Chapter 140: No Divorce, Only the Loss of a Husband
In the capital, Li Yuanshu has been extremely busy lately.
Her uncle was imprisoned, and her mother spent her days in tears, blaming fate and others.
She was the only one who could work tirelessly and mediate for the Cui family.
They needed to appease the former retainers and officials who were loyal to the Cui family and stabilize the crumbling situation.
He also had to rack his brains to defend the Cui family in court and try his best to persuade his father not to pursue the matter.
However, in the officialdom of the capital, who isn't a shrewd person who observes people's expressions and protects himself wisely?
Most people were afraid of getting burned and avoided it like the plague.
Even the Liu family, which has a marriage alliance with the Cui family, seems to be showing signs of backing down.
Li Yuanshu sent people to Minister Liu's residence several times, but they were all politely refused with various excuses and he never even got to see him.
Therefore, she had no choice but to turn to Liu Liniang.
Ironically, with Cui Qilang and his uncle being dismissed from their posts one after another, Cui Dalang being far away in Weizhou, and most of the other members of the Cui family also serving as officials in local areas, the only one left in the Cui family with a foothold in the imperial court was Liu Liniang, who had married into the Cui family.
Unfortunately, she was ultimately just a Doctor of the Imperial Academy, a prestigious but powerless position, utterly useless to the beleaguered Cui family.
As soon as the bell rang to signal the end of the school term at the Imperial College, the students dispersed in twos and threes.
Li Yuanshu sat alone in the courtyard pavilion, finally waiting for Liu Liniang.
She carried a book box, wore an official hat, and her black scholar's robe accentuated her dignified bearing. Compared to the noisy students around her, she appeared exceptionally calm and aloof.
Liu Liniang saw Li Yuanshu in the pavilion, her steps paused almost imperceptibly, then she walked steadily over, bowed and greeted, "Greetings, Your Highness."
"Please sit down, sister-in-law, no need for formalities," Li Yuanshu said warmly, personally pouring her a cup of hot tea.
Liu Liniang sat down as instructed, but said, "Your Highness flatters me. I am of humble status and do not deserve to be called 'sister-in-law' by Your Highness."
“How could I not accept it?” Li Yuanshu said with a smile. “Cui Dalang is my cousin, so you are naturally my sister-in-law. We are family, there’s no need to be so formal.”
Liu Liniang did not respond to her intimate words, but instead asked bluntly, "Since Your Highness calls me sister-in-law, then I shall dare to ask why Your Highness has not come to study for the past half month?"
The smile on Li Yuanshu's face instantly faded, revealing a hint of embarrassment.
For the past two weeks, she has been running around for the Cui family, contacting old friends and smoothing things over. She has been so busy that she has no time to attend classes.
"I've been really busy lately."
Liu Liniang said in a serious tone: "Your Highness is a role model for women all over the world. You have been able to study at the Imperial Academy for Girls, which is the dream of all women. Such frequent absences are not the behavior of a role model and also a disservice to His Majesty's great favor."
Upon hearing this, Li Yuanshu immediately stood up, bowed deeply to Liu Liniang, and said sincerely, "Teacher's words are correct, and I have learned my lesson. From now on, I will attend classes on time and will never slack off again."
After saying that, she straightened up and winked playfully at Liu Liniang, "Now, sister-in-law, you're not angry anymore, are you?"
Liu Liniang had no intention of playing games and went straight to the point, asking, "I wonder what brings Your Highness to see me today?"
Li Yuanshu asked with concern, "Uncle has been confined to the mansion for several days now. I wonder how he is doing? Is he in good health?"
Liu Liniang replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My father-in-law is well."
Li Yuanshu nodded, then abruptly changed the subject, his gaze fixed on Liu Liniang, "What about Minister Liu? I've sent people to visit him several times in the past two weeks, but the gatekeeper always says he's unwell and refuses visitors."
She paused, then asked with feigned innocence, "Could it be... that Minister Liu is truly so ill that he doesn't even have the strength to receive guests? Has Sister-in-law returned to visit him these past few days?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Liniang gave her a deep look and said directly, "Your Highness is always intelligent, how could you not see through the reason? My father is not really sick, but he is just avoiding seeing us to avoid getting involved in the Cui family's troubles and getting into trouble."
Li Yuanshu didn't expect her to be so straightforward, not trying to cover up for her father at all.
After a moment of stunned silence, she directly expressed her dissatisfaction with the Liu family: "The Cui and Liu families are related by marriage and have always maintained close ties. The Cui family has never treated the Liu family badly. Now that the Cui family is in trouble, it's one thing for Minister Liu not to lend a helping hand, but instead to stay far away. Does he want to break the hearts of the Cui family?"
Liu Liniang said calmly, "When a tree falls, the monkeys scatter; when a wall collapses, everyone pushes it down. This is the norm in officialdom. I think Your Highness understands this principle. Although my father is a minister, he also has his own concerns. What he wants to protect is the entire Liu family."
Li Yuanshu frowned and said, "With the Liu family acting this way, if the Cui family really falls from grace, how will my sister-in-law's life be any better? Doesn't Minister Liu even understand this?"
Liu Liniang was silent for a moment, then asked in return, "What exactly does Your Highness want to do by telling me all this?"
Li Yuanshu said frankly, "I want to ask my sister-in-law to persuade her father to speak up for my uncle in court, even if it's just by submitting a petition. As long as the emperor knows about the Cui family's injustice, there will be a chance for things to turn around."
Liu Liniang said, "To be honest, Your Highness, my father actually contacted me a long time ago."
A hint of surprise flashed in Li Yuanshu's eyes: "What did he say?"
“He advised me to see the situation clearly and not to be dragged down by the Cui family.” Liu Liniang’s tone remained calm, but carried a hint of coldness that was not easily detected. “He said that if the Cui family really could not turn things around this time, he would immediately ask for permission to divorce my eldest son and completely sever ties with the Cui family, so as not to implicate the entire Liu family.”
"That old scoundrel!" Li Yuanshu slammed his fist on the stone table in anger. "My uncle treated him well, yet he dares to say such ungrateful things!"
After her anger subsided slightly, she looked at Liu Liniang again and softened her tone: "Then, sister-in-law... do you also agree with your father's words?"
Liu Liniang smiled calmly, "Now that I have married into the Cui family, I am a member of the Cui family in life and in death. No matter what happens to the Cui family, I will always stay with Dalang. There is no divorce between us, only the loss of my husband."
Li Yuanshu was taken aback when she heard this. She had always thought that Cui Dalang and Liu Liniang did not have a deep relationship, but she did not expect that she would be so in love with Cui Dalang.
For some reason, there was something off about what he said, but I couldn't quite put my finger on why.
She suppressed her doubts and solemnly said, "Sister-in-law, rest assured, the Cui family will never go that far! I have contacted many of the Cui family's old friends and subordinates these days, and they have all agreed to plead for Uncle in the court. In the future, please take good care of the affairs of the household. If Uncle has any news, please inform me as soon as possible."
Liu Liniang nodded slightly, "Of course, Your Highness, please rest assured."
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