The Poisonous Consort, the Regent's Beloved

At this moment, a large crowd had already gathered outside the Minister's residence. Several days ago, news had spread that the jinx of the Minister's residence was about to return. Just now, they saw the servants of the Minister's residence hanging white lanterns, and upon asking, they learned that the eldest daughter of the Minister's residence had died.

As everyone was still marveling at the sight, an ordinary-looking carriage stopped in front of the Minister's residence. The servants went down to urge the carriage on, and a maidservant emerged from the carriage, saying in a clear voice, "Miss is returning home. Why don't you come and greet her?"

"Miss?"

The servant spat on the ground disdainfully, "The eldest daughter of the Minister's mansion died on her way home the day before yesterday. Now the Minister's mansion only has one daughter left."

"Who are you, daring to impersonate the young lady? Guards, get rid of them!"

An older servant walked out of the mansion, his shrewd eyes scanning Biluo.

"Bold."

Biluo roared angrily. After following Su Fuying for a while, she found herself exuding a sense of oppression.

The news spread, and all sorts of idlers from the streets flocked to the scene, tiptoeing and craning their necks to peer inside, exchanging information with each other.

"what happened?"

A figure in dark blue emerged from within, exuding an aura of authority that commanded respect without anger.

"Master, this man is incredibly audacious, daring to impersonate the young lady."

The older servant bowed his head and said respectfully.

Su Chengde frowned. "Steward Wang, you can handle this small matter."

After saying that, he turned to look at Liu Hui and said slowly, "Madam hasn't eaten yet, has she? Let's go."

"master."

Watching Su Chengde turn and leave, Biluo asked urgently, "Master, do you still recognize me?"

Upon hearing this, Su Chengde turned and looked at Biluo for a long time. In an instant, his thoughts drifted back to that lively New Year's Eve. "Father, Father, please take me out to play."

The soft, sweet voice of the youngest girl lingered in my ears, and in the end, I couldn't help but take her out to buy sugar figurines. As we passed through a small alley, a thin little girl was lying on the ground. It was the dead of winter, and she was only wearing a tattered coat. Her bare feet were covered in chilblains, and her face was bluish.

Su Fuying felt sorry for her, so she begged to take the little girl back for treatment. In the end, she bravely survived and was named "Biluo".

Su Chengde asked again uncertainly, "Are you Biluo?"

"It's me, sir. It's been so many years. I didn't expect you to still recognize me."

Su Chengde released Liu Hui's hand and strode to the carriage. "Where is your young lady?"

The voice carried a hint of anticipation.

Biluo was speechless for a moment, stammering and unsure how to answer.

Looking at her empty hand, Liu Hui's eyes flashed with a sinister glint, which disappeared in an instant.

"Master, Ying'er isn't..."

"Father, mother."

A clear, cold voice rang out from the crowd, and the crowd automatically parted to make way. The noisy people fell silent in an instant, and everyone's eyes fell on the white figure. She was wearing a plain white dress, roughly made, but it could not hide her slender figure.

She slightly raised her chin, looking ahead. Though there were no tinkling ornaments, she still exuded a magnificent and noble air.

With delicate and distinct features, and eyes as clear as a small animal's, she would have been quite girlish if she were gentle and graceful. However, for some reason, she stood dignified and majestic, like the bright moon in the sky, giving people a feeling that they could not look directly at her.

A chorus of gasps of amazement rose and fell from the crowd. Su Chengde stared intently at the woman before him, his voice choked with emotion, "You, you are Ying'er?"

"It's me, Father. I've made you worry. It's all my fault."

Su Fuying lowered her eyes, her small face filled with self-reproach.

"Don't mention it, it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back." Su Chengde was about to step forward to comfort his daughter.

"Ying'er, how did you get here from over there?"

Liu Hui stepped forward with a loving expression, gently took Su Fuying's hand, and spoke with endless concern.

“Mother, I feel guilty for coming back to see you after so long, so I went out of my way to buy you your favorite milk tarts and Father’s favorite wine.”

Upon hearing this, everyone noticed that Su Fuying was indeed carrying quite a few things, and they were all moved by Su Fuying's filial piety. Su Chengde, who was listening from the side, also repeatedly said "good" to Su Fuying.

