From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 154

This day should be the most comfortable day Zhou Yuan has had since he came to Lin'an Prefecture. There is no pressure, no things to think about, emptying the mind, just eating, drinking and having fun, that is the real beauty.

It was not until dusk that everyone returned to Kuixingfang. Qu Ling rarely followed, obviously still angry with Zhou Yuan.

After all, the joke of two red plums was too bold for a woman of this era. Even though Qu Ling was more generous, she still couldn't bear it.

Zhao Jianjia was also in a good mood, with a smile on her face, and seemed to have regained her previous liveliness.

She whispered, "Husband, you have to go to Miss Chu tonight. She asked me to tell her that she wants to invite you to dinner."

Zhou Yuan asked in confusion, "Invite me to dinner? Didn't we just have lunch? Is there something else?"

Zhao Jianjia sighed and said, "Master Zhuang told them on the boat that they will board the boat tomorrow morning and head north along the river."

"These poor women are finally going home, protected by the female officials of the Inner Court."

Zhou Yuan nodded and said, "This is a good thing, but since it is a practice, we should still go."

Speaking of this, Zhou Yuan lowered his voice and said, "Don't go to bed early, wait for me to come back."

Seeing him blinking, Zhao Jianjia blushed and pushed him out in shame.

"Remember, don't go to bed early."

"Don't come back."

Zhao Jianjia was extremely annoyed and whispered, "You made such a fuss last night, and you don't know how to pity others. Go quickly, there are so many girls over there who are eager for you to visit them."

Zhou Yuan couldn't help laughing and walked out.

Indeed, those girls were very grateful to Zhou Yuan, and many of them even offered to repay Zhou Yuan by doing anything.

But that was gratitude, and they could accept the favor, but they couldn't really agree.

Coming to the side yard where the girls lived, there were four or five large alleys. With so many people living there, it was indeed a bit crowded, but they were already very satisfied.

Compared to the basement that never saw the sun, this place was like a paradise on earth.

"Ah! The young master is here!"

"Young master, please come in!"

"Young master, sit here, the sisters are cooking."

A bunch of girls, all of them were very good-looking, and seven or eight of them came up to greet Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan waved his hand and smiled, "Sisters, please don't be polite. Please sit down. There are no masters or servants here. We are all friends."

He sat down and a cup of tea was handed to him.

Two girls squeezed his shoulders, one on each side.

Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly, "Do you have to praise me so highly? Haha! Am I a master?"

The moral girls around him also laughed.

Chu Wanping came over and said, "Sir, please don't be distant. We sisters are grateful for your life-saving grace, but we really have nothing to repay. We are happy to serve you."

A girl with an oval face next to her, a typical northern face, generous and beautiful, smiled and said, "It's a pity that we are already withered and dirty, otherwise we would definitely stay and be your slaves to take care of you for the rest of your life."

"Yes, although we are not as beautiful as Madam Jianjia, it's good to serve you tea and water."

Zhou Yuan frowned and said, "Sit down and talk."

Many women sat down, and plates of snacks were brought to Zhou Yuan, as well as a few pots of good wine. I don't know where they prepared them.

Zhou Yuan looked unhappy. He looked around and said in a deep voice, "Listen, from birth to death, no one has a smooth life. Fate will always encounter many ups and downs, but some people are trapped in it, while others stand up again."

"You are all ladies from noble families, you can read, you know etiquette, and you understand many truths."

"So I don't want you to feel inferior to your own suffering. I don't want to hear such words again, and I don't want you to think so."

The girls around lowered their heads, tears were about to flow out.

Zhou Yuan said: "You are victims, you should get more care and compassion, not contempt and ridicule."

"Similarly, as victims, you should cherish a better life, hate evil more, yearn for light more, be more optimistic, be more positive, and look for your own happiness."

"If you always want to repay me and can't get over your past experiences, you will live a painful life in the future."

"Always remember that it's not you who are wrong, but those villains."

Some girls have cried, but most of them are still crying.

Zhou Yuan's words touched their hearts and touched the softest and most fragile parts of their hearts.Weak things also gave them great encouragement and strength.

Chu Wanping wiped her tears and said loudly: "Sisters, the young master is right, we should cheer up."

"Thank you, young master!"

If the girls were grateful to Zhou Yuan before, now they have many different emotions.

Zhou Yuan didn't want to give a long speech to teach others how to be a man and how to face life.

He had no choice but to pick up a glass of wine and said with a smile: "I heard that you are leaving tomorrow and going home. I will drink this glass of wine for you and wish you all the best in the future."

"If one day you encounter great difficulties, I will be willing to help you again."

"Cheers for the future!"

He drank it all and said with a smile: "Sit down, everyone, have a good meal."

Many girls cried and laughed, happy to be together at this moment, and lost in the separation that will come tomorrow.

Emotions are complicated, and their emotions are mixed, but this is life.

So several tables of people came to the table. The cooking skills of these girls were really not that good, but Zhou Yuan still enjoyed the meal.

After drinking the strong liquor, everyone started talking, and Zhou Yuan also chatted with them about some interesting things.

Until late at night, Zhou Yuan was half drunk and was carefully supported by Chu Wanping and returned to the courtyard.

Zhou Yuan held Chu Wanping's hand and said softly: "Wanping, tell these women to live well in the future and not to dwell on the past."

"I am also very short of time and don't like separation, so I won't send you off tomorrow."

Chu Wanping's eyes were filled with tears and she said in a trembling voice: "Young Master, you must also take care of yourself. If you encounter difficulties in the future, you can come to Jinan Prefecture, Shandong to find me."

Zhou Yuan touched her head and smiled: "Go, go to bed early, you have to get up early tomorrow to travel."

Chu Wanping's tears finally flowed out. She knelt down and kowtowed to Zhou Yuan three times, choking and saying: "Young Master, I hope we will have the opportunity to see each other again in the future."

After speaking, she turned and left.

The thin figure was hidden in the darkness, and a story seemed to be coming to an end.

"Rest, husband."

A faint voice came from behind. Zhou Yuan turned around and saw Jianjia standing with a lantern, as if she had been waiting for a long time.

It feels so good to have a wife waiting for me at home.

Zhou Yuan smiled, took the lantern, and whispered: "It's so late, why don't you go to bed."

Zhao Jianjia lowered her head slightly and whispered: "Because my husband asked me to wait."

This sentence is more useful than any sweet words.

Zhou Yuan picked her up and strode into the house.