Yu Shu had been the Celestial Commissioner for five years. She had amassed a lot of money from the business of Wangji Building alone. In addition to the gifts she received during the holidays, she had quietly accumulated an amazing family property. However, after all these years, she still lived in the old house on Baochang Street with her younger brother, Yu Xiu, and Zhao Hui's family.
"Your Highness, we have arrived."
Xue Rui and Yu Shu got off the carriage one after another. The door of the Yu Mansion was closed. The plaque of the aristocratic family hanging high above the door had not been cleaned for many days and was covered with a thin layer of dust. As a result, it lost its imposing manner. The front door was even more desolate, without the slightest trace of the bustling scene of the past.
Xue Rui asked the accompanying bodyguards to open the door. He looked at the plaque above his head and recalled the past. He couldn't help but sigh, "Using your own strength to become an aristocratic family, Ah Shu, you are really amazing."
Yu Shu walked to his side and stood with her hands behind her back, "My aristocratic family is indeed the first in the world." Since the founding of the country by Emperor Anwu, many aristocratic families had fought for power, and all of them had laid the foundation for decades or even hundreds of years. She alone supported the name of an aristocratic family, there was no one in the past and no one in the future.
Fortune was sought amidst danger. Everything she possessed today was obtained after experiencing numerous life and death situations.
While they were talking, the door of the Yu Mansion was opened. The gatekeeper, Old Liu, poked his head out to take a look. When he saw Yu Shu standing in front of the door, he was stunned for a moment. Then he shouted in surprise and ran inside to report the news. At his age, he ran faster than a rabbit —
"He's back! Our master is back! "
Yu Shu shook her head and laughed. She said to Xue Rui, "Let's go in first and talk."
Old Liu ran so fast that everyone in the garden could hear him. Yu Shu and Xue Rui walked to the entrance of the cave in the backyard. Behind them, there was already a group of servants who heard the news and came out. All of them had tears in their eyes. Seeing that their master had returned home in one piece and not sacrificed herself for the country like the rumors said, they were so excited that they forgot the rules and crowded around her as they walked inside.
Yu Shu did not chase them away. From afar, she saw a group of people rushing over from the other end of the corridor. The one in the lead was Yu Xiu. Like a gust of wind, he ran towards her and hugged her, knocking her back. Xue Rui supported her from behind.
"Sister!" Yu Xiu hugged her tightly and said in a choked voice, "I thought, I thought you already …"
Yu Shu patted his shoulder and raised her hand to touch his head. Unknowingly, her little brother had actually grown taller than her. She swallowed the lump in her throat and teased him, "How old are you already? Why are you still crying? Quickly let go, do you want to strangle me to death?"
Yu Xiu hurriedly let go of her and quickly rubbed the corner of his eyes. When he looked up, he saw the man standing behind her. The familiar face made him instantly stunned.
"Xue, Xue, Xue …"
He stuttered and could not say a word. At this time, Zhao Hui, Aunt Cui and the others also caught up and surrounded Yu Shu, laughing and crying.
"It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright. Amitabha, may the heavens protect you." "My daughter, you've really suffered this time. Quickly call your mother to take a look."
The maidservants of the North Palace were also looking at her with tears in their eyes. Yu Shu could not move her feet. She could not bear to see people cry. Their tears made her dizzy, and she could not stop them. So, she had no choice but to pull Xue Rui out to divert everyone's attention.
"Don't cry. I'm fine, aren't I? There are guests here. Let me introduce, this is His Highness, Prince Ping of the Great Yan Dynasty. It's all because of him that I can come back safely this time. "
Only then did the whole family turn their eyes to Xue Rui. "Ah!" Zhao Hui exclaimed and covered her mouth. Those who recognized Xue Rui were shocked. Wasn't he Young Master Xue? How did he become a prince of the Great Yan Dynasty?!
"Brother Xue!" Yu Xiu finally came to his senses and called out.
