Chapter 523: Reunion
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Zhou Jia glanced at Old Master Zhou, who was looking at him with a smile. He bowed and said, “Greetings, Uncle.”
Old Master Zhou smiled poignantly and replied, “It’s good that you’re back. Jiahe’s wife, leave the child to me. Serve him and go back to wash up so that he can eat.”
“Yes, Uncle,” Li Yu replied with a smile.
After the couple returned to the house, Zhou Jia hugged Li Yu and kissed her as he muttered, ‘Yu’er, I miss you and the children so much.”
Li Yu looked at him deeply. “I miss you too. Look at how thin you are. It’s hard to hug you.”
“I missed you so much that I lost weight.” Zhou Jia hugged Li Yu, his eyes filled with joy.
When Li Qing found out that Zhou Jia had returned, he also brought Fan Mingfang to the Zhou family. Soon, Lin Zexu also brought Madam Gong over. Li Yu and Zhou Jia smiled and welcomed the two of them in.
“Uncle, Aunt, I was still thinking of inviting you over tomorrow,” Li Yu said with a smile.
Lin Zexu smiled and said to Zhou Jia and Li Qing, “Let’s go in and talk.” Zhou Jia smiled and walked towards the study with the two of them.
Madam Gong looked at Zhou Jia and smiled. “Jiahe has lost a lot of weight on this trip to Yuezhou. Since he’s back, nourish him well.”
Li Yu smiled and nodded. “Yes, I shall nourish him well.”
After Zhou Jia, Lin Zexu, and Li Qing sat down in the study, he told the two of them what he had seen along the way and what had happened in Yuezhou. He said in a low voice, “I brought people to almost turn over the Cheng family in Yuezhou, but we still haven’t found any traces of the Second Prince. The weapons we seized from the Cheng family don’t match the number those craftsmen said. The quantity of iron ore that was sold doesn’t tally. His Majesty is worried that the Second Prince is hiding in the dark and waiting for an opportunity to make a move.”
Lin Zexu said, “The Cheng family of Yuezhou is a century-old family. They must have more than one backup plan. How can they be easily found by you? I think those items have most likely been transported to the place where the Second Prince is hiding.”
Li Qing looked at Lin Zexu in confusion. “Uncle, His Majesty is talented and strategic. He knows people well. Why didn’t the late Emperor appoint His Majesty as the heir apparent as soon as possible?”
Lin Zexu said, “The late emperor was afraid of the Shen family’s army and was unwilling to pass the throne to the Third Prince. After the Third Prince was injured, the late emperor prepared to appoint the Eldest Prince as the heir apparent. No one expected that not long after, the Noble Consort and her son would encounter trouble one after another. His Majesty had no choice but to pass the throne to the current emperor. Now, it seems that the Shen family is loyal to Great Yong. The Cheng family is willing to do anything for their own interests. ”
Li Qing frowned and said, “Uncle, Brother-in-law, I think there must be something wrong with that General Zou. Why was he only dismissed and not dealt with?”
Zhou Jia looked at Li Qing. “Think about why His Majesty didn’t deal with him. Also, when you come out of the Hanlin Academy next year, do you think you’ll be getting a position in the capital or outside of the capital?”
When Lin Zexu heard this, he also looked at Li Qing. “That’s right! Ah Qing, what do you think about this?”
Li Qing had long considered this matter. When he heard the two of them ask, he said seriously, “Uncle, Brother-in-law, I want to work outside for a few years before returning to the capital.”
Lin Zexu nodded and said, “That’s good. With us in the capital, as long as you make political achievements outside, your career will be even more illustrious after returning to the capital.”
Li Qing stood up and bowed to the two of them. “Ah Qing, thank you, Uncle. Thank you, Brother-in-law.”
At this moment, the sound of Little Loach inviting them to the table came from outside the study. Only then did the three of them go out to the main hall to eat.
Mr. Wen also returned from the pharmacy with Seven Pounds. Everyone greeted each other before sitting down. After dinner, Li Yu and Zhou Jia sent Uncle Lin and his wife out the door before returning to their rooms to rest. Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu and the two of them hugged and lay down.
After that, Zhou Jia told Li Yu in detail what had happened along the way and said, “His Majesty said that he wants to come along when you go to Wang Family Village to collect sweet potatoes.”
Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia in surprise. “Why did he think of going to the Wang Family Village? If he wants to see how sweet potatoes are dug, there’s one outside the city. Can it be safe to go so far away in the Wang Family Village?
What if something happens?”
Zhou Jia smiled and kissed her. “Silly, His Majesty won’t attract attention when he goes out in his private clothes.”
Li Yu wrinkled her nose and said in disdain, “It’s troublesome. When the time comes, I’ll be trembling with fear when I speak. I won’t feel at ease at all.”
Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu dotingly. “Yu’er, I heard that you made something called Dust Ball at home. His Majesty even said that he wants to see the coal stove you made.”
Li Yu smiled and said, “There are many in the manor. Now that Uncle, Ah Qing, and the others have used the briquettes to boil water, they’ve also used them at home. They all say that it’s convenient. We’ll go to the Wang Family Village to dig up sweet potatoes at the beginning of the month. Report it and let His Majesty set a date!”
“Yes! It’s been hard on you these days.” Zhou Jia thought of how the Cheng family had attacked Yangyang and was still a little afraid. “I didn’t expect the Cheng family to be so crazy as to attack Yangyang.”
“When Sir came back, he was worried that Yangyang would be afraid at night and prepared a calming medicine for him. Who knew that he would sleep until dawn?” Li Yu said with a smile.
Zhou Jia also smiled and nodded. “This child is bold.” The couple talked about trivial matters for a while before falling asleep in each other’s arms.
The next morning, after Zhou Jia woke up, Yangyang said to him, “Father, Mother said that when you come back, I’ll get Brother Loach and the others to send me to school. After school, I want to play with my classmates for a while before going home.”
Zhou Jia looked at his son, who had grown much taller, and said with a smile, “Alright, Father will tell your mother when she wakes up. Don’t play for too long, lest we worry.”
Yangyang smiled when he heard that. “Yes! Father, don’t worry. I’ll go see my younger brothers before going to school.”
When Yueyue saw Yangyang, he cried out. Even Xingxing called out to him. Yangyang touched their furry heads and thought that it was so comfortable to touch them gently. No wonder Mother always liked to touch his head.
“Brother is going to school. Be good at home.” With that, he turned around and left with Little Loach and Mao Dou.
When they arrived at the entrance of the school, Yangyang said to Little Loach and Mao Dou, “Follow the old woman who sent Lin Sen here later and see what she does. Tell me when I get out of school.”
The two of them nodded and asked, “Young Master, have you discussed it with Young Master Lin?”
“Don’t worry, we agreed.” Yang Yang looked at the old woman who had walked over with Lin Sen. “That’s her. Follow her well.”
When Lin Sen saw Yangyang, Little Loach, and the others, he walked forward and stood with Yangyang. He turned to look at the old woman. “Granny Yue, go back!”
The old woman nodded and turned to leave. Little Loach and Mao Bean followed.
Yangyang and Lin Sen stood at the door for a while before Lin Haoran arrived. When he saw the two of them, he asked, “Zhou Chenxi, is your father back?”
Yangyang smiled and said, “He’s back. I told him that I’ll play with you guys for a while this afternoon. Tell your family too.”
“No need. My house is not far from Lin Sen’s house.” Lin Haoran pulled the two of them into the school.
Lin Haoran looked at Lin Sen.. “Lin Sen, did she take your things again today?”