BXBX NOVEL Chapter 264 - 264: It’s a Herbivore
Chapter 264 - 264: It’s a Herbivore
If the Emperor knew that Qiao Mai was the immortal he had met, he would probably want to marry his daughter to the Qiao family as well.
As the days passed, the weather turned warmer. The noble Miss Mu enjoyed her time in the Qiao family.
She woke up early, exercised, tidied up the courtyard, and after meals, she went to the greenhouse in the back to tend to the garden, working alongside the maids.
Her schedule was packed. She lived a fulfilling life every day.
Qiao Mai never summoned the county princess. She had discussed this with Old Master Wang. He will lead the boys to the capital to participate in the imperial examination. Because of the assassination incident, one of the sheep would accompany them.
Old Master Wang found it funny that Qiao Mai would use a sheep as an escort.
In the evening, Qiao Mai had the white sheep find her grandfather, and the sheep took him to a secluded place. It then transformed, revealing itself and startling Old Master Wang.
With a powerful kick, the sheep broke a tree as thick as a human leg.
Old Master Wang realized why she had the sheep accompany them. He looked at the sheep with amazement.
“Can you speak human language?”
The sheep replied with a “baa,” shrinking to the size of a little lamb. Old Master Wang chuckled and finally understood why she had the three sheep at home.
With these little guys, no matter how many black-clad men came, they would be dealt with. What kind of guardian spirit did Qiao Mai get her hands on?
With their adorable appearance, it was hard for him to associate them with monsters.
Old Master Wang didn’t care about secrecy anymore. He went to look for Qiao Mai with the sheep at night.
“Who are they?”
“Have you read any books on cultivating immortality?”
“Yes.”
“These are spiritual beasts from the Immortal Realm. I’ve acquired three of them to guard the house. As a precaution, they’ll accompany you to the imperial examination.”
“Are you a God in the Immortal Realm?” He gulped.
“Not really. I just have some connections.”
“No wonder you’re not afraid of the Duke of Zhenguo and the imperial authority. If I had such connections, I wouldn’t be afraid of them either.”
“You’ve been suspicious of me for a while, haven’t you? I’m giving you a little insight to put your minds at ease when staying in my house. It’s to prevent you from thinking I can’t handle the Duke’s family.”
“Haha, now, I have some insight. With these three, I won’t be afraid of the
Duke, and even the person on the Dragon Throne won’t be a concern.”
“Even without these three, I wouldn’t be afraid.’
Old Master Wang was stunned. “I can feel your confidence.”
Qiao Mai smiled. “It’s late at night, and you should go back now. I believe with the company of the white sheep, you shouldn’t be afraid on your journey.”
“Haha, I’ll worship it like an ancestor.” “It’s a herbivore. Don’t feed it meat. “Oh, why not get a carnivorous one?”
“They’re too expensive.”
“Old miser!”
With the white sheep, Old Master Wang left happily. He wasn’t envious of Old Mistress Wang’s red cats anymore. Every day, he fawned around the white sheep.
Old Mistress Wang saw this and said, “I thought you didn’t like pets?”
“It’s different with these three.
“Hmph!”
Old Master Wang brought the twins to the capital in early March. Chuan’er went to the prefectural capital and stayed with the Wang family. He and Zihan participated in the scholar’s examination.
Every year around this time, the people of Tianshui Town were all focused on the Qiao family. Their feelings were complicated.
They wished for the Qiao children to succeed, but they also feared it. In their eyes, the Qiao family was already good enough, and if they succeeded further, they would be even better. They didn’t want to see the Qiao family continue to prosper, but if the Qiao family didn’t do well, who would help them in times of trouble?
Qiao Mai was indifferent to these sentiments. She checked the greenhouses and was pleased to see Princess Mu working hard in the fields.
She had changed from her former luxurious attire to plain clothes and humbly sought advice from the servants.
