Chapter 174: Liu Shi

Chen Guanlou took Yaya to turn around the temple fair, bought all kinds of small gadgets, and specially bought a cross-body cloth bag to hold them.

Heard that the plum blossoms behind the temple are in patches, and the scenery is exceptionally good. He took Yaya to the back mountain again.

The number of people on the back mountain was significantly less, a rare quiet place.

Yaya is still young, busy eating small sugar figures, as long as she is with uncle, she can play anywhere.

After playing a round, he began to go down the mountain. Originally wanted to eat vegetarian food, but there were too many people, and didn't know when it would be his turn, so he could only give up.

On the way down the mountain, Chen Guanlou's footsteps paused, looking at the small woman coming towards him. The small woman was wearing a veil, supported by two servants, walking up the mountain step by step.

He recognized the small woman; it was Li Dahong's widow, Liu Shi.

His gaze moved slightly downward, and he saw the slightly bulging abdomen of the other party—is this pregnant?

The other party obviously recognized him too, nodded slightly, and generously called out, "Happy New Year! Is Chen Tou also here to burn incense?"

"Yes! You..."

Liu Shi waved her hand, and the two servants retreated a few steps very consciously.

Liu Shi took the opportunity to find a stone pier and sat down, looking very comfortable, without any rules and restraints.

"Chen Tou must have many questions."

"Originally had many questions. However, seeing you are safe, all the questions already have answers."

Liu Shi slowly took off the veil on her face, revealing that face as beautiful as the spring breeze in March, smiled, and frankly said: "After my husband passed away, not long after, I followed the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince is in a difficult situation now, and there is no one by his side to know his heart and relieve his boredom."

"Congratulations!" Chen Guanlou didn't know what to say, only the two words congratulations.

Liu Shi gently stroked her abdomen, "This child came very timely, I, my wish is fulfilled. Actually, stopping Chen Tou is to inquire about Geng Dalang's situation?"

The Geng Dalang she mentioned is naturally Li Dahong's son.

"No news for now."

Hearing this, worry dyed her brows, and she lowered her head slightly, looking very worried, "I don't know where Geng Dalang went. I am a woman, and I can't help much. I only implore Chen Tou to help find Geng Dalang and give my husband an explanation. I am deeply grateful!"

"Rest assured. Li Dahong was my colleague, and I have always kept his affairs in my heart. If there is news about Geng Dalang, how should I inform you?" Chen Guanlou asked casually, not expecting to get an answer.

Unexpectedly, Liu Shi told her residence, "I live in Shifang Lane, the ninth house on the left. You just need to tell the gatekeeper that it is a message from the Heavenly Prison, and I will receive it."

"I have recorded it! You are pregnant now, and you still have to go up the mountain to burn incense—won't it be too forced?"

"I am burning incense for the Crown Prince; this incense must be burned. I only hope that the Crown Prince can be smooth and safe."

Chen Guanlou really wanted to ask: Do you know that the Crown Prince slept with a small palace maid while taking advantage of the washing opportunity last night?

Forget it, why should he ask for trouble.

Put down the plot of helping others, respect the destiny of others!

Learning that Yaya is his niece, Liu Shi generously took off the jade bracelet on her wrist and wanted to give it to Yaya as a meeting gift.

Chen Guanlou refused to accept it no matter what; it was too valuable on one hand, and the jewelry on Liu Shi's body should all be rewards from the Crown Prince. The jewelry rewarded by the Crown Prince must be imperial-made.

He only hopes that Yaya will grow up safely; imperial-made items are not suitable for an ordinary little girl.

Right now, the Crown Prince is in an awkward situation, and neither his family nor his eldest sister's family is suitable to have any involvement with the Crown Prince, even indirect involvement.

Seeing that he insisted on not accepting it, Liu Shi sighed slightly, "It is my lack of consideration; however, I don't have other gadgets that I can take out. Forget it, record it first, and make up for it next time if there is a chance."

Chen Guanlou breathed a sigh of relief, "You are too polite! How can a child want such a valuable gift? If it breaks, she will have to be beaten."

Liu Shi pursed her lips and smiled, "Many thanks to Chen Tou."

The two parted ways.

As they passed each other, Liu Shi suddenly looked back, and Chen Guanlou only felt that the surrounding air carried a sweet taste, sweet but not greasy, and the more it went up, the more it went up.

"Chen Tou, if one day I am in trouble and beg before you, can you help me?"

Chen Guanlou obviously hesitated for a while, "You are following the Crown Prince now; what trouble can you have that needs help from a small prison guard like me."

"Chen Tou, don't laugh at me. In this life, it is inevitable that there will be times when one is powerless. I don't understand the situation, don't understand the major affairs of the court, I just feel some unease in my heart, and I don't know the reason. I am afraid, what if there is such a day, I still have someone to ask for help."

She opened a pair of black and white eyes, staring straight at

Chen Guanlou sighed inwardly, "Even if one day there is truly a difficulty, the people above will not make things hard for you women and children; you can rest assured."

Lady Liu lowered her gaze and said with some disappointment, "If the pillar of support falls, how can we women and children fare well? Chen Tou, please do not say such things to comfort me; I know better than anyone what kind of place the palace is. Even if the pillar of support does not fall, I am just a woman without status; others are the knife and chopping board, and I am the fish and meat, so what can I do? I only lament for the child in my belly; I only ask for a chance to let me watch my child grow up with my own eyes."

Before the words had even fallen, tears were already swirling in her eyes. In the end, a teardrop fell, gently striking Chen Guanlou's heart.

He took a deep breath and said solemnly, "If there is truly a difficulty, you know where I live."

Upon hearing this, Lady Liu instantly turned from worry to joy, "Many thanks, Chen Tou! A kind heart will surely have a good reward. I wish Chen Tou a long life and may everything go as you wish!"

Wishing everything goes as one wishes is fine, but a long life is quite unnecessary.

This blessing should be left for someone else!

After descending the mountain, Chen Guanlou took Yaya home.

Yaya licked her lollipop and asked curiously, "Uncle, who is that beautiful sister?"

"Is she beautiful?"

"Mm!"

"She is just a friend."

"Does Uncle want to marry her and bring her home? I want her to be my aunt!"

"Little brat, what do you know about marrying? Where did you learn that from?"

"Hmph, I know everything! Mother says if you don't take a wife, you are determined to cut off the Chen family's incense."

"Your mother has no gatekeeper on her mouth; she tells you everything. Do you know what incense means?"

"Giving birth to a son." Yaya giggled, "Mother is also going to give birth to a little brother."

Chen Guanlou was startled, then delighted, "Is your mother pregnant?"

"Uncle, what is pregnant?"

"Is there a little brother in your mother's belly?"

"Mm, there is."

"You saw it?" Chen Guanlou was very curious. Old sayings always claimed that young children could see things others couldn't and could accurately state the gender of a fetus in the womb. He had always been half-skeptical.

Now that it concerned his eldest sister Chen Xiaolan, he had to treat it with caution. He had always known that because his eldest sister Chen Xiaolan had not yet given birth to a son, Su Pozi had many opinions, and in daily life, there was no shortage of eye-rolling, cold faces, and sarcasm. If she could really give birth to a son, it would fulfill his eldest sister's wish and plug Su Pozi's mouth.

"Little brother said he wants to play with me later," Yaya said very seriously.

Hahaha...

Chen Guanlou laughed out loud, "Let's go, go call your mother home to rest and recover, and then invite a physician to confirm it. As for the teahouse, let your father busy himself with it."