Priceless: A widow with a baby asks the prince to marry again

"I finally understand why His Royal Highness Prince Duan wants you to bring guards with you when you go out! If you don't go with me in the future, you should bring them with you!"

After chasing away the third person who tried to hook up with Liu Rusi, Fang Qiu felt helpless.

Liu Rusi was also very embarrassed. She had expected to be hit on, but she didn't expect it to be so exaggerated. She looked almost the same as in her previous life! In her previous life, she didn't go out alone so often!

"Huh? Are there so many young widows in the capital?" Caiyun tried to change the subject.

The two women also immediately shifted their attention, and Fang Qiu asked in confusion, "Widow?"

"Yes, many people have widow's braids on their heads." Caiyun glanced at two women who were choosing things on the side of the road. Both of them had colorful ropes braided in their hair.

Fang Qiu was silent, looking at Liu Rusi's head. There was also something on her hair...

Liu Rusi suddenly understood! She was even more embarrassed! How did she know that someone would learn to braid hair like her? !

Xue Fei behind him was also surprised after figuring it out. Qiu Ju was a step slower in understanding and was horrified! The colorful string she helped Madam Liu braid into her hair was a widow's braid? !

"Does wearing green clothes have any meaning?" Fang Qiu asked solemnly. She herself didn't learn how to dress, but many people she knew were imitating her!

"No! There is no meaning! I just wear it casually!" Liu Rusi denied it three times in a row! No way?! Has Liu Cui enhanced her trouble attribute in this life?!

Caiyun finally understood that it was related to Sister Si. She observed the women on the street and said in surprise, "Really? Women from wealthy families tend to wear green clothes more often!"

A young man who had been hesitating for a long time came forward and asked softly with a red face: "Where are you looking for..."

"Get out!" Fang Qiu said angrily!

The boy's face turned pale again, and he retreated dejectedly...

Everyone got used to it and continued to walk forward.

Liu Rusi touched her hair and found it was a woman’s bun!

It takes about three quarters of an hour to walk from her residence to the front gate of the imperial palace where the various departments are located. Several people planned to walk here, and the round trip would take exactly one hour.

Just as Liu Rusi saw the plaque on the door that read "Ministry of Personnel", she heard shouting from the other side.

"Ms. Shang**, the second daughter of the Minister of Public Administration, went out for a trip and accidentally found five thousand taels of silver! My young lady is selfless and has sent the full amount to the Ministry of Revenue! May Daxia prosper!"

"Go, go, go! Go back and eat! I'm starving!"

Fang Qiu suddenly pulled Liu Rusi over and walked back! Liu Rusi only had time to glance at the boxes in front of the door...

Fang Qiu was tall and had long legs, and he walked very quickly. Liu Rusi and several other girls had to jog to keep up with him!

Only after walking out of the areas of various departments did Fang Qiu slow down his pace a little.

Liu Rusi had already guessed the reason. In order to avoid embarrassing Fang Qiu, she looked at the shops on the street as if nothing had happened and exclaimed, "The capital city is so prosperous!"

"Yes, there are so many beautiful gatehouses. Other cities are far behind!" Caiyun responded.

Fang Qiu sighed gloomily and revealed: "I will also contribute to the future prosperity. I donated 10,000 taels..."

Liu Rusi was embarrassed and wondered how to comfort her.

Fang Qiu suddenly laughed again and said, "But Changning donated 30,000! Hahahahaha!"

Seeing her gloating over other people's misfortunes again, Liu Rusi also breathed a sigh of relief. Although it was inexplicable, it was because of her that the trend started. If she got into trouble, she would be uneasy...

"But it's a good thing that someone donated money to replenish the national treasury, right?" Liu Rusi asked half-guidingly.

"Of course it's a good thing that has no harm. Even for people like me and Changning who come from noble families, we still need our families' consent to spend tens of thousands of taels. However, at the beginning, it was just us ladies who were interested in Prince Duan competing with each other."

