Chapter 95: Mountain Ghost’s Coins

Chapter 95: The Mountain Ghost Charm

Chen Yuhu maintained her kneeling posture, the bruises on her knees having significantly faded over the past few days.

Thanks to the ointment from the Junzhu, her legs had stopped hurting by the very next day.

While the Marquis’s estate medicine was considered top-tier, the truly superior secret remedies remained exclusive to the royal family.

As Chen Yuhu listened to her maid chanting Buddhist sutras, she found herself longing for audio dramas.

It only made her more irritable.

Throughout these days of punishment, her mood had been sour—not just from kneeling, but also from being confined to her quarters.

Trapped indoors, she had never felt such a strong desire for freedom.

Fortunately, her two yiniangs often visited to keep her company and ease her boredom.

On the day Lin Qingtong departed, Chen Yuhu rose early to kneel, uncharacteristically forgoing her habit of sleeping in.

She knew her son would leave at dawn and wanted him to see how hard it was for his mother.

This could be called guilt-tripping parenting.

Sure enough, Lin Qingtong, aware that Chen Yuhu was awake, came specifically to bid farewell. As usual, he did not enter the room. With the door open, Lin Qingtong kowtowed outside.

Chen Yuhu feigned an air of composure, but Yiniang Hu and Yiniang Hua knew the Madam was not fully awake and in low spirits.

Chen Yuhu offered a few words of advice: "Have a safe journey, and be careful out there."

"Don’t always make me worry."

"Yes, Mother. I will remember."

Chen Yuhu quickly let him go, as his mind was already elsewhere—the Junzhu had promised to see him off.

It wouldn’t do to keep the Junzhu waiting.

As a mother, she felt a bit unsettled but didn’t say anything.

So this was what it felt like to be forgotten by a son once he took a wife.

Ah well, why bother holding a grudge against a fool? Chen Yuhu comforted herself.

As Lin Qingtong stepped out of the manor, one of his servants remarked, "Young Master, why didn’t you say more to your mother?"

"It’s clear she woke up early just for you."

Lin Qingtong replied lightly, "Let’s hurry. If we delay, we might disturb Mother’s morning sleep."

"These days have been hard on her while she’s awake. Better to let her sleep a little longer."

Hearing this, the servant felt a pang of sympathy for both the Young Master and his Madam.

Damn the Cheng family! It must have been their slander that brought this punishment upon our Madam.

After Chen Yuhu received the imperial edict of condemnation, the Cheng family became quite ostentatious, flaunting their influence everywhere.

Generally, great families valued integrity—plainly put, they cared about face.

It was rare to see such an unstable, showy clan behaving so recklessly.

Even that not-so-bright Miss Cheng, who had spouted nonsense, was engaged again.

He wondered what short-sighted family had agreed to take her.

Chen Yuhu grew curious and sent someone to look into it. Ancient times offered little entertainment,

which only fueled her habit of gossiping.

Just then, a maid entered and announced that the second wife of Minister An's estate had sent over a batch of high-quality essential oils, claiming it was because her mistress enjoyed them.

Chen Yuhu glanced at the expensive oils in delicate glass bottles and pursed her lips.

"Put them away. Let them know I liked them."

This was the An family’s stance.

Chen Yuhu had learned about the incident the very next day.

At the next court session, the old minister still did not greet Lin Ji, but instead requested to retire.

He was already at an age suitable for retirement, but the timing of his request was delicate.

At that critical moment, the emperor could not approve it, and no one dared take on such a hot potato.

It was a matter of rites.

The Empress Dowager’s actions, however, did not align with this principle. Given her special status, the Ministry of Rites did not dare comment lightly.

But the Ministry of Rites also had its pride.

The old minister’s request to retire was already an expression of the ministry’s integrity. If they did nothing, the Ministry of Rites would become a laughingstock.

If the emperor actually approved, the old minister could leave with dignity—after all, his descendants were already accomplished.

But who would handle the aftermath? Would the emperor not hold the Ministry of Rites accountable?

So this was the best outcome.

Fortunately, with the old minister’s move, if Minister An truly left, the others would owe him a favor.

No wonder they say these old foxes grow cunning with age!

Chen Yuhu didn’t know how, but she naturally figured all this out.

It’s just... how to put it? She felt it was manageable. She wondered if others had experienced university student council—now that was true scheming!

Whenever Chen Yuhu heard someone had entered the advisor’s office, she grew nervous.

In the end, somehow, that person would suddenly join a competition, win an award, and inexplicably receive a scholarship.

Now that was a sour feeling!

Now, things were simpler—she just had to figure out the emperor’s intentions.

Just be obedient! Show loyalty to the emperor and love for the country! Protect herself when necessary—that was all there was to it.

Just mentioning the student council, it's enough to make Chen Yuhu's blood boil—what a bitter memory it was!

It's like no matter how hard common folk try, they always feel there's an invisible ceiling above them, one they can't see but also can't touch.

But now it's different. Now she's a Marquess' wife, and her family gets palace updates first.

Of course, it would be even better if she were the emperor, she thought.

While seemingly focused on reciting scriptures, Chen Yuhu was actually entertaining treasonous thoughts of becoming emperor herself.

Lin Qingtong’s horse followed the princess’s carriage, watched over by a stern governess sent by the Princess Consort, making it impossible for Lin Qingtong to board the carriage directly.

With just a stern glance from the old matron, even someone as unruly as Lin Qingtong felt a twinge of fear.

By the time they reached Ten-Mile Pavilion, it was time for them to part ways.

A small hand reached out from the carriage, holding a round piece of jade.

The princess had childlike features, with stubby, cute child's fingers.

Lin Qingtong smiled, his steps turning lively, even breaking into a brief run.

He took it from the delicate, pale hand and examined it—it was a Shan Gui charm.

The Shan Gui charm carried excellent symbolism, representing protection and good fortune.

The princess said, "I’ve always enjoyed carving wood, but this is my first time carving jade. I did have some help from a craftsman, but it still counts as my work. I’m giving it to you."

"I hope you stay safe."

His mother had also wished him safety as he left home, but it felt entirely different from how the princess said it, he thought.

Lin Qingtong held the Shan Gui charm, turning it over and over in his hand, and assured the princess, "I’ll definitely treasure it and look at it whenever I think of you."

The princess chuckled. "Then you’ll have to take it out and look at it every day."

"You bet!"

Lin Qingtong also laughed and agreed readily.

Lin Qingtong searched his pockets and found the protective talisman his mother had given him—something he couldn’t part with.

It was sincerely sought by his mother, and if he gave it to the princess now, his mother would never get him another one.

Holding the talisman, Lin Qingtong explained, "My mother gave this to me. Last time I was injured, it got stained with blood. It wouldn’t be auspicious to give it to you."

The princess understood that he simply didn’t want to part with it, but since it was from Mrs. Lin, it really wasn’t appropriate to give it away.

She wasn’t disappointed.

Soon enough, Lin Qingtong whispered conspiratorially to the princess, "I’ve left something for you, something I made myself with my mother’s guidance. You’ll definitely like it."

The princess glanced at him with a wry smile, though she didn’t have high expectations for his gift.

She knew all too well that he couldn't be bothered to put effort into pleasing girls.