Yao Yao had brought up divorce more than once, but Zhang Duo threatened her with their daughter, making a divorce impossible. He even asked her sister to persuade her.
“I’ll handle this,” Hongmi said. “Sister-in-law has just recovered, so please don’t trouble yourself too much.”
Yao Yao seemed to only then realize that Mu Run had been bedridden, and hurriedly kowtowed, saying, "This servant deserves to die; I have disturbed Your Majesty's peace."
Mu Run had Hong Mi help her up. Looking at Yao Yao, who was completely different from the one in his memory, he felt a pang of regret. "I will stand up for you in this matter!"
Fu Yunchen soon learned about Yao Yao's meeting with Mu Run and Yao Yao's request.
Yao Yao is Zhong Jiu's beloved woman, a fact known to many. Qiao Dongzi, in particular, deeply regrets that the two could not be together.
"Boss, should we send a message to Jiu Zi?" Qiao Dongzi asked.
Fu Yunchen looked at him, "Do you know where he is?"
Qiao Dongzi rubbed his chin, looking inscrutable, and finally said, "I don't know."
Fu Yunchen didn't even bother to give him a glance.
Bai Shalu, who had been listening silently the whole time, picked up the largest fruit from the fruit plate and threw it at Qiao Dongzi, saying, "If you don't know, don't talk nonsense!"
Qiao Dongzi caught it and took a big bite with a 'crunch'. "It's pretty crunchy. I'll bring some back for my wife later."
Fu Yunchen said, "Let's wait and see how things develop. The Mid-Autumn Festival is just around the corner. Would you like to invite your family members to the capital for a family reunion?"
“My husband might have trouble with it,” Bai Shalu said.
Qiao Dongzi: "What's wrong with Xiao Huan?"
Baishalu replied, "It's been two months."
Qiao Dongzi's eyes widened immediately. "She's pregnant?"
Bai Shalu said smugly, "That's right, just look how solid our skills are."
Qiao Dongzi chuckled, "It took you five years of marriage to conceive, that's quite a feat! Congratulations!"
Fu Yunchen also said, "Congratulations."
Bai Shalu reached out his hand, "Stop talking, get to the point."
Qiao Dongzi pulled out all the silver notes he had on him. "That's all I have."
Fu Yunchen smiled, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote on a blank edict: "Liu Xiaohuan, the prefect of Huozhou, has been conscientious and diligent in her duties since taking office, and has made outstanding achievements. She is hereby granted a 100-day leave to visit her family, and is awarded two thousand taels of gold, twenty bolts of brocade, and two catties of bird's nest."
According to the Chongming Law, officials sent to the capital were not allowed to leave their posts without imperial decree or urgent official business. Although Liu Xiaohuan could enter the capital as a member of the Baishalu family, she did not want to leave her post under this title unless absolutely necessary.
With this imperial edict, things were different. Since it didn't specify leave dates, Liu Xiaohuan could leave Huozhou at any time, whether for maternity leave or visiting relatives. As for the rewards, for the Bai Shalu family, a wealthy clan, a token amount was sufficient. Relying on the meager rewards and stipends from the court to support their families would lead to starvation.
"Thank you, Your Excellency." Bai Shalu kowtowed in gratitude.
Qiao Dongzi was also envious after seeing it. "Boss, write one for me too." He also wanted to take a hundred days off.
"Are you pregnant?" Fu Yunchen asked.
Qiao Dongzi: "...No!"
Bai Shalu chuckled to himself.
...
Yao Yao stayed in the palace.
Mu Run didn't let her go back. As for the cause of her daughter's death, she told Hongmi to find Qiao Dongzi, who was an experienced investigator and the Minister of Justice. With his help, the truth should be found out quickly.
As for Yao Yao's desire to divorce Zhang Duo, she had Yao Yao write a divorce agreement and sent it to Hong Mi. If he signed it, that would be fine. If not, she wouldn't mind stamping it with her imperial seal.
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