TFWYH – Chapter 588 Moving into a new home

“Your Highness…” Yuanyuan nestled into his arms, a faint glint flashing through her eyes. “All this servant wishes for the rest of her life is to remain by Your Highness’s side, helping ease your worries and solve your troubles.”

Huangfu Yi was deeply moved and held her even tighter.

“To gain one true confidante in life is enough. In this world, who could compare to even half of you? I must have cultivated blessings for three lifetimes to have such a beauty always by my side.”

Yuanyuan lowered her head with a soft smile and… silently rolled her eyes.

Lust is a blade hanging over one’s head. How would you know whether this is a land of beauty—or a hero’s grave?

…

Tang Wan knew nothing of Yuanyuan’s affairs.

Ling Yu had become an official, and a fifth-rank Langzhong at that.

The emperor, in his boundless favor, bestowed upon him a three-courtyard residence, so the whole family began moving once again.

As for the small siheyuan, Tang Wan did not sell it. Instead, she handed the key to Ye Yi for them to use.

On moving day, many neighbors came out to see them off, showering them with kind words, and some even volunteered to help.

It was not only because Ling Yu had risen in status and they wanted to curry favor with him, but also because Tang Wan knew how to treat people well.

Naturally so—during the time she lived in that courtyard, how much beef jerky had she handed out to the neighbors?

With everyone’s help, the family quickly moved into their new home.

This was the officials’ district of the capital, where most residents were government families.

And whether the emperor had done it intentionally or not, the residence he granted happened to be directly across from the Second Prince’s estate, and not far from the Prime Minister’s manor either.

Supported by Ling Yue, Jiang Shi once again stood on this street, looking at the residence before her, emotions swirling within her.

After so many years, she had returned here.

Returned to the place where she once lived.

“Mother, let’s go in. It’s so big inside,” Ling Yue said excitedly, completely unaware of Jiang Shi’s feelings.

“Yes… let’s go.”

Jiang Shi drew back her thoughts, nodded, and walked inside. Yet her gaze swept once over the Second Prince’s estate opposite them, and then toward the Prime Minister’s manor, her eyes filled with cold hostility.

Once, she had treated them as family. She had treated Gu Yanshuang as her elder sister, yielding at every turn, asking only for a place to belong.

But all her concessions had brought was those so-called family members growing ever more ruthless.

From now on, she would never yield again.

Those people were no longer her family.

Anyone who owed her, anyone who bullied her son and daughter—she would not let a single one go.

Daughter, wait for Mother. Mother will save you. I will save you.

Jiang Shi cast one last lingering look at the Second Prince’s estate, then straightened her back, lifted her chin, and stepped into the new home.

The moment she turned away, the gates of the Second Prince’s estate opened.

Huangfu Rong’an was helping Gu Yanshuang as they came out.

Seeing the lively bustle of moving across the street, both mother and daughter frowned.

Huangfu Rong’an immediately summoned her maid.

“What is happening over there?”

The maid smiled and replied, “Reporting to the Princess, that is the residence of the newly crowned top scholar, Lord Ling Yu, Minister Ling. This servant heard His Majesty bestowed that estate upon him.”

Before Huangfu Rong’an could speak, Gu Yanshuang coldly said,

“Absurd. A mere fifth-rank official—what virtue or ability does he have to live opposite a prince’s estate?”

Even on Officials’ Street, rank mattered.

The higher one’s status, the closer one’s residence was to the imperial palace.

In the capital, aside from the emperor, empress, and imperial consorts, the highest-ranking were the princes.

Thus, the three princely estates were closest to the palace, followed by the mansions of first-rank officials.

The residence across from them was not large, but its location was even closer to the palace than the Prime Minister’s manor.

And now someone was telling her a mere fifth-rank official lived there?

Gu Yanshuang felt insulted, and her words grew increasingly improper.

“His Majesty truly is old. The things he does become more and more…”