FID – Chapter 837

Chapter 837: This Person Must Be the Empress Dowager Without a Doubt!

In the past, was she happy? Was she joyful?

She had already forgotten.

When Liu Yusheng was extremely tired and returned to her room to lie down, she still didn’t hear the Empress Dowager speak of her past.

Zhiqiu and Muqiu’s wedding was just two days away.

Prominent figures who came to offer congratulations, send gifts, and ask for invitations were still arriving in a steady stream, showing no decrease compared to half a month ago.

Those who lived nearby had already come, while those further away had made up for their absence.

The Liu family courtyard was bustling early in the morning, noisy and lively.

The villagers, being considerate, hadn’t come the night before but were now rushing to distribute gifts.

Just as the villagers were dispersing, more gift-bringers arrived.

Among the visitors was one person who slightly surprised everyone, but upon reflection, seemed perfectly reasonable.

Matriarch Li.

She came quietly, without making a fuss, bringing only Li Junyao and a brocade box.

“This is a small gift I’ve prepared. Consider it as an addition to Miss Liu’s dowry,” Matriarch Li said, handing the brocade box to Liu Muqiu. Her expression was calm.

Li Junyao peeked from behind her. He made a funny face at Liu Muqiu, looking quite pleased.

Today, it was only him who came with his grandmother. As for his parents, they had been strictly ordered by his grandmother not to come.

Li Junyao thought this was actually better. If his parents came, his sister wouldn’t be happier; in fact, she might feel uncomfortable inside.

It was better if they didn’t come. After all, they didn’t have any genuine well-wishes to offer.

His parents were clueless.

The brocade box wasn’t large, about a foot in size, and was heavy in her hands. 

Liu Muqiu opened it, revealing a set of purple jade headpieces, a pair of excellent-quality dragon and phoenix bangles, and two silver notes.

The face value of the silver notes was very high, each worth ten thousand taels.

“Matriarch Li?” Liu Muqiu raised her eyes, feeling the silver notes were almost too hot to hold.

“One must not refuse gifts from elders,” she replied. “I’ve never given you anything good before. Now that you’re getting married, although there’s no longer any connection between us, Yao’er is still your brother. Consider it as me helping him add to your dowry, so he won’t regret it in the future.”

Liu Muqiu closed the brocade box and lowered her head, remaining silent for a while. Then she reached out and gently rubbed Li Junyao’s forehead. “I’ll accept the gift, thank you, Madam.”

She could never return to the Li family, having officially severed ties with them in black and white. She also couldn’t call her ‘grandmother’ anymore.

Some wounds heal and scar over, but there would always be traces of pain that couldn’t be smoothed out.

She no longer hated them, nor did she hold them in her heart. She accepted things as they were.

In the future, with Yao’er as a mediator, perhaps she and Matriarch Li could get along more happily.

Grandma Liu handed a wedding invitation to Muqiu, smiling, “Tomorrow, Muqiu and Zhiqiu are getting married. If you have time, you must come to have a drink and join in the celebration. It’ll be lively with everyone here.”

Matriarch Li nodded. “I will definitely come.”

Having grown accustomed to the quiet of the Yangxin Hall, the loud noises outside early in the morning disturbed Liu Yusheng, waking her up earlier than usual.

When she got up, her head still felt a little heavy. Only then did she realize how much she had been pampered in the quiet of the Yangxin Hall.

Once she gathered herself, she hurriedly got out of bed to check on the Empress Dowager.

Since she had been woken up, the Empress Dowager, who usually had light sleep, was probably disturbed too.

She walked over to the next room, where the door was open. Inside, the Empress Dowager had indeed already woken up, frowning and looking quite displeased.

The granny was helping her with her morning wash.

“Your Majesty, you’re awake?” Liu Yusheng smiled and walked in.

The Empress Dowager shot her a glance, “Is it always this noisy at your house early in the morning?”

“…Pretty much. My grandparents and the others usually wake up early too. After breakfast, they would shout at us to get up and have breakfast,” Liu Yusheng replied, “It wasn’t as loud as now, but it wasn’t much better either.”

