Reborn as a Happy Wife in a Rural Family - Chapter 278: Xiao Ce and Grandson Leave

Chapter 278: Chapter 278: Xiao Ce and Grandson Leave

He would definitely choose the latter; he wouldn’t risk widespread condemnation by establishing a regime at this time. If he could seize what was readily available, wouldn’t that be a better choice?

“Mmhmm, that’s a relief,” Gu Qingli mumbled, her eyes still closed.

Xiao Yunjing looked at her dazed expression, smiled faintly, and bent down to kiss her red lips.

Before long, indescribable sounds came from the room.

These days, while the family was mourning, Xiao Yunjing couldn’t do what he wanted to do.

After staying for a few days, Xiao Ce decided to return to Beijiang after all. He had been worried about Xiao Yunjing’s intentions and also felt uneasy because Xiao Yunfeng, who was clearly not Emperor material, was in Beijiang, making him restless.

Now that Xiao Yunjing had made his stance clear, Xiao Ce decided to return and properly help Xiao Yunfeng manage Beijiang, allowing him to take the throne after Xiao Han’s coming-of-age ceremony.

“Ling’er, how about coming to Beijiang with Big Brother for a short stay?” After packing his things, Xiao Ce went looking for Xiao Yuling.

“I’m not going. I want to take care of my precious grandson.” Xiao Yuling shook her head like a pellet drum.

Xiao Ce glanced at her, then left the room huffily, his hands clasped behind his back.

So, now that she had a grandson, this ’Big Brother’ was completely forgotten!

“What’s wrong?” Xiao Yunjing asked, bumping into a dejected-looking Xiao Ce as he stepped out of the study.

“Nothing,” Xiao Ce replied, then simply pulled Xiao Yunjing back into the study to talk.

The next day, Xiao Yunjing saw Xiao Ce and his companions off from Qinghe Village. Dashuang, Xiaoshuang, Daniu, and Gu Qingqiu also went to send off the Xiao Han brothers.

“Let’s go back,” Xiao Yunjing said, turning to the four of them standing at the village entrance.

“Mmhmm.”

The four of them acknowledged and followed Xiao Yunjing back.

In Gu Qingli’s room, Xiao Yuling was sullen and silent. Gu Qingli looked at her duplicitous mother-in-law, blinked, and said, “Mother, it’s not too late to catch up with Uncle now.”

Xiao Yuling pouted at her. “You ungrateful child, you don’t even know how to comfort your own mother.”

Gu Qingli’s lips twitched. Even in this state, she was still so fierce. She patted Xiao Yuling’s hand and said, “Then why are you being so stubborn? When Uncle and the others were leaving, who was it that said they wouldn’t miss them and wouldn’t be sad?”

Xiao Yuling poked Gu Qingli’s forehead. “What do you know? I only said that so they would feel at ease when they returned and not constantly worry about me.”

“Tch.” Gu Qingli rolled her eyes dramatically. As if *they’d* be losing sleep over *her*! She really thought highly of herself.

And *she* was the one who didn’t understand? How could she not understand? She would never be like her mother-in-law, speaking so carelessly, as if her mouth had no filter, blurting out whatever came to mind, good or bad.

“After this parting, who knows if we’ll still be alive the next time we meet,” Xiao Yuling sighed again.

“Mother, you will definitely live a long life,” Gu Qingli said with a grin.

“What’s the point of living that long? I’m not a tortoise,” Xiao Yuling said unhappily. How could this daughter-in-law be so clueless about comforting people? She really wished she could trade her in for a new one!

“Mother, that’s a *thousand-year-old* tortoise.”

Xiao Yuling was speechless… What was she to do? She felt like strangling this daughter-in-law of hers again! Every day they bickered, and she never won. This seemingly gentle and polite woman had a sharper tongue than her own!

Forget it, forget it, she wouldn’t bicker with her. She quickly changed the subject. “Don’t you have anything to do?”

“Mother, what is there to do when it’s freezing and snowing like this?”

Gu Qingli sighed. She also wanted to do something, but what could she do? Take care of the three little ones at home? They only knew how to eat and sleep, sleep and eat. She couldn’t even properly play with them.

