Princess Promotion

After hearing what the maid said, Liu Rushi understood.

She was afraid of being entangled by me. The best place for women fleeing during famine was to work as maids in wealthy families.

Those who were almost there but had some looks were sold to brothels, so that at least they could have a full meal and survive.

Women and children have the lowest chance of survival while fleeing.

Liu Rushi closed the door, picked up the clothes and tried them on, only to find that they were too big. Putting them on felt like putting on a sack.

It was not until it was getting dark that Yunhua came back with a package on his back.

Seeing Yunhua return safely, Liu Rushi finally breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "What happened?"

Yun Hua's face was a little grim as he said, "The riot in the city has been quelled, but the master is missing."

Liu Rushi panicked instantly, subconsciously thinking in a bad direction: "What if he was caught by those rebels?"

Yun Hua shook his head and said, "The possibility is extremely small. If it really fell into their hands, they would have used it as a bargaining chip to negotiate with the court long ago. There is no way they would be so silent as they are now."

Liu Rushi felt a little relieved, but still worried, "Then Your Majesty... what should we do now?"

Liu Rushi originally wanted to say "Your Majesty", but thinking that walls have ears, she decided to be more careful and simply skipped the title.

Yunhua: "We guess that the master should have escaped successfully, but just couldn't contact us for the time being. Now we will stay here for a while."

Liu Rushi was puzzled. Shouldn't she go back to see His Majesty at this time?

Yunhua: "The news of our master's disappearance must not be leaked, otherwise it will cause chaos. Now we can only search in secret."

After hesitating for a while, Yunhua finally spoke: "I need you to take over for a while to divert the attention of the rebels."

This way, we can buy as much time as possible to find Yao Chuguang, while also protecting Yao Chuguang's whereabouts from being exposed.

The only problem is that this will put Liu Rushi in a dangerous situation.

After hearing this, Liu Rushi breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Don't worry about me. My life belongs to that lady. I am willing to die for her."

Yunhua is not a sentimental person, and there is only a possibility of danger now.

She has already dispatched people on the way here. Even if there is danger, the most they will suffer is loss of limbs, but their lives should be saved.

Liu Rushi: This is even more terrifying...

Zhou Yunqi walked through the corridor, came to the door and knocked.

"Come in!" A deep male voice came from the room.

Zhou Yunqi pushed the door open and saw his father, Zhou Shangshu, sitting by the window with a book in his hand.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Minister Zhou raised his head slightly, glanced at Zhou Yunqi calmly, and asked softly, "Is everything settled?"

Zhou Yunqi replied: "Everything has been arranged!"

Minister Zhou then nodded and said, "There's a rebellion in the town ahead. Tell the women in your family not to leave the mountain at will. We'll stay in this temple for a few more days."

Since the King of Yan surrendered, officials at all levels of Yan State also surrendered to Qi State naturally.

The empress decided to set the capital in Yundu City. As a result, some officials would need to move to Yundu to take up their posts.

Zhou Shangshu was the Minister of Revenue and was also involved in the relocation.

Before this, he had carefully selected and purchased a house in Yundu City. This time he came here to bring his wife, children and the elderly at home to the new house.

I didn't expect that when we were near the border, we would hear about a sudden riot by a rebel faction!

He had already purchased a house in Yundu City and was now coming here to pick up his entire family. However, he did not expect that there would be a rebel riot near the border.

Fortunately, they were quite far away from the place where the riot took place, and Minister Zhou knew very well that there were always garrisons guarding the border.

I think, with the strength of the garrison, it should only take a moment to quell this riot.

To ensure that everything goes smoothly, Minister Zhou thought about it again and again and decided to stay for a few days to wait and see how the situation develops. He would only set off again after the situation has completely stabilized.

If his family, whether old or young, were to encounter rebels, they would not be able to escape even if they wanted to.

Minister Zhou put down his book and began to ask about Zhou Yunqi's studies. "How are your studies going? The imperial examination is approaching, so don't slack off."

Zhou Yunqi was about to answer when a sweet female voice came from outside the room: "Father, are you there?"

Hearing this familiar voice, a barely perceptible smile suddenly appeared on the face of Minister Zhou, who had originally had a serious expression, and Zhou Yunqi turned around to open the door.

A pretty girl in her twenties was standing outside the door, her black and shiny hair cascading down her shoulders, pinned with a simple jade hairpin.

The girl had a sweet smile on her slightly raised lips, which made people feel happy. She was holding a tray with two bowls of sweet soup on it.

