LIGHTNOVELONLINE
Chapter 154
It was September, and the weather was gradually cooling down. After finishing his meal, Tang Shan strolled around the courtyard to help digest the food. Just as he was about to return to his room, he heard the hurried footsteps of a servant.
"What's the matter?"
"Master, the young master has returned."
Tang Shan hurried out to greet him. Ah, his good son had returned so quickly.
Actually, Tang Jue didn't want to come back. He hadn't even met those young ladies yet, but since Liu Yizhu wanted to return, and he was now the eldest son, Tang Jue dared not act recklessly and had to abandon those unseen young ladies.
"Son!"
"Father~"
Compared to Tang Shan's broad smile, Tang Jue looked a bit sad and aggrieved. He pointed at Liu Yizhu and accused, "Father, it's all his fault. If not for him, I wouldn't have just brought this good news back to you."
"I could have brought a daughter-in-law back as well."
Tang Shan directly slapped him on the head: "What are you thinking? Is it time for you to get married?"
"It's time for you to study!"
He couldn't let his children indulge in romance and neglect their important matters.
After reprimanding his son, Tang Shan turned to greet the others and patted Liu Yizhu's shoulder: "Not bad, we should call you Liu Jie Yuan now. Perhaps next year we can become officials together."
Liu Yizhu bowed in return: "Your kindness is appreciated, my lord."
Tang Shan was about to say that Li Mingwei was staying at the mansion when he suddenly had an idea. He instructed a servant, "Go and prepare rooms for our guests."
He whispered something to the servant, and shortly after, a maid came and escorted Liu Yizhu to Li Mingwei's room.
The maid only brought him to the door and said softly, "Lord Liu, please enter. This servant will fetch water for you to freshen up."
Liu Yizhu saw a light inside and thought it was left by someone cleaning the room, so he directly pushed the door open.
Li Mingwei blinked her eyes: "You're back?"
She was startled, and the ladle in her hand almost fell.
Liu Yizhu was pleasantly surprised. He put down his luggage and sat beside her, his hand unconsciously caressing her face: "Why are you here?"
"To buy you some things." Li Mingwei pointed to the cradle where Liu Simo was sleeping: "Your son."
Liu Yizhu glanced over and said, "Oh." He continued, "What did you buy for me?"
Li Mingwei rolled her eyes, exasperated: "Clothes."
"Didn't we just have new ones made last year?"
His frugal nature was just like his mother-in-law's. Li Mingwei was already used to it. She noticed the leftover food on the table and remembered to ask, "Have you eaten?"
"No, but I had a late lunch, so I'm not hungry."
Although they said they weren't hungry, Lady Tang still had the kitchen staff send them food. It was too late today, and they would have a proper welcoming meal for them tomorrow.
After Liu Yizhu had eaten and washed up, he sat beside Li Mingwei, who was counting money on the bed: "Why are you counting money again?"
She wasn't counting money; she was feeling the pain. Well, Li Mingwei stuffed the money into her purse all at once. Out of sight, out of mind.
She hooked her arm around Liu Yizhu's neck, glanced at the bed, and Liu Yizhu got the hint and carried her onto the bed. Then he turned and extinguished the candle before slipping under the covers.
Just as he was about to proceed further, he heard the person in his arms let out a long sigh.
"What's wrong? Not happy?" He held her tighter and leaned down to kiss her forehead. He was the top scorer in the examination, but she didn't even mention it and was sighing instead.
Li Mingwei grumbled: "I didn't see you being particularly happy either."
Liu Yizhu did want to be happy, but he didn't have the qualifications yet.
However, he could still celebrate a little now. He untied Li Mingwei's robe and pressed her beneath him. Li Mingwei embraced him and slowly called out, "Liu Yizhu~"
Liu Yizhu paused: "What is it?"
"Nothing~"
Liu Yizhu's expression darkened. If there was nothing, don't disturb him at this moment. He leaned down again, applying more force than before.
Li Mingwei didn't have anything else on her mind. She was just nervous about him having to go to the Capital City. Her father-in-law always paid close attention to the scholars taking the examination there. What if Liu Yizhu didn't understand the proper etiquette and did something wrong?
There were too many high-ranking officials and nobles in the Capital City. With his lack of connections and background, he might be bullied. Tang Jue and Lord Tang's meager official ranks were hardly enough protection. Everything depended on Ah Xiu.
Could Ah Xiu secretly look after him? That girl was quite boisterous. She might let the whole Capital City know about it before she returned.
How worrying!
Li Mingwei tossed and turned, preventing Liu Yizhu from falling asleep. He silently watched her, noticing the troubled look on her face since his return, but he didn't know the reason.
Li Mingwei sighed again and turned over, meeting Liu Yizhu's wide-open eyes. She was startled and scooted back a bit, clutching her chest: "Why aren't you sleeping?"
"I should ask you the same."
He wanted to ask her instead.
"Did I disturb you?"
"No." Liu Yizhu shook his head. "Mingwei, if there's something on your mind, just tell me. This is the first time I've seen you unable to sleep."
Usually, she would have been sound asleep by now.
Li Mingwei hesitated for a moment before inching closer and saying, "You've read through the etiquette handbook I drew, right?"
"I've read it all and memorized it."
"That's good." Li Mingwei breathed a sigh of relief and reminded him, "You mustn't be rude when you go to the Capital City. It's fine to be casual at home, but you must follow the rules when you're out."
Liu Yizhu frowned: "Going to the Capital City? You're worrying about something that won't happen until next year."
Oh.
She forgot to tell him that he would be sent to the Capital City in a few days.
Li Mingwei smiled sheepishly and nuzzled his cheek affectionately: "I forgot to tell you. Lord Tang said he would send Tang Jue to the Capital City in a few days, and I asked him to take you along to save on travel expenses."
Liu Yizhu's voice deepened: "Mingwei, do you know what month it is now?"
It was early September. The Spring Examination wasn't until next February, which was still half a year away.
"I know."
There wasn't much time left, and the journey alone would take half a month. If they delayed any further, he wouldn't even be able to finish the reading list she had prepared for him.
"What about you?"
"I'll stay home. The child is still young, and we'll come find you next spring."
Liu Yizhu smiled: "Next spring, or after I get news about the Spring Examination?"
"Ah, well..."
Of course, it would be after he received news about the examination results.
That would be after mid-April. By the time they reached the Capital City, it would be May, meaning they would be separated for another half a year.
"Mingwei, why do we have to go so early?"
Li Mingwei didn't want to explain: "Don't worry about it. Just go when you're told. I won't harm you, but if you don't listen, I won't want you anymore."
What choice did Liu Yizhu have but to return home and prepare to leave?
When Old Lady Wang heard they would be leaving so early, she wasn't pleased. The Capital City was so far away, and he... this...
But Liu Yizhu said he was going to study, so she couldn't refuse. If he went alone next year, the travel expenses would be considerable.
She wiped her eyes and looked at Li Mingwei: "Why don't you accompany him? You've studied before and are sensible. It would be good for you two to go together and look after each other."
Li Mingwei widened her eyes and waved her hands repeatedly: "I'm not going. How can I bring the child along? It would be so inconvenient on the road."
"But..."
But what should they do?