The Marquis' Wife
Adelia and Lu Xiang's plan

Lu Xiang returned to Cheng City after buying souvenirs and gifts for his wife and sisters from the money he had sold his own books. After becoming Xie Hsien, the book he sold earned more selling points and that helped his finances immensely, Lu Xiang did not want to continue to depend on Adelia and wanted his wife to use the money she made herself for herself.

"Great master, are you home?!! If you send a letter then Lu Cai will pick you up in Suzhou City". Lu Tao was surprised to see Lu Xiang's sudden return, thinking that his old man would be home in a few days because he wanted to see the house and shop before buying it.

"I can't wait to get home. Where's Adelia?".

"Mrs is sitting in the middle room checking the financial records of the master store".

Lu Xiang nodded.

"Master, anu... Yesterday members of the Miao family named Li Mei and Lien Hua visited".

Lu Xiang's smile slightly disappeared, a flat yet cold gaze visible in his pupils. Cockroaches always annoy his wife when she is not at home!.

"What did they say?".

"Ham-servants themselves are not so sure of the great master. It seems to be about Madam's cousin named Miao Sheng".

Lu Xiang thought for a moment then nodded. "alright". He immediately stepped into the house and saw the wife he longed for sitting sweetly in the living room with snacks and strawberries all around while reading a financial book.

"I'm home!".

Lu Xiang's voice was like a magnet for Adelia even though Lu Xiang said quietly, he could hear her. Adelia turned her head and was surprised and happy to see her husband standing right in front of her. "Lu Xiang!! Why are you home?".

Lu Xiang pretended to be spoiled. "You don't want me to come home soon, baby?".

"Of course not. I was just surprised to see you come home so quickly. Didn't you say you'd stay in Fucheng for a few days because you wanted to find a house? Didn't you get it?".

Lu Xiang chuckled mysteriously. He took two letters in his travel bag and said. "Tada~".

Adelia's eyes instantly shone. He seized the two ownership papers of the house and the shop building and laughed happily. "Hehehe, my husband is indeed a reliable muach!!" He peeked strongly at Lu Xiang's cheek and refocused his eyes on the ownership letter.

Lu Xiang laughed happily. "I got help from Officer Wei who came here so I quickly got the right house".

Adelia nodded.

Lu Xiang hugged his wife and sat on her lap before gently tucking her shoulders and neck. "I heard the Miao family came here? They say what?".

Adelia's attention was finally distracted. "You heard it from Lu Tao? They wanted to ask for Miao Sheng to stay free in our house, I did not directly promise them and said that I would like to discuss with you first". He was weaving riled up lips recalling his conversation with Li Mei and Lien Hua.

"Lu Xiang's. What do you think? Do we allow Miao Sheng to stay with us? I no longer want to deal with the Miao family, I thought that by moving to Fucheng my relationship with the Miao family would be distant and ended but it wasn't".

Lu Xiang thought for a moment. "I think Miao Sheng has behaved better than before" He also told about the loaning of money and the change in Miao Sheng's attitude towards his wife.

"It must be because you lent him money that Miao Sheng saw something more than you, I'm sure he would be envious again". From ten months of knowing her cousin Adelia already knew that Miao Sheng was narrow-hearted.

"So do we just refuse aunt Li Mei's request? But I'm afraid they're gonna bother you all the way to Fucheng City". Adelia's pregnancy will get older as time goes on, she does not want her wife frustrated by the Miao family who always insist before their wishes are fulfilled.

Adelia who is now unlikely to turn down rude requests of her own maternal family due to the high reputation she has in Cheng city.

Adelia nodded in disagreement. "It would be very complicated if Miao Sheng who wanted to get married stayed in our house".

Lu Xiang was stunned. "Miao Sheng wants to get married?".

"I heard it from the servant that Uncle Zhao sent. Uncle Zhao got word that mayor Li sent matchmakers to Miao village this morning, who else if not Miao Sheng was the target".

Lu Xiang thought and nodded sensibly. Miao Sheng was a Fu scholar who was certainly a higher degree than Hsien. Of course Mayor Li wanted to establish a close relationship through marriage with Miao Sheng in order to widen her connections but Lu Xiang thought that mayor Li's goal was not just that.

