Kiyomi Tsuki and His Fox - Chapter 131
Kiyomi Tsuki was taken aback.
"I've wanted to see you cry for a long time. Xu Yun is absolutely right. You have no looks, no gentleness, you can't even tell if you're a man or a woman, yet you easily obtained what we've always dreamed of. No matter how hard we try, we can only helplessly watch them from afar. How much of the sorrow in our hearts can you understand? Qing Jian Yue, what angers me is that you got it, but you don't know how to cherish it. You got it, but you're afraid to accept it. So, I'm very angry, extremely angry."
There was no wind, yet He Yunya's jet-black embroidered hair flew wildly, and her face and eyes shone with an eerie, terrifying light...
Chapter Forty-Nine: A Tragic Background
One after another, exquisite dishes were carried into the painted hall of Yixin Garden by maids. Madam Cai smiled broadly and praised them highly. Madam Lu, leaning against the warm couch, glanced at them only briefly before turning her face away with great dignity. Xu Yun gracefully entered from outside, carrying a tray with a cup of fragrant tea on it.
Lu Qingcheng bowed respectfully, "Mother, this is something I specially asked the kitchen to make; it's all your favorite dishes."
Madam Cai smiled and said, "Qingcheng is truly a model of filial piety. He personally drafted the menu and then supervised the kitchen in preparing it."
Madam Lu glanced at the fragrant tea Xu Yun offered. Xu Yun said softly, "It's glutinous rice tea." Madam Lu took it, then looked at her son and said coldly, "Has Qing Jianyue woken up?"
Xu Yun also looked at Lu Qingcheng, her expression showing some excitement. Lu Qingcheng, however, lowered her head slightly, as if pondering how to answer, and hesitated for a moment.
Madam Lu raised an eyebrow, her displeasure filling the air. "Why don't you answer?"
“Yes, Mother, Jianyue has woken up.” Lu Qingcheng replied cautiously, “Miss He said that the remaining poison in Jianyue’s body has not been completely cleared, and she is still weak and needs to rest well. So…”
"Take the meal away," Madam Lu suddenly interrupted her son.
Lu Qingcheng was stunned, and called out, "Mother."
Madam Cai shook her head.
"I told you to take the meal away." Madam Lu said with a hint of anger. "I told you, I won't eat it."
Lu Qingcheng pleaded, "Mother, you haven't eaten for almost two days and one night. If you don't eat something soon, your body won't be able to take it. It's all my fault. If you're angry, please punish me."
"Take the food away," Madam Lu scolded. "You spineless wretch, get out of here. I get angry just looking at you."
Lu Qingcheng lowered her head and remained silent.
Madam Lu scolded, "What are you still standing there for? Are you giving me that look?"
"Your child wouldn't dare," Lu Qingcheng said with a melancholy look in her eyes. "I am deeply remorseful for hurting Mother's feelings. I don't know what to do to make Mother forgive me."
Seeing her son's sorrowful face, Madam Lu felt a pang of pain in her heart, but even so, it could not lessen her anger and hatred towards Qing Jianyue. She turned her face away and said coldly, "Don't expect me to take back my order? Absolutely not. As long as Qing Jianyue is in Lu Family Fort, I will not eat a single meal."
“Jian Yue did nothing wrong. She did nothing wrong, yet she is being unjustly expelled. How am I supposed to manage my subordinates in the future?” Lu Qingcheng argued. “It is I who did wrong. Since it is I who did wrong, please punish me, Mother, and let Jian Yue go.”
Madam Lu raised her hand and threw the teacup at her son. Lu Qingcheng didn't even dodge, and the tea was splashed all over his head and face. The teacup fell to the ground and shattered with a "clang." Everyone in the room was so frightened that their faces turned pale. The maids bent over, not daring to lift their heads.
Xu Yun rushed forward, crying, "Madam, you mustn't!" She pulled out a handkerchief and approached Lu Qingcheng, intending to wipe the tea from his face. Lu Qingcheng quickly moved aside, and her hand missed its mark. Xu Yun's eyes darkened, her face filled with sorrow.
"Qingcheng, get out of here!" Madam Cai could no longer contain herself and stood up, saying, "Do you want to anger your mother to death? Get out. Get out." Lu Qingcheng looked at Madam Cai for help, but Madam Cai gave her meaningful glances and waved her hands. Helpless, Lu Qingcheng could only bow and leave the painting hall.
