Remarrying Chun Yuan

The Empress Dowager's funeral was approaching the Lunar New Year.

Therefore, the entire capital city kept a low profile this year, with hardly any firecrackers or fireworks going off, and the year passed quietly.

After eating Yuanxiao (sweet rice balls) on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, we also welcomed the early start of spring this year.

The word "spring" seems to hold great promise; the streets are gradually returning to their bustling activity, no longer the lifeless stillness of winter.

But the Liu family never went hungry.

Although the New Year's gifts weren't extravagant, there was still plenty of food and drink.

Yuan Cuo's subordinates also ate and drank well. Several thin and weak young scholars now had rosy complexions and glowing faces.

Liu Yuechu looked at the accounts that Song Liu'er had brought early in the morning, which included a summary of last year and an estimate for this year.

Huang Wanwan sat to the side eating snacks and fruits, basking in the sun with her legs crossed. She was disgusted by the fierce infighting in her own home, so she came to Liu Yuechu's place to escape the hustle and bustle.

Liu Yuechu no longer needed to hide the accounts from her, which made her feel quite relaxed. After Lin Mengyu married Lu Bingyang, although her life was good, the Lu family had elders, so she couldn't be as carefree as before.

Liu Yuechu was dizzy from watching, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Huang Wanwan comfortably almost asleep, and felt a little jealous. "I don't know if you're unlucky or lucky. Although your family is messy, your elders don't have time to teach you manners. They let you learn those things like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and embroider some flowers. No one cares where you go. You're very free."

"You're both alone, so why don't we just get together? Besides, what's the point of learning those rules? The most important thing is to have a brain."

Seeing that she had rested, Huang Wanwan immediately started gossiping, "...I heard that Li Shu was so angry because the wedding was simplified that she smashed the house to pieces, and on the wedding day, she even had to give Wei Gongming's cousin a title. She has been learning etiquette since she was a child, but unfortunately, the more she learns, the sillier she becomes."

Liu Yuechu thought about it and realized that the second day of the second lunar month would indeed be coming soon.

On the second day of the second lunar month last year, she was still choosing a husband through paper kites... The changes in this year have been too great.

"By the way, I also received an invitation from Consort Fang today, inviting me to visit the palace sometime. Have you been seeing her a lot lately?" Liu Yuechu mentioned Consort Fang, and Huang Wanwan didn't immediately recognize who it was. "Who is Consort Fang?"

"Fang Ziqing."

"She actually sent you an invitation?" Huang Wanwan was quite surprised. "She hasn't contacted me for a long time, and I can't possibly go to the palace to see her. Why would she suddenly send you an invitation? That's quite strange."

After the incident involving Fang Ziqing and her cousin, Huang Wanwan had little contact with her.

Moreover, the Fang family had previously been very cold, even harsh, towards Liu Yuechu, so why has Fang Ziqing set her sights on her again?

"Seeing how surprised you are, I understand now. Maybe it's not for me, but for the one at home." Liu Yuechu was very self-aware.

"I must say, Yuan Cuo is quite unexpected. My father even praised him for being aloof yet courageous and resourceful. How did you choose him in the first place?" Huang Wanwan asked with great curiosity.

Liu Yuechu thought for a moment, "Fate?" She had lived an extra life to choose a good husband for herself.

"Master, this is from the Zhenning Marquis's residence." Granny Fang took the invitation from the gatekeeper and handed it to Liu Yuechu.

When Liu Yuechu opened it, she found an invitation for her and Yuan Cuo to come to the Zhenning Marquis's residence to offer their congratulations on the second day of the second lunar month.

"This family's skin is as thick as a city wall, how can they be so shameless?" Huang Wanwan was well aware of the entanglement between Liu Yuechu, Yuan Cuo, Wei Gongming, and Li Shu. They had already started to avoid the stench, but it still found its way to them.

"I'm afraid it's not Wei Gongming who intentionally sought us out, but someone else." Liu Yuechu was thinking of Qin Muyan.

Huang Wanwan pouted, "Actually, our family has also received an invitation, but my mother probably isn't in the mood to go. If you want to go, I can accompany you."

"Why did we send an invitation to your residence?" Liu Yuechu was astonished; she had never heard of any close relationship between the Huang family and Wei Gongming.

Huang Wanwan scoffed, "How could you forget? He has a younger brother who's imprisoned in the Dali Temple jail."

Liu Yuechu had really forgotten about this matter.

After all, she never married Wei Gongming in this life, so she naturally couldn't imagine that his despicable, spendthrift mama's boy brother.

In the past, Liu Yuechu would probably have refused without hesitation, but now that Yuan Cuo is in the court, she is not afraid of offending Wei Gongming, but she cannot afford to offend the Third Prince.

"On the second day of the second lunar month, I'll have Yao Wei deliver a gift over, saying that I'm going to the palace that day to see Consort Fang, as it was arranged long ago." Liu Yuechu hadn't decided whether to see Fang Ziqing yet, but now she could use it as an excuse.

Huang Wanwan nodded, "I'll go with you on the second day of the second lunar month. I can't eat in peace at home anyway."

Liu Yuechu was speechless. She thought her father was irresponsible, but it seemed that Minister Huang was even more devoted to his concubine than his wife.

Two months later, they agreed to enter the palace on the second day of the second lunar month. Liu Yuechu continued to bury herself in the accounts, while Huang Wanwan, bored, went to learn perfumery from Granny Fang.

As evening fell, Yuan Cuo returned home, looking travel-worn. Upon entering, he was first fed a bowl of ginger and pear soup to ward off the cold.

Liu Yuechu told him all the invitations that the mansion had received, "I was afraid that the Third Prince would be petty, so I set that day to see Fang Ziqing."

"My wife can do whatever she wants, and she doesn't need to wrong herself for my sake." Yuan Cuo has been talking from morning till night these days, and his throat is so dry that it's hoarse. After drinking a few sips of ginger and pear soup, his voice becomes moist again.

"I heard from Wanwan today that you angered that person again?"

Huang Wanwan said that it was naturally her father who told her when he got home.

Only Yuan Cuo could be so angry at Emperor Qi Xiao to his face that he almost fainted.

"It's nothing, just a difference in opinion." Yuan Cuo begged Huajiao to go to the kitchen for another bowl, and only when no one was in the house did he say, "He wanted to acknowledge me, but I didn't agree." This was the key to his anger.

Liu Yuechu was dumbfounded. "You didn't agree?"

“He won’t say who that woman is, so why should I agree? I didn’t break my vow when we were eating coarse food and wild vegetables, so now that we’re living the high life, I’m even less interested in that empty reputation.” Yuan Cuo’s attitude was very decisive.

Liu Yuechu murmured, "A hollow reputation?"

Only Yuan Cuo would put the words "prince" and "empty title" together.

But considering Qi Xiaodi's other good-for-nothing sons, Yuan Cuo's thinking was also quite correct.

"You really don't know who that person is? Don't you have even the slightest guess?" He's been searching for so many years, how could he not have a single clue?

Yuan Cuo bit his lip. "When Li Chengyue returns, I will have a general idea of ​​what's going on, and then I'll tell you."

"Brother Chengyue is coming back?" Liu Yuechu's eyes lit up.

Ever since she secretly told Minister Li last time, every half month, Minister Li would quietly find an opportunity to ask him if Li Chengyue had sent word of his return.

Yuan Cuo suddenly pursed his lips, leaned very close to her, and the warmth of their breath made his cheeks flush. "Why are you so excited when other men are mentioned, my wife? Have I not been trying hard enough lately and disappointed you?"

Before Liu Yuechu could explain, a warm, moist sensation sealed her lips...