The Marquis' Wife
Farewell party

Grandma Miao Lan looked back at the gift items from mayor Li brought by Mak Li, the matchmaker from Cheng city. His face did not stop emitting a smile while trying several times the jewelry of the items.

"Mayor Li was very generous. He even promised 100 silver coins after Miao Sheng's engagement to Li Mingmei. Miao Sheng did bring good luck to our family".

Li Mei and Lien Hua who saw it all could only smile and hide their envy for not getting any of the items given by mayor Li.

"Yes, our Miao Sheng is indeed the lucky son of the Miao family. Mother-in-law, now that we have mayor Li, people will definitely try to get close to our family". Despite Li Mei's envy, she remained happy about the proposal that came for her. Even though Miao Sheng said that he wanted to focus first on school and taking the exam but this opportunity would not come twice.

"Hahaha, now we don't have to fear anyone because there is mayor Li who will take care of it. Don't you see the villagers who sent us a lot of presents? They even send out dishes every time they cook now".

"You're right, mother-in-law. We no longer have to fear Adelia. Hmh! Who her? Just the wife of scholar Fu".

Li Mei recalled her meeting with Adelia and smiled cynically. "Mother-in-law, shall we just cancel the matter of Miao Sheng staying at Lu Xiang's house?".

Grandma Miao Lan waved her hand unconcernedly. "Cancel it, cancel it. Anyone who wants to live in their home. Miao Sheng we'll have our own mansion". He was fed up with his jealousy of the dissident grandson who never paid him any heed. This time he'll see who licks who?!.

"alright. Tomorrow I will go to the city to say that Miao Sheng will not stay in their house".

"Don't! Let Adelia and Lu Xiang come here and start worshipping me after hearing about Miao Sheng's engagement to mayor Li's son".

The eyes of Li Mei and Lien Hua shone. "You're right, mother-in-law, let those who come and praise us for wanting to get in touch with mayor Li".

Miao An who heard at the side rolled his eyeballs. Mother and aunt and grandmother dream too high, although he was not close to Lu Xiang but he knew that his brother-in-law was a competent person and would definitely achieve another Xie title to be Xiao XXieyuan.

It was a pity that there was not one academy with Lu Xiang, if he were one academy then he would choose to be close to Lu Xiang rather than the self-thinking Miao Sheng. Miao An envied that Miao Sheng was getting a direct connection with mayor Li, surely Miao Sheng would get help when the exam was later.

On the other hand, Prefect Zhong stared at his employees who were staring in admiration at the floor plan he was showing.

"What do you think?".

"This denah is very detailed Prefect Zhong, we can make it happen but...".

"The budget we have cannot realize it" continued another employee.

"Prefect, what if you report this idea to the Emperor? With the huge profits that would impact the kingdom of course the Emperor would agree to send the budget itself".

Prefect Zhong knocked on the table with a monotonous movement. "Is there another opinion?".

A younger officer said. "If you don't want to report this idea to the Emperor before it gets results then you can use the corvee tax".

The other staff was stunned. "But the new corvee tax is billed with the harvest tax!".

"We can announce and give tempo so that they can find money to pay the tax, otherwise we use labor for who can't pay the corvee".

"Will there be no resistance?" The staff asked disapprovingly.

"If we explain that forced labor this time will benefit them, some of them will definitely agree".

Prefect Zhong kicked the table enthusiastically. "We can use that idea to do it, because of a mediocre budget. We can make this project in Shu village in Nan An city which is close to the dam. Start announcing the corvee tax".

"Good Prefect!".

Announcements about the corvee tax to be charged early spread to small towns and especially villages close to the city of Fucheng. It made the farmers cry hysterically for not having the money to pay the corvee. For business families, it is not a problem.

The corvee tax for the farmers is 2 silver coins while for business people 5 silver coins for each family.

Yamen officers have predicted how the farmers respond, they then spread the news that this corvee will greatly benefit the farmers, he said, the news slightly dampened the complaints of some farmers even though there were some who did not believe it or did not care but at least would not have a big impact on the project that Prefect Zhong was going to do.

&&&

He also tells how to make liquid chocolate so that the cake shop in Cheng city still has some variations of tart. If Lu Xiang did not occasionally force him to rest perhaps he would continue to be busy with his activities.

Lu Xiang had already sent a letter containing advice that Adelia gave about the monument of the person who donated as well as the wishes of her family who also wanted to help realize the idea to Fucheng after discussing it with her teacher.

If this idea was accepted by Prefect Zhong then his idea would not be far from reality. Lu Xiang spent his time tidying up the items that Lu Cai would bring with him in a horse carriage and watching his wife not get exhausted.

The next day he wore a purple-coloured scholar-style robe that made the masculine aura within him even more riveting. Lu Xiang looked at his wife who was also wearing matching colors but brighter and softer, she smiled lovingly.

"You're so pretty, baby".

Adelia raised her face haughtily. "As usual, right?".

"Haha, yes as usual. Let's go".

The farewell party that was to be performed in the small garden beside the academy was a non-formal event because Lu Xiang, Chen Xirang, Miao Sheng, Zhang Yunlei and Li Jin had already done a graduation ceremony at the academy.

The low status of women could not allow them to enter the academy so a farewell event was held outside the academy.

Lu Xiang until before the event began, he saw his friends who came along with their younger siblings or cousins or together with wives for those who were married.

They came in pairs because they wanted to introduce a sister or cousin who had not been engaged in an engagement to scholars at the event.

"Lu Xiang" Chen Xirang also looked at Lu Xiang and waved his hand.

The call made the other scholars turn their heads and start greeting Lu Xiang one by one.

Lu Xiang smiled in response to all the greetings for him. "You guys have been here a long time?".

"No, we just came along". They greeted Adelia formally.

"Miao Sheng, I heard about your engagement to mayor Li's daughter, congratulations!" Lu Xiang smiled.

Miao Sheng smiled shyly. "Thank you brother-in-law".

"Congratulations Miao Sheng, let me and Lu Xiang know if you're having a wedding" Adelia was also pleased. His delight was pure because it would no longer be related to the Miao family.

"Thank you cousin".

"Hahaha, you're a great Miao Sheng. 4 of us you're the first one to get married!".

"You should tell us if you're married, you understand?"

"All right, you don't have to worry".

"When are you going to Fucheng?"

Adelia asked Lu Xiang for permission to join the group of women.

"Fuck!" Xiaowen who had noticed Adelia immediately pulled her friend's hand.

The wives of Hsien or Fu also greeted and introduced themselves, Adelia replied to everything with just that while still smiling elegantly.

Lu Xiang occasionally glanced and watched over his wife, making sure that Adelia was not tired, her gentle, affectionate gaze radiating in her eyes, he smiled happily because it could make his wife so respected by the wives of scholars.

But his smile disappeared seeing some scholars looking at his wife with admiring gazes, although they did so secretly but were still caught by Lu Xiang.

Adelia who was pregnant exuded an aura of motherhood that made her own attraction. Lu Xiang stared flatly and coldly at the scholar who was still glancing at Adelia then felt her gaze, her face turning pale and serenely retreating.