Chapter 499 - 499: Going Out

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Li Yu recalled that in her previous life, her hometown also had this habit. Regardless of whether it was an old or young person’s birthday, it was two boiled eggs. It was an official birthday celebration, and it was organized for her by her comrades when she was 30 years old. The birthday celebration arrived not long after.

Li Yu held Zhou Jia’s arm and smiled at him. “You give me gifts every year!”

Li Qing and Fan Mingfang walked into the inner courtyard and saw Li Yu and her husband smiling at each other.

“Sister, the people eating are here. Are you ready?”

“Young brat, Auntie He and Old Madam Liu have already prepared it.” Li Yu went forward and held Fan Mingfang’s hand. “Is there anything you want to eat? I’ll get someone to make it for you!”

“I don’t have anything I want to eat.” Fan Mingfang followed Li Yu into the reception hall with a red face and whispered, “Sister, it’s been more than ten days late this month. I wanted to talk about it in a few days. Ah Qing was worried and insisted that I come over to take a look.”

Seeing that she was a little nervous, Li Yu smiled and comforted her. “The child will naturally come when it’s time. Ah Qing asked you to take a look because he’s worried about you. Don’t feel pressured.”

Fan Mingfang nodded. “Thank you, Sister. Are Yueyue and Xingxing still awake?”

Li Yu looked at the hourglass. “They’ll be awake in about 15 minutes.”

After the two of them sat down for a while, Li Qing brought Mr. Wen to the reception hall. Li Yu and Fan Mingfang stood up. “Sir, you’re back!”

Mr. Wen looked at Fan Mingfang happily. “As soon as I came back, Ah Qing pulled you here. Sit down. I’ll take your pulse!”

Li Qing eagerly took out the medicine pillow from the medicine box and padded Fan Mingfang. Li Yu smiled at Li Qing’s solicitous look. “Yes! Not bad.

You’re much more sensible.”

Li Qing blushed slightly. “Sister, I’ve always been so sensible!”

“Ah Qing and Jiahe are as sensible as each other,” Mr. Wen said with a smile, and everyone laughed.

Mr. Wen placed his hand on Fan Mingfang’s pulse and narrowed his eyes. After a moment, he said, “Congratulations! Congratulations! It’s a slippery pulse. It’s still early in the month. Be careful. We’ll see it again at the beginning of the month.”

Li Qing and Fan Mingfang nodded happily. “Yes, sir.”

At this moment, Auntie He came to call them to eat. Li Yu smiled and said to Fan Mingfang, “Be careful in the first three months. Let the kitchen cook whatever you like to eat.”

After the family finished eating, Zhao Cai returned from the government office and reported to Zhou Jia, “Master, the government office has already imprisoned the Zhang family. Mr. Qian said that he will monitor the government office and investigate the Zhang family.”

Zhou Jia nodded. “It’s fine as long as Mr. Qian keeps an eye on him. Go home early and rest after dinner.”

“Yes, Master.” Zhao Cai agreed and left.

Two days later, Ruyi returned from the government office and reported to Li Yu with a smile, “Madam, Zhang Guisheng has been stripped of his scholarly title. His family has been sentenced by the government office to be exiled to Liangzhou, the exile ground of Country Lord Ning. I heard that he will be on his way in a few days.”

Li Yu nodded in praise. “This judgment is quite good. He got his just desserts.”

In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the month. Li Yu planned to bring the children to the farm to see how the sweet potato seedlings that Han San and the others had transplanted were growing.

Zhou Jia smiled and said to Li Yu, “Yu’er, His Majesty invited me to the palace today. He wants me to set off for Yuezhou to check the taxes. I heard from them that Yuezhou is rich in resources and has pleasant scenery. It’s a good place. Sigh! Yue’er and Xing’er are too young. Why don’t our family take the opportunity to travel

Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia’s attempt to look relaxed. “Is it dangerous to go to

Yuezhou?”

“Yu’er, why are you so sharp?”

Zhou Jia smiled bitterly. ‘Yuezhou is a famous place for fish and rice. The taxes paid in a year are not as much as in Tongzhou. His Majesty said that the news sent back by the secret guards said that the corruption in Yuezhou is very serious. The local officials are colluding with the local aristocratic families. In some places, people are struggling. The officials sent by the Imperial Court twice in a row didn’t find any evidence. His Majesty asked me to come back and discuss it with you. Also…”

Li Yu decisively interrupted Zhou Jia. ‘What’s there to discuss? Of course not. I don’t want you to take the risk. Besides, you’re not the only official in the Ministry of Revenue. What’s the Imperial Court raising so many people for?”

In the past, Li Yu would have agreed to let Zhou Jia go to Yuezhou. However, the two of them already had three children now. In addition, Zhou Jia had been loyal and considerate to Li Yu all these years. Li Yu’s feelings for Zhou Jia were no longer as dispensable as before.

“Yu’er, let me finish.” Zhou Jia held Li Yu’s hand and looked at her. “The Cheng family in Yuezhou is the family of the noble consort. The secret guards hidden in the Cheng family sent news back. The Cheng family brought back a person trom overseas Derore tne new year. ‘l’nat person seems to De tne Eldest prince.”

“After His Majesty sent someone to the place where the Eldest Prince was imprisoned to investigate, he received news that the Eldest Prince was still living in the place where he was imprisoned.”

His Majesty suspects that that person is the Eldest Prince’s substitute and is worried that the Cheng family has already replaced him. He even said that the Cheng family in Yuezhou is quite ambitious and is afraid that they will use the Eldest Prince to cause trouble. When internal strife occurs, Great Yong will be attacked on several sides.”

Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia and asked curiously, “Didn’t the Eldest Prince already break his leg and become a cripple? It’s been so many years. Can he still be treated?”

Zhou Jia smiled and said, “There’s no need for the Eldest Prince. They can use his child! Hasn’t such a thing happened many times since ancient times?”

They were already at the point of fighting to the death, but he still had to pretend to be tolerant. This was good. He left the root of the trouble for others to take advantage of.

“Then what’s the point of keeping him alive? Why don’t we eliminate him and prevent future trouble?”

Li Yu rolled her eyes. “You’ve already promised the emperor to go to Yuezhou! You even said that you would discuss it with me when you came back. In my opinion, it’s more like telling me.”

Zhou Jia pulled Li Yu into his arms. “Yu’er, I don’t want to go anywhere. I just want to stay at home and guard you and the children. But Yu’er, once we’re in turmoil, our child won’t have a stable life in the future.”

“I don’t want our children to live a wandering life. His Majesty will send secret guards to protect me in secret. I’ll bring Ruyi and Zhao Cai. Nothing will happen.”

“I’ll go with you. Wouldn’t it be better with me protecting you?” Li Yu said.

Zhou Jia shook his head. “Be good and stay at home. Yueyue and Xingxing are still young. You have to stay at home to take care of the children. I’ll be back soon. ”

“Since you’ve said so, how can I not let you go? You must remember that safety comes first. You’re not single. You have a home and children.”

Zhou Jia replied solemnly, “Yes, Madam. I’ll remember.”

“Also, why didn’t the two people who went previously find any evidence? Were they bribed by the people from Yuezhou or were there other reasons? You have to investigate and think of a way to deal with it in advance.”

“One of the two men was bribed. The other was unaccustomed when he got there. He vomited and had diarrhea. He was mostly lying in bed. Where would we check for evidence?”

Li Yu was still worried. She thought for a moment and said, “I think you might as well just kill the Eldest Prince and take drastic measures. Even if the Cheng family captures the Eldest Prince, they can only be useless..”