Upon hearing Cui's words, Madam Zhang turned deathly pale and shook her head in a murmur.
"Impossible, impossible! How could my son bear to lock me up? You're talking nonsense!"
"Hmph! What's impossible? Don't you know what you sent Ruyi to do?"
Han Zhongyu is an official of the imperial court and a favorite of the emperor. Sending someone to harm him is simply courting death!
Why do you think you're locked up?
Your little girl Ruyi actually poisoned Han Zhongyu during Zhou Yi'an's banquet and got caught red-handed.
Moreover, not only was Han Zhongyu present, but Princess Jingde and Prince Xiaoyao were also there. Just the fact that you clashed with a first-rank prince was enough to cost you and your precious son your lives.
The carefree prince didn't pursue the matter, and Lord Han was magnanimous enough to spare your lives, mother and son. The fact that you can still shout here is because your precious son knelt down and begged for you!
I advise you to stay quietly in the ancestral hall and not waste your son's hard work.
Upon hearing this, Zhang realized that she had almost caused her son's death and that he had even knelt down to beg for her life. All her anger vanished in an instant!
He walked toward the ancestral hall, looking utterly dejected.
She hated that Han Zhongyu hadn't died, and felt even more sorry for Zhou Yi'an's situation. Her son was such an outstanding and proud person, yet he had to kneel before Han Zhongyu. The thought of Zhou Yi'an kneeling and kowtowing to others made her heart ache more than if she were dead.
If she had known it would turn out this way, she would never have sent that fool Ruyi, Zhang thought with regret.
Let's return to the story of Han Zhongyu and his group leaving Zhou Yi'an's orphanage.
Xie Yushu thought of inviting Han Zhongyu to go back to the villa for a drink to calm him down.
Han Zhongyu didn't take it to heart at all, only telling Xie Yushu not to worry about it, as he had other matters to attend to at the yamen, and then went directly to the government office.
Seeing Han Zhongyu leave, Xuan Yuanche squeezed into Xie Yushu's carriage, moved closer to her, hugged one of her arms as a pillow, and asked in a muffled voice...
"Sister, if I eat that steamed bun first, will you take it from me?"
Xie Yushu pulled her arm away and said
"Sit up straight when you speak. Don't you know that men and women shouldn't touch each other? Behave yourself!"
Xuanyuan Che reluctantly sat back down, muttering to himself.
"You still haven't answered my question?"
"Yes! Although I don't know if that red dot is poisonous, I will expel anything that makes me feel unwell. No matter who has that steamed bun, I will take it from them, understand?"
"So you like Eryu?"
Xie Yushu was silent for a moment
"Hmm, I guess I like it!"
"Do you like me?"
"I treat you like a younger brother, and also like a friend."
"I don't want to be your younger brother, and I don't want to be your friend!"
"Then you'll just have to behave yourself and be my patient."
"I want to be your husband."
"No! I have no romantic feelings for you, so don't try anything funny!"
"My heart is breaking!"
Go back and take your medicine!
"Then you are not allowed to like Han Zhongyu either."
Xie Yushu: . . . . . . .
"If you marry Eryu, I'll kill myself!"
I'm telling the truth, I'd die of heartbreak.
Xie Yushu said angrily
Shut up! Say another word and I'll slap you!
Xuanyuan Che finally behaved himself.
Xie Yushu's frustration level increased by ten. Why did Han have to be born? And why did they both have to be sent to her side, leaving her with neither of them!
Even if I want to have a relationship, there are always people watching. Ugh! Life is so boring!
Time flies, and it's already December. With the Lunar New Year just around the corner, people are starting to prepare for the holiday.
This year's harvest was bountiful, and many people in the vicinity earned money again. With extra money in their hands, people flocked to the city to prepare for the New Year, making Tai'an Prefecture more prosperous than ever before.
Xie Baoshu and his wife, along with Liu Qiang's mother, also arrived in Tai'an Prefecture in a donkey cart. Since the wedding was scheduled for the first month of next year, both families wanted to come before the new year to present the betrothal gifts.
Ordinary people value things going smoothly, so the two families bought six bolts of cloth, six bushels of rice, sixty catties of cotton, and sixty catties of meat in town, and also took six jars of liquor and six sets of toiletries from Xie Yushu.
In addition, there was a betrothal gift of ten taels of silver, a pair of silver bracelets, and a pair of silver earrings.
This level of prestige is quite respectable for Xie Tianqi and Liu Nan, given their social standing.
Xie Tianming was accompanied by Xie Baoshu and his wife, along with Xie Tianqi, to present the betrothal gifts.
Liu Nan was accompanied by Liu Qiang and Liu Bei, while Liu Xiaodong went with his mother.
Both families hired official matchmakers, and the in-laws were extremely satisfied, waiting only for the sixth day of the first lunar month next year to marry off their daughter.
Because Tai'an Prefecture was too far from Xiejia Village and Liujia Village, the wedding date was set for two days. The sixth day of the month was the bride's main day. Xie Tianming and Liu Nan first welcomed their new bride to the new house in Tai'an Prefecture, where they hosted a banquet for their colleagues, rested for one night, and then returned to Xiejia Village and Liujia Village.
Because of the long distance, it would take two days to travel by horse-drawn carriage, so the actual date for Xiejia Village and Liujia Village was set for the ninth day of the first lunar month.
After exchanging betrothal gifts, Xie Baoshu and his wife, along with Liu Qiang's mother, went home.
Since they were brothers, Xie Yushu took advantage of her free time to personally arrange the wedding room for Xie Tianming and Liu Nan, along with Nan Xingchunyu.
Well, she didn't really need to do everything herself, but after everything that had happened, she had come to regard Xie Tianqi and the others as family. Getting married was a big deal, so she was willing to help.
Xuanyuan Che also joined in the fun.
Since Xie Yushu figured that since she was already going to have to go through all the trouble, she might as well renovate Xie Tianqi's and Liu Bei's houses as well.
The four courtyards were completely renovated, inside and out. A heated kang bed was built in the east room, and a large bed was built in the west room. In winter, when it was cold, people would stay in the east room, and in summer, when it was hot, they would stay in the west room. A sofa and coffee table were also provided for each family.
The bedding, tableware, and other items were all provided.
Xuan Yuanche watched Xie Yushu bustling about, especially arranging Xie Tianqi and Xie Tianming's room, personally selecting even the smallest details like teacups and tea bowls, and said with a hint of sourness...
"Tomorrow I'll build a mansion near your villa, and you'll decorate it just like that, making sure you personally select everything."
Xie Yushu rolled her eyes at him
"roll!"
Xuanyuan Che started nagging again.
"You just don't care about me, you don't like me, fine, but you say you treat me like a younger brother, like a friend. You're willing to decorate houses for them, add this and buy that, but you don't care about me. Do you have any conscience at all?"
"And yet I treated you so well!"
After saying that, he stared at Xie Yushu with an accusing look on his face.
Xie Yushu gave him a flick on the forehead.
"How big is Xie Tianqi's house? How big is your mansion? I also want to ask you, what are you up to? Are you trying to work me to death?"
Faced with Xie Yushu's repeated questioning, Xuan Yuanche guiltily shut his mouth; he hadn't thought of that question.
He'd rather not build it. If he does, and then gets kicked out, it'll be a losing proposition.
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