Chapter 4, New Love and Old Flame

"If I say it, you must not blame my mother and grandfather." Yun Fei blinked her eyes, appearing quite troubled and hesitant

Well, just speak plainly.

Cui Ping could not help but whisper, "Miss, during the month you were away, the second madam is expecting a child."

Acong, with tears welling in her eyes and feeling wronged, took two bites of her meal before withdrawing

In times of chaos, the only truly powerful and useful asset is the military in one's hands, yet maintaining an army requires money. To achieve dominance, what he lacks are funds and talented individuals

Yun Dingquan's gaze followed Lin Qinghe as she disappeared down the corridor, and only then did he turn his head to look at Yun Fei, asking lightly: "Is your mother not planning to return?"

This point has already been noticed by Yunfei, but she pretends to know nothing on the surface

You may speak

Yun Dingquan was taken aback and immediately asked, "Did your mother mention how much this sum of silver is?"

However, Lin Qinghe is already carrying her father's flesh and blood, and behind her, there are one hundred thousand troops from Luzhou Prefecture. How could Father possibly abandon her for Mother? It seems that I need to come up with a way to make Lin Qinghe leave temporarily.

Acon is a full eight years younger than her, and her affection for this only younger brother is no less than that of a mother. Even when he is playful and lazy, she never has the heart to scold or reprimand him. Unfortunately, such good days must come to an end; in the future, he will be forced to learn both literary and martial skills, otherwise, both his mother and he will face a bleak future

Yun Cong has a strong physique and a good foundation; after taking the medicine, he quickly recovered from his fever. Yun Fei kept watch by his bedside, looking at his rosy little face as he slept, unable to resist gently pinching his delicate, jade-like cheeks.

Hearing this, Yun Dingquan felt a bit ashamed. His daughter was stunningly beautiful, and he had long been contemplating how to arrange a marriage that would benefit his ambitions. With the mindset of holding onto a valuable asset, he had delayed in securing a marriage proposal for her

Lin Qinghe was utterly astonished. She had thought that after Su Qingmei was driven away by her, Yun Fei would surely resent her. To her surprise, Yun Fei was so courteous and considerate, treating her warmly and inquiring about her well-being, as if they were family

Upon seeing him frowning and appearing contemplative, Yun Fei realized that her strategy had been effective. As long as her mother remained of use, he would not neglect her. As for the sum of money, the larger the amount he speculated, the better.

She, filled with disappointment and annoyance, wrapped her arms around Su Qingmei's arm and said with a beaming smile: "Mother, see, Father still thinks of you; he specifically sent someone to bring you back."

The situation in the secret passage of Yunfei is dire; if Mother continues to be so stubborn, it will become increasingly difficult to resolve. Can we still hope that Father, who has changed his heart, will have a sudden realization? A man can be discarded, but a home must not be lost, for it contains all of Mother's hard work and Grandfather's wealth. If others come to our door and we retreat without a fight, voluntarily yielding, what does that count as?

On the second day, Acon's illness showed signs of worsening, and he began to develop a fever. Yun Fei was just about to take him home to summon a doctor when, coincidentally, Yun Dingquan sent someone to escort Su Qingmei back.

Yun Fei lowered her head and fiddled with the corner of her clothes, "I didn't say anything."

Yun Fei watched her younger brother's small figure walk away alone, feeling a pang of sadness in her heart like a needle prick

She gritted her teeth, and if in the future a man were to swear to her with empty promises, her first action would be to knock out his front teeth

Yun Fei paused for a moment before hesitantly saying: "Before my maternal grandfather passed away, he left some silver for my mother as private funds, instructing her not to tell my father. Now my mother plans to use this silver to build a nunnery on Lotus Flower Mountain and become a nun."

The maid Cuiping entered quietly and cautiously invited her to the front hall for dinner

Su Qingmei was in tears: "What is the point of going back? Seeing them so affectionate with each other, I might as well be dead."

If she is unwilling to return, she will naturally sit wherever she is.

