The newcomer stared fixedly at her, his gaze turning cold for a moment before returning to a state of calm indifference. Yet, that fleeting chill surged from the crown of Yu Yihe’s head straight down to her spine.
It lasted only a breath before she regained her composure. She performed a fu salute and explained unhurriedly, “…The sun is at its peak, so I merely came inside to seek shade. I hope the Noble One will not take offense.”
Many members of the Tianhuang Guizhou were currently staying within Qiqing Garden, and Yu Yihe was uncertain of his identity.
She sensed the other man’s gaze linger on her for several moments before he finally spoke. “You may rise.”
When Yu Yihe lifted her head, she saw only his retreating back. He wore a black Zhi Ju with a gold-buckled jade belt at his waist. His shoulders were broad and upright, and his bearing was as steadfast as a pine or a mountain. Seeing the two Neishi following behind him, a suspicion began to form in her mind.
Only after the group had vanished from sight did Ningning ask in a small voice, “Mother, who was that man? He looks better than Uncle Wang.”
Yu Yihe couldn’t help but smile. As she pulled the girl toward the exit, she explained, “He should be a certain Prince…”
“What is a Prince? Is it the same as Grandpa Wang?”
“Haha, a Prince is…”
As the voices of the mother and daughter drifted further away, the man on the other side of the rockery finally shifted his steps.
Noticing the unstoppable curl of Li Fuhai’s lips, the Emperor shot him a sidelong glance and asked tonelessly, “Is it funny?”
The Yuqian Zongguan managed his expression in an instant, stifling his laughter and feigning indignation. “Your Majesty’s appearance is peerless; how can a commoner be compared to you? Why don’t I find that mother and daughter and give them a stern lecture?”
The image of the pair he had just seen surfaced in the Emperor’s mind—plain cloth and black hair, almond eyes and jade skin. She had moved with a composed grace, possessing a certain simple, unadorned beauty. Beside her, the little girl, carved from the same mold, had clumsily mimicked her mother’s salute with an endearing sort of awkwardness.
At this thought, the Emperor’s expression softened slightly. He scolded with a smile, “The child is young and ignorant. How could I possibly lower myself to take offense?”
“Yes, Your Majesty is magnanimous. This old servant shall refrain from troubling that lady then.”
Both men tacitly assumed Yu Yihe and her daughter were wives of the tenant farmers within Qiqing Garden. The garden’s regulations were not as strict as those of the Imperial Palace; aside from the vast landscapes, there were also mountain fields that required tenants to manage them. These people were not slaves and were free to marry and raise children.
It was just that this tenant’s wife possessed a remarkably striking appearance…
Seeing that the Emperor was in a good mood, Li Fuhai cautiously suggested, “Consort Zhaoyuan’s Cuihan Hall is not far from here. Would Your Majesty like to go and have a look?”
The moment the words left his mouth, the man’s expression cooled. He turned to walk in the opposite direction, leaving behind a brief command: “Another day.”
Li Fuhai shrank his head back and followed him in silence.
Yu Yihe had just led Ningning out of the rockery when she saw Huixiang heading their way.
“Second Miss, the Imperial Consort called for me earlier. Let us head back together now.”
“Very well.”
The mother and daughter had not strayed far. Upon reaching the entrance of Cuihan Hall, they heard a voice saying, “No sign of him? Didn’t you say you saw him just now…”
Seeing Huixiang lead Yu Yihe inside, Consort Zhaoyuan immediately fell silent, then sighed.
Even if… he had come, she couldn’t have let her sister see him. This outfit was simply too disrespectful.
Thus, that evening, Yu Yihe received several sets of clothes along with several bolts of fabric.
Madam Yu smiled as she patted her hand. “These are clothes that Consort Zhaoyuan has never worn. The royal garden is not like home; one must dress decently… I have already sent for a tailor, and I guarantee they will be delivered within ten days. For these few days, just make do with these.”
“Mother must be joking. It is my honor to wear Consort Zhaoyuan’s clothing.”
These words clearly pleased Madam Yu. She had always taken pride in her youngest daughter becoming a high-ranking Imperial Consort, so she shook out an ochre-red dress and handed it over.
Yu Yihe had always understood the principle of “honoring the silk before the person.” Even if she hadn’t known it before, she certainly did now.
She lowered her eyes, touching the Hongliang Sha fabric, and suddenly said, “Your daughter should not wear such bright colors.”
The smile on Madam Yu’s lips froze. After a moment, she said, “Setting aside the fact that three years have already passed, the Wei family sent you back home. You have no need to keep up any observances for them.”
Her tone held a hint of sternness. Despite this, she ultimately set down the Hongliang Sha skirt and replaced it with a Shaofen colored Ling Sha gown.
“He-niang’s temperament is elegant; this one suits you better.”
Shaofen, though the name suggested pink, was actually a light bluish-green.
Yu Yihe nodded submissively, then suddenly looked up and asked, “What should Ningning wear?”
Madam Yu was stunned. When her second daughter kept her head lowered, she seemed very gentle, but when she looked up, those eyes felt as though they could see right into one’s heart.
“Ningning is still young. There are many nobles in the garden, so it is not ideal to keep her by your side all the time… Yao Yao and Ningning are of similar age, I will have your eldest sister spare a few sets for her…”
Perhaps sensing that her words were sounding increasingly wrong, Madam Yu’s voice trailed off. She simply turned her head to instruct the maid.
“Go and buy a few more bolts of fresh fabric to tailor clothes for Ningning. Head ornaments and jewelry as well—get everything prepared…”
She actually did not dare to look at her daughter, a flicker of guilt rising in her heart.
Madam Yu knew she often neglected this second daughter, but what could she do? The vast Yu household required her management; there were social obligations and favors to return. Her youngest daughter in the palace was of paramount importance, and her young son’s marriage also needed to be arranged…
She was truly too busy, Madam Yu thought. There were times when she remembered, but in the blink of an eye, other matters would demand her attention and cause further delay.
“Thank you, Mother.”
Hearing this, Madam Yu felt even more uncomfortable. She gave a few more casual instructions and hurried away, completely forgetting the words she had been ruminating on.
Yu Yihe watched Madam Yu leave, and the room fell into silence. Qingshuang also looked dejected; she had clearly sensed something and no longer wore a joyful expression.
Qingshuang had followed Yu Yihe since childhood. She had been with her through her days as an unmarried maiden, her marriage, and her return home as a widow… Thus, she felt the sting of this situation even more acutely.
They claimed they missed the Young Mistress and brought her here for a reunion, but this trip was clearly a last-minute arrangement. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be reduced to picking through someone else’s hand-me-downs or waiting for others to spare some clothes.
“Miss…”
Facing Qingshuang’s heartache and silent complaints, Yu Yihe merely shook her head and glanced at the closed door.
Although Qiqing Garden was a royal garden, many nobles and officials had come this time, so the accommodations were crowded. The Yu family had only been granted a small courtyard with nine rooms in total. Masters and servants were all squeezed inside; the saying “walls have ears” was no exaggeration here.
“Go and have someone bring water for washing.”
As her daughter fell into a deep sleep accompanied by the chirping of cicadas in the garden, Yu Yihe found herself with no desire for rest.
She still could not see clearly the true purpose of her mother and Consort Zhaoyuan bringing her into the garden. What could they possibly want from a widow and her child? Was it truly just guilt and a desire to compensate her?