Chapter 185: Winter departs, spring arrives; in the palace they remove the threshold, the Imperial Lord

Wait for Su Liyan to return.

Liu Jie and her group then gathered around, looking at Lu Yuan on horseback and laughing said:

"You little brat, you've actually managed to get a noble title, so now we all have to call Liyan 'Lady Lu'."

Listening to their teasing, Lu Yuan also looked at Liu Jie, grinning and hehe-laughed, saying:

"No matter what my Liyan is, I still have to call you Master."

Su Liyan beside also hurriedly smiled and looked at Liu Jie, sweetly said:

"Exactly, Liu Jie, don't tease me~"

While everyone was speaking, Second Uncle and Changyu also came over.

The two of them, this afternoon, as it was nearly time for Su Liyan to get off work, got up early to stand guard.

The matter of our son-in-law being ennobled, the Su clan's relatives, and even said, the whole Qiu Qiu Village knows about it.

And Second Uncle and Changyu, as early as twelve days ago, everyone already knew.

At that time, when Su Liyan came to eat at Second Uncle's restaurant at noon, she proudly said it.

At that time, she also wrote a letter here at Second Uncle's, informing the family.

This today, Lu Yuan's ennoblement is finished.

That tonight is indeed a good day, so Second Uncle and Changyu naturally plan to go to Lu Yuan's house to prepare a good meal.

If speaking normally, tonight we would definitely have to call Second Uncle, Changyu, and also Third Uncle and Changliang to go to Lu Yuan's house to eat.

However, today Gu Qingwan also goes.

Lu Yuan fears something might happen.

Before I didn't know, but now I do, and I'm always a bit apprehensive and fearful.

So, after Lu Yuan thought a bit, he then looked at Second Uncle and Changyu and smiled, saying:

Today we won't be busy; the house has already been renovated. In two days, wait for Sunday, then let's go back to the village to eat.

The father-in-law's house has already been completely built.

This housewarming joy, naturally we must go back to eat a meal.

When the time comes, let's eat together.

Although Second Uncle and Changyu aren't quite clear why the son-in-law isn't holding a banquet tonight, they've prepared the meat and dishes, and just need to bring them over later.

But although these two are strange, anyway we'll do whatever the son-in-law says.

Immediately the two nodded, and didn't say anything else.

After Lu Yuan and his wife, along with Liu Jie and her group, talked for a while more.

Then he led his wife home.

However, after just walking two steps, Lu Yuan pondered a bit, looking at Second Uncle and Changyu who intended to go back to catch up on sleep, and suddenly said:

"Second Uncle, Changyu, let's still come to my house tonight, bring more stuff, there will be many people."

Second Uncle and Changyu were startled; although they didn't understand why the son-in-law changed his mind again, they still smiled and nodded, saying:

"Alright, son-in-law, you go ahead; we'll bring the stuff and go right away."

Lu Yuan nodded, then led his wife back home.

Just now Lu Yuan was pondering.

Tonight there are probably quite a few people at my house.

The matter of my ennoblement, Director Xu, Lin Fusheng, and even Wang Ping, etc., all know about it.

Although Lu Yuan didn't invite these people.

But tonight these people will definitely come on their own.

Including Third Uncle and Changliang; when they finish work, they will definitely grab their things and go to Lu Yuan's house right away.

Moreover, Lu Yuan pondered……

This is a bit scary because of Gu Qingwan's identity……

But after thinking it over……

Actually it's not really that bad; Gu Qingwan's personality is still quite good.

Moreover, Lu Yuan always feels that Gu Qingwan is rather lonely.

Perhaps it's precisely because he likes this lively atmosphere that Gu Qingwan comes to find him whenever she has nothing to do.

Tonight just happens to be lively, and it could even please the Imperial Lord.

It's also nothing much.

The people coming to my house tonight are all decent folks.

What's there to fear?

Afterwards Lu Yuan led his wife home.

