Remarrying Chun Yuan

Outside, guests were bustling about, while inside, incense burned brightly.

The wisps of smoke curled up into the air, inducing a sense of languor.

Princess Chen was helped by her maids to change into a new outfit, and then she sent them all away.

She sat down in front of the dressing table, and Liu Yuechu helped her re-style her hair and change the hairpins. The two also took the opportunity to whisper a few words to each other.

“Your mother’s mourning period is over, and the marriage cannot be delayed. I’m not urging you, but someone has their eye on you.”

"You supply grain to the Ministry of Revenue and distribute porridge on a grand scale, attracting endless attention." The first bird to stick its head out always draws attention, whether it's a good person or a bad person.

Liu Yuechu paused in her hand, which was tucking her hair in her sleeve. "Doing a good deed has turned into something bad?"

Princess Chen turned her head to look at her, "Which of the things you've done wasn't earth-shattering? When Granny Fang told me about them, I couldn't believe it. After hearing them, I almost didn't recognize you."

"I can tell you're insulting me. But people have to grow up eventually, otherwise how can they support the Liu family?" Liu Yuechu carefully helped her tie her hair up.

"So what are you thinking? Tell me first, so I'll have a better understanding." Princess Chen finished putting on her hairpin and took her small hand. "It's a pity that my son is so dull and pedantic, otherwise I would have made you my daughter-in-law no matter what. He doesn't have that blessing, and I won't harm you."

Princess Chen had only one son, who was an Inspector General of the Censorate. He was as rigid and inflexible as an old block of wood, habitually picky and nitpicky, and found fault with everything. Even Princess Chen disliked him.

Liu Yuechu couldn't help but laugh. How could anyone talk about their own son like that?

"You're saying the person who's targeting me is Wei Gongming?" She didn't know who it was and wanted to know for sure.

Princess Chen scoffed, "Who does Wei Gongming think he is? You don't need to pay him any attention. I'm talking about the palace. Even the Crown Prince sent someone to ask me about it, and the Duke of Jing's mansion mentioned it twice. I pretended not to know. But you also know that if you pretend to be confused for too long, you'll be hated."

The Crown Prince already has a Crown Princess; his interest in Liu Yuechu is merely to grant her the title of a concubine, and he desires the Liu family's wealth.

The young master of the Duke of Jingguo's mansion is quite good, but his mother is the third prince's maternal aunt. Liu Yuechu doesn't want to get involved in court politics, so the two of them are impossible.

Perhaps many other residences have mentioned this, but Princess Chen only chose to talk about the two most crucial ones.

Liu Yuechu sighed and rested her chin on Princess Chen's shoulder. "Can't I not get married?" All she wanted was to live a happy life.

“If you don’t marry, they’ll focus their attention on your brother. They’ve targeted you first because you’re beautiful, kind-hearted, and capable of managing the household. Besides, you’re a woman, so it’s easier to control you if they marry you.” Princess Chen’s worries were genuine. “Ultimately, they have to choose one, and the Prince Consort has also complained that I haven’t been to the southwest to reunite with him for so long. I’ve already promised that I’ll go to the southwest to be with him after you get married…”

The Prince Consort was the Governor-General of the Southwest, and could not return to the capital without an imperial edict. Only if Princess Chen went there could they reunite. She truly treated Liu Yuechu like her own daughter, and Liu Yuechu knew she couldn't let her down.

"Please allow me to think about it. If all else fails, I'll marry one to avoid being coveted by others."

She couldn't follow the path of her previous life, marrying into the Liu family and handing it over to Liu Musheng, causing him to lose everything. But having control of the Liu family, and yet having no choice but to marry, she could only find a son-in-law who would live with her family.

Princess Chen pondered, "Are you willing to accept this?" Which woman doesn't want to find a safe haven, to stay at home and raise children? But if she marries a man who lives with her husband, she'll be expected to provide shelter from the storm.

“I don’t want to be a puppet to be manipulated. I can only take a chance on my own. Instead of relying on others to gamble my life, I’d rather rely on myself. I can be a wall for others to lean on.” Liu Yuechu already had someone in mind, but she didn’t know if he would agree. “Don’t worry, trust me. I have the ability.”

