Chapter 157 Turning the Tables
"I can't die, otherwise I'd be doing what some people want."
Liu Wenshu took the letter in his hand and threw it forcefully into the stove.
"Minister of Personnel Liu should be my biological father, that's why I've gotten into trouble with others, and there are plenty of people who want me dead."
"Young master, you mustn't say such things." Yantai's eyes widened, and he was completely stunned.
Isn't the young master's father the wealthy Master Liu in the manor? How could it be anyone else? That's too far-fetched!
"I'm not stupid for being able to pass the imperial examination and become a third-ranked scholar. Lady Ye had warned me in her letter earlier. I was just testing her a little the other day, and now I'm seriously ill. Doesn't that prove something?"
Liu Wenshu had indeed had such suspicions before, but after receiving Ye Liangzi's letter and carefully observing everyone's reactions, he is now basically certain.
He should be Liu Zhongyuan's son.
When he had such doubts before, he immediately dismissed the idea, feeling that things were fine as they were, and there was no need to rush to acknowledge a father.
Now I understand. Why didn't he fight for it? Why did he accept his fate? Everyone wanted him dead, so why did he have to die?
In Min County, there is still his grandmother, and Lady Ye... all waiting for him to return.
"Yantai, help me up." Liu Wenshu struggled to get up.
"Young master, you're still not well. Where are you going in this freezing weather?" Yantai said, helping Liu Wenshu up.
Liu Wenshu coughed. "Lord Liu should be off court by now. My 'nephew' is about to die, and I must see Lord Liu one last time before I die."
"Greenie, you stay here and don't come back with me. Look after this courtyard for me."
"Young Master..."
Greenie took two steps and then stopped.
She wanted to ask who the young master meant by Lady Ye, but now was clearly not the time to ask.
It didn't snow in Beijing, and the cold wind stung my face.
Liu Wenshu calculated that it was about time, got off the carriage, and stood at the gate of Liu Mansion.
"uncle."
Seeing that he had a blank expression and could barely stand, Liu Zhongyuan hurriedly went to greet him, "Wen Shu, what are you doing here? Weren't you sick? Why are you just standing here? How are the people around you taking care of you? It's ridiculous!"
I grabbed his hand; it was frighteningly cold.
Liu Wenshu was pale, but his cheeks were unusually flushed. "Uncle, I feel like I'm about to die. I have no relatives or friends in this capital. You are my only family. I want to see you before I die."
Just as he managed to finish speaking, Liu Wenshu spat out a mouthful of black blood and immediately lost consciousness.
"Read the book!"
"Someone, quickly take my token to the palace and ask for an imperial physician!"
...
...
"How's the matter going?"
Cui put on a jade hairpin and looked at herself in the mirror. No matter how well she took care of herself, there were still many fine lines around her eyes.
No sooner had he finished speaking than Liu Zhongyuan burst in.
"You vile woman, can't you tolerate him at all?!"
Madam Cui was startled, and her expression turned grim as she realized what was happening. "Master, why are you so angry? What did I do?"
"You're the one who harmed Wen Shu, aren't you? I've already promised you that I'll never acknowledge him again and that he won't threaten my two sons' positions. Why can't you tolerate him?"
"Mrs. Cui, how vicious you are!"
Liu Zhongyuan pointed at Cui's nose, cursed her, and then left.
"Granny, does the master suspect that I was the one who killed that bastard?" Madam Cui felt utterly speechless and bitter.
"This... I think so." The old woman beside Madam Cui was also startled.
They originally planned to use the infamous eldest princess to make Liu Wenshu their son-in-law, but... that's why they sent a letter to the eldest princess.
So, the master found out?
"You bastard, I haven't even laid a hand on him yet, and he dares to turn around and accuse me!"
Cui's face turned ugly, and she swept the teacups off the table.
"Madam, please calm down. This old servant thinks he must have noticed something."
Cui's expression calmed down. "How could that be? The only person who knew about what happened back then was that old woman. I made a three-point agreement with her. It's absolutely impossible, unless she doesn't want to live a peaceful life anymore."
The old woman lowered her voice, "Now that child has achieved academic success... Madam, people's hearts are fickle!"
A hint of unease flashed in Cui's eyes.
Yes, people's hearts are fickle.
...
...
"Impossible, how could I possibly change my mind?"
Upon receiving news that the prince had brought a new lover, the women in Prince Jing's harem immediately erupted in chaos.
Who among the women in the backyard doesn't know that Prince Jing is infatuated with his betrothed princess and has treated the women in the backyard as mere decorations for the past ten years, without bringing in any new concubines for so long, but suddenly he brings back new ones?
“Madam, this is absolutely true. The woman has already moved into the main courtyard. In all these years, no matter where the Prince has gone, the main courtyard has never housed a woman before. This is the first time.”
Madam Zhao, the birth mother of the third and fourth young masters, gritted her teeth upon receiving the news, "Where did this vixen come from? Just you wait!"
Lady Qing thought to herself, "Sigh... another pitiful person. The prince doesn't like women at all."
Everyone else was drunk, but she alone was sober.
Everyone else remained silent, staring intently at the main courtyard.
...
...
After the heavy snow, the weather was sunny for several days in a row, and the snow finally melted.
Ye Wan scooped some pickled cabbage from the jar, went to Widow Tian's house, and when she returned, she found the atmosphere in the courtyard was strange.
"Mother, someone has come to ask for my eldest sister's hand in marriage." Er Ya's expression was not good.
Ye Wan entered the main room and saw an old woman with a mole near her mouth who spoke eloquently.
"The Nie family is one of the wealthiest families in the world. Your family should think this over carefully."
Ye Wan learned from Hui Gu that the people who came to visit were the Nie family from the prefectural city. They were not as good as the Liu family and had only a slight connection with the Nie family in the capital. At most, they were a branch of a branch.
Even so, ordinary families are not to be trifled with.
Huigu lowered her voice, "Madam, should we go and deliver a message to Old Madam Liu?"
"No, thank you. We shouldn't waste our goodwill like this."
The old woman continued to nag, "Master Nie's family has a long-standing relationship with the Minister of War's family. For them to take a liking to your daughter is a blessing you've accumulated over ten or eight lifetimes. Don't be ungrateful."
Er Ya shrieked angrily, "Do you want this good fortune or not?"
That guy from the Nie family is a huge fatso, so fat he can barely walk. How dare he even dream of marrying her older sister!
The matchmaker looked at Er Ya and said, "How can you talk like that, you little brat? You're so sharp-tongued. You won't be liked by your future husband's family."
"Do I need anyone else to like me? My mother likes me, that's enough. Who do others matter?" Er Ya raised her eyes and glanced at the matchmaker.
"You! Madam Ye, you'd better discipline your daughter properly, or she'll be beaten when she goes to her husband's family."
Ye Wan frowned. "I'll have to trouble you, matchmaker, to take care of my daughter. My Qing Shuang has no intention of marrying anyone off right now."
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