A few light words, each like a knife, pierced into Su Qingmei's heart. Just thinking about these years, she had spent all her family's money cleanly, yet ended up in such a situation, and she couldn't help but cry again

This indifferent and nonchalant tone made Yun Fei's heart race with anger, yet she did not show the slightest hint of resentment on her face. Instead, she looked at him obediently and gently said: "Father, there is something I am unsure whether I should mention or not."

Yun Fei touched her brother's round head and sighed

Yun Fei looked at his handsome yet indifferent face and said with heartfelt sincerity, "Of course. Father has been so good to Ah Fei, and I am well aware of it."

Su Qingmei's eyes reddened, and she choked back her tears, saying: "A Fei, you take your brother back. I will stay here."

Yun Fei could not help but pour out the words she had been holding back for many days upon hearing such cowardly, unambitious, and despairing remarks: "If you die, Lin Qinghe would be so happy; she would have gained the title of the governor's wife for nothing. I and A Cong would become children without a mother, and from then on, we would have to live our lives according to her whims. When her son grows up, he will inherit the family fortune that originally belonged to my grandfather, and A Cong might be driven out."

Cui Ping never expected that the young lady would react this way, and after a moment of astonishment, she could only swallow back all the words she wanted to say

Yun Fei felt a dull headache. Not to mention that Lin Qinghe was young and beautiful, even if she resembled Zhu Bajie, as long as she was the sister of the governor of Suzhou, her father would not send her away. Moreover, she was currently pregnant. Her mother still harbored fantasies, using her departure from home as a threat, not realizing that by leaving, she would only make others happy, wishing that she would never return.

The fish soup is indeed delicious, but she is pregnant and is most averse to the smell of meat. After forcing herself to take a few sips, she felt nauseous and had to put down her chopsticks

"Your father's heart has changed, what do I need those things for?" Su Qingmei covered her face, sobbing uncontrollably: "I would rather become a nun and live a life of hardship than go back to see them, unless he sends that woman away.

Father, Ah Cong has recovered from his illness. Let us go together to bring Mother back. What good is it to use the money to build a nunnery? It would be better to recruit soldiers for you. Moreover, if Mother were to become a nun, it would not reflect well on your reputation.

Yun Dingquan was furious and immediately reprimanded A Cong in a stern voice

She pretended not to know his thoughts, yet every word struck a chord with him

Upon seeing that it was the steward Yun Qi, Yun Fei felt a chill in her heart, realizing that her father still refused to come and fetch her in person

Yun Fei's expression remained unchanged as she stepped out of the door; the sunlight was somewhat dazzling. She slightly squinted her eyes and pressed her lips together, revealing two small dimples.

Yun Fei felt as bitter as if she had swallowed a mouthful of stale tea, yet her face still wore a sweet smile. As usual, it was as if nothing had happened at home, as if there were no new people replacing the old ones by her father's side. With a cheerful demeanor, she stepped forward, solemnly bowed to Lin Qinghe, and sweetly called out, "Second Mother"

"You should go back and rest for a while." Yun Dingquan smiled gently at her, showing great consideration, just as he had done ten years ago with Su Qingmei. At that time, he had not yet arrived in Jingzhou, was not yet the governor, Su Yong'an was still alive, and the Su family's shop was thriving.

Yun Cong huffed, "I dislike her the moment I see her; she has taken my mother's place"

However, Yun Cong was unable to keep everything to himself. A child’s heart is unguarded. At dinner time, when he saw Lin Qinghe sitting in his mother’s usual place, so close to his father, his face instantly filled with hatred and anger. He refused to pay his respects and would not even address her as "Second Mother".

Acon's illness cannot be delayed, so Yunfei had no choice but to give up on further persuasion. She decided to take Acon back for treatment first and would discuss persuading her father to come and fetch her in a few days.

Yun Dingquan certainly did not want to earn a reputation for being ungrateful, nor did he intend to force Su Qingmei to become a nun. He merely wanted to use the matter concerning Lin Qinghe to give her a warning, to make her recognize her own position, so as to prevent future unrest in the household. Since she had a substantial amount of silver in her possession, he naturally intended to bring her back.

