Chapter 30 She and Yan Yan are the chosen ones! ...
Seeing Gu Yuan's incredulous, resentful, and unwilling expression as he left, Zheng Chunyun felt a sense of relief and her steps became much lighter on the way back.
The ominous, death-laden cloud that had been hanging over her head finally dissipated.
"Thank you for your protection, Goddess Xuan Nu..."
Zheng Chunyun clasped her hands together and prayed silently in her heart that she would offer enough incense to the goddess tonight.
She walked into the Crown Prince's courtyard with a faint smile on her lips, and when she looked up and saw the figure sitting in a wheelchair in the hall, she paused in her tracks.
Yes, Prince Gu… no, he's now the Duke of Ling, her nominal husband has returned, and this was originally his courtyard…
Zheng Chunyun stood hesitantly at the door until Gu Lin turned around, met her gaze, and waved to her.
Why are you standing outside instead of coming in?
Zheng Chunyun slowly walked into the hall and saw that Gu Lin's wheelchair was facing the east wall, where he was looking at a painting of ink bamboo hanging on the wall.
He asked, "Did you draw this?"
Zheng Chunyun nodded and explained softly, "After I moved in, I saw that this wall was bare, so I took it upon myself to hang it up. I hope the Duke will forgive me."
Gu Lin said, "This bamboo painting is quite good. The old Minister Zheng was famous for his bamboo paintings. You must have inherited his skills."
Born on a cliff, undaunted by its ruggedness, upright and unyielding, its spirit is fully revealed with just a few strokes.
When her grandfather was mentioned, Zheng Chunyun's expression softened, and she said modestly, "I only learned a few superficial things from my grandfather."
Gu Lin glanced at her.
Minister Zheng loved bamboo, so it's no wonder he named his granddaughter after the character "Yun".
Jun refers to the flexible green outer layer of bamboo.
Just like her as a person.
Her name rolled around on Gu Lin's tongue a few times before he suddenly smiled, "Chunyun, your name is also very similar to that famous sword Chunjun."
When she suddenly heard him call her name, Zheng Chunyun's heart skipped a beat, but she tried to remain calm.
"Yes, when I was born, my grandfather was reading the *Yue Jue Shu*, which says, 'When the Chijin Mountain broke open, tin was produced; when the Ruoye River dried up, copper was produced; the Thunder God struck the bellows, the dragon held the furnace, the Heavenly Emperor added charcoal, and Ou Yezi, through the spirit of Heaven, cast the pure bronze.'"
At first, her grandfather wanted to name her Chun Jun, but her grandmother persuaded him against it, saying that ancient soldiers were too fierce and sharp, and that excessive strength could easily break them. She said that women should be chaste, quiet and gentle, so why should she be given a name that sounded so murderous? They were not a family of military generals.
Grandfather thought that she might not be able to handle the name and it would bring bad luck, so he came up with a compromise and changed it to the character "筠".
He did not agree with his grandmother's "theory of chastity and quietness," but dared not openly disobey his wife, so he secretly used a little trick.
Gu Lin listened quietly as she recounted the heartwarming daily routine of her grandparents disagreeing on how to name her. Those ordinary moments, buried in her memory and forgotten, turned out to be so precious.
He looked at Zheng Chunyun's gentle, nostalgic face and agreed, "The famous sword is excellent, and the bamboo is excellent too. They are like gentlemen, suitable for any place."①
Zheng Chunyun's face flushed slightly. She stopped talking and said as if to cover it up, "I talked too much today and disturbed the Duke."
Gu Lin shook his head. "How has Madam Zheng been feeling lately? I should visit her after I finish dealing with the affairs of the household."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Excellency. My grandmother is in good health."
Zheng Chunyun quickly replied, "You've finally returned to the capital, and you still have to explain the details of the embezzlement case to His Majesty. There are countless things to do, so please don't trouble yourself with this small matter. Just allow me to visit the Zheng family often..."