Xue Rui's expression remained unchanged, as if it was the first time they met. Facing Yu Shu and a few elders, he said politely, "I'm Liu Shining. I met Official Yu not long ago, and I heard that she has a sworn brother who looks very similar to me. I think you've mistaken me for someone else."
Everyone was skeptical. There were indeed people who looked alike in the world, but there were not so many coincidences under the heaven, and Yu Shu happened to bump into them. Furthermore, the same thing had happened before. Both Yu Xiu and Zhao Hui clearly remembered that before they came to the capital city, the eldest young master of the Xue family had stayed in Yiyang City under the alias of Cao Zixin. Perhaps, this real Prince Ping in front of them was actually Xue Rui?
Looking at their expressions, Yu Shu knew that they were still doubtful, so she smiled and said, "Not to mention them, even I've mistaken you for someone else."
She did not explain further after saying that. Yu Xiu, Zhao Hui, and the others could not question her in front of others, so they could only play dumb with her. They first invited His Highness King Ping to move to a small seat in the living room, so that they could reunite and discuss further.
As it was not good to let the guests sit around, He Fangzhi accompanied Xue Rui to the living room in the front yard to drink tea. In the past few years, as Yu Shu's status rose, the whole family had met many high-ranking officials and nobles. At this time, when a Prince of the Yan Dynasty suddenly came, He Fangzhi was surprised, but he was not afraid.
.....
When Yu Shu returned to the backyard, the group of servants behind her were sent away by her chief maid, Yun Dou, with a straight face, leaving only two personal servants to serve her. Due to the summer heat, when she came out from the palace, she felt sticky as if she was sweating. After washing up and changing into a clean dress, she sat on the couch and talked to her family.
Without waiting for them to ask, she briefly told them what happened in the past half a month. "That day, I led the army out of the city to rescue the Emperor, but unfortunately, it was too late. The Emperor had already been captured, so I had to surrender. King Ping imprisoned me in the military camp outside the city, but he did not treat me harshly. Instead, he tried to persuade me to surrender to the Yan Dynasty. I refused at first, but he did not force me. But later, news kept coming from the capital — after the Yan Emperor entered the capital, he reorganized the imperial army, rehired the old officials, and at the same time, he appeased the people and granted amnesty. The dynasty changed, the country changed, and the Yan Dynasty has become a vanquished country. I was disheartened, and since I could not be loyal, I had to take a step back to protect my family, so I had no choice but to give in. Thanks to King Ping's help, I can return home. "
In front of her family, she could not tell the truth, but she did not want to use the same method she used to deal with the Emperor to fool them with loyalty and righteousness.
Mistress Cui heard half of what he said and covered her heart with her hand, muttering, "Thank the heavens and thank the earth. Fortunately, you're smart this time. Who cares who the Emperor is, it's not as important as your life. If you're really muddle-headed and want to be a loyal official, our whole family can forget about living."
Zhao Hui let out a long sigh and her face was full of lingering fear. "You have no idea how many people tried to escape after the news of the Yan army invading the capital. But they couldn't even get out of the city gates. All the officials were captured and we didn't know where to look for you. The assistant minister's residence next door was in chaos, and that night, Assistant Minister Zhou was captured and locked in the prison. He was gone for seven or eight days, and there was no news. Madam Zhou begged, but there was no way out. Her tears washed her face every day, and it could be heard through the wall. Who would have thought that after another two days, Assistant Minister Zhou would suddenly return. "
"Godfather and Godmother ran next door to inquire about your whereabouts." Yu Xiu finally found a chance to speak. He gritted out, "I don't know where that Assistant Minister Zhou heard the rumor from. He said that the Emperor had been captured by the Yan, and that you were captured instead of rescuing the Emperor. He also said that you were tortured in the hands of the Yan, and vaguely said that you died for the country!"
This caused their family to think that she had encountered a mishap. They passed these last few days in a daze, afraid that one day the government would come to their door and tell them to go and bury the corpse.
