Chapter 191: I’ve Come to Take A Zhu Home

“Really?”

Indeed, upon hearing this, the eyes of the several Women lit up. After all, they were not getting any younger.

“Of course. The Ming Yu Skill of Yihua Palace is the highest Internal Skill Mind-Cultivation Technique of Yihua Palace, divided into nine layers. When cultivated to the ninth layer, the power does not dissipate outward but converges inward. When using the skill, the skin becomes as clear as jade, preserving youth forever, and the power never diminishes without absorbing external Qi.”

Yu Xian explained.

The Women exchanged glances, seeing yearning in each other’s eyes.

Yu Xian observed this. It seemed he really had to go sign in to obtain this Ming Yu Skill.

Women are always enthusiastic about the term ‘preserving youth forever.’ Even if it weren’t for Yao Yue, he had to make the trip.

“When are you going?”

Li Qingluo was already a bit impatient.

As soon as Li Qingluo finished asking, all The Women’s gazes settled on Yu Xian.

Well, this group of Women, for the sake of preserving youth, were directly urging him to leave! However, going to Yihua Palace was temporarily not in his plans!

But, facing the eager gazes of The Women, arrangements had to be made!

Although Yu Xian decided he needed to go out, he did not leave immediately.

Huang Rong had not finished her confinement period yet. He also wanted to spend more time with the two little ones. Even if he couldn’t compete for attention, he could at least watch over them.

Moreover, Dongfang had just returned; he needed a few days of intimacy regardless.

So, another month passed before Yu Xian chose to set out.

This time, he wasn’t going directly to Mountain, but first intended to find A Zhu. A Zhu still hadn’t returned, which made Yu Xian frown involuntarily.

Yu Xian, alone on his horse, headed toward the direction of Little Mirror Lake.

When Yu Xian arrived at Little Mirror Lake, he saw A Zhu sitting alone by the lakeside, lost in thought, not knowing what she was contemplating.

Seeing that A Zhu was safe and sound, Yu Xian finally felt a sense of relief.

Quietly, Yu Xian approached A Zhu’s side. “Miss, are you thinking about your Young Master?”

A Zhu was startled by the sudden appearance of someone beside her, but upon hearing the voice, her face instantly lit up with joy.

“Young Master!”

A Zhu exclaimed.

If she hadn’t already been pulled into Yu Xian’s embrace, she would have thought she was dreaming!

“Good A Zhu, you haven’t answered my question yet. Are you thinking about your Young Master?”

Yu Xian affectionately let A Zhu press against his chest, one hand gently patting her back.

“Yes, I missed Young Master.”

A Zhu wept with joy, extremely moved.

“You missed Young Master, yet you don’t know how to come home.”

“Young Master, it’s not that I don’t want to come back, it’s just… it’s just that my mother…”

A Zhu didn’t know how to explain.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to return; she thought of returning every moment. It was just that ever since her mother recognized her, her mother used guilt as an excuse to ask her to stay and keep her company.

Then news arrived that the Princess Consort of Dali’s Zhennan Royal Household had been burned to death. Her mother became very excited and dragged her to wait here at Little Mirror Lake for Duke Duan to return and handle the Princess Consort’s affairs before taking them to Dali.

At that time, her mother would be the Princess Consort, and she would be the County Princess!

She told her mother she didn’t want to be some County Princess; she wanted to go back to find Young Master, but her mother forbade it. Even with crying, making a scene, and threatening self-harm, she couldn’t do anything.

She didn’t know when she would be able to return.

“Silly girl, Young Master has come to take you back. Are you coming back with Young Master?”

Yu Xian asked gently.

“I want to go back, but my mother…”

A Zhu still couldn’t let go of her mother. Mainly, A Zi wasn’t around, so when her mother cried, she was helpless.

“Your mother didn’t return to Dali with Duan Zhengchun?”

Yu Xian asked, puzzled.

