Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 911: Chapter 911: Return

Ms. Xin smiled, her face brimming with joy.

Even though Liu Sisi had sent several bottles of scar-removing medicine before and after, Ms. Xin had never used them, allowing the scars on her face and body to remain and distress the eyes of all who saw them.

Although Liu Sisi felt it was a pity, thinking of Ms. Xin’s experiences and seeing her indifferent demeanor with her face covered in scars, she also let go of her concern.

Since ancient times, beautiful women have had unfortunate fates; since Ms. Xin could let go, let her be.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing of Ms. Xin’s situation, Di Ah-bao hurried to the capital city without stopping.

Because Ms. Xin was unwilling to return to the Marquis Mansion with Liu Sisi, after some thought, Liu Sisi had someone purchase a small courtyard outside and settled Ms. Xin there. Then, not long after, Ms. Xin invited a Buddha statue into the small courtyard and began praying every day.

When Di Ah-bao arrived in the capital, he was so eager to find Ms. Xin that he didn’t even enter the Marquis Mansion first, only to be rebuffed at her door.

He remained resolute, guarding the small courtyard where Ms. Xin was recuperating for two months, until he finally saw her leave to offer incense and managed to stop her.

To his dismay, as soon as Ms. Xin saw him, she turned around and walked away.

Having waited over two months to see her, how could Di Ah-bao give up? He quickly stepped forward and blocked her path again.

“Cui’er, it’s Ah-bao, don’t you recognize me?”

“I am not Cui’er, you have the wrong person,” Cui’er said and turned to leave.

“Cui’er…”

Having finally seen her and not knowing when he might see her again, Di Ah-bao followed persistently, but Ms. Xin showed no sign of softening.

“Donor, I have taken refuge in Buddhism and no longer concern myself with worldly matters. Please seek others for your needs.”

With these words, Di Ah-bao noticed for the first time that Cui’er was now dressed differently—wasn’t that the garb of a young nun?

“Cui’er, how could you…?”

“Donor, please stop. My worldly ties have ended, and I ask that you do not disturb my practice anymore. Whatever has passed, let it return to dust. Let it be.”

Having said this, Ms. Xin recited a Buddhist chant and then left.

Di Ah-bao had never imagined that Ms. Xin would become a nun, and he was almost utterly disheartened, even contemplating becoming a monk himself. In the brief moment that Di Ah-bao was stunned, Ms. Xin had disappeared without a trace.

However, Di Ah-bao’s thought of becoming a monk was fleeting; starting the next day, he was once again waiting outside the small courtyard, hoping every day to see Ms. Xin.

As time passed, he simply bought a small courtyard opposite hers and, following Ms. Xin’s example, took up the life of a monk.

As time went by, the two seemed to be challenging each other—one a nun, the other a monk, both reciting sutras and praying every day—without any intention of returning to the Marquis Mansion for half a year. Clearly, Di Ah-bao still hadn’t given up; despite having shaved his head and become a monk, he was still visiting every two or three days, seeking an audience with Ms. Xin.

Thinking of all this, Liu Sisi didn’t know what to say about the two of them.

“Princess, do you think the two of them really intend to remain as a monk and a nun? When I think of the young madam’s originally beautiful face, I just feel it’s such a shame,” Ms. Gao also sighed deeply.

Ms. Xin’s original face couldn’t be ranked as the most beautiful, but it was certainly lovely. Only, her fate had been too rough.

“Becoming a monk would surely be impossible, as for becoming a nun… it really doesn’t seem likely.”

She had actually visited Ms. Xin, and Liu Sisi could clearly see that Ms. Xin’s eyes were a void of lifelessness, without the slightest ripple. With Ms. Xin in such a state, if Di Ah-bao could still coax her into a change of heart, that would be difficult indeed.

“If the Marquis comes back, I’m afraid we won’t be able to keep it a secret.”

Ms. Gao began to pack things up, doing so with particular care.

“It doesn’t matter, since we can’t hide it, we might as well not conceal it, and simply tell him the true state of affairs. It would be worse if he found out upon investigation.”

At the mention of such a grave topic, Liu Sisi too snapped the account book shut, suddenly losing the energy to continue reconciling the accounts.

Let’s just hope no more unexpected problems arise.

They said it would take seven days, but time passed slowly yet in the blink of an eye, it arrived.

Liu Sisi had prepared the items a day in advance, and took advantage of the darkness before dawn to leave the city, heading straight for the ten-mile slope outside the capital.

She had purchased several manors, and one near the ten-mile slope was growing greenhouse vegetables.

It was the season of blooming flowers and verdant willows, so naturally, the greenhouse was now idle. Most of the produce in the fields had been sold, and the profits were quite good. The manor’s manager had gotten the news early on and came out to welcome her.

“Princess, don’t worry, this servant has already sent people to wait ahead at the hostel. If the Marquis’s horsemen have indeed returned to the capital, then news will immediately be relayed from there.” The manager was a middle-aged man about forty, all smiles like Maitreya.

In fact, Liu Sisi had already sent out several scouts to track Di Yelei’s whereabouts. However, the people they were looking for were not very capable, and until now, they had not discovered any news.

Liu Sisi couldn’t help but recall the events that transpired when Di Yelei had returned in triumph initially, and sighed inwardly, hoping His Majesty would decide again not to personally leave the palace to welcome him as he had done back then.

However, Liu Sisi was destined to be disappointed.

Owing to her advantageous timing and location, Liu Sisi was waiting outside the ten-mile-long pavilion before dawn broke.

As the sun began to warm her back, His Majesty’s dragon carriage finally arrived fashionably late.

Liu Sisi, mingling within the crowd, knelt down and stealthily surveyed the horsemen that Father Emperor had brought along today. The Imperial Guards quickly separated the masses, soon clearing out a wide avenue. The spectators, who were initially crowding to watch the spectacle, were purposefully divided on either side of the broad avenue, which was further lined inside and out with heavily armored horsemen.

With the presence of the government office’s horsemen deterring them, ordinary people truly dared not press forward.

After being permitted to stand, Liu Sisi did not approach His Majesty, but instead quietly stood on the perimeter of the crowd. Having not entered the palace for a long time, she suddenly realized that Father Emperor actually looked very young, and even younger than before. It was fortunate that Chou Chou, Niuniu, and the others had not come; otherwise, it would probably have been chaotic.

Zhao Yuanlang seemed to thank a few clerks by his side, but soon after, his expression turned dark.

The clerks promptly nodded in response, then quickly mingled into the crowd.

Liu Sisi knitted her brows; surely nothing had gone wrong with Di Yelei? Judging by the deep scowl on His Majesty’s face, it was very likely that her guess was correct. Then she saw two more people hurry out and blend into the crowd, quickly vanishing from sight.

Liu Sisi’s heart instantly became a mess, and her thoughts ran wild.

Soon enough, commotion arose in the crowd ahead. Before Liu Sisi could figure out what was happening, someone shouted: “Marquis Yongping and Marquis Yongwu are back! Hurry, hurry, they are just up ahead, they have returned.”

Returned? The weight on Liu Sisi’s heart suddenly lifted.