Princess Chen wanted to give a few more instructions, but a maid announced that the banquet had begun. The mother and daughter ended their private conversation and went to entertain the guests.

The eve of the Lunar New Year passed peacefully, except that Liu Musheng was so drunk that he was unconscious and being carried around by Liu Muchi while he was flailing his arms and legs. Everything was perfect and satisfactory.

Liu Yuechu told him to sit in the back carriage with a look of disdain, "Shuangquan'er sits with him in the back, you two come to the front."

The smell of alcohol mixed with the greasiness of the fish made her feel nauseous.

Liu Muchi hesitated, "Second sister, should I go and take care of eldest brother?" It was his first time being brought out to participate in a grand event, and he really wanted to make a good impression.

"Or... I can go too." Liu Yuechan was a little afraid of her older brother.

"No need, all of you come up here, I have something to ask you."

Liu Yuechu had already given the order, and the two immediately followed and got into the car.

"Who made him drink today? Who said anything strange? Tell me everything you think is important."

Liu Muchi was taken aback. "My elder brother told me not to say it, but I still have to say it?"

With just a glance from Liu Yuechu, Liu Muchi immediately betrayed Liu Musheng, "...My elder brother took a fancy to the legitimate daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue, chased after her to talk to her, was called a lecher, and was even slapped by the wife of the Minister of Justice."

Liu Yuechu's eyes lit up. "Only one slap?"

Liu Muchi shrank back in fear, “My face swelled up from just one slap. My older brother forbade me to say anything, and told me to just say I had a toothache.”

"Anything else?" Liu Yuechu's lips curled slightly. She was a little happy that Liu Musheng had been beaten.

"It's nothing. My elder brother was upset about this, so he drank too much. He passed out before the young masters even started their drinking game." Liu Muchi also felt a little embarrassed, and his voice grew softer as he spoke.

Liu Yuechu chuckled. She had sent Liu Muchi along precisely because she was afraid Liu Musheng would be targeted. She hadn't expected her older brother to be so capable; he'd fallen for her trap before anyone else could even set one.

"Mother's mourning period is over, and Father is gone too. It's just the four of us at home, relying on each other. Don't stay cooped up in the backyard; help out with some chores in the mansion. After the New Year, Mu Chi will go and learn the business classics from Steward Yao. Yue Chan can also tell me in advance what she wants to learn."

In her previous life, after she got married, Liu Musheng quickly married the illegitimate daughter of the prefect. The first thing his sister-in-law did upon entering the household was to send the two of them away. Liu Muchi was forced to live alone, and Liu Yuechan was married off to a distant cousin.

When she saw Liu Muchi again many years later, she learned that Yuechan had passed away from a serious illness she had suffered during childbirth; he had run a small business, had a son and a daughter, and was living a fairly good life.

In this life, she will no longer relinquish control of the Liu family, so naturally she will promote those around her...

Liu Muchi was overjoyed and quickly expressed his gratitude.

Liu Yuechan secretly looked at her sister and said, "I want to study medicine."

"Why do you want to study medicine?" Liu Yuechu asked, somewhat surprised.

Liu Yuechan thought of the gentleman who sometimes provided free medical consultations on the street; he was so tall and imposing. Especially his kind smile, like the warm rain of early spring, soothing the heart.

"I want to save people. But I'm not as capable as my sister, who can earn money to give porridge to the poor," Liu Yuechan said shyly.

Liu Yuechu looked at her; she had a delicate appearance, but a rather resolute character.

"Then you must swear in advance that after studying medicine you will not wander the world like your father and disappear without a trace." The family has already lost one person; we can't afford to lose another.

Liu Yuechan raised her chubby little hand and grinned, "I swear, I will not run away, I will listen to my sister."

Liu Yuechu sighed; someone who could utter vows so easily was no pushover.

"Let me think about it and we'll talk about it after the New Year."

She was exhausted after a long day.

The carriage swayed gently as she leaned against the soft pillows, seemingly half-asleep.

Suddenly, there was a loud "bang".

Liu Yuechu woke up instantly.

"what happened?"

"Master, it was the carriage of the young master of the Right Chancellor's residence that collided with ours."