Chapter 218: New Residence

The spring weather was neither cold nor hot, but from the entrance to the front courtyard, then through the long corridor, crossing two small bridges, and ascending the pavilion in the lake, Princess Jinyu’s face and forehead were covered in a layer of sweat.

Li Yu, without paying attention to the scenery, took a brocade handkerchief from the makeup box carried by the maids and carefully wiped the sweat for Princess Jinyu.

Princess Jinyu smiled and allowed him to serve her. When Li Yu went to lay out the cushions, she stopped him.

“Alright, stop bustling, they are here,” Princess Jinyu said.

The maids who were standing by and watching Li Yu busy himself finally smiled and pushed Li Yu to Princess Jinyu’s side, “Your Highness, let us handle it.”

“Aunt, please sit down and rest,” Li Yu said, then felt the air, “The wind is still a bit chilly, bring…”

Before he could say “cloak,” Princess Jinyu interrupted him with a smile.

“I’m not that delicate,” she said, gesturing to Li Yu, “Today is for you to see your residence.”

Li Yu still didn’t look at the scenery, looking at Princess Jinyu with a face full of grievance, “Aunt has chosen everything perfectly for me.”

Princess Jinyu frowned, “It is a bit far from the Imperial City, but being further away means living more freely.” Speaking of this, she sneered, “That thief Bai Ying, now that she has a prince, her heart has truly grown. I was discussing court matters with His Majesty, and she ran out with the child to interrupt, even having people watch me.”

“She is merely relying on the prince, incomparable to Aunt,” Li Yu said.

Naturally, Princess Jinyu thought, glancing at Li Yu. Seeing him still with a wronged expression, she became impatient, “What is it? What are you dissatisfied with about this residence?”

Li Yu said aggrievedly, “Aunt’s residence is very good, why did you drive me out?”

So it’s for this, Princess Jinyu laughed, “What do you mean by ‘drive out’? You are a son of our Great Zhou Li clan, wouldn’t you even have a residence?”

Li Yu asked, “Then can I still go back to Aunt’s residence to live?”

Princess Jinyu said with a smile, “Of course you can.”

A smile bloomed on Li Yu’s face, “That’s good.” After saying that, he lifted his foot and went downstairs, “Aunt, you sit down and rest, I’ll go take a good look at my residence.”

Princess Jinyu laughed heartily, being helped to sit down by the maids. Watching Li Yu go downstairs with light steps and run around the courtyard, she didn’t care whether the young man’s joy was real or fake. Sitting here, controlling the emotions of others was already pleasurable enough.

Soon, Li Yu came back upstairs with a beaming face, “Aunt, I’ve looked carefully, this place is really good, every brick and tile is extremely exquisite.”

“Of course it’s good, do you know what this place is? This was the place Jiang Mian’er used for flower viewing,” Princess Jinyu said, curling her lip, “People outside all say that our princes and princesses are extravagant, but that Jiang Mian’er, once she gained power, was insanely extravagant.”

She stood up and walked to the railing, overlooking the entire residence.

“Look, it was smashed up, abandoned for so many years, and now with a month’s time of simple repairs, it can be restored to its beauty.”

Li Yu said, “Aunt can also come and live here.”

Princess Jinyu said with a smile, “I don’t lack houses, if I wanted to, I could build a new one, even better than this. It’s just that I’m old and attached to the past…”

As she spoke, her gaze landed on a spot, her smile deepening.

“Look, my Imperial Consort’s Husband has come to pick me up.”

Li Yu followed her gaze and saw the Imperial Consort’s Husband standing by the lake, seemingly looking at the scenery or lost in thought.

Since his identity was restored, he had spent most of his time at the Imperial Tombs. In the few hurried trips to the capital, he hadn’t seen the Imperial Consort’s Husband.

After a few months of not seeing him, the Imperial Consort’s Husband seemed to have lost a lot of weight.

Was the Imperial Consort’s Husband alright?

“Come, help me up,” Princess Jinyu said, raising her hand.

Li Yu hurriedly supported her with a smile.

Surrounded by maids, the two of them went downstairs. The Imperial Consort’s Husband was already waiting downstairs, his gaze sweeping past Li Yu and landing on Princess Jinyu.

“Has the Imperial Consort’s Husband seen it?” Princess Jinyu asked.

The Imperial Consort’s Husband said with a smile, “It’s good enough that you, as his aunt, have made the arrangements.”

“That won’t do, the Imperial Consort’s Husband must also take a look,” Princess Jinyu said, patting Li Yu’s arm, “This is the child you risked your life to protect for our Li family, you are like his reborn parents.”

Li Yu couldn’t help but say, “The Imperial Consort’s Husband will definitely like it, I just looked around, especially the study, it’s very similar to your current study.”

Was this to show that he still remembered his preferences?

The Imperial Consort’s Husband looked at him and smiled, “Very good.”

Princess Jinyu didn’t say anything about letting him see the residence again, as if she had thought of something, “Right, Ayu, I told His Majesty, our family’s children can’t be idle. You go to the Imperial Guard and be a Lieutenant, it’s also showing filial piety to His Majesty.”

That was responsible for the Imperial City’s guards, not a nominal position.

Li Yu was overjoyed, grabbing Princess Jinyu’s arm and shaking it, “Thank you, Aunt, Aunt is so amazing, Aunt is so good!”

Princess Jinyu laughed heartily, not looking at Li Yu but at the Imperial Consort’s Husband, saying, “Don’t thank me, thank the Imperial Consort’s Husband. If the Imperial Consort’s Husband hadn’t saved your life, I, as your aunt, wouldn’t even have the chance to dote on you.”