"The health of elders is of utmost importance, no matter how small."
Gu Lin's gaze swept across her face, and after a moment's hesitation, he finally spoke.
"Although we are husband and wife, the truth is known to everyone in the palace and the capital. Now I am crippled in both legs and truly do not wish to be a burden to you. If you wish to return home, I can write you a letter of divorce..."
Zheng Chunyun suddenly raised her head and looked directly at Gu Lin: "May I ask if the Duke has someone else he admires?"
No.
"Does the Duke find me shallow, vulgar, and unbearable?"
"...Of course not."
Gu Lin was caught off guard by her direct and blunt question. The Duke of Ling, who could remain calm in the face of tens of thousands of enemy troops, actually avoided her burning gaze somewhat awkwardly.
Zheng Chunyun, seemingly summoning courage from nowhere, walked step by step closer to Gu Lin, stopping less than three inches in front of him, bending down, and gently pressing her hand on his knee.
"Lord Duke, is there really no chance that your leg will fully recover?"
Gu Lin lowered his eyes, trying his best to control the slight tremor aroused by her touch, and said in a deep voice, "The head of the Imperial Medical Academy examined me and said there is only a 50% chance of recovery."
Zheng Chunyun smiled at him and said, "Fifty percent is already quite a lot. Besides, the imperial physicians are always conservative in their words. If he says it's fifty percent, then it's definitely more than fifty percent. Maybe it's sixty or seventy percent, or even seventy or eighty percent."
Gu Lin was slightly taken aback, not understanding why she suddenly became so excited.
Not long ago, she was cursing Gu Yuan, saying that he had dragged her into a pit of fire and made her live like a widow...
Why does it sound like she has no intention of divorcing him?
Zheng Chunyun straightened up and looked at him earnestly, her gaze clear and sincere.
"Lord Duke, you are a general who strategizes on the battlefield and is a man who accomplishes great things. I will not hide anything from you—frankly speaking, do you think my life after the divorce and returning home will be better than it is now?"
She gave Gu Lin a generous and frank smile.
"Looking across the entire capital, which young man would not look down on the Zheng family's declining social standing, would not mind that I have been married before, and would allow me to become a first-rank duke's wife in my early twenties?"
In front of Gu Lin, she decided to make no attempt to hide her ambitions.
Zheng Chunyun went around behind Gu Lin and grasped the handle above the back of the wheelchair.
"My lord, you need a wife to manage the household affairs and socialize with various families. I also need a place to settle down and protect my family."
"If Your Excellency doesn't mind, why don't we give it a try?"
Zheng Chunyun revealed her true thoughts and then remained silent, quietly awaiting Gu Lin's decision.
Perhaps a long time had passed, or perhaps not so long, when Gu Lin grasped the hand of the person behind him.
"Since we're husband and wife, isn't it a bit too formal for you to address me as 'Lord Duke' all the time, Chunyun?"
Zheng Chunyun smiled.
"Yes, my husband."
A gentle breeze blew by, rustling the clump of green bamboo planted outside the window. A bamboo leaf swirled and flew into the sky, higher and higher.
A favorable wind lends its strength, sending me soaring to the heavens.
*
"If you were Gu Yuan, and you were seriously injured and rescued by another woman, would you marry her and take responsibility?"
The Duke of Lingguo's mansion arranged two carriages to send the two couples from the Pei family home, and Shen Lingyue then asked Pei Jinghuai about this potentially fatal question.
His eyes widened immediately: "Why? Isn't this extortion?"
For saving his life, giving him more gold, silver, and land would be enough. Why jeopardize his happiness for the rest of his life?
Shen Lingyue was still not satisfied and asked again, "What if you fall in love with her at first sight? Would you marry her despite your whole family's objections?"
"There's no 'what if'."
