Remarrying Chun Yuan

Wei Gongming didn't hear clearly, "What did you say?"

"The master is not home. Young master, you may come another day. But if you are free and not in a hurry, you can wait at the door." The gatekeeper was no longer as hostile as before, but he was no longer obsequious.

Wei Gongming clenched his fists. It was the eighth day of the Lunar New Year. Where could she have gone? If she wasn't in the manor, the gatekeeper had already told him when he came to request an audience. Was there any need for him to go in and relay the message again?

He was already a powerful figure in the county government, yet Liu Yuechu still disdainfully dismissed him? Did she even know that the shops under her name were already under his jurisdiction?

My good mood for the whole day vanished just like that.

Wei Gongming was so angry that he felt dizzy. He got into the county government carriage and said, "I'll wait for her here!" He really couldn't swallow this insult.

Liu Yuechu was indeed not at home. Upon hearing that Wei Gongming was requesting an audience, she sneaked out through the back door.

Wei Gongming's sudden visit was clearly an attempt to abuse his power and take her down. Although she had Princess Chen as a shield, it wasn't enough; she needed to find someone else he couldn't afford to offend.

But she hadn't decided on a suitable candidate yet. After all, this person needed to be of high status, of good character, and compatible with her temperament, so she wouldn't be afraid of getting into trouble. Finding a business partner was no easier than choosing a spouse, and perhaps even more difficult. It wasn't that she didn't have someone in mind, but she always felt something was missing.

Liu Yuechu strolled leisurely down the street, lost in thought, when she suddenly saw Hou Lai sweeping the floor in front of a shop. She then remembered that it was the bookstore where Yuan Cuo worked.

Yuan Cuo is binding the scattered manuscripts and categorizing them into different types.

Seeing Liu Yuechu's carriage stop at the door, Yuan Cuo quietly instructed, "Go pour some tea."

Hou Lai returned carrying a broom, and in the blink of an eye, a pot of aged tangerine peel Pu'er tea was on the table, exuding a mellow and rich sweet aroma.

Liu Yuechu could smell it as soon as she came in, including her favorite lemongrass.

Yuan Cuo stopped what he was doing and sat down opposite her. "It's cold outside, warm tea is more suitable."

Liu Yuechu examined the bookstore, which had been transformed from a messy and dilapidated little shop into a brand new one. "Where you are, there is always vitality. Even the pages and scraps of paper seem to have come to life." She wasn't just flattering her; she was genuinely praising it.

Yuan Cuo's tranquil and simple demeanor could make even the most anxious and impatient time stand still, and her anxiety would vanish.

He stared at her quietly for a while, then turned and took out a lot of snacks from the cabinet.

Hawthorn cake, sweet milk beans, and candied hawthorn skewers. He also scooped a spoonful of honey into the pot and poured her another cup of tea.

Liu Yuechu picked up the cup and took a sip. The mellow black tea with honey sweetness was refreshing and not cloying.

"Sweetness can calm a restless mind, and having a couple of drinks can improve your mood," he said.

Liu Yuechu smiled. How could he know she was in a bad mood? But she was indeed upset and depressed by Wei Gongming's matter, and drank several cups in a row.

The room was silent except for the sound of two people munching on snacks.

Having almost eaten her fill of snacks, Liu Yuechu felt too lazy to move. But she still needed to deal with Wei Gongming's provocations; there were several people she wanted to confront, so which one should she go to first?

Seeing her absent-minded look, Yuan Cuo suddenly mentioned someone, "On the fifth day of the month, the former owner of the bookstore came by. He was preparing to take the imperial examination this spring and was very confident."

Liu Yuechu was taken aback. She had almost forgotten this person, and didn't even remember his name. "What was his name again?"

"The prescription is fine."

“Yes, the house is fine.” Liu Yuechu rarely smiled.

Yuan Cuo smiled and said, "He asked me to convey his gratitude to you when I see him. Without Lady Liu's help, he would have missed the imperial examinations and would not have been able to find a good teacher, and he would not have achieved such good results today."

"It's good that he has confidence; it's all worth it for his father to have run a small bookstore for so many years... Who is his teacher?"

"Yang Zhanchun".

Liu Yuechu was taken aback. Had she heard this name before?

Yuan Cuo introduced the man, saying, "He was the top scholar in the imperial examination of the eleventh year of the Qingli era. He worked as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy for a year and has now gone to the Imperial Academy."

Liu Yuechu stared at him intently for a long time, her gaze deep.

The top scholar of the eleventh year of the Qingli era—wasn't he the same top scholar who, three years before the emperor's reign, accused Wei Gongming's younger brother of harboring a thief?!

"He was an upright and incorruptible good man who hated evil as if it were his enemy." He was also Wei Gongming's enemy, and she admired his courage.

Yuan Cuo nodded. "Yes, he's a good person." He didn't say anything more, and silently handed her a string of candied hawthorns. They had been left outside to cool, as the sugar would melt if left indoors for too long.

As Liu Yuechu ate, she pondered for a moment. After finishing the string of candied hawthorns, she left with her maids.

Hou Lai waved them off, then turned back to Yuan Cuo and teased, "Why don't you just say you want to help Lady Liu? What if she doesn't understand?"

Yuan Cuo chuckled, "She's not you, how could she not understand?" She had already figured it out while eating that candied hawthorn skewer.

"How do you know what's bothering her?" Hou Lai couldn't understand. They weren't close, having only met four times, yet they had a tacit understanding like that of close old friends.

Yuan Cuo: "If I said I consulted a divination master, would you believe me?"

Hou Lai: "..."

Yuan Cuo sighed helplessly, "Just use your brain, you'll know what's troubling her."

……

Liu Yuechu left the bookstore and went to the Imperial Academy to find Fang Zixing.

When I met him, I mentioned what Yuan Cuo had relayed, asked him what else he needed, and inquired about the situation at the Imperial Academy.

There were three types of students at the Imperial Academy. The first were sons of officials and those who obtained their degrees through donations, like Fang Zixing. He sold his bookstore and pulled strings to get into the Imperial Academy.

Another category is the Gongsheng, who are outstanding talents from various places who are gradually promoted by the local authorities.

The latter was outstanding, but came from a modest family or was even struggling financially. Now, the imperial court was suffering from disaster and the national treasury was empty. The Imperial Academy's canteen did not provide food and lodging, and students had to pay extra...

Liu Yuechu asked him to introduce her to Yang Zhanchun, as she had something to discuss.

Fang Zixing wouldn't have dared to agree to this if it were any other woman, but since it was Liu Yuechu who spoke up, he reluctantly went to see his teacher.

Even though Yang Zhanchun was arrogant, he still made a point of going to the door to meet Liu Yuechu when he heard her name.

Without exchanging pleasantries, Liu Yuechu went straight to the point, “...It’s really not easy for students to leave their families and homes to study in the capital. After the disaster, the capital is short of supplies and prices have risen considerably. If any of your students are facing difficulties, they can work part-time at my shop to supplement their income. I can provide them with three meals a day.”

Yang Zhanchun came from a poor family, and recalling the hardships and difficulties he faced during his studies still stirred up a storm in his heart, leaving him unable to calm down. Now that someone was willing to lend a helping hand to "himself," he immediately bowed deeply, saying, "Madam Liu is extremely kind and virtuous."

Instead of arrogantly donating money, she provided opportunities to earn money through odd jobs. This not only solved the students' livelihood problems but also upheld the integrity of scholars who would not accept handouts.

Liu Yuechu accepted the compliment sincerely, saying, "I envy them for being able to study."