Chapter 66

  The late summer afternoon was still sweltering, and having just woken up, she was still a bit dazed. Even the sound of Lian Yutou's gentle voice seemed muffled and indistinct.

  "...Madam Fu replied that she would be back after the 15th of August and thought that at most it would take a month to return. The Duke has already ordered the main house of Xiangyuan to be cleaned, but Li Shen said that Madam Fu likes quietness and doesn't like many people living in the courtyard..."

  Qiao Wen said, "Ru Yi gradually sat up straight and even her eyes turned cold: 'I haven't offended him, why does he have to squeeze me like this? Fu Jun doesn't like others living in the courtyard, does that mean I should move out?'"

  Qiao Wen hastily advised: "Isn't this still up to the Duke's intentions? If the Duke also wants you to move, once he speaks out, all face will be lost, not to mention speaking first oneself."

  Ru Yi then pursed her lips tightly and didn't speak for a while before saying: "Then what did you mean by 'grandfather'?"

  Before Cuiwen could speak, a clear voice came from the courtyard, and Cuiwen stood up straight and looked around: "It's Nalan Mingyue." As soon as she spoke, the maid lifted the curtain, and Nalan Mingyue walked in while laughing and talking: "Has my sister gotten up? Can I come in?"

  The words fell and people also walked in.

  "What wind blew you here?"

  Nalan Mingyue smiled and took a look around: "Isn't it said that Furen is coming back? Come and see how the main house is cleaned up. Furen's daily life is meticulous, not allowing any sloppiness. Furen has traveled thousands of miles to come back, can't let Furen be unhappy!"

  The corners of Ruyi's mouth curled up with a few strands of smile: "You are really respectful to Fugui."

  "Some things you just don't know."

  This remark didn't sound very pleasant to hear, as if I had always been an outsider of this household from the beginning.

  Nalan Mingyue, however, did not intend to stay for long and got up again. As she was about to leave, she left a message: "The mistress has always liked quietness and doesn't like outsiders living in the courtyard. You should either move out early or wait until the mistress returns and opens her mouth to call you out, which would be embarrassing for both of us, and others might say that the elder sister is bullying the younger sister, which wouldn't sound good!"

  It's really funny, when did Nalan Mingyue start considering others? Obviously, she just said something to make her uncomfortable. Both of them want her to move, and now she's moving, isn't that making a fool of herself?!

  In the evening, Yongzheng went to Jinxiu Garden and had dinner with Li Shi, Song Shi, and several children. He also checked a few sentences of San A Ge's homework before returning to the front yard. Ruyi stood at the door of Yanxiangyuan and saw him, quickly following up: "Master won't go to my courtyard to sit for a while?"

  Ru Yi had no children, and Yongzheng rarely went to Ru Yi's house.

  The soft and hazy moonlight, the relaxed and joyful atmosphere of Quan Pei's impending return, made Yin Zhen stop in his tracks as he gazed at Ru Yi, feeling that she seemed to have added a few more touches of enchanting charm.

  Wearing thin clothes, Ruyi slightly tilted her head, with a pleading look in her eyes: "It's been a long time since you've visited my courtyard."

  "Let's go." A hint of joy flashed in Ruyi's eyes.

  The half-open window has moonlight pouring in, a full basin of peonies blooming luxuriantly, and the maid gently blowing a melodious flute, making even the air soft.

  On her resolute and angular face, there were a few more threads of gentleness, so Yu Rong's words also became bolder.

  "...since I was old enough to understand, my sister has been my role model. At that time, I always felt that I couldn't do anything as well as my sister, and everything about me was inferior to her. As I grew older, my sister got married and we didn't see each other often. When we occasionally met, I liked to listen to her talk more, hoping that one day I could learn from her..."

  This gentle and soft voice carries sorrow, envy, and helplessness, reminding Yongzheng of his feelings towards the Crown Prince, who had always been the center of attention and affection since childhood.

  "Sister is coming back, it's really great! From now on, I can be with sister for a long time! Since I entered the mansion, I haven't asked grandfather for anything, just one thing, let me live in sister's courtyard!"

  This ordinary face has a pair of eyes like water, and when approaching Yongzheng, they flash with sparkling ripples. Yongzheng stretched out his hand to grasp the thin shoulders of Ruyi, causing Ruyi's whole body to tremble.

  Just a moment ago, her eyes still held a hint of gentleness, but now they gradually cooled down, and everything hid behind the deep and dark shadows. Only endless darkness stared back at her, making her entire body stiffen up after gazing for half a moment.

  His voice was calm and collected: "You've learned to mimic your sister's gaze, but unfortunately, it's not genuine. She doesn't like people living in the courtyard, so it's only a matter of time before you move out. I'm willing to give you some face by letting you choose where you want to live, just tell others that you're moving out voluntarily. Don't think about anything else."

  Yin Zan loosened his grip and turned around to leave the house.

  The cool breeze outside blew in, causing Ruyi to shiver and fall to the ground. Although Emperor Yongzheng had already been moved by her, he suddenly became resolute again at the end, not giving her any emotional leeway. What exactly did she do wrong?!

  The horse carriage, which had been padded with several layers of bedding, was where the young master slept soundly, his initial excitement having worn off as he gradually became drowsy. Sometimes, he would also get restless and not like sitting in the carriage, so Guan Pei would take her siblings on a boat instead. In this way, they alternated between boats and carriages, stopping and starting for an entire month before finally arriving at the capital city.

