Chapter 111: The Mother with Imperial Virtue

Chapter 111: The Mother with Imperial Virtue

By the banks of Qinglong Lake, in the private residence of the Chen family.

The house faced south and sat at the back of the Chen Family's music store. With the lake view to the south for scenic pleasure and the shops on the north side muffling the street noises, it was indeed a tranquil and well-favored location in terms of feng shui.

Melodious zither music drifted from the western chamber, resonating elegantly amidst the still serene Qinglong Lake. The woman in white playing the instrument was none other than Chen Yaozhi, while the man listening intently was Cheng Yu, who had been missing for quite some time.

Cheng Yu hadn't disguised his appearance; his innate aristocratic aura shone through his sickly demeanor. Leaning lazily in his chair, he resembled a young master from a prominent family recuperating from an illness.

He listened to the melody, his gaze piercing through the pianist, Chen Yaozhi, into the darkness of the night.

No one could fathom his thoughts, and Chen Yaozhi assumed he was absorbed in her music. Ever since she had seen his true face, her initial reluctance had transformed into eagerness.

She had never favored men with passive and tepid dispositions, like Pei Ji. Reborn, her ambitions had grown, and she was less willing to settle for an incompetent partner.

Though Cheng Yu had failed once, he was a man of ambition and action. Gongye Chu's arrogance was a result of his cunning and determination. The reason why Pei Yuanxi held herself superior to all the women of the Eastern Capital City was because she had married well.

Considering her own talent and beauty, which were no less than theirs, and the fact that she too was blessed by destiny, she refused to believe that they possessed better luck than she did. She regretted having judged him solely by his appearance, thus missing a golden opportunity. Thankfully, it was not yet too late; she still had ample chances to nurture feelings with Prince Cheng.

Elder Brother mentioned that she was to be wedded to Prince Cheng.

A man like Prince Cheng was precisely the kind she sought.

As she played the zither, her gaze toward Cheng Yu was filled with tenderness. Cheng Yu had once been known as the most eligible bachelor in the Eastern Capital City, and his appearance was indeed exceptional. The refined and elegant demeanor of a noble family's son, casually leaning against a tree, only added to his charm.

The melody of the zither grew more passionate, mirroring her own stirring emotions. If Cheng Yu succeeded, she would be the woman standing by his side.

Whatever Pei Yuanxi had obtained, Chen Yaozhi would also possess. Heaven had not been unkind to her; she could seize this opportunity. Upon hearing that Cheng Yu was nursing his injuries and feeling melancholic, she immediately offered to play the zither to lift his spirits.

She was confident that with her looks and talent, Cheng Yu would be captivated.

The room was filled with delicate fragrance, and the sheer curtains fluttered gently. The lakeside residence was serene and peaceful, and the evening breeze, carrying the scent of the lake, wafted in through the moving curtains. The zither music became even more enchanting, creating a delightful scene of a talented man and a beautiful woman.

If it were a painting, it would surely be a captivating one. However, someone was displeased with this scene, disrupting the beauty within the room. A maid entered, placing a basin of water on the stand with neither too much nor too little effort.

Chen Yaozhi's pupils constricted slightly, inwardly seething at the maid's lack of tact.

Ya'er deliberately positioned herself in front of Cheng Yu, warming a towel to wipe his hands.

The fragile master and the gentle maid grated on Chen Yaozhi's nerves. While it was common for men to have multiple wives and concubines, this maid was particularly irritating. Even with her in the room, the maid dared to openly flirt with Prince Cheng, utterly shameless.

Then there was that maid's mother, Aunt He, whose manner was equally unsettling. She called Chen Yaozhi "Miss Chen" with her lips, but her eyes lacked any trace of respect.

If Chen Yaozhi were to marry Prince Cheng, she would surely find a way to get rid of this mother-daughter duo far away.

She needed to maintain her elegance and composure, not revealing any hint of jealousy before Prince Cheng. Yet, her fingers betrayed her, slipping on two notes.

Unaware, Ya'er remained oblivious, while Cheng Yu subtly furrowed his brow.

"Mr. Cheng should rest now. I'll come again tomorrow," she said, carrying her zither gracefully out of the room, her white robes billowing, exuding an otherworldly charm. In her mind, her eyes held a hidden affection, convinced that Cheng Yu was already captivated by her.

Exiting the room, her expression turned cold, and she hurried to Chen Ling's residence.

"Big Brother, what's the deal with that Prince Cheng? Doesn't he realize he needs our Chen family now? Knowing I'm his future wife, he still keeps that maid around."

Chen Ling's face darkened. "Which young master doesn't have a maid serving him? Why are you jealous over this?!"

