Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 643 - 598: Always Look at the Long-Term (2)
Too useless.
Seeing Li Yuwen’s face turn livid with rage, looking as if she wished to rush to the Capital to fight, Li Yuzhu quickly held her arm and said, "Elder sister, the Empress is not Liu Da Niu. Even if she doesn’t want to challenge the imperial concubine, her maternal family members and other supporting officials will not let the imperial concubine defeat her. Every woman in the imperial harem is tied to her family’s interest. If those people still want to benefit from power, they will definitely find a way to stand up for her."
Li Yuzhu’s words were clear to Li Yuwen.
"I’m just, unable to contain my anger." Li Yuwen calmed down, exhaling as she spoke.
"An imperial concubine who dares to provoke the Empress’s authority, this kind of behavior is frowned upon. Princess Consort Yu Wen will inevitably stumble sooner or later." Li Yu En said.
Li Yuwen looked back at her, "Second sister, you understand too."
Li Yu En blinked, "Heard it often, from what mother said."
Li Yuwen walked up to Li Yu En, carefully examining her, "Earlier, I was busy listening to you talk about news from the Capital and didn’t pay attention to you. You, this girl, haven’t seen you for some time and have changed quite a bit."
She reached out, playfully pinching Li Yu En’s chin.
Li Yuzhu smiled and said, "Elder sister, second sister is working hard to lose weight, she’s lost ten pounds."
Li Yu En sighed, "Losing weight is so tough."
Li Yuwen snorted, "Knowing it’s tough, then eat less. Eating the amount of three people, of course you’d be fat! You use more material for clothes than third sister. If you stay fat, I won’t be able to afford to give you clothes!"
Li Yu En gave an embarrassed laugh, "In the past three months, I haven’t eaten anything at night, I’ve given up supper, trying hard to slim down."
Li Yuwen pinched her face and chest, teasing her, "Don’t get too thin, you look best like this now. If you’re too thin, your husband might dislike you."
Li Yu En blushed and pushed her hand away, "Elder sister, we’re still young, we haven’t shared a bed yet."
Li Yuzhu pursed her lips and smiled.
Li Yuwen had forgotten about this matter, she pursed her lips and smiled, "Won’t you grow up? Tomorrow is your coming-of-age ceremony."
.
According to customs, the day a girl turns fifteen is her coming-of-age day, and those with means will hold a grand coming-of-age ceremony for her.
Families of prominent status will also invite distinguished officials to attend.
On that day, the female elders of the family will groom the girl’s hair into an adult style, insert hairpins, announcing to the world that the girl has come of age and can be married. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
But since Li Yu En and Li Yuzhu were already married ahead of time, the coming-of-age ceremony wasn’t that important.
Nonetheless, Princess Consort Luling personally styled Li Yu En’s hair, inserted the meticulously prepared hairpin, and held a simple coming-of-age ceremony in the presence of the whole family.
The now ten pounds lighter Li Yu En, having grown a bit taller, complemented by the newly styled hair, appeared more like a young lady.
Princess Consort Luling felt a wave of sentimentality, another daughter had grown up.
Today’s coming-of-age ceremony was also a farewell ceremony.
Prefect Lou was still waiting in the county for Lou Chengye to bring Li Yu En back, and once the ceremony was over, Lou Chengye and Li Yu En had to return to the Prefecture.
Unlike the previous departure for marriage, Princess Consort Luling felt slightly better sending Li Yu En off.
Because she saw that Lou Chengye cared greatly for Li Yu En. During the month she stayed at the Lou Mansion, not only didn’t she lose weight, she even gained quite a bit, showing the girl was well cared for.
Accompanying Li Yu En back to the Prefecture are Li Xingsheng and Liu Laoda’s two daughters, along with Liu Er’s two sons.
On this sunny day, amid the Li Family’s waves of farewell, Lou Chengye and Li Yu En, escorted by Li Xingsheng, set off from the Li Family towards the county.
.
In the afternoon, as the sun was about to set, Li Yu En, Lou Chengye, and Li Xingsheng arrived at the County Magistrate Mansion.
Lou Chengye brought the siblings to see Prefect Lou.
"Daughter-in-law greets father." After Lou Chengye paid his respects, Li Yu En followed with a bow.
"Lord Prefect." Li Xingsheng also clasped his hands in greeting.
Prefect Lou rose from his seat and gestured with his hand, "We are family, no need for formalities."
County Magistrate accompanied by the side, immediately called over the maid to move chairs for Li Xingsheng and Li Yu En to sit.
Knowing Li Yu En loves food, and Li Xingsheng loves tea, County Magistrate then instructed Chang Sui to bring the finest tea, refreshments, and fruits.
Prefect Lou kindly inquired Li Yu En about her family’s situation; how were her parents’ health, how was her brother and sister-in-law’s family, and how were several sisters’ households.
He also chatted with Li Xingsheng.
Prefect Lou’s unusually courteous manner made Li Xingsheng rather puzzled.
Li Yu En also felt quite uncomfortable.
Why were they being so polite to her?
Was it like mother said, she slimmed down, grew taller, looking more like an adult?
Adults speak with adults, thus being more polite, is it this way?
Out of courtesy, Li Yu En also replied politely.
Having been consistently guided by Princess Consort Luling for three months, Li Yu En, besides looking more like a young lady, was more poised than before in conduct.
But no matter how she changed, her face still very much resembled Prince Luling.
Speaking adult pleasantries with a cordial smile on her face, in Prefect Lou’s eyes, it seemed as if Li Yu En had the presence of Prince Luling.
Prince Luling is known in the Capital as the smiling fox.
This Second Princess, looking so much like Prince Luling, must have inherited her father’s slyness.
Li Xingsheng naturally doesn’t need to be mentioned, when he returns to the Capital, this pearl will shed its dust and shine brightly.
After traversing the Capital and grasping some imperial secrets, Prefect Lou calculated again and again, concluding that the Luling family would certainly return to the Capital to restore their status sooner or later, either this year or next.
Besides currying favor with Li Xingsheng and his siblings, Prefect Lou also instructed County Magistrate Li to invite Li Xing’an, who kept a shop in the county.
Li Xing’an hadn’t been back to the Li Family for a long time, unaware of the happenings in the Capital.
Prefect Lou figured he would definitely want to know, and during dinner, Prefect Lou deliberately spoke to his son, Lou Chengye, about matters in the Capital.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Li Xing’an’s face changed.
After finishing dinner, Li Xing’an immediately pulled Li Xingsheng aside to carefully inquire.
Li Xingsheng recounted what Lou Chengye mentioned at the Li Family to Li Xing’an.
Li Xing’an lowered his eyelids, pondering over the information.
"Second brother, Li Can falling ill at such a young age, does this not strike you as odd?"
Li Xingsheng replied, "I have noticed; others think it’s due to having too many women exhausting his body, but somehow, I feel things aren’t that simple. Father also said there might be other reasons."