More than half of the maids and servants in the residence were brought by Su Qingmei from her family, while the other half were newly purchased after arriving in Jingzhou. Su Qingmei is known for her generosity and simple nature, and the servants in the household hold great respect for this mistress, which leads to a lack of fondness for the newly arrived second lady. When Cuiping said this, it was evident that she was filled with a sense of frustration

Yun Dingquan began to ponder. It was precisely because Su Yong'an was the wealthiest man in the county that he devised a scheme of heroically saving a beauty to marry Su Qingmei, ultimately achieving his goal of acquiring the Su family's fortune. Su Yong'an was immensely wealthy and exceptionally shrewd throughout his life, leaving a substantial amount of private savings for his only daughter, which indeed reflected his character. Since Su Qingmei had openly requested to build a nunnery, it was likely not a small sum.

In the flower hall, Yun Dingquan and Lin Qinghe have already arrived, sitting together and smiling at each other. Their gaze, filled with the intimacy and sweetness of newlyweds, seems to infuse the air with a sense of closeness and sweetness.

Yun Fei felt truly distressed at this scene; at this moment, his mother was in the Pure Land Temple, eating simple meals and weeping, while he was coaxing his delicate second mother, completely forgetting about the yellow-faced woman who had shared sixteen years of hardships with him

It is also what Acon likes the most; poor him, yearning for a bowl of fish soup in the temple, he has almost fallen ill from longing.

Yun Fei supported her shoulder and sighed: "Mother, crying is of no use. Without you and Grandfather, there would be no today for my father. You should go back and take care of your belongings. Why should you, after all your hard work to obtain everything, hand it over to others?"

Yun Cong immediately said: "Sister, we must hurry to bring mother back."

Her brows and eyes are like a painting, and she naturally possesses a sweet smile. At fifteen years old, this young girl resembles a sweet little fruit, fresh and lovely, making one want to take a bite.

However, Yunfei called out "Second Mother" with remarkable naturalness and fluency, and personally served a bowl of fish soup in front of Lin Qinghe, saying, "Second Mother, you must try this fish soup. The water in Jingzhou is excellent, and the fish raised here makes the most delicious soup."

Returning to the room, she gently rubbed Acong's little nose and said, "Why do you put everything on your face? With such a big heart, what is there that you cannot let go of? You little fool"

Returning to the city, Yun Fei first took Yun Cong to the medical clinic, procured the medicine, and then returned home

Pah, what vows of mountains and seas, absolutely no concubines, it is all deceitful nonsense

Su Qingmei held the attitude of "with me, without her; with her, without me" at home, and Lin Qinghe would never return as long as she was there

Cui Ping believed that the lady would not return, and with the addition of a young and enchanting second wife in the residence, the young lady would surely be very sad and distressed. However, upon stealing a glance, it seemed that things were not as she had imagined.

Yun Dingquan's reaction was exactly as she had imagined; he was not concerned about Su Qingmei wanting to become a nun, but rather about the amount of money. Being so cold-hearted and ungrateful, Yun Fei had completely lost hope in this father.

Yun Fei rose from beside the bed and quietly instructed Qi to watch over A Cong

Eighteen-year-old Lin Qinghe was called "mother" by a "daughter" who was about the same height as her and only three years younger, causing her pretty face to flush with embarrassment, as she truly found it difficult to adapt

That languid and delicate appearance is truly endearing

Yun Fei listened without the slightest displeasure; instead, she curved her eyes and smiled brightly: "That's wonderful, I have younger siblings now."

In the past, when returning to her parental home, it was always Yun Dingquan who personally came to pick her up. Now, after a month of silence and indifference, he has only sent the steward to see her, which clearly shows that he no longer cares for her. If you are heartless, then I shall take my leave. Su Qingmei, having been pampered since childhood, is also a person with a strong sense of pride.

If it were not for his daughter telling him, he would never have thought that Su Qingmei, who had always regarded him as a deity and obeyed him without question, was secretly hiding a sum of silver. He sincerely sighed, "Ah Fei, you are still the closest to your father."

Mother, even if Father has changed his heart, you still have me and Acong. Do you intend to live in the temple for the rest of your life