Remarrying Chun Yuan

Chapter 179: Death

The next day, celebratory firecrackers filled the sky.

Lin Mengyu transformed into a young married woman.

Lin Mengjun insisted on observing mourning for her mother and refused to discuss marriage, while Liu Musheng began to wonder why no one was willing to marry him...

He got completely drunk after a few drinks.

When Liu Yuechu woke up the next day, she felt as if her head was filled with two pounds of lead, and she couldn't lift it up no matter what she did.

Yuan Cuo had to attend court today, so he left before dawn.

Huajiao came over and poured her some tea to help her sober up. "You drank way too much yesterday, and you were crying and making a scene. It was the young master who was worried about you losing control, so he brought you back first... Is it really necessary for you to make such a fuss about your mistress getting married?"

Liu Yuechu rubbed her forehead. She really didn't know anything about what happened after that. "There must have been something wrong with the wine. It's not my fault."

"That's the daughter's red wine that Scholar Lin has kept hidden for many years, how could there be a problem? Or is it that you're just feeling sad, Master?" Huajiao recalled her appearance yesterday and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Liu Yuechu stuck out her tongue. So what if she's drunk? She can't see it anyway.

Looking up, he saw Huajiao hesitate, as if she wanted to say something. "Just say what you have to say."

"...Bai Shao is pregnant and wants to come and kowtow to you, Master."

Liu Yuechu suddenly realized that she hadn't heard Bai Shao's name for a long time, and that it was because Granny Fang and Huajiao had deliberately avoided mentioning it.

"Since you're pregnant, just stay home and rest well. After you give birth, bring the baby over for me to see." She didn't want to talk about the deep bond between master and servant anymore.

Although Huajiao was soft-hearted, she still nodded in agreement, saying that she would talk to Baishao later.

At this moment, Granny Fang brought the purchasing manager to report that the New Year was approaching and the New Year's gifts prepared by the household needed to be made.

"...The gifts you instructed have all been prepared. This servant has come to ask how to prepare the gifts for the son-in-law's surveying department? I heard that most of them are spending the New Year in the capital and have no family members."

"As you know, some families are too poor to afford such things. Without your help with food and lodging, life would be incredibly difficult."

Knowing Liu Yuechu's temperament, the purchasing agent didn't dare to make a decision on his own and came over specifically to ask.

"Prepare a portion of chicken, duck, fish, and meat. There are seven or eight people living in that courtyard, and this is enough to last until the Lantern Festival."

"Also, everyone will come to our house on New Year's Eve. No one will be lonely and homesick. You should go and tell them."

"And send some more charcoal for heating, lest they get frostbite. Their hands are precious; they help the young master with research and other tasks. As long as they are dedicated, our household can afford to support them."

From the time Yuan Cuo established the Surveying and Mapping Bureau, Liu Yuechu also fulfilled his promise and donated a sum of money to the Ministry of Revenue.

In fact, those assigned to the Surveying and Mapping Department were a group of unremarkable people with no family connections.

But Liu Yuechu generously agreed to cover their food, lodging, and expenses, which dramatically improved their treatment.

Even a lowly ninth-rank official lives a better life than a seventh-rank official. With such superiors, they wouldn't even be willing to be transferred; they'd just keep working hard.

"I heard that other government offices are unhappy with your ostentatious New Year's gifts, saying that you are deliberately showing off your wealth. Shouldn't you tone it down a bit?" The purchasing manager chuckled.

"What do you mean by 'collect'? We're eating and drinking well, what's it to them? Back then, none of them wanted to come to the Surveying Department, and now they're jealous of the good benefits we offer? If they're so capable, let them ask their superiors for it." Liu Yuechu admitted that she was vengeful, and her revenge was subtle and underhanded, just for the sake of a good time.

Upon hearing this, the purchasing agent immediately went to carry out the task.

Granny Fang stared at her belly with worry, "It's been more than half a year since the wedding, why is there still no sign of pregnancy? Why don't you let Miss Chan take your pulse again?"

Since seeing Yuwen Chan off, Liu Yuechan has devoted herself to diligent study, and her medical skills have begun to show some promise. While she can't be trusted with other matters, she can still diagnose pregnancy by feeling the pulse.

Liu Yuechu touched her belly. "Do I need to have a child so early?"

“If you don’t have a child, who will you spend all the money you’ve earned? Besides, your son-in-law is now His Majesty’s favorite minister. If you don’t have a child within a year, the palace will have to give him away,” said Granny Fang.

Liu Yuechu recalled the two that the Empress Dowager had sent before, which Yuan Cuo had thrown into the back garden to grow medicinal herbs. They fell ill after a month of exhaustion and were still recovering.

"I'll give her away if I want. We're short of people to do the work in our household. Besides, I can't be jealous. Anyone who can give birth to a child for my son-in-law will be given the status of a concubine. I mean what I say."

Granny Fang frowned, full of dissatisfaction. But she also knew that she couldn't doubt Yuan Cuo in front of Liu Yuechu; Bai Shao had been driven away in the same way.

"You must understand, the son-in-law is also a man."

“If he were a woman, I wouldn’t marry him either…” Liu Yuechu chuckled. Just then, Liu Muchi rushed over; the furs from Mongolia had arrived again.

But before she could go out to check the goods, Liu Tao rushed in from outside.

"Your Majesty, something has happened! The Empress Dowager is dying. She has summoned all court officials and their families to the palace gate. You must go too!"

Since Hou Zilai started following Liu Yuechu, Liu Tao has been working as a messenger and errand boy for Yuan Cuo.

Liu Yuechu was shocked. Was the Empress Dowager about to pass away?

"Are you sure? Did you hear it from someone, or did your son-in-law send you to find me?"

“Master Yuan, he has already gone to the palace with the court officials. Officials of the seventh rank and above are required to attend.” Liu Tao spoke with a measured tone.

Liu Yuechu was startled and quickly sent someone to tell Liu Musheng.

She hurriedly returned to her room to change into formal attire, removing her brightly colored hairpins. "The New Year is just around the corner, and now this has happened."

"Also tell Liu Fu not to buy chicken, duck, fish and meat for now. We might have to eat vegetarian food during the holidays in a few years. It's better not to give outsiders any reason to complain."

Sichuan peppercorns immediately went to relay the message.

After Liu Yuechu finished changing her clothes, she prepared to leave and get into the car.

The carriage had also been stripped of its colorful decorations, becoming as plain as it could possibly be.

But before she could even get into the carriage, someone suddenly arrived from the palace. The person delivering the imperial decree was Xiao Chunzi, Cheng Hai's apprentice.

"By imperial decree of the Empress Dowager, Lady Liu is confined to her home to copy scriptures and is not permitted to go to the palace to pray for blessings..."

That was the first thing Liu Yuechu said after the opening, and there was no need for her to think about the rest of the nonsense.

What is the Empress Dowager trying to do?

Did he want to cause some trouble before he died?

"Where is my husband? Is he already in the palace?" Liu Yuechu knew that Cheng Hai would give instructions before Xiao Chunzi arrived.

Xiao Chunzi replied in a serious tone, "Lord Yuan saved the Empress Dowager before, and is now in Cixi Palace, discussing prescriptions with the imperial physicians. As for the specifics, this servant does not know."

He was not even qualified to be a eunuch in the inner palace; he was just an outsider relaying messages.

Liu Yuechu's heart turned cold instantly.

The Empress Dowager summoned Yuan Cuo to the palace and placed her under house arrest. Even if Yuan Cuo's true identity was not revealed, it was tantamount to making the two of them targets.

Why should a poor scholar be given special treatment by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor?