Chapter 305

It was five days later when Xue Liu and Mu Linyuan arrived in Qingzhou.

The disaster had been largely controlled by the efforts of the local prefect and a group of county magistrates. With the help of the disaster relief money brought by Mu Linyuan, the disaster was easily completely controlled.

Mu Linyuan did not know how to do disaster relief, so Xue Liu took him to travel through the disaster-stricken areas every day, and took him to personally distribute porridge and food to the people. From time to time, he also took him to inspect the reconstruction of the people's houses. Before long, Mu Linyuan was respected by many people, and Yangling Hou's reputation for being close to the people and kind-hearted began to spread from Qingzhou.

Seeing this, Mu Linyuan's reluctance finally dissipated.

Having lived a life of luxury for many years and being one of the three marquises of Da Chu, if it were not for Xue Liu's intention, Mu Linyuan would never do such a lowly thing.

Under Xue Liu's guidance, Mu Linyuan successfully completed the disaster relief mission and set off to return to Beijing.

At the same time, the prefect of Qingzhou sent a report letter to the emperor. Most of the letter was full of gratitude to Mu Linyuan and Xue Liu, stating that the difficulties in Qingzhou could be solved so quickly, and the two had made great contributions.

In early September, Mu Linyuan and his daughter had just returned to Shengjing when they received the emperor's imperial edict of commendation. Although it was only some gold and silver rewards, it was enough to make Mu Linyuan happy, because it meant that he began to gain a firm foothold in the court.

That night, Mu Linyuan called everyone in the mansion to celebrate together, and his face was full of joy. However, Xue Liu, the biggest contributor to the disaster relief, was always calm, because this little achievement was not worth mentioning compared to Xue Liu's lofty ambitions.

After the Qingzhou incident, the emperor sympathized with Mu Linyuan's hard work and let him rest temporarily, and Xue Liu also returned to his previous quiet life.

When he went to Qifutang to pay his respects in the morning, Xue Liu had observed Lin Xuefu's movements a little, and seeing that she was well-behaved and quiet, he didn't take it to heart anymore.

In the blink of an eye, three years have passed. Xue Liu is now sixteen years old and has reached the age of marriage.

During these three years, Xue Liu followed Mu Linyuan to several places, including snow disasters in the north, floods in the south, and locust disasters in the east. She has been to many places. Mu Linyuan's position in the court has become more and more stable, and Xue Liu's reputation as a hero among women has been spreading in Shengjing.

In the fifteenth year of Jiahe, on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, a palace banquet.

Today is the Little New Year. The emperor held a banquet in Qingquan Palace and invited a group of court officials and their families to celebrate the New Year in advance.

Xue Liu followed Mu Linyuan and Lin into the palace. Before leaving, Mu Ziqian took Lin Xuefu with him, but was stopped by Xue Liu.

Looking at Mu Ziqian's pleading eyes, Mu Linyuan, who had already promised this matter, changed his face slightly, but still listened to Xue Liu's advice.

Seeing the different expressions of the family members, Xue Liu said: "Xue Fu is only thirteen years old now, not yet the age for marriage. It is too early for father and mother to bring her into the palace now."

Xue Liu knew that Lin Xue Fu was raised by Mu Linyuan and Lin as her own daughter, but it was not true after all. Bringing a person of a different surname into the palace at a royal palace banquet would inevitably cause a lot of trouble.

Mu Ziqian wanted to say something else, but Lin Xuefu pulled his sleeve, "Cousin is right, Xue Fu is still young, it's not too late to go in two years, cousin, go to the palace with your uncle and aunt first, Xue Fu will wait for you to come back in the mansion."

The things that had been promised a long time ago suddenly changed. Lin Xuefu's face did not have a trace of grievance and displeasure, but only deep consideration and understanding, which made Mu Linyuan, Lin and Mu Ziqian feel more guilty about her.

Raising her hand and stroking the soft top of Lin Xuefu's hair, Lin said gently: "What a well-behaved and sensible child. You are doing well in the mansion. Aunt will take you out to buy new clothes tomorrow."

Lin Xuefu smiled and said sweetly "OK".

Xue Liu and the other three got on the carriage, and Lin Xuefu stood at the door and watched them leave. From beginning to end, she had a faint smile on her face, which made people feel distressed.

However, at the moment of turning around, Lin Xuefu's smiling face sank instantly.

Lian Rui on the side couldn't help but worry and said: "Miss..."

Lin Xuefu ignored the concern on her face and said coldly: "It's okay, go back."

Lin Xuefu hated Xue Liu since she was a child, because every time Xue Liu appeared, she would remind her that she was just a substitute.

Moreover, Xue Liu was so dazzling, the eldest daughter of Yangling Marquis's Mansion, proficient in the eight arts, meticulous, and a wonderful woman praised by everyone in Shengjing.

In comparison, her counterfeit is much duller. She has nothing except the favor of Mu Linyuan's family.

And favor is the shortest thing.

Fortunately, Xue Liu is already sixteen years old this year. Soon, she will be married. At that time, no one in Yangling Marquis's Mansion will embarrass her anymore.

On the other side, in the carriage.

Bihen said hesitantly: "Miss, I always feel that the words and deeds of the cousin are a bit..."

"Deliberately provoking?" Xue Liu took over what Bihen had not finished, and a cold color appeared on her face. "I always thought she was young, so I didn't pay too much attention to her, but I didn't expect that her thoughts were getting deeper and deeper.

