"You think I'm like you, partying every night and feeding on beautiful women."
Wei Pingxi sat on a small round stool: "If I find the medicinal herbs that are missing from this paper, can my cheap mother-in-law's eyes really be cured?"
"If you can find it, I'm willing to give it a try."
"try?"
Yao Chenzi was pulling at his hair again: "When it comes to treating illnesses and saving lives, how can there be a 100% guarantee? Her eyes have been neglected for too long. Whether they can be cured or not is not up to me, but up to fate."
She seemed to be deep in thought.
"What? You know where these herbs are?"
"I know, the palace."
...
Yu's mother held her daughter's hand: "Going to the capital? Can't you not go?"
“Mother, wherever she goes, I have to go too.”
These words sounded to Yu's mother like the two of them were so entangled that they didn't want to separate, and she couldn't help but recall the time she had caught her daughter and son-in-law having sex.
"The capital is full of powerful and influential people. You and Xixi must be careful and act cautiously when you go there."
"I understand, Mother."
Yu Zhi lamented that the Fourth Miss was not discerning. Both of them said that there were many powerful and influential people in the capital. When her mother said it, it was "powerful and influential people are as numerous as clouds," but when this person said it, it was "powerful and influential people are as numerous as dogs."
A smile flickered across her face.
Though she couldn't see her expression, the mother, being of the same mind as her daughter, guessed that she was probably thinking about her sweetheart again, and smiled, "How does he treat you? Has he made you suffer any grievances?"
"No, Mother, Xi Xi has always treated me very well. She's just a little strange, but with her around, no one can bully me."
"That's good, that's good."
Fearing that she might be worried, Yu Zhi picked out the things she could talk about and told her about what had happened to the Wei family in the past few months.
Yu's mother listened attentively.
Three quarters of an hour passed, and Yu Zhi was so hoarse from talking that Jin Shi, with great perceptiveness, served her tea.
So many things have happened.
In noble families, there are all sorts of unbelievable things, both public and private, that can be seen in public and those that cannot. After hearing what her daughter said, Yu's mother admired the fourth young lady for being a capable, shrewd, and calculating person.
She wasn't afraid of her ruthlessness; a woman who wanted to live an arrogant life couldn't avoid having blood on her hands.
Even if you don't harm others, others will harm you. She would rather her 'son-in-law' be the one who harms others than be harmed herself.
Because her son, Zhizhi, harbors feelings for her.
"You like her that much?" Yu's mother teased her daughter when she had nothing else to do.
The fourth young lady, who had just returned from next door, heard these words as she stood at the door, and slowly lowered her raised hand.
A soft, delicate voice came from inside: "Mother, she may be a bit wicked, but she has a good heart. It's not that she's bad-natured. It's quite remarkable that she's been able to live such a peaceful life all this time."
Chapter 30 Going to the Capital
"Miss?" Emerald peeked out from beside her and spoke in a low voice.
Wei Pingxi glanced at her indifferently, and Emerald understood, quietly walking away.
With no one around, she stepped forward and approached the door, channeling her inner strength to listen to the conversation inside. She could hear every word clearly, like spring flowers blooming in her heart.
“The Wei residence is a dangerous place. My daughter is not that smart. If I were to act recklessly and make a name for myself in that residence, even with someone protecting me, I would be restrained.”
"She was born without the word 'fear.' Even though she was a woman, made of flesh and blood, she insisted on fighting openly and secretly with a group of men."
"Sometimes I really feel that the children of high-ranking families like them don't have an easier life than ordinary people. Where there are interests, there are struggles; where there are people, there are disputes."
"Right and wrong cannot be explained with just words, and she is too lazy to explain."
“Mother, I have never seen a woman like her. When I first met her, I felt that no other woman could be as dashing as her.”
"She was very beautiful, like a fairy descended from heaven, but her fairy-like appearance was filled with resentment towards the world. She was not at peace, even though she appeared more composed than anyone else."
Yu Zhi felt a mix of melancholy, heartache, and admiration.
Yu's mother couldn't see her daughter's expression at that moment, but she could understand that her daughter was proud and cherished her life partner.
Isn't this how women get emotional?
I will think about her bad points, but I will also miss her good points. I will see her hardships and try to understand her struggles.
Separated by a door, the unaware fourth young lady, Yuzhi, silently eavesdropped from outside.
