Chapter 223: Damn It, How Could I Forget About This?
In Li Fu’s room, Li Fu was still triumphantly bragging to Steward Tong about how well he had hidden his identity during this period, how thoroughly he had enjoyed luxury and fine food at the Wen family’s residence, and how popular he had become in Gutong Village.
He even shared the gossip about the young girls in the village secretly sending hand-embroidered handkerchiefs to Li Yi.
Steward Tong was one of the head stewards of the Prince of Fu Mansion, usually attending to the Prince of Fu himself. Hearing these stories now, he only regretted not coming earlier, having missed out on so many delicacies for nothing.
No matter what, I must find a time to go to that Yunwu Milk Tea shop to try those iced beverages the Prince spoke of.
Li Yi had been sitting by the side drinking tea without interrupting them. It wasn’t until Li Fu’s throat grew dry and he paused to pour himself some tea that Li Yi slowly set down his teacup and said faintly, “Do you truly believe the others haven’t noticed?”
Li Fu blanked. “Huh? They definitely haven’t noticed. If they did, do you think your Uncle Wen would still trade barbs with me like this?” He was a Prince, after all. No matter how close he was to the common folk, if the other party knew his identity, they would ultimately harbor some reservations. Thus, over the years, whenever he went out, he would absolutely never mention his status as a Prince when making friends.
Li Yi smiled. “When the servants from the mansion bowed today, Nanny Shi didn’t miss a single detail. She stared at them for a very long time. Furthermore, Nanny Shi barely spoke tonight, and she has kept a respectful distance from us, hasn’t she?”
In the past, Nanny Shi would treat him no differently from Datou, Wen Jin, and Wen Fa. But tonight, Nanny Shi did not strictly constrain him as she had before.
It wasn’t that he was looking to be micro-managed, but this abnormal behavior clearly indicated she had discerned something.
With this reminder from Li Yi, Li Fu’s brows knitted tightly together. “She’s just a servant; what could she possibly discern?”
Li Yi: “Before Nanny Shi came to the Wen family, she was a slave in the household of Sheng Guang, the former Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. When Sheng Guang’s corruption and bribery were exposed, he was escorted to the capital, and his entire clan was executed. These slaves, who were originally innocent and unaware, were sold off on the spot. Nanny Shi just happened to be bought back by the Wen family. Tell me, what could she possibly discern?
“One must know that the regulations for court etiquette and the etiquette of ordinary households are vastly different.”
Li Fu: “…”
Damn it, how could I forget about this?
Thinking up to this point, Li Fu glared resentfully at Xun Feng.
Xun Feng: ???????
The exceedingly clever Xun Feng knew that the Prince needed him to take the blame at this moment.
“It was a dereliction of duty on this subordinate’s part. This subordinate should have instructed them earlier,” Xun Feng immediately admitted his mistake without the slightest hesitation.
Li Fu was satisfied. “See? This matter isn’t to blame on me.”
Li Yi merely smiled, clearly long accustomed to this. He simply looked at his old father and said a single sentence, “Royal Father, it’s time to prepare to head back.”
Li Fu also knew he couldn’t keep mingling here any longer. However, without seeing the actual crop yields, he was genuinely anxious.
Once Li Yi left, Li Fu cast a glance at Steward Tong. “Tomorrow, you accompany me to the town. Let’s meet the magistrate here.”
Steward Tong responded respectfully, “Yes.”
Early the next morning, when the members of the Wen family woke up, they only saw Li Yi and not Li Fu. Wen Xiuyi looked around strangely and asked, “Li Yi, where is your dad?”
Holding his breakfast, Li Yi replied, “My father went out with Uncle Tong. They won’t be back for a while.”
Wen Xiuyi gave an “oh” and didn’t ask further.
On the other hand, Wen Yao would glance stealthily at Li Yi from time to time this morning. She thought she wouldn’t be noticed, but in reality, Li Yi had discerned it long ago. Since she didn’t ask, he simply feigned ignorance.
However, judging by the current situation, Uncle Wen and the others probably didn’t know. It was likely that Nanny Shi wasn’t entirely certain of the situation herself, so she only dared to tell Wen Yao alone.
Since she didn’t intend to expose them, it made things much easier.
Ever since Li Fu went out that day, he would constantly run outside with Steward Tong from time to time. Even when he was at home, if Wen Xiuyi tried to talk to him, he would prevaricate and speak of other things, making Wen Xiuyi very depressed. He even ran to ask Wen Yao.
“Why has your Uncle Li been acting so strangely these past few days? Did I offend him somehow?”
Wen Yao’s mind was clear. This person probably knew his disguise was about to be blown, so he was afraid Wen Xiuyi would press him to the root of the matter.
In reality, after Nanny Shi told her about her findings, Wen Yao had no intention of exposing the father and son. Furthermore, she had instructed Nanny Shi to simply act exactly as she had before.
Since they wanted to hide their identities, why should she ruin their fun?
It was just that… Li Fu, Li Fu… She truly couldn’t recall such a figure in the original book. What on earth had she missed?
Right now, Wen Yao genuinely wished she could find her phone to flip through the plot of that book again.
Looking at her father, who was still self-indulgently fretting over why his good friend was suddenly avoiding him, Wen Yao patted his shoulder comfortingly. “Dad, since when did you become so sensitive? Perhaps Uncle Li just has matters to attend to. You should take a break. If you have the time, go up the mountain to check on our trees.”
That was their livelihood.
Wen Xiuyi smacked Wen Yao’s head and chided, “No respect for your elders.” Yet his actions were extremely honest, turning around to head toward the barren mountain.
Wen Yao was happy to enjoy the leisure, continuing to lie down while agonizingly searching for her grand plan to make money.
In the blink of an eye, it was nearly time for the harvest. Although everyone’s grain in the fields hadn’t been harvested yet, the yields were visibly going to be much higher than in previous years.
The wheat in the fields had plump grains, and the previous situation of many empty spikes didn’t appear again. What the villagers anticipated most right now was the summer harvest.
Yet on this day, Gutong Village suddenly welcomed an unexpected, uninvited guest.
A villager came running toward the old Wen residence, slipping and scrambling in extreme excitement. Finding Old Madam Luo, he was so thrilled he couldn’t even speak clearly.
“Auntie Wen, the Magistrate, the Magistrate is here! He wants, he wants to see Scholar Wen!”
The winnowing basket Old Madam Luo was using to sort beans nearly slipped from her hands, but fortunately, she stabilized it in time.
“Who?” She thought her old ears were playing tricks on her.
“The Magistrate! The Magistrate is here, right in the village! The village chief is hosting him. Hurry up and send someone to call Scholar Wen back!” After the villager finished speaking, he hurriedly ran back. That was the Magistrate—a high official they had never seen before. Even looking from afar was fine!
Old Madam Luo slowly set down the winnowing basket, untied her apron, and was completely bewildered. The Magistrate? What was the Magistrate doing here?
The younger Old Madam Luo was incredibly nervous at this moment. Seeing that Old Madam Luo was still taking her time, she couldn’t help but speak up, “Big Sister, what are you still standing there dazed for? I’ll have Yuening go up the mountain right now to call Xiuyi.”
Old Madam Luo glanced at her sister. “Don’t panic. What’s the rush? The Magistrate isn’t some fierce beast. Will waiting a bit longer allow him to eat people?”
The younger Old Madam Luo was stunned: Her sister is so fierce.
Old Madam Luo: “Alright, you guys do your own work. I’ll go take a look.”
After speaking, Old Madam Luo stepped out the door.
