Chapter 130  Support

After attending the Emperor’s enthronement ceremony, Mr. Shu and Shu Yuyang returned home. Shu Yucheng hadn’t participated in the ceremony as he hadn’t held an official position in the court yet.

Upon returning home, Mr. Shu Jin Yi and Shu Yuyang were surrounded by Mrs. Shu, Shu Yucheng, and others. Mrs. Shu anxiously asked, “How did it go?”

Her Husband happily replied, “Everything went smoothly.”

Shu Yuyang added, “During the enthronement ceremony, the Emperor conferred the title of Empress to Yuwan.”

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Shu was overjoyed.

However, Mr. Shu Jin Yi turned to Shu Yuyang and solemnly said, “Even at home, you must not address the Empress by her name.”

Realizing his mistake, Shu Yuyang quickly acknowledged, “It was my oversight.”

Mr. Shu Jin Yi nodded and didn’t dwell on the matter further.

Feeling a bit uneasy, Mrs. Shu had always called her daughter Wanwan since birth. Now, she wondered if she couldn’t even address her daughter by that name in the future!

However, considering her daughter’s journey to this point, she decided that as long as her daughter was doing well, a bit more formality wouldn’t hurt.

Tang and Zhou also nodded in agreement.

After a few more words, they each retired to their rooms.

It was only when they returned to their courtyard that Zhou couldn’t contain her excitement and said to Shu Yucheng, “Husband, our family is now the Empress’s maternal family. In the future, I’ll be the Empress’s sister-in-law.”

Shu Yucheng chuckled, “Yes, I’ve met the Empress’s sister-in-law!”

Zhou patted Shu Yucheng’s sleeve, preventing him from being mischievous, and sighed, “I still feel like I’m dreaming. Your sister’s fortunes are truly enviable.”

Thinking of something, Zhou reminded Shu Yucheng, “Husband, you must do well in next year’s imperial examination.”

If her husband could pass the imperial examination and become a minister, his future career path would be secure. Zhou felt content at the thought that she might have the chance to become a noblewoman.

Seeing Zhou so joyous on her own, Shu Yucheng gently held her hand and asked, “Why are you so happy, my lady?”

Caught off guard, Zhou jokingly replied, “Just daydreaming!”

Shu Yucheng chuckled at her response and didn’t press further, knowing exactly what she meant.

Zhou suddenly became curious and asked, “Husband, why were you unwilling to take the imperial examination before?”

Upon hearing this question, Shu Yucheng felt awkward and couldn’t find the right words to say.

Seeing his reaction, Zhou regretted her curiosity. She shouldn’t have probed further. Although she had been curious before, she had never asked. Today, in the pleasant atmosphere, she couldn’t resist.

Zhou quickly said, “If it’s inconvenient to talk about, then let’s not discuss it.”

Shu Yucheng cleared his throat, touched his nose, and then said, “There’s nothing I can’t say. Back then, before I married you, I met a woman…”

At this point, Shu Yucheng coughed again. Seeing Zhou’s expression change, he hurriedly said, “Maybe I shouldn’t continue. There’s really nothing worth mentioning.”

However, Zhou insisted, “No, you must tell me. What happened next?”

Shu Yucheng had no choice but to continue, gritting his teeth, “This woman was from a respectable family. Once, while I was out on a trip, she fell into the water. There was no one around, so I had to jump in and save her. Due to our close encounter, I had intended to marry her. However, I later discovered that her heart belonged to someone else, so I gave up. Because of my involvement with her, I lost interest in studying, failed the imperial examination for two years, and eventually lost the will to continue.”

Zhou’s expression darkened as she listened. She had no idea about these events before they got married.

Zhou hesitantly asked, “Do you still think about this woman now?”

Shu Yucheng quickly reassured her, “My love, I let go of that woman when I married you. I only mentioned it now because it’s all in the past, and she’s no longer in my heart.”

“Now, you are the most important to me.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou’s expression softened.

Thinking back over the years, her husband had treated her well. There was no need to be upset about something from the past. She relaxed and said, “If I find out you’re still thinking about her, you won’t get away with it.”

Shu Yucheng raised his hand and promised, “My heart belongs only to you!”

Zhou smiled at his words.

In reality, her statement might sound suspicious to others, but in her husband’s eyes, she felt justified.

Thinking about it, there was really nothing to be dissatisfied about.

Seeing his wife no longer upset, Shu Yucheng breathed a sigh of relief. Although at the time, the woman was a commoner and unmarried, and no one knew about it. He could have kept it a secret, but he believed in honesty between husband and wife.

So, he took this opportunity to tell Zhou.

Shu Yucheng hugged Zhou and assured her, “During this time, I’ve been focused on my studies. I might make a name for myself in the imperial examination in the second half of the year.”

“With you by my side, the past is all water under the bridge.”

Zhou pretended to be angry and hummed a few times. The couple talked for a while before going to bed.

…

In the palace, the close maids were still the same ones from the Palace.

Additionally, apart from Yimei and Yilan, a few reliable maids were selected from the usually steady ones and assigned to Qing Dai.

Shu Yuwan said, “Qing Dai, now that the Emperor has ascended the throne, to avoid gossip, transfer the external businesses to reliable individuals.”

Qing Dai understood and replied, “Yes, Your Highness, you can rest assured.”

Shu Yuwan then asked, “How is Qing He doing?”

Qing Dai answered, “After giving birth, Qing He has become more stable. With the help of her husband, Zhao Chengcai, she’s been handling things well.”

Shu Yuwan nodded in belief.

She wasn’t worried about Qinghe’s loyalty, and as for Zhao Chengcai, she had thoroughly investigated him before Qing He’s marriage. He was reliable and capable.

In case of any future entanglements, she wasn’t worried about him having ulterior motives.

Shu Yuwan said again: “In the future, you can grasp the overall situation of the outside affairs, and the palace still needs you.”

Qing Dai said: “I understands.

Even now, there is only one queen mother in the emperor’s harem, which is relatively simple, but managing the entire palace, after all, is different from when you are in the Palace, you still need a competent person by your side at all times.