"I don't care. I don't want to see that maid anymore. A lowly servant pretending to be a lady, acting as if she's some noble's daughter. She even has the audacity to flirt with Prince Cheng right in front of me. Who knows what devious tricks she's playing behind my back. And Aunt He, she's just a nursemaid, but strangers might mistake her for Prince Cheng's own mother. It's unwise to have such a servant near Prince Cheng."

"What do you want then?" Chen Ling asked irritably. Those people had fought alongside Cheng Yu through life and death; he wasn't about to provoke them unnecessarily. If she couldn't even tolerate a maid, this sister of his was indeed incapable of handling significant matters.

Unaware of his thoughts, Chen Yaozhi was determined to expel Aunt He and her daughter. "I'm not that petty. After all, they're veterans of the Cheng family. How about I find a good family for the girl to marry into as a proper wife? I believe Prince Cheng would consent to that."

"You already have a plan in mind, so why ask me? If you discuss it with Prince Cheng, it would be a win-win situation," Chen Ling said nonchalantly, inwardly scoffing.

If Cheng Yu were that easy to manipulate, he wouldn't still be currying favor with him. No matter how friendly he tried to be, Cheng Yu remained wary of him. He couldn't even extract ordinary information, let alone discover where the Cheng family hid their silver.

His sister was truly too naive, or else he wouldn't be so troubled.

Unaware of his sarcasm, Chen Yaozhi took his words as praise. "In that case, I'll mention it to Prince Cheng tomorrow."

"Hmph, let me warn you. Be careful with your words. If you offend Prince Cheng, I won't spare you!"

"Big Brother, you..." Chen Yaozhi stomped her foot and stormed off in a huff.

Chen Ling didn't try to stop her; he had his own concerns to deal with.

Half an hour later, he visited Chen Yingxue. He held his aunt in the highest esteem. Chen Yingxue's compassionate gaze fell upon him, conveying her deep love and concern.

"I bear the title of family head, but as a woman, I am restrained from taking too prominent a role. Ever since your father passed, the burden of managing our household has fallen on you. I see all your efforts and toil, and it pains me that I cannot share some of that weight with you."

"Aunt, please don't say that. After Father's departure, you have held up the entire Chen family. The clan elders all sing your praises. Others might fear that you won't let go of power, but they don't know how eager you are for me to shoulder the family responsibilities overnight. In the past half-year, we've faced immense challenges, and Yaozhi's actions have been truly disappointing..." Chen Ling didn't want to dwell on those matters; whenever he did, he couldn't help but resent his younger sister.

Chen Yingxue replied, "Don't blame her. Your mother left us too soon, and there were things she couldn't teach her. She is still your sister, and you can't abandon her. I hope you will treat her as your father treated me—only with unity in the family can everything flourish."

"Aunt..." Chen Ling didn't know why, but all his worries and frustrations seemed to ease when he was with his aunt. "Prince Cheng is wary of me. What should we do next?"

"Sometimes, haste makes waste, but at other times, urgency is necessary. You're growing up and should start considering marriage. A man should establish his family first before focusing on his career."

Chen Ling had long wished for assistance, but he found himself caught between high expectations and humble beginnings, making it difficult to choose. Moreover, his sister's actions had provoked Madam Gongye, causing their former allies to distance themselves from the Chen family.

Scanning the entire Eastern Capital City, he realized he had limited options.

Chen Yingxue sighed. "Enemies are easy to make but hard to reconcile. The one who tied the bell must be the one to untie it."

A thought struck Chen Ling. "Aunt, are you referring to Miss Pei from the Pei family?"

Pei Yuanruo was renowned for her musical talents, respected among scholars and literati. As a concubine's daughter from a noble house, she wouldn't be as difficult to court as a daughter from the main lineage. Furthermore, with the connection to Madam Gongye, becoming related to the Grand Commander would be a sought-after opportunity.

If they could form this alliance, it would be most pleasing to her heart.

With a compassionate gaze, Chen Yingxue looked at him. "My Ling Ge, such a remarkable man. If the Chen family had not retreated from court, how magnificent and triumphant he would have been. What kind of noble family's eldest daughter could he not have pursued? Why would he bother with a mere concubine's daughter?"

Upon hearing this, his hand clenched into a fist.

Once he became the general's brother-in-law...

The commander's residence was as quiet as usual, while the Qingming Courtyard was illuminated by bright lanterns.

While Gongye Chu went to visit Shangxing, Pei Yuanxi took a nap. Upon waking up, the room was filled with candlelight, but after a tumultuous train of thoughts, she found herself unable to sleep. With nothing better to do, she decided to visit the storage room.

She rummaged through some fabrics, planning to sew more clothes for the father and son in her idle time. Regardless of the quality of her stitching, it was her sincere effort as a wife and mother.

