Chapter 399 Mother-in-law
When Yu Sui returned to her bedroom, she found that the flowers in the yard were in full bloom. Clusters of white jasmine, with their delicate fragrance, were surrounded by emerald green leaves, small and lovely.
The leaves that fell to the ground after the wind blew last night were swept up this morning.
The familiar atmosphere and layout made Yu Sui feel as if she had never left this place at all.
She turned to the mute woman following behind her and asked, "Do you clean every day?"
The mute woman responded with hand gestures: "Yes."
Yu Sui walked to the flower bushes, bent down to smell them, and gently plucked a few clusters before going inside. She saw that the vase on the table already contained fresh flowers.
So she casually placed the flowers next to the vase and went into the inner room. The mute woman followed her without warning. Seeing that she was going to change clothes, she opened the wardrobe door, drew the curtain, and listened to the girl complaining in a low voice, "I've been at sea for a few days, and I feel like I smell like salted fish. Can you smell me?"
She casually and naturally held the cloth to the mute woman's nose, tugging at her sleeve. The mute woman smelled it, then shook her head, indicating that it was clean.
"No?" Yu Sui asked incredulously.
The mute woman selected two outfits and asked her what they were. Yu Sui pointed to the one on the left: "I want this one."
The mute woman said, "It's too small."
Yu Sui stared at her incredulously: "Are you saying I've gained weight?"
The mute woman picked up the clothes and held them against her shoulder, but there was no response.
“Impossible!” Yu Sui said, “I’m working hard every day in Taiyi, and I haven’t been eating three meals a day on time. How could I have gained weight?”
The mute woman asked her, "Do you like the food at Taiyi?"
"It's delicious, but I don't have time," Yu Sui muttered. "I'm too busy."
The mute woman's gaze swept over her slender shoulders and back, and she frowned, saying, "It's not that you've gained weight, it's that the princess has grown up, and these old clothes no longer fit."
Yu Sui smiled, her eyes crinkling, and walked towards the bathtub, her tone light: "You're still the best at coaxing me."
The water in the bath was a bit too cold because Yu Sui always said the water was too hot and she preferred it to be cooler. From then on, whenever the mute woman tested the water temperature for her, it would always be a bit cooler.
The mute woman remembered all of Yu Sui's daily habits, but never told anyone. After all, even the prince and his wife, who should have known the child's habits best, never asked about them.
The water in the bath was cold, causing Yu Sui to shiver as soon as she entered the water.
She was soaking in the water when she turned around and leaned over the edge of the pool, asking the mute woman, "Grandma, do you also know that my sister was raised outside the home since she was a child?"
The mute woman shook her head.
She knew, but she didn't want to say it and hurt the girl's feelings.
Yu Sui blinked.
She also knew that the mute woman knew that there were very few people in the Prince's mansion whom Madam Su could confide in, and the mute woman was one of them.
Yu Sui finally found the right moment to ask, but the mute woman lied to her.
For the past eighteen years, the person who has been with Yu Sui the longest is the mute woman in front of him with a face full of wrinkles and a hunched back.
At the summit of Mount Luo, only the mute woman visited Yu Sui every day. After returning to the Prince's mansion, she was also responsible for taking care of Yu Sui's daily life. When the little girl was punished by kneeling, her knees ached and blistered, and her calves were swollen and weak. It was the mute woman who lit a lamp in the middle of the night to apply medicine and massage her.
Children inevitably stumble and bump when walking outside. In Yu Sui's memory, every time she fell, the first person to come to her side and help her up was always a mute woman.
Yu Sui liked the mute woman, but the mute woman seemed to only follow orders and take care of her as if she were a princess of the royal palace.
Although Yu Sui was somewhat disappointed, it did not stop her from treating the mute woman as a familiar elder.
But people are possessive; they feel jealousy, fear, and dislike having to share things that belong to them with others.
Yu Sui wanted to ask the mute woman, "Do you take care of Qing Kui in the same way?"
Did you know about Qingkui's existence all these years, and did you worry about her and pray for her?
Now that Qingkui is back, do you, like Suxing, genuinely love and care for another child?
"I've heard that my elder sister is very capable, a master of both medicine and medicine, and is even rumored to be a 'Little Medical Sage' in Qingyang." Yu Sui changed the subject and asked, "Is she really that capable?"
The mute woman said, "The young lady is already a tenth-level sorcerer."
"Wow, that's amazing," Yu Sui said lazily. "How well does she use her hands? Did a mechanical engineer help her create them?"
The mute woman nodded: "The young lady is using it very naturally now."
Yu Sui disliked Qing Kui acting as if nothing had happened.
Qingkui caused Zhongli Que to lose the ability to lift heavy objects, so how come she, with only one hand missing, lives a better life than someone who hasn't lost a hand?
Yu Sui angrily sank into the water.
The mute woman looked at the shimmering water on the pool's surface and assumed that the young girl was dissatisfied with her elder sister's higher level of cultivation.
