Chapter 17 Don’t Call Me Mother
“Prime Minister.”
She took out a white camellia from her sleeve pouch. It had just been picked from the back garden of Warm Fragrance Garden that morning, and there were still residual dewdrops on it.
“Does Your Excellency Prime Minister still remember the words Qingyu left in your ear the night before you left the capital?”
Wen Jingshu opened the valve of distant memories and recalled that night.
He had said he would never betray her.
She had said that if he were to be harmed by treacherous people, she would......marry her deceased husband again in white, praying for a marital bond in the next life.
Mu Qingyu saw the emotions churning in his eyes, her gaze peaceful. Slowly, she inserted the white camellia into her bun, and a self-mocking smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
“Today, Qingyu will enter the mansion in white, marrying the undead (a living man, but treated as if he were dead to her).”
Wen Jinli was incredulous and shouted loudly at Mu Qingyu, “Mother!”
“Qingyu is merely a countrywoman from the wilderness. I cannot bear the call of ‘Fourth Young Master of the Prime Minister’s Estate.’ In the future, please do not call me that again.”
Having been a bedside companion for several years, Wen Jingshu understood the meaning in Mu Qingyu’s words.
He remained silent for a long while, then glanced coldly at the butler waiting by his side.
A large crowd of common people had gathered at the entrance of the Prime Minister’s Estate, all watching the nannies and maids, as well as the butlers and attendants inside the mansion, busily arranging red silks and lanterns.
Once everything was prepared properly.
Mu Qingyu then took her daughter’s hand and steadfastly stepped into the Prime Minister’s Estate, one step at a time.
This......
The home where her husband had lived with another woman and children for over a decade.
The moment Mu Qingyu emerged from the sedan chair, dressed in white and wearing a white flower, the surroundings became exceptionally quiet.
Wen Xueling wore a smoke-gray silk dress, matching Mu Qingyu’s simple elegance.
The common people were amazed by the mother and daughter’s beauty and demeanor. It was a long while after they entered the mansion before they regained their senses.
Wen Jin’an saw the expressions of her father and brother. The handkerchief in her hand was twisted out of shape. She quickly ran back to inform her mother.
Upon entering the mansion.
Wen Xueling and her mother were settled in a decent courtyard.
However, the courtyard’s name had a poor connotation.
Folding Willow Courtyard.
“Mother, your body has just recovered. Please go back to the room and lie down for a bit.”
Wen Xueling helped Mu Qingyu into the room to rest, her mind solely on her mother’s health, fearing that something else might happen.
“Ling’er, in this life, Mother will live well and not let anyone bully you.”
Mu Qingyu’s eyes were firm. No one could bully her daughter! Her youngest son had gone bad, so she no longer wanted him.
Fortunately, she still had three other sons......
Learning from the previous incident at Fangfei Courtyard, Wen Xueling brought her own people this time.
Tangchun and Tangxia were a pair of twin sisters, whom she had personally bought from the black market as maids. They knew a little bit of martial arts.
Besides the twin sisters, she also brought Nanny Su, who had been serving Mu Qingyu attentively at Warm Fragrance Garden.
Leaving them by her mother’s side allowed Wen Xueling to feel at ease when she went out.
Wen Jingshu didn’t even have time to see Xie Siyu before he was summoned into the palace by the Emperor with lightning speed.
Soon, she found out what major trouble her scumbag father was in.
The list she had given to Liang Jue earlier had taken effect.
Her scumbag father had been in the capital for over a decade, and was considered mortal enemies with Liang Jue, having uprooted many forces from the General-of-Pacifying-the-Nation’s Estate.
This time, with Wen Xueling’s push and influence, Liang Jue showed no mercy whatsoever.
Not only did she make her scumbag father’s decade-long schemes amount to nothing, she also set a trap for him, making him unable to return from the palace for a long time.
Time flew, and it was lunchtime.
Wen Xueling waited for a long time but didn’t see any attendants from the Prime Minister’s Estate bringing meals. She sent Tangxia to the kitchen to check.
“Miss, they were too much! They said it was already past the mansion’s lunchtime, and there was no food left. They also claimed they didn’t know anyone was living in Folding Willow Courtyard, which is why they didn’t send any meals.”
So many people entered the mansion in such a grand procession, anyone with ears would know.
This was clearly Xie Siyu giving them a show of dismounting intimidation.
But would she be afraid?
“Nanny Su, you stay and take care of Mother. Tangchun, go to Jinyu Tower and buy lunch.”
Tangxia asked curiously, “Miss, what about me?”
Wen Xueling’s cold eyes were devoid of warmth. She curled her lips, “You come with me.”
Half a stick of incense later.
A raging fire engulfed the Prime Minister’s Estate’s kitchen. Black smoke billowed into the sky, attracting the attention of everyone inside and outside the mansion.
“Quick! Put out the fire!”
Wen Xueling stood indifferently at the kitchen entrance.
“What’s going on?!” Wen Jinli’s angry voice came.
He had finally finished comforting An’an and promised his mother that he would definitely not let Wen Xueling leave the courtyard and cause trouble. Yet, within the time it takes for a few sticks of incense to burn, she had burned down the Prime Minister’s Estate’s kitchen.
The fire was too large, there was simply no time to extinguish it.
“Wen Xueling, when can you be as trouble-free as An’an?!”
“Ever since you appeared, there hasn’t been a single good thing. You just have to stir up chaos in this family to be happy!”
“Why do you always fail to learn An’an’s obedience......”
Her gaze, fixed on him, was like the cold wind of a winter night, devoid of any warmth. The icy stare made Wen Jinli stop speaking.
“Forget it. Your life is too lowly. You’ll never be as good as An’an. Why force it?”
Wen Jinli ordered someone to go to the smaller kitchens in other courtyards to prepare lunch for Wen Xueling and them.
After speaking, he turned and hurriedly left.
Even with his instructions, the lunch eventually delivered was just plain porridge and simple side dishes. The vegetable leaves looked unfresh, and the rice soup had a sour smell.
Tangxia, following Wen Xueling’s instructions, fed it to the guard dogs.
Among the three of them, Tangchun had the best light-body martial arts, so going to Jinyu Tower and returning didn’t take too long.
Mu Qingyu also knew about the kitchen incident. When her youngest son came again to persuade her, she coldly swept him out the door.
Xie Siyu had not yet made an appearance in this life, but Wen Xueling knew she would never let the matter rest.
Before she could make a move, she had to seize the initiative.
However, plans rarely go as expected.
Wen Xueling had not yet figured out a foolproof plan to deal with Xie Siyu when an uninvited guest arrived at their courtyard.
0 Comments