Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 792 - 0743: Lou Chengye’s Assistance (1)

Princess Consort Luling looked at Chai Eying in shock, opened her mouth, unsure of how to explain.

"Mother, you are the Princess Consort Luling, aren’t you? Father is Prince Luling, and the Li Family is the family of Prince Luling who was exiled by the Emperor to suffer here, isn’t it?" Chai Eying looked unblinkingly at Princess Consort Luling.

Guoguo glanced at Chai Eying, then at Princess Consort Luling, bit her lip, and said, "Grandmother, someone from the Chai family came just now, it was Miss Chai. She said some things to Mother and was chased away by Baoshun and the others."

A few days ago, someone came from the Capital, and the Chang Sui of the Pei family even stayed at the Li Family for a night.

If that Chang Sui was a chatty person, passing through the village on his way back to the Capital, he might have already spread the news around the village.

Princess Consort Luling sighed, put down the needle and thread in her hands, pointed to the chair in front of her, "Eying, sit down first, I’ll tell you slowly." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Chai Eying took a breath and went over to sit down.

"There was a change in the Capital, the Emperor suddenly passed away, Yu Wen and Yu Zhu, along with Shen Yan and Yuanxiu, coincidentally entered the palace to meet the Empress and were kept in the palace. Your father and the others were worried that Yu Wen and them were in danger and also worried that our old house wouldn’t be safe. So, they rushed to the Capital and once things are settled, they will return, they will be fine, don’t overthink it."

Chai Eying shook her head, "Mother, I mean... the family’s identity, why has it always been kept from me?"

Princess Consort Luling felt very apologetic, holding Chai Eying’s hand, "Wasn’t it just because we were worried you would be scared? Eying, don’t be afraid, it won’t implicate you, your father and the eldest son will arrange everything properly."

Chai Eying still shook her head, "I’m not afraid, I’ve married into the family, I’m a part of the family. If something happens in the family, I have a responsibility to bear it, it’s just that..."

She sighed, not knowing what to say.

"We didn’t think of you as an outsider, we even kept it from the Lou family, initially, even that child Shen Yan didn’t know, Shen Yan only learned because he returned to the Capital," Princess Consort Luling sighed.

"We thought that if the identity spread, it would bring about gossip from the villagers and malicious people would harm you in secret. At that time, the Emperor was furious; the future was unpredictable. We all thought we might never return, so we didn’t take the past identity seriously, we just considered ourselves to be people of this village."

"Mother, you’re not an outsider, you are my mother." Guoguo leaned against Chai Eying, hugging her, "Really, Mother, Guoguo doesn’t lie."

Her clear, large eyes looked up at Chai Eying.

Chai Eying was just surprised, not blaming the Li family.

"Yes, Mother is Guoguo’s mother." Chai Eying hugged Guoguo in return.

Princess Consort Luling continued, "Eying, now that you know about it, I’ll tell you everything. The late Emperor, who just passed, was the eldest son’s cousin. Dissatisfied with your father’s strict guidance, he found an excuse to exile our family here to suffer."

"..."

"Over half a month ago, he suddenly died, reportedly poisoned. The Empress Dowager is currently ordering the capture of the murderer. Some sly individuals are using this chance to suppress their opponents. Our family has also been targeted, and someone has their eye on our family’s old house in the Capital, wanting to seize it for themselves."

"..."

"That old house was left to our branch by the Grand Ancestor himself, how can it fall into others’ hands? Your father and the eldest son grew anxious, so they hurried back to the Capital."

"..."

"We initially intended to return to the Capital as a family, but the situation in the Capital is extremely complex. Eying, you’re unfamiliar with the Capital’s circumstances, and we feared you might fall victim to schemes and plots, moreover, the children are still young."

"..."

"So, your father and the eldest son agreed that we, the women and children, should not return to the Capital temporarily. Once they’ve settled things there, they’ll come get us."

Chai Eying calmed down and realized that the family did it for her own good.

Indeed, she, a village girl who had barely ever been to the county town, would certainly be confused and helpless if suddenly faced with the schemes and trickery of high-status families in the Capital.

At that time, the Li family would have to deal with their adversary’s schemes and would have no time to look after her. If she went to the Capital then, she would only create trouble.

And the three children would also be worried and scared.

"Mother, I understand, I don’t blame you and father." Chai Eying smiled slightly, "We’ll wait for them here in the village to come back."

"It’s good that you understand." Princess Consort Luling smiled and again held Chai Eying’s hand.

Guoguo listened to their conversation, frowning in thought.

.

Miss Chai intended to deceive Chai Eying into returning to the Chai family, but was driven away by the children from the school.

She felt indignant.

On the way back from the market to the Chai family, Miss Chai spread the word about the Li family’s affairs.

She said the Li family was the Luling Prince’s family who had offended the Emperor three years ago and was exiled to the countryside of Zhen An Prefecture to suffer.

She also said the Li family was now in great trouble again, that the four Li family men had all run away, abandoning the old and weak women and children at home.

She further mentioned that the Li family’s eldest son might be beheaded by the Empress Dowager and that Chai Eying would become a widow, and so on.

Miss Chai’s husband’s family was a wealthy family in the county, and their relatives were officials in the Capital, a very prestigious family in the village.

