Chapter 107: Ordinary Family Matters ◇

◎ Didn't your son-in-law come with you? ◎

"Firstly, you assumed your daughter would come to you right away, and you also knew that if Lian'er waited a few days until everything was settled before visiting, she'd disappoint you. Now, you're blaming her for coming too early, in a hurry and clumsily?"

"Secondly, on the day the capital fell, your son-in-law didn't even enter the palace. He came straight to our residence to tell us that he had taken the imperial city, assuring us not to worry or be afraid, asking us to focus on living our lives peacefully. He even sent people to look after us. Yet, just because he hasn't arrived today, you claim he has no heart?"

Yu Lian watched with a smile as her practical and rational father became more talkative when criticizing her mother, indicating that he had endured much torment from his wife over the years. She enjoyed watching their exchange.

Yu Niang glared at her husband angrily, "Whose side are you on? It's said that a mother-in-law grows fonder of her son-in-law over time, but it seems you've turned your back on me, siding with him and forgetting about your own daughter."

Yu Sanlang: "..." Women were always difficult to reason with, especially his wife!

After watching her parents bicker with a smile for a while, Yu Lian began to recount her life over the past four years.

With a calm and gentle voice, she spoke slowly and methodically, gradually soothing Yu Niang's emotions. The whole family sat together, listening to her intently.

Yu Lian started by describing how she had led the family to their ancestral countryside and how they had established roots there. Some of these stories were mentioned in their previous correspondence, but letters had limited space, allowing only brief descriptions. Moreover, the journey was long, and she didn't want her parents to worry. Thus, she had only shared good news, concealing any difficulties. Now that those times were behind them, there was nothing left to hide.

Speaking of arriving there without a proper house to live in, and being troubled by the village chief over a piece of land and a dwelling, causing great hardship for the whole family. Later, with the help of the kind-hearted Second Uncle's family in the village, they managed to build a new house and acquire a barren plot of land from the village chief through their own efforts.

They tamed the wilderness, constructed a house, and established a workshop, gradually improving their income and business prospects. With silver in hand and by providing employment for the villagers, their status in the community solidified, and their relationships became more harmonious. They had fully integrated into the local way of life.

"Life was just starting to improve when we were hit by a famine and military unrest. That area was relatively isolated, so there weren't many disturbances, but there were numerous refugees fleeing from elsewhere. I had cultivated a substantial amount of grain and had some silver saved up, so I decided to offer assistance. Over time, it evolved into a sizeable village. For the following two years, we lived there, farming while hiding within the village, too afraid to venture out for business. Fortunately, the villagers and the newcomers from the mountain village looked out for us. Thanks to them, my stored grains remained safe, allowing us to survive unscathed."

Yu Niang countered, "That's because my son has a kind heart. If you hadn't treated people well, how could so many have spontaneously supported you and guarded your granary? People treat you well only if you treat them well first. This is the reward my son deserved for his kindness."

She said proudly, "As expected of my daughter, capable and compassionate!"

Yu Lian thought fondly of everything in Upper Village. When they returned, they were in such a hurry to avoid revealing Hua Ji's absence from the capital, which could have caused chaos, that they didn't even explain the truth to the villagers. They simply said they had urgent business in the capital and left. She wondered how they were doing now, whether they knew the sky was about to fall on this dynasty.

She continued, "Second Uncle is a kind and amiable elder. Although the village chief can be stern, he has his own unique qualities. In times of crisis, he led people to help us. Aunt Ma is an efficient and capable woman. Dashu's wife is as strong as any man. Sanshu loves driving and always wanted to drive our carriage for free. His wife is sharp but has a warm heart. Widow Zhao might not be popular, but her son, Hua Tianqu, is literate and once taught three children as their tutor, responsible for..."

As Yu Lian recounted the villagers one by one, she realized that they had become an integral part of her life. That place where she intended to fully immerse herself and spend her life as a landlady was filled with ordinary yet extraordinary people. Now, thinking back, she felt a sense of warmth and familiarity.

"The war was intense, and the government was drafting soldiers from everywhere. The young scholar, being the only son of a widow and still young, was also taken. Fortunately, Zhu Ying rescued him. Later, they almost took our two twin brothers who were under ten. I redeemed them with two hundred acres of land, but the next day, all the other children were released..."

Throughout the story, Yu Niang watched her daughter with tears in her eyes, filled with joy and relief. Yu Sanlang was equally proud and gratified. At this moment, the little boy beside them became unhappy and protested, "I'm the younger brother! I'm your little brother, and there's no one else. What kind of stinky twin brothers are worth two hundred acres of land?!"

Yu Lian: "..." Not expecting this young one to be jealous over such matters, she turned around to pat his head soothingly. "Alright, alright, you're the younger brother, the closest one to your big sister."

"Also, I'm your favorite!"

"Yes, you're my favorite!"

"I also love big sister the most!"

With her brother's interruptions, the melancholy of her memories faded away. Yu Lian smiled and said, "Later on, the man Mother mentioned returned, bringing a group of soldiers who all knelt down and called me Empress. Mother, wasn't that scene terrifying?"

"Terrifying..."

"Didn't you feel proud of your daughter?"

"Proud... not at all! You, girl, an Empress isn't something you just wish for, nor was it because you predicted he'd become the emperor that you did what you did. Think back to the situation back then."

"No normal person would be as foolish as you, blindly rushing into it without regard for consequences! If he hadn't pretended to die and returned to become the emperor, what kind of good life would you have had?"