Stepping into the courtyard under the moonlight, she noticed the servants standing outside, silent as if frozen. She knew then that Gongye Chu had returned.

Inside the inner chamber, the scent of incense wafted through the beaded curtains. Her heart pounded like a deer's hooves.

A man dressed in black, with dark hair, sat majestically on the edge of the bed, exuding an icy demeanor as sharp as a blade. Starting from his black, upturned boots, she traced her gaze upward to his long legs. Just imagining the strength and vigor of those legs made her face flush and her heart race, causing her body to weaken, and her knees to tremble.

Glancing in her direction, his gaze sent shivers down her spine. As she felt her body weaken and her heart tremble, she noticed a porcelain bottle placed on the table. All her vulnerability instantly turned to rigidity.

It was a white porcelain vase with a red cloth seal. Such bottles were common, typically used for storing medicinal pills or powders; the last time, she had used one of these to hold contraceptive pills.

The bottle wasn't put there by Chunyue, nor by herself – it could only have been this man.

"He replaced what was in your bottle before."

A simple statement, yet it clarified the reason behind her pregnancy in her previous life. Her eyes flickered with emotion, her heart overwhelmed with complexity. In her former life, her sole focus had been on returning home, and with time running short, she couldn't allow herself to bear his children.

She remembered the shock and panic when she first discovered her pregnancy. Knowing death was imminent, what would become of the child in her womb? She could leave this world as a transient, never imagining she would leave behind an offspring.

The entire pregnancy had been a labyrinth of conflicting emotions for her. With a heavy heart, she had written a parenting manual and then, before her demise, induced labor to give birth to the child. No one could comprehend her feelings; she didn't even dare to look at the baby she had brought into this world.

Should she blame him?

What fault did he have?

He saw through her pretense, willingly playing along, unaware. In matters of love, the more insignificant one feels, the more desperately they cling. He knew she didn't want to bear his children but manipulated circumstances to make her pregnant. He wanted to keep her, to bind her to him through their child.

Little did he expect, however, that she would leave him eventually, with or without a child. He couldn't accept that reality; in his desperation to uncover the cause of her death, he had taken many lives. No one could understand the desolation of having one's heart hollowed out, not even when the Dongshan Mansion was wiped out had he felt such terror.

"I altered a few ingredients in the prescription, leaving only the restorative effects," he said.

"Oh," she replied coolly, acknowledging his words.

"You're still young. This medicine was formulated by someone else, based on your previous prescription. I had it examined, and they said it's excellent and harmless."

Surprised, she lifted her head, understanding his intention. Her emotions became tangled once more. Why was he doing this? In her previous life, he had meticulously planned for her to conceive, yet in this life, he didn't want her to bear a child?

"We have Chong'er," he stated.

Yes, they had a child.

Therefore, whether or not she bore another child was his decision alone. On what grounds? She clenched the porcelain bottle, recalling the anxiety and despair she had felt when she was pregnant in her past life. She yearned to smash the bottle against him.

"Turns out everything is under your control. If you're so capable, why don't you give birth to your own child?"

It was a remark born out of anger.

Speaking those words, she was annoyed with herself. Look at how furious she had become, saying such rash things in a fit of anger. At this point, she had to admit to herself that her anger wasn't truly directed at him.

She wasn't even sure who she should be angry at - the damned fate from her past life, or this intricate web of past and present.

The room was bathed in warm light as a tall, long-legged man strolled slowly towards her. She didn't lift her head, so she wouldn't see the faint smile tugging at his lips.

His large hand enveloped hers, holding the porcelain vase, "If there's a possibility, I would be willing."

"You're willing, but do you have the ability?" Her tone remained sharp.

"Mm, I don't possess that ability, but you do," his voice was soft, gentle as a feather brushing against her heart, soothingly comforting, "Without Rong'er, I don't know what kind of person I would have become. The destiny you resent is actually a blessing from heaven to me."

Her heart trembled, wanting to retrieve her hand from his grip.

He held on tightly, as if he'd never let go, "Do you know the meaning of 'Mother of Holy Virtue'?"

Mother of Holy Virtue was what the voice she heard had told her, instructing her to use the role of Mother of Holy Virtue to transform him, to cleanse him of his brutality before she could return to her own time.

"What does it mean?" She lifted her gaze, her eyes brimming with annoyance.

Extending his long legs, he ensnared her within his embrace.

The atmosphere shifted, filled with a subtle interplay of warmth and chill. Her heart pounded fiercely, and her body, like a delicate vine, softened and involuntarily clung to him.

"Heavenly virtue doesn't reside in you, but in your son," he stated.

Her pupils dilated slightly, and her long lashes quivered.

"And so...?"

"Therefore... no matter how many times you reincarnate, you will eventually bear me a child."