My Lady Says She Wants to Marry Me - Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Su Wanrou ran to Lu Youming with urgency, her eyes shining brightly even in the dim light of the room. “Husband, let me tell you…” She leaned into Lu Youming’s ear and repeated exactly what Shao Jiechuan had said.

Looking at the high-spirited Su Wanrou, Lu Youming took her hand and led her slowly toward the study.

“Husband, do you think that one day, we will be able to walk openly in the imperial court?” Su Wanrou’s heart surged at the thought; she wished that day would arrive sooner.

Lu Youming turned to look at the expectant Su Wanrou and nodded unconsciously. She could feel the longing and excitement in Su Wanrou’s heart. Life was difficult for women; to obtain the same opportunities as men would likely require a monumental shift in the world. Both knew that such a day might never truly come, but if there was even a shred of hope, who wouldn’t look forward to it?

Back in the study, the two sat down. Su Wanrou gazed at Lu Youming with such sparkling eyes that Lu Youming’s gaze darkened. Having only recently discovered the joy of kissing, their heads naturally drifted together.

“Mm… Husband… slower…”

Lu Youming pressed Su Wanrou against the desk. Su Wanrou tilted her head back to accept the kiss, her eyes closed and her breathing shallow. Lu Youming slowly extended her soft tongue, slipping into Su Wanrou’s mouth. Su Wanrou’s lashes trembled and her breath hitched; she wrapped her fingers tightly around Lu Youming’s neck, losing herself in the heat of the moment.

Since both were off duty today, they rested thoroughly at home. The three elders knew the young couple hadn’t had a break in a long time, so they turned a blind eye, letting them enjoy their rest.

After inspecting the river levee, Shao Jiechuan returned to the yamen and immediately began drafting a memorial. In one breath, he wrote a ten-thousand-word report detailing the various benefits of cement. He included various data points using the table format Lu Youming had taught him, making the pros, cons, and expenditures clear at a glance.

The three elders stayed in Chongjiang for three days before departing. Before leaving, Shao Jiechuan placed a massive order on behalf of Jinling City. Lu Youming couldn’t stop smiling when she saw the thousands of taels added to the accounts. With this money, the yamen finally had funds after paying taxes; she no longer had to subsidize everything with her own silver.

Lu Youming hadn’t received her full monthly salary in a long time. Previously, half of her pay went straight back into the yamen’s expenses. She was truly “carrying her own granary to serve the state.”

“Lady, here.” Lu Youming eagerly handed her entire freshly received salary over to Su Wanrou without leaving a cent for herself.

Su Wanrou gracefully set down her brush and held out her slender, fair palm. Lu Youming tenderly placed the money into her hand. Seeing Lu Youming’s expectant little face, Su Wanrou smiled and began to count the coins slowly. Under Lu Youming’s longing gaze, she counted out ten copper coins and placed them back in Lu Youming’s palm.

She patted Lu Youming’s hand and said with a smile, “Husband, keep this safely.”

Looking at the pathetic ten copper coins, Lu Youming was too embarrassed to ask Su Wanrou if—considering the cement factory was making money—she could have a raise in her “allowance.” Su Wanrou’s eyes danced with charm and wit as she happily counted the silver bit by bit. Lu Youming leaned on the desk, watching the adorable Wanrou without blinking.

Outside the door, Liu Qing watched the affectionate scene with a smirk. Miss is very happy today; I wonder if I’ll get a raise too? Standing beside her, Wen Shu only thought about food. She hadn’t eaten meat in two days and was craving a bite.

When Lu Youming stepped out of the room, Wen Shu immediately snapped out of her daze and followed her. Lu Youming went to inspect the ongoing construction of houses and cement roads, walking with a leisurely, composed gait. Along the way, commoners bowed and greeted her. Lu Youming nodded with a smile, occasionally paying for snacks she saw on the street.

“Lord, please don’t embarrass me with money. It is my honor that you would taste my qingtuan (green rice balls). Please, take some back for the Mistress,” a thin woman said, waving her hands to refuse payment.

“Sister, if you do this, I won’t dare buy anything next time. Business is business, and everyone has a hard time. Please take it,” Lu Youming insisted firmly, placing the money in the woman’s basket. Seeing her resolve, the woman stuffed several extra rice balls into Lu Youming’s bag. “These aren’t worth much; if you like them, please eat more.”

Lu Youming nodded and shared the snacks with Wen Shu as they walked. The numbness on people’s faces from before the New Year had vanished, replaced by smiles. Lu Youming felt a sense of satisfaction; at least within her reach, she had helped people. She only hoped life would continue to improve.

Meanwhile, the court received Shao Jiechuan’s memorial. It was forwarded to the Grand Secretariat. The Eldest Prince, who had recently entered the Secretariat, frowned as he read it.

