Chapter 97 should be released in the next couple of days...
At dawn, a faint glimmer of sunlight streamed in through the window. Leng Cuizhu felt a tightness in her throat and got up to get some water, but the man grabbed her from behind, preventing her from leaving.
“It’s dawn,” she turned around, a gentle smile spreading across her face. “Shouldn’t you go back now?”
Yin Yuan's dark circles twitched, and he pursed his slightly pale lips: "Wait a little longer."
He pulled her back into his arms.
Leng Cuizhu leaned on his shoulder, playing with the gray hair around his neck, twirling it around her fingers, and then gazing at him intently.
The man scanned her face in the morning light, gently stroking her smooth, wrinkle-free skin with the back of his hand. He lowered his eyes absentmindedly, not daring to look into her eyes.
“You are still so beautiful and lovely,” he withdrew his hand, “but I am no longer young.”
“Yes,” she smiled, took his hand, and guided him to stroke her cheek, “My lord, my appearance is probably not much different from when we first met, is it?”
"In my heart, you are still the same as you were back then."
These words filled him with even greater sorrow, for the signs of aging on his face were undeniable. In moments of passion, he could be completely absorbed in her, his heart and eyes filled with nothing but her; but as the passion faded, the stark reality gradually unfolded before him.
“Come back with me,” he said. “I will make them keep silent about what happened before, and they will not harm you in the slightest.”
“I’m so sorry,” she frowned, “My lord, I have no face to go back, I am a sinner…”
“Lingniang,” Yin Yuan called out to her, “You are certainly wrong, but I am also to blame for what happened before. If I hadn’t been so stubborn, you and I wouldn’t have been separated for so long.”
"All I want to do now is be with you. Everything that happened before and everything that will happen afterward is unimportant."
"What about your family?" she murmured to herself, "What if they don't accept me?"
“I’ve been all alone for a long time,” he said, holding her tightly. “These five years without you have felt like an eternity, every day has been an eternity… All those who have been by my side are not as good as you in my eyes.”
"I remember you used to say I was useless, so for the past few years, I've focused all my efforts on getting into officialdom, hoping that one day when I achieve success and fame, you'll hear about my achievements from afar and regret your decision..."
“Yes, you did it,” she smiled, “Lord Yin.”
Leng Cuizhu felt nothing about it. In the past few years, she had no idea what Yin Yuan was doing, whether he was dead or alive. She didn't care about him anymore, so why would she bother to find out? Let alone regret leaving him or change her mind about him just because he was promoted.
There are plenty of outstanding and capable men in this world, why be hung up on just one?
On the sixth day of the eighth lunar month, Yin Yuan brought her back to the Yin residence, where she stayed temporarily as a distant relative.
She had discussed this with Yi Yinwan beforehand, so Yi Yinwan wasn't surprised and accepted the tea she offered without any expression.
“Oh, by the way,” she took a sip of tea, “there’s a young master in this household. Let me take you to meet him.”
It had just rained, and the garden was still damp everywhere. Yi Yinwan, carrying Leng Cuizhu, walked through the long corridor and stopped at the cool pavilion.
Leng Cuizhu turned her head casually and caught sight of the person passing by, her eyes widening in astonishment.
"Leng Zhen!"
She ran to the man, grabbed his arm, and said in a trembling voice, "You...you're still alive!"
Leng Zhen was slightly dazed. Her gaze swept over her face, and she shook off her hand: "I don't know you, and my name isn't Leng Zhen. My surname is Yin now!"
As he spoke, he coughed, pulled the peacock feather cloak draped over his shoulders, and turned to straighten his clothes. Five years had passed, and his face had not changed much compared to before, but his temperament was completely different. He was much more composed and dignified, looking like a respectable scion of a noble family.
"I'm your mother, how could you not recognize me..."
"Bullshit! You're not my mother! I don't have a mother like you."
Leng Zhen looked up and saw Yi Yinwan standing to the side. She smiled and went up to her, saying, "Mother, you're back."
