Joy of Life: Born to Ye Qingmei, raised by Li Yunrui

Chapter 17 The Obsessive Foster Mother

"Want to go for a walk?"

Why do you suddenly want to go out?

She subconsciously didn't want Ye Tian to leave her sight.

Ye Tian lowered his head, feigning a somewhat aggrieved expression, and said softly, "My son, I'm getting a little bored staying in the manor."

"I want to go outside and see how lively Kyoto is."

He knew that although Li Yunrui doted on him, she was not entirely without reason.

As long as his requests aren't too unreasonable, Li Yunrui usually agrees.

As expected, after hesitating for a moment, Li Yunrui nodded.

"Alright."

"You're not young anymore, it's time for you to go out and see the world."

She was actually conflicted.

On one hand, she wanted to keep Ye Tian by her side forever, making him belong only to her.

On the other hand, she also hoped that Ye Tian could become a towering and radiant figure, just like his mother.

This contradictory psychology made her control over Ye Tian sometimes loose and sometimes tight, making it difficult to predict.

"However, things outside are not like inside the manor; people can be treacherous, so you must be careful."

Li Yunrui gave him a few words of advice, still feeling uneasy.

"I will send several capable guards with you to ensure your safety."

Upon hearing this, Ye Tian secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as we can get out, everything is negotiable.

As for those guards

With his current strength, shaking them off would be a piece of cake.

"Thank you, Mother."

Ye Tian said obediently, a happy smile appearing on his face.

Looking at Ye Tian's bright smile, Li Yunrui's disappointment dissipated considerably.

She couldn't help but reach out again and gently ruffle Ye Tian's hair, her eyes filled with doting affection and reluctance.

Go early and come back early.

"Mother, I'll be waiting for you at the manor."

Her voice carried a subtle hint of dependence and longing.

Ye Tian sighed inwardly.

This crazy foster mother has truly poisoned him more and more deeply.

It seems he should try to reduce these "sensual" daily interactions in the future.

Otherwise, he was really worried that one day his adoptive mother would "take advantage of him completely."

To clear his name and avoid unnecessary trouble.

Ye Tian decided that after leaving the mansion today, he must take a good "stroll" around, and preferably come back later.

············

After bidding a reluctant farewell to Li Yunrui, Ye Tian finally stepped out of the Princess's residence as he had wished.

Taking a deep breath and feeling the slightly noisy air outside, Ye Tian felt a sense of relaxation throughout his body.

The streets of Kyoto were indeed more bustling and prosperous than he had imagined.

Shops, restaurants, and teahouses line both sides of the wide bluestone road.

The sounds of hawking and selling filled the air.

Pedestrians dressed in various colors thronged shoulder to shoulder, flowing endlessly.

There were peddlers carrying loads on their shoulders, hurrying along their way.

There were scholars waving folding fans, reciting poems and composing couplets.

A wealthy young lady adorned with fine silks, satins, and jewels.

There were also ordinary people dressed in coarse linen and struggling to make a living.

A scene of prosperity and grandeur.

Ye Tian strolled leisurely through the crowd, observing the local customs and culture of the capital of Qing Kingdom with great interest.

His outstanding appearance naturally attracted the attention of many passersby.

Especially those young girls in the throes of first love, when they saw Ye Tian's handsome face, they all blushed and secretly fell in love.

Ye Tian was already used to this, and simply smiled slightly before quickening his pace.

He knew that the people Li Yunrui had sent to "protect" him were probably nearby, secretly following him.

Sure enough, Ye Tian's keen senses quickly detected a faint yet sharp gaze that remained fixed on him.

"Yan Xiaoyi,

Ye Tian sneered inwardly.

He was naturally familiar with this ninth-rank archer, the princess's loyal servant.

Although Yan Xiaoyi's archery skills were indeed unparalleled and impossible to defend against.

But in Ye Tian's opinion, it was nothing special.

"Want to follow me? Let's see if you have the ability."

Ye Tian's lips curled into a playful smile, and his steps changed, turning what seemed like a casual walk into an unpredictable one.

Lingbo Weibu!

His figure moved like a ghost, weaving left and right, east and west, through the crowded throng.

Sometimes it moves like a gentle breeze rustling willows, light and graceful.

Sometimes it moves like a dragon emerging from the sea, incredibly swift.

Those seemingly crowded people seemed to disappear in his presence.

He always manages to slip through the gaps in the crowd with incredible ease, without leaving a trace of human presence.

Yan Xiaoyi, who was secretly following them, was originally full of confidence.

After all, with his archery skills, tracking a child would be a piece of cake.

However, when he saw Ye Tian's ghostly movements, his expression gradually became serious.

He found that he was actually falling behind!

No matter how hard he tried, or how much he channeled his inner energy to increase his speed.

Ye Tian's figure always maintained a distance of neither too close nor too far from him, and it was constantly increasing!