Dao Baifeng was gone, and the position of the Zhennan Princess Consort was vacant. He didn’t believe Ruan Xingzhu wouldn’t be tempted. Wouldn’t she eagerly follow Duan Zhengchun to Dali?

“My mother did want to go, but Duke Duan said he would return first to handle the Princess Consort’s matters and would come back to fetch my mother later. So my mother told me to stay here and wait with her. My mother wants to be the Princess Consort, and she wants me to be the County Princess. But I only want to be Young Master’s maid.”

A Zhu said, leaning against Yu Xian’s chest.

“Does your mother think that with you around, she has more leverage?”

Yu Xian scoffed.

“Perhaps. After all, the Princess Consort’s position is now empty. If my mother brings me along, it’s easier to gain recognition.”

A Zhu agreed with Yu Xian’s assessment; she understood in her own heart that her mother might have been hoping for that day all along.

“Who are you? Let go of my daughter!”

At this moment, an angry voice drifted from afar.

Yu Xian looked over and saw a woman dressed in a moon-white ruqun, with bamboo embroidered on the cuffs. Her skin was like congealed fat, her lips like cherry blossoms, and stray hair fluttered in the wind around her forehead, resembling bamboo and orchid. Although filled with anger, she exuded a captivating charm.

Tsk, tsk. Yu Xian couldn’t help but marvel. Duke Duan truly had excellent taste; everyone he found was an unparalleled beauty.

Ruan Xingzhu was originally supposed to be the most clear-headed and cleverest among Duke Duan’s many lovers. Yet now, because of the vacancy of the Dali Princess Consort position, she wanted to drag her daughter along to ascend, stirring up a desire to compete.

Whether Ruan Xingzhu competed or not was irrelevant to him, but he could not allow his A Zhu to be used as a tool for her rivalry! He would not permit that!

“Madam Ruan, I have come to take A Zhu home.”

Yu Xian had no interest in this woman.

“You must be the Young Master A Zhu mentioned. Hmph! What ‘come home’? This is A Zhu’s home! I am her mother! I haven’t agreed to marry her off to you yet!”

Ruan Xingzhu clearly disliked Yu Xian’s attitude toward her.

“Whether you agree or not is none of my business. I am merely informing you; I am not seeking your approval. Don’t think so highly of yourself. Whether you want to be the Princess Consort is your own affair; don’t drag A Zhu into it. A Zhu belongs to my Yu Family!”

Yu Xian said coldly.

Because of Ruan Xingzhu’s scheming, A Zhu couldn’t return home for so long, and Yu Xian was still angry!

“I am her mother; I am doing this for her own good! What is it like to be a maid in your family? She will be a County Princess in the future!”

Ruan Xingzhu was very indignant at Yu Xian’s words!

“Heh heh, then ask A Zhu if she wants to be the County Princess or Young Master Yu Xian’s maid!”

Yu Xian said, looking gently at A Zhu.

A Zhu understood what Yu Xian meant; he was asking her to state her position. In fact, she had already expressed her stance to Ruan Xingzhu: she didn’t want to be any County Princess; she only wanted to stay by Young Master’s side forever. Now that Young Master had come to fetch her, she was going home with him. Mother, take care of yourself from now on. Whether you want to become the Princess Consort or continue living here at Little Mirror Lake, your daughter will not interfere with you.”

A Zhu said to Ruan Xingzhu.

During these past few months here, Ruan Xingzhu had indeed fulfilled her maternal duties and loved her very much.

But Ruan Xingzhu loved Duke Duan more, always thinking of keeping Duke Duan by her side, and ultimately wanting to become Duke Duan’s official consort. Even if it wasn’t the main consort, she still wanted to return with Duke Duan, which was something A Zhu could not accept.

“Mother, I want to go back with Young Master.”

A Zhu looked pleadingly at Ruan Xingzhu.

Ruan Xingzhu hesitated for a moment. She owed A Zhu and A Zi too much, so she wanted to compensate them by returning with Duan Zhengchun and giving A Zhu the proper status.