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

The walking entourage stayed outside the city. They were military infantrymen, and although they were also Prince Duan's personal soldiers, they could only be stationed outside the city.

The five-horse carriage drove into the capital with great majesty, with servants, the steward's carriages, and the cavalry guarding it from front and back.

All the pedestrians in the city retreated, but they were all standing on both sides, looking out. Some people who had nothing to do even followed the carriage team forward.

However, when the team reached the east side of the capital and entered a branch road, many guards formed a human wall at the intersection, blocking both ends of the branch road. Some people even wanted to go in to see.

Immediately, a guard drew his sword and threatened, shouting in a deep voice: "Prince Duan, return home! Everyone else, please retreat!"

"Prince Duan is so domineering!" The common people could only sigh and disperse. The people who were mixed in with the common people had to retreat in disappointment when they saw that they could not get any news.

Liu Rusi didn't know any of this. When she got out of the carriage, she was greatly relieved to see that no one was watching.

But in a blink of an eye, she was entangled in other things...

Before my eyes was a magnificent mansion. On a black plaque were three large golden characters "Prince Duan's Mansion". On the door lintel were many exquisite dragon patterns carved. The vermilion door covered with brass nails was already wide open.

Seeing her standing there with a complicated expression, Chu Shiyu said nervously, "It's noon now, the sun is bright, why don't you go in quickly?"

If you go in, can you get out? Liu Rusi really doubts it.

"I don't want to live here. I've already agreed that when I go to the capital, I will buy a small house to live in." Liu Rusi said solemnly.

I had hoped that she would go in while she was dazed, but it seems that this won't work... Chu Shiyu had already prepared a statement: "You have to look around and choose when buying a house. It's not that easy to buy a satisfactory one. You can live with me first and move in after you buy one."

"I'll just find an inn to stay in first, so I won't bother you any more."

They had already arrived in the capital, and Liu Rusi didn't want to get entangled any longer, so she pulled up little Qin Hao and signaled Caiyun with her eyes. She turned around and was about to walk out. As long as the person could leave, it should be no problem for him to help with the luggage.

However, she had only tried it naively. Seeing the guards standing in front of her like a human wall, Liu Rusi thought that Chu Shiyu would only give her a certain range of choices...

Chu Shiyu walked around to her and persuaded her softly: "Regardless of anything else, you are my savior, and Qin Hao is now my adopted son. In any case, we are closely related."

"I have so many empty courtyards in my house, but it's not reasonable for you to stay in an inn. Why don't you stay here for a while?"

Liu Rusi still tilted her head to stare at the guard who was blocking her way. After a long silence, she looked at him and asked in a deep voice, "Then when can I go to see the house? After seeing it, when can I move in?"

These two questions blocked Chu Shiyu's next words. Couldn't she be a little dumber? Was his plan to delay it until the end of time exposed so soon? !

After a quick turn of thought, Chu Shiyu found a reasonable reason and said softly, "Aren't we going to hire a famous teacher to teach Qin Hao? Please come to my house to teach... It will be more respectable, and the teacher will probably be more dedicated."

Liu Rusi frowned and asked, "Aren't you going to the academy? Are you just looking for a teacher to teach you privately?"

Seeing her attitude, Chu Shiyu understood that she wanted to send Qin Hao to school, so he quickly explained: "The best school in the capital is naturally the Imperial Academy, but students usually have to be seven years old to enroll in the Imperial Academy. I can let Qin Hao go in early, but it will take some time..."

Hearing this, Liu Rusi suddenly realized that she was originally afraid that Qin Hao would be bullied in school, and she didn't want Qin Hao to enter the academy early. But now, because he is the adopted son of Prince Duan, others will not dare to kill him, and Qin Hao is so confident that he is even a little arrogant, so she thinks that she can send him to the academy early to suppress him...

However, the school has an age limit, so there is no need to force it. Liu Rusi nodded and said, "Well, there is no rush for school. You can let him study at home first..."