"But after His Majesty's approval, many famous families began to follow suit! Even the Prime Minister's Mansion and the Minister of Personnel's family donated, and the donations became larger and larger! The day before yesterday, a wealthy private businessman donated three million taels!"

Fang Qiu lowered his voice and said to Liu Rusi, "You should know that the annual tax revenue of gold and silver in Daxia is only about three million! This morning, His Majesty praised the rich merchant for his patriotism and granted the rich merchant's three generations of descendants, regardless of whether they were legitimate or illegitimate, the opportunity to participate in the imperial examinations as merchants!"

Liu Rusi showed a look of surprise, but she was complaining in her heart that Chu Shiyu's method of getting something for nothing turned out to be a tradition!

The mentality of "all things are inferior, only reading is superior" came into being with the emergence of the imperial examination system. For wealthy but low-status merchants, being able to take part in the imperial examination was obviously an honor.

But how difficult is the imperial examination?! Forget about getting the top prize. If five out of a hundred people who are familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics can pass the imperial examination, it would be good! As long as you pass the examination properly, you are a talent. What does it matter what nationality you are from? And it is only for three generations! It is clear that the wealthy businessmen are not allowed to rest on their laurels once and for all, and their descendants are encouraged to contribute to the great country!

"Um... could you please not tell others that the colorful string is a widow's braid?" Liu Rusi asked with a guilty conscience. After this trend has passed, when everyone knows that it is a widow's braid, they probably won't be so angry...

Fang Qiu nodded readily. She had never woven one before anyway. At most, she could tell the girl she was close to that weaving colored ropes was out of fashion.

Maybe the five women walked back faster, and they didn't encounter any more people trying to approach them on the way back to the house.

As soon as you enter the gate, a tall figure rushes towards you!

"We agreed to bring guards with you when you go out!" Chu Shiyu couldn't suppress his anger.

"I'll bring her next time..." Liu Rusi pretended to be wronged and whispered to comfort him, "I just thought that Miss Fang Qiu is very skilled in martial arts, and it's safe to have her with me... Isn't this okay?"

After hearing a few gentle words, most of his anger disappeared, and the rest was directed at Fang Qiu! Chu Shiyu said coldly: "You knowingly committed a crime! Do you really think that I can't punish you?"

Fang Qiu grinned awkwardly. After what she had seen along the way, she realized that His Royal Highness Prince Duan was not making a fuss and that she was indeed in the wrong.

"Don't blame Miss Fang, and don't punish the guards. This was all my own idea... I have already admitted my mistake. If you still blame them, I will not go out in the future..." Liu Rusi said a lot of green tea.

This trick was very simple, but the problem was that Chu Shiyu really fell for it. He calmed down and turned into tenderness, and only asked in a gentle voice at the end: "Will you bring someone with you when you go out in the future?"

"I will bring at least two maids and four guards." Liu Rusi weighed the pros and cons and decided that it was not unacceptable to bring a few more people to attract attention, rather than the annoying disturbances along the way.

"Well... the guard's fifty strokes of the cane will be postponed. If you go out without bringing it with you again, the punishment will be cumulative." Chu Shiyu threatened softly.

Liu Rusi was stagnant, her weakness was taken advantage of! She nodded helplessly!

"How about I go back first? I'll come to have dinner with you next time?" Fang Qiu felt uncomfortable listening to their conversation, and suddenly felt that being loved by Prince Duan might not be a good thing! If she was controlled like this, she would be furious in two days!

Chu Shiyu was gentle towards Liu Rusi, but turned cold towards Fang Qiu. He said sarcastically, "You still want to..."

"Miss Fang asked me to ask you something. Now that you are here, why don't we talk in person?" Liu Rusi said quickly in a gentle tone.

"What's the matter?" Chu Shiyu was happy to help Liu Rusi, but if he turned to help Fang Qiu, that might not be the case, as he was still on guard against Fang Qiu!