Seeing this, Qiao Mai nodded in approval. This was the demeanor of a good daughter-in-law. In the future, she would be the eldest daughter-in-law of the Qiao family, and she couldn’t act recklessly as she did in the past. Qiao Mai couldn’t forgive her for that.
Qiao Mai had punished her by working in the fields as a form of character-building.
Apart from overseeing her store, Ling’er learned from Nanny Jin. When she heard that a girl was learning to farm with the servants, she secretly went to see.
She found it was the girl who had a strong presence. She secretly went to ask Old Mistress Wang.
“Great grandma, is it true that she is my big brother’s sweetheart?”
“She is undergoing your mother’s test. Otherwise, she cannot become your brother’s wife.’
“Oh? Why is that?”
“Because she made a mistake.”
“Huh?”
Old Mistress Wang knew she wouldn’t understand, so she didn’t say much.
“How’s your business going?”
“Hehe, apart from what I give to Mother, I make a lot of silver monthly.”
“Don’t splurge on it. Save it up for your dowry.”
“Yes, great-grandma!”
Ling’er couldn’t get answers from her great-grandmother, so she went to find Miss Mu.
Miss Mu smiled when she saw Ling’er. “Hello, Miss Ling’er?”
Ling’er pursed her lips. “I heard that you are a county princess, a high-ranking title among women.”
Mu Xuerong chuckled. “Even if it’s a high title, it’s not as big as your mother’s.” “My mother’s temperament may not be good, but she’s a kind person.”
“I know she is punishing me. I accept it.”
“You are kind. I’ll like you as my sister-in-law.”
Princess Mu blushed. “Your mother needs to give her approval for this.”
“How about yours?”
When Miss Mu heard about her family, her eyes reddened. “I have to follow your mother’s orders. My family is in her hands, and my mother still can’t get out of bed.’
“My mother did that?”
“Uh-huh.”
“That must be because your mother provoked mine. My mother never causes trouble first.
Princess Mu lowered her head. “My mother was the one who wasn’t good.” “In that case, endure it. My brothers and I make mistakes, and we have to face the consequences. Rules are rules.”
“Miss Ling’er, your mother taught you well.” “Sister-in-law, I believe in you. Keep it up!” Ling’er made a face at her and then ran away giggling.
The longer Princess Mu stayed in the Qiao family, the more she felt like she had wasted her life. Even a random servant in the Qiao family lived more vibrantly than she ever had.
The Qiao family’s servants were not like typical servants; they were all exceptional. They sang cheerful songs, and there was not a single day when they weren’t happy.
When they were not feeling well, they would tell the steward, and they would immediately go to the doctor and get three days off to rest.
Their monthly salaries were higher than those of high-ranking families in the capital. Each one was incredibly active in their work.
In the Qiao family, she had never heard the maids gossiping or idly chattering in groups. When they had free time, they quickly tidied themselves up and looked for things to do.
Each day she spent here felt like she was filled with boundless energy.
As for food, even though she ate with the servants, each meal was always different. She didn’t have any of the picky eating habits she had at the Duke of Zhenguo’s residence. Now, she would eat anything without complaint.
With the children away for their exams, Qiao Mai couldn’t relax and focus on her cultivation.
She sat in front of her store, drinking tea and listening to the people’s conversations.
Yuan Jiaqi took the wheat seeds she provided and bought fifty acres of land around the county town. They hired over ten people to manage it.
They would provide the wheat with the best conditions to maximize its yield. East and west, they’d get the best results.
Once she provided the wheat, Qiao Mai didn’t want to interfere. She would see what rewards her husband could get on his own. If it were a meager reward, she would personally go to the palace to ask for a better one for her husband.
She wouldn’t let her future daughter-in-law be laughed at by the people of the imperial capital.
Chuan’er had returned after taking the exam and immediately slept. Qiao Mai shook her head at this lazy boy. He had always tried to avoid his martial arts training. Now, his physical fitness was only slightly better than an ordinary scholar’s..