Chapter 33 Greetings, Madam. My name is Ru Hui.

Fang Yu has been in a great mood lately. Chen Hui's death is like a huge stone that has been weighing on her heart for many years, and she has never felt so relieved.

Even the fact that she learned her son had not killed the zombies, causing them to go out of control and wreak havoc in the capital, did not dampen her good mood.

It was just killing two people in Changpingfang. They were ordinary people, so what if they died? What's there to worry about?

This angered the husband, who not only had his son dragged back from outside, but also personally beat him ten times with a stick, and finally locked him up in the ancestral hall for ten days.

Although Fang Yu felt sorry for her son, she was unwilling to go against her husband on such matters, so she could only secretly go to see her son when he was not at home.

She arrived at the ancestral hall with her maid and a food box. Before she even opened the door, she heard intimate sounds coming from inside.

Her face turned ashen, and she slammed her fist on the door, making a loud bang.

The men's joking and the women's screams inside stopped.

"Who dares to disturb my good time?" Yan Cheng, who was enjoying himself inside the room, shouted.

"Your mother."

After a while, Yan Cheng came to open the door, his clothes disheveled, with a fawning smile on his face: "Mother, you must not tell Father about this."

Fang Yu glanced inside and saw that the person Yan Cheng had dragged into the ancestral hall was a maid who swept outside; her appearance was passable.

She reached out and tapped her son's forehead with exasperation: "You really can eat anything dirty and smelly."

"Isn't this just because I have nothing better to do?" he said with a nonchalant laugh.

Yan Cheng was someone who couldn't stand being alone. He usually frequented brothels and taverns. How could he possibly stand it when his father wanted to lock him up for ten days?

"But it can't be in the ancestral hall."

“Even if you don’t tell me, my father won’t know. Besides, what’s so great about worshipping the ancestors of the Yan family? Only my father puts them on a pedestal every day. All those people combined aren’t as powerful as my maternal grandfather’s finger.” Yan Cheng said disdainfully.

Fang Yu didn't correct her son, but said indulgently, "Don't let it happen again, or no one can save you if your father finds out."

"I know," Yan Cheng replied absentmindedly, clearly not taking his mother's words to heart.

"Someone come here," Fang Yu said.

The maid behind her immediately stepped forward: "Madam."

"Get rid of the one inside, but don't let the master find out."

"Yes." Two maids entered the ancestral hall and dragged out the disheveled cleaning maid.

The maid looked at Yan Cheng expectantly: "Young Master, Young Master, save me..."

Yan Cheng glanced at it briefly before looking away, finding it uninteresting; it was just a way to pass the time.

Fang Yu handed the food box to Yan Cheng: "These are all your favorite foods, eat a little. When your father comes back later, say some nice things to him and ask him to release you sooner."

As she spoke, Fang Yu said helplessly, "You child, if you wanted to keep the zombie alive, you should have kept a close eye on it. How could you let it escape? Its face wasn't ruined. If someone catches it, they can trace it back to your maternal grandfather."

The living corpse was a guard in the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion. He was discovered to have colluded with outsiders to betray the Zhenbei Marquis. Because the other person was a second-realm cultivator, Fang Yu did not have her father execute him directly. Instead, she turned him into a living corpse to be controlled by her.

Fang Yu learned the art of corpse refining from her adoptive father.

Before returning to the capital, she lived with her adoptive father, who made a living by transporting corpses.

It wasn't until her death that her adoptive father told her that her biological mother was his sister. Years ago, when the Marquis of Zhenbei led his army through this area, her birth mother was sent by the villagers to serve him for one night, and unexpectedly, she became pregnant with her.

When Fang Yu learned that her biological father was actually a marquis, she began to hate her adoptive father. If he had told her earlier, she would have gone to acknowledge her biological father long ago and wouldn't have had to suffer for so many years.

After her adoptive father died, she sold all the valuables in the house and found a "cursed book" that he had treasured for many years.

Using the methods in the book, Fang Yu turned her adoptive father into a living corpse and controlled him with a whistle. With her "adoptive father" escorting her all the way, she successfully left home.

