Favored Concubine

  The carriage's Wang Ayi smiled as she looked at Yuwen's rosy cheeks, sighing in her heart that this child was getting more and more stunning with age, especially with her calm and gentle temperament like still water, which made her stand out from the crowd.

  "How was your conversation with the Fourth Prince today?" Wang's nurse stretched out her hand to tidy up the loose hairs at her temples.

  Wan Yu glanced at Wang's sharp eyes, feeling that she seemed to know everything, and remembered Rui Cheng's words, her heart still had some anxiety, and she couldn't help but lower her head, wanting to say something but not knowing whether she should.

  "He's okay." Yuwen said reluctantly.

  The queen smiled, seeing the fourth prince's gaze following Yuwen all the way. She had a plan in her heart and comforted Yuwen by stroking her head, "Don't be afraid, silly child, I'm here, I'll always be with you."

  Wan Yu raised her head and pulled Wang's hand, her small face obviously somewhat confused. "Auntie, he knows everything, he understands. I feel like a clown."

  My heart is a bit panicked, my heart is beating very fast for no reason, I don't know if this is right or wrong. The old lady never told me how to do it, she just said that children's homes are fun, and when she was with her brother, she did the same thing. But he's not a real one, yeah, getting along will definitely have some distance, but I also want to make a very intimate appearance, often making her wonder if it's true or false?

  Everyone has feelings, these years with Rui Cheng playing together, he always takes care of himself, every time entering the palace must have rewards, openly and secretly giving himself a face, she is grateful in her heart, having feelings for Rui Cheng, but what is love? This she really doesn't understand.

  She thinks it's okay without this, after all, she has been practicing for so many years and doesn't need this. In this era of three wives and four concubines, who you marry is not important. Marrying Rui Cheng at least means marrying someone familiar, and you can still get a sense of the other person's personality, which is much better than being completely in the dark.

  These years of cultivation have slowed down for some reason, the injury has recovered by 30%, she has been practicing Tai Chi, which has the benefits of strengthening her body, balancing yin and yang, and also uses spiritual energy to refine her body, not only can make her law body strong, but also has the effect of nourishing and protecting her skin.

  As she progressed in her cultivation, her facial features and bone structure would develop to the most perfect degree, and her demeanor would far surpass that of ordinary people. This was one of the benefits of cultivating. Now it's just the beginning of practicing Qi, wanting to further recover her cultivation, still needs more effort.

  "You don't have to worry too much, you've done well before, just be yourself. He was raised in the palace, where there is no genuine innocence, and if there is, it's pretended. This might be a good thing for you, at least he has acknowledged you, and will treat you better in the future. The affection between childhood sweethearts is already much stronger than ordinary people."

  Wan Yu thought for a moment and nodded, "I understand."

  "That's right."

  The queen smiled and nodded, she would never teach Yuwen You tricks to deceive others, those were not suitable for a child, later when the child grew up and found out that they were really pure and innocent, she was even more unwilling to teach those things, as long as the lower-ranking people understood and knew what was going on, it was enough.

  Perhaps it was Yuwen's innocence and cleverness that made the Fourth Prince like her, if she became old and cunning, what would be different from the women in the palace? I'm afraid he wouldn't pay attention to Yuwen anymore.

  After returning to the Mou Rong Hou Fu, Wan Yu met with the old lady at the first time, and Li Shi also came early to wait for her, wanting to ask how things were in the palace and if she had caused any trouble.

  Wanyu told everything in detail, including Rui Cheng giving herself a set of agate headdress accessories, which arrived soon after the reward from Empress Jing, but didn't mention the whispers Rui Cheng shared with her, and all the other things were said one by one, including the emperor's praise for her painting.

  The old lady nodded in satisfaction, especially the fact that the fourth prince gave a gift to her granddaughter made her feel more at ease, it seemed that her idea had worked, and the fourth prince was also very willing to cooperate.

  The old lady's gaze at Yuwen became more loving, although they had this idea, but also need the fourth prince to be willing, did not expect that Yuwen sometimes looked a bit silly, and sometimes very clever, but for heart calculations and means were not good, at first she was also worried, did not expect the fourth prince actually liked this.

  "Good child, you must be tired too, go back and rest early, don't bother coming over for dinner, I'll have the kitchen prepare a bowl of bird's nest congee with beef milk for you. Eat it and get some rest, no need to wake up so early tomorrow to pay your respects to me." The old lady was full of concern.

  Wan Yu bowed her head and said, "Yes, thank you, Grandmother. I'll withdraw first."

  "Go on, go on." The old lady smiled and nodded.

  Madam Wang accompanied Yuwen out of the main courtyard. Today was the day for her medicinal bath, and Nurse Xu was very familiar with the herbs. Madam Wang contributed a secret recipe from the palace, specifically designed for beauty and skin care. Every few days, she would soak in it, and Yuwen had been doing this for several years now. Additionally, each time she would secretly add a few drops of spiritual spring water, making her skin as white and smooth as milk, with a rosy complexion that felt extremely good to the touch. Just having such delicate and tender skin was enough to make people envy her.

  The old lady smiled and said after Wang's departure: "It seems that we can be more at ease now." She smiled at Li.

  Li did not seem too happy and still had some worries. "This child is honest and well-behaved, I'm afraid she won't be able to cope when she enters the palace."

