Empress Xiao looked at Xiao Jinheng, who was like a well-behaved child, and asked softly, "Mother asks you, are you fond of the little daughter from the Yun family?"
This brat, after living in Dashui Village for a few years, learned to date instead of anything else…
Actually, Empress Xiao had a good impression of Xiao Xitian. After all, Gu Mingyan had visited Dashui Village several times and had met Xiao Xitian, liking the little girl very much.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinheng's small face turned red, and he retorted, "Mother, what are you talking about?"
Even if he liked her, he couldn't say it out loud, how embarrassing…
Empress Xiao couldn't hold back her laughter and reached out to pinch Xiao Jinheng's small, handsome face. "Don't worry, Mother is very fond of that young lady, but you need to rein in your feelings. Your father's health is not good, and he is exhausted from managing state affairs every day. If you also neglect your duties and idle around, how can you be worthy of your father's earnest efforts?"
In order to protect Xiao Jinheng, Emperor Cheng had withstood pressure from all sides over the years, not wanting him to be harmed…
"Mother, this son understands!" Xiao Jinheng lowered his head and murmured.
He just instinctively wanted to get close to the village child. It was an innate fondness, and he felt very upset when they were separated even for a moment.
Empress Xiao smiled and said, "It's good that you understand. Mother heard that girl entered the palace a few days ago?"
"Yes, something happened in her family, and she came to ask for our help…" Xiao Jinheng replied.
Upon hearing this, Empress Xiao said with a helpless expression, "Oh dear, since she came, why didn't you bring her to Mother to see?"
She had heard that the young girl was quite capable, inventing waterwheels and driving away rat plagues, possessing great skills.
Xiao Jinheng smiled slightly, "She was in a hurry to return to Dashui Village. Mother will naturally see her when there's an opportunity in the future!"
Empress Xiao sighed and said no more…
Ten days later, Dashui Village.
"Xiao Lou, be careful! The roof is very slippery, don't fall!" Old Man Yun stood in the courtyard, looking up at Jin Xiaolou on the roof, and shouted a reminder.
Jin Xiaolou was holding a large broom, sweeping the snow from the roof.
The icicles, as thick as rolling pins, hung from the eaves. The sunlight shone down, crystal clear, like crystal, very beautiful…
"Uncle Yun, I'm fine. You should go inside, it's too cold outside!" Jin Xiaolou said with a smile.
Last night, it had snowed heavily again. The white wind blew, misty and hazy, blocking the doors and windows of every household.
After dawn, the villagers, without even eating breakfast, began to mobilize their entire families to come out and clear the snow.
Especially the snow on the roofs, if not cleared quickly, it would accumulate thicker and thicker, and the roof beams would eventually break…
Yun Daman was pulling a cart, having already transported more than ten cartloads of snow. Piles of snow as high as small mountains were everywhere in the courtyard, dazzlingly white.
Madam Gu also brought Gao Jingde, Jin Huaihua, Zhao Guihua, and Yun Xiaobao out to help, sweating profusely, their arms and legs stiff.
"Oh dear, a large courtyard is not a good thing!" Zhao Guihua wiped the sweat from her brow. "Just clearing the snow takes a whole day…"
If it were a small door and a small courtyard, it would only take a few shovels to throw it out.
Madam Gu smiled and said, "A large courtyard is also more comfortable to live in. Dashui Village has long winters and short summers, and it snows often. It will be tiring in the future!"
If nothing else, take Ruoyue and Ruhua in the west house as an example. The two young girls worked for half a morning and were now so tired they collapsed on the snow piles, too lazy to speak…
Shangguan Fang'er sat on the threshold of the main house, propping her chin with her hands, staring blankly at her family working.
Usually, if it snowed heavily, she would be the first to rush out and build two snowmen.
Now, she didn't have the mood for it.
"Huaihua, go and cook. Boil a few eggs, and make a pot of millet porridge. Are there still steamed red bean buns from this morning? Heat them all up. It should be enough for our family to eat…" Madam Gu instructed.
Jin Huaihua nodded upon hearing this, "Ah ah!"
"Guihua, I just heard Xiaozhuzi crying, he might be hungry. Stop sweeping and hurry inside to feed him!" Madam Gu took the shovel from Zhao Guihua's hand and arranged with a smile.
Zhao Guihua smiled slightly, "Understood, Mother!"
Old Man Yun walked over, holding his pipe, and sighed, "Old woman, with so much snow, will our daughter and the others be able to return?"
They still didn't know that Yun Erman had been arrested by the soldiers, nor did they know that their youngest daughter had gone to the imperial palace…
Madam Gu sighed slightly, "You ask me, who can I ask? I heard Suzhen this morning say that it snowed in the county town as well. I don't know where daughter and the others have gone!"
"Old woman, why don't I let Daman go out to look for them? It's freezing and snowy outside, what if our daughter gets frozen?" Old Man Yun said, looking worried.
Madam Gu heard this and turned to look at the gate. "Daman doesn't know where Shanshan's village is. Going out would be aimless wandering…"
As the saying goes, mother and daughter are connected by heart. Madam Gu had a vague feeling that her youngest daughter was about to return. She could feel it.
Seeing his wife's slightly melancholic expression, Old Man Yun took a few puffs of his pipe and looked at Yun Daman. "Daman, go inside and make a pot of strong tea. Let's try to finish this work before lunch. This afternoon, I'll go to the village chief's house to buy two black chickens and stew them to nourish your mother's body!"
"Alright!" Yun Daman chuckled foolishly and ran into the inner room.
At the same time, on a official road leading to Heyang County, a snow-covered carriage arrived…
Several Imperial Guards rode their horses, making their way through the snow with difficulty.
Xiao Xitian lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside. "Wow, it snowed so much!"
Last night, she and Du Tieshan had rested at an inn. Before going to sleep, it was only lightly snowing. She didn't expect that overnight, heavy snow had covered the entire Heyang County…
Du Tieshan pulled Xiao Xitian back and quickly lowered the curtain. "Oh dear, the cold wind outside is like a knife. Don't catch a cold!"
Xiao Xitian giggled upon hearing this, "Sister Shanshan, I'm not that delicate!"
She just hoped the carriage would go faster so she could return to Dashui Village sooner.
With these road conditions, it would be most suitable for sledding, but the conditions didn't allow it. Xiao Xitian didn't have any sleds in her space, but she had many tractors…
She dared not take out the tractors in front of so many people, for fear of scaring them.
Just then, the sound of galloping horses came from behind.
Looking back, she saw a young man leading dozens of guards, chasing them at an extremely fast speed, surrounding the carriage…