The Eldest Daughter Returns with Power

With the Third Prince's order, a silent contest quietly unfolded in every corner of the imperial city.

After Gongsun Lin and the Crown Prince returned from the palace, their residences immediately became unusually busy. They strengthened security to prevent any unforeseen events. Gongsun Lin knew clearly that although the letter was key to resolving the issue, the real battle had only just begun. He understood that the Third Prince was now in a desperate situation and might resort to extreme measures to save himself. Therefore, he had to be extremely cautious and not give the other side any opportunity to exploit.

Meanwhile, in the Crown Prince's residence, the Crown Prince urgently summoned his trusted advisors to discuss countermeasures. He knew that emperors were suspicious, and any slight movement could trigger their jealousy and suspicion. Therefore, he decided to proceed cautiously, step by step, to expose the Third Prince's conspiracy while ensuring his own position remained unaffected. The Crown Prince instructed his advisors to closely monitor the court's activities, especially those officials closely associated with the Third Prince, to prevent them from engaging in any underhanded tactics.

For a moment, the entire capital was shrouded in a tense atmosphere. Gongsun Lin was equally busy; he carefully hid the crucial letter and dispatched his trusted subordinates to gather intelligence. He knew this was a battle for survival, and the slightest misstep could lead to total defeat.

Meanwhile, the Third Prince was restless in his residence. He knew that his plan had been discovered by Gongsun Lin and the Crown Prince, and now he could only try his best to salvage the situation. He gathered his followers and secretly plotted his next move.

The ministers in the court also sensed something unusual. Some chose to protect themselves, while others secretly sided with the side that had a better chance of winning.

Time flew by, and the day came to pick up the Dowager Empress. Duke Jingguo summoned Gongsun You and Gongsun Lin to his study and said to them, "Your mother (elder aunt) and I are going to pick up the Dowager Empress. You two must keep a close eye on the movements of the Third Prince and his cronies in the capital, and also pay close attention to the movements of the Crown Prince. If there is anything that needs your assistance, do your best to help the Crown Prince."

Gongsun You and Gongsun Lin responded in unison, their eyes filled with determination.

After the Duke of Jingguo left, the two immediately began arranging various matters. Gongsun Lin dispatched his most capable spies to infiltrate the vicinity of the Third Prince's and the Crown Prince's residences in order to obtain the latest information at any time. Gongsun You, on the other hand, organized the intelligence he already had, trying to find flaws in the Third Prince's conspiracy.

Just then, a scout rushed in to report that the Third Prince's henchmen were secretly mobilizing troops. Gongsun Lin and Gongsun You's hearts tightened, knowing the situation was becoming increasingly dire. They quickly summoned the guards in their residence to strengthen its defenses, and at the same time, relayed the news to the Crown Prince.

Upon learning of this, the Crown Prince quickly made arrangements to strengthen the palace's security.

…………

Three days later, the Duke and Duchess of Jingguo arrived at the gates of Qingyu Manor by carriage. After alighting, they looked at the beautiful scenery surrounding the manor and couldn't help but sigh, "The owner of Qingyu Manor is truly a man of good taste, to have found such a beautiful place."

Gongsun Quan, the personal guard of the Duke of Jingguo, stepped forward and gently knocked on the gate of Qingyu Manor. A short while later, the gate slowly opened, and a middle-aged man who appeared to be a steward appeared before them. He wore a gray robe, had a kind face, and gave off a friendly aura.

Upon seeing the Duke of Jingguo and his entourage, the middle-aged man smiled respectfully and bowed slightly, saying, "Are you all the Duke of Jingguo and his party? Miss and the Master of the Manor have been waiting for a long time. Please follow me." With that, he stepped aside to make way for them.

Duke Jingguo nodded, quite satisfied with the steward's attitude. He strode into Qingyu Manor, followed closely by the others.

The group followed Qin Hao through a winding, secluded path, the air filled with the fragrance of flowers, which lifted their spirits. The path was lined with all sorts of exotic flowers and rare herbs, their vibrant colors vying for attention, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

At the end of the path, an exquisite courtyard came into view. Pavilions and terraces were scattered throughout, interspersed with artificial hills and ponds, creating a scene resembling a beautiful painting. Everyone was captivated by the beauty and stopped to admire it.

Qin Hao smiled and explained, "This is our Qingyu Manor. Welcome, everyone. Miss and the Manor Owner are waiting in the living room. Please follow me." With that, he led everyone to the living room.

Before long, the group arrived at the main hall. Upon entering, they saw a refined-looking middle-aged man seated in the main seat. He wore a long, flowing grey robe, his face handsome yet kind. Seeing the Duke of Jing and his entourage, he immediately stood up, a warm smile on his face, and said, "Duke of Jing, I have long admired your name. Meeting you today, I can see it is indeed well-deserved!"

Duke Jingguo quickly returned the greeting with a cupped hand and said politely, "You flatter me, Master. I hope you will forgive my intrusion."

Then, everyone took their seats. Soon after, a group of maids brought out fragrant tea and delicate pastries, placing them on the tea table in front of each person.

At this moment, the manor lord spoke up: "The Duke and Duchess have come to pick up the Old Madam, right? The Old Madam is resting in the guest courtyard now. Yunruo will take you there in a moment."

The Duke of Jingguo smiled and replied, "Thank you, Master. My mother has been a great trouble to the manor these past few days." Then, he turned to look at Su Yunruo, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes, and asked, "Is this my second brother's daughter, Su Yunruo?"