Pei Jinghuai's will to survive was still strong. He shook his head vigorously, "First of all, I won't get injured on the battlefield. Secondly, even if I am injured and found, I will immediately reveal my identity, find the village chief or elder, and have him take me to the nearest government office. Then I will find some young and strong servants to take care of me. Why do I have to stay at a strange woman's house? Is she some kind of reclusive divine doctor, and no one else can save me?"
He snorted, "Don't compare me to a spineless coward like Gu Yuan who can't resist women. Who knows what he's thinking?"
"What if..."
Shen Lingyue was about to ask again when Pei Jinghuai, unable to bear it any longer, cupped her face and kissed her.
Stop asking, stop asking! What if he really can't answer and we'll have to sleep on the floor again!
...
The same conversation took place in Yan Yi and Pei Jingyi's carriage.
Pei Jingyi remained unfazed. "First of all, I will not allow a strange woman to serve me personally. Secondly, an orphan girl who is not afraid of the villagers' gossip and forcibly takes me into her home is obviously up to no good. How could I do as she wishes?"
If he truly had no way to repay the debt of saving his life, he had a hundred better solutions than marrying her.
The so-called perfect match in storybooks is nothing more than lust infatuation, with one person deliberately seducing the other and the other going along with it.
Pei Jingyi shook his head and scoffed, "I never realized before that Gu Yuan was such a devoted lover."
There are plenty of playboys who leave after a one-night stand, but Gu Yuan not only brought Qin Zhengzheng back to the capital, but also wanted to marry her, causing quite a stir in the capital.
Yan Yi turned her head to look at him.
It is said that men with thin lips are also heartless, and Pei Jingyi is such a determined man. He has a clear grasp and plan for his life, and "marrying a commoner woman" is definitely not in his plans.
Beneath his seemingly refined and dignified exterior lies a coldness and aloofness that keeps people at arm's length.
His background and his bloodline give him every reason to be proud.
Many chaotic thoughts flashed through Yan Yi's mind, and she couldn't help but ask again, "If His Majesty hadn't bestowed a marriage upon us, have you ever thought about what kind of wife you would want to marry?"
Pei Jingyi raised an eyebrow slightly.
As perceptive as he was, he sensed a subtle danger lurking within the problem, like poison hidden in a pastry, which could cost him his life if he wasn't careful.
He lowered his head, pretending to think, but out of the corner of his eye he noticed Yan Yi's hands unconsciously twisted together.
Pei Jingyi raised his hand to gently rub his temples, then turned to gaze intently at her face.
"I never thought about this before I married you."
"After marrying you, I think I won't have to think about it anymore."
*
"Yan Yan?"
Shen Lingyue waved vigorously in front of Yan Yi for the nth time, muttering in puzzlement, "What's wrong with you today? You keep getting distracted..."
"Ah, it's nothing. I probably ate too much gossip at the Duke of Ling's mansion yesterday and I'm a little full."
Yan Yi snapped out of her daze, hastily made up an excuse, and secretly shook her head, trying to banish the image of Pei Jingyi's expression and actions in the carriage yesterday from her mind.
Honestly, does he even know what he's saying...?
He was the one who made the three-point agreement with her back then, and now he's the one constantly crossing those boundaries...
This morning, Pei Jingyi's wedding leave ended, and he had to return to the Ministry of War for his shift.
He said he wanted the servants in the mansion to see that they were "loving husband and wife," and that she should see him off at the door and act as if she was reluctant to part with him.
Yan Yi lowered her head and blushed as she saw him off to the second gate, receiving countless scrutinizing glances along the way.
Pei Jingyi had picked a gardenia in full bloom at some point and bent down to tuck it into her collar, releasing a delicate fragrance.
He turned his head slightly to stare at her earrings, held that position for more than ten seconds, and finally chuckled softly in her ear.
"From this angle, it looks like we're being affectionate."
Yan Yi: "...Husband, take care and come back soon."
Thinking of this, Yan Yi's face flushed uncontrollably again.
