Chapter 218 Rock Sugar Lotus Seed Porridge

Luo Yi's eyes lit up when she saw the two of them, and she ran over, lifting her skirt, saying:

"General, sisters, you're back! I've been waiting for you for ages."

"General, I specially made you some rock sugar lotus seed porridge. It's cooled down just now. Please have a bowl to quench your thirst."

After saying that, she looked at Yu Qingci and said, "Sister, you should try some too."

Yu Qingci gave her a forced smile, the romantic feelings she had felt vanishing completely.

The three of them entered the main hall one after the other to greet Madam Ning.

Looking at her two fine sons and daughters-in-law standing side by side in front of her, Madam Ning nodded with satisfaction and chuckled:

"How is your health, in-law?"

Yu Qingci: "My father, mother and grandmother are all in good health. Thank you for your concern, Mother."

Madam Ning: That's good. So many things have happened in our family this year. We are so grateful for the strong support from our in-laws. Now that Yunqi is back, you must take good care of your parents-in-law and visit them whenever you have time.

"I understand."

Lu Yun nodded in agreement, and the two tacitly avoided mentioning the unpleasant things that had happened at the General's Mansion.

"General, you must be tired after a long day. Try the porridge I made to help you relax."

As soon as the two sat down, Luo Yi stood in front of Lu Yunqi with a bowl of rock sugar lotus seed porridge in her hands. Her bright almond-shaped eyes seemed to see only the person in front of her.

Seeing that Lu Yunqi didn't take the bowl from her hand, Luo Yi couldn't help but feel a little wronged and said:

“When I used to accompany the general on his journeys, we couldn’t even get a decent bowl of porridge. I remember once you told me how delicious the old lady’s rock sugar lotus seed porridge was at home, and I remembered that.”

Back then, in order to let you have a bowl of rock sugar lotus seed porridge, I sold the only memento my mother left me, a silver hairpin, and bought ingredients to cook porridge for you. You were very touched at the time and said that you would drink my rock sugar lotus seed porridge again in the future.

Now that we're back in the manor, I want to cook porridge for you every day. I'm afraid my cooking won't be as good as the Old Madam's, so I specifically asked her for advice. But won't you even try a taste?"

After saying that, she looked at the man pitifully.

Madam Ning asked with concern, "What? You sold the only thing your mother left you to make lotus seed porridge for Yunqi? You silly child, why didn't you mention this to me before?"

Luo Yi quickly put on a smile: "It's just a small matter, not worth mentioning. I have nothing to be reluctant about for the General."

Madam Ning sighed again.

Lu Yunqi was speechless. He didn't remember such a thing happening.

Before he could figure it out, Luo Yi had already diligently picked up a small soup spoon, stirred the porridge in the bowl little by little, put it to her lips, blew on it gently, and then fed it to him.

Lu Yun stood up, leaned back, and reached out to block him: "Put it down, I'll eat it myself."

Luo Yi's aggrieved expression came on her face immediately: "General, are you disgusted with me? When it was just the two of us, I used to feed you all the time."

Unable to bear it any longer, Yu Qingci stood up expressionlessly and said to Madam Ning, "Mother, your daughter-in-law is a little tired and will take her leave now."

Madam Ning said, "Have a bowl of lotus seed porridge before you go. Yiyi really worked hard to cook this lotus seed porridge all afternoon, and it tastes really good. After you finish it, you can go back and rest with Yunqi."

Luo Yi: "Yes, sister, I originally intended to serve the general a bowl first and then serve you one too. I was not trying to neglect you. Please don't be angry with me, sister."

Yu Qingci smiled and said, "How could that be? You've been so kind to the General. I don't really like porridge, so I'll head back now."

Seeing that she did indeed look tired, Old Madam Ning waved her hand affectionately:

"Then go back and get some rest."

Yu Qingci left without looking at Lu Yunqi again.

Lu Yunqi tried to get up and leave, but his arm was grabbed by two hands, and Luo Yi's voice was sweet and soft:

"General, you haven't had your porridge yet?"

A strange sense of annoyance rose in Lu Yunqi's heart, but his good upbringing allowed him to suppress it, and he said in a cold tone:

"No need. When I was bedridden and unable to get up, I did need someone to feed me. If I trouble you again now, wouldn't I become a cripple?"

Luo Yi: "Are you afraid your sister will be angry? She didn't look at us when she left, so she probably won't mind."

Madam Ning also chimed in, "Yiyi spent the whole afternoon in the small kitchen making porridge for you. She prepared all the ingredients herself, bit by bit, without asking anyone else for help. I was really touched by her thoughtfulness. You should at least eat a bowl to show your appreciation."

Lu Yunqi simply picked up the porcelain bowl, gulped down the porridge in a few mouthfuls, put the bowl down, and said:

"Luo Yi, I will never forget the kindness you and your father have shown me. So after your father passed away, I brought you back to the capital and settled you in a proper manner. But there is a difference between men and women, and I hope you can understand the proper boundaries."

You're a young woman who will eventually get married. I'll ask my mother to help you find a good family. You can tell my mother what kind of person you want to marry.

After saying this, Luo Yi bid farewell to Madam Ning and left without looking at her anymore.

Luo Yi watched his departing figure, her eyes filled with bitterness: "Why? Why was everything alright when we were outside? But as soon as we returned to the capital, the general's attitude towards me changed. Did I do something wrong?"

When Madam Ning saw her son leave resolutely without any regard for Luo Yi, she could tell that her son truly had no feelings for Luo Yi.

Looking at the girl's infatuated expression, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

These days, Luo Yi stays by her side every day, serving her tea and water, making her laugh and relieve her boredom, and taking care of her with utmost attentiveness. Even Su Jin and the other maids jokingly say that with Miss Luo around, they have a lot more free time.

Luo Yi's feelings for her son are obvious to everyone.

Unfortunately, it seems that her son doesn't have the same feelings for Luo Yi. Otherwise, why would he have asked her to help find a husband for Luo Yi?

From Madam Ning's perspective, Yu Qingci was definitely a good daughter-in-law—virtuous, sensible, and capable. However, this didn't prevent her son from having one or two concubines serving him. After all, which wealthy and powerful family didn't have concubines? (She couldn't recall her husband ever having taken a concubine.)

Moreover, Luo Yi is deeply in love with her son, and the two have been through thick and thin together. She is also quite good-looking and has a good temperament. She is definitely much better than any unknown woman outside. Therefore, Madam Ning is happy to let Luo Yi into the family.

However, since her son wasn't interested, she couldn't force him. What would happen in the future was up to fate.

Seeing Luo Yi's sad expression, Old Madam Ning couldn't help but comfort her:

"How can you blame yourself? It's not that you did something wrong, it's that Yunqi is just not romantic. Besides, he just came back and he and Qingci are newlyweds. The two of them are deeply in love, so it's only natural that he can't think of other things for a moment. You don't need to pay attention to him."

Luo Yi muttered softly, "But the general hasn't slept with my sister yet. Could it be that their relationship isn't as harmonious as it seems?"