“That’s all we can do. We can’t assist in anything more even if we want to.” Grandpa Liu’s eyes dimmed a little. “It seems that Axiu has really suffered in the capital these years. His opponents are all insidious and wicked!”
“Is it just wicked? It is said that you shouldn’t involve the family when committing a crime, but look at the tricks she’s playing. She’s using Nannan as a raft. If she were here, I’d tear her apart!” Grandma Liu was so angry that she slapped her thighs and cursed.
“Mother, Nannan is not yet Axiu’s wife…”
Liu Dalin’s words were followed by a slap on the wrist. “Is this the time to be concerned about this? If it wasn’t for that poisonous woman who saw Nannan’s importance, could she have used such a detrimental tactic against Axiu? She wants Nannan to be a concubine in the palace! Xiao Feng calls Nannan her aunt! That’s Axiu’s nephew! I’ve never seen such a wicked thing!”
Everyone in the family looked uncomfortable.
Chen Xiulan held her daughter’s hand and was presently more sensible. “Axiu isn’t an easy one to pinch. It is not certain who will suffer in the end. Besides, Xiao Feng will definitely not harm our Nannan. I believe both the uncle and nephew must have a secret plan, but can not reveal it now, lest they startle the snake on the grass.”
Liu Dalin snorted, “If I am scared of words getting out and startling the snake away, it’s fine to tell Nannan about it in private, right? If we don’t discuss anything, our family will be here speculating over this matter. Can we still be in the mood to celebrate the New Year?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Wei Hong came in and said, “Grandpa, Grandma, Master has sent a letter.”
“Let’s see it. What does the letter say?” Grandpa Liu’s expression immediately changed. He took the small note that Wei Hong handed and opened it, sneaked a glance at it, then handed it to Liu Yusheng. He coughed lightly, “Nannan, read it to me.”
He was a rough and ready fellow, and wasn’t literate much. Looking at the words, he could only make out the shapes but couldn’t understand the meaning. Zhiqiu or Yan Hong had always read letters to them before.
Liu Yusheng restrained a smile and took over the note. It was a palm-sized paper with a few numbers.
“I’ll take care of everything, so don’t worry. The next time I return home, I will apologize for my crime to grandparents, father, mother, uncle and aunt. Relax.”
The grandpa’s sober face finally showed a smile. “This kid. It seems that he really has a way to cope. Then there is nothing to worry about, so let’s celebrate the New Year at home. There are four days left before the New Year. We still have a lot of things to prepare.”
“I discussed with the village ladies. This year, I will grind rice flour and make our own rice cakes, using the rice grown in our village. It must taste delicious.” Grandma Liu sighed with a smile. “Rice cakes. It’s only in these couple of years when life improved that I dare to think of it. In the past, we couldn’t even eat rice. Who could be so extravagant to use rice as snacks.”
“Mother, how many pounds of rice are we making? I’ll bring it up to the mill for you later.” Chen Xiulan and Du Juan joined the old woman.
The gloom just now disappeared, which made Fu Yuzheng unable to react to this change in atmosphere.
One moment Grandma Liu was scolding Consort Liu for her lack of virtue, but the next moment, she was talking about making rice cakes?
Liu Yusheng patted her shoulder, with the tone of an experienced person, “This is how it goes. You will get used to it later. The best trait of our family is being broad-minded.”
Among the big family, Liu Dalin was the only one struggling, because his focus was completely off tangent.
“Father, Mother, have you heard the note that Nannan just read? Do you know what that stinky kid called us? He actually dared to call us father and mother! Who is his father and mother?! Our daughter hasn’t married him yet. Isn’t he taking advantage of her?…”
“What’s all this noise? Do you really think you have nothing to do staying home for the winter? Go to the cellar and pick rice!” Grandma Liu yelled, “He’s been calling us grandma and grandpa, so what’s so strange about calling you his father now? He’s originally our own child too!”
Was it the same? He hadn’t even agreed yet, yet he already addressed them, father and mother. Wasn’t that the same as forced buying?
The most hateful thing was that the person wasn’t even in front of him, depriving him of even the chance to refuse!
Was the most insidious person Consort Liu? It was clearly Feng Qingbai!
Bastard!
He called them really smoothly…
He would keep this account for now, and then settle the score later.
Liu Dalin grabbed Liu Erlin and went down to the cellar to pick rice for making rice cakes. The rice should be top quality, so it would be fragrant and crisp.
Looking at her man’s relaxed back, Chen Xiulan shook her head and snickered. He always rebuffed without realizing how happy he was.
When it came to trusting Axiu, everyone in the family was the same.
As long as Axiu said it, they all believed that he would certainly do it.
Meanwhile, Liu Yusheng quietly kept the paper when the family was not paying attention.
Only Fu Yuzheng noticed that there were words on the back of the note.
It was just that those words were probably inappropriate to read aloud. They were written by the King to Liu Yusheng alone.
Otherwise, how could the young girl’s ears be so red.
——The childhood engagement idea is good, but I won’t take it.
——If I want to propose someday, congratulations must pour in all directions!
In the Imperial Study Room, after reviewing a memorial, the man tilted his head and looked out the window. A smile appeared on the corner of the handsome man’s mouth.
It softened the coldness under his eyes, and tamed the pressure radiating around him.
By this time, Shengsheng should have seen the secret message.
He wanted to propose, so he wondered if she could answer.
“Imperial Uncle, you’ve been absent-minded several times this morning. What are you thinking about?” The boy blinked his eyes, seemingly curious and teasing.
Who else but Aunt Liu could make his uncle lose his mind in a daze?
Feng Qingbai withdrew his gaze and swept a glance at the boy. “The Liu family once again asked Consort Liu to invite two teachers in their determination to wind. You should first consider how you can hold on to your own. I don’t need you to worry about my affairs.”
Feng Mohan pursed his lips and lay bodily on the long desk. “The Liu family is used to doing window-dressing. No matter how excellent they’re trained, the empress’s position can not be climbed unless they perfected performing the palace rules and court etiquette.”
“However, those who have flaws in the palace rules and etiquette are bound to fail climbing. It’s not just them who can pick the Empress.”
The Empress must be approved by all.
Although Feng Mohan was the emperor, his position in the dynasty was still weak.
He still couldn’t do whatever he wanted without restraint. Unless one day, he could completely control the court to the point where no one dared to disobey whenever he issued a decree.
“But if I disagree, no one can get past me and set up the Empress privately!” Feng Mohan said coldly.
He knew very well what Consort Liu was planning. She just wanted to use Qin Xiao and the Prime Minister to put pressure on the court, and then let a woman from the Liu family enter the harem to conceive the throne heir. Then the two opposing sides would force him to crown her empress.
Dream on!
If they want a Miss Liu to conceive an imperial heir, that also depends on whether he would allow it or not!
Moreover, that was still far from happening.
There were still at least two years to go before he reached adulthood and wear his crown.
Who knew what would happen in two years?
As the emperor, he would never stay in this suffocating position forever!
Peek-Aboo 
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