The Concubine's Daughter Travels Through Time and Space and Takes the Road of Confrontation

"Master, this is for you." Wen Zhu handed the letter over and squatted down to check the contents of the package. When she looked up again, she saw that the master's hand holding the letter was trembling slightly, his face pale, and he was staring at the red sachet in his hand.

Wenzhu thought that it was done by some young lady for the young master and was about to make a joke, but when she saw that the situation was not right, she swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth.

Mrs. Ma looked up at the sun outside and asked, "Is the young master back?"

"Madam, I'm back." Yinping was setting the table with her maid in the outer room, and she replied when she heard this.

Mrs. Ma nodded and said, "His father went out to drink with others today. Go to Wangyuexuan and invite the young master to Qinghui Garden for dinner."

Yinping responded and turned to leave.

At Wangyuexuan, Zhao Qingyu looked at the silver bottle, his voice carrying a barely perceptible nervousness. "Have you seen this sachet in front of Mother recently? My eldest sister said she lost an identical one, so I'll help her find it."

Yinping looked at the sachet, then touched it and felt as if she had seen it somewhere. After thinking for a long time, she suddenly said, "I remember now. Madam asked Aunt Li to make sachets more than a month ago. Aunt Li made five pairs of different styles, and one of them is exactly the same as the one in your hand, young master. Later--" Yinping hesitated, not knowing whether to say it.

"What happened later?" Zhao Qingyu's heart sank.

"Later, the second wife of the Marquis of Ping'an also gave Madam six identical ones, but Madam asked me to burn them." Yinping felt it was a pity. If she had known that the eldest lady wanted one, she would have secretly kept one.

"It's okay. Where can I buy a sachet of this style in Beijing? I'll buy another one for my sister that's the same." Zhao Qingyu showed a smile that was uglier than crying.

"Young Master, you may not know that the sachets and purses used in the mansion are all made by ourselves. We don't buy them outside."

Yinping looked at Zhao Qingyu and said tactfully.

On the second day, Zhao Qingyu brought Wenzhu to Zhuque Street and visited all the jewelry shops, big and small, but he still couldn't find the same sachet.

Mrs. Ma took her maid to Hanshan Pavilion, holding the newly made hairpins and rings.

Seeing Zhao Qingbo sitting on the kang and reading, she widened her eyes in horror, stepped forward and pointed at the red sachet on her waist, saying in a hurried voice, "Who gave you this sachet? Throw it away quickly." After saying that, she didn't wait for her daughter to react and started to untie it herself.

Zhao Qingbo asked curiously, "Qingyu just gave this to me. He hasn't left yet. Is there anything wrong with this sachet?" She didn't understand her mother's behavior at the moment.

Mrs. Ma paused and looked at her son who appeared in the outer room, a trace of panic flashed in her eyes.

Zhao Qingyu looked at his mother, who was almost a complete stranger, and felt it was utterly absurd. He didn't want his sister to notice his abnormality. He wanted to laugh, but was afraid it would be uglier than crying. So he chose not to say anything and strode out. He was gone for three days.

"Master, does it have to be like this?" Wen Zhu scratched his head. He had no idea what the master was thinking. He could study in Beijing, so why did he have to go to Xiangnan?

Zhao Qingyu quietly packed his things, took out the purple purse hidden under his pillow, and carefully placed it close to his body. "If you don't want to go, I'll tell my father."

"Alas, Master, that's not what I meant." Wen Zhu sighed. Although he was reluctant to leave the comfortable life in the capital, he would definitely follow his master wherever he went. "Master, you can't abandon me."

Zhao Qingyu didn't even raise his head. "In that case, why don't you come over and help me pack my things?"

At the same time, a fierce quarrel broke out between Mrs. Ma and Mr. Zhao Er.

"I don't agree. Why should Qingyu go to that damn Yuelu Academy?" Mrs. Ma looked at Mr. Zhao Er angrily.

Zhao Tongyi wiped the sweat from his forehead. It was true that only women and villains were difficult to raise. "Yuelu Academy is one of the four most famous academies in the world. It has produced many great scholars throughout the dynasties and is a sacred place in the hearts of students. Don't be so ignorant, woman, and speak so unjustly!"

"What do I need to know? I just want my son." Veins bulged on Mrs. Ma's forehead and her voice became louder and louder.

"Ma Chengqiu, don't go too far!" Zhao Tongyi's face darkened. "This matter was decided after my elder brother and I discussed it. The old lady also agreed. You just listen!" After that, he turned around and left.

When Mrs. Ma thought about not being able to see her son for the next three years, she felt as if an invisible hand was strangling her neck, making it difficult for her to breathe.

Rushing to Wangyuexuan, they saw the usually tidy room now piled with boxes and crates. Madam Ma glared at everyone and yelled at Nanny Song to kick them all out.

"My son." Mrs. Ma cried and hugged Zhao Qingyu. "Your father is so cruel that he sent you to that poor place without caring about anything else. He has been there for three years."

Zhao Qingyu let his mother hold him. He looked at her red and swollen eyes, tears falling from his eyes. His voice was hoarse, "Mom, you're so sad just because I've been away for three years. But what were you thinking when you were trying to take someone's life? Mom, can you tell me?"

Mrs. Ma was shocked and she quickly denied it. "Brother Yu, what nonsense are you talking about? How could my mother--"

Zhao Qingyu was extremely disappointed. He raised his hand to wipe away his tears. "I already know that you used medicine and sachets to harm Miss Lu. If you don't admit it, I won't force you, but..." He looked at his mother and his expression gradually calmed down. "The matter of Yuelu Academy has nothing to do with others. I took the initiative to go there. Mother, it's all my fault. I was shameless and fell in love with her at first sight. Don't take your anger out on her."

Mrs. Ma was struck by lightning, her face full of disbelief. Her lips trembled as she pointed at her son and said sternly, "How could I give birth to such an unfilial thing like you, just for a girl I've only met a few times? Fine, fine, since you have the guts to go, don't come back!"

It was early summer, and the vegetation outside Kyoto was lush. The official roads were dusty, filled with travelers in a hurry.

Zhao Qingyu traveled light with a small group, only bringing Wenzhu with him.

Zhao Tongyi patted his son's shoulder and said gently, "We will be away for three years in southern Hunan. I hope my son will study hard and be diligent in Yuelu Academy. Only in this way can we live up to the efforts of our elders."

Zhao Qingyu bowed to his father and said respectfully, "Your son will follow your father's instructions."

After saying this, he jumped onto his horse swiftly, and the figures of the man and the servant gradually went farther and farther away, until they completely merged into the mountain scenery in the distance.

An unremarkable carriage stopped at the city gate. Mrs. Ma lay in her daughter's arms, crying uncontrollably. Zhao Qingbo looked dejected. She looked at her brother's receding back and sighed softly, "Mother, you shouldn't do such a thing."

Her father had already told her everything: everything that rises must fall. Her uncle, a powerful figure, had recently been the subject of considerable criticism within the court. Zhao Qingbo knew this must be connected to her, as her father had intended her to remain a peaceful consort to the Third Prince.

The fallen petals follow the flowing water, the morning bell returns to the evening light, I can revisit the old place, but I can’t bear to recall the old years.