with relief and joy. "Sister-in-law, has Her Majesty the Empress agreed to your request?"

"Yes!"

Shen Ning smiled and nodded, "I have recommended you for the position of headmistress at the girls' school."

Yu Pei has served in various posts outside the capital for many years and is familiar with the Northeast and Mongolia. He has already been appointed as the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince and will assist the Crown Prince. Why would he leave again?
"I'll give you a month. After a month, you'll have to take office."

"You are the former headmaster, so if there's anything I don't understand, can I ask you?"

Her three children could hardly believe it when they saw their mother holding their great-grandmother's hand and shaking it like little children.

"nature!"

Shen Ning nodded with a smile.

"Aunt, you are so kind."

Yingchun hugged her beloved aunt again, feeling that the sky in the capital was even bluer and brighter. (End of Chapter)