Chapter 271: Chapter 271: Xiao Yunjing Leaves

Xiao Yunjing shook his head and walked out of the room.

He and his mother always clashed, often starting to argue after just a few words.

Gu Qingli was standing outside. Seeing her, Xiao Yuling immediately let go.

“Li’er is here?”

“Mm-hm.” Gu Qingli nodded, entered the room, and the other two followed her back in. Mother and son both looked at her, wondering why she had come.

Gu Qingli hadn’t planned to come. She was just passing by the door when she heard the tense atmosphere between mother and son inside and decided to stop.

“Please, both of you, sit down.”

The two exchanged a glance and obediently sat.

Gu Qingli looked at Xiao Yuling and said, “Mother, you’ve been here for a while now, and Yunjing hasn’t made his feelings clear. Do you know why?”

“Ah? You called me ’Mother’?” Xiao Yuling’s attention fixated on that word. She took a deep breath. Today might just be my lucky day.

“Mm-hm. What else would I call you?”

“Call me Mother! You must call me Mother! Li’er, did you come looking for Yunjing?” Xiao Yuling was ecstatic. My daughter-in-law acknowledges me; how dare my unfilial son not?

She glanced smugly at Xiao Yunjing.

Xiao Yunjing’s mouth twitched. Seeing her so pleased with herself, he couldn’t fathom how such a childish person had been sent to the palace, let alone risen all the way to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort.

Gu Qingli said, “Not exactly. I was just passing by and overheard your rather unpleasant conversation.”

“Oh, it was nothing. This brat was just speaking out of turn, so Mother told him to get lost.”

“As long as it’s nothing serious. Yunjing has to go out tomorrow. If Mother needs anything, please come find me.”

“Alright, alright. There’s really nothing. Mother spends all day with the little ones; what else could there be?” Xiao Yuling waved her hand dismissively.

“That’s good. Tomorrow, Mother, please pick one of those four maids to attend you.”

Gu Qingli looked at her with a touch of pity. This woman, accustomed to having her every need catered to, had somehow managed to look after herself during this time. However, her daily attempts at grooming were quite an eyesore. Her hair, her clothes… they were a complete mess. It was fortunate there wasn’t a mirror in her room; otherwise, she would have despaired at her own reflection.

“This… is this really alright?” Xiao Yuling asked tentatively. She was someone who could barely manage without servants; she had no idea how dreadful her appearance had become recently. Several times, she’d wanted to ask Gu Qingli for a maid but had been too embarrassed, so she’d just endured it. Tonight, her daughter-in-law had unexpectedly offered her a maid! She was overjoyed, yet a pang of sorrow struck her. To think that she, the dignified daughter of a great general and an Imperial Noble Consort of the nation, was now reduced to living like a dependant, having to work with her own hands for basic sustenance.

Xiao Yunjing glanced at Xiao Yuling. Seeing her disheveled state, he felt a twinge of guilt. He had wanted to temper her disposition but had overlooked her inability to manage daily life on her own.

“Mother, Li’er said you can pick one. Go ahead and choose one tomorrow morning,” Xiao Yunjing said.

“Ah? You brat! You unfilial son! You’re finally willing to acknowledge me? WAHHH…”

Realization struck Xiao Yuling, and her composure shattered. She had waited too long to hear him call her ’Mother.’ She lunged forward, throwing her arms around Xiao Yunjing, pounding his chest as she cried.

Xiao Yunjing stiffened at her embrace but stood still, allowing Xiao Yuling to soak his shoulder with her tears and snot.

“Mother, cry. Cry it all out. Let go of all your unhappiness,” Xiao Yunjing said, gently patting her back.

Xiao Yuling cried even harder.

Gu Qingli covered her mouth with a slight smile. This actual mother-in-law of hers was really just a pampered woman, but her nature wasn’t actually bad. She was quite happy that mother and son could finally reconcile. After all, blood is thicker than water; the bond of kinship is truly unbreakable.

