She led the whole village to prosperity by raising koi fish.

Chapter 51 Go to find Beichen

In the palace, Nangong Xue'er was listening to opera with the Empress in the Imperial Garden when a palace maid came to report that Princess Wan'er and Su Yuning had come to see her. So Nangong Xue'er bid farewell to the Empress and happily returned to her own palace.

"Oh my, it's been a long time! What have you all been up to lately?" Nangong Xue'er asked them.

Su Yuning replied happily, "My older brother and sister-in-law and I went to the south. We not only went to the beach, but also to the land of fish and rice. Although we left the seashells in our hometown, I brought some coconuts with me to Beijing. I'll bring you a few later."

Nangong Xue'er responded politely, "No need, no need. You two have already brought so many gifts, no need for you to go to so much trouble. Besides, thank you for spending so much!"

"It's nothing, it's what we should do!" Princess Wan'er and Su Yuning replied in unison.

"By the way, Wan'er, what are you and Su Muyang busy with? Zhao Shouyi came to the palace for a meal yesterday, and he said that Su Muyang's shop has closed down." Nangong Xue'er asked curiously.

Princess Wan'er replied with a smile, "His shop has been renovated and he will no longer sell gifts. Fruits and the like are not easy to preserve, and valuable gifts are not something that people buy every day. All things considered, he won't make much money, but he has invested a lot. So he plans to transform his shop into a household goods store."

At this moment, Nangong Xue'er asked again, "Have you decided on a name for the shop yet?"

Princess Wan'er shook her head to indicate no, and Su Yuning also became anxious, "The shop must have a good name, so as to attract customers to come in and spend money."

Princess Wan'er replied embarrassedly, "I know, but I haven't decided yet."

Nangong Xue'er offered to help come up with a name, saying, "Since we plan to sell daily necessities, let's call it 'Good Life' or 'Good Days.' It has a good meaning and will let people know what the store sells."

Before Princess Wan'er could respond, Su Yuning answered for her, "Although the meaning is good, it's a bit ambiguous. We can't know what the store sells. I think we should call it an affordable store. The name is more down-to-earth and approachable. All kinds of daily necessities can be sold there."

In the end, Princess Wan'er accepted Su Yuning's suggestion, "Alright then, let's call it the Affordable Store."

"Nangong Xue'er, I'm so sorry for causing you trouble. If I hadn't meant well but messed things up by introducing such an unreliable person to the restaurant, you and Young Master Zhao wouldn't have had this falling out. Blame me, but please don't be angry." Su Yuning apologized sincerely.

Nangong Xue'er smiled slightly, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. It's all in the past. I won't take it to heart."

At this moment, Princess Wan'er asked, "Are you still angry with my brother?"

Nangong Xue'er replied, "There is some, but for the sake of the baby in my belly, I won't argue with him and will just ignore him."

"How about we go and plead with the Empress to let you move back? It's only natural for a couple to not see each other all the time, it will eventually affect their relationship," Princess Wan'er replied with concern.

"I would like to go home, but Her Majesty the Empress is stubborn, and I dare not provoke her." Nangong Xue'er shook her head and refused.

"Yu Ning, would you be willing to come with me?" Princess Wan'er asked sincerely. For the sake of Young Master Zhao and Nangong Xue'er's happiness, Su Yu Ning considered it carefully and finally nodded in agreement.

In the Imperial Garden, after listening to the opera, the Empress drank tea and admired the flowers alone.

At this moment, Princess Wan'er and Su Yuning walked in one after the other.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress! Long live the Empress!"

"Greetings, Your Majesty! May Your Majesty be blessed with longevity and peace!"

"No need for formalities!" the Empress replied, leisurely enjoying her afternoon tea.

"Mother, we've come here to plead for my brother and sister-in-law. They're married, one in the palace and the other outside, yet they live like single people. Please have mercy and let them live together," Princess Wan'er pleaded.

The Empress nodded. "That's exactly what I was thinking. If I hadn't insisted on keeping Miss Nangong by my side, Yi'er wouldn't have fallen for someone else. So I plan to find an auspicious day to send her back."

"There's no time like the present, so let's do it today. Your Majesty, Princess Wan'er and I will escort Miss Nangong back together. Is that alright?" Su Yuning asked with a smile.

The Empress nodded in agreement, adding, "Remember to bring Miss Nangong's mother back with you. She's a quiet person, and I don't get along with her."

"Alright! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, I thank you!"

Afterwards, they helped Miss Nangong and her mother pack their belongings, and then they left the palace together. Before long, Nangong Xue'er was reunited with Zhao Shouyi.

In reality, Zhao Shouyi's relationship with Nangong Xue'er was merely a matter of duty; he still couldn't let go of Su Yuning. During the family reunion dinner, he would steal glances at Su Yuning from time to time, which Princess Wan'er noticed, and she scolded him.

