Wu Youji caressed Li Yue's palm and softly said: "Yue 'er, fortunately I have you with me. When I was down and out, you and I were always together, never leaving each other. Now, you help me relieve my worries. Wu Youji is so lucky to have such a good wife."
Li Yue said with a blissful expression: "There are many women better than me in this world. I am not worthy of your praise."
Wu Youji sighed: "In Wu Youji's heart, you are the best woman in the world!"
Wu Youji's words came from the bottom of his heart. Li Yue was the daughter of a side branch of the Li Clan in Guanlong and could be considered a lady of a noble family. Wu Youji and her were engaged since young. Later on, when Wu Zetian came to power and took revenge on the entire Wu Clan, Wu Youji's family was changed to Wei and sent to Hainan Island.
Under such circumstances, who would be willing to marry him? However, Li Yue refused to break off the engagement and convinced her father to send her to Wu Youji's place of exile to marry him. At that time, Wu Youji's clothes were tattered and his life was very difficult. When he first saw the girl who had to abandon her carriage and walk to him due to the difficult roads, he couldn't help but burst into tears.
Later on, Wu Zetian had the idea of becoming the Emperor and needed to place trusted aides in key positions in the court to help her seize the throne. She had no choice but to use the Wu clansmen and Wu Youji's luck finally took a turn for the better and he soared. However, he never forgot these difficult times.
When Li Yue arrived at Qiongzhou after a long and arduous journey, she was still a young, beautiful, and lovely girl. Now, she was already a plump, middle-aged woman with long hair and thick hair. Wu Youji also had a few beautiful concubines who were young and good at serving others. However, the one he doted on the most was this wife who had gone through thick and thin with him.
While they were talking, the carriage had already arrived at Wu Sansi's mansion. The Wu Mansion's steward opened the main gate, allowing the carriage to enter. When Wu Sansi heard the news, he brought his wife and a few of his most favored concubines to wait in the carriage hall.
Wu Sansi was wearing a white robe embroidered with plum blossoms. His wives and concubines were also wearing the casual clothes of the Yan Residence. It seemed that there were no outsiders in today's banquet and it was just an ordinary family banquet. Seeing Wu Youji, Wu Sansi laughed heartily and strode forward to welcome him. His wives and concubines also received Madame Li and exchanged pleasantries.
Wu Youji had come to Wu Sansi's house before, but this was the first time his wife, Li Yue, had come. According to the customs of the Tang Dynasty, women did not avoid guests. Moreover, Wu Youji and Wu Sansi were cousins, so they were truly family. Therefore, Wu Sansi led the couple to the parlor in the backyard.
Passing through the long corridor, the lotus pond, the stone bridge, and the stone path, the view before him suddenly opened up. In front of him was a sparkling pond with weeping willows by the shore. The surface of the water was vast, and there was a small pavilion in the middle of the pond with a curved bridge over the water. It was extremely quiet and elegant.
Wu Sansi smiled and said, "Come, come, come. Youji, the food and wine have already been prepared. Let's go to the pavilion and drink."
Wu Youji did not know why he invited him alone and what kind of heinous crime he wanted to force him to do. But seeing his pretentious manner, he knew it was not the right time to ask. He had no choice but to patiently accompany him to the small bridge. When they reached the small pavilion, he gave an order and the food and wine were served like flowing water. Wu Sansi, his wife and two concubines then eagerly urged him to drink.
Wu Youji knew Wu Sansi's character. The more he saw him eagerly, the more uneasy he felt. Unable to restrain himself, he beat around the bush and asked about the reason for today's banquet. Wu Sansi laughed heartily and said, "Youji need not worry too much. Today I called you here because I have an enormous benefit for you. Come, come, come, let's drink. In a while, I will slowly explain it to you. "
Wu Youji was full of doubts and could only raise his cup and drink. Madame Li smiled warmly at her husband and softly said, "Even if there is nothing important, why can't Big Brother invite us to a family banquet? Langjun, accompany Big Brother and drink happily. If there is anything, Big Brother will let you know."
Wu Sansi laughed and said, "Sister-in-law is right. Youji, let's drink! Let's drink!"
Madam Wu smiled at Madam Li and said, "Let the men talk among themselves. Why bother with them? Sister, come, let's drink."
Madam Wu picked up the wine pot and poured wine for Madam Li.
Madam Li quickly said, "How can Sister accept Sister-in-law's wine? Let me do it."
Wu Sansi's two beloved concubines quickly pulled her arm and said, "Madam is a guest. Don't stand on ceremony. Sit down, sit down."
Madam Wu carried a tin pot, one hand holding the bottom and the other holding the handle. She moved closer to Madam Li's cup and glanced at her.
Madam Wu was a woman in her thirties. Her hair was still black and glossy, tied into a peach heart bun and inserted with a jade hairpin. Apart from this, she did not have any other jewels or ornaments. Although it was not extravagant, it suited her status as a housewife. In contrast, the two beautiful concubines were gorgeously dressed with jewels and jade, but their bearing was far from Madam Wu's.
The liquefied wine formed a line and gently filled the cup. Madam Wu withdrew her gaze and looked at the wine. Her eyes flashed with regret, helplessness, and guilt.
"Thank you, Sister-in-law!"
Madam Li held the cup with both hands and thanked Madam Wu.
