Chapter 70 Secret Letter: "The Baili family is not to be trusted. If you want to live, stay away from them."
"Thank you." Yao Ruyi's eyes were red. He hugged Gu Huizhou tightly and kissed his cheek lightly, just like the other person had done.
"Shall we go in and take a look?"
Yao Ruyi paused, "What else do you want to see?"
A playful chuckle escaped his lips. "Look at your birthday gift." The man spoke slowly with a smile, as if nothing mattered to him, as long as the person in front of him remained.
"The birthday gift wasn't..." the fireworks that were just set off?
"As the emperor, if all I can offer you is fireworks, it would seem rather meager."
After staring at what was in front of her for a while, Yao Ruyi chuckled. "Hmm, let's go take a look."
Gu Huizhou led the people into the palace. The magnificent palace was decorated with silk and satin, and there were gold and silver jewels everywhere, as if they had fallen into a treasure cave.
The two of them had just come up the side steps without looking inside, so much so that he overlooked this expanse of glittering gold.
"many……"
Gu Huizhou glanced at most of his private collection. He had never thought these things were anything special, but now he could make this mushroom so happy.
It was worth it.
Where is my birthday gift?
The man raised an eyebrow. "They're all here."
Her pupils dilated, and Yao Ruyi couldn't help but look around. "All of them?"
"Um."
Could it be that Gu Huizhou has put all the national treasury money here? If there's going to be war in the future, won't he become a wicked concubine who brings ruin to the country?
"no!"
No? Gu Huizhou, who had just reached out to pick up a gold bracelet, paused. He weighed the heavy bracelet in his hand and walked towards Yao Ruyi, lifting her hand to put the bracelet on.
The once clean-cut man is now surrounded by the stench of money and jewelry, as if he has corrupted him completely.
Yao Ruyi didn't know why, but he really liked these golden things. Seeing the bracelet on his wrist, he didn't want to refuse. "Then I'll accept this bracelet. Let's put the rest back into the national treasury."
As he spoke, he stepped forward and affectionately nuzzled against Gu Huizhou's ear, most of the rubbed against the fox fur, which felt quite comfortable.
"Is it alright?"
Gu Huizhou clicked his tongue, put his arm around the person, and spun them around the room, a smile playing on his lips. "So you were worried about me."
A deep swamp seemed to sink into my heart, swallowing up that moment of tenderness and leaving me unable to escape.
"They were all mine, but now they are all yours."
A dignified emperor actually knew better than any spirit how to win people's hearts. "Keep it."
Yao Ruyi was so coaxed that she was dizzy, "Then what about fighting..."
"When do we need the 19th Party Congress to worry about fighting wars?" Gu Huizhou said, but he felt somewhat at a loss.
The person in his arms has seen his condition these past few days. If he can't keep his composure, how can they feel at ease?
A hint of self-mockery flashed in his eyes, but Gu Huizhou lowered his head to hide it. "It's enough for me to be bothered by myself."
Before Yao Ruyi could even process what was happening, someone had kissed her lips and was leading her towards the bed.
Was there a bed before this?
With his mind in a daze, Yao Ruyi couldn't even remember what he had seen when he came up.
Two figures suddenly appeared on the bed, pressed tightly together.
The gauze curtains slowly fell, obscuring several scenes described in the storybooks. Occasionally, the sounds of two people breathing heavily could be heard, accompanied by the chilly scent of falling snow outside the palace…
Several days have passed in the blink of an eye. Yao Ruyi is still the same as before after that birthday celebration. He has been studying with Wang Qianshan these past few days.
Wang Qianshan didn't visit Mr. Li as often anymore.
It wasn't that he wanted to, but Li Wenjing was often summoned to the imperial study by the emperor, so Wang Qianshan couldn't find her even if he wanted to.
Today was supposed to be a discussion of poetry with Wang Qianshan, but Thirteen had important business to attend to and couldn't leave, so it was Mushroom's turn to go to Twelve for information.
Yao Ruyi was already quite familiar with this. He came out of the back door carrying a food box, looking quite content, his clothes smelling strongly of plum blossoms. Yao Ruyi had just been thinking about whether he should change his clothes before returning to the palace.
Otherwise, the green tea pastries in my hand would be tainted with the flavor of plum blossoms.
"Selling sugar figurines! Selling sugar figurines! Oh, handsome young man, would you like to take a good look at our sugar figurines?"
"Steamed buns, freshly steamed buns!"