"Before you came back, those major families in the capital, upon learning that your husband had become the new emperor, openly sent gifts to curry favor with us while secretly spewing sour remarks. They said our son was cunning and lucky, that's why he accidentally became an emperor, or that we were just incredibly fortunate, like stepping in dog poop... Isn't that infuriating?"

Yu Niang laughed through her anger as she continued, "My child didn't endure hardships at his home for a life of luxury. If not for the fear that your widowed life in the countryside would be difficult, and that you couldn't be pampered like in the capital, I would have preferred..."

She quickly covered her mouth as she spoke.

Yu Lian: "...."

After recounting the events of the past four years, she mentioned how they returned to the capital. "Once Father-in-law rushed back from the provincial capital, we hurriedly set off for the capital. He said that the empire had just been stabilized, and there were many matters to attend to. He also feared that something might happen here, so he shortened the journey by five days. The officials here were clever; as soon as we arrived at the city gates, a crowd of them knelt at the entrance to welcome us."

Yu Sanlang snorted. "Clever? They're practically geniuses. You can tell by the gifts in our courtyard. When Hua Ji led his troops into the capital, he came to our house. Those people must have taken note, realizing that my father-in-law held some influence. That's why they rushed over to curry favor."

Yu Lian was not surprised. Back then, when people left, their loyalty cooled; now, they were adding embroidery to a fine tapestry. In this world, everyone was driven by self-interest. If ordinary people acted this way, how much more so those from powerful families steeped in power and wealth?

Yu Niang then thought of something and asked, "Did your in-laws and husband know you were coming?"

Yu Lian nodded. "I told them. Originally, Grandma wanted me to detour halfway, but I saw so many people on the road that I was afraid it would cause trouble. So, I decided to enter the palace first and come out later. It wouldn't have made much difference."

"Didn't your husband come with you?"

Yu Lian paused for a moment, recalling how she had refused Hua Ji's offer to accompany her. The slight pout on his face suggested he was displeased.

She shook her head with a gentle smile. "If he wants to come, I won't let him. I haven't seen my parents in years; how could I allow him to interfere? If he were here, none of us would feel at ease, and wouldn't that spoil our family's chance to enjoy a nice meal and conversation?"

"That is true..."

How could being the emperor's son-in-law be the same as an ordinary one? If Hua Ji had returned from the dead without his imperial title, they would have felt justified in their authority as his in-laws. It would have been reasonable for him to treat Yu Lian well and show them respect and filial piety, given her foolish infatuation back then.

But now, with him as the emperor, it seemed as though their family was benefiting from the connection.

As they spoke, the soup and dishes were served, and Yu Lian instructed the young servant girl to call Zhu Ying, who was waiting outside, to join them for the meal.

Yu Niang curiously asked, "Who?"

Speaking of which... Yu Lian pouted in displeasure. "That fellow you mentioned, it turns out he was worried and sent a secret guard to protect us. Later, he pretended to be a wandering hero and lived in our house, hiding it from me for four years. I only found out recently."

Zhu Ying had already entered the room and, overhearing the young mistress's complaint, his handsome face flushed with embarrassment. As soon as she finished speaking, he hastily defended himself, "Not at all, Young Mistress, I...

"I knew I had my reasons!" How could he defy his master's orders? And how dared he reveal information that might endanger Young Mistress's family?

Yu Niang knew that her daughter didn't dislike this young man, otherwise she wouldn't have invited him to eat or allowed him to drive her home alone.

Teasingly, she asked, "If that's the case, why invite him in to eat? There are still leftovers in the stables..."

Zhu Ying's face contorted.

Yu Lian smiled gently, "He needs his strength to work. That fellow claims he's been protecting us for over four years, with great merit. He's expecting to be appointed as the Grand Eunuch of the palace."

Yu Niang choked on her soup.

"..."

Zhu Ying: "..." It felt as if her body was about to shatter.

After the meal, Yu Lian found herself entertained by her younger brother, Little Yu Shi. No longer did he cling to her asking for sweets like when they were young. Instead, he proudly declared that he had grown up and that real men didn't eat sweets; they ate meat to grow tall and strong, so he could one day support his sister.

The siblings played together until the sun began to set, with their parents smiling on the sidelines. It had been a long time since they had all enjoyed such a warm and intimate family moment, so much so that they lost track of time. As the last rays of sunlight lingered on the horizon, a group of eunuchs emerged from the palace, bearing dishes from the imperial kitchen. They announced that the Emperor and the Grand Empress Dowager had sent them, and also inquired if Yu Lian would be returning to the palace tonight.

Yu Lian observed as they arranged the dishes, each one intricately designed and exuding an irresistible aroma. She wondered what method they used to keep the food warm, as it still held a faint heat and emitted a smoky allure upon presentation, whetting her appetite.

The lead eunuch, a somewhat unfamiliar face, stood respectfully with a slight bow, awaiting her response.

Yu Lian shook her head gently. "I won't be returning just yet. I've already spoken with my grandmother and decided to stay at home for some time to fulfill my filial duties to my parents."

The eunuch seemed to have received instructions and, upon seeing her decision, did not insist. Instead, he respectfully said, "Her Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager, His Imperial Majesty the Retired Emperor, and the current Emperor have all given their orders. They wish for you to reside here comfortably. When you feel ready to return home, the Emperor himself will come to escort you."

As the eunuch led the group away, Yu Lian stood there, staring blankly at the empty gate. Going home?

This place was indeed a home, as was the house in Upper Village. But was the palace, that grand residence, truly a home?