"Who might this be?" Wang Yan looked toward Mrs. Zhao.
"This is the Prefectural Governor of our Shaoqiu County. He has co specially to deliver a gift bestowed by the Great King," Mrs. Zhao said with a smile.
"Ah, so you are the Prefectural Governor." Wang Yan imdiately returned a bow.
"Miss Wang is too polite," Yan Bing said with a smile.
He, too, was extrely excited at this mont.
The rumors are true! Zhao Feng really is General Wang Jian’s son-in-law. This is incredible. With this connection to the Wang Family, Zhao Feng’s path is sure to go even further. He’s already a Main General, so he’s bound to beco a Shangjiangjun in the future.
To have established a good relationship with the Zhao Family will certainly be of great use down the road, Yan Bing thought joyfully.
He had been navigating the bureaucracy for many years. Now in his forties, he had beco a Prefectural Governor, but Shaqiu was not a wealthy county, aning his prospects for advancent seed bleak. But now, by connecting with the Zhao Family—and by extension, the Wang Family—Yan Bing saw a chance for future advancent, an opportunity to enter the court as an official. After all, what Prefectural Governors stationed in the outer regions desired most was the chance to serve as officials in the Capital, for those were the truly high-ranking positions.
A single Zhao Feng represented limitless potential. Everyone in the Court knew that as long as Zhao Feng continued to advance steadily, he would one day beco one of Qin’s esteed Shangjiangjun (Senior Generals). Now that he was the son-in-law of the Wang Family, his future was set to rise even higher.
Mrs. Zhao and her daughter each held one of the twins, both of them beaming with happiness.
Standing off to the side, Wang Yan watched with a tender gaze, not wishing to interrupt. She had co to check on Zhao Feng’s mother and sister, but more importantly, to let his mother see her grandchildren for the first ti.
After a good while, the housekeeper who had been standing nearby stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Madam, the Young Madam is still waiting outside. Should we invite her into the mansion to talk?"
Hearing this, Mrs. Zhao ca back to her senses.
She imdiately turned to Wang Yan with a smile. "I was so lost in looking at my grandchildren. Yan’er, co, follow your mother into the mansion."
That single word, "mother," signified that in her heart, Mrs. Zhao had already accepted Wang Yan as her daughter-in-law.
In response, a radiant smile spread across Wang Yan’s face as she nodded. "Yes."
"Housekeeper," Mrs. Zhao called out. "Arrange for my daughter-in-law’s guards to rest within the mansion and prepare a al for them."
"Rest assured, Madam," the housekeeper imdiately responded.
After giving her instructions, the family walked at a leisurely pace into the house.
Yan Bing, being quite tactful, did not enter the mansion and disturb the new daughter-in-law’s visit. Instead, he left the Zhao Mansion directly. To intrude at a mont like this, he would have to be a complete fool.
"Go prepare so necessities for the infants. After you’ve purchased them, send them directly to the Zhao Mansion," he instructed his steward before stepping into his carriage.
"Yes," the steward imdiately nodded.
This connection to the Zhao Family must not be broken, Yan Bing thought, his resolve hardening.
「Inside the Zhao Mansion!」
Mrs. Zhao led Wang Yan into the rear courtyard, where the family’s original thatched cottage had once stood.
"Yan’er," Mrs. Zhao said gently, holding her eldest grandson. "I’ll just call you this, shall I?"
"Yes, Auntie," Wang Yan nodded.
"Sister-in-law, why are you still calling her ’Auntie’?" Zhao Ying chid in with a smile. "You’ve already given my brother a son and a daughter, you’re a daughter-in-law of the Zhao Family now. It’s ti to change how you address her."
"Mother," Wang Yan called out sweetly.
"Yes," Mrs. Zhao replied affectionately. "Yan’er, rest assured. Feng’er is on the battlefield now, so I can’t ask him to hurry back. But I promise, as soon as he returns, I will have him marry you imdiately and give you a proper status," she said, her tone firm with commitnt.
Wang Yan would naturally not refuse such kindness. She nodded obediently, "Thank you, Mother."
"Sister-in-law, how did you and my brother et?" Zhao Ying asked curiously.
"In the army," Wang Yan said with a faint smile, her expression softening with reminiscence as if recalling the first ti she t Zhao Feng.
"The army?" Zhao Ying was taken aback.
"Your brother saved my life," Wang Yan replied with a smile.
"Oh! So you repaid the debt of him saving your life by marrying him," Zhao Ying laughed. "My brother really struck gold! He joined the army and ca back with a wife."
Wang Yan simply smiled shyly.
In the end, there wasn’t a deep, romantic love between Wang Yan and Zhao Feng. It all stemd from a single act: he saved her life. It was because of that debt, combined with her unwillingness to be forced into an arranged marriage, that Wang Yan had given herself to Zhao Feng. It began with him saving her life, and it was for the sake of that debt that she was here today, to beco a mber of the Zhao family.
"Yan’er, you’ve only recently given birth. You should be resting and taking care of your health, not undertaking such a long and arduous journey," Mrs. Zhao said with concern.
"Mother, since Feng’er isn’t here by your side, it is my duty as your daughter-in-law to co see you. Besides, it was only right that you get to see the children," Wang Yan replied gently.
Upon hearing this, a touch of emotion showed on Mrs. Zhao’s face. She was naturally very pleased with her daughter-in-law.
"Where is that blood ginseng from earlier?" she asked, turning to a maid standing nearby.
"Madam, it’s right here." The maid imdiately presented the box containing the blood ginseng.
"Yan’er, your visit is tily," Mrs. Zhao said with a smile. "This is the blood ginseng that Feng’er was granted. It is the finest of nourishing redies. I am well-versed in dicine. Today, I will personally prepare it to help you recover your strength and replenish your body."
"Mother," Wang Yan protested. "You can’t.
"This blood ginseng is a Supre Treasure of Qin. The Great King granted this to Feng’er in recognition of his filial piety."
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