My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 470 A Little Goodbye Is Better than a New Marriage

It's December, and winter is here.

The world was covered in a blanket of silver.

Inside the Tian Ce Mansion, however, there was a lively atmosphere. Servants and maids were busy tidying up, because the master of the mansion was finally about to return.

A beautifully sculpted boy was running around the courtyard, wearing thick clothes, with a maidservant carefully attending to him. The boy tripped and fell to the ground.

The maids were so frightened that they rushed forward to help him up, but the boy acted as if nothing had happened. Instead, he casually grabbed some snow from the ground and kept smiling, his little face red from the cold.

In the pavilion not far away.

Silk was laid on the floor, and steam rose from the tea set on the table. A group of noblewomen were gathered inside.

They were called 'ladies of high society', and each of them wore their hair in an updo, but in reality, most of them looked quite young. They possessed the charm of married women, yet also the delicacy of young girls. They combined the words "graceful and noble" with "girlish," which made them seem a bit 'out of place'.

Yuan Miao leaned lazily against the pavilion railing, his gaze fixed on Gao Run, who was playing in the snow outside the pavilion.

Turning around, he saw Yang Changchu holding Gao Ze in his arms. Gao Ze, being a restless fellow, was drawn in by Gao Run's laughter.

The delicate little finger pointed outside the pavilion, babbling, "Mother... Mother."

They were so eager, they couldn't wait to run out and have fun with Gao Run.

Erzhu Yuechan herself was like a child, running around in the snow. After a while, she picked up a snowball, put it in front of Gao Run and teased him for a while, then turned around and hugged a little girl in her arms, "Ayan, your father is coming back soon, aren't you happy?"

On the other side, the elegant Cui Zhifan was also holding a child in her arms. The child had also inherited excellent genes, and although snot bubbles were coming out of his nose, it did not affect his good looks. Like a porcelain doll, the child was fast asleep in her arms.

Yuan Miao's eyes flashed with deep envy, but she also looked down at her stomach in annoyance, feeling extremely angry.

Why are you so disappointing?
She was the one who came first, but in the end, she couldn't even compare to Cui Zhifan who came later.

Then look at the others.

Yang Lingyi, Pei Shi, Liu Shi...

Women do change after having children.

"I don't care! He's not allowed to leave until I get pregnant this time he's back!"

Yuan Miao made a decision in his heart.

Little did they know... those women with flat stomachs next to them all had the same idea.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, as they say.

………………

Gao Yu went to Daliang City to meet Hou Jing and also received local powerful families and clans.

Under normal circumstances, the "Three Mutual System for Officials" has been implemented since the Eastern Han Dynasty.

According to the principle of avoiding conflict of interest based on place of origin, officials are prohibited from holding office in the place of their place of origin.

Marriage avoidance: If a person marries a woman from a certain place, he/she may not hold a position in the place of the woman's place of origin.

There should be no overlap in the regions where officials are employed; officials from different regions should avoid serving in each other's positions.

In times of peace, especially when the central government has great power and prestige, this principle is indeed followed to prevent officials from becoming too powerful in local areas and forming interest groups.

However, once the central government loses power, this "three-mutual" system becomes a mere formality.

at the moment……

Under special circumstances, Gao Yu could not spare enough officials to manage Yuzhou and Sizhou, so he could only rely on local powerful families and clans.

With Hou Jing and Murong Shaozong stationed here with large armies, there's no need to worry too much about powerful families or clans causing trouble.

Once you have a free time, you can send someone else over.

After settling in, he headed east and met Yang Kan and Erzhu Zhao in Juyang.

Only then did they head north to Qingzhou.

He deliberately took a detour, just to see what changes had occurred in Qingzhou over the past year.

Outside Dongyang City.

The welcoming crowd was vast and mighty, and the freezing cold could not stop the loyal people of Qingzhou from welcoming the sun in their hearts!

Gao Yu's car had already come into view.

Cui Jie, along with his officials from the Tian Ce Mansion, greeted them outside the city.

I don't know who shouted it.

"It's the general! The general is here!!" "Has the general returned?"

"Fool, you should now address me as Prime Minister!"

"Then General is better; he is more deserving of the reputation of being the overlord of our time!"

"…………"

Gao Yu rode a white steed. He did not seek shelter from the cold inside the carriage, and could see the surging crowd from afar.

Officials including Cui Jie came before him, bowed and paid their respects.

"Greetings, Prime Minister."

Gao Yu dismounted and helped Cui Jie up, saying, "Didn't I tell you not to make such a fuss?"

"The Prime Minister has returned in triumph with his army, and the soldiers and common people have come to welcome him spontaneously. How could we possibly spoil their joy?"

As they arrived at the city gate, they were guarded on both sides of the road by valiant warriors clad in armor and wielding sharp blades.

When Gao Yu rode past them on horseback, the soldiers on both sides would immediately kneel down on one knee to pay their respects.

The common people and soldiers also consciously stood a little further away.

Everyone who comes here has been checked and confirmed to be absolutely safe before they are allowed to get a little closer to Gao Yu.

This was also to increase Gao Yu's prestige among the people.

otherwise……

Such a welcome would definitely require clearing the area to ensure absolute security, leaving no opportunity for those who wanted to assassinate.

Gao Yu, mounted on his horse, waved to the people on both sides before entering the city.

"I will come to Tian Ce Mansion tomorrow to inspect your administration. You may all return to your residences and rest today."

Gao Yu was preoccupied with his wife and children, and had no interest in handling government affairs, nor was he in a hurry.

Cui Jie and the others dispersed.

Gao Yu then arrived at the Tian Ce Mansion.

When the servants and maids saw him, they all bowed and paid their respects.

"Everyone, get up."

After saying that, he hurriedly went to the inner courtyard.

As soon as I stepped into the courtyard, it felt like I had been hit hard in the heart!
His wives and concubines had been waiting there for a long time. Yang Changchu, Erzhu Yuechan, Zheng Dache, and Cui Zhifan, who had given birth to children, held their offspring in their arms and looked at him with smiles on their lips. Yuan Miao and the others were also staring straight at him.

"Husband."

A variety of voices, charming and alluring, are mixed together.

Gao Yu was overjoyed.

Gao Ze and Gao Run hadn't seen him in so long, and stared at this familiar 'stranger' with wide eyes, curiously examining him.

Gao Yu then squatted down and waved.

"Arun, come here and let your father give you a hug!"

Zheng Dache put Gao Run down, and Gao Run looked up at Zheng Dache, somewhat frightened.

Zheng Dache said softly, "That's your father..."

Gao Run turned to look at Gao Yu again, staring at him for a long time. It seemed that a trace of a long-forgotten memory had been found in the little head, and there was a sense of familiarity.

She took two steps forward, hesitated for a moment, and then stumbled and ran all the way to Gao Yu's arms.

"Father."

Their babyish voices are so cute.

Gao Yu then picked him up and deliberately rubbed his beard against his tender little face.

This feeling of being connected by blood.

He could also understand Gao Huan back then.

A true man takes his time in this world.

How could he not strive for his beloved wife and children?

(End of this chapter)