Shen Lingyue took in her entire situation and covered her mouth to chuckle.
I understand. My brother went to work this morning. He's reluctant to leave me!
She rubbed her aching lower back and sighed, "Luckily, Prince Gu is back. Pei Jinghuai went to the Duke of Ling's mansion early this morning to find him and that Brother Chen Hu."
All night long, Pei Jinghuai was demonstrating to her through his actions that he wouldn't fall in love with someone at first sight so easily.
"However, there's something I really can't figure out."
Shen Lingyue slumped onto the small kang table on the couch, resting her chin on her hands, and asked, "How did Prince Gu manage to come back alive?"
She hadn't seen this scene in her memory, or in Yan Yi's dream.
When it came to serious matters, Yan Yi's expression became serious. She lowered her eyes and thought for a while, then dipped her fingertip in tea and drew a wavy line on the table.
"Have you noticed that, although it seems like we've transmigrated into a parallel world, even the characters in the books you've read don't have fixed fates? Sometimes, just a slight change can trigger a series of different outcomes."
Shen Lingyue raised a hand. "Yeah, the butterfly effect."
"Just like Sister Zheng received our warning and took action, changing her tragic fate, could we speculate that Gu Lin's fate also changed as a result?"
Yan Yi drew countless branches on that wavy line.
"Swords have no eyes, and life is the most unpredictable thing. Gu Lin might escape Gu Yuan's cold arrow, or he might not and die on the spot; he might jump off a cliff with serious injuries and die from the fall, or he might survive by sheer luck; Chen Hu rescued him and got him a doctor to treat his wounds, but he might not survive the infection, or he might pull through; they rushed back to the capital, and they might be hunted down and killed by Feng Chun's men, or they might escape death..."
Yan Yi's fingertips moved casually along each of the branch lines she had drawn.
"Like a garden with forking paths, every choice leads to a different outcome, and Gu Lin will always have a fifty percent chance of coming back alive."
Shen Lingyue's eyes were practically spinning with excitement. Ugh, she failed probability theory last semester...
In conclusion.
Shen Lingyue slammed her hand on the table and declared confidently, "It must be because we did good deeds and saved good people that Sister Zheng and Prince Gu survived!"
She and Yan Yi are truly chosen ones! Lucky little koi fish!
Yan Yi added, "Actually, I have another uncertain guess."
"What what?"
Yan Yi touched her heart and said, "Last night before I went to sleep, I suddenly felt warm all over my body. It felt very comfortable, like I was soaking in a hot spring. I slept soundly all night."
Two days ago, when she and Pei Jingyi returned to the Zhou family, she suddenly felt much better in her chest on the way, and the occasional feeling of tightness in her chest lessened considerably.
She later learned from Shen Lingyue that Fan Guangzu had his legs broken and was imprisoned that day.
Upon hearing this, Shen Lingyue's eyes lit up instantly.
"You mean, because we changed Sister Zheng and Gu Lin's fate, your body was also nourished, just like... just like absorbing spiritual energy into the body in cultivation novels?"
Yan Yi chuckled at her analogy and nodded tentatively, "That's roughly the idea. But this is just my personal feeling, and it's possible it's just psychological..."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Shen Lingyue jumped off the bed, ran to the door and called to Qingchan, "Go and invite the doctor who treated my sister-in-law last time!"
He turned back and winked at Yan Yi: "Whether you're feeling better or not, we'll know once the doctor takes a look."
The doctor was quickly summoned.
Shen Lingyue was extremely anxious. "Doctor, please take my sister-in-law's pulse quickly and see if she's feeling any better?"
The doctor shook his head, urging him on, "Young Madam, don't be too impatient. Your family's eldest young mistress's illness has been accumulating for many years; it can't be improved in just a few days..."
As he spoke, he put his hand on Yan Yi's wrist, then suddenly stopped talking and let out a soft "Eh?" a moment later.