  Men can't understand what's going on in the household, it's still up to women themselves to deal with all the twists and turns, men just can't get it.

  The old lady wasn't worried about these things, "It's nothing, it's just because she's cautious and honest with a small temper that I dared to let her go. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come up with this idea either. If I had gotten someone reckless, who knows, the whole family might have lost their lives. You're not in charge of several maids now, how are they doing?"

  "Li bowed and said: "I've picked out one or two good ones, one named Jasmine and the other named Lily. Lily is steady and skilled in cooking and needlework, while Jasmine has a lively personality but is clever and knows some martial arts tricks. What do you think?"

  The old lady thought for a moment and nodded: "Yes, it's just the beginning, there are still several years of hard work ahead."

  Li nodded, thinking to herself that when she got back, she would have the maids beaten and told them to follow Wang's example. If they couldn't learn, they would be sent to the farm. Fortunately, there was a wet nurse named Xu who was very skilled in medicine and poison, or else it would be really worrisome.

  The reward arrived the day after Yuanyu returned. In addition to the reward from Empress Jing, there was also a painting given by the Emperor himself, which was painted by a famous artist who specialized in flowers and plants. It's probably meant for Yuanyu to learn from, since her last peony painting wasn't very good.

  After the eunuch in the palace left, Wang said with some red eyes: "Oh, this is a complete set of agate jewelry, it's not cheap."

  Looking at the dazzling jewelry, Yuwen stood beside Li's family, one step back, slightly lowering her head and not speaking.

  The old lady came back to her senses and glanced at Wang Shi, "Alright, let's all go back."

  Wang didn't say anything either and led his two daughters away.

  Wan Yu followed Mrs. Li back into the house, poured her a cup of hot tea, and then said: "Mother, I was thinking that there are many pieces of jewelry rewarded in the palace, would it be okay if I chose a few to give to my sisters?"

  "Alright, let's just forget it for today. In three days, your dad and sister will be back, we can send them together then. Let them choose where to go themselves, so there won't be any more arguments."

  Wan Yu thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

  "Is Grandpa leaving again this time? I miss Grandpa." Yuanyu tilted her head, thinking of Murong's old grandpa, and indeed felt a little nostalgic.

  At this time, Qi Ge rushed in hastily, "Mother, Father is back, let's hurry to the door to welcome him, he's almost here..."

  He shouted loudly in a hurry.

  "Isn't it supposed to arrive in two days?" Mr. Li asked in surprise.

  "I don't know what's going on, anyway, Guan Jia came back and reported that he will be here soon." Qi Ge reached out to support Li Shi.

  "Hurry up, or your father will see that we're not here and get angry." Mrs. Li adjusted her collar and walked towards the main gate with the support of her son.

  "Has your elder brother returned?" Li asked Qi Ge.

  "I'm back, I'll go to the front first to welcome my father, and then come back to report to you." Qi Ge is now living in the outer courtyard, he doesn't often run to the backyard, he has to study, practice martial arts, learn the six arts of a gentleman, and is very busy.

  What made Wan Yu very jealous was that her two elder brothers were extremely good at learning martial arts, and they learned much faster than she did. Qi Ge was now already a head taller than her, and had grown into a half-grown young man.

  Wang and others heard that Lord Hou had returned, so they naturally came out together to welcome him.

  Everyone was waiting at the gate, and a carriage and two guards on horseback came galloping over. Yuwen smiled and pointed: "Mother, isn't that my father?"

  A beautiful and elegant woman, leading a half-grown girl, also dressed in brocade and satin, walked up to Li's side, curtsied and paid her respects, "Greetings, madam. Yunshu, this is your mother."

  The little girl had rosy lips and white teeth, looking like she was a year younger than Yuwen. She wore a pink embroidered jacket with orchids, and a pearl flower on her head, curiously sizing up Yuwen and Li Shi.

  Yun Shu pays respects to her mother.

  "Alright, get up." Li's face was stern and calm, didn't make things difficult, just called out.

  "Dad, you're finally back! I've missed you so much. Do you miss your daughter?" Yuanyu saw Murong Jin and exclaimed with joy, rushing over to him.

  Murong Jin jumped off his horse and scooped up Wanyu, patting her head as he scolded, "You're still so reckless, shouting and yelling like that. Have you seen your sister?"

  Wan Yu pulled at Murong Jin's sleeve and wouldn't let go, "I'm not anxious to see Father, why did you guys come back ahead of schedule?"

  "I hurried on the road, the emperor asked me to come back and there's still something to do, so I quickened my pace." Murong Jin looked at his daughter who also had a smile on her face.

  Lin Yiniang saw Murong Jin and Wanyu being so intimate, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, she gently pulled Yunshu, gave a glance, Yunshu nodded slightly, walked forward with a lovely smile.

  Yun Shu has seen her elder sister. Yun Shu took a step forward and paid respects to Wan Yu.

  Wan Yu's smile remained unchanged, but in her heart, she didn't have a very good impression of this younger sister. Earlier, she ignored me, and now that she sees Father, she hastily comes to pay respects, how cunning.

  "Sister, get up quickly, we're all family, no need for formalities. Let's hurry in, you must be tired from traveling all day. The house has been tidied up, Father is resting, and as soon as Mother heard you were back, she had someone prepare everything." Yuwen smiled sweetly.