Remarrying Chun Yuan

"What do I really know? Just a few childish words. It was the great benevolence and compassion of Master Zhuang that made him realize the true meaning of doing good for the people of the world. And it was also inspired by him that gave me the long-cherished wish to travel to the Great Qi."

Yuan Cuo briefly recounted the past, seemingly a story of mutual support between friends despite their age difference, but Liu Yuechu could hear the bitterness in his voice as he deliberately ignored it.

His parents passed away when he was ten years old, and he had to earn money by writing on the street. His life was unimaginably difficult and his suffering unimaginable to others.

Then another question suddenly occurred to her: How old is Yuan Cuo now? She seemed to have never asked that question before.

“I’m already twenty, a year older than you,” Yuan Cuo said without waiting for her to ask.

Liu Yuechu murmured, "So he's older than me."

"Do you want me to be younger than you?"

“It’s not impossible, but I won’t mind if you’re a year older.”

……

Their flirtatious banter made Lin Mengjun's face flush bright red. He was a human being, after all; couldn't they treat him like one?

"Alright, I'll take the drunkard home first, so he won't embarrass himself in public."

Lin Mengyu couldn't stand her brother's monkey-like face. She didn't know what he was there for, as he hadn't helped at all and had only been a hindrance.

Lin Mengjun was indeed drunk and confused, and he didn't want to see his beloved woman and her man showing off their affection any longer.

He forced himself to bid farewell to Princess Chen and Elder Zhuang, and then left with Lin Mengyu.

Chen Zhongyao was busy, but he wasn't in a hurry to leave. "Want to chat?" he asked, looking at Yuan Cuo.

Yuan Cuo responded lightly and went straight to the study with him, leaving Liu Musheng and Li Chengyue to drink with a group of playboys.

Liu Musheng was very depressed.

He was Liu Yuechu's older brother, and as the eldest brother, he was like a father to her. Yet today, regarding his sister's marriage, he seemed to have been completely ignored, with others making all the decisions? This feeling of being overlooked was infuriating, and he began to ponder how to gain attention...

Liu Yuechu had already avoided the playboys to avoid suspicion and returned to the women's quarters. She couldn't find Li Shu anywhere. "Is she really gone?"

Liu Fujia had been keeping a close eye on things. "When she saw Prince Wei leave, she followed him. She didn't know where he went, but he had already left the Liu family."

Liu Yuechu rubbed her forehead in exasperation. Li Chengyue was such a carefree person, how could Li Shu be so brainless? And why was she so fixated on Wei Gongming?

"Forget it, you won't turn back until you've hit your head against a brick wall." Just like her in her past life.

At this moment, Li Shu was talking to Wei Gongming in the alley of the west courtyard of the Liu family mansion.

When she came out, she saw Wei Gongming pounding the wall with his fists, until his skin was torn and bleeding profusely, as if he had no idea what pain felt like.

"Young Master Wei, why are you doing this..." She rushed forward to stop him.

Wei Gongming glanced at her and said, "I don't like you. You'd better stay away from me!" His heart had no room for anyone but Liu Yuechu.

Li Shu bit her lip, forcing herself to swallow back her tears. "Whether you like me or not is none of my business. I'm not leaving."

"So what do you want? To come and watch me make a fool of myself, and then offer a few words of comfort with schadenfreude?" Wei Gongming suppressed his anger. He simply couldn't understand how he had lost so badly that he couldn't recover!

Li Shu shook her head. "I'm not laughing at you, I'm just heartbroken... Even though you used me before, I don't hate you. I helped Yue Niang lie and deceive you, so it's understandable that you hate me."

"Why put on such a pitiful act? There's no way we can be together. Even if you were willing, your elder brother and your father wouldn't agree. Don't waste your time on me." Wei Gongming had no heart for chivalry.

Li Shu hurriedly said, "As long as I'm willing, I don't care about the two of them..." as long as he's willing to marry her.

"What good is it if you're willing?" Wei Gongming found this ridiculous. "You're average-looking, average-educated, and even more average-capable. If you weren't the daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites, what would make you worth anyone's attention?"

"?!" Li Shu was stunned. She hadn't expected Wei Gongming's words to be so ruthless.

She couldn't help but tear up, "But I am at least the legitimate daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites, while Liu Yuechu is nothing."

"All she needs to do is be the daughter of the Painting Saint. Besides, even without that title, she is exceptionally beautiful, capable, kind, and filial. No one can compare to her," Wei Gongming muttered to himself.

Unfortunately, he found out too late, so late that there was no room for maneuver.

If only he could go back to his past life! He wanted to start over, but he no longer had the chance.

Li Shu went completely insane. She never imagined that she would be so utterly outclassed by Liu Yuechu.

"Liu Yuechu also has many unknown flaws, you just haven't seen them!"

Wei Gongming said calmly, "I see it. I know all her flaws, but I am willing to accept them, and even like them."

In her past life, she loved snacks. She would eat them before bed and even after he scolded her. When she was angry, she would remain silent, even if others shouted themselves hoarse, she would remain calm and as if she were deaf.

He also remembered Liu Yuechu grinding her teeth in her sleep, making a loud grinding sound, which woke him up many times...

He remembered all her flaws, which he had loathed in his past life, but what did they matter now?!

Li Shu covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes filled with shock. She thought that Wei Gongming was only after Liu Yuechu's money, or that he had been tricked into going to jail after stealing the kite, and that he was dissatisfied with that and insisted on marrying Liu Yuechu.

But the Wei Gongming before her seemed like a lovelorn man, not someone seeking revenge!

why?

What makes Liu Yuechu better than her?!

Unable to accept this reality, Li Shu took several steps back and ran away in a panic...

Wei Gongming ignored him and didn't bother to tend to the wound on his hand.

He let the blood flow as he strode back to the county office, for he had several important cases to attend to that afternoon.

Without money to pave his way in this life, he can only rely on his abilities and hard work to strive for his future.

He thought of Yuan Cuo, whom he considered his mortal enemy, someone he could never forgive...

The drinking party at the Liu family's house had already ended.

Pei Chun and the others had a good time drinking and had already left one after another. Chen Zhongyao had chatted with Yuan Cuo for a while and had already returned to the Inspectorate to work, without staying behind.

Old Master Zhuang was sent to the Imperial Academy. Every time he went to the capital, he would be invited by the students to give lectures and talk about learning. Princess Chen was also slightly drunk. Before returning to her residence, she talked with Liu Yuechu and left Granny Fang with her.

"...When you get married in the future, you will need a head maid in charge of the inner quarters. Mama Fang is getting old, and all her children are in the capital. I never wanted her to come with me to the southwest."

Liu Yuechu understood that Princess Chen was worried about her. "I will definitely not mistreat Granny Fang. I will consult her on everything."

"Don't be too happy yet. Although Yuan Cuo invited Master Zhuang to be the officiant at the wedding today, these things are just formalities. The key is how he paves the way for future success. If the first step of the ladder isn't set up, it's useless no matter how many people he invites. Temporary prestige is not prestige; what matters is prestige for a lifetime..." Princess Chen was very clear-headed.

Liu Yuechu carefully noted it down and instructed Liu Muchi to escort the princess back to her residence.

Watching the carriage depart, she stood there silently for a long time, wondering, "Is he really going to take the imperial examination?"