in2ebook Chapter 274: Family Visit
Chapter 274: Family Visit
It was a rare day of good weather, with white clouds in the sky. It was neither too cold nor too hot, and the sunlight shining on people's bodies made them feel warm and comfortable.
Since the wedding, Murong Yue has been pestering Yu Qingli all the time, and taking advantage of her innocent words, she has also blocked a lot of troubles for Yu Qingli. However, Yu Qingli is low-key and never goes out of the house. She coldly watches Mei Hong, who is lively and shuttles back and forth all day long like a butterfly flying through flowers. But Yu Qingli doesn't understand why Mei Hong, who has been through so much with Murong Feng, looks more and more haggard day by day. Could it be that she has really fallen in love with the ruthless Murong Feng?
I couldn't help but sneer in my heart. If this was true, Mei Hong deserved it.
Xiluo went to the small kitchen early in the morning to make some delicious pastries, and said with a smile: "On the way, we passed by the garden. The flowers there are so beautiful. Princess, why don't you pick a few branches and put them in the garden?"
Yu Qingli understood Xiluo's meaning. This caring maid had long surpassed the identity of a maid. She was devoted to her, the person closest to her, and her friend. From the day she came to her side, she had always treated her sincerely.
Now that she said this, she must be afraid that she would get sick from staying in the house.
Yu Qingli looked at the bright and warm sunlight outside the window, turned around and opened Murong Yue's chubby little hand that was stealing the cake, and asked, "Do you want to go out for a walk?"
Murong Yue stared at the cake box and said intently, "Mom, if you go, Yue'er will go."
Xiluo couldn't help laughing, "Little bastard."
Yu Qingli thought for a moment, then stood up and dusted off her clothes. "Then let's go out for a walk."
A hint of joy flashed in Xiluo's eyes, but when he looked at Yu Qingli's expressionless face, a hint of worry flashed in his eyes.
According to the palace rules, a married daughter should return home on the third day. On the wedding day, Yu Zhengsha drugged Yu Qingli, and the two severed their father-daughter relationship.
Although this matter caused a lot of uproar, fortunately Murong Feng and Murong Yanhui worked together, so no one dared to discuss the matter without authorization. Most people in the public also had only a vague understanding of the matter, and only spread rumors. However, on the day of returning home in three days, Yu Qingli really did not return home, which seemed to confirm these rumors and was very bad for Yu Qingli's reputation.
Half a month has passed now. The day before yesterday, the eldest son of the Yu family came to the palace again. When he visited Yu Qingli, he mentioned that she should return home. Although Yu Qingli did not refuse in person, judging from her expression, she did not want to go back either.
Xiluo originally wanted to persuade Yu Qingli, but seeing Yu Qingli holding Murong Yue's hand with a gentle look on her face, she felt that it would be too depressing to speak at this time, so she swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth. She picked up the box of pastries on the table and followed Yu Qingli and Murong Yue.
Perhaps because of the nice day, as she walked along, Yu Qingli felt that the flowers in the garden were unusually bright, and her mood couldn't help but improve.
Although Murong Yue was old, she was still a child after all. Seeing all the colorful things, she was extremely happy and ran around the garden cheering.
"Run slower, or don't cry if you get lost." Yu Qingli couldn't help laughing as she watched Murong Yue running away, then falling flat on her face, then getting up and continuing to run without fear.
Seeing that Yu Qingli was in a very good mood and Murong Yue had run away again, Xiluo couldn't help but say, "Miss, you didn't refuse the eldest master before. You agreed to return home today. Seeing that it's almost this time..."
Yu Qingli slowly turned around and looked at Xiluo. The flash of anger in her eyes faded away. Yu Qingli sighed and said, "Xiluo, I know you're doing this for my own good, but I've made up my mind. If Yu Zhengsha could do that to me, what else can't he do? Now that I've severed ties with him, I can finally have some peace and quiet."
Xiluo couldn't help but sigh, "But, no matter what, Miss, your last name is Yu after all, and you can't break away from your blood relationship with him."
Yu Qingli's eyes dimmed for a moment when she heard that. Yes, Yu Zhengsha's blood was flowing in her body after all, but Yu Zhengsha could treat her and his mother who had gone through the pain of giving birth for him so cruelly.
What kind of humanity does a man like this have? Thinking of her mother's miserable condition, Yu Qingli's heart hardened a little. She secretly warned herself that if she was soft-hearted towards Yu Zhengsha at this time, she would be cruel to herself.
"Xi Luo, I understand your intentions. You are doing this for my own good, and I know that. But please allow me to be willful for once in this matter." Yu Qingli said and sighed again.
Xiluo knew that Yu Qingli had made up her mind, so she changed the subject. "Miss, why don't you go sit in the pavilion up ahead for a while?"
Yu Qingli looked at Murong Yue and nodded, "That's fine. I'm afraid Yue'er is tired from running."
The master and servant entered the pavilion one after the other. Xiluo immediately and neatly arranged the cakes and drinks. Seeing this, Murong Yue threw herself into Yu Qingli's arms, holding an unknown insect in her muddy right hand. "Mother, mother, look, is this insect rare?"