"It's really gotten much better?"
The old doctor's goatee stood on end. After calculating with his fingers, he was even more astonished, "Only three days have passed?"
He was shocked and confused. Could the prescription he had given really have such a miraculous effect?
How could he not know that he was actually a miracle doctor?
The doctor's voice trembled as he spoke again: "Does the young mistress drink the medicine I prescribed on time every day? Has she taken anything else?"
Yan Yi and Shen Lingyue exchanged a glance.
The latter quickly realized what was happening and cleared her throat: "Ah, it must be the secret medicine that my brother obtained from the palace that's working! Sister-in-law, you must take it on time."
The doctor, still unwilling to give up, tentatively asked, "I wonder which imperial physician prescribed this formula? May I take a look?"
Shen Lingyue shook her head repeatedly: "It was said to be a secret medicine, so naturally it is a treasure that the royal family cannot share. Doctor, please don't ask any more questions."
"Yes, yes, I'm sorry for being so presumptuous..."
The doctor was somewhat disappointed, but he understood the rules of the palace, so he didn't press the matter further. He simply said that the secret formula of this palace medicine was extremely well-prepared and that Yan Yi should continue using it.
After seeing the doctor off, Shen Lingyue jumped up and down in the room several times with joy.
"That's wonderful, Yan Yan! You can recover! I'll go pray to Buddha in a little while—"
At this point, she suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
"Do you still remember the letter you wrote to Sister Zheng? What was the signature?"
Yan Yi frowned slightly, "The Nine Heavens Goddess of Fate?"
But that was something she made up to increase its credibility.
Shen Lingyue snapped her fingers. "Aren't gods all man-made? If you worship them enough, they'll naturally become gods."
Because Zheng Chunyun believed that it was the Goddess of Fate of the Nine Heavens who was protecting her and keeping her away from misfortune, her "faith" transformed into the power that nourished Yan Yi's body.
Shen Lingyue grasped her hand, her eyes shining brightly.
"For your health, we'll eat lots of melons and save lots of lives!"
She stroked her chin thoughtfully, "How about I go see Qi Xiuyuan again another day and ask him to also enshrine the Goddess Xuan Nu at home?"
If it weren't for Yan Yi, he would already be a pair of star-crossed lovers with the Princess of Rongcheng.
Yan Yi stopped her, both amused and exasperated: "Isn't this just playing tricks? Qi Xiuyuan is a future prime minister, and he's so shrewd. If he notices something, things could get messy."
Anyway, the future is long, and one more won't make a difference.
Shen Lingyue thought about it and agreed. The capital city is so big, how could there be a shortage of fresh gossip?
But if you just stay cooped up in the mansion and don't move, the melon won't just fall from the sky.
Shen Lingyue decided to take the initiative.
The first step is to betray one's own family... no, it's to start by asking around one's own family members!
The next day she went to the Pingxi Earl's Mansion, where her eldest sister Shen Yuanjia had married.
This was the first time she had delivered an invitation to someone's home alone; her identity was no longer that of the third young lady of the Shen family, but rather the second young mistress of the Changning Marquis's mansion.
As is customary, we first went to pay our respects to Lady Pingxi, the mother-in-law of her eldest sister.
Lady Pingxi was a kind-looking middle-aged woman. If Shen Lingyue hadn't heard about her true nature from Zhao Lan, she probably would have been deceived by her appearance.
"It's been a long time. Yuanjia, your younger sister has become even more beautiful."
Lady Pingxi took her hand affectionately, her face full of concern, "You've only been married into the Changning Marquis's mansion for a few days, why are you here to see your elder sister? Did you have a quarrel with your husband and suffer some grievances?"
Shen Lingyue: ...
Is this out of concern for her, or is it to see her make a fool of herself?
As expected, bad guys can't hide forever.
