In Yunzhou, the Chief Advisor was quite an important official. Li Mingwei sent her servants to inquire about the location of the Chief Advisor's Mansion, and the entourage headed straight there.
The people around Liu Yizhu were mostly from the Li family, and they all recognized her. They opened the door and welcomed her in, then sent someone to summon the Governor back.
Li Mingwei took out the portrait she had painted and was wondering where to hang it when Liu Yizhu entered the room: "Mingwei, why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
He stepped forward and supported Li Mingwei: "Have you recovered your health?"
"It's been two months since I gave birth, I've long recovered." Li Mingwei pushed his hand away and placed the scroll on his desk, unrolling it: "Look, where do you think would be a good place to hang this?"
Liu Yizhu gently stroked the painting paper and chuckled: "Your mother has grown quite plump."
"Third brother..."
"She looks like me, like me!" Li Mingwei said eagerly, for he was the only one of the three children who resembled her.
"Yes, she does look like you." Liu Yizhu soothed her, with a helpless smile, reaching out to caress her cheek and examining her closely: "Why didn't you have yourself painted as well?"
"Aren't I right here in front of you?"
Liu Yizhu chuckled softly and leaned down to kiss the corner of her lips: "Did you come alone? Where are the children?"
"The eldest sister and brother-in-law took little Lai to the capital for his studies, they came to see you and then went back." Li Mingwei explained: "I don't plan to stay long, didn't want to trouble them."
"Not staying long?" Liu Yizhu's expression soured a bit, his tone low: "How long is 'not long'?"
Li Mingwei tentatively replied: "A month?"
Liu Yizhu reluctantly nodded: "Alright."
"Ah!" Li Mingwei wrapped her arms around him, snuggling against him, then looked up and smiled at him: "The children are still young, how about I go back and stay for a few months, then come back to keep you company?"
"No need."
"Huh?" Li Mingwei blinked, he refused her? He must have someone else on the side!
She pushed Liu Yizhu away and turned her back, letting out a huff.
"What's wrong?" Liu Yizhu hugged her from behind, furrowing his brow, gently explaining: "You go back and stay well, I'll be back soon."
Li Mingwei quickly turned around, this wasn't something he could just decide, unless...
Liu Yizhu didn't explain further, taking her to see Wang Chunhua and Dong Shan, having dinner with them, and telling them to rest early, and he would have someone take them out for a walk the next day.
Worn out from the journey, Li Mingwei was also a bit tired. She lay in bed but couldn't fall asleep. She got up and put on a robe, wandering outside, where a servant was quietly reporting something to Liu Yizhu.
Liu Yizhu noticed her gaze, gestured for the servant to leave first, and beckoned her over, pointing to the sky: "The moonlight is quite nice tonight, would you like to come out and take a look?"
Li Mingwei approached, and Liu Yizhu patted his lap, and she sat down in his embrace.
Liu Yizhu adjusted her clothes: "Are you cold?"
"No." Li Mingwei looked up at the sky, the moonlight was indeed nice, with stars filling the sky, but she had no heart for appreciating the scenery now. "Why?"
Without her needing to finish, Liu Yizhu knew what she wanted to ask. He smiled and said, "Can't you guess?"
"He agreed to it."
"Mm." Liu Yizhu nodded: "When the Emperor originally sent me to Yunzhou, it wasn't just to be the Chief Advisor, once the matters here are settled, I can go back."
"What matters?"
"Do you want to know?" Liu Yizhu looked at her with a smile: "It has to do with your ex-husband, do you still want to know?"
Li Mingwei decisively shook her head, she had no interest in anything related to Murong Yu.
Liu Yizhu stared at her for a while, then reached out and gently stroked her hair, his voice slightly melancholic: "Mingwei, I heard you've known the Crown Prince for a long time?"
"Yes, we've known each other since we were young, but we weren't that close, later on..." Li Mingwei cut off her words, quickly pinching his face: "Just say what you want to ask directly."
"If, he were to die because of me, would you resent me?"
They had known each other, and been husband and wife for three years, although there were some conflicts, there was still some affection between them. Liu Yizhu often worried that she might hold a grudge.
"Why would I resent you." Li Mingwei shook her head: "You don't have that capability."
She turned her head and looked steadily at Liu Yizhu, unable to imagine why the Emperor would trust him so much to entrust him with this matter.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm just surprised the Emperor trusts you so much."
"Why wouldn't the Emperor trust me?" Liu Yizhu suddenly smiled, pinching her little cheek: "Mingwei, I'm not a three-year-old child, you don't always have to worry about me so much."
He knew well what he should and shouldn't do.
Li Mingwei stared at him for a while, dazed. Right, he was someone who had passed the imperial examinations, not a fool, how could he just be manipulated by others? It seems her previous worries were unnecessary.
She carefully went over the events in Yunzhou in her mind, and there were only two problematic things: the first batch of disaster relief funds, Murong Yu didn't lack this bit of money, there was no need; the second was the few suppressed riots.
If Murong Yu had incited them, the intention was not hard to see.
Or perhaps both matters were his doing.
Liu Yizhu noticed her furrowed brow and said unhappily: "What, you're still worried about him?"
Li Mingwei clenched her hands, not answering, pondering for a while before shaking her head: "I've already advised him, if he doesn't listen, he's just seeking his own death, there's nothing to worry about."
Liu Yizhu wasn't sure if he believed it or not, but he hugged her and went back to the room.
In just a few months, after returning to the capital, Li Mingwei heard that Murong Yu had been summoned to the palace and hadn't come out for a whole night. She closed her eyes briefly, Liu Yizhu should be back soon.
"Ah Xiu."
Ah Xiu waited for her orders, but didn't hear her speak for a long time, so she could only ask: "Miss, is there something you need?"
"I..." Li Mingwei shook her head: "Never mind, let's not get involved."
She looked up at the sky that was almost completely dark, and silently went back to her room and lay down.
Liu Yizhu returned two days later, Murong Yu had already been confined in the palace for three days, and most of the officials had received the news, Li Mingwei was no exception.
"You're back."
"Mm." Liu Yizhu sat down next to her, observing her complexion: "Are you alright?"
"Do I not look alright?"
"No, you look fine." Liu Yizhu shook his head, pulling her into his embrace and chuckling: "In a few days, the Emperor will issue an edict to recall me back, this time I should be able to spend more time with you at home."
"Good."
"Mingwei~"
"Hm?"
Liu Yizhu's expression was indecipherable, his voice slightly lowered: "He's done too many things, aside from Yunzhou..."
He didn't want to explain further, just saying: "Tonight, the Emperor will give him a dignified end."
Li Mingwei let out a sigh, leaning against him and nodding, he had brought it upon himself, there was nothing to say.
She looked up at Liu Yizhu, Liu Yizhu lowered his head to meet her gaze, and she warned: "You better not do anything bad, I don't want to be a widow."
"Am I that kind of person?"
Li Mingwei hummed noncommittally: "Who knows."
Liu Yizhu opened his mouth and bit her, "I'll give you one more chance."
"You beast!" Li Mingwei got angry, biting him back, but her strength was too weak, trapped in his embrace, unable to resist, she could only raise the white flag.
"Ah, I lost, I lost."
"So am I not that kind of person?"
"No, no, how could you possibly do anything bad? In the future you'll definitely be an official praised by all, and I'll bask in your reflected glory."
Liu Yizhu smiled, hoping he would be able to.