Unexpectedly, she was discovered by a Taoist priest halfway there. Only after she begged and pleaded did the priest let her go.

Although Fang Yu kept saying he would turn over a new leaf, having witnessed the benefits of living corpses, how could he possibly abandon them?

Over the years, many people she disliked were dealt with by that living corpse.

Yan Cheng looked as if he had been greatly wronged: "I'm innocent, Mother! I already gave it orders to hide in the mountains, but who knew it would suddenly disobey orders and even break into the city."

Although Fang Yu knew how to refine corpses, she could only do it according to the book. She knew nothing beyond what the book recorded.

Since she didn't understand, she stopped thinking about it: "Never mind, don't worry, your father has already sent someone to deal with that zombie."

Yan Cheng wasn't worried at all, and only said, "It's a pity that my maternal grandfather isn't here, otherwise, why would my father need to worry? It would be a matter of just a word from my maternal grandfather."

Thinking of her father, Fang Yu's expression softened considerably: "Your maternal grandfather should be back in another month."

The Marquis of Zhenbei was injured when he was young and it was difficult for him to have children. After Fang Yu went to the capital to recognize her relatives, she was confirmed to be the Marquis of Zhenbei's daughter, and she became the only young lady of the Marquis of Zhenbei's mansion.

The Marquis of Zhenbei doted on her. Even when she deliberately stole the future son-in-law of the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, her father covered for her and even drove Chen Hui's family out of the capital to appease her, so as not to offend his eyes.

Over the years, under her father's protection, she has had everything she could ever want.

Three years ago, her father was sent to guard the border of Xiling, and now he is finally going back to the capital.

Fang Yu glanced at the sky outside; her husband should be back by now.

She turned to Yan Cheng and said, "Alright, you stay in the ancestral hall. Your father will be back soon, so I'll be leaving now."

Fang Yu waited at the mansion, while Yan Liru finished his duty at Shenshi (3-5 PM) every day and usually arrived home around that time.

But today she waited from the beginning of Shen Shi (3-5 PM) until the beginning of You Shi (5-7 PM), and still couldn't see anyone.

On his way back to his residence, Yan Liru passed through a street where a large crowd had gathered, making it impossible for his carriage to pass.

After informing him, the coachman went down to take a look and returned to report: "Sir, there's a girl over there selling herself for twenty taels of silver. The crowd is just there to watch the spectacle. Should we disperse them?"

Yan Liru frowned upon hearing this: "No need, I will go and take a look."

Yan Liru was wearing an official robe. As soon as he stepped off the carriage, the surrounding people immediately dispersed to make way for him.

People nearby recognized Yan Liru and called him Yan Qingtian.

After nodding to several agitated people, he walked into the crowd and finally saw the woman kneeling on the ground, offering herself for sale.

The woman initially had her head down and was dressed in mourning clothes.

He understood the reason at a glance; such things were not uncommon. He figured the woman must be from a poor family, and perhaps a relative had passed away, forcing her to sell herself to raise money for their funeral.

However, with so many people gathered, this woman must have some extraordinary abilities.

Yan Liru stood in front of the other party, but before he could speak, a busybody old woman interrupted, "Miss, this is Lord Yan Qingtian. If you have any difficulties, you might as well speak up."

After hearing what the other person said, the woman slowly raised her head, revealing a young and beautiful face.

The moment Yan Liru saw that face, his breath hitched, and his pupils contracted slightly: "Ahui..."

His voice was very low, and no one heard him because of the noise around him.

But he soon realized he had mistaken her for someone else. The woman in front of him was much younger than Ah Hui, and looked to be only in her early twenties. Her eyebrows and eyes were very similar to Ah Hui's, but she was more timid and not as cold and hard as Ah Hui.

"What's your name?" Yan Liru asked gently.

"Your Excellency, my name is Qiaoniang."

Why are you selling yourself here?

Qiaoniang said while shedding tears, "I have been without a mother since I was a child. Now my father has died unexpectedly and his body has been lying in state for seven days. However, I have no money to bury my father, so I thought of selling myself."

