BXBX NOVEL Chapter 402 - 402: Visit
After Shen Zhong read the empress dowager’s decree and handed it to Li Yu, he smiled and said to the two of them, “I heard that Lord Zhou and Madam Li contributed a lot to the Battle of Yunzhou.”
Zhou Jia smiled and cupped his hands at Shen Zhong. “I don’t dare to take credit. It’s all because of General Shen, General Ouyang, Head Shopkeeper, and our colleagues from the government office, as well as those soldiers who galloped through the battlefield. Everyone fought together to win.”
Li Yu really didn’t want to enter the palace to be a kowtowing worm. Her scalp went numb when she thought about how she had to pay attention to the posture of kneeling. However, the old lady was the mother of the big boss, so she couldn’t refuse. She looked at Shen Zhong with a headache and smiled.
“Brother Shen, is there anything to pay attention to when I enter the palace?
You know, I’m just a boor and don’t have much knowledge. I’m just afraid that
I’ll make a fool of myself and embarrass the empress dowager.”
Shen Zhong smiled gently. “Madam Li, don’t worry. After I go back and hand over the job, a nanny will guide you in the etiquette of meeting the Empress Dowager. You don’t have to be nervous. The empress dowager is amiable and easy to get along with.”
Li Yu nodded. “That’s good. I’m really afraid that I’ll scare the empress dowager.”
Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu. Thinking that she was still pregnant, he was secretly worried.
Shen Zhong sat with the Zhou family for a while before bidding farewell and returning to report. Zhou Jia sent him out and said unhappily, “General Shen, I want to ask you for a favor.”
Shen Zhong looked at Zhou Jia’s embarrassed expression and nodded with a smile. “Lord Zhou, please go ahead.”
Zhou Jia whispered, “General Shen, my wife is pregnant and it’s still early. Please help me send a message and find a good-tempered nanny to teach the rules.”
Shen Zhong smiled and cupped his hands. “Congratulations, Lord Zhou. Don’t worry, I’ll report it to the empress dowager.”
“Thank you, General Shen.” Zhou Jia bowed. Shen Zhong helped Zhou Jia up and said with a smile, “Lord Zhou, you’re being too polite.”
After Zhou Jia sent Shen Zhong off, he hurriedly brought Li Qing and Zhao Cai to propose marriage. When Li Yu returned to the house to change her clothes, she thought about preparing a betrothal gift for Li Qing and entered the space without even changing her clothes. When she saw the prey stored in the space, she had a headache and thought that she had to find a chance to get them out and eat them.
Li Yu chose some jewelry and cloth from the box cage to be Li Qing’s betrothal gift. Before she could choose a few betrothal gifts for Zhao Cai, she was ejected from the space. Li Yu went in to choose again.
Shen Zhong returned to the palace and handed over the job. He smiled and reported to the emperor, “Your Majesty, I think Madam Li doesn’t like to enter the palace. She said that she’s clumsy and doesn’t know the etiquette. She’s afraid of embarrassing the empress dowager. When Lord Zhou sent me out, he even told me that Madam Li is early in her pregnancy. He was afraid that she would affect the fetus and asked me to help deliver a message to find a good-tempered nanny to teach Madam Li etiquette.”
When Chu Yuhao heard this, he smiled and said, “There are many rules in the palace. Given Madam Li’s personality, she really doesn’t like to enter the palace. Lord Zhou still dotes on his wife as usual. I remember that Granny Yang is going to leave the palace and return to her hometown. Go tell Zheng Fu to send Granny Yang to the Zhou family to guide Madam Li for a few days before accompanying her to the palace to meet the empress dowager.”
Shen Zhong bowed. “Yes.”
Shen Zhong came out of the imperial study and thought to himself that His Majesty was really good to Lord Zhou and his wife. Granny Yang had taught etiquette in the palace for decades and knew the situation in the palace the best. She also had a good personality. It was indeed not bad to send her.