As for making medicine, the medicinal materials from Jiangnan had been nearly depleted some time ago. What was currently growing in the Space wasn’t even enough to cover the Gu Clinic’s monthly consumption.

So, with nothing else to do, she resorted to teasing her mother-in-law for amusement. Anyway, bickering with her was a good way to relieve boredom.

However, when she did have free time, she also made some clothes, mostly for the three little ones.

Xiao Yunjing, on the other hand, was so busy he barely touched the ground, leaving early and returning late each day to conduct basic training for the soldiers.

Gu Qingli would occasionally go and watch.

Time passed this way until the fourteenth day of the twelfth lunar month. That day, when Xiao Yunjing got up, he received a carrier pigeon message from Yun No. 4. After reading the message, he decided he needed to make a trip.

“Li’er, I just received information that the hidden passage at Red Leaf Villa has been successfully cleared. I need to make a trip there. I’ll try my best to be back before the New Year.”

Gu Qingli put down what she was doing and said, “Take me with you this time.”

She really wasn’t comfortable with Xiao Yunjing going alone. If they encountered danger, she could take refuge in her Space.

Red Leaf Villa was Qingchen’s old lair; the level of danger there was self-evident.

“But what about our sons?” Xiao Yunjing hesitated for a moment.

“We’ll take them with us. We can have Wuqing and Wuyou look after them in the Space while we’re on the road.”

Xiao Yunjing considered for a moment, then said, “Alright. In that case, let’s leave tonight. Li’er, you pack a few things. I’ll go to the base and make arrangements.”

“Okay.” Gu Qingli nodded. She was quite happy that Xiao Yunjing hadn’t refused her.

As soon as Xiao Yunjing left, Gu Qingli called for Wuqing and Wuyou, telling them to pack. She herself didn’t have much to gather. The most crucial task now was to speak with Xiao Yuling; she needed to smooth things over with her.

It wouldn’t do if she didn’t inform her mother-in-law, lest she stir up some trouble at home in their absence.

Xiao Yuling was warming herself by the fire in her room. Seeing Gu Qingli, she patted the stool beside her, gesturing for her to sit. Then she asked, “What is it, Li’er?”

“Yes, there is. I came to tell you that we need to go out for a trip. Our return date is uncertain, but we’ll definitely be back before the New Year. If you need anything at home, just find the nanny.”

“Going out? Where to? Is it related to your medical clinic?”

“Mmhmm.” Gu Qingli nodded. She hadn’t expected her mother-in-law to come up with an excuse for their departure herself, saving her the trouble of explaining.

“Are my precious grandsons going with you too?”

“Yes, they still need to nurse.”

Speaking of nursing, Xiao Yuling gave Gu Qingli a peculiar look. She had been here for so long, and the three little ones had fresh milk to drink every day, yet she never saw where this milk came from.

The same went for their medicine-making. She had no idea where the medicine was produced. The house was tiny, and she had never once seen a pharmacy.

She desperately wanted to ask, but the words always died on her lips.

These past few days, she had also picked up on some clues. It seemed her son and daughter-in-law were involved in something significant.

She wasn’t stupid. As their mother, she couldn’t go and spoil their endeavors. If they were willing to tell her, they would naturally do so when the time came.

“Alright then. Just come back early. Don’t abandon an old woman like me here alone.”

“We wouldn’t. And you’re not old,” Gu Qingli said with a chuckle.

SMACK! Xiao Yuling smacked her on the head again. “So you’re saying if I *were* old, you *would* abandon me?”

“No, no, of course not! We wouldn’t dare! Someone as formidable as you is perfectly suited to keeping *us* in line,” Gu Qingli said, waving her hands repeatedly.

“Get lost! You’ll be the death of me!” Xiao Yuling clutched her chest. This wretched girl always managed to infuriate her half to death!

“Alright, alright, I’m going, I’m going!” Gu Qingli said, covering her head as she scurried out of the room. She was laughing inwardly; her mother-in-law never managed to get the upper hand in their verbal spars.