Chapter 321 There's More to the Story

I know Ye Wan is coming with Lin Anyuan today.

Fang Daru and his wife had been waiting for a while, while Aunt Cai kept running towards the door.

As soon as she saw the carriage, she pulled the old man along to the door.

The streets were crowded on the second day of the Lunar New Year.

The place where Fang Daru is staying was personally bestowed by Prince Jing, and it is considered quiet and secluded.

But the scholars around still scrambled to become his disciples, and would occasionally come over to sneak a peek and keep an eye on the place.

So this commotion should have been noticed long ago.

As soon as the carriage stopped at the door, people noticed it.

A strikingly handsome man stepped down from the carriage and extended his hand.

It was so beautiful that people around it gasped in astonishment.

Then came a beautiful woman in red.

Two young girls and a very serious-looking old woman got out of the two carriages behind.

Whose esteemed guest is this? So dazzling!

"Dad, Mom, I've come to wish you a Happy New Year."

Lin Anyuan stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Happy New Year to my father-in-law and mother-in-law. May my father-in-law be as evergreen as a pine tree, and may my mother-in-law be as long-lasting as a river, and may life never cease."

"Okay, okay, okay."

Fang Daru looked at Lin Anyuan with indescribable satisfaction.

This was his most regrettable disciple, his most proud student, and now his son-in-law.

He had no regrets in his life.

Aunt Cai had already pulled Ye Wan along.

The family went inside and closed the door in a warm and friendly manner.

Only then did the people around begin to react and speak.

"That's not right. Today is the second day of the Lunar New Year. Shouldn't the Fang family not be sending anyone today? We just had some guests go in. Could it be the Moon God and his family?"

"How could that be? They're clearly living people; there are even shadows on the ground. These two are really good-looking; are they a couple?"

"They must be a couple, they're like a match made in heaven."

"Today is the second day of the lunar new year, the day when married daughters return to their parents' home. I remember that Fang Daru had a daughter."

"So one of them married into a family in Jiangnan, and they severed ties back then? Has she been brought back?"

Some people still remember what happened back then.

“You can’t just cut ties with your own daughter. I guess she’s been adopted back. It seems like today isn’t the right time for us to visit.”

Some scholars had originally thought they could try to get closer to the great scholar Fang while he was at home today, but now it seems that's no longer an option.

"No, I saw it clearly. Those who went in just now were General Lin and Madam Ye!"

This shout was like an explosion in the crowd; Lin Anyuan's name was now widely known and resounding.

And then there's Lady Ye. All the agricultural affairs in Jingzhou are decided by Lady Ye, a woman, which is a topic of great interest in the capital.

One story is that no one wanted to leave because of the couple.

Just then, a mother and daughter jumped down from the dusty carriage.

"Mingzhu, quick, it's that one. I've already asked around."

Ke Xinrui felt that her whole body smelled bad, and she felt extremely disgusted.

Damn it, once she regains her identity, she'll definitely chop off these people's claws and pull out their teeth.

Tao Mingzhu coughed a few times and whispered, "Mom, this time you must act pitiful and don't throw a tantrum again, otherwise your maternal grandparents won't feel sorry for you."

Ke Xinrui was furious. "How could this be? I'm their biological daughter, how could this be..."

Tao Mingzhu grabbed Ke Xinrui's hand. "Mother, just listen to me. Wouldn't it be better to vent your anger after you're married? Why do you have to fight for this moment?"

You idiot, you're an absolute idiot, you're so stupid.

Ke Xinrui reluctantly replied, "Fine, I understand. I'll listen to you this time."

Tao Mingzhu suppressed the disgust in her eyes and handed a handkerchief to Ke Xinrui.

Ke Xinrui gritted her teeth and wiped her eyes, which instantly turned red. She cried and rushed towards the door.

"Father! Mother!"

"Your unfilial daughter has come to wish you a Happy New Year! Father and Mother! I was wrong! Please forgive your daughter this time!"

The room was very warm.

Aunt Cai was whispering to Ye Wan, while Lin Anyuan was playing chess with Fang Daru.

I could vaguely hear crying and shouting outside.

"What's that noise outside? It sounds like a funeral wailing! Whose house is that? It's so unlucky!"

Aunt Cai immediately started cursing.

Just as Fang Daru was about to drink his tea, he choked. "Cough cough, can't you say something auspicious during the New Year?"

"You old man, how is this unlucky for me?"

"No, this sounds like it's happening right in front of my house. Do you think I'm easy to mess with? You're bringing me bad luck during the New Year!"

Aunt Cai jumped up immediately.

"Wanwan, you and your son-in-law sit for a while. Someone go and bring the broom used for sweeping the outhouse. I'll go and deal with the bad luck myself."

"Sweeping the latrine... cough cough, Chunya, why don't you sit for a while and let the servants take care of it?"

Fang Daru spoke helplessly.

Ye Wan's eyes lit up. "A spear with dung on it will kill whoever it stabs. That's great, Mom. I'll go with you."

After saying that, the two walked out.

"Cough cough..." Lin Anyuan also choked.

Lin Anyuan and Fang Daru exchanged a glance and then went out as well.

Outside the main gate.

Ke Xinrui has been having a tough time lately. Since she stopped winning money, she seems to have experienced all the hardships she never had in the first half of her life.

Her hands were covered in chilblains, and her once well-maintained face looked much older, appearing haggard and pitiful.

As she cried out, most of the onlookers recognized her.

"So this is Ke Xinrui from back then?"

Ke Xinrui was the woman countless scholars dreamed of marrying back then.

Marrying him would elevate her to the status of Fang Daru's son-in-law.

Fang Daru wrote countless books, and his status in the hearts of scholars was unparalleled.

"Ke Xinrui? Fang Daru's daughter, wasn't she married into the Tao family in Jiangnan? Why has she turned out like this?"

Many people found it unbelievable, and some prominent families, upon hearing the news, even sent people to come and see what was going on.

An insider revealed, "Don't you know that when the Emperor imprisoned Fang Daru, she severed ties with her family to avoid being implicated and kicked him while he was down, supposedly by fabricating evidence..."

"Who's wailing and causing bad luck at my doorstep during the Lunar New Year? Step forward and let me see!"

Aunt Cai grabbed a broom and rushed out of the front door, starting to beat the kneeling person mercilessly.

"ah--"

The broom came crashing down on her head, carrying a foul odor, and Ke Xinrui jumped up and screamed.

"Mother, don't hit me, it's me!"

"I am your daughter, Mother!"

Aunt Cai swung her broom with great force, and occasionally something unknown would hit Ke Xinrui directly on the head.

"Pah! What kind of lunatic is this, calling someone else's mother? My daughter is home today. I'm not crazy or stupid enough to mistake my own daughter!"

"What a jinx!"