Chapter 37 Am I really not worthy?
When the topic turned to her maternal uncle's family, Madam Le's smile widened. She looked up at Liu Shen and said, "The old lady from the north has sent people over several times to ask when you will bring Lian Si back. The gifts have been prepared and we are just waiting to see her. When do you think we should go? How about tomorrow?"
The Yue family members are all sincere. Madam Yue can't have any more children, and she'll have to rely on Liu Min in the future, so of course they want to be close to her.
"Grandma, you've gone to so much trouble." Liu Shen said with a smile, "This matter isn't urgent. He must be exhausted from the journey. How can he face people in his current state? If he can't hold on and makes a scene in front of others, people will think he harbors disrespect. What should we do then? Let him rest for a couple of days! After a few days of rest and when everyone has some free time, we can take him over to meet his relatives properly. Once he knows them, he'll have company."
Madam Yue smiled and scolded, "That's really unpleasant to say. We're all family, what's so impolite about it?"
Liu Shen smiled but remained silent.
Lady Yue's given name was Yaxin, and her father was Yue Yuan, the current Grand Secretary. Grand Secretary Yue Yuan was a model for scholars, the ideal of countless people. He had mastered both literary and martial arts, and was destined to serve the emperor. Yue Yuan's background was not high; his family were merely farmers. Going back several generations, there wasn't a single intelligent person among them, only mediocre ones. Yet Yue Yuan was a child prodigy. At seventeen, he passed the imperial examination, though his ranking wasn't high, so he only served as a low-ranking official in the provinces. However, he was a man of great talent. Over the years, he steadily rose through the ranks in the provinces, earning a reputation for integrity and uprightness. Later, he was summoned to the capital, where he held important positions, and at forty, he entered the Grand Secretariat, achieving remarkable merit. He was an exceptionally capable man. At that time, when princes were vying for the throne and everyone was striving to gain favor with the emperor, he stood upright in court, neither forming factions nor joining any cliques. Moreover, he remained in power even after the power shifted, and his favor and honors increased. He rose to become the prime minister, second only to the emperor and above tens of thousands of people. His cunning and shrewdness were far beyond those of ordinary people.
However, not all children of capable men are successful. Le Yuan had devoted himself to officialdom for decades. His wife came from a humble background and lacked worldly experience. Therefore, among their children, Lady Le was considered the best, though she was a bit naive and simple-minded, perhaps due to being too spoiled. As for Lady Le's three brothers, apart from the eldest, who was somewhat tolerable, the other two were only half-baked. Relying on their good father, they acted arrogantly and presumptuously, shallow and conceited. Although not extremely wicked, they were always causing trouble and were quite annoying. Even Liu Shen himself had to endure the cold shoulder from these two; how could Liu Min expect to get away with it? Of course, Liu Shen didn't want Liu Min to be wronged, but refusing to see him would be unreasonable. Therefore, he could only plan ahead and be prepared to avoid giving anyone an opportunity to find fault.
Therefore, Lady Yue was completely oblivious to the subtle meaning behind Liu Shen's smile. She simply took it as her husband making a witty remark, a sign of intimacy between husband and wife, and felt nothing but joy.
"I was so happy! I got carried away and forgot all the hardship of the journey! I've been talking to people for so long..."
She twisted the handkerchief in her hands and smiled sheepishly.
"Green Bamboo Hall is all ready... Lian Si, would you like to rest there, or sleep here first? Oh! I just remembered, Green Bamboo Hall has been renamed, it's now called Guangyi Hall!"
It is called Green Bamboo Hall because it is surrounded by green bamboo, all of which are precious varieties. And it is not just green bamboo, but also phoenix trees, pines and cypresses, banana trees and green plums, which are green all year round. The window screens are all tinged with green. And it is not just green, but also various flowers and trees, red, yellow, pink and white, vying for beauty and fragrance, filling the courtyard. Even the birdsong is clearer than elsewhere.
When Madam Le built this courtyard, she put a lot of thought into it, intending it to serve as a study for Liu Shen. Liu Shen certainly did have a study, but it was too far from Yihe Hall.
The study was where Liu Shen conducted important business. In doing so, he inevitably needed to meet with a few people, mostly men, who came and went frequently. Therefore, a suitable place was necessary. This was unavoidable, and Madam Le had no complaints, but she harbored a deep resentment. To be honest, her husband's daily routine was quite simple: he was either meeting with people and discussing matters in the study, or reading and writing. In short, he was inseparable from the study. Although she managed the entire house, the front area was ultimately a man's space; she couldn't step inside, and thus, she rarely saw her husband. Therefore, she wanted to create a study in the inner quarters, in her own space, where she could keep him company.
This wonderful place, which embodies Madam Yue's hard work, is now being used as Liu Min's bedroom, and Madam Yue feels no reluctance whatsoever.
"Guangyi Hall, that sounds like a place where young men live, doesn't it?"
Smiling and chatting.
Liu Shen hesitated, though he knew of the hard work Lady Yue had put into the Green Bamboo Hall.
"Why should I give it to Green Bamboo Hall? Didn't I reserve Yufeng Pavilion before I left?"
