ook—the egg yolk was still fresh!"zongyu, look at this!"She picked up the eggshell and showed it to Zongyu."It's a wild duck egg," Zongyu was a little surprised. Wild ducks and pheasants were extremel...For three years, the land of Xi Zhou suffered from war, leaving its people in dire straits.

Fang Jinshu opened the gate of Jinxiu Mountain Villa, looking down at the bustling crowds below. These people, when they looked up, didn't just see a mountain city that could give them shelter, but also hope for life.

Over three years, Fang Jinshu turned the Wild Village and the surrounding hills into a super mountain city capable of housing 50,000 people.

Back then, the meticulously designed Jinshu Mountain Villa she created became the most steadfast bulwark of this mountain city. Like a protective deity, it shielded all the refugees who came seeking refuge and desired to enter the city.

"Sister-in-law," Zong Bai walked up to her with his pack on his back.

Fang Jinxiu retracted her gaze. In three years, she had already gathered countless capable people. The commoners who came to seek refuge in the manor would be arranged and managed by others.

Provide them with land and houses, allowing them to survive here through their own labor.

She no longer had to worry about these things.

She turned her head, her expression softening.

"Have you packed everything Are you sure you don't need your sister-in-law to send someone to escort you to Beijing for the exam"

Mu followed closely behind, with a reluctant expression on her face.

"Your father met his end while traveling to the capital for the exams, and now you are going alone. How can your mother possibly rest easy"

Her father-in-law has always been a stumbling block in her mother-in-law's heart. Even today, her mother-in-law hasn't fully believed that her father-in-law is dead and insists on searching for his whereabouts.

Zong Bai couldn't bear to see his mother heartbroken. He wanted to go to the capital alone to train himself. For many years, he had been sheltered under the wings of his elder brother and sister-in-law. Now that he was an adult, he had to learn to stand on his own two feet.

Mu's tears were the soft underbelly of the whole family. As soon as she cried, even her sister-in-law would soften her heart.

Fang Jinxiu sighed helplessly and turned to look at Zong Bai.

"Take two people with you on the road."

"Think of it as having two pages following you, helping carry your luggage."

Zong Bai knew that if he didn't agree, his mother's tears would not stop, so he had to nod in agreement.

Okay, then bring two page boys.

Fang Jinshiu had, of course, arranged for more than just an ordinary bookboy. This one was a skilled cook and martial artist, guaranteed to take good care of Zong Bai.

Upon seeing this arrangement, Mu's eyes finally welled up.

"Zongbai, you study hard for the exam."

His mother's look of wanting to speak but holding back made Zong Bai understand.

"Don't worry, Mother. I will definitely keep an eye out for news about Father."

Mu sighed and said, "There's no need to go out of your way to find out. Just focus on your own exam."

Your father's affairs, they've been so many years ago. He was just an ordinary examinee. It's unlikely that there would be any news about him in the capital.

Although Mu spoke like that, Zongbo knew how much his mother cared about his father. He didn't continue to promise anything with his words, but he had already made up his mind in his heart that as long as there was any clue, he would try his best to find his father's whereabouts.

One must see the living person, and the corpse of the dead.

The only scholar in the family finally set off for the capital to take the imperial examination.

When Zong Bai was around, the whole family didn't feel like anything was missing when he wasn't there.

The day after Zong Bai left, Yu Lian sat at the dinner table eating. Looking at the plentiful dishes in front of her, she could have anything she wanted, but suddenly her appetite disappeared. She put down her chopsticks.

"Brother Two, how long will it take you to return after taking the imperial examinations in the capital"

Although it's the same meal, without her second brother vying for it, everything just doesn't taste as good anymore.

Fāng Jǐnxiù let out a soft chuckle and shook her head. "It's too early yet."

Xizhou is thousands of miles away from the capital city. Zong Bai had set off two months in advance, waiting for the autumn imperial examination results to be released. The good news from the court would arrive back in Xizhou by then, at least around September when autumn sets in. It's only mid-summer now, so there’s still a long way to go.

Yu Lian had a lack of appetite on her face. At this time, a chubby little hand, as plump as a segment of lotus root, clumsily used chopsticks to pick up a piece of meat and put it in Zong Yu Lian's bowl.

A milky, sweet voice rose up.

"Gugu eats meat, no heartache."

"Touch the ingot."

The little fellow scrambled onto the stool on his two cute little legs, stretching out his tiny arms to mimic how his mother used to comfort his aunt. His chubby little hand patted Zong Yulian's head again and again.

At that moment, smiles appeared on the faces of the whole family. Mu looked at her grandson with such love in her eyes, it seemed like it was about to overflow.

Zong Yulian hurriedly scooped up her little nephew and hugged him in her arms, gently rubbing his adorable and chubby cheeks.

"My darling niece, My little Yuanbao is so considerate and comforting at such a young age. That's wonderful!"

"Come here, let Auntie give you a kiss!"

Just a second ago, Jade Lotus was sad to see her brother leave home. Now, she can’t get enough of her adorable little nephew and wants to smother him with love. She puckers up her lips, ready to pinch his rosy cheeks.

The little boy not only didn't dislike it, but also proactively stretched out his small hand to hug his aunt's neck. He kissed Yu Lian's face several times with a loud smack, and Yu Lian then contentedly put down her nephew.im to be so attached to Sister Jinxiu. They really are a loving couple.After making sure the seating was arranged, Zong Yu pulled Fang Jinxiu over."Wife, please sit here first. I'll call you when ther...