Chapter 74 A Sudden Windfall

"Don’t you think it’s too fast?"

Lin Mengya was surprised at his words. This man must be insane.

Even if he wanted to find an apprentice, he didn’t need to be so impatient.

"Do you think it’s fast? Well, I’m too abrupt. Girl, my family name is Baili and my first name is Rui. Please don’t ask any other questions. Don’t worry, I’ll not hurt you."

Baili Rui? Baili was an unusual surname. Lin Mengya suddenly thought of Baili Wuchen and wondered whether they were related.

"Uncle, I bring you some food."

Speak of the devil and he will appear.

But Baili Rui’s face suddenly darkened. It seemed that he would bawl Baili Wuchen out if Lin Mengya were not here.

"Put down the food and you can leave. You don’t need to bring me food in person. You can ask the servant to do it."

Baili Rui said coldly. It seemed that there was no family affection between them.

He was even more friendly to Lin Mengya than to his nephew. Lin Mengya noticed that Baili Rui went rigid after hearing what his uncle had said.

"Uncle, are you still angry with me?"

Lin Mengya was not familiar with Baili Wuchen.

But it was the first time that she heard the sadness in his voice.

"Don’t pretend to be a filial nephew. I’ve told that I had nothing to do with you."

Why was the relationship between them so strange?

Lin Mengya was puzzled. But she was standing quietly and watching them arguing with each other.

"Uncle, I was brought up by you and I’ll never forget your love and care. But you have to admit that Prince Yu is a wise ruler. Why can’t you forgive me?"

Baili Wuchen’s voice was thick with bitterness, which showed his deep love for Baili Rui.

Most of the aides and staff of Prince Yu were advisers while Baili Wuchen seemed to be the chief of them.

Long Tianhao also thought highly of him and even asked him to undertake important tasks alone. But Lin Mengya suddenly realized that this man also had his soft spot.

"You’re shameless! You’re not a member of our Baili family! Get out of here!"

Baili Rui was getting angrier and more violent but Lin Mengya didn’t intend to settle their dispute.

Obviously, there was some disagreement between Baili Rui and his nephew. But as an onlooker, Lin Mengya shouldn’t get involved.

Baili Wuchen became silent. Then he slowly left and Lin Mengya heard his heavy tread.

"I’m sorry. You must be embarrassed."

Baili Rui had just been in high spirits. But now his face paled and he looked much older. It seemed that his quarrel with Baili Wuchen exhausted all his strength.

"Never mind. I’d better leave now. Mr. Baili, I’ll visit you another day."

After thinking for a while, Lin Mengya felt that she shouldn’t stay here.

Baili Rui was in a world of his own and didn’t pay any attention to Lin Mengya. So she left the stone call quietly.

What had happened between Baili Wuchen and this weird and handsome man?

Lost in thought, Lin Mengya successfully found her way back.

She left in a hurry and didn’t even talk with Baili Wuchen.

Prince Yu’s Mansion was riddled with secrets and even Long Tianhao had many secrets of his own.

She was not curious and had no time to explore the secrets of others.

"Prince, Concubine De wants you to come over."

Lost in thought, Lin Mengya was scared by the sudden voice ringing in her ears.

She turned around and found that Aunt Jinyue, the personal maid of Concubine De, was standing beside her like a ghost.

Compared with amiable Aunt Jinyue, Aunt Jingyue was more silent and serious.

"Yes. Thank you, Aunt Jingyue."

Lin Mengya nodded respectfully and quickly followed Jingyue to Concubine De’s Art Courtyard.

Jingyue pushed the door open and Lin Mengya found that Concubine De was dressing a Yunjin dress and sitting in the seat of the host.

Jiang Ruqin was sitting next to her. She looked cute and was smiling to Concubine De. It seemed that they were telling jokes and Concubine De was also smiling.

Moreover, Shangguan Qing and Lin Mengwu were sitting opposite to Jiang Ruqin, which was unusual.

Shangguan Qing looked warm and loving and her daughter seemed to be cute and filial. The atmosphere was harmonious.

"Ya’er, come here. I’m talking with your mother about the interesting stories in your childhood. You’re just in time."

Lin Mengya walked in and Concubine De immediately asked her to join the conversation.

Jing Ruqin had been complacent but she was immediately ignored by Concubine De after Lin Mengya entered the room. Her pretty face darkened but she could do nothing to turn the tide.

"Oh? I didn’t expect that my mother still remembered the interesting stories in my childhood."

Childhood? In fact, she and her elder brother had been going through hell since the day when she got married to their father.

Lin Mengya had been wronged and bullied by this vicious woman and only her father and elder brother could make her warm and happy.

There was no interesting story in her childhood at all.

"Yes! Ya’er was naughty when she was a kid. And I had to carefully look after her. But she’s a beautiful girl now and has become Princess Yu. To be honest, I’m reluctant to part with her."

