The next day, the efficient Zhao Jiaqi sent a letter to the Li family, stating the Fan family's interest in their young lady and their desire to arrange a beautiful union between them. This news delighted Zhou Baihe.
Upon receiving the letter, Zhou Baihe eagerly visited Zhao Jiaqi to discuss the marriage between the two families, with Zhao Jiaqi, a novice in such matters, acting as an intermediary.
Zhou Baihe awkwardly interrupted: "Madam Li, I am truly sorry, but our family's background is not very prominent, and we are not very clear on the procedures for marriage. When the princess married, it was all handled by the Ministry of Rites. This…"
"It's alright, that's not a problem. Have Fan Xiaofeng find a matchmaker to formally propose, and the matchmaker will inform you of the remaining steps!"
Zhou Baihe had forgotten about this aspect. As long as the Fan and Li families could form an alliance, other matters were secondary.
With Fan Xiaofeng's wedding, his brother was a general and a驸马 (fùmǎ - consort of a princess), and his cousin was a prince. This carried considerable weight within the inner city.
The proposal, exchange of horoscopes, exchange of betrothal gifts, and the betrothal gifts presentation… this series of events, neither too long nor too short, took a full month.
By this time, Zhao Jiaqi had already cultivated her rice seedlings. She handed over all remaining matters to Pingting, who had just recovered from childbirth.
Zhao Jiaqi, meanwhile, led more than ten carts of rice seedlings to Qingjiang Prefecture to demonstrate transplanting to numerous laborers.
The laborers stared wide-eyed at the barefooted Princess Consort, disbelieving that she could be so unrestrained and improper as to remove her socks in front of so many men, exposing her fair toes.
Seeing that everyone's attention was not on learning to transplant rice but on her feet, Zhao Jiaqi frowned deeply: "I am teaching you farming. If you are thinking such sordid thoughts, then all of you can get out. I don't need you!"
Upon hearing that they would be dismissed and lose their wages, they quickly became obedient and quietly listened to the Princess Consort explain the key points of transplanting rice.
She stayed in Qingjiang Prefecture for half a month, watching them transplant, offering guidance when needed, and patiently teaching until the seedlings in one field were all planted. She finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It was almost May. If they didn't hurry with the transplanting, it would affect the harvest. She wondered how her father and elder brother were doing.
In the afternoon, Gao Wenbin drove a horse-drawn carriage to Qingjian County to find her father. Seeing her father leading people to sow sorghum seeds in the field, she didn't disturb him.
A short distance to the north was the watermelon field managed by her elder brother. The seedlings in the field had already grown and seemed to be doing well. She was finally able to relax.
After the successful cultivation of watermelons, they would be used to make fruit wine. Currently, the workshop only produced apple wine. With the addition of watermelon wine, she believed they could definitely open up the market in Zongsheng Kingdom.
As for sorghum and corn, they were the main grains for brewing white wine, allowing for self-production and self-sale, resulting in low costs and high profits.
Everything was developing for the better, and Zhao Jiaqi was busy and happy.
At the end of May, Zhao Jiaqi was forcibly brought back to the manor by Fan Zehao. He had been away at the military camp for a month, training the soldiers in formations and strategies. To think that she had actually run off to farm while he was away!
He was visibly angry, his nose not his nose and his face not his face.
They stared at each other in the room.
"Don't you know your body can't withstand such exertion? If you want to die, just say so, and I'll take you and the child with me. There's no need to put yourself through this!"
Fan Zehao, in a fit of rage, shouted at her for the first time. His words were harsh and unprecedented.
Zhao Jiaqi also felt wronged. Her health had improved significantly, and she wasn't some delicate princess who needed constant pampering. Moreover, she couldn't bear to sit still.
Why was he flying into such a rage at her as soon as he returned?
He had spoken his mind, but she had cried.
Tears streamed down her face. She sat silently in a chair, her head bowed, feeling wronged. She couldn't understand why he would change his mood so quickly, especially after giving birth, he had become so temperamental.
He seemed displeased with her, and also with the child.
Seeing his wife cry, he became flustered. He crouched down to look at her, his expression a little unnatural: "Look... you're even crying. I didn't say anything, did I!"
He reached out to wipe the tears from her face, but she unceremoniously slapped his hand away and yelled back at him: "If you don't want to be with me, just say so. Let's divorce. Why bring me and the child into this!"
"Divorce? You wish! Let me tell you, you are mine in life and mine in death. You'll never leave me!"
Fan Zehao picked her up and threw her directly onto the bed. As the saying goes, quarrels in bed are resolved in bed.
While they were arguing indoors, everyone outside was worried sick.
Pingting, holding the baby, looked at the tightly sealed window and whispered to Fan Lao Er: "Why don't you go call your elder brother out!"
"Why don't you go call your elder sister-in-law out!" Fan Lao Er retorted without a second thought.
Asking him to call out their enraged elder brother would undoubtedly be asking for trouble. Even if he were a fool, he knew to stay far away at a time like this.
Pingting's face stiffened, and she said indignantly: "Aren't I afraid of your elder brother? Otherwise, I would have rushed in long ago!"
They bickered back and forth, but neither couple seemed to fear the other.
Fan Xudong, with his arm around Pingting's waist, said: "Don't worry. Elder brother dotes on elder sister-in-law so much, he won't lay a hand on her. I suspect right now, elder sister-in-law is the one scolding elder brother."
"Let's hope so."
They tacitly sat under a large tree outside, enjoying the shade while holding the child. Little Jiu and Granny Xu fanned them to prevent mosquitoes from biting the young master.
They waited until the sun began to set. When the couple emerged, having reconciled, they saw everyone in the courtyard.
Some were tending to the children, while others were playing with them. The courtyard had clearly become a playground.
"Sister-in-law, have you and elder brother reconciled?" Pingting, not one to read the room, saw that Zhao Jiaqi's complexion was much better and she didn't look like the one who had been bullied. She asked directly.
Zhao Jiaqi's face turned even redder. She nodded uncomfortably: "I misunderstood him. It's alright now. Everyone, let's go eat!"
"Sister-in-law, your misunderstanding caused quite a stir. We waited outside all afternoon, fearing elder brother would bully you. If you had called out, we would have rushed in to save you!"
Pingting's words sent a shiver down Zhao Jiaqi's spine. Fortunately, her mouth had been silenced, otherwise, if she had called out... her face would have been lost in the river.
"Um... I'm hungry, let's eat... let's go eat!"
A group of people had eavesdropped outside their room. These peculiar individuals! In the future, the couple would have to be more careful about whatever they did.
During the meal, Pingting brought up Fan Xiaofeng's wedding: "Sister-in-law, in about half a month, it will be Brother Xiaofeng's wedding day. Are you leaving again after returning this time?"
"I'm not leaving. Have all the preparations for the wedding been made?" Zhao Jiaqi replied readily.
Now that she knew her husband's affection for her, why would she deliberately make him sad?
When she had almost lost her life during childbirth, she had no idea her husband had intended to die with her.
After they had a heart-to-heart conversation, she learned about this madman's idea, which still sent chills down her spine.
"The preparations are almost complete, only the guest invitation list is missing. I've drafted a list. Sister-in-law, please take a look and see if it's suitable. If it is, we'll send it out tomorrow. If not, we'll revise it!"
It was rare for Pingting to be so dedicated to this matter. Zhao Jiaqi nodded, signifying her agreement.