When Yu Sui emerged from the water, the mute woman said to her, "The princess has become very powerful now."
"Mother-in-law, are you praising me?"
The girl looked up, her face covered in water.
The mute woman lowered her head in agreement.
Yu Sui rarely gains a sense of accomplishment and pleasure from praise from others. There are not many people who will praise her, and she can only hear a couple of compliments throughout the year.
This was the first time in her life that the mute woman had praised her so openly.
Yu Sui found this feeling wonderful and made her so happy.
Her eyes crinkled with laughter, all the anger and disgust she had felt towards others vanished.
...
The water in the bath was too cold, so Yu Sui had the mute woman leave to rest before secretly using the Five Elements Qi to raise the water temperature.
She played with the Wind Listening Ruler and discovered that the Golden Armor Army had led a team to Zhongli's house to capture the Taiyi wanted criminal.
Gu Jun led the Golden Armor Army to General Zhongli's mansion, but as before, they were stopped at the gate. However, this time, the one blocking the door was the eldest son of the general's mansion, who had only been home for a few days.
This was the first time he had met Zhonglishan.
The young man who returned from Taiyi Academy quickly lost the relaxed and peaceful demeanor he had at the academy, and when facing the Golden Armor Army, he exuded a somewhat arrogant and oppressive aura.
"Young Master, this is Gu Jun, the newly promoted captain of the Golden Armor Army." The steward beside him introduced Gu Jun's identity to Zhong Lishan in a low voice, and also explained that it was this Captain Gu who found the young lady when Zhong Lique was in trouble outside the city last time.
Zhong Lishan's expression was indifferent, and it was impossible to tell what his attitude was towards Gu Jun. However, after Gu Jun explained his purpose, he calmly explained, "The wanted criminals of Taiyi are not in the General's Mansion. My father already spoke with the Criminal Investigation Department last time."
Gu Jun remained calm, appearing to be handling matters impartially: "His Majesty's decree states that if the person is no longer at the residence, the General's Mansion is requested to assist in the arrest."
As soon as he finished speaking, his deputy stepped forward and said loudly, "Young Master Zhongli, we have just checked and found that a military doctor was missing from the team on the day you returned to the city, and he has not been seen returning to the team at Bingjia Chongtai to this day."
"He was taken hostage by those two and has disappeared without a trace. The military strategist is also searching for him," Zhong Lishan replied indifferently. "Since it's His Majesty's decree, I'll immediately lead men..."
"elder brother!"
The girl's voice made Zhonglishan turn around and see his father and sister walking towards him.
Zhong Li Ci had already appeared, and the golden-armored soldiers waiting at the door all lowered their heads and bowed in salute. Gu Jun, who was standing at the front, lowered his eyes, appearing neither humble nor arrogant.
"You will lead your men to accompany the Golden Armor Army. Since it is His Majesty's decree, you will assist them." Zhong Li Ci walked steadily and spoke calmly, not even glancing at the group of young people at the door, and walked straight past the Golden Armor Army.
“I am going to the palace to see His Majesty,” he said.
After watching his father board the carriage to enter the palace, Zhongli Shan looked back at Zhongli Que beside him and asked in a low voice, "Why did you come out?"
Zhong Lique waved to him, signaling him to go to the back to talk.
"Brother, I heard that Sui Sui is coming back too," Zhong Li Que whispered to Zhong Li Shan. "Has something happened to her?"
Zhonglishan listened in silence.
"You should worry more about yourself." Zhong Lishan reached out and ruffled her hair. "I need to go out for a bit..."
Before he could finish speaking, he looked up and saw Wen Yangxiu hiding behind the artificial hill, acting suspiciously. Wen Yangxiu was gesturing at him, seemingly trying to say something.
"Keep an eye on Wen Yangxiu, don't let him leave first," Zhong Lishan said.
Zhong Lique looked up, not saying a word, just gazing at him pitifully.
Zhong Lishan remained silent for a moment, then said helplessly, "If you agree to my request, I will help you find out about Nangong Sui."
“Okay!” Zhong Lique nodded seriously. “I definitely won’t let him leave!”
Zhong Lishan couldn't help but smile as he watched his sister suddenly become full of energy. However, his sister tugged at his sleeve and said in a lower voice, "Brother, just listen to Father and only assist. Even if we find the person, don't take action."
"What's wrong?" Zhong Lishan asked.
Zhong Lique shook his head, his gaze hesitant, and said, "I know they are your friends... but... but you shouldn't make a move."
She foresaw that something bad would happen; if her brother intervened, he might get hurt, and Gu Jun... would definitely get hurt.
Although he didn't know why his sister said that, Zhong Lishan saw her troubled expression and didn't ask any further questions, only nodding.
As Zhong Lishan was about to leave, he caught a glimpse of Gu Jun waiting outside the door and asked, "Was it that kid who saved you last time?"