When Zhou Xinan saw that it was Zhou Yunqi who opened the door, he said, "Brother, you're here too! That's good. It saves me from making another trip to look for you."

After saying that, Zhou Xinan walked lightly into the house, placed the tray on the table, and then picked up a bowl of sweet soup. She handed it to Zhou Shangshu with both hands and said in a gentle voice, "Father, please try this sweet soup. I personally cooked it for you."

Minister Zhou took it with a smile. Seeing that Zhou Xinan came alone, he subconsciously frowned and asked, "Why are you here alone? Where is your maid?"

Zhou Xinan handed another bowl of sweet soup to Zhou Yunqi and said, "When I entered the temple today, I saw two women in tattered clothes. They looked so pitiful that I asked Yue'er to send two sets of clothes to them."

Minister Zhou said in a deep voice, "Next time, have someone else do this kind of thing. This place is not like home, and there are riots nearby. You must not be alone."

Zhou Xinan pouted slightly and said coquettishly, "I know, Father, you haven't told me whether this soup tastes good or not."

Minister Zhou couldn't help but reveal a doting smile on his face. He took a sip and said, "Very good!"

After Liu Rushi carefully cleaned herself from head to toe and made herself spotless, she breathed a deep sigh of relief. She felt as if every pore in her body had opened up and she was breathing in the fresh air to her heart's content. She immediately felt refreshed.

However, at this moment, a rumbling sound came from her stomach, reminding her that she was very hungry.

Liu Rushi raised her head and looked out the window, only to see that it had already darkened completely. She thought that the kitchen should have been turned off by now.

Liu Rushi nudged Yunhua and asked, "Is there anything to eat?"

Yunhua said helplessly, "Who told you to take so long to wash? They've already taken the dishes away."

Originally, the monks from the temple had brought dinner over, but because Liu Rushi had been bathing for two full hours, the temple had regulations on meal times and bedtimes.

They were staying in someone else's temple, so they naturally felt embarrassed to delay the monk who was serving the meal. Yunhua ate Liu Rushi's portion as well, planning to find other food for her when she came out.

Yunhua held a lantern and led Liu Rushi to a remote courtyard wall.

Liu Rushi looked at the dark, somewhat dilapidated courtyard and asked, "It doesn't look like there's anything to eat here."

Yunhua handed the lantern to Liu Rushi and said, "I brought some roast chicken from the foot of the mountain, but this is a temple after all, so I can't bring it in in front of people. I'll hide it outside and wait for me to climb over the wall and bring it in for you."

Liu Rushi said in surprise, "Then go quickly and come back soon."

You have to know that Liu Rushi hasn't had a proper meal in the past few days. Now she can finally eat something delicious, and it's meat. How can she not be excited?

Yunhua jumped over the wall in two or three nimble moves, while Liu Rushi was waiting there with a lantern in her hand.

"Who's there?" A low and magnetic male voice suddenly came from the distance.

Liu Rushi was startled by the sudden sound and turned around to look.

At this time, the night wind blew quietly, the hem of her skirt danced in the wind, and a few strands of hair fell down, gently brushing against Liu Rushi's fair and delicate cheeks, adding a bit of elegance and refinement to her.

The moonlight fell on Liu Rushi like water, making her look like a cold and beautiful woman who was detached from the world.

In the faint moonlight, I saw a man holding a lantern, slowly walking towards this side.

As he moved, the flickering candlelight illuminated the surrounding road.

As the man gradually approached, Liu Rushi finally saw that he was a handsome man with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and looked like a gentle and elegant nobleman.

At this moment, Yunhua climbed up the wall again with a roast chicken in his hand.

I saw Liu Rushi wearing a dress as white as snow, standing quietly at the foot of the dilapidated and mottled wall.

She has a graceful and elegant figure, like a person walking out of a painting.

The man walking towards Liu Rushi was also handsome and elegant. Especially when he saw Liu Rushi, a look of amazement that was difficult to conceal flashed in his deep eyes.

Yun Hua felt that it would be better for him to stay on the wall for now and not go down to ruin the atmosphere.

Liu Rushi curled the corners of her mouth slightly, and a hint of pride flashed in her eyes: I am indeed very charming. Just by standing here casually, I can make these men crazy.

The man stared at Liu Rushi blankly and asked, "Mother, why are you here?"

A deafening thunderclap struck Liu Rushi's head directly.

Chop Liu Rushi up until she's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside!

I treat you as a romantic encounter, and you treat me as your mother!

Before Liu Rushi could recover from the blow, the sound of something heavy falling brought her back to reality.