Madam Lu leaned against the pillows, her chest heaving, one hand supporting her forehead, clearly quite angry. Xu Yun sat beside her, massaging her shoulders and back with her hands.
"Don't be angry," Madam Cai advised. "I think Qingcheng is regretting it terribly, and she's heartbroken."
Before she could finish speaking, a maid entered and reported, "Madam, the lord is kneeling at the foot of the stone steps outside. He says that he will not get up until Madam has eaten."
Madam Lu slammed her fist on the bed and cursed, "That little beast! If he wants to kneel, let him kneel. What are you still doing here? Get out of here and take all those things away."
The maids, their faces pale, carried out the exquisite meal. Outside the hall, Lu Qingcheng knelt on the steps, while the other lords, managers, and stewards arrived one after another after hearing the news. When they saw the meal that had been brought out, they couldn't help but look at each other in dismay.
As Madam Cai emerged from the painting hall, Cai Bo'an rushed to greet her, reaching out to support his mother. He said, "Mother, why didn't you try to persuade her?" Madam Cai remained silent, and with her son's help, she descended the steps, glaring at him. "Foolish boy! What can I say to you? You have such a clever face, yet you only know how to do stupid things."
Lu Qingcheng said anxiously, "Auntie, you can scold me however you want, just please help your nephew."
"Why didn't you let Jianyue come over and kowtow to apologize now that he's awake?" Madam Cai asked.
Lu Qingcheng said, "This matter is my fault, what does it have to do with Jian Yue?"
“Young man, you’re shrewd in big matters but muddle-headed in small ones. The more you defend Jianyue, the angrier your mother will get. Jianyue hasn’t even dressed up as a girl before marrying you, and you’re already like this. If she really marries you, what will become of her?” Madam Cai scolded, “I’m a mother too. If my son accused his mother of murder for his wife, I’d be furious and I’d strangle that unfilial son to death.”
Lu Qingcheng was so ashamed that she didn't say a word.
After scolding her, Madam Cai coaxed her, "Alright, don't be sad. Quickly send someone to fetch Jianyue and have her kowtow to your mother to beg for forgiveness. No matter what happens, you are not allowed to speak up for Jianyue. Remember, the woman inside is not only your mother, but also a woman. Women can be very dangerous when they fight over someone or when they are jealous."
Lu Qingcheng was a little dumbfounded by the last sentence.
Cai Zhonghe, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, said slowly, "So that's how it is. No wonder Mother was always finding fault with my sister-in-law when she first married into the family; it turns out it was just jealousy among the women."
Madam Cai nearly fainted from anger at her unruly youngest son. She swung her fist to strike, but her eldest son half-carried her away, causing her to miss her target.
Kiyomi Tsuki simply couldn't believe what she was seeing.
He Yunya wasn't lying to him. Although the weather was clear and thankfully there was no wind or snow, kneeling on the cold steps for a whole day and night in the dead of winter would be unbearable even for someone made of iron. Yet Lu Qingcheng knelt. Except for a short time away, and the time she spent visiting him in the courtyard.
Why do this? Is a mere servant worth you harming your precious body like this? Qing Jianyue gazed at Lu Qingcheng prostrate at the foot of the steps before the Yixin Garden's painted hall, her heart filled with unbearable sorrow. Was it worth it? Lord, am I worth this?
Kiyomi Tsuki's eyes filled with tears.
“Fortress, Fortress Master.” Zhang Zhichun was overjoyed. “Young Master, it’s Young Master Jianyue.”
Everyone in front of the steps looked over at the same time.
Cai Zhonghe couldn't help but take a few steps away. Although he already knew, he still couldn't suppress his excitement when he saw Qing Jianyue standing right in front of him.
Zhang Zhichun helped Lu Qingcheng up from the ground. Qing Jianyue walked slowly towards him, his steps noticeably less light and cheerful than usual. Lu Qingcheng shook off Zhang Zhichun's support and excitedly went to greet him, the hurried confession from that morning seemingly echoing in her ears again.
"Does Jian Yue like me? Does Jian Yue like me too? Does she like me as much as I like you? Tell me you like me. Jian Yue, even just a little bit of liking would be enough."
"I...I..."