Chapter 270 The Grand Finale

So even though he was the heir of the Earl's Mansion, Yu Qingbai had been living with his teacher in a simple courtyard in Jiyun Mountain for the past few years, focusing on his studies. He also enjoyed traveling in his spare time.

The Nanping Earl's family produced a young prodigy, and as his father, the Nanping Earl was naturally proud. When he was out socializing, he was often surrounded by envious and jealous glances from his colleagues, which made him extremely proud.

But every time he happily praised his youngest son, he would turn around and start having a headache over his eldest son, Yu Qingyun.

Since Qiao was divorced, Yu Qingyun seemed to have lost his soul and had no interest in anything. Later, he even stopped going to the Imperial Academy. The Earl of Nanping was so angry that he resorted to family discipline, but it was no use.

Yu Qingyun declared he would never study again, leaving the Earl of Nanping with no choice but to find him another way out. However, Yu Qingyun had grown up in luxury and had never suffered hardship. Now, he was neither good at literature nor martial arts, so finding a suitable way out was not easy.

After much deliberation, he finally asked someone to send him to the Imperial Guard.

The main duty of the Jinwuwei was to guard the imperial city of Beijing. Most of those who could enter the Jinwuwei were scions of noble families in Beijing who were neither high-achieving nor low-achieving, and who had no real skills. Their families did not expect them to be ambitious, but rather wanted a respectable job so they could build connections inside and outside the palace.

Many scions of noble families joined the Imperial Guard simply to secure a position to appease their families. However, the Imperial Guard was, after all, an official institution responsible for guarding the capital and the imperial city. As long as one performed their duties diligently, there was a chance to be promoted to Imperial Bodyguard.

Although only a very small number of people have been promoted over the years.

With such lofty ambitions, Yu Jingsheng threw his son into the abyss.

Unable to defy his father, Yu Qingyun reluctantly joined the Imperial Guard, where he performed his duties daily. Over time, he quickly became acquainted with the sons of noble families who were unambitious and only sought a peaceful life.

Yu Qingyan's life in the Cheng'an Prince's Mansion was almost never smooth. Several years passed without her having any offspring, which greatly displeased Consort Min, who was eager to have a grandson.

Yu Qingyan had actually been pregnant twice, but unfortunately, she lost both pregnancies.

She didn't know she was pregnant with her first child. It was too hard to follow the rules in front of Consort Min, and she miscarried without noticing. Consort Min angrily accused her of being useless and not even knowing she was pregnant. Yu Qingyan felt wronged and had nowhere to complain.

When Consort Min became pregnant with her second child, she took great care of her. Not only did she exempt her from the rules, but she also specially sent an experienced nanny to take care of her personally. Not to mention, she received a constant stream of carefully selected and expensive tonics, hoping that she could give birth to a legitimate son smoothly.

Unexpectedly, when Yu Qingci was five months pregnant, she fell while vying for the emperor's favor with a concubine, and the fetus was lost. Because of the late stage of pregnancy, she was injured during the miscarriage and never got pregnant again.

Consort Min was furious about this and severely punished Yu Qingyan.

Yu Qingyan could only go back to her maternal home to cry to her grandmother, Zhang Shi. Zhang Shi suggested that she send her illegitimate granddaughter, Yu Lian, into the Prince's mansion. Soon, under Yu Qingyan's arrangement, Yu Lian climbed into her brother-in-law's bed and became one of the many concubines in her brother-in-law Li Chen's harem.

A year later, Yu Lian became pregnant and gave birth to a boy. Unfortunately, she was not destined to enjoy her life and died from postpartum hemorrhage.

Yu Qingyan felt sorry for her younger sister who died young during childbirth, so she offered to adopt her sister's child.

Her husband, Li Chen, was never interested in her and often stayed out all night. Under the dual pressure of her husband and mother-in-law, Yu Qingyan's personality gradually became distorted, and she secretly started an affair with one of Consort Min's nephews.

Unfortunately, their happiness was short-lived. One day, the two were caught having a secret rendezvous in the rockery of the back garden by one of Li Chen's concubines. The concubine was also cunning and secretly kept an eye on them. When the two met again, she led a group of people to catch them red-handed.

