Resisting the Wind and Splendor

When Chu Yueli met Consort Yu, not only was Consort Yu's eyes lit up, but Chu Yueli was also truly amazed by Consort Yu's beauty.

She finally understood why the two brothers, Lu Beimo and Lu Yunfei, were so exceptionally handsome.

Royal children are naturally good-looking. When the emperor was young, he was also exceptionally handsome, but not to the extent that Prince Mo and the Ninth Prince were.

Their good looks came entirely from Consort Yu.

Consort Yu was truly a woman of such beauty that one could not look away.

Although she is over forty years old, and her face is not covered with heavy or elaborate makeup, but is simple, elegant and clear, she is still stunningly beautiful with her own good looks.

At first glance, she looks like a girl in her early twenties.

However, there was a sense of vicissitude in her eyes, and fine lines at the corners of her eyes, which did show that she was getting on in years.

But its charm is natural and beautiful no matter how you look at it.

"What's wrong? Did I frighten the child?" Consort Yu glanced at Granny Ji. "Quickly, comfort him."

Granny Ji hurriedly smiled and said, "Miss Li, please pay your respects to Her Highness first, after all, she is an elder."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yueli suddenly came to her senses, quickly bowed slightly, and said respectfully, "Greetings, Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be well."

“No need for all that. My Yonghua Palace doesn’t have so many rules.” Consort Yu beckoned to her, “Come and sit down. Let me take a good look at you again.”

She didn't even use self-references like "this palace" (本宫), and her tone and attitude were completely unlike those of the other concubines in the harem.

She's more like a friendly, aristocratic lady.

Chu Yueli walked over subconsciously, but as soon as she did, Yu Fei pulled her to sit down on a chair.

Consort Yu looked at her carefully, from her eyebrows and eyes to her hands and feet, inch by inch, and sighed as she looked: "Beautiful, truly beautiful. You are even more beautiful than your mother. If your mother knew this in the afterlife, she would be satisfied."

"Your Majesty...do you know my mother?" Chu Yueli's eyes darkened slightly. Judging from her tone, she seemed to be very familiar with her mother, Ming Ruonan.

"Ha, your mother and I used to be enemies."

Seeing that Chu Yue's expression remained unchanged but her eyes had deepened, Consort Yu quickly smiled and said, "I was just teasing you. Don't be afraid. What I meant was, your mother and I became friends after a fight. It's just a pity..."

Her eyes darkened as she recalled some events from back then, and she let out a soft sigh.

Indeed, it's a pity.

But what's done is done, and there's no point in dwelling on it.

"Anyway, you really amazed me. Sit down and have something to eat."

Chu Yueli still didn't know why Consort Yu had summoned her, but she guessed it was mostly because of her relationship with Lu Beimo.

She accepted the hot tea that Granny Ji brought her with both hands, said thank you, took a small sip, and didn't drink much more.

He still seemed somewhat awkward in his demeanor.

"I asked you to come just to see you, so don't overthink it," Consort Yu said with a smile.

Chu Yueli nodded, but still didn't say anything.

"Is it because I haven't contacted you all these years that you've become distant from me?"

Consort Yu sighed: "There's a reason I didn't seek you out. Back then, my maternal family, my father and brothers had some political differences with the Emperor..."

"Your Majesty." Chu Yueli wanted to stop her. There was no need to tell her about this, and she shouldn't listen to it.

"I don't know why you've become so cautious. Is it because no one has protected you all these years? Have you been wronged?"

Consort Yu looked at her with more pity. She said, "If I had known earlier that Prince Jin was such a heartless person, I should have protected you under my wing sooner, and you wouldn't have suffered so much."