Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 551 - 542: The Villain

Chapter 551: Chapter 542: The Villain

On the evening of May 12th, the Lilac Hall at Rong’an Hall in the Chu Residence was exceptionally lively. Several palace lanterns hanging from above and sixteen large candles on the high table illuminated the hall brilliantly. The men were gathered at one table, drinking, while the women and children were at another, eating; there was no shield to separate them.

At dawn the next day, Lord Hou and the old man would be sent by Chu Ling’an to live in the countryside. Initially, Chu Lingxuan and Chen Afu also wanted to accompany them, but Chu Lingxuan had taken office not long ago and many matters were still unresolved, so he couldn’t go. As for Chen Afu, she discovered not long ago that she was pregnant, so she couldn’t go either.

Today, their children and grandchildren came to say goodbye. Not only the second and third households and Chu Hua’s family came, but also Prince He.

Tomorrow, Lord Hou and the others would also take Yu, Zhui Feng and Sasa to the countryside. Zhui Feng and Sasa might be old, and over the past six months their mood had not been good, Jin Bao said they missed Honglin Mountain. Unlike Qi Qi and Hui Hui, they would occasionally fly to Honglin Mountain to play with Jin Yanzi and Jin Bei for a few days, but they could not.

Occasionally, Chen Afu would let people take them to Xishan outside the Capital City to play. The children, Chang Chang, Duan Duan, Chou Chou, and Gun Gun all seemed to enjoy it, but Zhui Feng and Sasa did not.

So, Chen Afu consulted with Prince He, and decided to move Zhui Feng and Sasa to Fu Garden. Wang Cai and Yuan Bao’s family also spent much time with Chen Ming in the countryside, perhaps they’d be happier there.

All these were discussed privately among the adults, and they didn’t dare to tell the children. They were afraid that Yu would get overly excited and loose-lipped; and they also feared Ming and Yu’er would kick up a fuss upon finding out that Grandpa broke his promise. In particular, Yu’er, a clever little thing, had felt for a few days that Grandpa and Great-Grandpa might be going on a boat ride and hill-climbing, and visiting Grandma. She was ecstatic because Grandpa had promised to take her out to play.

The reason Lord Hou made this promise was because he had always believed that Chen Afu could stay with them in the countryside for a while. If she went, the children could go too. But his daughter-in-law was suddenly pregnant and couldn’t ride for a long time for at least a few months.

Since the daughter-in-law couldn’t go, then the two granddaughters couldn’t go either. Yu’er was too young to be away from her mother for a lengthy period. Although Chu Hanyan had grown up, she was the child who least wanted to be away from her mother.

And today, all these people who came to see them off, of course, could not avoid discussing these matters. The men advised them to take care of their health, the journey was not far and they would take time to visit them. Chu Hua sobbed directly, she was reluctant to part with Lord Hou and the old man, and she missed her mother.

The two younger brothers and Yu’er finally heard their grandpa and great-grandpa were going out to play tomorrow, why didn’t they bring them? They were not pleased and asked Chen Afu, "Mother, are grandpa and great-grandpa going boating, hill climbing, dog walking, and visiting grandma?"

Chen Afu couldn’t hide it any longer. She smiled and answered, "Yes, Grandpa and Great-Grandpa will be taking Yu to go first, and when mother is better, she will bring Ming and Yu’er."

At her words, Yu started jumping and cheering, while Ming and Yu’er were unhappy and began crying loudly.

Their sobbing drew everyone’s attention, and Lord Hou asked knowingly from the other table, "Who upset Yu’er and Ming? Come here to Grandpa, Grandpa will hold you."

The brother and sister stood still, unlike their usual behaviour of running over once Grandpa called them.

Ming cried, "Grandpa broke his promise, he isn’t taking my sister and me to go boating and visit Grandma..."

Yu’er cried even more pitifully, sobbing, "Poor little Yu’er, boo hoo... Grandpa doesn’t like Yu’er anymore... boo hoo... Yu’er is no longer Grandpa’s Yu’er..."

The cunning little girl actually used the word ’anymore’, how clever!

Chen Afu quickly consoled the two children, "Oh, stop crying. As soon as your mother gets better, I will take you both with me. We’ll all go."

No matter how loudly Ming cried, not many people paid him any attention. Yu’er cried less loudly and didn’t jump as high as he did, but her face was flushed red, her eyes tightly closed, and tears streamed down her cheeks. The sight tugged on their heartstrings, especially on Lord Hou’s, who felt so distressed that his liver trembled.

Lord Hou quickly got up and came over to the women’s table. He picked up Yu’er and cooed, "Yu’er is Grandpa’s little Yu’er. Grandpa likes Yu’er." Then he tactlessly said, "It’s not that Grandpa doesn’t want to take Yu’er with him, it’s that your daddy and mommy won’t let you. If you want, I could take Yu’er?"

Once he finished, he looked up at Chen Afu. Upon hearing Lord Hou’s words, Yu’er opened her eyes and also gazed at Chen Afu.

So, he was passing the buck to her? Chen Afu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She saw that Yu’er was staring expectantly at her with tear-streaked face and pouting lips – the little girl looked so pitiful that it broke her heart. Yet, no matter how much she pitied the child, she couldn’t bear to let such a small girl be separated from her for a long time. Now, the old Lord Hou had spoiled the child even more than before.

She was the only one who could be the villain!

With some difficulty, Chen Afu managed to say, "Yu’er is only a little over one year old. She can’t be away from her mother."

Upon hearing this, Yu’er wailed louder in Lord Hou’s arms.

Yu’er’s tears and drool flowed onto Lord Hou’s neck, burning hot it made him feel more distressed. He suggested again, "Take all the maids who serve her with us. The child’s grandmother is also there, it will be all right."

Chen Afu was in a difficult position and didn’t respond.

The old man disagreed, "Once Yu’er cries, you lose all principles. You’re not like a man at all. How can such a young girl live in the countryside with us two old men? Besides, the countryside is decidedly less convenient than the Capital City."

Chu Lingxuan also suggested, "Father, wait a couple of months. Once Afu’s pregnancy stabilises, we’ll bring Yu’er to visit."

Meanwhile, Ming, who had been ignored for a long time, was sobbing louder and jumping even higher.

Chen Afu comforted him saying, "Son, stop jumping. Of course, we won’t forget about you."

Lord Hou was at a loss and said to Yu’er, "Yu’er, Grandpa will miss you too. What should we do, it’s them who don’t want you to accompany Grandpa."

Hearing this, Yu’er pressed her little face against his great face and sobbed.

Chen Afu thought to herself, if the former Emperor saw Lord Hou like this, wouldn’t he think it was superfluous to guard against him?

That night, Prince He and the animals stayed in Bamboo Pavilion. Bamboo Pavilion was shrouded in gloom, the little ones were unwilling to part with their grandpa. Chen Afu, Prince He, Chu Hanyan, and others were reluctant to part with Zhui Feng and Sasa, and Prince He even cried. Zhui Feng and Sasa nudged them with their heads.

Prince He said, "Mother-in-law and brother and sister can go to the countryside to visit them, but I can’t... My Imperial Brother will certainly not allow me to return."

Chen Afu said, "Lord Hou and the old man will return to the Capital City for a while every year. When they come back, they will also bring Zhui Feng and Sasa back."

Prince He felt better after hearing this.