Remarrying Chun Yuan

Chapter 158 Rules

Liu Yuechu felt embarrassed but didn't hide anything. "It's nothing. I was just worried that Zhang Zhitong might be unreliable, so I thought I'd secretly find out."

Yuan Cuo lowered his voice, "If you're going to investigate, why do you have to do it secretly?"

"What if Yu-jie likes him? Won't she blame me for meddling? Besides, Madam Lin has never liked our family. I'm afraid that my good intentions will backfire." Liu Yuechu was indeed worried.

“Good intentions will only lead to good things, and even bad things will turn into good things.” Yuan Cuo remained calm as always.

Liu Yuechu stopped and said, "Speak your mind directly. Don't act like some kind of otherworldly immortal. People who don't know better might think you're doing fortune-telling."

"It's good if there are no problems. If there are problems, just let others find out, right? Have you forgotten about the Fang family?" Yuan Cuo dared not keep them in suspense any longer.

Liu Yuechu blinked, "Fang Ziqing?"

"Although Fang Ziqing has nothing to do with you, she is on good terms with Huang Wanwan, and now she is also getting close to Lin Mengyu. Just have her deliver the message."

"Besides, this doesn't count as asking for favors. Vice Minister Fang married his daughter to His Highness the Crown Prince, which displeased the Third Prince, and he's been suppressed ever since. He desperately needs a chance to turn things around, and he's just worried about stirring up trouble." Yuan Cuo put it bluntly.

Liu Yuechu stared intently at him. "Who is your target?"

“Empress Dowager,” Yuan Cuo said directly, “the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is the maternal uncle of the Empress Dowager’s brother’s son.”

Liu Yuechu: "...Isn't your feathers cut a little too lightly?" This relationship is really too distant.

Yuan Cuo, however, remained calm and composed. "Pulling one out is one thing, and little by little, it adds up. Besides, isn't it my wife who wants to stand up for Lin Mengyu?" This was the most important point.

After thinking about it carefully, Liu Yuechu realized that what he said made sense. "But Lu Bingyang is no good either. Why did he have to provoke Yu Jie'er? We should even ask him about it."

Liu Yuechu had lost her appetite and only took a couple of bites before stopping. Only Liu Musheng was still urging Yuan Cuo to have a couple of drinks, since the food at Guiyuelou shouldn't be wasted.

Suozi's wife arrived quickly, and the news she gave instantly sobered up the drunken Liu Musheng.

"The Empress Dowager sent out new invitations for her birthday banquet, but not to our household. Now everyone is saying that the son-in-law saved the Empress Dowager, but he must have done something to anger her. Many more people say that the son-in-law wants to use this as an excuse to take a shortcut and not have to participate in the autumn imperial examination."

"But the Empress Dowager preferred to suffer in silence rather than compromise, so she only rewarded two maids afterward and let the matter drop."

……

Suozi's wife rattled off a string of rumors, her expression tense. Basically, the rumors were all detrimental to the Liu family, with some even eyeing them covetously.

Liu Musheng kept staring at Yuan Cuo, "So, do you have it or not?" He actually thought it was a good idea.

"Bullshit!"

Liu Yuechu was genuinely angry.

Regardless of whether they are related or not, Yuan Cuo saved the Empress Dowager's life. Even if he were a stranger, she should be grateful and say a few kind words. Who would have thought that she would embarrass her one after another? Does she really not value her own life?

Besides, so what if Yuan Cuo wanted to take a shortcut?

He was originally of royal blood. It was her unreliable son who caused Yuan Cuo to wander and drift aimlessly. Moreover, he refused to reveal who his biological mother was. It was simply outrageous!

"Don't be angry, it's normal, it doesn't matter. When I saved people, I never thought I would get a good reward." Yuan Cuo saw her face turn red, like a ripe peach.

Liu Yuechu, however, could see a hint of resolute desolation and helplessness in his faint smile.

She felt a pang of sorrow, thinking of how he had left the capital in his previous life and never returned, and also of her own father.

Weren't she and Liu Musheng also abandoned by their father? He ignored them completely. Did he think that giving them a large inheritance was enough? Why didn't he consider whether she and her elder brother might be deceived, or whether this inheritance could be preserved?

“There are always irresponsible people in the world who give birth to children and then run away without looking back…” Her eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and she couldn’t hold back any longer, bursting into sobs.

Liu Musheng was startled.

He didn't understand what had happened or why he suddenly started crying.

"What's going on? I was just asking, I didn't mean anything by it." He had no idea why Liu Yuechu was crying.

Yuan Cuo understood, and simply picked her up and carried her back into the house.

Liu Musheng looked at Suozi's wife and said, "What other rumors are there? Tell me about them."

Suozi's wife rolled her eyes. She naturally understood how unreliable this young master was. "There are plenty of rumors, but the opinions about you are all very negative. They say you're a womanizer, that you've taken girls to brothels, and all sorts of unpleasant things have to do with you."

"The families that the princess had previously arranged marriages for you have all refused, and have even distanced themselves from the princess because of it."

"You can do whatever you want, just stop thinking about getting married!"

After she finished speaking, she turned around and went to find Granny Fang to ask Liu Yuechu what she wanted to do at the mansion.

Liu Musheng was struck by these words as if he had been hit by lightning.

He picked up a jar of wine and gulped it down. "What am I lacking? I am honest and sincere, and I am generous when inviting friends over. Moreover, I only go to brothels to drink and listen to music; I have never done anything sordid."

"I'm still a virgin, I really am a virgin..."

……

At this moment, Madam Lin was also scolding Lin Mengyu, and the person she was scolding was Liu Musheng, "You are a woman of marriageable age, and you ran to someone else's house after arguing with your family. What kind of behavior is this?"

"Besides, what kind of place is the Liu family? Her brother spends his days indulging in drinking, gambling, whoring, and fooling around. You're a clean and innocent girl, aren't you afraid of being gossiped about?"

"Besides, Liu Yuechu has also been blinded by money, actually sending her husband to save the Empress Dowager, hoping to get another official position in return. What respectable official lives off a sinecure? Their family are not the kind of people who pursue a proper official career!"

"From now on, you are not allowed to have any further dealings with the Liu family. Just stay at home and wait to marry your cousin!"

Madam Lin spoke hastily, coughing incessantly. The phlegm she coughed up contained a trace of blood, but she simply clutched the handkerchief in her hand, not allowing anyone else to see.

Aunt Meng chimed in sarcastically, "Yu'er's personality is just too carefree. It's only because she married our Tong'er that she's so good at managing things. Who else could tolerate her?"

“A perfectly good girl, she ran away after just a few words. Now that she’s married into our household, she can’t be so unruly.”

"Why don't you go apologize to your cousin? The Liu family only got along well with you because they knew you were going to marry him. Those merchant families are scheming to the bone. From now on, when you come to my house, you'd better behave yourself. After all, I'm your aunt, and I would never harm you."

Lin Mengyu slowly raised her head and looked at Zhang Zhitong standing in front of her. His gaze roamed over her as if she were food on a plate, making her want to vomit instantly.