Fang Xu was stunned for a moment, and the hand patting the back of her hand paused in the air, "But something happened to my mother-in-law?"
Liu Fanyin burst into tears and said sadly, "Yesterday, my father sent me a letter saying that my mother was suffering from Qi Gu. She refused to take medicine and became more and more ill. In the end, she coughed up blood and left like that."
Fang Xu frowned, put his arm around her shoulders, and whispered, "How could such a good person get such a disease?"
"My daughter-in-law doesn't know." Liu Fanyin bit her lower lip with a painful expression. "My father said in the letter that he hopes his daughter-in-law can go home and see her mother one last time."
"Of course you can." Fang Xu sighed softly, with a trace of regret in his eyes, "That is the person who gave birth to you. Now that he is gone, why don't you show your filial piety in front of his soul?"
Liu Fanyin calmed down a bit, lowered her head, and said softly, "Thank you, mother, for understanding."
"Early tomorrow morning, I'll ask Mrs. Zhang to follow you back." Fang Xu's tone was neither urgent nor slow, but he could still hear the concern. "Or I'll ask Su Zi to go with you."
Liu Fanyin shook her head and bit her lower lip lightly, "I just want to fulfill my last duty of filial piety. Grandma Zhang is enough."
Fang Xu agreed softly, not forgetting to remind him, "When your mother encounters this calamity, the person who will be most saddened is your father. When you go back this time, remember to stay for two more days to be with him. He only has you." daughter."
Liu Fanyin's nose felt sour, her head buried even lower, and she said in a trembling voice, "Yes, my daughter-in-law knows."
-
Half an hour later, four carriages stopped in front of the gate of Yongcheng Houfu.
Xie Li got out of the car first and looked up at the car ahead.
The next moment, a eunuch came down from the front and looked at Xie Li with a smile.
Xie Li stretched out his hand forward and raised the corners of his mouth, "Eunuch Zhuo, please come in."
Eunuch Zhuo nodded with a smile, followed the palace man, and walked slowly into the Hou Mansion.
Fang Xu got the news early in the morning and led everyone in the Marquis to the lobby.
Eunuch Zhuo stood at the top, holding the imperial edict in his arms, kneeling on the ground in front of him. Only Granny Yuan stood upright.
"By God's blessing, Emperor Zhao said, Xie Li was compiled by the Hanlin Academy. He has an overall mind, great foresight, and commendable righteousness. He is specially named the Minister of Honglu Temple, and he is ranked in the fourth rank. I admire this."
Xie Li's expression changed, and he hurriedly lowered his body and said in a loud voice, "I thank you, Lord, for your kindness."
"Yongchenghou's wife, the Fang family, has a strong inner virtue, a smart temperament, is calm in times of danger, and has meritorious service in protecting her. I am specially awarded this title to the wife of Yong'an County."
Fang Xu was stunned, his body stiffened, and his eyes were filled with confusion.
Granny Yuan couldn't see it, and coughed slightly before she came back to her senses and knelt on the ground.
Eunuch Zhuo took back the imperial edict, handed it to Fang Xu's head, and said with a smile, "Mrs. Yong'an County, please accept the edict."
Fang Xu raised his hands, took the imperial edict, and said in a loud voice, "I would like to express my gratitude to the Emperor for his kindness. I am deeply grateful."
Eunuch Zhuo quickly helped her up and explained with a smile, "Last night, Mrs. Yong'an County protected the Queen Mother. The new emperor will remember this love."
Fang Xu was stunned for a moment before he realized who the Queen Mother he was talking about was, and he raised his lips and smiled.
Eunuch Zhuo bowed his body, his face full of flattery, "In the past, the ladies who got royal titles were because of the success of their husbands in the family. They relied on themselves, but this is the first time you have a job here."
"Eunuch-in-law is overly praised." Fang Xu glanced sideways and looked at Su Zi behind him. The latter understood, took two steps forward, took off the purse from his waist, and stuffed it into Eunuch Zhuo's hand.