  In September, Beijing gradually became cool and refreshing. The autumn was high and the air was crisp, without the heat of summer or the cold of winter, making people feel comfortable. A slightly wider celadon carriage appeared on the official road, getting closer and closer, followed by many guards and servants in front and behind, with several horse-drawn carriages carrying luggage and servants at the back. Yongzheng couldn't help but drive his horse forward to greet them. When they met, the celadon carriage stopped, and a child on the side of the horse called out loudly: "Ama!"

  Yin Zan nodded with a smile, sizing up the increasingly calm Hong Qian, and then turned his head to look at the carriage in a somewhat impatient manner. The curtain was lifted by the maid, and a shallow blue figure emerged from the carriage and stood on the carriage shaft. The wind blew her hair, causing the jade butterfly-shaped ornaments on her hair to sway slightly, as if those eyes with a smile were rippling with the flavor of autumn, still as lazy, beautiful, and luxurious as before. For a moment, Yin Zan felt that they had not experienced life and death together, nor had they been separated for a long time, but were still as loving and harmonious as before.

  He took a deep breath, and his eyes gradually welled up with joy: "Finally back!"

  Quan Pei also smiled slightly: "Yes, I'm back."

  There are many things to say, but at this moment it has become the most ordinary greeting. Yongzheng looked carefully at Quanpei's eyebrows and eyes, knowing that they were tired from their journey: "Get in the carriage quickly, go home and rest well, but where is Jiu'er?"

  “She was asleep and I didn't wake her.”

  She lifted the curtain and looked inside, only to see a child about the size of a cat snuggled up in a Western-style blanket, sleeping sweetly. She spoke softly: "Let her sleep, she's so young, she must have suffered on the road."

  He leaned in close to Quan Pei, his warm cheek right next to hers, causing his heart to flutter for a moment. The white jade-like earlobe and neck were familiar yet somewhat strange. Yin Zhen's eyes gradually deepened as he gazed at Quan Pei's faint smile. He sat up straight on the horse: "Let's go, back home!"

  The clip-clop of the horse's hooves is so carefree and lively, as if it's a heart that's flying. Passing through Dongzhimen and walking along Xiangyang Street, even the sounds from the usually bustling streets seem to have come alive. The sky is high and cloudless, the scenery is so beautiful and enticing, making one feel that life has suddenly become colorful and full of light.

  Waiting at the second gate were Ruyi, Nalan Mingyue, Wu Ruoxi, Li Shi and Song Shi. When a servant returned to report that Yongzheng had already received the person, they would be able to enter the mansion in less than half an hour, so they all became inevitably nervous. Sometimes they even forgot what it was like when the mistress was around. Now it seemed like a mythological story, unattainable. Even Nalan Mingyue and Wu Ruoxi wished that if only the mistress were here, their children might still be alive now.

  The little girl ran in: "I'm here! I'm here!"

  Then several people immediately tensed up, respectfully waiting. Ruyi's eyes narrowed slightly, she was the highest status in this mansion, but she had never seen these people so respectful and humble. Everyone became extremely cautious, as if they were about to face a major inspection.

  A tall man held a child with a round face like a jade ball in his arms, and his face was rarely gentle, with a smile in his eyes. The woman beside him did not look lowly, her light blue silver silk cloud brocade cheongsam made her look charming and shallow, her eyes were lazy and smiling from beginning to end, as if nothing could enter her eyes. The boy on the side was two heads taller than when he left, at the age of seven, he already showed a different stability, his gaze was steady and mature.

  Everyone saw Quan Pei enter and hurriedly came forward to pay their respects and ask after her well-being. Song Shi wiped away tears: "You've finally returned!"

  Nalan Mingyue and Wu Ruoxie's eyes also turned red: "You've been gone for so long, it's really worrying!"

  Li looked at Hong Qian a few more times, then lowered her head to look at four-year-old Hong Yun, pinching Hong Yun's hand tightly and taking a step slower than others: "Madam must be exhausted from the journey, let's hurry in and rest!"

  Everyone's reaction made the expressions on their faces stiffen, and Nalan Mingyue said that she "didn't know" about these situations. The people who usually showed off their sharp teeth and claws suddenly became as gentle and quiet as cats, hiding deep respect for Fugui, bowing their heads and waiting for Fugui to speak up.

  She had to go forward and support Quan Pei: "Sister is back!" As she spoke, her voice couldn't help but tremble, as if trying hard to restrain her excitement.

  Quan Pei took a look at Ruyi, although Ruyi had the status of Ce Fu Jun, but it seemed that she was not liked or valued. If she wasn't there, she would still have the power to manage the household. When she returned, Ruyi seemed to be nothing again. At that time, it was all her arrangement for Ruyi to enter the mansion as Ce Fu Jun, now it seems that she has harmed Ruyi.

  Wei Juan simply nodded slightly and took a step back, not wanting to be helped by Yu Rong. "I'm back," she replied briefly.

  Sister's return seemed to make everything in the mansion suddenly different, and the crowd that was gradually moving away didn't have anyone who would casually speak out or attack her because of her lateness. This wasn't usually the case, and she increasingly understood what Wu Ruoxi meant by "there are some things you don't know about."

  Yes, she had no idea what the situation was like in this mansion before she came, nor did she know what her sister's status was in the back house. Now it seems that she is gradually seeing some things, but her heart is also slowly sinking.

  There were still the clear and crisp voices of children talking in front: "The sisters and brothers at home are really good-looking! The aunts are also beautiful! It's completely different from Suzhou!"

  So everyone laughed and applauded...