When returning to the courtyard, it's basically not much different from before.

Everyone in the courtyard knows that today Lu Yuan went to the imperial palace to receive his title.

But nobody treats Lu Yuan's baron title as a big deal.

This isn't an official post.

It's just a title; the imperial court gives an extra two hundred each year.

Those two hundred aren't given to the people in the courtyard, so everyone just can't be bothered with Lu Yuan.

If you see him in the courtyard, you say an auspicious phrase; if you don't see him, you just ignore him.

Wait for Lu Yuan to return to the back courtyard.

Already quite a few people are waiting here.

The people Lu Yuan just mentioned are all here waiting, each holding something in their hands.

Even Liu Shoucai has come.

Even Gu Qingwan is holding a small box of peach pastries.

As soon as everyone saw Lu Yuan, they immediately smiled and went up to greet him.

Seeing so many people, Lu Yuan knew that tonight he'd have to drink a lot.

……

Time flew by like a white colt passing through a gap.

Winter passed, spring arrived.

Now it's already the Grain Rain season, and in about seven or eight days it will be the Start of Summer.

Of course, although it's called the Start of Summer, everyone has only just taken off their winter clothes and removed the plastic film sealing the windows of every household.

But after all, it has become warm.

In the blink of an eye, over two months, almost three months have passed.

During these over two months, nothing major happened.

Lu Yuan really has been busy to death.

Recently, he basically ran to the Ministry of Works every day, keeping an eye on the steam engine parts.

Now, the last few critical parts of the steam engine are about to be finished, and then they will have to demonstrate Lu Yuan's locomotive to see if it can actually run.

Although, even the first experimental locomotive hasn't been built yet.

But the railway has already been laid for several hundred kilometers.

Gu Qingwan completely trusts Lu Yuan, even though she hasn't even seen a sample.

But lay the railway first.

And Lu Yuan is also confident in his own skills, so when Gu Qingwan decided to lay the railway first, Lu Yuan also agreed.

Anyway, his locomotive will definitely be fine.

Once his test locomotive No. 1 comes out, even if there are some individual problems, they can just be slightly fixed.

The current situation is that the large factories producing the various locomotive parts have already built their workshops and factory buildings.

As long as Lu Yuan's No. 1 locomotive completes its trial run without any problems.

Then on that day, the locomotive factory can start producing locomotives.

Once the locomotive matter is settled, Lu Yuan can finally take a good rest.

Speaking of which, Lu Yuan could have just kept resting all along.

These things are just work that Lu Yuan found for himself.

Actually, it's not too bad; these aren't official work that forces Lu Yuan to get up at six every day and do this and that.

And over these two or three months, Su Liyan's belly has also started to gradually show.

She's visibly pregnant.

Actually, a pregnant woman at three or four months isn't really that showing.

Especially if she wears loose clothing on the outside, it's really hard to notice.

But the problem is that my wife is different from others.

My wife's willow waist is so slender that even a slight belly now shows.

Lu Yuan is also thinking that in about a month, he'll see about bringing his mother-in-law over.

Then the mother-in-law will come to take care of things.

Of course, actually, aside from needing to be careful in the last month, a pregnant woman isn't really that delicate otherwise.

Like Chen Taohua, who is now almost eight months pregnant with a huge belly, she still does whatever she needs to do.

But the problem is...

Lu Yuan really has to treasure his wife.

Can his wife be like anyone else?

Definitely not!

Lu Yuan is already thinking about finding an excuse to take a big leave when his wife is six or seven months pregnant.

Otherwise, if he rides a bike with a big belly, he might fall and get hurt.

He really can't rest easy.

Of course, according to the rules, that definitely wouldn't be allowed.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, artisans' maternity leave is the half month before the due date and the half month after giving birth.

But... if it's not allowed, Lu Yuan will just go find Gu Qingwan.

Have Gu Qingwan think of a way.