"Oh, Madam Yong'an County, you can't do this." Eunuch Zhuo stretched out his hand to push it away, with a smile on his face.
"My father-in-law, please keep it. It's a little thought from the Marquis Yongcheng." Fang Xu said warmly with a slight smile on his lips.
Hearing this, Eunuch Zhuo smiled coquettishly, took it sheepishly, and said in a low voice, "In the future, if Mrs. Yong'an County encounters difficulties, my servant may be able to help."
Fang Xu smiled and chatted with him, "With these words from my father-in-law, I feel much more at ease."
Eunuch Zhuo put his purse into his arms and said with a soft smile, "The imperial edict has arrived and the palace is still very busy, so I won't bother you much."
Fang Xu nodded and said softly, "Send father-in-law off."
"You stay." Eunuch Zhuo refused with a smile and took the lead to leave the hall. The palace people followed closely behind, leaving only five boxes of rewards that had been moved from the palace.
Seeing the people in the palace leaving, Fang Xu freed up his thoughts and lowered his head to look at the imperial edict in his hand.
Grandma Yuan stared at her and saw that she lost her mind again. She felt funny and asked, "Why, is my son so excited?"
"Not really." Fang Xu shook his head and raised the corners of his mouth slightly, "It's just that this imperial edict came suddenly and caught me off guard."
"Promise." Granny Yuan glanced at her and joked, "You mother and son have made a lot of face for the Marquis one after another. In the future, your waist will be straighter."
"That's all I ask for." Fang Xu lowered his eyes, walked slowly to the top, and sat down, "As long as life can be easier, that's all."
Xie Li held the imperial edict and lowered his head slightly, unable to see clearly the look in his eyes.
Grandma Yuan noticed him, frowned, and said softly, "Second brother, why aren't you happy after being appointed an official?"
Xie Li suddenly came back to his senses, looked into Granny Shangyuan's surprised eyes, and smiled calmly, "My grandson is fine."
Granny Yuan nodded. Just as she was about to say something, she saw Liu Fanyin standing up slowly.
Liu Fanyin lowered her head, looking down on her appearance. All she could see was the tip of her reddish nose, "Grandma, mother, my daughter-in-law is unwell and has to leave first."
Grandma Yuan paused and looked at Fang Xu subconsciously.
Fang Xu glanced at her, shook his head slowly, then turned back to look at Liu Fanyin, and said calmly, "Go ahead and ask Mrs. Zhang to serve you some porridge, at least you can drink some."
Liu Fanyin nodded, with a numb expression, "Yes."
After finishing his words, he turned around and walked out of the lobby without waiting for anyone's reaction.
"Is this child suffering from some kind of shock?" Granny Yuan frowned slightly, a trace of worry flashed in her eyes, "Why does he look like a wandering spirit?"
Fang Xu looked at her thin back and let out a long sigh, "The Liu family is in trouble. The mistress died. Fanyin couldn't accept it for a while."
"Dead?" Granny Yuan was shocked for a moment and murmured, "No wonder this child is like this..."
Fang Xu tilted his head and spoke in a calm tone, with no discernible emotion, "I'll allow her to go back to her parents' house tomorrow morning to see if she can deliver the coffin. She's young and can't go. I'm afraid she will have to trouble her mother to take care of her."
Grandma Yuan waved her hand and said in a relaxed tone, "Don't worry, that little baby loves to cling to me on weekdays. She won't cry anymore if she doesn't see her for a few days."
"As for the eldest daughter-in-law, you should send someone to keep an eye on her. From the outside, her husband has died and now she has returned to her parents' home. She must be polite and don't lose her status as a Marquis."
Fang Xu leaned back and responded softly, "Don't worry, mother, I will send someone to handle this matter safely."
Grandma Yuan shook her head and sighed softly, and whispered, "You are now carrying a royal decree and your status is different. When necessary, you still have to go and save face for your daughter-in-law." (End of Chapter)