These are all foods they loved to eat a few years ago. They're not expensive, but you have to wait in line for a long time. I didn't expect her to go and buy them herself.

A pang of guilt rose in my heart; I had truly wronged her by sending her to the countryside these past few years.

“Ying’er is very kind, but I heard that you encountered robbers on your journey a few days ago. They said you were kidnapped by the robbers. Fortunately, Ying’er is clever and escaped.”

Liu Hui's words were full of concern, but they were interpreted differently by the common people.

"What? They were kidnapped by robbers?"

"Yes, the eldest daughter of the Minister's family is as beautiful as a fairy descended from heaven. Falling into the hands of robbers, I'm afraid..."

"What a pity, it was wasted by those brutes."

"Being good-looking is useless; without a clean record, I would have hanged myself long ago."

"I always thought the Minister's Mansion only had one young lady, Su Wan'er. I didn't expect there to be another young lady. But now it seems that a woman who has lost her chastity will probably never leave the house again. The title of the Minister's Mansion's legitimate young lady still belongs to the second young lady."

……

Listening to the murmurs of the crowd, Liu Hui pretended to wipe away tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, but couldn't help but chuckle to herself.

So what if he comes back? Don't even think about stealing Wan'er's thunder.

"lady."

Su Chengde looked puzzled. Just now he said that it would have a bad impact if others knew about this. How could he say it in front of so many people now? How would Wan'er face herself in the future?

"My lord, I was just too anxious."

Liu Hui's eyes were filled with panic, and tears still clung to the corners of her eyes. Su Chengde felt a pang of sympathy and looked at Su Fuying earnestly, saying, "Your mother was just worried and spoke without thinking. Ying'er, don't blame your mother."

“I don’t understand what my father and mother are saying. What robbers? I don’t know.”

The girl stared with her clear, black and white doe eyes, full of confusion, looking as if her eyes were filled with the water of a peach blossom pond, making her look pitiful.

“Ying’er, I’ve taught you not to lie since you were little. If you’re afraid to speak up because there are too many people around, let’s go inside first.”

After saying that, she reached out and grabbed Su Fuying's hand, but Su Fuying subtly dodged it, looking aggrieved with tears in her eyes.

"Ying'er knows that her mother doesn't like her daughter, but her mother can't use her daughter's reputation to her advantage."

Liu Hui's hand, which was hanging in mid-air, froze, seemingly in disbelief that she would say such a straightforward thing.

Seeing her biting her lip tightly, trying hard not to cry, with tears welling up in her eyes as if they were about to fall at any moment, she looked pitiful.

The onlookers' faces were filled with excitement at uncovering the secret, and all sorts of speculations secretly grew in their minds. Rumors spread like wildfire through the streets and alleys.

"How could a biological mother slander her own daughter like this?"

"Yes, I had heard before that this young lady was a cursed loner, but seeing her today, it would be no exaggeration to say that she is a fairy descended to earth."

"You don't know, do you? The bad rumors about the eldest daughter of the Minister's family started when the Minister's wife became pregnant with the second daughter."

Liu Hui almost gritted her teeth to powder. After not seeing him for several years, he had become so eloquent.

"It was Mother who sent someone to inquire. Could the information be wrong? But what about the bodies of those servants and thieves?"

“Ah, are they servants from our household? On the way there, those servants said they were going to buy some food from a farmer, but they never came back. My daughter thought they had run off with the money.”

“If Mother doesn’t believe me, she can send someone to inquire. The inns and peasant women along the way can all testify that I have never been kidnapped by any thieves.”

Her voice was like the clinking of jade stones, clear and melodious. Seeing her so open and honest, those around her naturally understood what was going on.

"I will send someone to investigate the matter myself. We can talk about it when we get back."

Su Chengde, who was standing to the side, spoke up. He felt that he had lost all face because of being watched by so many people, and his tone was somewhat impatient.

Just as Su Fuying was about to respond, Liu Hui said aggrievedly, "Why aren't you wearing the clothes your mother prepared for you today? Do you look down on your mother?"