As for whether Gu Qingwan will agree.

I have exerted myself for the Great Zhou!

I have shed blood for the Great Zhou!

I want to see the Emperor~ I want to see the Emperor~~

Of course, this is just joking; actually, Gu Qingwan will definitely agree.

First of all, not to mention these past two months, Gu Qingwan and Su Liyan are as close as sisters.

Just saying, the relationship between Lu Yuan and Gu Qingwan is also extremely good.

Of course, although the relationship is good, Lu Yuan still knows his limits in his heart and won't overstep.

This person has a sense of measure in his heart, so nothing major will happen~

Besides, actually there's no need to trouble Gu Qingwan with the matter of asking for a long leave for my wife.

When the time comes, Lu Yuan can think of a way to let his wife rest openly at home.

Besides that.

It's just the matter of suppressing bandits in the south.

The day before yesterday, the war broke out.

Lu Yuan doesn't know how the war is going.

Even the Imperial Court doesn't know now.

The battle reports haven't come back yet.

But today we found out.

Well, this morning after eating, Lu Yuan plans to go find Gu Qingwan to ask.

By the end of this day, Gu Lie ought to have captured at least two hilltops, right?

Otherwise, that would truly be a waste!

"Oh dear, brother~~ you're wearing too little—just a spring shirt inside won't do; you should put on a thin sweater underneath."

Su Liyan watched her husband finish his meal, put on a spring shirt, throw on a little jacket, and head out, whereupon she anxiously said.

Lu Yuan waved his hand and laughed:

"It's fine, not cold; I'm always indoors, not outside, brother's health is good, wearing too much would be hot."

Saying that, Lu Yuan lifted his 28‑inch bicycle and went out of the room.

That's right, Lu Yuan has also started riding a bicycle.

He has to ride a bike, because his wife is now pregnant and will need to go to the hospital for a check‑up every month.

Riding a horse bumping along is really not good.

Moreover, the population of Huangcheng is really growing; riding a bicycle in the city is truly better than riding a horse.

Lu Yuan's horse was simply put in the grand residence.

It's for Third Uncle to ride.

Mainly to let Third Uncle help raise and take care of it.

Moreover, to be honest, when he first came over, Lu Yuan had never ridden a horse before, so he found riding a horse novel.

But as days passed, it was just like that; the novelty wore off, and the bicycle still feels better.

Just as Lu Yuan stepped out the door, Su Liyan hurriedly said:

"Brother, you should wear a scarf, otherwise the wind will pour in through the collar when you ride, making you cold."

That works; Lu Yuan nodded and sat calmly on the bicycle seat.

Su Liyan quickly came over and put a scarf on her husband.

Afterwards, Lu Yuan looked left and right, saw no one, then slapped his wife's pert butt and said with a mischievous grin:

"Come back early tonight."

Three months have now passed, and Lu Yuan can again be intimate with his wife without shame.

Su Liyan, having been slapped like that by her husband, immediately blushed and nodded obediently, saying:

"I know~"

Immediately, Lu Yuan got on his bike and rode out of the courtyard.

Before, the entrance to this courtyard always had a threshold, but now there are quite a few people riding bicycles in this Siheyuan.

Even without eating or drinking, one must first buy a bicycle.

The threshold was inconvenient, so everyone agreed to remove it.

Including other Siheyuans, they're basically the same.

The Great Zhou Dynasty is gradually changing because of Lu Yuan's some inventions.

Speaking of which, his wife still doesn't know Gu Qingwan's identity, and Lu Yuan doesn't tell her.

His wife still thinks he goes to the Forging Bureau every day or something.

Actually, Lu Yuan now goes to the Imperial Palace every day, precisely to Chonghua Hall.

When Lu Yuan previously tinkered with the locomotive, he was indeed in the Forging Bureau.

Afterwards, I don't know how it happened.