But it's okay, they are just some small fights for favor. I guess it will stop when I get married."

As Xue Liu continued to grow up, the years of estrangement between her and Mu Linyuan Lin became deeper.

Sometimes, even Bihen felt that Xue Liu was more like Mu Linyuan's confidant than his daughter. As for Lin, it was better that she was pregnant in ten months. However, the rift formed over the years, It cannot be healed overnight, or in other words, it cannot be healed again in this lifetime.

Halfway through the hour, Xue Liu and his party arrived at the palace gate smoothly.

As soon as he got off the carriage, a biting cold wind blew in his face. Bihen got another cloak for Xueliu before watching her walk into the palace gate.

As a maid, Bihen is not qualified to enter the palace.

The previous episode with Lin Xuefu has passed. Mrs. Lin walked beside Xueliu with a smile on her face, introducing something to her from time to time. Mu Linyuan also walked on the other side of Xueliu with a happy face. Every time he entered the palace, he would Give him a sense of superiority.

Only Mu Ziqian followed Mu Linyuan with concern.

In fact, Mu Ziqian had known for a long time that Xue Liu deliberately targeted Lin Xuefu, but Lin Xuefu was afraid of damaging the harmony in the house and would not let him talk to Mu Linyuan and Lin, so Mu Ziqian kept it secret. But she loved Lin Xuefu even more.

In Mu Ziqian's heart, Lin Xuefu is the kindest girl in the world, and kind-hearted people are often the easiest to be bullied.

Thinking about this, Mu Ziqian felt that he should find time to have a good talk with Xue Liu.

The banquet started at Xu, and it was still two-quarters of an hour before the family arrived. Xue Liu didn't want to go in early, so she temporarily separated from Mu Linyuan and the others.

As soon as I walked to the corner, I heard a few whispers, "Then Yun is really good at handling Qiao, but she is just the daughter of a businessman, and she really thinks of herself as a noble Madam Hou."

"Even so, I don't know where she got the confidence to refuse to go with us. When it comes to family background, none of us are much higher than her. That is, we just shamelessly married into the Yining Marquis Mansion with some money. Otherwise, how could we have done it? It’s as bright as it is today.”

"A few days ago, Mrs. Yang told me that the Yun family was noble. I thought it was because of some conflict between the two of them. But now it seems that they are all the truth. Please tell me this to my sisters in the future and don't get angry again. It’s a shame.”

As soon as these words fell, another sneer rose up, "To put it nicely, it's noble, to put it worse, it's just pretentious."

Xue Liu didn't want to meddle in other people's business, but when she raised her eyes, she found a familiar figure approaching not far away. She immediately changed her mind, took a few steps forward and said, "If you madams are too busy, you might as well go to the imperial garden more often." Come on, people in the palace are very confused. If these words spread, I'm afraid your husband's family won't be able to protect you."

Although Yun Yuan was a merchant, she was now the upright Madam of the Marquis of Yining. Her status was not comparable to that of a third-rank lady from her husband's family.

"You little girl..." Before the grumpy lady could finish her words, someone on the side quickly stopped her, "Stop talking, this is the concubine of Yanglinghou Mansion, we can't afford to offend her."

After learning Xue Liu's identity, several people quickly promised Xue Liu that they would not dare to do it again. After receiving Xue Liu's relief, they walked quickly in the other direction as if they had been granted amnesty. Unexpectedly, they bumped into the person they said was the real owner.

Seeing Yun Yuan's ugly face, the ladies immediately realized that Yun Yuan might have heard what they just said, and quickly apologized. Yun Yuan pursed her lips, but after all she didn't care too much.

Just as Yunyuan was about to say thank you to Xue Liu, she heard the latter say before her: "Mrs. Shen's temperament is just too good, which makes these people even more aggressive."

Yunyuan looked startled, but then she laughed at herself in a low voice, "From some aspects, what these people said is actually right."

However, the next moment, he felt a warm touch coming from his palm.

Yunyuan lowered her head and saw that Xue Liu had grasped her fingertips, and the warm temperature slowly dispelled the coldness of her fingertips.

"Mrs. Shen was wrong. It didn't matter what happened at the beginning. What matters is that you are now the legitimate Marquis of Yining. And giving in again and again will only make those who laugh at you feel that you are weak and can be bullied."

Yun Yuan's eyes widened slightly, and she heard Xue Liu continue: "Besides, being a merchant has never been a stain on Mrs. Shen. Over the years, the Yun family and Mrs. Shen have donated so much money to the national treasury and saved so many people's lives. The people know it, and His Majesty also knows it.

Mrs. Shen's righteousness is something that people like them who are born to enjoy themselves in the inner house would never imagine, so Mrs. Shen has no need to belittle herself. "

Those words went straight into Yunyuan's heart.

Over the years, even Shen Yi'an has never understood her so well.

A smile finally appeared in Yun Yuan's eyes, "I have taken note of Miss Mu's words."

Xue Liu raised the corner of her mouth and let go of Yun Yuan's fingertips that had been warmed by her, "Mrs. Shen just wants to understand."

Yunyuan originally wanted to invite Xue Liu to Qingquan Palace, but she heard a burst of applause from behind her, "Miss Mu's grandeur is really impressive."

Hearing this, Xue Liu and Yun Yuan subconsciously turned their heads and saw Chu Lingxiu, dressed in a black python robe, walking slowly from a short distance away, with undisguised admiration and joy in his eyes.