Consort Min was furious and ordered the two to be tied up and given a beating according to family discipline. However, considering that family scandals should not be aired in public and that Yu Qingyan was the legitimate daughter of the Earl's family and could not be punished easily, Consort Min could only lock them up for the time being, thinking that she would discuss it with both sets of parents later.

That night, Yu Qingyan's personal nanny secretly released the two of them. Yu Qingci simply packed some of her dowry and eloped with the man overnight, never to be heard from again.

After the incident, Consort Min secretly sent a letter to the Earl of Nanping. The Earl of Nanping was furious, as if he had been cuckolded. However, for the sake of both families' reputation, he had to clean up the mess for his daughter and sign a divorce agreement with Li Chen on her behalf. From then on, they would have no further connection in marriage.

The Bo family announced that they had sent their daughter back to her hometown, but soon after, news came that she had passed away. From then on, they pretended that Yu Qingyan was no longer their daughter.

The youngest daughter, Yu Qingying, married a scholar from a poor family, personally chosen by the Earl of Nanping. The scholar went to the capital to take the imperial examination and passed the exam, becoming a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). The Earl of Nanping then arranged for his son-in-law, whom he had found after the exam, to be a seventh-rank county magistrate. After the marriage, the Earl sent the young couple away from the capital to take up their posts.

Yu Qingying was spoiled and arrogant since childhood, but after Qiao was divorced and suddenly lost her mother's protection, Yu Qingying seemed to have become much more enlightened overnight. She became quiet and stayed quietly in the inner courtyard every day, respectfully paying her respects and serving tea to Su Chengniang and Zhang Shi.

After the Earl of Nanping chose a husband for her, he had a long talk with her. No one knows what they talked about, but in the end, Yu Qingying cried her eyes out and agreed to the marriage.

Su Chengniang did not make things difficult for her regarding her dowry. In addition to preparing the amount stipulated by the government, she allowed her to take all the things that Qiao Shi had left for her. Furthermore, Zhang Shi also added some items. In the end, although Yu Qingying's dowry could not be described as a grand wedding procession, it was still considered generous among the legitimate daughters of aristocratic families.

It all depends on whether she can protect her dowry in the future.

When Lu Yunqi returned from the camp in the suburbs, Yu Qingci greeted him and said, "My husband is back. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Yu'er and I are waiting for you to go to Songbai Hall together."

Lu Yunqi looked somewhat travel-worn, but his eyes were bright, indicating that he was in a good mood.

He reached out and naturally put his arm around Yu Qingci's shoulder, and said gently, "Where's Yu'er? Was she naughty again today?"

"He's doing well today. He just finished practicing calligraphy, and Mulan took him to wash his hands. He'll be back in a bit."

Yu Qingci answered with a smile, her gaze falling on her husband's tall figure. Five years of tempering in the fires of war on the border had added a sense of composure and sharpness to his brows. Only when he looked at her and their son would that deep feeling turn into warmth.

As the two were talking, a small figure pounced on them like a cannonball, calling out in a clear voice:

"Father!"

Lu Yunqi picked up the little cannonball and lifted him high, making Lu Yu laugh heartily.

"Have you finished practicing your characters for today?"

Lu Yunqi gently put his son down and pinched his chubby little face.

"I'm done practicing! My mom even praised me!"

Little Lu Yu puffed out his chest, looking proud, then, remembering something, added earnestly:

"Father, teach Yu'er martial arts. Yu'er wants to be a great general in the future, just like Father, fighting on the battlefield!"

Lu Yunqi laughed loudly and ruffled his son's hair:

"Good lad, you have ambition! Starting tomorrow, your father will begin teaching you horse stance."

"real?"

Lu Yu's eyes instantly shone like stars.

"Of course it's true. Get up at 5 a.m. tomorrow, and don't be lazy."

"Yes, General!"

Lu Yu, acting like a little adult, made a promise.

Lu Yunqi, satisfied, held his son's hand in one hand and his wife's hand in the other, and said softly:

"Let's go, don't keep Mother waiting."

The family of three walked into Madam Ning's courtyard.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the exquisite pavilions and towers of the Marquis's mansion in a warm golden light, leaving behind a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

(End of article)

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