Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 484 - 475: Turning Fast

Chapter 484: Chapter 475: Turning Fast

The image of the little one kept appearing in Chen Afu’s eyes, making her bury her face in her hands and cry. As she cried, she saw Jin Yanzi, the golden swallow, crying too with a little open beak, complaining, "I don’t want to leave stinky Dabao, life without him is so boring..."

Outside the door, Mrs. Li’s voice rang out, "Madam, the water’s getting cold, don’t catch a chill."

Wiping her tears, Chen Afu calmed her emotions. Her life must go on...

She then contemplated it from another perspective, she should be happy for Dabao. Although he had suffered a great deal in the countryside, he had survived. Moreover, it had helped him develop many good qualities and habits.

Going back to the palace at this time, with his biological elder brother being crowned as the crown prince and his birth mother being named the Virtuous Consort, and with the Queen Wang preoccupied and the Second Prince away in the Southern Province, no one should dare to harm him. Once he is granted a title, he will live a life of extreme wealth without lifting a finger.

Having experienced hardships in the past, he would better understand the sufferings of the common people and cherish his current happiness. Hopefully, when he grows up, he can advise the crown prince to do more good deeds for the people.

As for his fate as her son, it would span just those few years. She would keep her motherly affection hidden in her heart and silently bless him.

If the Virtuous Consort is generous, she can visit Shiyi more often in the future. But if the Virtuous Consort is petty, it would be prudent to maintain some distance.

However, she, Little Miss Chu, the two little brothers, they all still had to get used to life without Dabao. Of course, as well as Mrs. Wang, Chen Ming, and Alu in Dingzhou.

At the same time, Shiyi would have to get used to life without them. Wouldn’t that be even harder for him?

That night, Little Miss Chu was still upset. Chen Afu comforted her for a while before they, accompanied by Yu and Ming, went to the Anrong Hall for a welcome banquet.

In fact, she didn’t want to go, but since Chu Lingxuan had sent Shiyi to the palace, she had no choice but to muster up her spirits.

The welcome banquet was rather somber because neither Marquis Chu, Mr. Chu, nor Chu Lingxuan attended.

Mrs. Li, the second wife, was secretly pleased to see both Chen Afu and Chu Hanyan with red, swollen eyes and clearly unenthusiastic. She thought something Chu Lingxuan and Chen Afu had done must have upset either the old master or Marquis Chu, resulting in their being reprimanded.

Seeing Chu Ling’an’s curious gaze and his hesitant expression, the old marquis said, "Indeed, Xuan’er’s previous adopted son is actually the emperor’s son, the Crown Prince’s own brother, Eleventh Prince. According to Master Wu Zhi, due to the prince’s peculiar fate, he was unfit to live in luxury before the age of eight, and to accrue blessings for the latter half of his life, he needed to spend time among the commoners, experiencing hardship. As a result, the emperor had him placed near Tang Garden, to be fostered by Xuan’er’s mother-in-law’s family."

This was the Ninth Prince’s idea, and he had explained it clearly to Marquis Chu beforehand.

If the truth were to be told, it would be an insult to the emperor’s dignity. That the emperor, while still alive, could send a prince out of the palace to preserve his life indirectly indicated the emperor’s incapacity.

This bombshell news was like a thunderclap, startling Mrs. Li and the others to nearly jump out of their seats. It also sent shockwaves through the circles of nobility in the Capital City. Unexpectedly, the millstone that the much-maligned Chu Lingxuan brought from his wife’s family was, in fact, a prince, and the elder brother of the crown prince no less. No wonder Chu Lingxuan married Mrs. Chen despite her being a country girl with an adopted child. It turned out he knew all along that the child was a prince...

These self-righteous private conversations are, of course, discussions for another day.

At the welcome banquet, except for Mrs. Li who was discomforted by this good news, everyone else, like the Second Master and Chu Ling’an, was ecstatic. With such a backing, the Chu family received even more favor from the emperor and the crown prince.

Chu Lingzhi was laughing so hard he could not stop, he said to the third wife, "Mother, Dabao, oh no, I should call him Eleventh Uncle, used to be my nephew, had to address me as Uncle Fifth and you as third Grandma. But now he has become mother’s brother, and has to call her cousin and me a nephew. My god, not only did his status change quickly, but his family hierarchy changed even faster." Scratching his head, he said, "What should he call my elder brother and sister-in-law in the future?"

His words brought laughter to everyone’s lips.

Chen Afu forced a smile, she couldn’t really laugh. After dinner, she perceived that the third lady had something to say.

The third lady understandingly smiled and said, "Tomorrow morning, I will go to the palace to visit my royal grandmother." Then she added, "How about you prepare some snacks, I’ll take them for the royal grandmother and also send some to the Virtuous Consort and little Shiyi in the Si Yuan Palace?"

Chen Afu thought it over and didn’t agree. Sending over food to a child who just went back to his birth mother was not a good idea. They should give the mother and son some time to reacquaint themselves first.

The third lady also realized that her suggestion was not good, and said with a laugh, "Oh, this idea is not good, we can discuss it another day." In a quiet voice, she added, "I don’t know much about the Virtuous Consort either, but given how well she has raised the Crown Prince, she seems to be kind."

When they returned to the Bamboo Pavilion, the little brothers also realized something was not right. They hadn’t seen their big brother for a long time, nor had they seen the family of dogs. So, they started fussing, "Brother, we want to see brother..."

Moved by her younger brothers’ distress, the little girl had no choice but to perk up and comfort them.

At this moment, Mrs. Li and Mrs. Yu, along with their helpers, had already tidied up the rooms and all the items they brought. Little Miss Chu was staying in the west wing of the Bamboo Pavilion, while Yu and Ming were staying in the north and south rooms of the east wing.

Looking at the heavily pregnant Mrs. Yu, Chen Afu said, "You’re pregnant, don’t work hard, let the maid do the work."

Mrs. Yu replied with a smile, "It’s okay, I’m used to working, I would feel uncomfortable if I didn’t."

Chen Afu inspected the west cross courtyard and the east wing and found them tidily arranged.

Although the Marquis mansion had many vacant courtyards, Little Miss Chu had just arrived and the little brothers were still young, so it seemed best to let them stay in the same courtyard with her for the time being.

When it was time to rest, she encouraged the children to do the same. Seeing that the Little Miss was upset, she did not insist that she sleep in the main room with her. She wanted to wait for Chu Lixuan to return so she could hear how Shiyi was doing after entering the palace.

Besides, she had a feeling that something significant was about to happen in the court. It was already the 18th, and the false Second Prince’s one month of vegetarianism at the Baoguo Temple was due to conclude on the 15th. She wondered whether he had escaped or been arrested. At least, the matter hadn’t erupted yet.

After feeding Yu’er, she lulled her to sleep and went to the clean room. After making sure the door was bolted, she entered the space.

She hadn’t had the time to enter the space in many days.

Jin Yanzi was lying listlessly on the ground, eyes red and swollen from mourning. This little creature was very emotional, and Dabao’s departure had disheartened it greatly.

Chen Afu sat down and held it in her hand, saying, "Looking at you as upset as you are, once you’re out you can fly to the palace to see him at any time. It may not be easy for us to see him, but for you, it would be very easy."