"Mom~Haohao is hungry...we haven't had lunch yet." Little Qin Hao suddenly spoke.

Chu Shiyu's eyes sparkled. Very good, this kid is becoming likable again. He quickly took Xiao Qinhao's hand and said to Liu Rusi, who was holding the other hand, "Let's go in and have dinner first. We can talk behind your back if there's anything."

Liu Rusi followed speechlessly and helplessly. How could she not know that her son did it on purpose? Did he sell his own mother out because he didn't want to study on his own? !

Finally, she entered the palace of Prince Duan. Chu Shiyu acted like a tour guide, introducing some of the buildings she passed by as she walked...

"Chengyun Hall is usually used to entertain guests and hold banquets here. I rarely use it."

"This is the Cunxin Hall. I usually handle government affairs here. By the way, the warehouse is on the left. If you need anything, you can just ask the maid to get it."

Liu Rusi listened expressionlessly. Did he really think she would stay here for a long time? Why did he explain it in such detail?

"After passing this door, it belongs to the palace...house..." Chu Shiyu's voice paused.

"Welcome back to the palace, Your Majesty! I greet you, Your Majesty!" The gentle and beautiful female voices shouted in unison.

Three beautiful women bowed together. Each of them brought a maid and some other servants to pay their respects. The entire road in front of the door was blocked.

Liu Rusi looked at the three women in front of her in surprise. They were about the same age as her and had similar looks...

She was immediately horrified! Could it be that Chu Shiyu had some kind of collecting fetish? !

She immediately turned to look at Chu Shiyu, and saw that his face was full of pain, as if he wanted to listen to my explanation.

Seeing that he looked a little relieved, but still a little frightened, Liu Rusi asked tentatively and teasingly, "Do you want to gather four people to play mahjong?"

Chu Shiyu paused for a moment, understood the meaning of this sentence, and immediately explained eagerly: "No! These three were given to me by my father when I won the first place in the imperial examination at the age of seventeen! Because it was a public gift from the emperor, I had to accept them! I have never touched any of them! If you don't believe me, you can check their bodies!"

The amount of information was a bit overwhelming, and Liu Rusi retreated in shock. The last two words, 'body check', made her subconsciously glance under him... Can a man be tested?

Noticing her gaze, Chu Shiyu's ears suddenly turned red, and he said awkwardly: "I mean to test them..."

Liu Rusi was looking at those women again when she heard him add in a very quiet voice: "But, I am indeed Yuanyang... not yet..."

Liu Rusi accepted the information coming from her ears, but at the same time, her mind was in a mess! The amount of information was really a bit too much!

Speaking of body examination, the beauty on the left of the three bit her lips and looked under Chu Shiyu, the one in the middle had a wooden face and no ripples, and the one on the right dodged as if shy?

Chu Shiyu was lying? But why lie to her? She was married, and her children were here. She even heard that he was still a virgin, so she didn't want to mess with him...

Seeing that she hadn't spoken, Chu Shiyu was anxious to prove his innocence: "Do you want to test? Then I'll arrange for them to go to the room now..."

"No need. Didn't you say you wanted to eat? I'm really starving." Liu Rusi interrupted the strange conversation. What does it have to do with her whether someone is a virgin or not? !

"Okay, okay! Let's go eat first!"

Chu Shiyu led the way, glared at the women and told them to go back. He didn't want to dwell on this issue any longer. No matter what, it was a fact that he had three concubines...

But he never paid any attention to these three people! It was just a few more idle people in the palace! And he had been away from home for many years before, and he had completely forgotten about these people!

After walking a little further, seeing that it was convenient to talk now, little Qin Hao couldn't help but ask the question that concerned him the most: "Isn't foster father a prince? How did he win the first place in the imperial examination?"