"Can we talk after dinner? I'm a little tired..." Liu Rusi's eyes moved back and forth between the gate and the screen wall.

Chu Shiyu immediately took her hand and walked inside. If there were no outsiders around, he would have carried her in... He slightly turned his head to Fang Qiu Leng and said, "Come in and have dinner. By the way, think clearly whether what you want to ask is appropriate."

Fang Qiulue's expression became heavy, but he strode forward. How could he retreat when he had the chance?

When she arrived at the living room, Liu Rusi greeted her son and found that he seemed to be in a particularly good mood? But now was not the time to ask.

Five people sat down to eat.

Fang Qiu thought for a long time before he figured out how to start: "Your Highness, I want to..."

"Don't talk while eating. We'll talk after the meal." Chu Shiyu glared at her coldly and put the food on the chopsticks into Liu Rusi's bowl.

Fang Qiu couldn't help showing a disdainful expression when Chen Shuyuan's mood was disturbed! Prince Duan has too many problems! He used to envy Liu Rusi, what the hell is there to envy? !

Liu Rusi, who understood everything, lowered her head to eat, hoping Fang Qiu didn't know that she was the one who made this rule...

Dinner is over.

Liu Rusi said first: "Let's go to the west wing to talk. The living room needs to be cleaned up."

The living room of the house is actually included in the front yard. The guards will move the dining table in the corner to the middle of the living room before meals, and move it back after meals. Now Mao Yi and Mao San are also waiting inside the hall door.

Chu Shiyu understood that she knew that these guards might be the emperor's spies. Although he didn't know what she and Fang Qiu had to avoid the emperor, he still nodded and stood up, thinking it would be okay to listen.

No one lives in the West Wing, so it is planned to be used as an inner guest room to entertain some important guests who do not need to be avoided. For example, Liu Rusi thought that Yue Lin and his wife could live here, but Chu Shiyu only agreed to let Lin Qingzhi stay here occasionally - which is almost the same as not agreeing, so no one has lived in the West Wing so far.

However, the maids would clean the place every few days. The three of them went in and lit the lights. The overall look was simple but tidy.

Fang Qiu didn't care about these things, and didn't feel like beating around the bush, so he got straight to the point and said, "I want to join the army. Your Highness, can you help me cover up my identity as a woman and let me in?"

Chu Shiyu paused, and almost laughed. Is it necessary to be on guard if you put someone in the sky? However, he said sarcastically, "Women are not allowed to enter the military camp, otherwise those who bring them will be punished by military law."

"It doesn't say how the woman herself should be punished. Besides, can military law apply to Your Highness?" Fang Qiu's understanding of the military camp was basically just short of personal experience.

"The prince is subject to the same punishment as the common people if he breaks the law." Chu Shiyu said coldly.

This is sophistry. When did the prince commit the same crime as the common people? Fang Qiu hated talking nonsense the most and looked at Liu Rusi for help.

But Liu Rusi turned to Fang Qiu and said, "Miss Fang, why don't you consider it? In addition to getting married and joining the army, there are many other choices in life. For example... you can teach martial arts to women who are interested? I have also thought about learning kung fu."

Liu Rusi felt that just asking one question would be enough. Since Chu Shiyu had concerns, there was no need to force him to be generous. No one knew whether such unconventional things would have serious consequences.

Fang Qiu seemed to be thinking about something. It seemed quite interesting. Although he still wanted to go to the battlefield, there were indeed many obstacles to joining the army.

Only Chu Shiyu almost failed! Not marrying or joining the army, but staying to teach Liu Rusi martial arts? ! His suspicion was about to explode! After a few breaths, he maintained a calm expression and said: "It's not that I can't help, but Zhenyuan should not agree to this matter, otherwise why would you come to ask this king?"

"Tsk, Your Highness! Just tell me straight, what will it take for you to help me?" Fang Qiu suddenly felt that if she had to get married in the future, she would at least marry someone who was as happy as she was!