"Of course it's because Green Bamboo Hall is better!" Madam Yue said matter-of-factly. "Wind Pavilion is also good, but the wind blows all year round. It's fine for a short time, but how can one stand living there for a long time?"
It can't be that serious.
But since she has already said that, there's really no need to say anything more that would embarrass her.
"Then let's go with Green Bamboo Hall, it's better than Whispering Wind Pavilion."
Madam Yue laughed upon hearing this, and after laughing, she said, "This is no longer the Green Bamboo Hall!"
“Okay, it’s Guangyitang,” Liu Shen said with a smile.
He smiled, and Madam Yue smiled even more, her smile sweet and affectionate. Looking at him, her eyes were filled with deep, unwavering love.
Liu Shen said to Liu Min, "Greenery and Guangyitang, your mother put in a lot of hard work back then, measuring every single blade of grass and every single tree. Now that you have it, you must cherish it. Do you hear me?"
Liu Min bowed his head and agreed.
Since he returned, he's been so rigid and inflexible. She knows why; although it's for her own good, she doesn't really like it. There's definitely a barrier between a stepson and a stepmother, and what she wants is to eliminate that barrier. She's willing to be Liu Min's biological mother, and she wants everyone else to treat her the same way. Firstly, for the sake of harmony between parents and children, since they have decades to live together. Secondly, there's something she can't say, a very secret thought in her heart: if everyone considers Liu Min their biological son, then the person who came before them ceases to exist.
Liu Min was a relic, openly and publicly known. She disliked this openness and public knowledge, like a thorn deeply and firmly embedded in her heart. Every movement caused pain. She could no longer hate Liu Min; she could only hate those who came before her. She wished she would disappear, that everyone would forget her, as if she had never existed and had no relation to Liu Shen. Her husband had always been hers alone.
She had her own way of getting things done. With her eyebrows lowered and eyes raised, she put on a pitiful and mournful expression and slowly said to Liu Shen, "Master, please don't say such things... Don't you know how much I love Lian Si? Lian Si is my son, and Fei Luo is my daughter. Both children are my dearest and most beloved... Master, please don't say anything that makes me sad. It's like a constant reminder to me, what? Am I not worthy? Am I really not worthy?"
What else can be said?
Liu Shen knew this lady; she was a very kind person who had never been malicious. However, as a young lady from a prominent family, she had been pampered since childhood and inevitably had a somewhat arrogant nature. It was truly unexpected that she would be willing to humble herself like this.
But this is good, it puts him at ease.
His smile was genuine this time, and his voice was gentle. "It was my fault. I apologize to Madam." With that, he rose and bowed deeply to Madam Yue.
Madam Yue quickly stepped aside, raising her sleeve to cover most of her face, leaving only her eyes showing, which gleamed with a tender and affectionate look.
Liu Min suddenly turned his head to one side, his face tense.
Liu Shen stood up straight, once again displaying his elegant and graceful demeanor. Madam Le gazed at him intently, completely captivated. In her eyes, regardless of anything else, his charm alone was enough to prove that her husband had not mistreated her.
Liu Shen was not only a good husband, but also a good father.
"Are you tired? Do you want to go and rest first?"
Liu Min was in good spirits and not particularly tired, but he didn't want to stay there, so he said, "Thank you for your consideration, sir, but I am indeed a little tired."
Madam Yue hurriedly said, "Let's go over there right now." As she spoke, she took Liu Min's hand.
This move was completely unexpected; at least Liu Min hadn't anticipated it. He tried to dodge, but it was too late. He could only obediently let Madam Yue hold his hand, lower his head, and purse his lips into a thin line.
Liu Shen stopped him, "Don't go yet, I still have something to say."
"What did you say?"
Liu Shen thought for a moment before speaking, asking, "How many people are they sending over there?"
"There are four older maids and ten younger ones, and four older women as well. Does the master think we should add some more?"
"You're such a thoughtful person, this is more than enough, why would you need anything else?"
This made Madam Le smile again, feeling content and satisfied.
"How much is the eldest maid's monthly allowance? And what about the old women, what's their arrangement?"
That's really strange, asking about such a trivial matter.
"The eldest maid gets two taels, and the old woman gets two taels too... Is there something wrong?"
"I brought two people with me this time, an old woman and a maid. You need to settle them down. The old woman is Lian Si's wet nurse. She has worked hard and made great contributions, but her health is not very good. You don't need to arrange anything for her. Just let her live a leisurely life. As for the maid... the old lady has given the order. However, they are still young, so they can continue to be treated as maids. Just give them a little more money each month. Four taels will do. Make sure they are not mistreated."
It's nothing.
Madam Yue laughed and said, "Since the master has given his word, who would dare to disobey?" She then asked, "Where is he right now? Wouldn't it be perfect if he came with us?"
After the lady gave her instructions, the maid went outside to relay the message. A short while later, Wu Qingyu and Shan came in to kowtow to Madam Le.
Wu Qingyu was just an ordinary woman; she would just glance at her and move on. But Shan Lai was different.
He personally helped her up and looked her over from all angles.
"Oh! Such a beautiful person, no wonder! If we took her out, we could just say she was from a wealthy family, and everyone would believe us!"
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