It must be said that clothes make the man, and Liu Shi looked particularly dignified and elegant in this imperial robe. She gracefully bowed and said, "This concubine greets Lord Yuan."
According to rank, imperial consorts and prime ministers were both of the same rank, belonging to the first grade.
Yuan Tianyou was extremely puzzled. Could it be that Xiao Huai wanted to summon Lady Liu? That shouldn't be the case. He had just returned from the palace an hour ago. The Emperor was in some pain tonight, the imperial physician had prescribed medicine, and he was already asleep.
As for the Empress Dowager, that's even more impossible.
Yuan Tianyou finally couldn't hold back any longer: "Madam Liu, are you going to the palace?"
Liu shook her head gently: "No."
Seeing Yuan Tianyou's confusion, Madam Liu smiled and said, "I have been waiting here for you, sir."
Yuan Tianyou: "......"
Surely it wouldn't be such a big deal for him.
Lady Liu gracefully gestured for him to enter, and in a refined manner invited, "Lord Yuan, please come to my humble abode for a cup of tea."
Yuan Tianyou: "......"
Logically speaking, even if someone were to be entertained, it should be Old Master Chu who should be, since men and women are different.
However, considering that Liu was Chu Jinjin's biological mother, he also had something to say.
The two entered Liu's courtyard one after the other.
Liu has a task: to keep Yuan Tianyou calm before the hot air balloon takes off.
Originally, Zhan Qin was the most suitable for this task, but Chu Jinjin felt it was too difficult for him. She felt sorry for him when she thought of the father and son staring at each other. So, Liu volunteered.
"Madam Liu, I am sorry for Miss Jinjin." Yuan Tianyou felt that there was something strange about the atmosphere, so he bowed and apologized sincerely as soon as he entered the room.
If nothing unexpected happens, the two should become in-laws, but in the face of national crisis, there is no room for too much sentimentality.
"Jinjin will come back," Madam Liu replied perfunctorily. "Lord Yuan, let's sit down and talk slowly."
If Yuan Tianyou were a few years younger, he would actually be very similar to Zhan Qin. He was unpretentious, yet possessed the pride of a scholar, and paid special attention to etiquette. With one side of his buttocks resting on the chair, he politely said, "Thank you, Madam Liu."
He sensed that Liu had something to say.
What could it be?
In short, it must be related to the son.
Yuan Tianyou picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, and waited quietly for the other person to speak.
Then, Madam Liu spoke.
"Lord Yuan, what are your wife's hobbies?"
Yuan Tianyou: "......"
Liu didn't have much to say; her task was simply to keep people around. As for what to say, no one taught her, so she could only ask what interested her.
This question almost left the dignified prime minister speechless.
Yuan Tianyou had no idea why this topic had come up. After thinking about it seriously, he said, "My wife doesn't have any special hobbies. When she was young, she especially liked needlework."
"Needlework?" Madam Liu nodded seriously. "Isn't there anything else, like flower arranging or something?"
The field of being a titled lady was too unfamiliar to her, so she had to learn it properly since there was a ready-made one.
My daughter will definitely come back from the Northern Desert.
No matter whether Xiao Huai becomes emperor or someone else becomes emperor, her status as a first-rank imperial consort will not change.
She was so serious that Yuan Tianyou had to think about it again: "Oh, right, I like keeping birds."
Liu immediately became interested: "What kind of bird?"
Yuan Tianyou: "Myna bird."
Lady Liu was overjoyed: "Oh, I like it too."
She was no good at needlework; she was naturally bad at it. Although she was forced to learn it when she was young, she could only sew clothes.
But keeping birds is fine.
She's always wanted to raise one.
Of course, that's not enough.
So for the rest of the time, the conversation ranged from hobbies to clothing, food, and other aspects of the daily life of a noblewoman.
Yuan Tianyou initially remained patient, but after a full half hour, all he heard were mundane domestic squabbles. He endured it all, but finally could not bear it any longer: "Madam Liu, did you summon me here for something?"
The women he usually interacted with were mostly noble ladies, and even if they weren't, none of them were as talkative as him; he could practically put on a whole show all by himself.
Liu blinked: "Is something the matter?"
What's wrong?
Chu Jinjin's order was to hold out until she arrived.
"Lord Yuan, you know my husband's condition. He's been in a coma. The doctor said it's due to internal heat affecting his heart, something blocking his head. We don't know when he'll wake up. What kind of life is this?" Madam Liu recounted her long and complicated emotional journey, and seeing that Yuan Tianyou was about to lose his patience again, she blurted out, "I'm planning to get a divorce. What do you think?"
Yuan Tianyou: "......!!!"
Lady Liu was very satisfied with his reaction. See? He was stunned.
Yuan Tianyou was not only stunned, he almost jumped up.
Are the two of them very familiar with each other?
Why should I tell him this?
Out of respect for Chu Jinjin, Yuan Tianyou asked with difficulty, "Madam Liu, is there anything I can do to help you?"
A first-rank imperial consort's divorce is no ordinary matter and must be reported to the emperor.
So all that was to get him to speak on my behalf?
That should be it.
This time, Liu's reaction to him was that he was outdoors, and that such a big thing was something he shouldn't have said a few words of advice.
Lady Liu lowered her head and sobbed softly, "Poor Jinjin, she'll be motherless from now on. I'm still young, I'll definitely remarry—by the way, Lord Yuan, do you think it's okay for a Lady of the Imperial Decree to keep a few male concubines?"
Yuan Tianyou: "......"
He had a dreamlike, unreal feeling.
I was called here late at night, and this is what I heard?
wrong!
To be able to become the head of all officials, he must have had extraordinary strategies.
Upon entering the backyard, not a single maid or servant was seen, nor in Liu's courtyard, coupled with the unreliable things being said.
Chu Jinjin has not appeared yet.
Yuan Tianyou stood up and walked out.
Lady Liu quickly stopped him: "Lord Yuan, you haven't said where you're going yet. Is it really okay for me to keep male concubines? You have a wide network of connections, could you introduce me to a few?"
Yuan Tianyou tripped over his own foot and almost fell.
He guessed why Liu was deliberately stalling him, but could she be that unreliable?
People were coming and going everywhere in the backyard.
To be on the safe side, Jie Du had four hot air balloons made overnight, two for carrying people and two for carrying cargo, all of which were made to the largest possible size.
If it were transported directly, it might be discovered, so it was transported in pieces.
At this moment, the people from Black Hawk Mountain Stronghold were installing the equipment, while the other members of the Chu family were moving things back and forth.
Zhan Qin also helped out. He was closest to the door and immediately spotted Yuan Tianyou and Liu Shi rushing over.
Lady Liu sighed sincerely, "The Prime Minister is too wise; I really can't keep him here."
"It's alright, Jinjin is inside." Zhan Qin's tone was gentle, but when he turned to Yuan Tianyou, his face was ashen.
Yuan Tianyou no longer cared about that. He stared dumbfounded at the hot air balloon that had already been installed, muttering, "What, what is this?"
In front of him was a huge hemispherical object with a huge bamboo basket hanging below it, which could probably hold at least a dozen people.
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