However, even if she didn't want the money today, this eunuch would still look down on her. The result would be the same. It was better to let him know that she wasn't so easy to bully. Even if there was a next time, if he wanted to scheme against her, he would have to weigh his own weight first.

Chu Lian's words enlightened Xiyan.

It turned out that such a simple task had so many twists and turns.

Chu Lian's mood was a little down. Who wouldn't be happy after receiving a reward? Only she wasn't happy at all and was even worried.

Who would want this title? Princess Duanjia was a hindrance.

Chu Lian didn't know that not only Princess of Wei and Commandery Princess Duanjia contributed to her sudden title, but Prince Jin also added fuel to the fire!

After returning to Songtao Court, Chu Lian saw that the reception hall was filled with the rewards bestowed by the village ruler. She waved her hand to have Nanny Zhong and Nanny Gui bring some people to tidy up.

Although the title of a fifth-grade Village Lord did not have the Dan Shu Iron Ticket, it was a title personally bestowed by the Emperor. This kind of special honor was comparable to that of a County Lord.

There was also a small manor in Shengjing, a hundred mu of fertile land, and a hundred taels of gold. These were all within the rules of the Township Ruler. Other than the title of "Jinyi", Emperor Chengping did not treat Chu Lian much more leniently.

Pointing at the ornaments, Chu Lian said helplessly, "Put these together with the phoenix tail hairpin that the princess gave me."

With a title, she could wear the simplest single phoenix tail hairpin and no longer have to worry about people gossiping about her.

Gui Momo carried the court dress on the tray. "Third Young Mistress, why don't you try it on?

If it's not suitable, we can change it as soon as possible. "

How could Chu Lian still be in the mood to try on the court attire after being shocked by today's events? Besides, the court attire was made of cloud brocade and was very thick. She would be sweating profusely if she wore it now.

"Let's try again tomorrow!"

Gui Momo could only put away the clothes first.

Chu Lian returned to the small study room and took out the pouch that the young eunuch gave her. At that time, she took a glance and estimated that it was no less than eight hundred taels. Counting it, there was actually more than one thousand two hundred taels.

Concubine Wei really didn't lack money ah!

This Golden Qilin was really worth it.

He gave these banknotes to Xiyan and put them together with the ones from before.

Chu Lian casually drank a bowl of sweet soup, washed up, and rested.

As Old Matriarch He ate the bird's nest that Liu mama brought over, she ordered, "Send someone to eldest daughter-in-law's place to tell her to buy two more sets of fifth-pin nobility wife's clothing for third daughter-in-law. In addition, make two phoenix tail hairpins."

Liu mama agreed, but didn't immediately call for someone to do it. Instead, she stood by Old Matriarch He's side, wanting to say something but hesitating.

Old Matriarch He glanced at her, "What, do you think this old one has mistreated Eldest Man's wife?"

"This old servant dares not!"

Old Matriarch He put down the jade bowl in her hand, "Xiangyun, this old one has given her enough time. It's impossible for Dalang not to have a male heir. If Dalang's wife can't take this little thing now, how will she face it when Dalang takes in concubines in the future?

In the future, this family will be handed over to Dalang. "

Hearing Matriarch He's words, Senior Nurse Liu suppressed all the words she wanted to say, responded, and turned to do her work.

After Zou shi received the news, she couldn't hold back her anger. She immediately smashed a teacup, scaring the servant girl who came to deliver the message into her until she trembled.

However, despite her anger, she couldn't ignore Old Matriarch He's words.

Zou shi suppressed her anger and didn't have the heart to deal with He Dalang's proposal that night. The husband and wife slept on the same bed, but that night, they slept in the same bed but dreamed different dreams.

In the northern border of Liangzhou, the weather started to turn cold after the eighth month. The nobles in Shengjing still wore summer clothes, but the people of Liangzhou had to add an extra cloak.

In the simple and crude city of Liangzhou, there was an unremarkable courtyard with only two or three rooms. There was an open-air stove, and two bundles of chopped firewood were piled next to the stove.

There was still a fire in the stove that hadn't been extinguished. White smoke rose from the stove, and a strange smell floated out of the stove.

At this time, a person with a face covered in soot stood up from behind the stove.

The door to the small courtyard was pushed open with a creak. In came a bearded young man dressed in black, with a sword at his waist and a grey cloak.

The young man was travel-worn, but his eyes were unusually determined.

The man with a face covered in soot behind the stove hurriedly jogged over to welcome him. "Third Young Master, you've finally returned.

Quickly come into the room and rest. Dinner will be ready soon. "

Lai Yue took the bag on He Changdi's back and the longsword at his waist, then welcomed his master into the central room.

This was the tenth day He Changdi had entered Liangzhou.

The small courtyard he was living in had also been bought ten days ago. The He Changdi in front of him now was a bit darker than when he had first arrived in Liangzhou. His originally elegant jaw lines were covered by a black beard, but his originally deep eyes were even more resolute and spirited.

He had lost a lot of weight due to running around these past few days, but his figure was even taller and more sturdy.

If the He Clan's He Sanlang was said to be a tall and handsome bamboo tree in the past, then the He Sanlang now was a tall and straight pine tree on the side of a cliff.

Lai Yue looked at his master's travel-worn body and felt his heart ache. He served tea and water. "Young Master, please rest in the central room first. This lowly one will bring you something to eat."

He Sanlang was indeed a bit tired. After washing his hands and face, he leaned against a bamboo chair in the central room and closed his eyes to rest. It wasn't until there was a trace of a strange smell in the central room that He Changdi opened his deep and narrow eyes and looked towards the table.

"What is this?"

Lai Yue glanced guiltily at the food on the table. "Young Master, this is porridge."

The corner of He Sanlang's eyes twitched. Was that yellow and white with wheat bran really porridge?

It was fine if it didn't look good, but it actually had a strange smell to it.

Lai Yue had a bitter expression on his face. "Young Master, you know that this lowly one doesn't know how to cook, but the resources in Liangzhou are limited. I can only make do with this."

What Lai Yue didn't say was that they didn't have much money on them right now, so they couldn't buy good food at all.

Rice in Shengjing cost five hundred copper coins a catty, but in this border city, it actually cost five taels of silver a catty!

It was fine if it was expensive, but this type of rice was something that ordinary people couldn't buy even if they had money. Liangzhou was a run-down place, and it was a place that was constantly at war. How good could life be in a place like this?

Resources were scarce. Lai Yue had gone out for a stroll today, but he could only buy millet, sorghum rice, and wheat bran.

He hadn't even seen fresh vegetables, fruits, or game.

The entire Liangzhou was so desolate that there was only one wine shop left, and the wine it sold was of inferior quality mixed with water.

Lai Yue had followed behind his young master in the past, so he didn't need to cook at all. The chef's skills were even worse. It was already good enough that he could make something edible.

Liangzhou's soldiers invaded almost every month, and now the entire Liangzhou was almost empty. The situation was indeed terrible.

He Changdi glared fiercely at Lai Yue. He felt that this Chang Sui by his side was too useless. He was even more pampered than his master.

He Sanlang's stern gaze made his legs weak. Lai Yue said, "Young Master, if you dislike this lowly one's cooking, why don't I buy you a servant girl tomorrow?"

There were families in Liangzhou who couldn't make ends meet and had to sell their children. Here, it was cheaper to buy a servant girl to do laundry and cook.

He Changdi picked up the wooden chopsticks beside him and snorted coldly. "If I buy a servant girl, you'll take care of her?"

Hearing He Changdi's words, Lai Yue immediately shut his mouth. Although it was only a servant girl, he couldn't afford to take care of her. She needed to eat and drink, and the money they had was only enough to sustain the two of them.

He Changdi couldn't be bothered to talk to this' useless' Chang Sui. Although he frowned, he still picked up the bowl and took a sip.

As expected, this lousy porridge tasted as bad as it smelled. It wasn't even as good as the green fruit porridge cooked by the barbarians …

In order to maintain his strength, He Changdi reluctantly drank a bowl. Now was not the time to be picky. After the morning market in Liangzhou, there were almost no hawkers or shops doing business. Even if they wanted to eat something good, they didn't have the means to do so.

Lai Yue also drank a bowl with a bitter expression. After drinking, he stared at the empty bowl in front of him in a daze. Lai Yue couldn't help but mutter to himself, "If only Third Young Mistress was here. No matter what ingredients are in her hands, she can make an unparalleled delicacy."

As he said this, he fantasized about the big bowl of red braised pork in front of him. Lai Yue felt that after these past few months, he had become more and more gluttonous …

"What did you say?" Hearing Lai Yue mutter to himself, He Changdi's sharp gaze suddenly turned towards him.

Lai Yue shrank his neck and hurriedly shut his mouth.

He Sanlang glared at him fiercely, then got up and walked towards the room next door. He was really tired after running around for the whole day.

Lying on the simple earthen bed, He Changdi put one hand behind his head and the other on his chest. Perhaps he was affected by Lai Yue's words, but at this moment, what flashed through his mind was not the anger and regret of his past life, but the scene of Chu Lian eating in the reception pavilion of Songtao Court.

Under the steam, that face was less ruthless and perverse, as if it had been separated from the vicious woman from his past life.

It was clearly the same face, but it made him feel like it was not the same person.

What was going on?

Was the temptation of delicacies really that great?

So great that it made him change his opinion of someone who was supposed to be vicious?

He Changdi's heart was uneasy. He closed his eyes and opened them again, thinking about the few meals he had eaten in Songtao Court.

He realized that the vicious woman could always use the simplest ingredients to make the most delicious dishes.

He thought about the wonton and scallion pancakes from that day. They were just noodles, vegetables, and diced meat.

If Chu Lian was by his side now, what kind of food would she make with those millet, sorghum rice, and wheat bran?

No matter what it was, it would definitely be delicious.

Thinking of this, He Changdi's slender and thin body suddenly stiffened. The expression on his face also became gloomy.

He rubbed his temples. He must be too tired and had been led into a ditch by Lai Yue. Otherwise, why would he think about that vicious woman who had caused him so much pain!

Sometimes, people really couldn't stand being nagged. He Sanlang was regretting to death and was about to force himself to sleep when Lai Yue knocked on the door urgently.

"Young Master, Young Master, there's a letter from home!" Lai Yue said excitedly.