Everyone believed her words without doubt.

Some who were jealous of Chai Eying waited for her to become a widow so they could have a laugh at her expense.

Some who sympathized with Chai Eying came to the Li family to comfort her, saying that with a son born, land and a house, being a widow wasn’t of much consequence, and life wouldn’t be too difficult.

Chai Eying was completely bewildered, what on earth were they talking about?

How could her husband get beheaded just by going back to the old house?

No matter how Chai Eying tried to reason, the villagers insisted on their own ideas.

Unable to explain, Chai Eying couldn’t be bothered to try anymore.

She believed that facts would definitely speak louder than words.

.

Two days later, Li Yu En and Lou Chengye also returned to the Li Family.

Not only did they return, but they also brought along the entire Liu Er family, including Liu Er Niu and Liu San Niu, along with several large carts of luggage.

It looked just like they were moving house.

Princess Consort Luling asked them, "Why have you come back like this? Are you planning to stay here?"

Li Yu En said, "We heard the news and were worried about mother and big sister-in-law."

Lou Chengye also said, "My father asked me to send regards to my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, saying that something happened in the capital, and my brothers surely must have returned there. Without men at home, it’s not right, so he asked me to stay here and keep an eye on things."

Li Yu En scoffed, "Mother, when we were on our way, we heard the villagers talking about our family, saying really awful things. Father and brother just went to the capital for a look, how could they have been beheaded already? Complete nonsense!"

Princess Consort Luling sighed, "Let them say what they want. We are not Bodhisattvas; we can’t make everyone like us."

Li Yu En came home, first because she was worried about her family, and second, because she and Lou Chengye had consummated their marriage and she had just become pregnant.

She couldn’t sleep or eat well at the Lou Family while thinking about her own family, so Lou Chengye simply brought her to stay at her mother’s house.

Neither Magistrate Lou nor Lady Lou opposed, they agreed.

Li Yu En secretly told Princess Consort Luling about her pregnancy news.

Princess Consort Luling was both surprised and delighted, "No wonder you’ve gained a little weight. The Wei Family wrote a few days ago saying your eldest sister is also expecting, but the news hasn’t been made public, only your grandmother and uncle’s family know. Now with you pregnant too, it’s double happiness for our family."

Li Yu En blushed, lowering her head and touching her belly, "They say when you’re newly pregnant, you’ll have symptoms like discomfort and loss of appetite, but it’s been three months for me, and I don’t feel anything, my belly is still flat. Mother, am I really pregnant?"

Princess Consort Luling asked her when her last menstrual period was.

Li Yu En, being a careless person, tilted her head and thought for a long time, "I don’t remember, just know it’s been a long, long time."

Princess Consort Luling was amused, tapping her on the forehead, "You don’t remember for how many months your period hasn’t come, but Chengye must have remembered it for you. He surely had a doctor check on you, right?"

Li Yu En nodded, "We saw four doctors and then two midwives, who are three sister’s apprentices, and they all said I am pregnant."

Princess Consort Luling laughed, "There you go, with so many doctors diagnosing along with your body’s situation, how can there be a mistake?"

Li Yu En frowned, still troubled by the size of her belly and lack of symptoms, "But I don’t feel anything, and my belly is still flat."

Princess Consort Luling laughed and said, "Do you think having symptoms is a good thing? Vomit until you cry for your mother! Your big sister-in-law had big reactions, couldn’t eat even if she wanted to, and vomited everything she ate. That’s not pleasant at all. When I was pregnant with you, I vomited bile, expelling yellow liquid, almost to death. You silly girl actually complain about not having symptoms, having none is a blessing!"

Li Yu En laughed shyly, "I was just curious and asked."

It’s amazing, because after what happened between her and Chengye, she got pregnant?

When her mother wrote to Lady Lou saying she could consummate her marriage and gave them an auspicious date, Lady Lou was so pleased she immediately arranged for her and Lou Chengye to sleep in the same bed.

Old Lady Lou even gave them a book and found a nanny to teach her.

Ah, that thing they did was so embarrassing.

But it just so happened Lou Chengye liked it.

She liked Lou Chengye, so she had to go along with it.

Later she learned that doing so was to have children.

·

The arrival of Li Yu En and Chengye made the Li Family, which had been quiet for a few days, lively again.

The Li Family’s identity was now public, but the title had not been restored, which inevitably attracted slander and ridicule from sinister people.

Magistrate Lou arranged for Lou Chengye to come to the Li Family and also assigned four guards to Lou Chengye.

With their servants and carriages, they numbered over twenty in total.

No one dared to peek around the Li Family’s gate anymore.

The Li family’s autumn harvest was only half done, as Princess Consort Luling worked hard every day personally overseeing the hired hands in the fields.

When Lou Chengye arrived, he insisted Princess Consort Luling rest while he led others to finish harvesting the remaining rice fields and tending to the cotton fields.

Some crafty short-term workers, thinking Princess Consort Luling wasn’t knowledgeable about farm work, had slacked off for a few days, taking full day’s wages while only performing half-day’s work. They anticipated they could muddle through until year-end, but unexpectedly a silent yet stern son-in-law of the Li Family showed up.

Whenever Lou Chengye went to the fields, he was always accompanied by four armed guards, scaring the hired hands into compliance.