Zhong Lique followed his brother's gaze and saw the young man's silent and indifferent figure reflected in his dark eyes.
“I have already thanked Captain Gu,” she said softly.
Zhong Lishan saw that she didn't show much emotion, so he nodded and turned to leave.
Zhong Lique stood at the back, watching her brother lead his men forward to talk to Gu Jun, and then the two groups left together.
The young, golden-armored army commander did not glance at the young lady from the general's mansion as he left.
Zhong Lique waved to her brother, but her gaze lingered on Gu Jun, a hint of hesitation in her eyes.
She saw it.
Gu Junhui was injured during the arrest, but she had no right or means to inform the other party of this absurd prophecy.
...
The Golden Armor Army and the Military Academy cooperated to capture the wanted criminal from the Taiyi Academy. Before going to General Zhongli's mansion, Gu Jun already knew what had happened and even sent people to investigate the whereabouts of the Azure Dragon Army in advance.
Gu Jun finally concluded that Shi Yuezhen was not in the capital city of Qingyang, but had gone to hide elsewhere with the army doctor before entering the city.
Given her status, entering the heavily guarded capital, where a sage resides, would be even more dangerous; getting in would be easy, but getting out would be difficult. Zhongli Ci could also foresee that taking on this trouble for her son would definitely attract His Majesty's attention.
Zhong Lishan led the Azure Dragon Army behind Gu Jun, observing his command abilities while inquiring about Nangong Sui's whereabouts.
This morning, Princess Nangong returned to the Prince's Mansion. Although she took the official road, the news still spread quickly throughout the entire capital.
When Gu Jun said he was going to search outside the city, Zhong Lishan did not object and calmly followed the group.
It wasn't until he left the city that he saw a familiar figure among the crowds on both sides of the street.
The young man wearing a black trench coat with a hood stood in the crowd and looked up at Young Master Zhongli on horseback. His eyes, usually gentle and smiling, were now as still as a deep pool.
Autumn geese?
When did he arrive in Qingyang?
While Zhong Lishan was stunned, the young man in the black trench coat quickly disappeared into the crowd.
Nian Qiuyan mingled into the bustling crowd and headed towards a quieter alley. The number of people around him dwindled, and the silence grew, until he entered a dimly lit dead end. Behind him, he heard a woman's sweet, coquettish laughter.
"Nian Qiuyan, you came back without saying a word, and you didn't even go to see Miss first. What are you hiding from?"
A golden light flashed across the wall of the dead end, and a golden serpent appeared from within the wall, raising its head to stare at the young man standing below.
Nian Qiuyan turned around and looked back. Behind her, at the alley entrance, stood three or five figures backlit by the light.
The woman in crimson standing at the front had a beautiful face and her ten fingers were painted with bright red nail polish. Wei Lingshu looked at Nian Qiuyan with a half-smile, her eyes filled with a deep meaning.
Standing to her left was Geng Hanfu, still dressed in a white long gown, looking calm and gentle.
"Hey." Yuan Xi, standing to Wei Lingshu's right, raised his hand to greet Nian Qiuyan and said with a smile, "Good brother, don't blame me for not warning you, you're in a bit of a predicament right now."
Nian Qiuyan put the Listening Wind Ruler back into her sleeve, her gaze passing over the group and landing on the two at the very back.
The street is surrounded by too many trees, and the ancient trees have grown so tall that they are almost taller than the houses, thus blocking out the sunlight and casting shadows everywhere.
A man and a woman standing on the tree-lined path wore plain black and white masks, respectively, obscuring their facial features, yet you could feel their gaze fixed on you through the masks.
Nian Qiuyan's gaze fell on the woman with a white face and black clothes, her palms slightly sweaty.
The woman lifted her mask, revealing half of her fair face. Her crescent-shaped eyes looked very sweet, but there was no hint of a smile in her dark pupils: "Qiuyan, you'd better answer the next question carefully. I don't want you to die by my hand either."
...
Yu Sui received a message from Nian Qiuyan. He had been found by Xuan Kui's men and was unable to meet Shi Yuezhen and Cang Shu, who were still outside the city. With the Golden Armor Army mobilized, Gu Jun would definitely find them, so he wanted to ask her for help.
Chu Jin was a member of the Qingyang bandits. She sent many people to Taiyi, but she left even more people in Qingyang.
The entire Qingyang region is so vast, and Xuan Kui's main business base isn't even in the capital. Besides Qingyang, Xuan Kui organizations are distributed across several other countries, and they have too many people. To eliminate them all in a short time would be impossible unless they actually burned the entire world with a strange fire.
Nian Qiuyan is currently being watched by Qingyang Xuankui's people, so he definitely wouldn't dare to make any rash moves. It's possible that Qingkui's side is already suspecting him.
After thinking for a moment, Yu Sui sent a telepathic message to Gongsun Qi, who had already arrived in Qingyang.
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