Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 528 - 519: Robbery

Chapter 528: Chapter 519: Robbery

When Chen Afu was about to leave, Yu’er finally allowed her mother to hold her, clinging to her and crying loudly. The child is mischievous as well as assertive, all thanks to her grandfather’s indulgence. Chen Afu was secretly troubled and could only persuade her with good words until the girl was pacified.

Chen Afu felt that it may be Marquis Chu’s tendency to lavish affection on people that had caused the odd headstrong streak in both the elder and the younger one in his life.

Chu Hanyan held the hands of her two younger brothers, as Chen Afu, carrying Yu’er and accompanied by Mrs. Chu, left the Anrong Hall. Now, Mrs. Chu had moved to the Minghe Residence.

Minghe Residence was not far away from the Bamboo Pavilion, separated merely by a few dozen meters.

Mrs. Chu said with a smile, "I wanted to be neighbors with you, so I specifically chose the Minghe Residence."

Chen Afu laughed and replied, "That’s nice, the kids can easily pop into each other’s place now."

Mrs. Chu laughed, "Even that will be of no use. Their grandfather will monopolize their time as soon as he returns home. I’m looking forward to Xuan’er returning, and your giving birth to a girl. As soon as the girl is born, I will take her to raise, and no matter what, your father-in-law will not have the nerve to ask for her back."

Chen Afu gave a wry smile, at a loss for words.

Along the way, Mrs. Chu whispered to Chen Afu, "Rong Zhao went to the temple this morning. We grew up together and despite our quarrels, she is like a sister to me, so I saw her off. Sigh, I was the only one who could do this. Among the many brothers and sisters who used to play with her before, not one came to bid her farewell. She said she had been bewitched, that she had harmed herself, her birth mother and her maternal family. Perhaps even her own daughter might suffer because of her in her marital home... All of it, she said, was because she was too infatuated with Uncle. The first time she saw him, she couldn’t let go. If only she had never met him in this lifetime... She also said that her heart had been given and it wasn’t easy to take it back. She hoped to see Uncle once, but when I told him, he didn’t come."

Mrs. Chu sighed deeply and continued, "And who really is to blame for all this? If she had not tried to make Uncle hers by all means, and hadn’t gotten involved with the second son and the deposed queen, or had she lived a good life with Prince Xue, she wouldn’t have harmed so many people. It’s her greed, her selfishness, and her disregard for others’ lives that are to blame... She called Uncle her calamity, but I feel that she is the real calamity for Uncle. She broke a happy family and ruined Uncle’s future. If my husband and I hadn’t been on the frontier at that time, and Xuan’er and Hua’er hadn’t fled to us, who knows what might have happened... Alas, whether born into an imperial family, or a common one, everyone should act their part and not be overly ambitious. They should be smart, understand the situation, and know when to advance or retreat."

Rong Zhao was not only greedy and selfish, she was also malicious and brutal. If she hadn’t tried to burn Liao Chen to death and nearly caused many others to be consumed by the flames, perhaps Marquis Chu might not have hated her so much, and he might even have agreed to see her one last time, right?

Chen Afu laughed and said, "There aren’t many people as open-minded and smart as Auntie. Otherwise, why is there so much of violent competition for inheritance in the imperial family, and so many disputes over a bit of family property among the common people?"

Mrs. Chu laughed heartily saying, "You sure have a sweet mouth." And then, "Uncle has already moved back to the Marquis’ Mansion and is living in the An Rong Hall. I wonder when his wife could move in. Her return would mean our family’s reunion, which Uncle and Xuan’er have longed for many years."

Thinking of Liao Chen’s stubbornness, Chen Afu gave a bitter smile saying, "My father-in-law and uncle try hard to make my mother-in-law stay, but it certainly is not easy."

Mrs. Chu sighed, "The former sister-in-law was always gentle and kind. But her many years of devotion to Buddhist practices seem to have changed her completely."

They arrived at the Minghe Residence first. Before they parted, Mrs. Chu asked Chen Afu to prepare some soft and stickysnacks, which she would take to the Empress Dowager on her next palace visit.

Chen Afu nodded in agreement. She too wanted to send some to Shiyi and the Empress.

Back at the Bamboo Pavilion, Chen Afu took a bath, and played with the kids on the bed until they began to doze off. It was then that she sent them off to rest.

She also took the opportunity to separate Yu’er’s sleeping arrangements. The young girl was too strong-willed, and if she got used to sleeping with her mother all the time, she would make a fuss when they eventually had to be separated.

She settled her in the West Room of the West Cross Courtyard. This room had been prepared some time ago, and they only had to move the bedding in. Chu Hanyan slept in the East Room, and knowing that she would be sharing a courtyard with her sister, she was extremely happy, and her mood improved greatly.

Although Yu’er was not pleased that she couldn’t sleep with her mother, it was better than staying alone in a big house like she did a few days ago. She grumbled a few times, but still obediently settled down to sleep there.

Chen Afu closed the bedroom door, and with the prepared half bowl of milk and pine nuts, she entered the space.

Jin Yanzi was still busy at work, Chen Afu smiled and said, "Baby, come take a break. Mommy wants to thank you. If it wasn’t for you, who knows what might have happened at the Luo’s estate."

Jin Yanzi chirped in laughter as it landed on Chen Afu’s hand.

Chen Afu gave it a smooch and started feeding it with the pine nuts. Chen Afu and Jin Yanzi chatted until the deep night until Chen Afu returned to her bedroom to rest.

Early next morning, Chen Afu got up. She led Mrs. Hua and two little maids to the small kitchen in the backyard to make snacks. She made plenty this time, not only two food boxes for the Empress Dowager, the Empress, Shiyi, and the Sixth Princess in the palace, but also for everyone at home, except Mrs. Li.

From there on, every morning just after 9 a.m., when the kids were just finished with breakfast, Marquis Chu would send someone to take them to Anrong Hall. They were sent back for lunch and after a mid-afternoon nap, someone would again come to take them, and they would all go to the Anrong Hall for dinner, when Chen Afu would bring them back.

Unless Mrs. Chu was in the palace, the kids were barely at home for her to see.

On the fifteenth, just after the kids had been taken to Anrong Hall, the maids brought them back. An eunuch from the palace had come with news that the Emperor had summoned Marquis Chu for an audience.

These days, the Emperor rarely held court, so it was uncertain what matter had prompted him to summon Marquis Chu. Upon hearing this news, Mrs. Chu wasn’t able to sit still anymore. She rushed to the Bamboo Pavilion to wait with Chen Afu.

It wasn’t that they were worrying too much, but the court was too chaotic, and the Emperor was overly suspicious. They waited until noon but Marquis Chu didn’t return, and Mrs. Chu had to have lunch at the Bamboo Pavilion before returning to the Minghe Residence. Marquis Chu finally returned by three in the afternoon, and shortly after, he sent someone to invite Chen Afu and Mrs. Chu to Anrong Hall.

When both of them arrived at Anrong Hall, the Old Marquis was already there. Marquis Chu’s eyes were red and swollen, clearly from crying, and there was a large purple bruise on his forehead that was truly shocking.

Had he been beaten and was he reduced to tears?

Both Mrs. Chu and Chen Afu were greatly astonished.