Chapter 560
Yu Chongshan’s heart was already bleeding. How could he not be heartbroken?
[What is Master planning to arrange? Great Xia is flourishing and full of vitality now. There should be nothing left for Master to worry about.]
[As for the Yu family, even without Master, the imperial family surely won’t mistreat them, right? After all, Master’s physical body still belongs to the Yu family.
The Xie family’s rule has been able to continue only because of Master’s efforts. This is karma the Xie family owes the Yu family. If future rulers mistreat or persecute the Yu family when they have committed no wrongs, then an unstable realm and the dynasty’s downfall will be the retribution they deserve.
Master isn’t planning to remind the emperor and the crown prince, is she?]
Emperor Mingxi and the crown prince exchanged a glance, cold sweat quietly creeping up their backs and dampening their underclothes.
They believed that, given the father and son’s feelings for Yue Fuguang, they naturally would not mistreat the Yu family. But what their descendants would do was truly uncertain.
Emperor Mingxi secretly ground his teeth. It seemed he would have to leave a confidential document for his descendants, warning future emperors to show the Yu family special favor as long as they had committed no wrongs.
“Reminding them is out of the question. I trust the emperor and the crown prince’s character. With the two of them around, as long as the Yu family doesn’t bring disaster upon themselves, they naturally won’t mistreat them.
“As for future rulers, that will be up to fate. However, I will leave a message for the Yu family’s descendants: they must remain loyal to the sovereign and devoted to their country, must not oppress the common people, and must never proclaim themselves kings or emperors under any circumstances.”
[Won’t you leave them something to protect their lives, such as pills or magical artifacts?]
At these words, the hearts of Emperor Mingxi and the crown prince settled back into place. They were almost flattered by Yue Fuguang’s trust in them.
If Yue Fuguang had not said that the Yu family’s descendants could never proclaim themselves kings or emperors, Emperor Mingxi might even have considered whether to make her princely title hereditary for the Yu family’s men.
Since they could not become princes, granting the Yu family’s main branch a hereditary marquisate that would endure alongside the nation would be quite suitable. Two marquises in one Yu family would be an honor in itself.
When they heard about pills and magical artifacts, everyone pricked up their ears. Over the years, many of them had received pills bestowed by the Grand Preceptor on their birthdays or during festivals, and they knew better than anyone else how beneficial such pills were.
“There’s no need to leave those things behind. They likely wouldn’t be able to protect them. Besides, I have secretly nourished and strengthened the family’s health over the years. They are all healthy and free of illness or pain, and living into their eighties or nineties will be no problem.
“Anything more would only bring them harm, not benefit.”
[You’re not leaving them a single thing? Aren’t you afraid they’ll be bullied by some blind fool in the future?]
“Don’t worry. I will lay down a protective formation around the Yu family. In a moment of life or death, it will ensure that the Yu family’s descendants remain safe.”
Yue Fuguang’s voice was icy, carrying a faint trace of killing intent. Everyone who heard her understood that the Grand Preceptor’s formation would certainly be far more than merely protective.
Yue Fuguang did not want to threaten people in this way, but everyone in the court knew her “origins” and just how many treasures she possessed.
If she did not make things clear, someone might truly assume that she would leave the Yu family a great many valuable items.
Perhaps no one in this generation would dare make a move out of consideration for their personal ties, but what about the generations to come? Her possessions were exactly the things these people needed—treasures that could extend one’s life, strengthen the body, cure illnesses, and save lives.
She did not want the Yu family’s descendants to suffer the disaster of their entire clan being wiped out because of her.
Hearing that she would leave them nothing, the father and son of the Yu family did not find it inappropriate. They had thought farther and more deeply than Yue Fuguang had.
Even if they used up everything Fuguang had given them or offered it all to the imperial family, people would still assume that the Yu family had more in reserve.
As long as the Yu family continued to exist, there would always be people watching them. That was unavoidable.
When they heard that Fuguang would set up a formation to ensure the safety of the Yu family’s descendants, they could no longer hold back their tears. They streamed down their faces in torrents.
Their fellow officials could do little more than help conceal their distress. They had no idea how to comfort them.
If this had happened to their own families, they would probably have cried themselves to death.
That day’s morning court ended amid gloom and sorrow, while suppressed sobs could be heard from several places in the rear residence of the Yu household.
Yue Fuguang was helpless and could only pretend not to hear them.
By evening, several of her married elder sisters had returned with their entire families. Judging by the trunks they had brought, they intended to stay for quite some time.
Although they desperately forced smiles when they saw Yue Fuguang, the reluctance in their eyes shimmered with tears that they could not hide.
Yue Fuguang could only pretend to amuse the children, chatting with her sisters now and then. “Ever since you got married, when have all of you ever gathered together like this outside of the holidays?”
As she spoke, she glanced at Yu Ningxin, whose belly was large with eight months of pregnancy. “Fourth Sister, you’re so far along. Why didn’t Xie Zhiquan come back with you?”
Yu Ningxin naturally could not say that, after hearing her little sister was leaving, she had run back ahead of her prince without waiting for him.
She gently stroked her belly and said with a smile, “I asked His Highness to buy the pastries you like best. He’ll be here later.”
Yu Ningxuan also smiled and joined in. “We heard that the fine wine Fuguang brewed is ready to drink, so we arranged to come and ask our little sister for a cup.”
Yu Ningxuan wore the coy, catlike expression of a glutton, just as she had back home. It was clear that she had been living well after marrying Feng You.
Yue Fuguang could not resist pinching the tender, chubby cheek of the one-and-a-half-year-old Feng Yao in her arms. “A-Yao, look. Your mother is even more of a glutton than you.”
Feng Yao, who was nibbling on a hibiscus pastry, raised his chubby little hand upon hearing this. “Mama eat!”
Then he picked up another piece with his other chubby hand and offered it to Yue Fuguang. “Yiyi eat!”
Smack! Yue Fuguang kissed his little cheek. The toddler could not even pronounce “Auntie” properly, yet he already knew how to show filial respect to his elders. Yue Fuguang adored him.
It had to be said that, regardless of whether they were boys or girls, the children of this generation all seemed to have good dispositions from a young age.
“A-Yao is such a good boy! When you grow up, you have to become a real man and protect your mother, understand?”
A-Yao nodded his round little head vigorously. “A-Yao protect Mama, protect Yiyi, protect…”