"Brother, your sister-in-law is right beside you, why don't you even glance at her? What are you so busy looking at Miss Su for?"

Zhao Shouyi gave an awkward smile, "It's nothing, I just wanted to talk to her, since we haven't seen each other for a long time."

“Go ahead and say it, what can’t you say?” Princess Wan’er responded, and Nangong Xue’er nodded in agreement.

“Ye Beichen has left the capital and probably won’t be coming back,” Zhao Shouyi replied.

At this moment, Su Yuning put down her chopsticks and asked incredulously, "He really left? When?"

Zhao Shouyi couldn't remember the exact date, only giving a rough outline: "You left the capital, and he left right after. I went to the Ni Chang Pavilion to look for him several times, but he wasn't there."

Nangong Xue'er asked, puzzled, "Why are you looking for him? Is there something you need?"

Zhao Shouyi quickly explained, "I didn't upset you, so I wanted him to mediate, but the guy said he went back to Mobei and stopped managing the business here."

Now, Su Yuning lost her appetite and looked preoccupied, which made people feel sorry for her.

"Little sister, eat first. After you finish eating, I'll go to the Rainbow Pavilion with you," Princess Wan'er gently reminded her.

And so, Su Yuning ate some food in a sullen mood, and then, without saying goodbye, hurriedly went to the Ni Chang Pavilion. Princess Wan'er, because she was pregnant, dared not run too fast and could only follow her slowly behind.

Inside the Ni Chang Pavilion, the decor upstairs and downstairs has changed drastically. The original purple paintings and decorations have all been replaced with gold. And indeed, Zhao Shouyi was right. The waiter told Su Yuning that His Highness the Crown Prince had been back in Mobei for some time.

"Did he say anything before he left?" Su Yuning asked anxiously.

The waiter couldn't understand what Su Yuning was asking, so he handed her a thick stack of letters, saying, "These are letters from His Highness the Crown Prince. Please take a look."

"Alright, thank you." Su Yuning thanked him while opening the letter and reading it carefully. It turned out that Ye Beichen had always been thinking about her and had suggested in his letters more than once that she move to Mobei to settle down. However, she had not been to the capital for a while, so she missed these letters.

"Little sister, you're walking too fast! I finally caught up with you!" Princess Wan'er rushed over, panting. "Where's Ye Beichen? Why are you here alone?"

Su Yuning told the truth, "Second sister-in-law, Ye Beichen really has returned to Mobei, and he wants me to move in with him."

Princess Wan'er asked softly, "So what do you think?"

Su Yuning replied, "I've prepared a lot of materials to make soap, but I can't leave for a while. Besides, my second brother said that his shop needs soap, so I have to finish making this batch of soap first."

“But…you’ve seen what happened to Miss Nangong. It’s not a good idea for a husband and wife to live apart.” Princess Wan’er replied kindly.

Su Yuning smiled slightly and then gently replied, "Sister-in-law, don't worry, I have a way."

Princess Wan'er asked with a smile, "What method? Tell me about it!"

Su Yuning replied, "It just so happens that Second Brother's shop is still under renovation. Why don't you come back to our hometown with me? You can watch me make soap, and then Second Brother can learn how to make soap himself. He can also ask Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law to help him make soap. You and Second Brother can sell it in the city. That way, I can go to Mobei to find Ye Beichen with peace of mind."

Princess Wan'er nodded and said, "Alright, I'll listen to you."

That afternoon, Su Yuning took one carriage, while Su Muyang took another, along with Princess Wan'er, and hurriedly returned to their hometown.

Back in the northern desert, Xiao Doukou slipped away from home and returned to school. That night, Bei Chen was relieved to see her safe and sound. Just as he was about to return to his territory, Xiao Doukou chased after him and bravely confessed her feelings.

"Brother Ye, I like you! Let's be together!"

Unlike Zhao Shouyi, Ye Beichen could not accept other people's feelings; his heart belonged only to Su Yuning. Therefore, he solemnly instructed Xiao Doukou...

"Little one, your brother has a wife now, so don't think too much about it. Just focus on your studies here."

Little Doukou pouted, feeling wronged. "I'm all grown up now, not a child anymore. I want to get married too, but my dad has such a bad temper, what man would want to marry me?"

Ye Beichen laughed heartily upon hearing this, "Silly girl, so that's what you're worried about. Don't worry, after you graduate from school, I'll introduce you to a handsome and dashing boyfriend."

Little Bean opened her eyes wide with curiosity, "Who is it? Brother Ye, could you tell me in advance?"

Ye Beichen said to her, "He's my former personal bodyguard. He's doing business in the Song Dynasty. I'll arrange a blind date for you two in a few years."

Little Doukou was still a child after all, so instead of getting angry, she happily nodded in agreement, "Okay, it's a promise! Pinky promise, never to change it for a hundred years!"