Little Qin Hao's knowledge grew day by day, and studying was what he cared about most. Daxia had a clear stipulation that merchants and people of low status could not take the imperial examinations. In fact, there was an unwritten rule that royal relatives would not be accepted as candidates. Since the surname Chu was uncommon before Daxia, it meant that no one with the surname Chu could take the imperial examinations.

Leading a few people into the Lin'an Palace, Chu Shiyu saw that Liu Rusi was vaguely curious, but she didn't seem to pay attention to where she entered.

“Of course I didn’t participate in the imperial examination normally. I changed my name and bribed the academic official who entered the list, so that I was able to take the exam. But the results are real, they are all based on my own talents and learning.” Chu Shiyu did not hide his pride in this achievement.

Walking into Guangming Hall, a table of food had been prepared in the side hall. Chu Shiyu pulled little Qin Hao to sit down and said, "Let's eat first, and I'll tell you in detail after the meal."

It is their custom not to talk while eating. They eat quietly but their eyes are idle.

Before today, the most magnificent ancient building Liu Rusi had seen was the Zhang family's villa, which was already magnificent. However, when she entered Prince Duan's mansion, she still felt like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden...

As for the side room where we eat, it is very large, just like sitting in a small cafeteria... From the beams to the floor, the doors and windows to the furnishings, the materials used to the craftsmanship, everything demonstrates the owner's dignity.

Liu Rusi looked calm, after all, she had seen the world in modern TV dramas, so she could pretend to be calm. But Caiyun was really surprised, looking left and right, and didn't even bother to eat.

Xue Fei, who was waiting beside Liu Rusi, pretended to be calm, but she could not hide the shock in her eyes. Mei Hong and Zhu Qing, who served Xiao Qinhao, were even more so. They and Ju Xiang were maids bought from Jinyan City and had never been to the palace.

Little Qin Hao accepted it well. After all, he was only five years old. The world was still new to him and everything he saw was new. Because he had been exposed to new things in the past few months, he was able to put his curiosity aside - he would watch it slowly after dinner.

They ate with different expressions. Liu Rusi put down her chopsticks after her bowl was empty, and Chu Shiyu finished eating soon after her.

"Let me continue to tell you about my scientific expedition?" Chu Shiyu took the initiative to start the topic.

Little Qinhao's eyes were full of anticipation. He hadn't eaten yet, but he only used his ears to listen to the story.

But Liu Rusi glanced at Xue Fei and the maids beside her without leaving a trace, shook her head and said: "We can talk about these things slowly later. We are a little tired after the journey. Take us to the temporary courtyard later."

Chu Shiyu was slightly disappointed. He hoped that Liu Rusi could understand him better. Since she would not ask, he would have to find a chance to tell her himself... But he also understood her concerns. Naturally, there were some secrets about his imperial examinations. Although he was not afraid of others knowing, it was a good thing that these girls did not listen.

Little Qin Hao's eyes were full of disappointment, but of course he had to listen to what his mother said.

Liu Rusi was obviously waiting for Caiyun and Qin Hao to finish eating, and the side hall was quiet for a moment.

"Do we want to take Qin Hao and Caiyun with us to the palace banquet tonight?" Chu Shiyu suddenly asked.

His questioning meant that Liu Rusi was going to go, but he was still worried. He wanted to have all the important people in Beijing meet Liu Rusi to confirm their unusual relationship, but Liu Rusi probably didn't want to go, and he couldn't force her to do so.

"Caiyun, Haohao, do you want to go?" Liu Rusi asked.

Chu Shiyu was shocked. Is she willing to go?! Is it possible that she didn't understand his subtext?

"I want to go, but let me see what mother thinks. If she doesn't allow me, then I won't go." Little Qin Hao has now learned to express his wishes first and then seek consent.

Caiyun was looking at the palace lanterns in the corner in amazement, counting the rare and auspicious animals on them that she didn't know what they were, when she suddenly realized that her sister Si had asked her a question, and belatedly asked, "Where are we going?"

