Yu Mingyue lifted the curtain, and the surprise in her eyes instantly dimmed when she saw the person inside.
"What, not happy to see your brother?" Yu Mingjing chuckled.
As if on cue, she walked over.
"Of course not, I thought Father had returned."
Yu Mingyue was truly worried about her father.
She didn't want her father to get hurt, nor did she want him to be separated from her mother.
"Lord Song led troops to assist, and all the wanted criminals have been apprehended. Father is in the palace now," Yu Mingjing, as the heir, naturally had access to timely information.
"Really?" Yu Mingyue exclaimed in surprise.
"Would your brother lie to you?" Yu Mingjing nodded at his sister with a smile.
However, these criminals were not simple; they were all remnants of the previous dynasty's faction.
The Emperor's attitude towards such factions was always to err on the side of caution, better to kill the innocent than let a guilty one go.
It was likely to stir up more trouble in the capital.
"Thank heavens, that's wonderful." If Father wasn't hurt and wasn't being instigated by the Old Madam, then his relationship with Mother could only get better.
"You haven't seen your father for just a few days, you heartless child," Madam Cui teased her daughter.
"No, Yue'er picked Mother's favorite plum blossoms," Yu Mingyue presented the flowers to Madam Cui as if offering a treasure.
Madam Cui took the flowers and asked Nanny Qin to arrange them. This little girl was skilled at pleasing others.
Madam Cui helped her daughter take off her cloak and hang it up. She was the treasure she protected, and she would not allow anyone to slander her.
What Yu Mingjing said was true. Although she disdained some matters, since she managed the inner chambers, she would not tolerate anyone causing trouble under her nose.
Yu Mingjing's news was accurate. By dinner time, Yu Zeyan returned.
Seeing her father, Yu Mingyue rushed over excitedly, neglecting to notice that his movements were not as agile as usual when he bent down.
The family of four, each busy with their own affairs, had not dined together for a long time. This was a rare occasion.
Yu Mingyue constantly remembered her duty to mend her parents' relationship, and Yu Mingjing, seeing his sister's intention, was more than willing to cooperate.
The entire meal was filled with laughter and joy.
After dinner, Yu Mingyue used the excuse of having her brother teach her calligraphy to take Yu Mingjing away.
How could Madam Cui not sense her daughter's intentions? However, the knot in her heart with the Duke could not be explained in a few words.
"Have you had the Duke's injuries examined by a doctor?" Madam Cui noticed Yu Zeyan's slow movements when he held their daughter.
Yu Zeyan was startled, not expecting Madam Cui to have noticed.
He said somewhat sheepishly, "It's a minor injury. The imperial physician in the palace has already seen it. It's nothing serious. Don't let the children know."
"You can hide it from Yue'er, but you can't hide it from Jing'er. He saw it long ago. Did your wound reopen when you forced yourself to carry Yue'er just now? Let me see!" Madam Cui chided Yu Zeyan with a glare.
Yu Zeyan caught Madam Cui's hand. "Madam... do you still care about me?"
Their gazes met, neither intending to look away.
"What does Your Grace mean by that?"
"I thought Madam's heart... had no room for me," Yu Zeyan said with a hint of melancholy.
Upon hearing this, Madam Cui let out a cold laugh and withdrew her hand.
"Yu Zeyan, we have been married for eighteen years. You have not taken concubines, nor visited courtesans, and you have shielded the Duke's mansion from storms. As your wife, I respect you and value you. But since you chose a good reputation, you must bear the loneliness that comes with it."
"That letter accusing you of a fabricated crime arrived at your study, and shortly after, the Old Madam used it to take two beautiful concubines for you. As the Minister of Justice, it should have been easier for you to investigate, but did you?"
"You sent those two women away! You only see your sacrifices and your grievances. Do I not have any? Yu Zeyan, for the sake of your filial piety, have I ever complained to you? For you to ask such a question is unforgivable!"
Madam Cui was proud by nature and disdained engaging in pointless verbal disputes.
However, upon hearing Yu Zeyan's words, she could no longer tolerate it.
That's right, the knot between her and Yu Zeyan was not about that cousin who had passed away many years ago.
It was about a letter.