Ye Beichen didn't laugh at her; he seriously made a pinky promise with her.

In Xinghua Village, the family had another reunion dinner that evening. At the dinner table, Su Muyang told his parents the good news that Princess Wan'er was pregnant. They were overjoyed. Old Su drank several cups of wine, and the woman even gave all of her jewelry to Princess Wan'er.

"Don't be angry, eldest daughter-in-law. When you were pregnant, your grandmother gave you a family heirloom, so I gave my few pieces of jewelry to your younger brother and sister-in-law," the woman said kindly.

Yang Yuyan waved her hand with a smile, "It's nothing, it's nothing. I'm overjoyed that my sister-in-law is pregnant. I won't be angry about something like this."

The woman nodded happily, "That's good, that's good!"

Afterwards, Su Yuning announced to her parents, "Father and Mother, your daughter will be settling in the northern desert soon, and I won't be able to come back to see you often anymore. Please forgive me!"

Old Su nodded and said, "It's alright, it's alright. I have your mother to take care of me. Besides, your older brother and sister-in-law are also in the village, so there's no need to worry about us. Your son-in-law is from the northern desert, and he'll be living there sooner or later. Being with him is the right choice for you."

The woman, on the contrary, was a little sad. She earnestly advised, "Daughter, your husband's family is not as good as your own family. No matter how good your husband's family is, they are still outsiders. You must be careful with your words and actions, don't act like a child, and take good care of Beichen's life."

Having witnessed the sternness of the Northern Desert Lord, Su Yuning quickly nodded in agreement, "I understand, Mother. I will definitely listen to you and be a sensible person."

Even the usually jovial second brother became serious. "Little sister, if you don't like living in the northern desert, move back. If their family causes you trouble, send me a message by carrier pigeon, and I'll take care of them!"

Su Yuning couldn't help but laugh, "Okay, I got it, my second brother is the best! Hahaha!"

At this moment, Princess Wan'er tugged at his sleeve, "Grandmother and parents are here, don't say anything out of line!"

"Oh, okay." Su Muyang winked playfully and replied.

Another day dawned. The second brother tended the fire, and the eldest brother refined the lard. The lard was quickly rendered. Su Yuning scooped the freshly rendered lard residue into a wooden basin, sprinkled some seasonings on it, and then took it to the yard for her sister-in-law and second sister-in-law to taste.

Next, burn the wood ash, then mix the wood ash and water in a bucket according to a certain ratio.

After finishing these tasks, the three siblings went to rest in the courtyard. Suddenly, the eldest son of the Su family spoke up to remind them...

"Little sister, did we forget a step?"

Su Yuning responded blankly, "Really?"

At this moment, the eldest son of the Su family pointed to several sacks of seashells stacked outside the door. Su Yuning immediately nodded, "That's right, there are still seashells that need to be refined!" So the three siblings got to work again. Some of them smashed the seashells, while others heated and refined them. Finally, Su Yuning added the refined seashell powder to the wood ash water.

At this moment, the second son of the Su family couldn't help but sigh, "Soap is easy to use, but difficult to make!"

The eldest son of the Su family smiled and replied, "That's right. There are still several steps to go. You'd better watch carefully, or you really won't be able to learn how to make soap."

The second son of the Su family chuckled, “If you can’t learn it, then don’t. Aren’t there still your eldest brother and sister-in-law? When your little sister goes to the northern desert, you two will be in charge of processing the soap, and Wan’er and I will be in charge of sales. We’ll split the profits 50/50.”

"No way! Our little sister taught us the method, we can't forget her!" the eldest son of the Su family replied earnestly. "If we make money, we'll divide it into three parts, and our little sister's share must be included!"

The second son of the Su family readily nodded in agreement, "Okay!"

Once the lye water had settled and the lard had cooled, Su Yuning instructed her eldest brother to pour the lard into a bucket, her second brother to stir it, and finally to add osmanthus flowers to the soap paste and stir it again before putting it into a bamboo tube mold to cool and solidify.

"Is the soap finished?" asked the second son of the Su family, sweating profusely.

Su Yuning replied with a smile, "It needs to sit for about a month before the soap is considered complete."

"My goodness, that must have been tough! You've worked so hard!" the second son of the Su family replied.

The next day, the second son of the Su family took his wife back to the city, while Su Yuning took a bus to Mobei alone. Although her parents were worried and her elder brother and sister-in-law were also concerned about their little sister, she had to live alone eventually, so everyone could only watch Su Yuning leave home with reluctance.

Su Yuning traveled at breakneck speed and finally reunited with Ye Beichen after two days and two nights. Because the weather in the northern desert had suddenly turned cold, Su Yuning had not prepared any winter clothes, so by the time the two met, Su Yuning was already about to catch a cold.