"Hmm," Yi Yinwan said, avoiding his gaze, "Have you finished your homework?"
"It's finished, and I've had it checked by the scholar."
"Then go back, this is none of your business."
Leng Zhen ran away upon hearing the sound, and Leng Cuizhu hurriedly chased after her, calling out, "Hey, Leng Zhen!"
She grabbed his sleeve again, about to speak, when he suddenly flung her away, causing her to lose her balance and fall backward to the ground.
Fortunately, someone protected the back of her head and held her waist, preventing her from falling to the ground.
“Wife,” Jiang Mimi helped her steady and smiled, “Be careful. These floor tiles have just been soaked with rainwater, and they can be slippery if you’re not careful.”
“Miss Mimi…” Her tense heart finally relaxed a little, and she replied, “Thank you, Miss Mimi. I will be more careful in the future.”
Seeing Leng Cuizhu and Jiang Mimi chatting and laughing, Leng Zhen gritted her teeth and pulled Jiang Mimi back: "Let's go back!"
“Oh right…we should go back now,” Jiang Mimi turned her head and said goodbye to Leng Cuizhu. “My lady, the young master and I will go back first and come to see you another day.”
"Huh?"
Leng Cuizhu stared at Leng Zhen and Jiang Mimi walking hand in hand into the house, glancing sideways with suspicion before meeting Yi Yinwan's gaze.
Yi Yinwan recounted: "Since you left, Master has placed Leng Zhen under my name. He now bears the surname Yin and is the eldest, legitimate, and only son of the Yin family. I don't know why, but Yin Yuan has suddenly become so kind to this child, finding tutors for him, ordering people to teach him etiquette, music, riding, and archery. And recently, he's even arranging his marriage."
"As for him and that Jiang Mimi, I don't know when they got together," Yi Yinwan chuckled. "Not long ago, I caught them in bed together. Not only did Yin Yuan not punish him for having an affair with his stepmother, he also granted his wish to be with Jiang Mimi and gave her to him as a concubine."
“This…” Leng Cuizhu bit her lip.
She had thought Leng Zhen had died five years ago, but she hadn't expected that Yin Yuan had been taking care of her all these years, and doing so very well. But Yin Yuan clearly knew that Leng Zhen wasn't his child, so why was he treating her so well?
Yi Yinwan: "Perhaps it's because he feels indebted to you."
"But Cuizhu, you should understand better than anyone the truth that belated affection is worth less than grass, right? I'm telling you these things just so you won't live in ignorance."
“Madam, I understand…” She nodded. “You can give me the remaining medicine; I will use it all up.”
Yi Yinwan glanced at her sideways and nodded approvingly.
Leng Cuizhu's purpose in returning was not to reunite with Leng Zhen as relatives. Frankly, she didn't care whether Leng Zhen shared the same surname as the Emperor, or whether she was surnamed Yin or Leng. Her focus during this time was on Yin Yuan. The sooner she dealt with Yin Yuan, the sooner she could escape this vortex.
Let Leng Zhen marry whomever she wants; let her do as she pleases.
...Actually, she felt that Jiang Mimi and Leng Zhen were quite a good match. She had a premonition that Jiang Mimi could handle him.
Since she entered the Yin residence, Yin Yuan would return home early every day after court and go straight to her bedroom.
"For me?" She took the bracelet the man offered, held it up to the window to examine it, and said, "I already have enough jewelry..."
Yin Yuan took her hands in his and gently stroked the skin on the back of her hands: "Not enough."
"I want to repay you for everything I owed you before. I was too arrogant and conceited, which led me astray from your sincere heart. I've thought a lot about this over the past few years and come to understand a lot... Life is unpredictable, but as long as you're willing to stay with me, all your mistakes are not mistakes."
He gently closed his eyes: "As long as you stay by my side... Letting you go back then was the biggest mistake I ever made in my life."
She frowned and hugged him tightly.
"Have you seen our child?" the man asked in a low voice. "If you'd still want me to be his father..."
