Remarrying Chun Yuan

At this moment, Yuan Cuo bowed and greeted Princess Chen, and then greeted the old lady of the Liu family, saying, "I am a little late, it is my fault."

"What's wrong with that? Good things come to those who wait!" Princess Chen was already beaming from ear to ear; she was happier than during the New Year.

Who would have thought that Yuan Cuo, whom everyone looked down upon, would give such a big surprise? She was happy to see this non-blood-related son-in-law!

Princess Chen personally helped Elder Zhuang to the main seat, while the other officials sat in chairs behind Elder Zhuang, not daring to sit in the same row as Elder Zhuang and Princess Chen.

Liu Yuechu's heart was pounding. When she saw Yuan Cuo looking at her with smiling eyes, she leaned closer and whispered, "You're so naughty!"

He deliberately didn't tell her, making her worry.

Yuan Cuo leaned closer to her, saying, "Even if things don't go well, we can't let people laugh at Yue Niang." He quietly changed his form of address, making it exceptionally intimate.

Liu Yuechu glanced at him and asked, "How did you manage to get Elder Zhuang to come?" She was very curious.

Just as Yuan Cuo was about to speak, Granny Fang suddenly appeared, "Why are you all gathered together at this time? We'll have to follow the rules later!" She dragged Liu Yuechu towards the inner hall, feeling even more embarrassed for her mistress.

She's not even married yet, and they're already standing so close in public?

Liu Yuechu was dragged along and had no choice but to at least let her hear the last sentence!

Yuan Cuo smiled broadly, watching her figure disappear. When he turned around again, he was once again the aloof and elegant gentleman, completely different from the one he had shown to Liu Yuechu.

It was getting late.

After a brief exchange, the group began to proceed with the various betrothal ceremonies.

With Master Zhuang and Princess Chen as the officiants, no one dared to utter a single word of hesitation during this grand betrothal ceremony.

"congratulations."

"Happy together."

Master Zhuang and Princess Chen and others exchanged congratulations with smiles.

But there were a few people who couldn't laugh, such as the old lady, who, as an elder of the Liu family, seemed to exist as if she didn't exist.

Take Wei Gongming and Pei Chun, for example. They were dumbfounded, their momentary smugness now replaced by a painful humiliation. The other纨绔 (playboys), however, were laughing heartily, having witnessed Pei Chun's disgrace…

Princess Chen was somewhat curious, "Old Master Zhuang is willing to travel such a long distance to the city to be the officiant at this young man's wedding. I wonder what he sees in him? If he can become your disciple, that would be a double blessing."

Yuan Cuo's status as a mere scholar was indeed far too low. Today, he was repeatedly mocked by Pei Chun and Wei Gongming, which made Princess Chen extremely angry.

It's only because Liu Yuechu's parents were both absent, and the old lady was being incredibly rude and unkind, that she was bullied like this!

Even if she stood up for Liu Yuechu, she was still an outsider, and besides, she was about to leave the capital for the southwest. If Yuan Cuo had Elder Zhuang's backing, she could leave with peace of mind.

Old Zhuang snorted coldly, "I'd like to, but this kid is hopeless!"

“Is he not good at learning? I will have Yue Niang keep a close eye on him…” Princess Chen said.

“It’s because he refused to take the exam,” the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies said with a smile.

“If he puts his mind to the imperial examinations, he will definitely be the top scholar,” Yang Zhanchun said with absolute certainty.

"The exam is nothing more than writing some formulaic essays and composing some flowery but useless words. What's so difficult about it?" The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works was already among the ranks of important officials. Looking back at the imperial examinations now, it was perhaps the easiest thing he had ever done since he entered officialdom.

"Therefore, I would rather follow the ideas of Zhuangzi and Laozi, so that the people can learn to read and write, travel all over the Great Qi, and become messengers of cultural exchange." Yuan Cuo expressed his inner desire, which he had always been doing.