The Imperial Consort’s Husband said with a smile, “Don’t mention it, Prince of Chu is naturally blessed with good fortune.”

Li Yu didn’t know if it was because of the Imperial Consort’s Husband’s smile or the title of Prince of Chu, but he felt an inexplicable heartache. He wanted to say something, but the Imperial Consort’s Husband had already taken Princess Jinyu’s hand.

“Are you done?” he said, his expression concerned, “Let’s go back, there are many people waiting to see you at home.”

Princess Jinyu smiled and nodded.

Li Yu hurriedly said, “I’ll see Aunt and Uncle off.”

The Imperial Consort’s Husband, whose gaze had been wandering, glanced at him. Li Yu saw his expression was a bit strange, was it because of the address “Uncle”?

He never used to address him like that.

✿✿✿

Now that it slipped out, it wasn’t because he was following the Princess’s address, but because at least there was a “father” in “Uncle”…

But immediately, Li Yu regretted it.

The reason why the Imperial Consort’s Husband risked his life to save him was because of his mother.

No one knew better than him how much the Imperial Consort’s Husband wished he wasn’t the Imperial Consort’s Husband.

And now he called him “Uncle,” subordinate to “Aunt,” while he was a member of the Li family, sharing the same bloodline as his aunt.

Li Yu felt a little flustered, why was he clumsy with his words? Saying something he shouldn’t have said? Before he could say anything, Princess Jinyu was already waving her hand with a smile.

“No need,” she said, “Get familiar with the residence.” She walked out, leaning on the Imperial Consort’s Husband’s arm, then as if she had thought of something, she turned back and smiled, “I’ll call you in a few days, there’s good news.”

Good news? Li Yu subconsciously looked at the Imperial Consort’s Husband. The Imperial Consort’s Husband noticed and also looked at him, subconsciously nodding slightly.

Li Yu was very familiar with this gesture, it was the Imperial Consort’s Husband hinting at him to be at ease, that he would go and inquire…

The Imperial Consort’s Husband, he always… Li Yu withdrew his gaze and bowed, “Nephew bids farewell to Aunt.”

Since he revealed his identity to Princess Jinyu, he was afraid that Princess Jinyu would resent the Imperial Consort’s Husband, so he didn’t dare to express his closeness to the Imperial Consort’s Husband. As expected, Princess Jinyu kept the Imperial Consort’s Husband by her side, repeatedly deliberately making him flatter her, embarrassing the Imperial Consort’s Husband.

Embarrassment was better than being eliminated.

Now that some time had passed, Princess Jinyu should have relaxed a bit. He should find an opportunity to meet with the Imperial Consort’s Husband alone, tell him that he was only putting on an act for Princess Jinyu, that in his heart, only the Imperial Consort’s Husband was his true savior, his true family, and that had never changed.

Once he got back what he had lost, they could be like they were before, and never have to worry again.

“Your Highness, we will clean this place up in the next two days.”

Cai Songnian’s voice came from behind.

Li Yu straightened up. Although it was said to be his residence, he was still Princess Jinyu’s subordinate, and Princess Jinyu wouldn’t let go of him. This residence must have been filled with the Princess’s people.

“Be discreet,” he said, “Don’t provoke her.”

Cai Songnian replied with a “Yes,” “Don’t worry, Your Highness.” He looked around the residence and smiled with relief, “In any case, since this residence is the Prince of Chu’s Residence, ultimately there is and will only be Your Highness as the master here. This will be Your Highness’s true home.”

Before he finished speaking, he saw Li Yu walking towards the gate.

“Your Highness,” he hurriedly asked, “Where are you going?”

Princess Jinyu had returned to her residence to meet her followers, and she definitely wouldn’t want Li Yu by her side. It wasn’t convenient to go to the Princess’s Residence at this time.

There was no need to go to the Imperial Guard either, the official appointment hadn’t come down yet.

Li Yu didn’t turn his head back, “To the pleasure boat.”

Cai Songnian hurriedly stopped him, “Your Highness, it’s better to go to the pleasure boat less, it’s not good for your reputation.”

Li Yu smiled, “As His Majesty’s nephew, what good reputation do I need? It’s better to have a bad reputation.” After saying that, he shook him off and strode away.

Cai Songnian rolled his eyes behind him, what “better to have a bad reputation,” it’s to see that Bai Li, right?

He was just about to say something when he saw Li Yu turning back and beckoning to him.

Changed his mind?

Come to his senses?

Turned back from the brink?

Cai Songnian was overjoyed and hurriedly walked over.

“Do you know where they sell toys?” Li Yu asked.

Cai Songnian was stunned, toys? What toys?

“For children to play with,” Li Yu said, with a hint of reminiscence, “I remember when I was little, I had a very beautiful little bed, and there were many beautiful toys hanging on the headboard…”

He never reminisced about his childhood.

Because once he did, he would face terrifying memories.

So much so that when he suddenly recalled it, he couldn’t remember anything.

Looking at Cai Songnian’s dumbfounded expression, forget it, it was useless to ask him. He didn’t have children either, how would he know how to coax a child?

“Alright, you watch the house.”

Li Yu said, turning around and striding out.

Watch the house? Cai Songnian thought, with these out-of-the-blue words, how could he still watch the house?

Why did the Young Master suddenly mention children?

To buy toys for children?

Whose children?

Could it be…

Cai Songnian’s eyes widened.

The Young Master and that Bai Li have a child!!