Remarrying Chun Yuan

Chapter 155 Leave it alone

Both maids were almost in tears.

Who would have thought that they would be summoned to the back garden by their master early in the morning, where he not only made them loosen the soil around the pepper trees and herbs, but also had the steward bring over a bucket of horse manure to fertilize the herbs!

Although they were maids in the palace, they were not in charge of flowers and plants. Even the palace maids who were in charge of flowers and plants had never done this kind of work. The royal nursery would cultivate the plants and then send them to the ladies. They only looked at the bright colors, and once the plants withered, they would have the nursery take them back. There was no need for them to be cultivated at all.

"Master, we really don't know how to do these things."

"When serving the Empress Dowager in the palace, the servants were in charge of spices and tea, and also helped the Empress Dowager raise birds."

"These rough jobs can be done by others, why would we need to do them?"

The two of them were whining and acting coquettishly, their eyes practically drooling with flirtatious charm.

But Yuan Cuo seemed to be blind and didn't see it. "No one is born knowing how to do these things, but one must have a thirst for knowledge, especially since you are all so young. As the saying goes, success comes from perseverance and mastery comes from diligence. You just need to practice more and you will naturally be able to learn."

"But we were sent by the Empress Dowager to serve you!" One of them couldn't hold back any longer and threw down her hoe. "Our hands are calloused, how can we serve you well?"

"This servant has never been out in the sun for so long before. Doesn't the mistress care at all..."

"Besides, the Liu family has so many servants and craftsmen who manage the garden, why do you insist that we do it ourselves?"

Yuan Cuo replied matter-of-factly in a kind tone, "But I do these things in the mansion every day. You were sent by the Empress Dowager to serve me, so naturally you should do them for me." Yuan Cuo poured himself a cup of tea and swayed back and forth in his recliner. "If you are unwilling, I will not force you. After all, everyone has their own expertise, and you may not be good at it."

"Yes, yes, our master is so considerate. We servants are really not good at this."

This guy can finally be a decent human being and stop tormenting them.

But Yuan Cuo changed the subject, "Didn't you raise dogs in the palace? I also have a share in the Liu family's horse farm. I'm not at home growing herbs these days, I'm just at the horse farm feeding the horses. Why don't you go and help me look after the horses?" He gave them other tasks.

The two men's faces were flushed red, orange, green, and blue; they looked as if they wanted to curse and swear.

What's the difference between feeding horses and digging up soil to fertilize herbs? Both are dirty, tiring, and smelly jobs!

Is this Yuan family member truly ignorant or pretending? The maids bestowed by the Empress Dowager, which household wouldn't directly give them the status of concubines or mistresses? Yet he treats them like laborers!

"No, I can't see anything! The sun is so strong..."

"Oh dear, my hand seems swollen."

The two exchanged a glance and then resumed their act of playing Lin Daiyu.

Yuan Cuo's eyes suddenly narrowed, and he immediately stood up and went to the two women. The two maids' eyes lit up, and they began to hesitate, wondering whether they should take the opportunity to throw themselves into their arms and let the facts speak for themselves.

But Yuan Cuo leaned closer and pulled out ten needles.

Swish swish!

His technique was extremely fast.

They stabbed two people directly in the head, five stabs to each of them.

"Don't move, it's refreshing, it'll be fine in a moment." He turned around and went back to the pavilion to drink tea.

The two maids looked at each other and both screamed in alarm. This time, they didn't need to pretend anymore; their heads lolled to the side and they really fainted.

Yuan Cuo remained calm and summoned Liu Fu's maid to carry them back. "People from the palace can't even handle this simple task, utterly useless..."

Even though Liu Fujia was biased towards Liu Yuechu, she was still terrified at the sight. How could her usually gentle and refined son-in-law be so ruthless? It was as if the King of Hell had donned a cassock—appearances could be deceiving!

But she dared not say anything, and summoned the old women to carry the people away. Did these two girls from the palace think they could rise to the top overnight? They were really not very bright.

Yuan Cuo stretched and prepared to return to Yuanchu Pavilion to see if Liu Yuechu had woken up yet.

Liu Yuechu and Huajiao had already quietly slipped away when the two men were pricked with long needles.

When they returned to Yuanchu Pavilion, they all sighed.

"Young master, this is really..." Huajiao didn't know how to comment. Although it wasn't as sordid as she had imagined, the way he killed without leaving a trace gave her goosebumps.

When Liu Yuechu saw the long needle, she thought of the Empress Dowager.

Could it be that the Empress Dowager was stabbed like this for several days before she survived?

"They can only blame their bad luck." Liu Yuechu shook her head helplessly. If they had been given to someone like Pei Chun or Liu Musheng, they might have become concubines or something.

"Won't the son-in-law offend the Empress Dowager by doing this?" Huajiao began to worry about Yuan Cuo again.

Liu Yuechu didn't know either, but she could understand why the Empress Dowager disliked him... If it were her, she would also want to tear Yuan Cuo to pieces.

Before the master and servant could say anything more, Yuan Cuo's footsteps could be heard in the courtyard.

"My wife is awake?" His smile was as warm as a spring breeze.

Liu Yuechu scrutinized him for a moment. "The color of this outfit isn't nice. Huajiao, pick out a brighter color for the young master." She couldn't bear to see him wearing that white cloth robe anymore.

Huajiao readily agreed and went to fetch it, walking faster than usual.

Yuan Cuo picked up his teacup and took a sip. "If my wife has no plans for today, I'll go to my study to read." There are still less than three months until the autumn imperial examination, and he needs to hurry.

Liu Yuechu nodded. "The Empress Dowager's birthday banquet will proceed as planned. I'll need to think about what gift to send later." She recalled how she had rebuffed the old eunuch sent by the Empress Dowager yesterday. "His Majesty wouldn't really not bestow any reward, would he?"

If it were just the Empress Dowager who gave these two maids, it would probably sound very bad to others.

Yuan Cuo rubbed his nose, still unsure. "Let's wait and see." That old man had all sorts of tricks up his sleeve; he might just be looking for some amusement.

This wait lasted for four or five days.

No rewards have yet been bestowed from the palace.

Those who thought Yuan Cuo could use this opportunity to rise to prominence couldn't help but gloat.

It seems this young man has gained special treatment in the palace after saving the Empress Dowager.

Perhaps it displeased the Empress Dowager, so she only gave two maids a warning.

Thus, the once bustling Liu family returned to its usual tranquility. Those who had intended to send invitations to visit also made excuses not to come, or sent some gifts through their servants to make up the way.

Even when Liu Yuechu asked Song Liu'er to discuss the Jingchunlou business, the owner there dared to ask for an exorbitant price, starting at 200,000 taels.

"My son-in-law clearly saved the Empress Dowager and did a good deed, so why are we being discriminated against? It doesn't make sense!" Song Liu'er complained to Liu Yuechu, feeling wronged.

"Some people say that the palace was unhappy that the son-in-law had returned to the Liu family, which disrupted the marriage alliance between the Great Qi and the Meng Kingdom."

"Where else can they go if they don't go back? Hang themselves with a noodle? Anyone who says that has no ass!"

“You should watch your words in front of your wife. There are plenty of people who fawn over the powerful and look down on the weak. We’ve seen them all before.”