"Then we can politely decline it. With mayor Li's finances in mind, he couldn't possibly let his daughter and daughter-in-law have no home in Fucheng". Lu Xiang said in conclusion.

"You're right. Haah~ I feel relieved. Although Miao Sheng will not be looking for trouble with a pregnant woman like me because he is a scholar but his presence at home will make the Miao family more free to look for trouble with me".

"What about your meeting with Prefect Zhong? Is it going well?".

"of course. Prefect Zhong was very satisfied with the floor plan I drew even told me to call him uncle".

Adelia turned her body and smiled in disbelief. "really?" Summoning uncle would make the relationship very different, Prefect Zhong did that for sure because he strongly believed that the idea of her husband could bring him great profit. That was definitely because Adelia knew that the idea would make a great result that was not only implemented in the city of Fucheng but in the entire territory of the Murong kingdom.

"Yes, so we don't have to worry about people wanting to disrupt our lives in Fucheng because we now have the backing of a Prefect". Lu Xiang then told about the discussion between himself and Prefect Zhong.

Adelia listened carefully and thought deeply. "It will certainly take a lot of money and energy to realize the idea".

"Yes. Prefect Zhong did not wish to inform the Emperor before he made sure that the idea could be executed perfectly. Therefore, the money that must be spent will be very much".

"Where do you think the money was collected from?".

"Tax!" Reply both.

Lu Xiang smiled at his clever wife. "Because the harvest tax cannot be collected, the only one that can be collected is the corvee tax".

Adelia breathed a heavy sigh. "Farmers will definitely be very heavy paying the forced labor tax for having spent it for the winter".

"Yes. But this is for their own good, too, they would have volunteered to work if they knew for what purpose forced labor was being done".

Adelia nodded in agreement. "Do we have to help with the project? I heard that food at forced labor is not very decent because it only provides hard bread in the morning and rice porridge at night".

Lu Xiang was stunned. "That's a good idea because it's my idea so it's not strange if we help donate rice or money. But can we do that until the project is over? That's gonna take a lot of time".

Adelia also thought that her own family would not be able to afford the forced laborers' food alone. "What if you suggested the idea for Prefect Zhong to create a monument containing the names of the people who want to donate their money into this project. Prefect Zhong can make our family an example, other businessmen will also be happy to donate their money because it will increase their reputation".

The more Lu Xiang heard the more he was amazed at his wife. "Your idea is great, baby. Prefect Zhong would definitely like this idea".

If this idea can go perfectly then not only the food problem of the forced workers but also the problem of lack of money to run the project can be solved.

Lu Xiang laughed happily and came back to shower Adelia with a deep kiss and kiss before letting go when he saw Lu Cheng and Lu Shan walk into the living room.

"Sister Xiang. So fast you're home!!" Lu Shan ran over and hugged his brother happily.

"Sister's business finished faster. Did you just come home from afternoon study?".

"Yes brother. Did you buy us souvenirs?" Lu Shan asked enthusiastically. He likes surprises.

"of course. Look at the package you brought".

Lu Cheng and Lu Shan took out the items that Lu Xiang had brought from Fucheng then looked at the two light green jade like student mark jade that had a gold-colored knot.

"Wow this is so pretty". Lu Shan immediately placed the jade knot on his waist but his eyes saw the bag he was wearing and his pupils shone. He again approached Lu Xiang and twisted his body like he was dancing.

"Sister Xiang, Brother Xiang. Look at my back what's up?".

"That's..tas?".

"Yes. Adel's brother gave me. Haha, Lu Cheng and I each have one only you don't have one".

Lu Xiang immediately sulked at Adelia. "Darling, why don't you make it for me? Do you love Lu Cheng and Lu Shan more than I do?".

Adelia was speechless and snickered jokingly at Lu Shan who was proud and raised his haughty face. "I have one for you too. Bigger and cooler, you take it easy".

Lu Xiang tightened his embrace on Adelia. "Hehe, you do love me more than Lu Cheng and Lu Shan".

Adelia and Lu Cheng's lips throbbed speechless, the longer her husband and sister grew thick-faced in seeking Adelia's attention.