Yu Shu thought, no wonder she felt that the fu was so lifeless when she entered, and everyone would cry when they saw her. So someone had faked the grievous news. This Assistant Minister Zhou was an official that Emperor Chong Zhen had promoted after he ascended the throne, and had moved to this street afterwards. At the very most, he had been her neighbor for two years. He was a fifth-grade official, and when he stood in front of her, he would have to lower his body. In her impression, he was a person with a glib tongue. She was too lazy to pay attention to him. The two families did not often interact, so their relationship was average.
Theoretically, two days ago, at the banquet in the palace, Xue Rui had corrected her name under the eyes of everyone. This Assistant Minister Zhou had been in the first batch of officials to be reused. He had been present at the time and should have known that she was safe. But after the matter, he did not explain it to her family, and pretended to be deaf and dumb. This was very hateful.
It seemed that there were many people in the previous court who wanted her, Yu Shu, to "die for the country." They hoped that when she lost power, anyone could step on her. She really wanted to see how interesting their faces would be when they learned that she had made a comeback and was once again in charge of the Celestial Commissioner.
Yu Shu thought to herself. She would make a note of this first. When she had time later, she would first get all the subordinates of the Celestial Commissioner out of the Supreme Court, and then expand this old residence a few rooms, opening up the next door.
"Sister, that Prince Ping outside, is he really not Brother Xue?" Yu Xiu couldn't help but ask. Although his impression of Xue Rui in these years was blurred, he was still the elder brother that he had admired when he was young. Now that they met, it was impossible that he could not recognize him.
Zhao Hui was also looking at her with her ears perked up.
"No." Yu Shu told them firmly, "He is the Prince Ping of the Yan, Liu Shining. You must not mistake him again, and do not mention this again."
If she wanted to marry Xue Rui, he would have to discard his previous identity and never admit it to anyone else. Otherwise, it would be ridiculous for the sworn siblings to become husband and wife today.
"Oh." Yu Xiu lowered his head, unable to hide his disappointment.
Mistress Cui, on the other hand, did not care which Prince Ping was. Seeing that Yu Shu was safe and sound, she began to plan something else. She leaned forward and said with a bitter face, "The Emperor has changed. You've reached the end of your career as a First-class official. While the assets in your hands have not been confiscated, why don't we pack up and return to our hometown in Yiyang as soon as possible? Then we can buy a few more acres of land and become a well-off family."
After a few years of living a wealthy life, Aunt Cui had gotten rid of most of her bad habits, and she had learned to be smart. Looking at her sad face, Yu Shu was secretly amused. She pretended to sigh and teased her, "It's too late, we can't leave."
Aunt Cui was shocked, "Didn't they let you go?" Zhao Hui and Yu Xiu also became nervous, afraid that they had not gotten through the crisis.
Yu Shu said, "They did let me go, but I'm indebted to the Emperor of the Yan Dynasty. I can stay in the imperial court and be reinstated. Therefore, I can't bring you back to your hometown to farm. "
Hearing this, the three of them were stunned. The great surprise was like a golden brick falling from the sky, knocking them unconscious.
Aunt Cui swallowed, "Does this mean that the new Emperor wants you to be a high-ranking official?" Seeing Yu Shu nodding, her face flushed with excitement. If she could stay in the capital, she would not want to leave. Being a landowner's old maid was not as glorious as being a Lady of Nobility.
She thought that the good days were over, but she did not expect that the good fortune was still waiting for her!
Zhao Hui and Yu Xiu were also very happy. It was not that they coveted the wealth, but they were reluctant to leave this place that could shelter them from the wind and rain. Both Zhao Hui and Yu Xiu had lived a stable life since they moved into this house. Compared to the unbearable memories of Yiyang City, this place was more like their home.