What alarmed him even more was that Ye Tian's every step seemed to be on the blind spot of his prediction, making it impossible for him to lock onto the target!

"How...how is this possible?!"

A tremendous storm raged in Yan Xiaoyi's heart!

He simply couldn't believe his eyes!

How could a seven-year-old child possess such unpredictable and superb light-footed skills?!

Is this even human?!

This is simply a monster!

Yan Xiaoyi gritted his teeth and tried his best to catch up with Ye Tian.

However, Ye Tian's Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique) was simply too mysterious.

In the blink of an eye, Ye Tian's figure completely disappeared into the crowded throng, leaving no trace.

Yan Xiaoyi stood there, panting heavily, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead.

His face was filled with shock, resentment, and a deep sense of defeat.

He actually lost him!

We lost track of a seven-year-old child!

If this gets out, where will Yan Xiaoyi put his face?!

More importantly, how is he going to explain this to the eldest princess?!

·····

The Princess's Residence.

When Yan Xiaoyi returned, distraught, and reported to Li Yunrui that he had lost Ye Tian,

Li Yunrui's face instantly turned frosty!

"waste!"

She slammed her hand on the table and shouted angrily.

"I sent you to protect Tian'er, and you actually lost him?!"

"What use are you now?!"

At this moment, Li Yunrui's heart was filled with worry and anger.

Ye Tian was the apple of her eye, her emotional anchor!

She simply couldn't imagine the consequences if something unexpected happened!

Yan Xiaoyi knelt on one knee, head bowed, his face filled with shame and self-reproach.

"Your subordinate is incompetent; please punish me, Your Highness!"

"Incompetent?!" Li Yunrui sneered. "I think you're just making excuses!"

"How old is Tian'er? Where could he possibly run off to?!"

"It must have been your carelessness that caused him to get lost!"

In Li Yunrui's view, Ye Tian was just a precocious child. No matter how skilled he was, he couldn't possibly escape from the hands of the ninth-rank archer she had carefully selected.

It must be Yan Xiaoyi's incompetence that caused this oversight!

Yan Xiaoyi felt wronged, but dared not refute.

His loyalty to the eldest princess was ingrained in his very bones.

Even if the princess misunderstood him and scolded him, he could only silently endure it.

Moreover, in his heart, he harbored an unspeakable, humble yet persistent love for the princess.

"Your Highness, please calm down."

Yan Xiaoyi took a deep breath and said in a deep voice.

"I will immediately dispatch more men to search the entire city for the young master's whereabouts!"

"Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we will definitely bring our little master back safely!"

His tone was full of determination and resolve.

Looking at Yan Xiaoyi's "loyal" appearance, Li Yunrui's anger subsided slightly.

But the expression on his face remained cold.

"I don't care what methods you use!"

"If you can't find Tian'er before nightfall, you can come back with your head!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Yan Xiaoyi kowtowed heavily, then got up and quickly left.

He knew that this time, he had truly angered the princess.

He also knew what fate awaited him if he couldn't find Ye Tian.

However, he did not complain at all.

He was willing to give everything for the princess, even his own life!

Watching Yan Xiaoyi's departing figure, Li Yunrui's face was still full of worry.

She paced restlessly back and forth in the room, filled with unease.

"Tian'er, where have you gone?"

"Please, please don't let anything happen to you!"

She muttered to herself, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly with fear.

·······

Inside the Princess's residence, her sleeping quarters were in complete disarray.

The precious porcelain was smashed to pieces, and the exquisite ornaments were scattered all over the floor.

At this moment, Li Yunrui paced anxiously back and forth in the room like a trapped beast, her exquisite makeup ruined by tears and sweat.

Her beautiful phoenix eyes were bloodshot, filled with madness and fear.

Ye Tian's disappearance was like an invisible needle, piercing her most sensitive nerves.

"My dear, why did you leave me?"

Li Yunrui muttered to herself, her voice hoarse and filled with despair.

"Do you, like your mother, despise me? Do you think I'm too abnormal, too paranoid, too crazy?"

The image of Ye Qingmei uncontrollably surfaced in her mind.

That woman, who shone like light, was once her only faith and pursuit in life.

However, Ye Qingmei ultimately "betrayed" her, choosing Emperor Qing and the world she believed to be wider.

And now, Ye Tian, ​​the child she cherishes and regards as the continuation of Ye Qingmei, also wants to leave her!

"No! I won't allow it!"

Li Yunrui suddenly stopped in his tracks, a terrifying light flashing in his eyes.

"You are mine! You are my everything! You can only belong to me!"

"No one will take you away from me! No one!"

Her emotions had completely spiraled out of control, plunging her into a morbid obsession.

She was afraid, afraid that Ye Tian would leave her in the end, just like Ye Qingmei had left her before.