FID – Chapter 789

Chapter 789 — Say Something

The resentment she once held towards this family and towards Matriarch Li dissipated in that moment.

Some grudges weren’t impossible to dissolve. It just depended on whether you were willing to let go.

She let go, because she already had the best.

Looking back at the Liu family members standing beside her, tears still wet on her face, her smile had already bloomed.

At that moment, it was as if something inside her shattered with a crack, breaking free of its restraints — no more chains.

“Sister! Sister!” Outside the hall, a young boy came running in, calling out excitedly.

Rushing into the hall, he ignored everyone else and eagerly asked, “Sister, are you and Brother Zhiqiu really getting married? The servants said they saw lots of wedding things on your carriage!”

Looking at the boy, a gentle smile softened Liu Muqiu’s face, and she nodded, “Yes, we’re getting married.”

“I knew it! Brother Zhiqiu was bound to become my brother-in-law!”

Matriarch Li coughed lightly behind him, her brows slightly furrowed. “You’re so loud and unruly. What sort of behavior is this? Have you forgotten all your manners and decorum?”

Li Junyao secretly made a funny face, then turned and clung to her arm, shaking it gently. “Grandmother, I’m just too happy. Besides, Brother Zhiqiu and Uncle Liu and Aunt Du Juan are all like family, so your grandson didn’t bother being too formal.”

Liu Erlin and Du Juan smiled and said, “Junyao often comes to our courtyard to play. He’s long familiar with us. We don’t stand on ceremony; being happy and at ease is what matters.”

After the two of them spoke, Matriarch Li finally dropped the feigned sternness from her face. When she looked at Li Junyao, there was a warmth and gentleness in her eyes that Liu Muqiu had never seen before.

This made her expression soften even more genuinely.

No matter what the reasons were, Matriarch Li had truly changed. And judging by the way she treated Junyao, it wasn’t just a calculating act of grooming him as a family heir. She genuinely liked and doted on him.

Not long after Li Junyao ran into the hall, Third Master Li and Third Madam Li followed closely behind. But as always, the two of them appeared timid and submissive, not even daring to breathe heavily in front of Matriarch Li.

Upon hearing the news that Liu Muqiu was getting married, the two only glanced at her a few more times. They hesitated for a long while but still didn’t dare to approach or try to get close. Nor did they offer any congratulations.

As for their attitude, Liu Muqiu didn’t care in the slightest.

In this family, the person she had resented the most wasn’t Matriarch Li Li for being cold and ruthless. It was her own birth parents. Weak and selfish.

Liu Zhiqiu cared even less about the two of them. They stood without presence, lacking any backbone, with an air of weakness and incompetence, yet their eyes were always filled with schemes. Useless and greedy.

Fortunately, in the Li Manor, Matriarch Li was able to keep them in check. Otherwise, those two would have been like blood-sucking leeches and would never have let Liu Muqiu go easily.

After leaving the Li residence, the group headed back to Xinghua Village.

Wei Hong and Wei Lan’s wedding was set for June. After discussions within the family, Liu Zhiqiu and Liu Muqiu’s wedding was scheduled for September.

The events were spaced apart to avoid the wedding banquets being too close together, which could cause a rushed and chaotic situation, leaving preparations inadequate.

Once the arrangements were finalized, the family sent letters to notify both the Yuzhou Prefectural Office and those in the capital.

By then, June was fast approaching.

When the letter from home arrived, Liu Yusheng had just finished helping Xiao Qi complete the second stage of treatment. The scarring in his throat had already smoothed out and disappeared. Once the atrophied vocal cords recovered to normal, he should be able to speak again.

“June 10th — it’s not far off. If we’re going back to attend the wedding banquet, we should prepare over the next couple of days and then set out. The timing should be just right to make it.” Liu Yusheng discussed with Feng Qingbai while the two relaxed after dinner.

Feng Qingbai nodded, “If we can make it in time, then let’s make the trip.”