She hummed in agreement: "I went to see him. You've taken good care of him these past few years, so I'm relieved."
“Leng Zhen is my child. This has nothing to do with blood or kinship... It only has to do with you. He is your child, your bloodline, and that is enough.”
"I will make good plans for Leng Zhen's marriage," he said. "The youngest daughter of the Prince's mansion has reached marriageable age. Let him marry into the family and he can enjoy a lifetime of wealth and honor."
Leng Cuizhu nodded. Leng Zhen was neither talented nor virtuous, only possessing a pretty face; marrying into a powerful and influential family was indeed the best choice for her.
"That would be great, but... do the Prince and that young lady really think highly of Leng Zhen?"
“Let’s exchange them for something of equal value,” Yin Yuan sighed. “If you really don’t like them, then prepare more betrothal gifts.”
"Thank you for your trouble." She lowered her head and leaned against his chest, then said, "Shall we rest? I changed the bath soap; I wonder if you can taste what it smells like."
The man buried his face deep in her collar, then looked up after a moment: "Is it Gardenia?"
She smiled without saying a word, pulled her collar up to her shoulder, twirled a strand of hair on his forehead with one fingertip, and hooked his belt with the other, her alluring demeanor showing no shyness, as she leaned down onto a table with him.
After finishing her work, Yin Yuan took a bath and lay down on the couch to rest. She got dressed and got up. Taking advantage of the free time, she took out a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket, added an extra stroke to the incomplete "正" character on the paper, and then turned back to count the complete "正" characters in front of her, counting on her fingers.
Including this time, that makes twenty-three. At this rate, Yin Yuan's health will likely deteriorate within the next couple of days…
She closed the paper, stuffed it back into her pocket, and suddenly heard a cough coming from inside the room.
She lifted the gauze curtain and saw Yin Yuan sitting on the couch, with a dark red bloodstain on the handkerchief covering his lips.
"Yin Yuan," she stared wide-eyed, pointing to the handkerchief in his hand, "What... what's wrong?"
"It's nothing." The man folded the silk handkerchief and casually tossed it onto the basin on the shelf. The dark red blood stained the water, spreading like mist.
"Just a chronic condition."
"How are you feeling now?" She sat down beside the man, lightly touching the bloodstain on his lips with her fingertips, her eyes filled with tears and worry. "Did I go too far with you...?"
The man put his arm around her shoulder and slowly shook his head.
She murmured, "You rest here. I'll go to the kitchen and have them make you some nourishing porridge. You didn't have time to eat this morning, and you must be tired from all that working. Eat something, get a good night's sleep, and maybe your ailment will improve."
She settled Yin Yuan in and then went out of the house to the kitchen.
She encountered Jiang Mimi coming out of Leng Zhen's room and greeted her.
Jiang Mimi: "My lady, are you free?"
“Yes, there is,” Leng Cuizhu said, craning her neck, “but I was just about to go to the kitchen to ask the chef to make some porridge for the master. What’s wrong?”
"As for cooking porridge, I'll have my little kitchen do it for you, my wife." Jiang Mimi pursed her lips. "Why don't you take some time to catch up with me? I'm, in a way, your daughter-in-law."
Unable to resist Jiang Mimi's repeated invitations, she and Jiang Mimi found a secluded pavilion.
"My lady has returned to the Yin residence after several years; surely she has ulterior motives?"
Knowing she couldn't hide it from Jiang Mimi any longer, she decided to be frank and say, "That's for sure."
"And what is Miss Mimi's purpose in going to such lengths to stay close to the father and son?"
"I won't ask about your intentions, madam," Jiang Mimi said gently, narrowing her eyes. "And you shouldn't inquire about mine either. That would be perfect for both of us... Would that be alright?"
"I only hope that you will not take advantage of my misfortune in the future."
"No, it won't happen," Leng Cuizhu said calmly. "Lord Chen, please rest assured."
"Although I don't understand why you've remained hidden in the Yin family for so many years, I believe you have your reasons and your own pursuits. Lord Chen and I—no, I and Miss Mimi—have always been allies. How could I possibly kick you when you're down..."