Chu Shiyu said in a serious tone: "The battlefield is cruel. If you are unfortunate enough to fall into the enemy camp, men may be humiliated, but women..."

"I know! If I can succeed, I will leave a letter home. In the hands of the enemy, I will be dead, just a body! The children of the Fang family swear not to be captured! I will never become a weak point that restrains my father and brothers!" Fang Qiu said the oath that had been buried deep in his heart for many years in a sonorous and powerful voice.

Chu Shiyu nodded slowly and said in a deep voice: "In a month at most, there will be a chance for you to join the army, but I won't help you for nothing."

"Your Highness, just speak up!"

Fang Qiu is in high spirits!

...

The lights in the west wing flickered for a long time until the two candles in the corner were extinguished, and then the door was opened.

"It's late at night, Miss Fang, why don't you stay here tonight?" Liu Rusi said to persuade her.

Fang Qiu agreed without blinking: "Okay! I'll sleep with you. I was just thinking of chatting with you again! I'm probably going to be so happy that I won't be able to sleep tonight!"

Chu Shiyu said in a deep voice with a dark face: "This king does not allow it!"

"No need to chat." Liu Rusi glared at him in reproach. Why did he always chase away her guests? Then she turned to Fang Qiu and said softly, "Miss Fang, how about staying in the west wing? It's already midnight, and I'm a little sleepy. How about you accompany me tomorrow?"

"Well, that's fine. You ask the maid to tell my coachman to go back to General Zhenyuan's Mansion and tell him that I'm staying here tonight." Fang Qiu made up his mind in an instant and turned to look at the room he would stay in tonight.

Chu Shiyu was speechless. Fang Qiu really didn't know how to read people's faces. He didn't just mind Liu Rusi sleeping late! However, living in the west wing was not a big problem. He would stay here at night and watch over her! Liu Rusi couldn't guess what he was guarding against!

With an additional distinguished guest who needed to wash and go to bed, the five maids were a little overwhelmed.

Chunlan went to convey Fang Qiu's instructions, Zhuqing and Meihong started to decorate the west wing bedroom, Qiuju and Xuefei were responsible for serving the prince and his wife respectively.

"I'll just go to the bathroom to wash up. There's no need to carry hot water. It'll save the trouble." Liu Rusi held Xue Fei and went to the bathroom by herself.

"But Sister Si, I am responsible for helping you wash and dress..." Xue Fei glanced towards the left room. Sister Si went back to the room to get her pajamas and came out again. The prince had already entered the room.

"Caiyun also solved it herself there. Since you are serving me, you should follow my wishes."

Liu Rusi was too lazy to care about her tangled thoughts. She regarded herself as a maid, called her sister, and tried her best to climb up the social ladder.

Xue Fei went out a few times recently, and bought a lot of books at a bookstore near the Imperial College in Beijing, as well as writing brushes, ink and paper for the guards to learn to read. These alone may not reveal Xue Fei's purpose, but it's a pity that Chu Shiyu would use her movements to curry favor with Liu Rusi, and Liu Rusi could guess what she wanted to do just by hearing her movements...

Those who studied at the Imperial College were either rich, noble, or talented. Xue Fei went to the Imperial College after school. When choosing pens and ink, she was longing for the expensive items, but chose the cheap ones. She carefully picked out some books with errors and omissions, and hesitantly explained and bargained with the boss. What a stubborn and pitiful little white flower!

If Liu Rusi didn't know that she was not poor and would reimburse her, she would be heartbroken!

However, these tricks really work. Xue Fei has been noticed by several young masters from wealthy families, and Xue Fei is also very good at using resources rationally. Xue Fei always asks a guard to accompany her, but it is not the same one every time. When she sees someone who takes the bait, she will take the initiative to say that she was asked by Madam Liu to teach the guard to read, and she is stingy because she wants to help her master save money...

Let her play, just don't play too much...