Chapter 87 Became the Family's Darling
Aunt Wang nodded and said, "Yes!"
Wang Qiu was shocked and her eyes darted around.
Aunt Wang frowned and grabbed his ear. "Are you up to something?!"
Wang Qiu quickly shook her head, "Mother, don't talk nonsense!"
Aunt Wang then released him and instructed him, "Go with your father to irrigate the rice paddies later! Don't keep thinking about things in the capital! In a few days, I'll find you a wife!"
Wang Qiu nodded repeatedly, "Mother, I understand."
Aunt Wang then felt relieved and went into the house.
Wang Qiu shook his head as he watched his mother's retreating figure. He truly had no ill intentions. Before, when he didn't know his parents were still alive, he dared to do anything without any worries. But now, he couldn't do that anymore; he had to think about his parents.
Zhou Ruiyuan was right. When he returned this time, Consort Wu would definitely kill him, and she wouldn't even spare his parents.
That's why he listened to him and faked his death, sending a false message to the capital through someone.
The people in the capital should have lowered their guard against Cheng'an County by now.
However, after hearing that Du Wanchun had a child, Wang Qiu had another idea.
Currently, besides Consort Wu's unborn child and her biological daughter, there are only three lowly princes born to concubines in the palace.
Once the Emperor dies, regardless of whether Consort Wu's child is a boy or a girl, even if she gives birth to a daughter, the three princes will not be allowed to inherit the throne.
If one day the Lu family can be exonerated, you, as the legitimate son Zhou Ruiyuan, and his children will have a better chance of inheriting the throne.
Wang Qiu looked in the direction of the Zhou family, his eyes filled with respect.
Rather than pledging allegiance to the wicked Consort Wu, it would be better to pledge allegiance to the kind and benevolent Zhou family.
After thinking it over, he turned around, picked up a hoe, and left home. When he passed by Zhou's fields, he didn't forget to help Zhou Zhao weed the fields.
Zhou Zhao didn't put on any airs towards him, always calling him Brother Qiu.
Wang Qiu was flattered and treated him even better, digging up the entire field in one go.
Sure enough, by nightfall, before he had even tended to his own fields, he had already tidied up the Zhou family's fields perfectly.
When Zhou Zhao returned home, he kept praising Zhou Ruiyuan, "Brother, Wang Qiu is indeed skilled in martial arts. He is strong, has good stamina, and is also a master at farming!"
Zhou Ruiyuan listened, then looked up and asked, "He helped you with the farming?"
Zhou Zhao took a sip of water and nodded.
Zhou Ruiyuan laughed, "Okay, that's a good thing. If he wants to help you again in the future, just let him. We happen to need someone to do the work at home."
After saying that, she didn't forget to tell him, "Your sister-in-law is pregnant, so you should take good care of her. From now on, don't let her do any of the heavy or light work around the house."
Zhou Zhao stood up, patted his chest, and replied with a smile, "Of course!"
Du Wanchun, who had just entered the room, chuckled, "Husband, I'm just pregnant, not disabled or sick."
Zhou Ruiyuan quickly helped her sit up and said seriously, "You can't do that. Now Aunt Wang and my eldest aunt are helping Mother make incense and fire porcelain bottles, and my third brother Wang Qiu and I are farming and keeping an eye on building the house. You just need to rest and don't have to do anything."
As he spoke, he took a book out of his pocket and said, "If you really want to do this, then help me copy this book."
Du Wanchun took it and saw a handwritten incense-making recipe!
She looked up at him in surprise, "Husband, what is this?"
Zhou Ruiyuan said, "These were left to my mother by my maternal grandfather. They were burned in a fire when he left Changzhou. Later, my mother memorized them and I made another copy by hand."
Du Wanchun quickly said, "Does my husband want to give me the family's ancestral recipe?"
Zhou Ruiyuan nodded.
Aunt Zhou came out carrying a bowl of stewed chicken soup. "I'm going to get old eventually, and the family's skills can't be lost, so I had Ruiyuan make a copy a while ago and sent it to you. It'll be perfect for teaching you to read."
Du Wanchun nodded happily, "Thank you, Mother."
After she finished speaking, she quickly put down the book and started reading.
Actually, it's not that she can't read; it's just that she's forgotten how. If you look at it a few more times, you can recognize it.
Aunt Zhou placed the chicken soup on the table and quickly pulled everyone to eat together.
Du Wanchun carefully put away the recipe, picked up her chopsticks, and ate a piece of chicken from the bowl.
Zhou Ruiyuan and Zhou Zhao then took their seats, and soon laughter and cheerful voices filled the Zhou family's small house once again.
Meanwhile, inside the imperial palace in the capital.
A woman dressed in a bright yellow wide-sleeved ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) leaned against a couch, eating bird's nest.
A young palace maid standing nearby bowed her head and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor says he's not coming today."
"Not coming?!" The woman, holding a spoon, looked at the palace maid with displeasure.
The young palace maid immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty went to Consort Ru's palace again tonight."
Consort Ru was a new concubine sent to the palace by the Third Prince some time ago. She was said to be a singer from a neighboring country. Although she was not considered a beauty that could topple kingdoms, she looked about five or six parts like the previous Empress Lu.
Consort Wu is currently pregnant and unable to serve the Emperor, so Consort Ru, who looks similar to the former Empress, has unknowingly become the Emperor's favorite.
Consort Wu was so angry that she smashed the bird's nest in her hand. "This Third Prince is just making trouble for me. He knows that the Emperor still cares about that slut, but he still sends me a woman who looks like that slut!"
The young palace maid lowered her head, not daring to reply.
Consort Wu stood up, supporting her five- or six-month-old belly, and said with a sinister look, "No rush, I can't rush. It's not too late to kill the Third Prince after I give birth to the prince!"
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