Gu Qingwan directly moved all of Lu Yuan's stuff from the Forging Bureau into the Imperial Palace.

Now Lu Yuan works in the Imperial Palace every day.

To be frank, Chonghua Hall is almost being messed up by Lu Yuan.

The tracks Lu Yuan laid simply encircle Chonghua Hall in a loop.

There's also a locomotive assembled, lacking only a few key parts before it can run.

Then in the corner there are various wrenches, hammers, and such that Lu Yuan uses.

Now Chonghua Hall hardly looks like an emperor's bedchamber.

It's practically a workshop factory.

However, fortunately, no matter how Lu Yuan builds things, Gu Qingwan doesn't get angry.

After Lu Yuan finishes working in the great courtyard of Chonghua Hall, the wrenches, hammers, and such scattered about are also tidied up by that Grand Eunuch, and Lu Yuan feels light‑hearted.

Lu Yuan rode his bike all the way to the side gate of the Imperial Palace.

As he was about to enter, he saw that the Imperial Palace interior was busy today.

Some eunuchs were carrying things out.

Lu Yuan looked and exclaimed, "Hey, isn't that some thresholds or something?"

Lu Yuan parked the vehicle at the entrance and wasn't in a hurry to go in.

He handed a cigarette to an Imperial Guard brother at the gate.

The Imperial Guard at the gate wasn't polite either, smiling and saying a lucky phrase before taking it.

First he lit one for Lu Yuan, then he lit one for himself.

Whether on duty as an Imperial Guard or guarding the palace, can they smoke?

No, they definitely cannot.

If the captain saw them, they'd really get beaten to death.

But the cigarettes Lu Yuan gives can be smoked.

Why.

It's specially permitted by imperial authority.

Even if the emperor saw it, he wouldn't care!

Who among the Imperial Guards serving in the palace doesn't know this?

The emperor truly treasures Lu Yuan.

As long as it's something related to Lu Yuan and not a major mistake, it's guaranteed to be fine.

So everyone also likes to take the east side gate post.

Whenever Lu Yuan comes in the morning, he'll hand over any uneaten steamed buns and fried dough sticks he bought to the guards on duty.

They can eat it directly, and that's absolutely fine; even if the emperor knew, he definitely wouldn't punish them.

"Brother, are they dismantling the door sill?"

Lu Yuan, smoking, curiously watched the busy eunuchs inside and asked.

After taking a puff, the Imperial Guard brother then smiled and said:

"Yeah, after you left yesterday, they started tearing it down in the palace."

"The emperor feels sorry for you."

Lu Yuan stared, a bit strange, looked at the Imperial Guard, took a puff, and said:

"What does that have to do with me?"

Then the Imperial Guard raised an eyebrow and said:

"The area being torn down is exactly where you ride your bike; if the emperor isn't feeling sorry for you, who else could he be feeling sorry for?"

"From now on, when you ride your bike in, you won't have to stop along the way."

Hearing this, Lu Yuan nodded somewhat understandingly.

Hey, dismantling door sills in the palace is a bit like what the last emperor Puyi did, right?

An ill omen!

Puyi, in order to learn to ride a bicycle in the palace, after dismantling the door sills, the Qing dynasty really kicked the bucket a few years later, and Puyi was also kicked out of the palace.

Well, just joking.

Based on Lu Yuan having studied the 《Fate of the Nation》 for a few days.

The Great Zhou is currently in a prosperous age~

 Thanks to Nanfeng Lao Ge for the 1500-coin tip, thank you so much~

 Thanks to Keze1112 Lao Ge for the 1500-coin tip, thank you so much~

 Thanks to Heiya Lao Ge for the 1497-coin tip, thank you so much~ The tips come in round and odd amounts.

Thanks to Hey Ya elder brother's 1497 book coin reward, thank you very much~ This reward has some fractional and some whole.

 Hmm…… there probably won't be a third update today..

Hmm... There probably won't be a third chapter today..



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