Madam Wu squeezed out a smile and said, "We are family, no need to be so polite." As she spoke, she gently withdrew her hand. Using her sleeve as a cover, she rotated the hand holding the bottom of the pot and filled her own cup. Raising the cup, she said to Madam Li, "Sister, please!"
"Sister-in-law, please!"
Madam Li happily raised her cup and clinked it with Madam Wu Sansi's before draining it in one gulp.
Wu Sansi, who was drinking wine with Wu Youji, saw this and put down his cup with a smile. He said to Wu Youji, "Youji, there is something I must congratulate you on!"
Wu Youji's heart skipped a beat. Finally, he got to the main topic. He quickly straightened his body and put his hands on his knees, looking at Wu Sansi nervously.
Wu Sansi stroked his beard and slowly said, "Youji, Taiping is my aunt's most beloved daughter. In the beginning, my aunt married her to Xue Shao. Unfortunately, Xue Shao refused to accept Heaven's favor and plotted a rebellion. The princess was widowed at a young age …"
Wu Youji listened to this opening and was puzzled. He thought to himself, "Listening to this, is he going to be a matchmaker for Taiping? Why is he discussing this with me? Could it be … it can't be, my son is only nineteen this year, and he is one generation younger than Taiping. "
Madam Li sat there and gradually felt her stomach ache. She thought she had eaten something cold and was forcing herself to endure it. Seeing her husband's questioning look, she forced a smile, indicating for him to continue.
Wu Sansi said, "Taiping is so young, naturally there is no reason for her to be widowed. My aunt has always been concerned about Taiping's marriage, but with Taiping's status, there are not many who are worthy of her. Now … Taiping has finally fallen in love with someone. My aunt also happily agreed and asked me to be the matchmaker. "
Wu Youji could not bear it any longer and asked, "Cousin, I wonder whose son Princess Taiping has fallen in love with? Since my aunt asked you to be the matchmaker, why did she ask little brother to come here?"
Wu Sansi said, "Youji, you are asking the obvious. The person Princess Taiping has fallen in love with is you!"
Wu Youji was stunned and exclaimed, "Preposterous! Really preposterous! "
Wu Sansi's face darkened, "Preposterous? Are you saying Taiping is preposterous, my aunt is preposterous, or I, Wu Sansi, am preposterous? "
Wu Youji said, "Little brother does not dare. Little brother is saying … I have a wife, how can I marry the princess?"
Madam Li was so shocked that she even forgot her stomach ache. She nervously looked at them and thought, "Princess Taiping has fallen in love with my husband? This … how is this possible? She is a princess, how can she marry into my family? Aiya! Wrong! Could it be that she wants to force my husband to divorce his wife? "
Wu Sansi coughed and slowly said, "As a princess, of course she cannot marry into a family. Moreover, Taiping is our aunt's most beloved daughter. You also know our aunt's temperament. Even if Taiping is willing, our aunt will absolutely not agree."
Wu Youji's expression suddenly changed, "Could it be … in order for Youji to marry the princess, we must divorce our wife?"
Madam Li's stomach ache was so bad that her face became incomparably pale. But this matter was a hundred times more serious than her stomach ache, how could she care about it? Wu Youji saw her pale face and the cold sweat on her forehead. He thought it was because of his wife's fear and quickly held her hand.
Wu Sansi wiped his eyelids and gloomily said, "Divorce? What are you thinking? Even if you want to divorce your wife, this matter will become a laughing stock. What face will our aunt and Taiping have? "
Wu Youji and Madam Li both breathed a sigh of relief. Wu Youji suddenly thought of another possibility and probingly asked, "Then … Aunt wants Youji to marry another wife of equal status?"
Wu Sansi laughed involuntarily and said, "Youji ah, do you think our aunt would do such an absurd thing?"
Wu Youji's face reddened and he said, "This … Tang Xiong, don't keep me guessing. This little brother really cannot think of anything."
Wu Sansi faintly smiled and said, "If your wife dies and you remarry, won't everyone be happy?"
"Ah!" Wu Youji was shocked and Madam Li was even more frightened. She trembled and said, "Tang Xiong, what are you saying? The Heavenly Empress … the Heavenly Empress wants … "
Speaking to this point, the pain in her stomach became even more unbearable. She felt as if her intestines were being twisted and broken. Mrs. Li could not help but press her stomach and let out a painful groan. Wu Youji quickly supported her and said: "Wife, what happened?"
Madam Li was in so much pain that she could not stand properly. Her husband supported her and she fell into his arms. At this time, she vaguely understood something and pointed at the wine cup in front of her. She trembled and said, "This wine … this wine … is poisoned?"
Wu Youji was shocked and suddenly raised his head to stare at Madam Wu Sansi. He said, "Sister-in-law?"
Madam Wu was a woman after all. Being forced by her husband to do such a thing, she was already terrified. When she saw Wu Youji's eyes were spitting fire, she was so shocked that she took two steps back and almost fell. Wu Sansi slowly said, "Taomei, Third Sister, you two accompany Madam to leave."
The two concubines were also afraid. When they heard Wu Sansi's order, they felt as if they had been granted amnesty. They quickly rushed forward to support Madam Wu and frantically left the pavilion.
At this time, Madam Li cried out in pain and purplish black blood flowed from her mouth. Wu Youji turned pale with fright and shouted, "Wife!"
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