So Chen Xiao Bei didn't say anything more, but stood up, "Yes, what you said makes sense. Then get some good rest, and tomorrow you'll teach the villagers to read."
After speaking to Xiao Bei, he didn't linger.
Watching Chen Xiao Bei leave, Liu Luo Mei let out a long sigh.
Xiao Qing, who was beside her, tentatively asked, "Miss, do you want to go to the front lines? Are you reluctant to tell the son-in-law?"
Liu Ru Mei gently shook her head, "No, I'm worried that Xiao Bei ge is soft-hearted and will be persuaded by Zhou Quan after a few words to convince me."
"That's right, it's almost noon. I don't want to eat there anymore. Go and make some rice porridge. I don't have much of an appetite."
Xiao Qing naturally knew that the so-called lack of appetite was fake, and she was probably in a bad mood.
At this moment, Chen Xiao Bei was clearly not in a good mood either. He was a little conflicted. To be honest, from the bottom of his heart, he really didn't want Liu Ru Mei to go. Moreover, given the Crown Prince's family's way of doing things, after this trip, they would likely still be working hard with no reward.
But he also knew that if Liu Ru Mei didn't go, Zhou Quan might not give up.
Thinking about it only added to his worries. Chen Xiao Bei shook his head. All he could do now was take it one step at a time.
Chen Xiao Bei's worries were well-founded. Zhou Quan, riding his horse, headed towards Qing Niu County. After about seven or eight li, he suddenly stopped.
The guards following closely behind were a bit confused. They were in the middle of nowhere, so why stop?
"Captain, what are you doing?"
Zhou Quan turned his head and looked in the direction of He Tou Village.
"I suddenly remembered something. The Princess is at Centipede Ridge. Since we couldn't invite Miss Liu, let's ask the Princess to intervene!"
After speaking, he turned his horse and led his men towards Centipede Ridge.
In the blink of an eye, it was noon.
Cui Hong Yu saw that Liu Ru Mei hadn't come to eat, so he asked Chen Xiao Bei, "Xiao Bei ge, what's wrong with Miss Liu? Aren't you going to pay respects to Sister Huang Ying?"
Chen Xiao Bei agreed, "Yes, she's probably busy preparing to teach the villagers to read tomorrow. Let's not worry about her. Let's eat."
Chen Bo vaguely guessed Liu Ru Mei's thoughts and didn't call for her when she didn't come.
After lunch, when the villagers dispersed, Chen Xiao Bei put the offerings he had prepared earlier back into the bamboo basket.
Then he picked it up and went out.
Liu Ru Mei had also drunk two bowls of porridge and was waiting. Since it was an agreed-upon matter, she guessed Chen Xiao Bei would definitely come.
Soon, Xiao Qing rushed in, "Miss, the son-in-law is here and said he's going to the grave together."
Liu Ru Mei nodded and walked out. She and Chen Xiao Bei exchanged no pleasantries and headed straight to the east end of the village.
Not far after entering the ancestral graveyard, they reached Huang Ying's grave. The large tombstone looked somewhat out of place.
The two of them set out the offerings and lit paper. Liu Ru Mei began to ramble.
"Sister Huang Ying, rest in peace. Leave taking care of Xiao Bei ge to me."
"I have already held a wedding with Xiao Bei ge. In the future, I will help him expand the family tree. For our first child, I will let him have the surname Huang."
Her words made Chen Xiao Bei want to cry and laugh. He didn't know what Liu Ru Mei was thinking. Letting the first child have the surname Huang, what did that mean?
However, on second thought, it didn't seem wrong for the first child to have the surname Huang. It could be a way to express his lingering sorrow for Huang Ying.
Thinking of this, he took over the conversation and said, "Yes, Huang Ying, don't worry. I will live well. I know this is your wish too."
At this moment, Liu Ru Mei continued, "Sister Huang Ying, Xiao Bei ge said he misses you and can't let go of you. That's why, even though I have joined the Chen family, he hasn't been overly intimate with me."
"But we are husband and wife now, so I want to talk to you about this. Don't resent Xiao Bei anymore. When I married Xiao Bei ge back then, it was to save me, not because Xiao Bei ge was fickle or promiscuous."
"I hope your spirit in heaven will bless us both with peace and smoothness."
After speaking, Xiao Qing stepped forward and held Liu Ru Mei's shoulder, "Alright Miss, let's go back."
Liu Ru Mei stood up and looked at Chen Xiao Bei. Chen Xiao Bei gently waved his hand.
"You two go back first. I'll stay here with Huang Ying for a while longer."
Liu Ru Mei didn't say much more, and turned to leave with Xiao Qing.
After they left, Chen Xiao Bei's tears streamed down.
"Huang Ying, I wasn't unwilling to cry just now. I just didn't want Liu Ru Mei to be overly sad. Now that there's no one here, I'll chat with you for a bit longer."
"Back then, to save Liu Ru Mei from prison, the Emperor wanted to bestow marriage. It was a last resort. If you want to blame someone, blame me for being incapable."
"Also, Liu Ru Mei has told me many times that she wants to spend her life in this small mountain village. I'm also a bit conflicted now. I know we are not from the same world. She is from a prominent family after all."
"I originally thought she might be able to stay in the mountain village with peace of mind, but Zhou Quan came to find her again just now, and now Da Cang Kingdom is in trouble again."
"However, Liu Ru Mei married me. If she has to leave the mountain, I will have to accompany her. Otherwise, I won't be at ease. So, if I leave, I don't know when I'll be back. I'm telling you all this today. If I don't visit you for a long time, don't think I've forgotten you."
Chen Xiao Bei chatted on and on, then burned some paper money for Huang Ying. Only then did he reluctantly get up and leave.
At this time, Zhou Quan had also found Xiao Jia Town. He first went to Centipede Ridge, and then found Xiao Jia Town.
After arriving at Xiao Jia Town, he found Du Yi Wei, and through Feng Xiao Yue, he found the Princess.
This whole ordeal indeed tired Zhou Quan out.
Seeing that it was Zhou Quan, Princess Zhao Ning was surprised, "Aren't you supposed to be protecting my brother? What are you doing here?"
Zhou Quan bowed and briefly explained the situation, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince ordered me to rush here day and night to invite Miss Liu, but I was met with a cold shoulder at He Tou Village."
Upon hearing this, Princess Zhao Ning actually laughed, "You guys are asking for trouble. Back then, our father forced Miss Liu to marry Chen Xiao Bei, and now you remember her when you have something important. You deserve it."
Zhou Quan's heart sank when he heard this. He had thought the Princess would consider the bigger picture and say a few good words for him to Chen Xiao Bei, but he didn't expect to be lectured instead.
But it didn't matter if he was lectured, as long as he could invite Liu Ru Mei out of seclusion.
With this in mind, Zhou Quan respectfully said again, "Your Highness, please consider the overall situation and help me persuade Miss Liu to come out."
Unexpectedly, Princess Zhao Ning shook her head like a rattle drum, "Impossible. Zhou Quan, you can give up on this idea. I will not do this for you. Go back and tell my brother that if he wants to invite Sister Liu Ru Mei out, he should come himself."