Shangguan Qing’s acting skill was perfect and there were tears in her eyes.

It seemed that she was reluctant to part with her daughter, but only Lin Mengya knew that Shangguan Qing had tried to kill her and there were several close calls in her childhood.

"Mother, please don’t be sad. Sister is married to Prince Yu instead of some barbarian prince. If you miss her, you can come here to visit her. Prince Yu’s Mansion is not far away from our home."

Lin Mengwu interrupted her mother at a proper time, which made her look more considerate.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

But Concubine De and Lin Mengya clearly knew that they must have ulterior motives.

"Yes, you’re right. By the way, I prepare a gift for Concubine De. I’m busy and haven’t visited you since I came here. Please forgive me for being impolite."

In addition to the loving mother, Shangguan Qing also wanted to become a qualified in-law.

Lin Mengya looked at them coldly without saying anything. She was curious to find out their intentions.

After a while, the servants of Shangguan Qing brought her a mahogany case.

Shangguan Qing took it over and opened it. There was an S-shaped ruby ornament lying inside.

The color was bright and the ruby was sparkling and crystal-clear. It must be valuable.

But Lin Mengya felt strange. It seemed that she had seen this object before.

"My husband brought it back from the frontier. It is not valuable but it’s rare. Concubine De, please have a look. Do you like this gift?"

No! This ornament was not brought back by her father!

Lin Mengya racked her brain and finally remembered some details. It seemed that the Empress had once given this ornament to Shangguan Qing as the reward.

Concubine De would not accept this gift if she knew that the Empress was its owner. Perhaps that was the reason why Shangguan Qing lied to Concubine De, saying that it was brought back by her husband.

"Oh? This ruby must be of high quality. It’s rare. Jinyue, please accept this gift and thank Mrs. Lin’s for kindness."

"It’s nothing. You like it and it’s our pleasure. Wu’er, it’s getting late. Concubine De may want to have a rest and we’d better leave now."

Shangguan Qing got up and curtsied to Concubine De. Concubine De also stood up out of respect.

Shangguan Qing and her daughter left the Art Courtyard and the smile on Concubine De’s face gradually disappeared.

"Qin’er, you can also leave now."

Jiang Ruqin stamped her foot and was reluctant to leave. But she dared not contradict Concubine De anymore.

Concubine De preferred Lin Mengya to her niece now. Jiang Ruqin hated Lin Mengya at this thought.

"Mother, why do you ask me to come over?"

Concubine De carefully looked out of the door. Jiang Ruqin, who was wearing light yellow clothes, just got out the door.

"Your great uncle said that the Bright King comes to the capital city to choose a wife for his son. And he hoped that Ruqin could become the Princess of Tubo."

Concubine De said with hesitation. In fact, she didn’t want her niece to become the wife of the barbarian prince.

But they suddenly heard a crack as if something fell outside the window.

Jingyue immediately went out and checked the courtyard. She came back after a long time.

"It seems that the birds kicked a piece of tile off the roof. Don’t worry."

Lin Mengya dropped her eyes and didn’t contradict her.

One piece of glazed tile on the roof weighed at least 250 grams. Only vultures could kick it off the roof.

"Oh, good. I want you to think of a way to help Ruqin. We hope that the Prince of Tubo can be attracted to her in the banquet."

Concubine De didn’t care about this insignificant interlude. She was reluctant to marry Ruqin off to the barbarian prince, but she had no choice.

After thinking for a while, Lin Mengya felt that Jiang Ruqin, who was petulant and headstrong, was not the right girl for this mission.

"Please don’t worry, I’ll discuss with the Prince."

She must discuss with Long Tianhao before making any decision.

The trouble came one after another.

After coming back from the Art Courtyard, Lin Mengya stayed in her room all day and all night. No one was allowed to enter her room.

The three servant girls and Lin Zhongyu had to wait for her outside the door of her room.

Lin Mengya finally opened the door at dusk the next day.

She walked out of her room and found that five people were crouching on the ground and waiting for her.

She looked at the fifth man with surprise. Who was he? He looked feminine and beautiful and was wearing the uniform of the guard. Why did he crouch on the ground?

"Ah! Sister Princess finally comes out! We’re worried about you!"

Lin Zhongyu was the first to find Lin Mengya. His eyes lit up and he immediately rushed at her and wanted to give her a big hug.

But the man tugged at his clothes tightly and stopped him.

"I haven’t hugged her yet! It’s not your turn!"

His voice was evil and flirtatious. Lin Mengya’s eyes widened and she realized that this man who was as beautiful as a girl was Qinghu.

Why did he change from a teenager to an adult man overnight?

"Hey! I’m too handsome and you can hardly recognize me! Don’t worry, I only love you!"

Lin Mengya was familiar with his skittish tone and she was sure that this man was Qinghu.

She looked strangely at Qinghu. He used to be almost as tall as her. But he turned into a tall and slender mature man overnight.

This was ridiculous!