Although they were excited, they felt a little unreal. Zhao Hui and Aunt Cui were fine, but Yu Xiu was, after all, an educated young man. Although he did not have the ambition to serve his country, he was sensible. He looked at his elder sister and said hesitantly,
"Sister, you used to be a high-ranking official in the imperial court. Now that your country has fallen, you've turned your allegiance to the Yan Dynasty. If the world knows about this, won't … won't …" He bit his lips and could not finish his words.
"Won't they scold me for being greedy for power?" Yu Shu said it on his behalf. She chuckled, reached her hand across the tea table, and patted on his hard shoulder. "Just you wait and see, in the future, will there be more people scolding me, or will there be more people who respect me?"
.....
In the evening, Xue Rui naturally stayed in the Yu Mansion for dinner. But because of his status, in order to prevent the whole family from feeling uncomfortable, Yu Shu and him set up a table of dishes and wine in the Eternal Spring Garden, and asked the others to leave so that they could have a good conversation.
The Eternal Spring Garden was like spring all year round. It was warm in the winter and cool in the summer. During this season, there were many flowers and plants, and the scenery was very beautiful. Right now, they were in an octagonal pavilion next to the pond. Under their feet were tiles paved with white jade, and above their heads was a dome decorated with gold crystals. Glazed lamps hung high under the eaves, reflecting the glow of the people in the pavilion, making them look like immortals who had descended to the mortal world for a stroll.
"This garden of yours, when I left, looked a little simple and crude. It's a pity, but today, it's like I'm in a fairyland." Xue Rui couldn't help but praise. A cool breeze blew from the riverbank, with a faint fragrance of flowers, intoxicating people before they even drank.
"Later, it was repaired a few times, and a stream of running water was brought in from underground." Yu Shu smiled as she drank, "After the banquet, I'll take you for a night tour. It just so happens that a few of the beauties under the moon that I'm growing are about to bloom, and I'll enjoy them with you."
"Very good." Xue Rui's interest was aroused by her. He felt that he hadn't been so carefree for a long time. Ever since he went to Ning Dong City, he hadn't had a moment of leisure. Going between the military camp and the battlefield, he didn't talk about elegant things.
After they ate and drank to their heart's content, Yu Shu asked someone to bring a bamboo lantern over, and she passed it to Xue Rui to carry before the two of them walked arm in arm towards the veranda. All along the way, they walked and stopped to admire the flowers and the moon, and they were extremely uncomfortable.
When the night was deep, in the waterside greenhouse, on a reclining chair, he half-hugged her from behind, tilting his head to look at the two blooming clusters of white moonlight under the window sill, quietly savoring the peace of this moment.
"The Emperor has already agreed to marry the two of us. You should pick an auspicious day as soon as possible. I don't want to sneak around with you anymore."
Yu Shu gave an "en" sound and then chuckled. She turned her head and poked his chest, "Then you have to go to Wang Ji Lou to take the notice first."
On the auspicious day when Wang Ji Lou's Great Exchange Hall had opened, Yu Shu had ordered people to post a sky-high reward on the Tianji List. Up until now, the first place was still her "son-in-law search" golden invitation.
Xue Rui had long known that she had rebuilt Wang Ji Lou into a Great Exchange Hall. Her reputation had spread all these years, and with Jin Ke, the god of information, it wasn't hard to know that there was a Tianji List in Wang Ji Lou. He had also heard that there was a reward worth ten thousand taels of gold there, but no one had been able to take it.
He lowered his head and saw her mischievous expression. His heart palpitated and he hugged her tightly, saying, "I am so lucky to have met you in this life." If it wasn't for her appearance, he would have been burdened by the Xue family's upbringing and the blood feud between his adoptive father and birth mother. He probably wouldn't be able to escape for the rest of his life.
It was laughable. He was a dignified man, but he actually relied on a woman like her. Even if the two places were separated and they didn't see each other for days, as long as he thought of her, he would become fearless. He wouldn't be afraid of the dangers ahead, wouldn't be afraid of blades and spears being blind. Because he firmly believed that even if he had nothing, even if his name didn't exist, she would still wait for him to return to her side.
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