"Hey, Lao Wang. How's that plot of land of yours? We saw some hope a few days ago. Although we haven't planted any grain yet, it looks different from before."
"Of course! It's the same where I live. My wife even said that we're sure to have a good harvest next year."
"Hahaha, you're right. You know what, this kind of thing is a bit strange, but it's useful."
“That’s true. I initially thought His Majesty couldn’t withstand our dissatisfaction and sought out a master to perform a ritual, but I never expected…” the man chuckled to himself, “that some people can maintain their high positions in ways that are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people like us.”
"Oh? From what you're saying, my brother, you think His Majesty is better than the late Emperor?"
The two looked around and spoke in hushed tones. But Yao Ruyi was not far from them, and he could still hear them clearly.
The man surnamed Wang nodded slightly, "If it were before, I wouldn't have dared to say that. In the past, we didn't have enough to eat, but at least we could have a bowl of porridge after doing some work. Now it's even better."
He thought back to a few years ago, when even getting a bowl of porridge required being mindful of other people's attitudes.
“That’s right.” The other person nodded. “Nowadays, more and more people in the capital feel that His Majesty is diligent in governing. At this time, I don’t even know where the previous rumors of tyranny came from?”
“Tsk,” the man surnamed Wang raised an eyebrow, “You’re being a bit biased. Have you forgotten how many ministers His Majesty killed when he ascended the throne?”
The two paused.
"Oh well, forget it. We can't really tell whether those people are good or bad. We'd better hurry back and tidy up the fields so we can sow properly next spring."
"Hahahaha," the man surnamed Wang laughed, "Brother Chen is absolutely right, farewell!"
"Farewell!"
Yao Ruyi silently bid them farewell in his heart, a warm feeling slowly rising in his heart as he carried the food box. Previously, the people had been misled by the slander of wicked people, but as time went on, they became wiser and could distinguish right from wrong…
He heard many people praising the emperor along the way, which made him quite happy.
As Yao Ruyi walked into the palace, he unexpectedly ran into the aunt selling steamed buns. His eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over, "Auntie, I've come to buy some steamed buns!"
"It's the young master!" The old woman was overjoyed. Last time, this young master told her that the emperor would take care of that matter, and she didn't expect that he would actually do so.
She knew this young master was of noble birth, and she was pleased that he kept buying steamed buns from her. "They're all freshly steamed, so they're a little hot. Please handle them carefully, young master."
"Yes, I put it on top of the food container."
The mother-in-law smiled and said, "That's perfect."
"Then I'll be going now, Auntie."
"Oh, young master, take care!" The old woman looked at the man's back with a smile in her eyes. If she had a grandson like this in her family, she would probably wake up laughing in her dreams.
But thinking this, the smile on his lips faded.
"Isn't this just a dream?" The old woman looked at herself with self-deprecation, noting that she didn't own a single valuable item. "How could I have raised such a handsome and bright young man?"
But the thought only lasted a moment. Several more groups of people walked this way, and she took two steps forward and quickly called out, "Would you gentlemen like to buy some steamed buns? They're all freshly steamed and smell delicious!"
"Alright, grandma. Let me try a few."
"Okay!"
Although he hadn't stopped along the way, the days of winter were getting shorter. Yao Ruyi didn't return to the palace until it was almost dark. He didn't go back to Yun Palace, but instead took the steamed buns and green tea pastries to the Imperial Study.
If he guessed correctly, Gu Huizhou hadn't eaten again.
Cui Xiangzhu was standing guard outside the Imperial Study when he saw someone arrive. He was overjoyed. “Oh! Your Excellency Nineteen, you’ve finally arrived? I’ve even brought some food. Lord Li just left, please come in quickly, Your Excellency.”
Yao Ruyi nodded, and just as he was about to push open the door, he heard the head eunuch say, "These days, what this old servant has been looking forward to most is your coming to bring His Majesty some food. With you by His Majesty's side, it is truly a blessing for us."
This made Yao Ruyi feel uncomfortable, so he quickly pushed open the door and said, "Then I'll go in first."
"become!"
As they spoke, the night grew even darker. Cui Xiangzhu glanced at the sky; he remembered that a year ago at this time, His Majesty had just brought back the Nineteenth Minister.
At that time, he could see through His Majesty's thoughts about people. He chuckled and muttered to himself, "This old servant sees things most clearly."
As night fell, on the other side of the capital, Li Li sat in a carriage, his head swaying sleepily.
The carriage suddenly stopped, startling both the old steward and the coachman.