What is unknown is how the Fourth Miss felt after hearing those words; her emotions were in turmoil and complicated.
How could a mere concubine possibly understand her?
He was just a concubine, yet he truly understood her.
Moralists condemned her as shameless, while writers and poets often sighed when they mentioned her.
She was seen as a fairy, but also as a scoundrel and an oddity, outwardly beautiful but inwardly wicked. Men rebuked her, and women feared her.
Everyone comes into this world alone and leaves alone. She doesn't need other people's understanding, nor does she envy the noisy cheers. Even after she dies, the world criticizes her harshly.
But once you're dead, who cares about your reputation before and after death?
She doesn't care.
She has to be selective about what the world considers beautiful.
It's not that whatever you say is true, but rather that whatever I say is true.
Most people don't understand this way of life and sigh that she is reaping the bitter fruit of her own actions, but is it really a bitter fruit? How can you know it must be bitter if you haven't tasted it?
So she tasted it, and that's why there is the strange and wicked Miss Wei in the world.
The playthings she envisioned were not emotionless or soulless playthings.
If she heard correctly, her concubine was showing her pity?
Wei Pingxi thought it was absurd, utterly absurd.
However, unintentionally, the coldness hanging in the corners of her eyes and brows slowly melted away, replaced by the gentleness of a gentle breeze and a bright sun.
"I want to do something for her."
Saying those words completely extinguished the courage that Yu Zhi had been holding onto.
Her face flushed with embarrassment: "But I'm not as capable as her, so I can only be more tolerant of her. She's five years younger than me, five years! When I was eighteen, she was still a child."
child?
Wei Pingxi's gentle expression, like spring water, froze for a moment.
She scoffed: "Go to hell, kid! You yelled a lot when the kid was messing with you!"
She continued, "When have I ever needed your tolerance? You're just a concubine. I can have you whenever I want, and I can take you when I don't want you. You can't kneel down when I tell you to. Are you giving me face?"
Look how spoiled they are!
How can you say such things to outsiders!
Of course, her own mother was no outsider, but Yu Zhi still asked shyly, "Mother, you won't laugh at me, will you?"
Yu's mother couldn't help but chuckle: "Silly child, I'm laughing because I'm happy."
She was happy that the two of them were in perfect harmony and loved each other, and Yu Zhi thought about it and understood.
She sighed silently, not daring to imagine whether her mother could bear it if she knew that she was only the fourth young lady's concubine.
I hope that day comes later, or even never.
Inside and outside the door, the three each had their own thoughts.
Wei Pingxi stepped back a few paces, straightened his clothes and gathered his sleeves, pretending to have just returned from outside: "Zhizhi, mother-in-law, I'm back."
Yu Zhi exclaimed "Ah!" and quickly got up to greet her.
After spending the night at the Yu family's house, Wei Pingxi and his concubine drove away at dawn.
Standing outside the door, listening to the fading sound of horses' hooves, Yu's mother murmured to herself, "They're going to the capital..."
I wonder if the Empress Dowager who harmed the Liu family is living well? Does she have nightmares at night?
She held the jade staff, her face slightly cold.
...
"As expected, they are from the Liu family of Jinghe."
Madam Wei put down the evidence handed to her by the servant, raised her eyebrows and looked out the window: "Where is Pingxi?"
Li Ledao said, "Fourth Miss and Aunt Yu just came back from outside."
"Did he go to see that Liu woman again?"
"yes."
"She's certainly 'filial'," Madam Wei said indulgently. "Are the preparations for going to the capital complete? Has the letter been sent to the Yan family?"
"It's all ready, and the letter has been sent."
"This is the first time Pingxi has traveled with me, so I made sure everything was arranged properly. I sent people to book superior rooms in the inns we passed along the way, and brought bedding and tableware from home, so that she wouldn't feel uncomfortable."
"I will obey your instructions, Madam."
"Go down, I want to be alone."
“Yes…” Li Le lowered his eyes and turned around, then took two steps before suddenly looking back: “Madam, since they are from the Liu family of Jinghe, is it alright to take them to the capital?”
The Empress Dowager deeply resented the Liu family of Jinghe. If she were to find out that the Liu family members were still alive, things would likely turn out badly.
If things get serious, it could cause trouble for the fourth young lady.
"Then destroy everything that can identify her as 'Jing Heliu,' and be quick about it."
Li Le suddenly realized: "Madam, your insight is brilliant."