“How can anyone sleep with all this noise?” The Empress Dowager’s face darkened even more.

“After my Second Brother’s wedding banquet, it won’t be so noisy anymore. But country folk are used to getting up early, Your Majesty. Please try to adapt; when in Rome, do as the Romans do,” Liu Yusheng wasn’t intimidated in the least. She walked up to her, smiling, and gently placed the Empress Dowager’s hands on her stomach. The little one that had been kicking and moving earlier instantly calmed down.

When the two of them left the inner courtyard and entered the main hall, they happened upon the sight of Grandma Liu and Matriarch Li casually chatting.

“Empress Dowager, you’re up.” Grandma Liu, ever so quick with her tongue, greeted them as soon as she saw them.

The room fell dead silent.

The entire hall, filled with guests, was stunned. In addition to the Liu family, several prominent figures, including Matriarch Li, had come personally to present gifts. They were being entertained by Grandpa Liu, Liu Dalin and Liu Erlin.

Grandma Liu’s ‘Your Majesty’ caused the entire room of guests to be completely taken aback.

Everyone knew the Liu family’s status had been rising, but hearing and seeing the Empress Dowager in person was a completely different shock.

Although they were well-known figures in society, they may never have the opportunity to meet royalty in their lifetime.

The woman before them had silver hair, a smooth face, and looked well-maintained. She was dressed in a deep red brocade robe, radiating elegance, dignity, and grandeur. Behind her stood a maid, dressed in court attire!

Who else but the Empress Dowager could have such a presence?

Moreover, it was Grandma Liu who had called out to her in the first place.

What kind of family is the Liu family? And how could the title ‘Empress Dowager’ be called out casually?

This person must undoubtedly be the Empress Dowager!

“Commoners respectfully greet Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager!”

The Liu family was stunned, and Grandma Liu was filled with regret, wondering whether they should kneel or not.

Liu Yusheng quickly shook her head at the Empress Dowager, signaling her to avoid the formalities.

Their courtyard door was wide open, and making such a big noise might scare the villagers.

“Don’t stand on ceremony. I’m in plain clothes and visiting incognito. There’s no need for formalities in this courtyard; please, rise, everyone.” The Empress Dowager finally showed Liu Yusheng some favor and motioned for everyone to get up.

“Your Majesty, may I take you to the kitchen to have something to eat first?” Liu Yusheng immediately suggested.

“Mhm.” After a brief glance at the people in the main hall, the Empress Dowager allowed herself to be led to the kitchen by Liu Yusheng.

She didn’t enjoy staying in the main hall, surrounded by strangers. If she remained there, it would either make others uncomfortable or force them to rack their brains to please her.

Neither outcome was to her liking.

Once the Empress Dowager left, the people in the room collectively let out a sigh of relief. The sound of Grandma Liu’s greeting earlier had caused many of them to break into a cold sweat.

However, that very greeting made the invitations for the wedding banquet tomorrow even more coveted.

“Elder Master Liu, with the Second Young Master of the Liu family getting married, we have all come here with genuine congratulations. Could we possibly request one more invitation? We will bring a modest gift from the Zhao family tomorrow!”

“My He family will definitely prepare a gift as well. Elder Master Liu, please be sure to give my He family an invitation — it’s fine even if we don’t have a seat!”

“Elder Master, don’t say there aren’t enough seats. My Guo family will gift you thirty seats. How about exchanging that for an invitation?”

Matriarch Li’s emotions surged intensely as she tightly grasped the invitation in her hand. At no other moment had she felt the weight of that small invitation so heavily! 

The wedding banquet of the King of Nanling’s in-laws, which even the reigning Empress Dowager personally attended, was a tiny invitation that was worth a fortune and impossible to come by!

Fortunately, luckily.

Fortunately, she had let go and reconciled with the Liu family.

Liu Muqiu was a woman with vision and good fortune, and their Yao’er was also very blessed.