"Go to the palace and attend the palace banquet." Chu Shiyu answered with a smile. He finally understood why Liu Rusi liked Caiyun. It was really funny.

"The… the palace? No! I don't want to go to the palace!" In Caiyun's eyes, the palace was no different from the heavenly palace. She didn't want to meet those big shots like the emperor and his wife! She was just an ordinary little girl. These high-ranking people would only make her feel intimidated!

After the two of them expressed their opinions, Liu Rusi looked at Chu Shiyu, meaning that it should be arranged according to their respective wishes.

But Chu Shiyu still couldn't believe it, and asked in a low voice as if to confirm: "Then you and Qin Hao will go together?"

Liu Rusi nodded calmly.

This unexpected attitude surprised and delighted Chu Shiyu! He quickly stood up and said, "Then let's go take a rest now? The palace banquet starts at twilight hour, and an hour and a half of bathing and dressing may be a bit rushed, but it doesn't matter if you're a little late."

Liu Rusi nodded and stood up. Little Qinhao also slipped off the chair after eating. Caiyun also wanted to get up and go together when she saw this.

"If you don't want to go, there's no need to rush. Take your time to eat." Liu Rusi asked Caiyun to sit down, looked at Yang Xuefei and said, "Will you accompany Caiyun to eat here?"

Yang Xuefei looked at Caiyun timidly and just lowered her head, neither refusing nor agreeing.

Chu Shiyu glanced with his phoenix eyes and said calmly, "It's best to bring two smart maids with you to the palace. Take Xue Fei and Zhu Qing with you."

"Well, that's fine. Then Meihong, will you accompany Caiyun?" Liu Rusi asked.

"Okay, Madam Liu." Mei Hong responded immediately.

Chu Shiyu no longer cared about the maid's affairs. As a prince, it was impossible for him to take care of such trivial matters. Although Mei Hong had just arrived at the palace, there were stewards and servants to guide them.

After leaving the side hall and Guangming Hall, Liu Rusi watched Chu Shiyu lead them to the building at the back. She suddenly stopped and asked, "Didn't you say that we could stay in the empty yard temporarily?"

"Yes, this side is empty." Chu Shiyu said naturally.

"Do you think I can't read? I know the word 'palace' in Fanghua Palace."

Liu Rusi narrowed her eyes and looked at Chu Shiyu. She was not completely ignorant. The palaces in the prince's mansion were for the masters only to live in. The masters here referred to the prince himself and the princess. Concubines were sometimes not assigned to live in the palace.

As a guest, no matter how honorable she is, she can't be arranged here. If she lives in, she will never be able to clear her name in this life! She still underestimated Chu Shiyu, who actually came up with such a shameless trick!

Chu Shiyu looked at the "Fang Hua Dian" hanging high up. It was indeed the easiest for people to be blinded by the light. He actually forgot such an obvious thing! He sighed lightly. It seemed that it was impossible to fool Liu Rusi.

"Your luggage has been moved in, and the clothes you need to wear to the palace banquet are also prepared inside...time is a bit tight, can we discuss it after you come back from the dinner?" He planned to try another delaying tactic.

"Then I won't go to the palace banquet. Have someone move all my luggage to the front guest house." Liu Rusi refused to give in this time. If she went into Fanghua Palace even just to wash up, she would most likely be identified as Prince Duan's woman, which was completely different from the unclear relationship she had had in the past.

"I'll ask people to move right away. If we hurry up, we'll be in time for the palace banquet. Let's go together." Chu Shiyu gave the servants a look, and immediately many maids and servants went to move things.

In fact, it is not impossible to force her to move in, but what is the point if she is resentful? It is better to wait until she has a legitimate status in the future, and then let her move in with a legitimate reason. At that time, let her live in the main hall directly!

"Then let's go directly to the empty courtyard. It's very sunny outside, so don't get too sunburned." Chu Shiyu signaled Liu Rusi to follow him.