“My lady,” Jiang Mimi’s eyes widened suddenly, “You know my identity? How did you guess that…”
"It would be strange if you couldn't guess this."
At first, Leng Cuizhu thought Chen Xun was a man dressed as a woman, Jiang Mimi. Later, she witnessed Chen Xun taking out his crotch at the salt field. In addition, she observed Jiang Mimi's body and found that it was slightly different from that of ordinary women, which seemed to be a sequela of long-term breast binding.
She made a quick connection and confirmed it. As for when she first made that guess... that was a long time ago.
"You must be exhausted from dressing up all day. Do you still hold your official position in the county? Don't you have to report for duty every day?"
“I had to take leave before, but after I moved to the capital, I asked for leave there, saying that my father had passed away and I was resigning to return home to observe mourning.”
"Ah, you resigned from your official post." Leng Cuizhu thought to herself that Jiang Mimi's actions were really not worth it.
“…Since my wife already knows, then I won’t hide it from her anymore.” Jiang Mimi lowered her head, her thoughts complicated. “Mimi should go back now; the young master is still waiting for me.”
"Okay, remember to have the kitchen send over the porridge."
Jiang Mimi bid farewell to Leng Cuizhu and returned to her bedroom.
When Leng Zhen saw her return, she sat up in bed and asked, "Where have you been again?"
"Going out for some fresh air," she said, sitting down next to Leng Zhen. She picked up a grape from the fruit dish on the table and brought it to his lips. "I ran into your former mother and we had a brief chat."
Leng Zhen curled her lip and said unhappily, "You should have less contact with her."
“She abandoned me back then, leaving me to fend for myself with that scoundrel Yin Yuan. I’ll never forget the humiliation and injustice I suffered during that time.” He gritted his teeth. “Now that I’ve made something of myself and become the son of a high-ranking official, she’s come back looking for me, wanting me to acknowledge her… Wishful thinking!”
"Oh dear, don't get angry over someone who's not worth it." Jiang Mimi smiled and gently stroked Leng Zhen's back.
Leng Zhen glanced at her: "Yesterday, did you go to the Prince's residence to see the Prince behind my back?"
Her hand, which was patting her back, paused, and the smile on her face vanished: "Let me explain, Zhenzhen..."
Leng Zhen shook off her hand and said with disgust, "Don't call me that! It's disgusting."
"Jiang Mimi, I'm warning you, don't try anything behind my back, and don't even think about ruining my wedding!"
“Ah, but…” Jiang Mimi pouted and sobbed, “I’m so scared.”
"I'm afraid that once you marry that woman, your interest in me will gradually fade... What if you fall in love with her and stop loving me? What will I do then?"
Leng Zhen's brow furrowed, but her tone softened: "So, behave yourself and don't bother me."
“I promised you that after I marry the county princess, I would let her live a peaceful life for two years and give birth to my child, so that she would lower her guard. Then I would find an opportunity to kill her. That way, I could get her father’s support to obtain an official position, and I could also let you become my second wife after the storm has passed.”
"Really?" Jiang Mimi was overjoyed and threw herself into his arms. "Young Master, I don't know how I can ever repay you."
“Listen to me,” Leng Zhen took out a small hollow finger bone from her sleeve and put it on her finger. “Being able to use it for me is the best way to repay me.”
Leng Zhen didn't love Jiang Mimi. He only valued her obedience and ruthlessness, wanting to make her his weapon.
In recent years, she has offered advice and cleared many obstacles for him, enabling him to grow rapidly and step by step to his current position: a young master in the mansion whose servants obey his every command, a rising star in the capital, and now, he is to be married to the eldest daughter of a prince... All of this was things he never dared to dream of before.
Jiang Mimi is a sharp and handy weapon, much smarter than his former illegitimate daughter, the county princess, who is also his fiancée's good older sister.
He never imagined that this sharp blade would eventually pierce him.
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