“These days, these Magistrates and Prefects spend their time on these ‘unorthodox minor paths’ instead of studying the classics and governing with sincerity… Cough, cough…” The sickly Eldest Prince covered his mouth and coughed. He scribbled a few words on the memorial: Since it is useful, use it on the people. It is hoped that local officials will delve deeper into the classics and possess the benevolent hearts and methods to govern, rather than obsessing over such trivialities.

He then sent the memorial back exactly as it came, without it even reaching the Emperor’s eyes.

A junior official in the Secretariat, Liu Zheng, was checking the returned memorials for errors. As he looked at Shao Jiechuan’s report, he noticed a small supplementary note that hadn’t even been opened. Seeing the data regarding the cement, his eyes widened. “This is a masterpiece that could benefit the nation and the people!” he muttered to himself.

However, his eyes fell on the final comment left by the Prince. Liu Zheng sighed helplessly. Waiting until no one was around, he quietly tucked the memorial at the very bottom of the stack.

After finishing his shift, Liu Zheng paid a visit to Grand Princess Shaoyang for the first time. “Lower official Liu Zheng greets Her Royal Highness.”

“Rise. Does the official have business with me?” The Grand Princess’s gaze was cool, her hands resting on a pile of documents.

“I have a memorial I wish to present to Your Highness.” Liu Zheng took the report from his sleeve and handed it to the female official.

The Grand Princess took the memorial. When she saw the data for the cement—especially the fact that costs were reduced by one-third—her heart was shaken. She looked at the Prince’s comment and fell silent. She understood why Liu Zheng had brought this to her. Her “otherworldly” eldest brother truly never ceased to amaze her with his lack of common sense.

“I am aware of this matter. Take the memorial back,” the Grand Princess told Liu Zheng. He accepted it without another word, knowing the Princess would make arrangements.

After he left, the fourth-rank female official, Hua Qing, looked at the pensive Princess. She wanted to say something, then tilted her head and reconsidered.

“Hua Qing, come here,” the Princess called, noticing her official’s expression.

“What is it, Highness?” The young-looking official walked over.

“What are you thinking about?” the Princess asked curiously.

“Well… I was thinking that the name of this Chongjiang County Magistrate sounds very familiar.”

“Of course it’s familiar. That is the Magistrate hand-picked by ‘Little Seven’ (Prince Jian),” the Princess said with a smile. “Go and tell Little Seven about this. He will know how to handle it.”

“Yes, Highness.”

Back in Chongjiang, Lu Youming lay on the bed with the peacefully sleeping Su Wanrou in her arms. She leaned down to catch the scent of Su Wanrou’s hair, her lips brushing her forehead.

“Mmhmm… Husband… I don’t want to… get up,” Su Wanrou’s raspy, soft voice sounded in the room as she snuggled her head into Lu Youming’s chest.

“Then how about I give you a day off today?” Lu Youming said, stroking her face.

Su Wanrou looked up, her eyes bright. “Can I?”

Lu Youming nodded. “Of course.”

Su Wanrou began planning what she could do with her free day. Although she enjoyed working, who would turn down a holiday? They even planned for Lu Youming to come back after work so they could have a barbecue together using her special sauce.

“Lady, you must come back early. I’ll miss you,” Su Wanrou said, looking at her elegant wife in her robes. Her heart felt weak—how could someone be this attractive? She stood on her tiptoes and left a kiss on Lu Youming’s lips, wanting to keep her beauty all to herself.

Lu Youming smiled at her adorable wife. Though the office was only a few dozen steps away, they acted as if they were parting for a long journey. “I’m going to work. Sleep a bit longer and be good.” Lu Youming tucked her in before heading out.

Su Wanrou, her cheeks pink, snuggled into the blankets, smelling Lu Youming’s scent, and drifted back to sleep.

In the yamen, Lu Youming reviewed the documents Su Wanrou had organized yesterday. It was a quiet day until she flipped to a case of “extinguishing a household.” She pulled out the petition: a woman named Madam Shen was suing her clan for oppressing a widow and orphan to seize her late husband’s property.

The words on the paper were written in “blood and tears.” The clan intended to sell the widow and her child, forcing her to sue the Clan Leader. Lu Youming’s brow furrowed; the crimes listed were severe. Seizing property alone was enough for exile, let alone kidnapping and selling free citizens.

She called for Head Constable Wang. “Wang Da, what is the story with this case against the Shen clan?”

“Lord, I have investigated and the claims are true. The Clan Leader wants to seize the assets and intends to sell Madam Shen under the pretext that she ‘brought bad luck’ to her husband.”

Lu Youming’s temper flared. “Today is the fifth; it is a good day for court. Have Shen Ming and Madam Shen brought here. I will preside over the trial immediately.”