The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1099 - 1778 County Duke Yu

Chapter 1099: Chapter 1778 County Duke Yu

A group found a private room in Fragrant Full Pavilion and sat down, and Liu Huan very generously asked the waiter to put the bill under his elder brother’s name.

It was apparent that their family indeed dined here often, as the waiter and Liu Huan were particularly familiar with each other, and he agreed without a second thought.

Then everyone watched as Liu Huan ordered a bunch of delicious dishes and encouraged them to order as well.

Bai Shan, Bai Erlang, and Manbao all shook their heads, and Peng Zhiru also felt that Liu Huan had ordered enough, he hesitated, "Is it really alright to put everything on your elder brother’s account?"

"It’s fine, the owner of this restaurant is friends with my brother, I always put it on a tab when I dine here, order whatever you like."

Yin Huo glanced at him and chose two softer dishes, and that was it.

Manbao, sitting across from Bai Shan and Liu Huan, asked, "Who was that County Duke Yu just now?"

"You don’t know County Duke Yu?" Liu Huan said: "He’s a famed official, very formidable. I met him a few times when I was very young, he particularly liked to pinch children’s cheeks."

Liu Huan turned his head, spoke across Bai Shan, Manbao, and Bai Erlang to Yin Huo, "You must have seen him when you were young too, he loves children."

Yin Huo shook his head, he couldn’t remember, he had been frail and many adults liked to hold him when he was very young, how could he know who was who?

However, regarding County Duke Yu...

Yin Huo gave it some thought and then asked, "Is it Supervisor Yu who compiled the Beiting Book Collection?"

Manbao pinched a piece of pastry to eat, and when he heard this, he looked up, "The same position as Lord Wei?"

Liu Huan waved his hand, "He’s retired, went back to his hometown to live out his old age a few years ago."

Whenever the Beiting Book Collection was mentioned, Bai Shan remembered it, and seeing they hadn’t gotten to the point after talking for so long, he turned to Manbao and said: "You haven’t seen it, the Beiting Book Collection is a type of encyclopedic reference."

Manbao continued eating and asked, "Why is it called ’Beiting’?"

"It’s because County Duke Yu was the editor when he served as a secretariat during the previous dynasty, Beiting refers to the back hall of the secretariat province of the previous dynasty," Bai Shan explained: "The book was compiled back then but fell into obscurity because it wasn’t utilized by the last emperor, and County Duke Yu held a modest position. It was only after our dynasty was established and the current emperor valued County Duke Yu that the book was included in the Imperial Academy, but it stays only within."

Bai Shan expressed regret: "The book is too thick for casual loans, otherwise, I could have borrowed it for you to see."

In other words, it was not available for sale outside.

Manbao exclaimed, "That’s amazing."

Although Peng Zhiru and the others hadn’t seen the book, they also couldn’t remember who County Duke Yu was, but they also felt it was quite amazing.

Liu Huan nodded again and again, "It is amazing, but it’s so strange, why didn’t County Duke Yu enter the palace when he came to the capital? He’s not young anymore, is he seventy-eight this year, or seventy-nine? My grandfather said that he is the longest living in the court, each time he visits the capital, His Majesty personally welcomes him to Taiji Hall."

Everyone’s mouths hung open, "Such longevity~~"

Liu Huan nodded.

Manbao and Bai Shan couldn’t help but exchange glances, at such an old age to still be able to say he’ll travel and just do it, truly amazing.

No wonder his son was so worried.

Bai Shan lowered his eyes in thought, then said, "Yuezhou is not close to the capital, if the elderly gentleman must travel, why choose to come to the capital?"

Manbao: "The capital has old acquaintances, old memories?"

Bai Shan slightly nodded, "Perhaps."

He turned and smiled at Liu Huan, who returned the smile in a somewhat silly way.

Manbao glanced at him, then at Bai Shan, and turned away, pouring a cup of tea for Liu Huan.