Su Yunruo nodded gently, gracefully bowing to the Duke and Duchess of Jingguo, and said with a smile, "Yunruo greets Uncle and Aunt." Her voice was like heavenly music, clear and melodious, like a little oriole singing in a valley, captivating all who heard it. The Duchess of Jingguo hurriedly stepped forward to help Yunruo up, her eyes filled with affection. After carefully examining her, she exclaimed, "This child is truly beautiful! Upon closer inspection, she bears a striking resemblance to Lin'er!"

Just then, Gongsun Quan led a group of people, carrying ten exquisite rosewood chests into the hall. He smiled and said to Yun Ruo, "Yun Ruo, these are all gifts that your aunt specially prepared for you." Upon hearing this, Yun Ruo was filled with gratitude and quickly stood up to thank him, "Thank you, Aunt."

At this moment, the manor lord spoke up, "Yunruo, take the Duke and Duchess to the Old Madam's place. I need to visit your master." Then, he turned to Qin Hao and instructed, "Qin Hao, go and make arrangements. We need to host a welcome dinner for the Duke and Duchess tonight."

Everyone stood up, and Yun Ruo led the way, leading the group to the guest courtyard. Upon entering the courtyard, they saw the old matriarch sitting upright on the couch, gently holding a string of Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, her eyes closed, seemingly resting.

The Duke of Jingguo called out softly, "Mother."

Upon hearing the voice, the old lady slowly opened her eyes, looked at everyone with gentle eyes, a kind smile on her face, and said softly, "You've come."

The Duchess quickly stepped forward, grasped the old lady's hand tightly, and asked with concern, "Mother, how have you been these days? Have you been feeling unwell?"

The old lady replied with a smile, "Good, good, good. With Aruo by my side, I am happy every day."

Duke Jingguo looked around and teased with a smile, "Mother, do you neglect everything now that you have a granddaughter?"

The old lady smiled and nodded, her eyes full of love: "Yes, I'm content now that I have Aruo by my side."

The Duke and Duchess of Jingguo exchanged a glance and laughed simultaneously, then turned their gaze to Su Yunruo standing to the side. The Duke of Jingguo said, "Yunruo, why don't you go back to the capital with the Old Madam? Let's forget about what you told your elder brother about going to the General's Mansion to recognize your relatives. Why don't you come back to our home instead?"

“Uncle, Aunt, I understand your good intentions, but I do have other matters to attend to at the moment and cannot return to the capital with you. However, please rest assured that I will begin arranging my trip to the capital in two months and will inform you in advance, Uncle,” Su Yunruo replied with a smile.

The Duke of Jing frowned slightly and asked with concern, "Aruo, is there anything more important than returning home?"

Su Yunruo bit her lip lightly and replied softly, "Uncle, to be honest, my master still has some urgent matters that require my assistance. Once these matters are resolved, I will definitely go to the capital."

The Duchess held Su Yunruo's hand tightly and gently instructed her, "Aruo, you must take good care of yourself no matter what, so as not to worry us."

Su Yunruo nodded slightly and replied firmly, "Don't worry, Aunt, Yunruo will definitely take good care of herself."

Just then, the old matriarch, who had been silent all along, finally spoke. Her voice was calm and firm: "Since Aruo already has her own plans, then let's go with her."

Upon hearing his mother's words, the Duke of Jingguo showed a hint of helplessness on his face, but he still respected her decision. He sighed and looked at Yun Ruo, saying, "Alright then, A'Ruo, I hope you can remember your promise and not keep us waiting too long."

Yunruo nodded gratefully, indicating that she would definitely keep her promise.

The group chatted for a while in the guest courtyard before returning to the main hall. Qin Hao had already arranged the welcoming banquet perfectly, with a lavish spread of dishes filling the table and emitting an enticing aroma.

Everyone took their seats in turn and began to enjoy the sumptuous feast. Throughout the meal, laughter and chatter filled the air, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the Duke of Jingguo was slightly tipsy. He raised his wine cup and said with emotion, "I am really happy today, and I am also very grateful to the Master and Lady Yuluo for their love and protection of Ruo'er, which has allowed her to grow up safely."

The manor lord smiled and replied, "Your Excellency is too kind. Yunruo is our disciple, and we will naturally take good care of her."

As night deepened, the banquet drew to a close. Finally, the Duke and Duchess of Jingguo were settled into guest rooms within the estate. They fell asleep contentedly, looking forward to more time with Yunruo in the days to come.

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds and bathed the courtyard of Qingyu Manor in a golden glow, the Duke and Duchess of Jingguo rose early, preparing to leave Qingyu Manor with the Dowager Lady and return to the capital.

After bidding farewell to the Master of the Manor and Madam Yu Luo, Su Yunruo accompanied the Old Madam and the Duke and Duchess of Jingguo out of Qingyu Manor. They walked slowly along the mountain path, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way.

Finally, they arrived at the entrance of the manor. A luxurious carriage was parked there, and the driver was waiting for them to board. The Old Madam and the Duchess boarded the carriage, and the Duke of Jing mounted his horse. Looking at Su Yunruo, deep reluctance was evident in his eyes. Su Yunruo also looked at them, her eyes filled with tears, but she tried her best to hold them back.

With a shout from the driver, the carriage slowly started moving, heading towards the capital. Su Yunruo stood there, watching the carriage gradually disappear into the distance until it vanished from sight.