After Li Yu found the jewelry and cloth, she called Ji Xiang over and handed the jewelry to him. She instructed, “Take these jewelry items and have them cleaned. Ask which shop’s clothes are good. Then, go take a look at those residences and make up for whatever needs to be added. Then, go to the broker shop and bring back some rough servants. Also, you and Zhao Cai can buy an old woman on the stove for your residences. Ruyi can buy two rough servants to watch the garden first.”
“Got it.” Ji Xiang retreated.
Li Yu was about to go see Mr. Wen and Yangyang when Gu Yu came in with a letter and reported, “Madam, a Madam is here to see you.”
Li Yu opened it and saw Madam Gong of the Lin residence written on it. She thought to herself, Could it be that he knows about our relationship? On second thought, if he knew, he wouldn’t have asked his wife to come. Looking at the gown she was wearing, she said to Gu Yu, “Take her to the reception hall. I’ll go later. ”
Madam Gong sat in the hall and saw green rosewood tables and chairs in the hall. There was a rosewood flower rack in the corner. On the flower rack was a pot of purple-red flowers that emitted a fragrance. Warm sunlight seeped in through the carved wooden window and sprinkled on the flower rack in pieces. She touched the smooth rosewood armrest on the chair. Madam Gong thought to herself that many people wanted this house back then. She heard that Lord Zhou was just an abandoned child of the Zhou family. For some reason, he caught His Majesty’s eye.
Li Yu walked to the entrance of the reception hall and saw a benevolent-looking woman sitting inside. She was wearing a long dress with golden threads embroidered on it. Her hair was combed into a high bun with pearls and emeralds in it, making her look noble and dignified.
Madam Gong was stunned when she saw Li Yu. Master said that Young Master Li looked a little like him. Why was this Madam Li so similar to Aunt? Could they really be children of the Lin family? No wonder Master asked her to ask around.
Seeing her expression, Li Yu knew that Lin Zexu still didn’t know about their relationship. After today, it might not be the case. Li Yu smiled and said to her, “May I know why Madam is here?”
When Madam Gong saw that Li Yu had asked without greeting her, she was a little displeased. On second thought, she couldn’t blame her after coming rashly without informing her. She smiled and said, “Please forgive me for coming rashly. After knowing that Young Master Li has obtained a ranking, my master asked me to send a congratulatory gift to congratulate you.”
Li Yu looked at Madam Gong in surprise. This reason was too far-fetched!
“Thank you, Madam. Thank you, Scholar Lin,” Li Yu said with a smile.
Madam Gong looked at Li Yu and smiled. “Madam Li, to be honest, ever since my master saw Young Master Li, he had a lot on his mind when he returned home. However, no matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t understand. Seeing that he was frowning, I came rashly to ask where Young Master Li was from and where he lived. However, when I saw you today, I realized that you actually look a lot like my sister-in-law. Madam, do you know what relationship you siblings have with my master?”
Seeing her peaceful expression and sincere attitude, Li Yu knew she would find out as long as she asked the Wang family. “Madam Gong, please go home and ask Scholar Lin if he still remembers his missing sister.”
When Madam Gong heard this, she stood up in surprise and looked at Li Yu excitedly. “Are you Jinniang’s children?”
“That’s right!” Li Yu also stood up and looked at Madam Gong. “Madam also knows my mother?”
“I know. I met Jinniang and Granny when they came to the capital that year.”
Madam Gong smiled happily. “That’s great. I have to go back and tell my master this news.”
Madam Gong said excitedly and turned around to walk out. The woman behind her bowed to Li Yu and followed Madam Gong.
Li Yu didn’t ask her to stay. She smiled and sent her to the door. “Take care, Madam.”
“Let’s go back. It’s windy outside.” Madam Gong smiled and got into the carriage.
Li Yu watched the carriage leave and thought to herself that Madam Gong looked easy to get along with. She wondered what kind of person Scholar Lin was. On second thought, who cares! If they were easy to get along with, everyone would meet often. If they were not, she would stay away..