Once Xiao Yuling had cried her fill, she let go of Xiao Yunjing, hiccuping as she sat down to one side.

Gu Qingli summoned Dong’er, the gentlest of the four maids, and instructed her to fetch water to help the Old Madam freshen up.

“Dong’er, from now on, you will serve the Old Madam exclusively.”

Dong’er replied, “Yes, Madam. Dong’er will take good care of Old Madam.”

Gu Qingli nodded and asked Xiao Yuling, “Mother, is this maid acceptable?”

Xiao Yuling said coquettishly, “Since Li’er has said so, how could Mother refuse?”

Gu Qingli smiled. “That’s good. Then, Mother, please rest. We’ll be going now; the little ones will start looking for us if we’re gone too long.”

“Go, go. Mother is feeling sleepy,” Xiao Yuling waved them off.

Xiao Yunjing stood up, took Gu Qingli’s hand, and they left.

“Rude brat,” Xiao Yuling grumbled, though her eyes were full of affection. Her son had finally acknowledged her.

When Gu Qingli and her husband returned to their bedchamber and Wuqing and the others had withdrawn, she took Xiao Yunjing into the Space for a bath.

「The next day」

When Gu Qingli woke up, she reached out to Xiao Yunjing’s side of the bed, only to find it already cold.

She moved her aching body and asked Wuqing and the others to take the three little ones out.

“Mistress, the Young Master left early this morning,” Wuqing said.

“Mm-hm. Did he say anything?”

“The Young Master only instructed us servants to take good care of the masters. He said nothing else.”

“Alright. I’ll put the little ones’ milk on the table later. I want to sleep a bit more.”

“Very well, Mistress.”

After Wuqing and the others took the little ones out, Gu Qingli went into the Space to milk the cows, boil the milk, and pour it into bottles. She placed them on the bedside table before falling back into a deep sleep.

There wasn’t much to do in winter, so everyone mostly stayed indoors. Occasionally, Ms. Wu would drop by for a visit.

Today, Ms. Wu came with Gu Qingyu again. However, Gu Qingli was still asleep when she arrived, so Ms. Wu had no choice but to take Gu Qingyu back home.

She didn’t dare to speak with Xiao Yuling. Whenever she saw her, Ms. Wu felt an instinctive fear—not because Xiao Yuling was fierce, but because of her former status as an Imperial Noble Consort. Even though she no longer held that title, her imposing aura remained. As a commoner, Ms. Wu couldn’t help but feel intimidated in her presence.

「Meanwhile」

As Xiao Yunjing and Xu Yi’s carriage entered a stretch of forest, Xiao Yunjing suddenly commanded, “Stop!” The moment he shouted, he flew out of the carriage, drew his Transcending Heaven Sword, and assumed a battle stance.

“Yun No. 55, protect Lord Xu!” he ordered.

The coachman, Yun No. 55, also drew his flexible sword and stood guard before the carriage door.

In an instant, with a series of WHOOSHES, over a dozen men in black emerged and surrounded them.

“Hmph! More fodder come to die,” Xiao Yunjing’s eyes darkened, his gaze filled with murderous intent as he stared at the men.

He knew someone would try to ambush them en route, which was why he had personally escorted Xu Yi. He had given his word to ensure the man’s safety, and he intended to keep it. It was unknown who had sent these dozen-odd men, but every one of them was highly skilled.

He took the initiative, his sword flashing out. He dispatched two of them with lightning speed, startling the remaining black-clad assailants. Their primary target was Xiao Yunjing, so the entire group immediately converged on him.

Xiao Yunjing snorted coldly, channeled his energy into his sword, and spun in a circle.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

After one rotation, bodies littered the ground. All of them had been struck down by his sword energy, killed instantly.

Not a single one had escaped.

Xiao Yunjing sheathed his sword, beckoned to Yun No. 55, and they continued their journey.

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