"Then why did you agree to participate in the scientific expedition?" Old Zhuang sneered. If Yuan Cuo hadn't agreed to it, he wouldn't have come to be the officiant at the wedding.

Yuan Cuo chuckled, "It doesn't sound good that the Liu family's son-in-law is just a scholar..."

"???"

Several pairs of eyes rolled back at him fiercely!

Liu Yuechu was taken aback: So that's what it was for?

"Alright, I'm leaving now. I have some matters to attend to at the Ministry of Works."

“There are also classes at the Imperial College in the afternoon.”

"Foreigners are coming to discuss tribute again; it's infuriating just thinking about it!"

……

The three top scholars, who held important positions, complained a few times and then left.

Princess Chen and Elder Zhuang wouldn't be in a hurry to leave, and the Liu family had also arranged a banquet at Jingchunlou Restaurant for the whole mansion to celebrate.

Pei Chun, with his thick skin, stayed to freeload, sitting at the same table with Liu Musheng, Li Chengyue, and others.

Wei Gongming had already disappeared without a trace, and hadn't even exchanged a single word with Yuan Cuo.

He had fantasized about gloating in front of Liu Yuechu, criticizing her for her poor taste and saying that Yuan Cuo was not worth it at all... But Yuan Cuo not only brought up Elder Zhuang, but also had three top scholars as foils. What was he compared to them?!

He was afraid of Yang Zhanchun and didn't want to lose his composure in front of Liu Yuechu. He was determined to find out what was really going on with Yuan Cuo!

At this moment, there was still one person drinking continuously without saying a word; this was Lin Mengjun, who had accompanied the betrothal party to the Liu family.

He even went to see Yuan Cuo yesterday to ask why his father wouldn't be the officiant at the wedding, acting all high and mighty. He wanted to slap himself in the face right now.

Putting aside Zhuang Lao's status, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works and the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, which one of them didn't have a higher rank and more important status than his father? Even Yang Zhanchun of the Imperial Academy was extremely prominent, and his status was not much different from his father's!

But his parents actually thought that Yuan Cuo wasn't worthy of having the Lin family intervene? How dare they!

When he learned the truth today, he was stunned, like a wooden statue, wishing he could disappear into the ground...

With a loud clatter, the wine intoxicated him even though it wasn't the wine itself; he could barely hold the wine cup in his hand.

"Brother Jun, you should drink less. Why don't you have some tea first?" Yuan Cuo knew why he was drunk, and after toasting everyone, he came over to comfort him.

Lin Mengjun didn't dare to look up, "I...I really..."

“Actually, you’re right. I’m just an ordinary scholar. My family isn’t poor, but it’s not rich either. If it weren’t for Madam Lin’s illness and the need for a medicinal ingredient, I would never have had any dealings with the Lin family in my life.” After Yuan Cuo finished speaking, he thought of Liu Yuechu again. But marrying Liu Yuechu would be different, after all, she and Lin Mengyu were close friends.

"Brother Yuan, you've insulted me, you've insulted me! I, Lin Mengjun, have truly been ignorant of my own limitations!" His greatest dream in life was to become a disciple of Master Zhuang, but Master Zhuang valued Yuan Cuo, whom he had looked down upon. What a great irony!

"My acquaintance with Elder Zhuang was also by chance. It was my naive and thoughtless remarks that led Elder Zhuang to give up his position as the chief priest. In fact, I was the culprit." Yuan Cuo had also drunk two cups today, and since there were no outsiders present, he brought up the past.

Lin Mengjun was stunned. He washed his eyes with tea, dried them, and then looked at Yuan Cuo carefully. "You are the enlightened person that Master Zhuang mentioned?"

"What enlightenment? I was only ten years old then," Yuan Cuo said with self-deprecation. "My parents had both passed away by then, and to make a living, I abandoned my studies and went to the streets to write letters and characters for people. It just so happened that Master Zhuang passed by and said a few words to me, and in a moment of impulsiveness, I retorted with a sarcastic remark, and that's how the rest of the story began..."