Yu Qingli said with amusement: "It's just a bug, why are you making such a fuss about it and getting covered in mud?"
Yu Qingli brushed off the dust on Murong Yue's body and wiped his colorful face as she spoke. "Are you tired from running? Have some water and eat something."
"Hmm." Murong Yue reached out to grab the cake, but Yu Qingli opened her hand again. "You dirty little hands, grabbing and eating like this, aren't you afraid of getting a stomachache?"
Xiluo smiled when she heard this and said, "Master Yue, let me take you to wash up."
Murong Yue looked up and saw Yu Qingli's serious expression, and replied reluctantly: "Okay."
Xiluo had just walked a few steps with Murong Yue when she turned around and said, "Mom, don't eat while I'm not around."
Yu Qingli glanced at Murong Yue unhappily and said calmly, "If you come late, you won't get a share."
Murong Yue immediately broke into a run when she heard that, saying, "Xiluo, hurry up, hurry up."
Yu Qingli shook her head in amusement, and when she turned around, she found that Queen Li was standing dignified at the other end of the pavilion. Her personal servants were standing in the distance, and there was no one around her.
At this time, Queen Li was looking at him with a smile on her face. Her face was painted with delicate powder and rouge, but there were fine lines at the corners of her eyebrows and eyes that could not be concealed.
"Qingli greets the Queen Mother." Yu Qingli bowed hurriedly, but she had guessed the purpose of Queen Li's visit.
As Murong Feng's mother, Queen Li would spare no effort to push Murong Feng to regain the position of crown prince. She married him only because of Yu Zhengsha. If Murong Feng could become a relative of the prime minister of the current dynasty, then it would be an extra layer of protection for Murong Feng.
But now, she has severed her relationship with Yu Zhengsha. How can a woman without a prominent mother's family become Murong Feng's helper?
When Yu Qingli thought about this, a sarcastic smile suddenly appeared on her lowered face.
"Get up quickly. I haven't seen you these days, and I haven't asked you properly whether you are used to living in the palace or whether you are missing anything." Queen Li was as gentle as ever, helping Yu Qingli sit opposite her.
"Everything is ready in the palace. Thank you for your care, mother." Yu Qingli answered politely and obediently, keeping her head down and her expression calm.
Queen Li looked at the well-behaved Yu Qingli, and felt both love and hate in her heart. Thinking of the rumors on the day of the wedding, her delicate brows couldn't help but frown slightly.
"Qingli, since you and I are already family, I won't beat around the bush." Queen Li said bluntly, "Today is the day you return home. As a woman of the royal family, the reputation of the royal family is your most important concern. Your discord with Prime Minister Yu has given others an excuse to criticize you."
Upon hearing this, Yu Qingli immediately stood up and bowed to Queen Li, "Mother, Qingli is not returning home today because she is concerned about the reputation of the royal family."
"Oh? What do you mean?" Queen Li raised her eyebrows. She wanted to see what reason Yu Qingli could come up with.
"Mother, Prime Minister Yu drugged Qingli on her wedding day. This clearly shows his disapproval of this marriage and his contempt for the royal family. If Qingli were to return home today, it would quell the rumors, but it would also humiliate the First Prince. They would say he was afraid of Prime Minister Yu's power and could tolerate his wife being insulted on her wedding day."
After Yu Qingli finished speaking, she looked up at Empress Li and said sincerely, "Mother, please think carefully about this. Although Qingli's refusal to return home confirms the rumors, it also saves the eldest prince's face. However, if Qingli returns home, it would be the eldest prince who honors him, which would be an insult to the eldest prince."
Queen Li pondered silently and felt that what Yu Qingli said made some sense. She was the queen of a country and the eldest prince was her own son. No matter what, Yu Zhengsha should not have tried to harm Yu Qingli on the day of Murong Feng's wedding, and he should have done it so blatantly and let everyone know.
Even if Yu Zhengsha despised Yu Qingli as his daughter, he shouldn't have disregarded Murong Feng's dignity. Now, Murong Feng has lost face. Those princes who covet the throne, won't they laugh their heads off?!
Queen Li thought about this and felt that what Yu Qingli said made sense. No matter what, Yu Zhengsha's behavior was extremely inappropriate, and it was right for Yu Qingli not to return home. Now Yu Qingli was Murong Feng's concubine, the consort of the eldest prince of Tianfeng Kingdom, and she really shouldn't have lost her status like this.
"Qingli, since you put it that way, I won't force you. Ultimately, this is a matter between you and your daughter. I just think it's better to resolve a feud than to create one. After all, we are all family. You should consider this carefully."
Queen Li stood up and her maidservant immediately came over to greet her.
Yu Qingli bowed again before slowly saying, "My Queen Mother is right, but Prime Minister Yu has really chilled my heart. I'm afraid I won't dare face him again for a while."
Queen Li sighed and nodded. "I'm a little tired. I'll come see you another day. If you're not satisfied with your stay, you can come and talk to me directly."