“Your government affairs are so busy. Can you really get away?”

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way. I can’t be tied up in the capital with official business forever. Besides, in a while, His Majesty will hold his coming-of-age ceremony, and after that, he should start handling court matters on his own. I won’t need to watch over him constantly as I did before.”

Feng Mohan was already fifteen years old and possessed enough ability to weigh pros and cons and distinguish right from wrong. As the regent, the best course of action for Feng Qingbai at this time was to let go; otherwise, Feng Mohan would never be able to truly grow and stand on his own.

If he didn’t, his long-held wish to return to Xinghua Village with Shengsheng would remain an unreachable dream. 

Since they had decided to return home for the wedding banquet, the two of them spent the next couple of days busy handling and wrapping up their affairs.

This was also the first time they would be returning home since getting married.

Because the capital was so far from Xinghua Village, they had skipped the customary ‘third-day home visit’ after the wedding. They would use this trip as an opportunity to make up for that tradition.

Their round trip would take at least a month. Xiao Qi’s treatment had already entered the third stage, with medication continuing to repair his condition steadily. Her leaving for a while wouldn’t have much of an impact.

After informing their two close attendants, Liu Yusheng set about preparing wedding gifts and presents for their return home.

As for Feng Qingbai, he simply dumped all his government affairs onto Feng Mohan, ignoring the younger man’s frantic protests.

Feng Mohan was genuinely driven to madness.

He knew his own status. It was almost impossible for him to ever return to Xinghua Village — but still, he couldn’t help feeling unbalanced.

They were both extremely busy men, and if one were to speak of importance, his royal uncle’s position carried even more weight than his. Yet his Imperial Uncle could simply leave whenever he pleased; that kind of freedom made him envious.

He wanted to attend the wedding banquet too.

Over the past two years, the Liu family courtyard had celebrated one joyous occasion after another. Other than Uncle Zhixia’s wedding, which had taken place in the capital and allowed him to join in the festivities that time, he hadn’t been able to take part in any of the other happy events since.

He hadn’t been there when his Imperial Uncle married Aunt Liu; now, with Wei Hong and Wei Lan getting married, he couldn’t attend either. And in a few months, Uncle Zhiqiu’s wedding would once again have nothing to do with him.

All he could do every day was bury himself in piles of memorials to the throne, each one as long-winded and dull as a foot-binding cloth — stinky and endless!

“Imperial Uncle, just take me with you. Nanling is peaceful now, and there are no pressing matters in court. Having the cabinet ministers handle the government affairs temporarily is just as effective.”

Feng Qingbai spread his sleeves evenly and half-squinted at the young man so earnestly trying to persuade him.

Feng Mohan was throwing caution to the wind. “It’s their job to assist the emperor in managing state affairs — otherwise, what are they there for? To stand around in the court every day and collect their salaries easily? That’s no different from being decorations! Honestly, decorations wouldn’t annoy me this much!”

“Are you finished?” the man asked calmly.

“…Finished.” — As if. He could complain about those useless ministers for three days and three nights.

“While I’m away, manage the government affairs properly and don’t slack off.”

With that, the man rose to his feet and leisurely walked out.

Feng Mohan’s shoulders slumped. He had known this would be the outcome.

Once his uncle made a decision, no one could change it except Aunt Liu.

Watching the man’s departing figure, Feng Mohan unwillingly trailed after him, muttering under his breath, “Imperial Uncle, fine, I won’t go. But at least let me see you and Aunt off, okay?”

“Imperial Uncle, come on, just from the palace to the pier on the outskirts of the capital. It’s at most one hour on a round trip, it won’t delay anything!”

“Just say something, Imperial Uncle! I’ve prepared a wedding gift for Aunt Hong — at least let me carry it onto the boat for you!”

The man remained silent, and the young man simply stuck to him relentlessly, following all the way to the gates of the imperial palace.

In the end, he finally received a word of approval from the man.

The news quickly spread to the Yangxin Hall.