To save time, Yun Qingluo traveled almost day and night for the rest of the journey.
Yun Qingluo only agreed to get a good night's rest after all the food prepared for the horse had been eaten and after Yun Tao's nagging.
The group finally stopped in a small town to replenish their supplies.
Yun Tao had Qiu Shui and Qiu Yue help Yun Qingluo walk towards the inn, while she and Yun Xin carried the young prince and young lady and followed behind, with several guards following behind them.
Upon entering, Yun Tao instructed the innkeeper to prepare a room and requested that the food be delivered to the room.
Seeing that the people behind them were carrying swords, and knowing that money can make the devil turn the millstone, the innkeeper naturally and politely led them to the superior room on the third floor.
Qiu Shui and Qiu Yue were a little embarrassed. Qiu Shui took the initiative to say, "Your Highness, we can stay in the rooms downstairs. We don't need such nice rooms."
Yun Qingluo glanced at Yun Tao, who had grown up with Yun Qingluo and naturally knew what Yun Qingluo meant by that look.
“If you go down here, what if something happens and we call you but you can’t hear us? You two will stay in the room to the left of the princess, and Yun Tao and I will stay in the room to the right of the princess. The guards will stay in the two rooms opposite. That way it will be safer.”
Qiu Shui wanted to say something, but Qiu Yue stopped her. She shook her head slightly and said that they would do as the princess said.
Yun Qingluo sat on the edge of the bed, playing with the two little ones, while Yun Tao packed her luggage.
After a while.
The food hadn't arrived yet, so Yun Tao asked Yun Xin to go out and check. Qiu Shui was worried, so she went with her.
A moment later, Yunxin returned to the room with a gossipy and angry look on her face, her brows furrowed and her expression full of bitterness and resentment.
Seeing her aggrieved expression, Yun Qingluo chuckled and asked, "What's wrong? Who upset Yun Xin?"
Yun Xin snorted, then hurriedly walked to Yun Qingluo, squatted down, and said hastily, "No one bullied me, Your Highness! Guess what earth-shattering news I heard? My God, I can't believe it..."
Seeing her troubled expression, Yun Qingluo followed up by asking, "Oh? What is it that you can't believe?"
Yunxin, eager to confide in him, said with a face full of frustration and resentment, "Your Highness, the General and his wife were kind back then, only punishing the Second Miss to go to the temple to pray for Your Highness's well-being for a year. But she, utterly shameless, actually seduced the newly appointed top scholar! How dare she, how dare she..."
Yun Qingluo paused, puzzled. "Isn't she staying at the temple? How did she get to know the newly appointed top scholar?"
Yun Tao's eyes flickered for a moment, but Yun Xin didn't think much of it and said directly:
"The Princess Consort may not know, but Yun Tao told me that when the General punished the Second Miss by sending her to a temple to pray for blessings, he didn't specify which temple. This gave the Second Miss an opportunity. She cried and begged the Madam, and the Madam softened and sent her directly to Kaiguo Temple..."
As Yun Xin finished explaining, she suddenly noticed the dimming look in Yun Qingluo's eyes and subconsciously looked at Yun Tao.
Yun Tao rolled her eyes at her, her gaze filled with disappointment.
Yunxin felt a little panicked.
Oh right, she almost forgot, the Second Miss was punished because she had harmed the Princess.
Unexpectedly, the princess's biological mother was still so soft-hearted towards the second young lady.
The princess must be very sad and disappointed.
Yun Xin felt a pang of self-reproach. She stammered as she tried to comfort Yun Qingluo, "Your Highness, please don't be sad. If it weren't for the Second Miss bringing up our years of friendship, Madam wouldn't have softened her heart..."
Before she could finish speaking, Yun Qingluo interrupted her with a casual remark.
"But the Kaiguo Temple is not a place that ordinary people can live in."
When Yun Qingluo said this, her tone was very indifferent, as if she were talking about something unimportant.
But Yun Tao could hear the sound of her master's heart breaking.
It's impossible not to feel bad when your own mother helps someone who has harmed you, no matter who it is.
How could I not feel bad?
At this moment, Yun Tao suddenly felt a little resentful towards her wife, who was really too clueless.
It was just a substitute, so how come it's more valuable than the original?
However, Yun Tao would never dare to say these resentful words in front of Yun Qingluo, for fear of upsetting Yun Qingluo again.
Yun Tao put down her work, walked over, and chased Yun Xin and the others out.
Tell them to go to the kitchen, keep an eye on the princess's meals, and bring the food over.
After everyone left, Yun Tao composed herself and cleared her throat.
Walking up to Yun Qingluo, he said in a low voice, "Princess, don't be too sad. The General and his wife care about you very much. Otherwise, they wouldn't have adopted the Second Miss to ease their longing for you during the years you went to the countryside to recuperate."
Seeing that Yun Qingluo remained unmoved, Yun Tao continued to persuade her, "Your Highness, um..."
Yun Qingluo lowered her head, her expression unreadable, and her voice was as faint as a breeze, "I understand the reasoning, but, Yun Tao, why does my heart still ache?"
Yun Tao felt a pang of sadness. Her young mistress had been in poor health since childhood, but after returning to the manor, her health improved significantly. However, she was no longer as innocent and happy as she had been in her childhood.
There was always a hint of melancholy on her face, but now she has finally gotten over her troubles.
Why did it have to be this way...?
Yun Qingluo comforted Yun Tao instead, "Good Yun Tao, I'm fine. I'm just feeling a little sad for a moment. After so many years of raising them, it's normal for them to be closer to each other."
When Yun Tao heard that Yun Qingluo no longer called her mother, but preferred to use their names instead, she felt extremely sad, but she couldn't say anything.
Moreover, she didn't want to say anything good about the lady.
Fortunately, there was a knock on the door; it was Yunxin and the others who had returned.
Yun Tao turned to look at Yun Qingluo and saw that Yun Qingluo had already composed herself and was gently and affectionately coaxing the young master and young lady.
The princess seems to have become more tolerant after becoming a mother.
But Yun Tao noticed that Yun Qingluo's hand was trembling slightly. Perhaps she hadn't let go, but she understood something more important.
Yun Qingluo took the initiative to bring up the topic from earlier, "Yun Xin, you still haven't told me how they met... Oh, I forgot, the newly appointed top scholar is required to go to Kaiguo Temple to pay homage, it's a long-standing custom in our dynasty."
Yunxin put down the plate and then said angrily, "Hmph, the princess is being too tactful. When the second young lady went to beg the madam, she probably already thought of this day."
Now that top scholar is willing to die for her and refuse to marry anyone else, making our general's mansion quite famous.
Yun Qingluo took a slight breath, and a certain possibility occurred to her, causing her heart to tremble.
Who was he originally going to marry?
Yun Qingluo withdrew her hand, tucked it into her sleeve, and clenched it tightly.
I hope it's not the answer I have in my heart.
However, reality is never a beautiful dream.
Reality is harsh.
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