"In that case, I will bury your father for you. You may go back now."

When Qiaoniang heard that Yan Liru was willing to help bury her father, her eyes were filled with gratitude: "Since you are willing to help me bury my father, my life belongs to you."

Yan Liru chuckled: "No need for that. Go back now, and don't sell yourself so easily in the future."

A look of confusion crossed Qiao Niang's face, then she said, "I am now an orphan with no home. Please, sir, take me back with you. I am very capable."

Yan Liru looked at the woman's helpless gaze and listened to her pleading words, and his heart stirred slightly.

He and Ahui were so alike, but Ahui was so stubborn. Even though she hadn't had a good life all these years, she never came to ask him for help.

Now that Ahui is gone, he has met Qiaoniang, who is so similar to her. Perhaps this is fate.

After a long silence, Yan Liru sighed and said, "Fine, then you shall come back to the manor with me and become a maid."

Many people were envious when they heard that Yan Liru was willing to bring Qiaoniang back to his mansion as a maid.

This is the home of Lord Yan Qingtian, a man of strict and upright family traditions. To find such a good master after selling oneself into servitude is truly a stroke of good fortune.

Otherwise, with Qiaoniang's appearance, she would probably be harmed by wolves and tigers in the outside world sooner or later if she lived alone.

Qiaoniang kept kowtowing, saying, "Thank you, sir, thank you, sir."

After dealing with the matter, Yan's coachman got off and drove away the gathered passersby, and Yan Liru also turned around and went back to the carriage.

Qiaoniang got into the carriage and sat next to Yan Liru, keeping her head down and clutching her mourning clothes tightly with both hands, looking very reserved.

Yan Liru kept his eyes on her: "Don't worry, once you enter the manor, you will serve me in my courtyard."

"Thank you, sir."

"The name Qiaoniang also needs to be changed."

"It's entirely up to you, sir."

"Let's change it to Ru Hui."

Qiao Niang smiled and said, "This name is so nice. Then I will be called Ru Hui."

Yan Liru was finally satisfied and looked away from her.

At midday, the carriage finally stopped outside the Yan residence.

Fang Yu waited for Yan Liru for a long time but he did not return. He thought something had happened to him. When he heard from the servants that the master had returned, he immediately rushed to the gate.

As soon as she arrived, she saw Yan Liru, dressed in an official robe, get off the carriage, then turn around and take a young woman off the carriage.

The woman said something to him with her eyes downcast, and her usually stern husband actually smiled.

Then the woman looked up at her.

Upon seeing the person's face clearly, Fang Yu felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

Chen Hui!

The next moment she realized that it couldn't be Chen Hui. She had seen Chen Hui die with her own eyes, and Chen Hui wasn't that young.

But such thoughts did not comfort her. She watched helplessly as her husband exchanged glances with this slut, completely unaware that she was right there!

Fang Yu clenched her fist, and even though two of her meticulously manicured nails broke, she didn't feel any pain.

She always thought that, apart from Chen Hui, Yan Liru only had eyes for her.

But I never dreamed that after Chen Hui died, Yan Liru would bring this woman who looked so much like Chen Hui back to his mansion!

What's this?

Fang Yu suppressed her anger and asked, "Husband, who is she?"

Before Yan Liru could speak, the woman standing behind him stepped forward and bowed: "Greetings, Madam. My name is Ruhui."

“Ru Hui, what a fine name.” Fang Yu said through gritted teeth, enunciating each word clearly. She stared intently at Ru Hui, as if she wanted to scratch her face inch by inch.

Ru Hui, however, did not notice anything amiss and looked up at Fang Yu with a bright smile.

"Alright, steward, take Ru Hui to my courtyard. She will serve me from now on."

"Yes." The butler glanced at the master, then at the mistress, and led the still confused Ru Hui away.

After walking a short distance with the butler, Ru Hui turned her head and looked at Fang Yu, who was tearing at Yan Liru, with a slight upturn of her lips.

This is just the beginning.

From the moment Yan Liru listened to her and brought her back to the Yan residence, this mansion was destined to never have peace again, and this was what they deserved.