Chapter 122: Agreeing to Let Him Stay

Madam Zhou took a deep breath and said frankly, “Your Highness, regardless of what happened in the past, things are different now. We are no longer who we once were. You should return to the capital and pretend you never found us.”

The Third Prince spoke solemnly, “Zhou’er, I don’t ask for much. I only hope you won’t drive me away. Let me stay here—even if it’s just to carry manure or chop firewood.”

After speaking, he actually turned to head toward the backyard to grab a carrying pole.

At that moment, Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruizhen quickly stepped forward to stop him. “Your Highness, how could we let you do such work?”

Upon seeing Zhou Ruizhen, the Third Prince immediately put down the carrying pole and respectfully saluted him. “Your Highness.”

Zhou Ruizhen quickly responded, “Third Uncle, there’s no need for formalities between us.”

The Third Prince earnestly pleaded, “Ruizhen, try to persuade your mother to let me stay.”

Zhou Ruizhen turned to Madam Zhou and then said, “Your Highness, you should return. Staying here will only put you in the same danger as us.”

The Third Prince remained steadfast. “I am not afraid of danger. Don’t worry—Chang’an County is under my control, and even Prefect Deng of Qingzhou is a former student of your maternal grandfather. With them in place, no one will expose our whereabouts.”

This statement caught Madam Zhou’s attention. “Are you referring to Prefect Zheng of Qingzhou?”

The Third Prince nodded. “Yes. When he was in the capital, you should have met him once.”

Madam Zhou thought carefully before nodding. “Yes, I believe I did.”

The Third Prince continued, “He was demoted to Qingzhou for pleading on behalf of Grand Tutor Lu. However, in a few months, he will be reassigned to the capital as a second-rank official.”

“A second-rank official? Such a high promotion?” Madam Zhou was surprised.

The Third Prince nodded. “The imperial court is undergoing a major reshuffle. The Wu family will no longer have sole control.”

He had endured humiliation for many years, all for this very moment.

Madam Zhou felt a sudden surge of joy. This meant they were one step closer to returning to the capital.

Seizing the moment, the Third Prince said, “Just let me stay. When the time is right, I will take you all back with me.”

Madam Zhou hesitated.

At that moment, Du Wanchun smiled and interjected, “Mother, since His Highness wants to stay, let him stay. Just now, Madam Zhao left in a hurry, and soon the entire village will know that the head of our Zhou family is still alive.”

“If His Highness were to leave suddenly, it would only raise suspicion.”

Madam Zhou thought for a moment and found her words reasonable. After a brief pause, she said, “Alright then, Your Highness, you may stay here for a while.”

She then pointed toward a guest room nearby. “There happens to be an empty room.”

The Third Prince was overjoyed and immediately grinned. “Now that I’m staying, there’s no need to call me ‘Your Highness’ anymore.”

Madam Zhou looked at him, puzzled. Before she could ask, the Third Prince cheerfully added, “Since I’m using the Zhou surname now, just call me Zhou Laoqian.”

“Zhou Laoqian?!” Both Madam Zhou and Du Wanchun were stunned.

The name did sound quite fitting for this village.

Just then, Aunt Wang came running over. “Zhou Meizi!”

She jogged up with a bright smile. “I heard your husband has returned—is it true?”

Madam Zhou stood frozen in place, unsure whether she should agree or refuse.

But the Third Prince was fully immersed in his role. “That’s right, I’m back.”

Auntie Wang, seeing the unfamiliar man in front of her, immediately guessed who he was. She smiled and said, “Well, this is wonderful news! Before, the villagers looked down on you because you were a widow. Now that your husband has returned, let’s see if they dare to bully you anymore!”

Du Wanchun quickly poured tea for everyone. “Auntie Wang, have some tea.”

Then, with a bright smile, she turned to the Third Prince and called sweetly, “Father, have some tea.”

Hearing her call him “Father” filled the Third Prince with delight.

Du Wanchun quickly tugged at Zhou Ruizhen’s sleeve, urging him to follow along.

Zhou Ruizhen hesitated for a moment before also calling out, “Father, you must have had a hard journey.”

Hearing this, the Third Prince nearly fell to his knees on the spot. The tea he had just sipped went straight down the wrong pipe, making him cough violently.

Auntie Wang, seeing his reaction, quickly asked, “Brother Zhou, what’s wrong?”

The Third Prince quickly regained his composure. As he wiped the tea from his lips, he chuckled, “Nothing, I’m just too overwhelmed with emotion!”

Auntie Wang narrowed her eyes and smiled. “That makes sense. It’s been three years since your family was last together. Of course, it’s emotional.”

She then turned to Madam Zhou, her expression full of relief. “Sister Zhou, it looks like your hardships have finally come to an end.”

With that, she patted Madam Zhou’s hand and added, “I’ll be heading back now. I won’t disturb your family reunion.”

After saying her piece, Auntie Wang left the Zhou household with a cheerful smile.

Once she was gone, Zhou Ruizhen led the Third Prince to the guest room and explained the family’s incense business.

Hearing this, the Third Prince felt a deep ache in his heart. “Your mother never had to do hard labor growing up, and now she has to fetch water, cook, and make soup with her own hands!”

As he spoke, his eyes turned red with emotion.

At that moment, outside the room, Madam Zhou was preparing to start the fire for cooking.

The Third Prince heard her and, without hesitation, shot up from his seat and dashed out like the wind. He rushed to Madam Zhou’s side and immediately snatched the knife from her hands.

“I’ll do it!”

Madam Zhou had been about to chop radishes for soup, but when the knife was suddenly taken from her, she stood there, dumbfounded.

“Your Highness… what are you doing?” she asked in confusion.

The Third Prince furrowed his brows and said with great seriousness, “How can these hands of yours be used for chopping vegetables? Let me do it!”