Yang Xi changed her son’s clothes into thick cotton clothes. Her son was very obedient. She also hid exquisite gold flowers on her son’s body.

Facing his son’s puzzled look, Yang Xi touched her son’s hair and said, “This is the money to save your life.”

Ziheng didn’t understand a lot of things, including why he had to hide the silver, but he was very obedient and knew how to hide the money well.

When Yang Xi brought her son back to the main courtyard, the mourning hall had already been set up. Her sixteen-year-old brother and fourteen-year-old sister were kneeling in front of the coffin and crying.

The people who were keeping an eye on the Zhou Mansion received news that Zhou Huai was dead.

Seeing that her younger brother and sister were dressed warmly, Yang Xi looked at the two children and realized that they had also hidden silver and money.

Her mother-in-law, Ye Shi, cried softly. Her cries were not loud but were continuous and sorrowful. The in-laws had been childhood sweethearts and shared a deep affection.

Her father-in-law came from a peasant family and had smooth success in the imperial examinations. At that time, a young lady from an official family fell in love with her father-in-law. Her father-in-law was not the kind of person who would abandon his wife and children.

His character highlighted the meanness of Lord Xu. People were most afraid of comparison. Xu Chen hated his father-in-law, and once he came to power, the destruction of the Zhou family began.

In the future, they would even kill the Zhou family!

Yang Xi felt that the weather was getting colder. She remembered that the first snow would fall tomorrow. She didn’t know whether it was a hint that her father-in-law was wronged or to add insult to injury to the Zhou family.

In their previous life, not only was their family penniless, but they also did not have enough clothes to wear, and every step was difficult. Her eldest son caught a cold and was the first to pass away.

Yang Xi didn’t see her husband. The Zhou family couldn’t take any action at this time. She was afraid that if the changes were too big, the Zhou family would not be able to leave the capital smoothly.

Yun Ya came back after arranging everything and whispered, “Madam, the snacks you asked the kitchen to make are ready.”

Yang Xi glanced at her sad mother-in-law and slowly stood up. She still had things to arrange. “Ask Manager Li to come over.”

As she spoke, she walked towards the house on the side of the main courtyard. Ever since she married into the Zhou family, her mother-in-law had handed over the housekeeping power. Her mother-in-law was in poor health. She had suffered a lot in the past to support her father-in-law in the imperial examination.

Later, she had heavy bleeding when she gave birth to her younger sister, which completely damaged her body and she had no energy to manage the household.

Manager Li came quickly, and in Yang Xi’s hand was a box containing the indenture.

Manager Li spoke carefully, “Madam, what do you want me to do?”

Yang Xi said with emotion, “You have been in the Zhou family for many years. The family has been blessed by you over the years.”

Manager Li choked up and said, “Without the master, I wouldn’t be alive today.”

Yang Xi felt bad. She was thinking about the servants in her family because they were good. In her previous life, the servants of the Zhou family were sold again. The good-looking girls all had a bad end. She suppressed her bad feelings and took out the indentured contracts. “This is the indenture contract for your family. You must keep it carefully.”

Butler Li’s eyes widened, “No, I won’t leave.”

How could he leave so ungratefully? He wanted to live and die with the Zhou family.

Yang Xi felt relieved after hearing this. Her father-in-law had a good eye for people. “I’m also prepared for both situations.”

Finally, Yang Xi persuaded the old Manager and then gave Yun Ya several indentures. Yun Ya gave them to several other maids as she didn’t have the energy to see more servants.

Yun Ya didn’t want to leave. Yang Xi knew that Yun Ya was loyal, but unfortunately, she couldn’t keep her. She could only entrust her to the old manager. In troubled times, being a single woman was a curse rather than a blessing. She could rest assured knowing that the old manager and his family were protecting her.

Time passed little by little, and when she returned to the mourning hall, Zhou Yu came back and was kneeling upright burning paper.

The crying in the Zhou Mansion did not stop all night. At daybreak, Yang Xi and Zhou Yu took the lead in eating breakfast. Even the mother-in-law, who had no appetite, understood the seriousness of the matter and forced herself to drink a bowl of porridge.

After dinner, Yang Xi hid a few snacks in her sleeve pocket. As time went by, she became calmer.

Hearing the servants’ exclamations, Yang Xi and Zhou Yu opened their eyes. They knew that the house search was finally coming.

(End of this chapter)

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