When Liu Rushi turned around, she saw Yunhua lying on the ground beside the wall in a messy posture, obviously having just fallen off the wall.

After Zhou Yunqi sent Zhou Xinan back to his room, he picked up the lantern and prepared to return to his own room.

However, when passing a small path, I heard strange noises near the wall, as if someone was talking.

Because of the riots at the border these days, Zhou Yunqi has been on high alert. The strange noise he heard now came from the wall.

Naturally, he was worried that a thief might have climbed over the wall, so he turned around and walked towards the direction of the noise.

I saw a light in the corner of the wall, and from a distance I saw a figure that was a woman.

Zhou Yunqi finally breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Who's there?"

But when Zhou Yunqi walked closer and saw the woman's appearance, he was stunned.

How come this person looks so similar to his mother? At first glance, he actually thought it was his mother. Now that he has seen it carefully, he realizes that he does look 90% similar to his mother, but he is much younger than his mother.

The strange noise naturally brought Zhou Yunqi back to reality, and he saw a person suddenly falling from the wall.

Zhou Yun was stunned at first and then quickly stood in front of Liu Rushi, looking at Yunhua with an unfriendly look. Who would climb over the wall in the middle of the night?

Liu Rushi walked around Zhou Yunqi and went forward to help Yunhua up, but Yunhua brushed off the dust on her body and got up before she could come over.

Liu Rushi looked at Zhou Yunqi's clothes and although she didn't know him, she could guess that he was the young master of the family that had stayed in the temple with her that morning.

If I don't explain clearly that I'm climbing over the wall in the middle of the night, it might cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

Although this man seemed a little abnormal, calling a young girl like her "mother", I didn't expect that he looked so handsome but was actually a fool.

Liu Rushi looked at Zhou Yunqi and said, "Sir, we are staying at the temple today. I missed dinner time and was a little hungry, so I asked my maid to go find something to eat. I didn't want to alert too many people, so I climbed over the wall."

After saying that, without waiting for Zhou Yunqi to speak, he ran away with Yunhua.

Zhou Yunqi stood there watching Liu Rushi walk away, and after thinking it over, he decided to go to his father's room.

When I arrived at Minister Zhou's room, I saw my mother as expected. Mrs. Zhou was sitting under the candlelight holding an embroidery.

Mrs. Zhou saw her son running over in the middle of the night, staring at her face in a daze, and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

Zhou Yunqi told Mrs. Zhou about his encounter with Liu Rushi.

After listening to this, Minister Zhou frowned, feeling that this matter was not simple.

How could there be such a coincidence in this world? Moreover, Zhou Yunqi just said that the woman looked about the same age as Zhou Xinan.

Although he was filled with doubts, Minister Zhou remained calm and said, "It's just a slight resemblance. There are so many people in this world who look alike. It's inappropriate to make such a fuss."

After sending Zhou Yunqi away with a few words, he waited until only Mrs. Zhou was left in the room before he slowly spoke: "Tomorrow, go and see if that woman really looks like her."

Although Mrs. Zhou was a little puzzled as to when Minister Zhou would pay attention to these matters, she did not say anything and suggested that she would go and take a look tomorrow.

Then the two of them turned off the lights and lay down to rest, and soon Mrs. Zhou fell asleep.

Only Minister Zhou was left tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep.

My thoughts drifted back to that thunderstorm night more than ten years ago!

Minister Zhou received a report from a servant in the mansion in his study, saying that Madam Zhou had given birth prematurely.

I was shocked at the moment and without thinking too much, I immediately ran to the delivery room.

When he finally arrived at the door of the delivery room, he saw basins of clear water being continuously delivered into the room, but what was brought out afterwards were basins of shocking blood.

The bright red color stung Minister Zhou's eyes. As time passed, Minister Zhou paced anxiously outside the delivery room.

At dawn, the midwife came out with blood on her hands and shouted, "It's born, it's born!"

However, Minister Zhou didn't hear the baby crying. His heart tightened, and he quickly stepped forward, grabbed the midwife's arm, and asked, "How are the madam and the child?"

The midwife looked at Minister Zhou and after a moment's hesitation, she finally told him the truth: "Master, the baby Madam gave birth to...is stillborn."

Upon hearing this, Minister Zhou staggered and almost fell.

After a long while, Minister Zhou finally came to his senses and continued to ask the midwife, "What about the lady? How is she now?"

The midwife lowered her head, not daring to meet Minister Zhou's gaze, and replied softly, "Madam suffered a difficult birth, which damaged her foundation. I'm afraid...it will be difficult for her to get pregnant again."