Rebirth of Poisoned Empress, by 颜若优雅

Chapter 80

"Liangliang, don't pinch him anymore. I highly suspect the little chubby flesh on his cheeks aren't baby fat, but flesh that had been made swollen by you." But everytime, Fu Ying would be distressed and chastise Shen Liang. Which Uncle like to pinch their nephew's cheeks every single chance he derived like him?

"Hehe... can't help it. The feeling is too addictive," seeing the child picked up and hugged by fu Ying, Shen Liang laughed at his itchy fingers. When little Shen You saw his uncle laughing, he reached out for him eagerly and intently. He kicked his feet, asking for a hug. Fu Ying pulled his hands down as he gave Shen Liang an angry look, "Little Master, be good. Uncle likes to bully people. Let's ignore him."

"Ah. Ah..."

"Haha..."

Little Shen You simply couldn't understand Fu Ying's good intentions at all. He only had his uncle in his eyes and was teased to the point both Shen Liang and Qi Yue couldn't help but laugh. In the end, Fu Ying finally couldn't help it anymore and also laughed helplessly. Perhaps it was because of familial bond? Clearly Shen Liang had spent the least amount of time raising the child amongst them all, but Shen You also seemed to like him the most. Every time he saw Shen Liang, he would want to cling to him.

Lotus Fragrance Courtyard

"What? Unable to buy any?" the moment the news of the Empress's death came out, Zhao Lan, who was in charge of the courtyard affairs immediately sent servants out to buy linen from the cloth shop. But even after paying a visit to all of the shops in the Imperial City, the steward couldn't get his hand on a single foot of linen. The mother-in-law and daughters-in-laws group of three who were originally seated in the Lotus Fragrance Courtyard discussing the Empress's death immediately had a change in complexion. The Imperial decree had already been passed. Everyone was to go into a state of mourning. If they couldn't buy any linen, then...

"How can that be? Are you sure you checked all of the shops? Did the ready-to-wear clothes shops not have any either?" Zhao Lan's face immediately turned pale. If she couldn't get her hands on any linen, her position as the head of the back courtyard wouldn't be hers for much longer.

"This servant has gone to all of them, without doubt and exception. All of the shopkeepers and merchants stated that they have ran out of supply. At this time, they wouldn't dare to deliberately raise the price of the goods. But..." halfway through his statement, the servant raised his head to look at the madames present hesitantly. 

Zhao Lan was infuriated and immediately slapped her hands on the table, "But what?! Speak!"

"Yes. Yes. Yes," the servant was startled and frightened. He hurriedly responded: "I heard that the entire Imperial City is short and out of linen because the Murong Family has been amassing them for a long time now. According to them, they were planning to use the linen to make into clothes to donate to the refugees and civilians who faced hardships due to the disaster. In fact, an hour after the Imperial decree was passed, the Murong Family began to set up stalls in the outer city and donate the ready-made linens to the poorer families with no money or cloth. Such actions have already won the acclamations and praises of many civilians. They're all saying the Murong Family is a family of benefactors now."

Not only that, but before his return, he had seen many wealthy and affluent families' stewards crowding outside the Murong Manor to beg for linen. He originally wanted to go as well but the Murong Family were merchants in the end. If they decided to raise the price on them and the linen was bought more expensive than normal, the second madame would have his skin pulled. Hence, he only wanted to return and report the matter first. 

"What is the Murong Family planning? Taking advantage of the opportunity to win the civilians' hearts. Are they planning to rebel?" Zhao Lan was already angered to the point she lost her composure and no longer looked after her words.