County Duke Yu brought a servant and entered the capital on his own, startling not only his own son but also the Emperor himself.

After receiving the news, the Emperor had someone leave the palace to invite County Duke Yu. The moment they arrived outside of Taiji Hall, the Emperor, accompanied by the Crown Prince and numerous ministers, went out to greet him, personally assisting County Duke Yu inside.

County Duke Yu hurriedly expressed his humility with a bow, and was only helped to his feet to follow the Emperor into the hall after the greeting.

The Emperor had an additional seat placed at the head of the table on the left side, inviting County Duke Yu to sit.

County Duke Yu demurred, reasoning that this was the seat of Ji Xiang.

The Emperor then smiled and said, "Today is Double Ninth, let us venerate the elderly first and speak of other matters later."

Ji Xiang also personally helped County Duke Yu, saying, "This seat is rightfully yours, County Duke, please sit."

County Duke Yu then took a seat.

Everyone sat down separately, with the Crown Prince standing by the Emperor’s side.

County Duke Yu lifted his head, squinted as he looked around, and then smilingly said to the Crown Prince, "Having not seen you for several years, the Crown Prince has become ever more imposing."

The Crown Prince smiled in return, exchanging pleasantries with County Duke Yu.

The Emperor, smiling, asked, "When did County Duke enter the capital? Had it not been reported today, I would have been unaware of your arrival."

County Duke Yu bowed and said, "Your humble servant was just roaming around, and before I knew it, I found myself in the capital. Considering today is Double Ninth, I thought to come in for some rice cake, never expecting that my boy would alarm your Majesty."

This statement was met with skepticism.

Who is County Duke Yu?

He was the eldest in years, having served under four emperors across two dynasties. Since retiring and returning to his hometown Yuezhou three years ago, the Emperor had personally escorted him to the city gates upon his departure.

Even if he wished to travel the mountains and rivers, why turn up in the capital?

The distance from Yuezhou to the capital is considerable.

Yet no matter how they inquired in the hall, County Duke Yu insisted that he had simply wandered into the capital while playing around.

Such a claim, not only did the Emperor and his ministers find hard to believe, even his son doubted it. So when the son was assisting his father home, he couldn’t help but ask, "Father, what truly brings you to the capital?"

County Duke Yu, supporting himself with his son’s hand as they entered the front hall, let out a deep sigh and said, "Let the elder’s matters be, young child, why concern yourself? On my way to the capital, did I hear that the Crown Prince had a fallout with the Third Prince?"

Assistant Minister Yu: ...God-like child, his own son is already an official, what child does that make him?

Rubbing his forehead and resignedly saying, "The fallout had long occurred, it’s just that this time it has become particularly severe."

County Duke Yu then remained silent.

Assistant Minister Yu asked anxiously, "Father, you couldn’t have come for this issue, could you?"

County Duke Yu lifted his eyelids and glanced at him, saying, "I left home two months ago; I haven’t yet mastered foreseeing the future."

Assistant Minister Yu breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Then what brings you here? Also, why didn’t you inform Second Brother before leaving? You have no idea - when he found out you went out for drinks and didn’t return home, he was nearly driven mad."

County Duke Yu cleared his throat and said, "I was halfway through my drinks when I suddenly felt like going out for a jaunt, and that’s how I ended up here."

Assistant Minister Yu stared at him, "And this jaunt lasted two months?"

County Duke Yu obediently nodded and even uttered a confirming "hm."

Assistant Minister Yu: ...

County Duke Yu glanced outside at the sky, stood up, and said, "Enough, it’s not early, we should rest. Tomorrow, I’ll enter the palace to meet with His Majesty, catch up on old times. On Double Ninth, His Majesty won’t have time to attend to us old officials."

Although Assistant Minister Yu still had questions, seeing his father already ambling away with hands behind his back, he knew nothing more would come of them and could only help his father to rest.