The old butler lifted the curtain and looked inside. He saw that Li Li had only frowned and kept his eyes closed. He breathed a sigh of relief. Ever since his leg was broken, this man's temper had become increasingly unpredictable.
He turned around and scolded the driver, "How do you drive this car!"
The driver didn't know what happened either. He got out of the car and looked around twice but couldn't find the cause. The snow on the road had been swept clean, and there wasn't even a single stone to be seen. Logically speaking, there was no way he would bump into something like this for no reason.
The path under the moonlight had an eerie feel to it, and the coachman suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He quickly returned to the carriage, clinging to the old steward even as the old steward glared at him, and gripped the reins tightly. "First, let's go back to the manor."
"Then hurry up and leave!"
The driver nodded repeatedly, "Let's go, let's go! Giddy up!"
This time, the carriage was driven smoothly. It was unclear whether the driver was afraid of being scolded by the old steward or something else. In the end, the carriage came to a steady stop in front of the Li residence.
Although Li Li's leg had healed, she still walked with a limp, but the old housekeeper looked much better than before.
The old steward helped him into the mansion, smiling obsequiously, "Master, your leg is getting better every day. Did the divine physician from Lord Baili's mansion make a move?"
Speaking of his legs, Li Li's mood brightened up. He had been by Baili Yi's side for so long, and only today had he finally seen the true face of that miracle doctor. "Yes, he really is a miracle doctor. After a few needles, both legs feel warm."
"That's great. If that's the case, the master's leg will be completely healed soon."
Li Li remained silent; he didn't think so. As the Vice Minister of Revenue, it was considered his duty to serve alongside the Minister of Revenue. But which Vice Minister didn't want to become the Minister?
Baili Yi probably thought so too.
By following Baili Yi and acting subserviently, he had only recently begun to reap some benefits, but he didn't think Baili Yi would consider him a confidant.
Even though the Liang family fell from power, in the eyes of the Baili family, he was not entirely surrendering.
"Go and have someone cook a bowl of noodles and bring it over."
"yes."
Li Li returned to her dormitory, her head beginning to throb slightly.
"Master, are you going to rest at Madam's place? It's been a month since you last visited her."
Go see Mrs. Chen? What would you do there?
Madam Chen was also hoping not to see him; if the two of them couldn't see each other, things would be much better. "Alright, send someone to check on her. Keep a close eye on Madam's health."
He originally thought that having one daughter, Yun'er, would be enough, but now...
He, Li Li, was destined to have a son.
"Yes." A meaningful smile played on the old butler's lips as he slowly withdrew.
Li Li suddenly had a terrible headache. He wanted to ask the old steward to fetch the family physician, but when he managed to open his eyes, he found that the physician was not there. A surge of anger welled up in his heart, "Where is he! Someone come here!"
The wind suddenly picked up, and the window had been blown open without anyone noticing. The howling cold wind only fueled Li Li's anger.
He was in so much pain that he lay on his back on the bed, reaching out to rub his temples, when he suddenly felt something that looked like a letter on the bed.
The room was dimly lit by candlelight, and he barely managed to open his eyes to look.
When did this piece of paper end up on his bed? Touching the creases, it looked like it had been opened before.
"The Baili family is not to be trusted. If you want to live, stay away from them."
The handwriting was neat and tidy, looking like it was written by a frail scholar. Li Li snorted coldly and disdainfully crumpled it in her hand.
What does it matter whether Baili Jia is trustworthy or not?
He wondered which villain wanted to sever his ties with the Baili family. In an instant, countless people flashed through his mind. If there was a rift between the Vice Minister of Revenue and the Minister, it would benefit many people.
With a flick of his wrist, the wad of paper was thrown into the candlelight. The fire blazed for a moment before returning to calm.
"Master, the noodles are here!" The old steward returned with the noodles, and the servant outside was busy closing the window. His heart skipped a beat.
Hesitantly, he said, "Master, noodles."
"Physician! Physician!" Li Li shouted, the intense pain in his forehead making him delirious.
The old steward quickly responded, "Yes, yes! Master, please wait a moment, this servant will go and fetch the family physician right away!"
The servant was still repairing the window outside, and the old steward was furious. He had deliberately avoided training these servants in order to increase his standing with Li Li, but they had turned out to be useless good-for-nothings!
"What are you looking at? Hurry up and fetch the imperial physician!"
"Yes, yes!"
The old steward is now filled with regret. If the young lady were still alive, her maids would have been far more useful than these people.
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Here it comes! [Qingxin]
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