She pulled her hand back, her smile widening. "No, my husband and I are doing very well. Everyone in the Marquis's mansion is kind and speaks so sweetly, especially my mother-in-law, who dotes on me the most! She said that even after I'm married, I can still feel like I'm at my parents' home, and I can do whatever I want!"
Lady Pingxi's smile froze.
Listen to this! What kind of new bride dares to be so arrogant?
Fortunately, Shen Yuanjia wasn't as sharp-tongued as her younger sister, otherwise she would have been driven crazy...
She chuckled dryly twice: "You sisters rarely get to see each other, go back and have your private talk, you don't need to keep this old woman company."
Shen Lingyue stared in surprise, "Auntie, you don't look old at all, you look no more than sixty!"
Lady Pingxi, who is not yet fifty years old this year: ...Let's go!
Shen Yuanjia forced himself to leave the courtyard, but finally couldn't hold back and bent over to laugh.
"Moon, your mouth..."
It's been a long time since I've seen her mother-in-law so angry that her face turned blue.
Shen Lingyue proudly put her hands on her hips: "I married into a Marquis's family. Would a mere Countess like her dare to come to my mother-in-law's door to complain? Eldest sister, if she dares to mess with you again, just tell me, and I'll stand up for you!"
Shen Yuanjia hugged her, feeling touched.
My younger sister has grown up, and I know how to care for her now.
The two walked towards Shen Yuanjia's courtyard.
Shen Lingyue asked, "Where is Heng-jie?"
Didn't she love playing with her aunt the most?
“I sent Heng’er to school a while ago. Today is not a day off, so I didn’t ask for leave for her.”
Shen Lingyue asked curiously, "Are there still private schools outside that accept female students?"
Shen Yuanjia explained, "It is the Yunshao Girls' School, which is run by the Tongan Duke. Every year, a few places are released, and it is very difficult to get in."
Most of the girls studying there were daughters of high-ranking noble families or court officials. Occasionally, there were girls from ordinary families with exceptional talent, but they were very rare, less than one in ten.
After all, it's already difficult for ordinary families to make a living, let alone have extra money to send their daughters to school.
Even if they exist, they are prioritized for use on boys.
Shen Lingyue pondered, "Those who can enter Yunshao Girls' School must at least come from a moderately wealthy family."
"Not necessarily. I heard that Princess Tong'an sends people to visit the areas around the capital every year. If any girls of the right age can pass the preliminary selection exam, they can be admitted to school with free room and board."
Shen Yuanjia did a lot of work to cultivate his daughter. Hengjie was admitted to Yunshao Girls' School. Her classmates were all daughters of wealthy families. They grew up together and would naturally form a close network of relationships after they got married.
"Don't underestimate Yunshao Girls' School just because it's only been running for three years. Families in the capital are proud if their daughters can get into the school."
Shen Lingyue gave a thumbs up, "Our Heng-jie is promising!"
Speaking of which, she's been in contact with Princess Tong'an quite frequently lately. This princess is indeed favored; she's been organizing matchmaking banquets for the old emperor and has been making a big fuss about opening a girls' school.
She was quite different from the royal princesses she had in mind.
...If I could get along well with her, I'd definitely have endless gossip to hear, right?
Shen Lingyue secretly wondered if there might be an opportunity to visit the princess's residence?
“She is indeed His Majesty’s most trusted daughter.” Shen Yuanjia smiled. “There is no such thing as a royal princess becoming someone else’s wife once she gets married. As long as she wants, she can do many things for His Majesty.”
The preference for sons over daughters was not actually that obvious in the royal family.
Shen Lingyue pouted and muttered softly, "But I didn't see the old emperor pass the throne to his daughter."
Shen Yuanjia didn't hear clearly: "Yue'er, what did you say?"
"It's nothing," Shen Lingyue waved her hand to change the subject, then suddenly pointed to two young women with their hair styled in buns walking towards them. "Why do they look a little familiar?"
Shen Yuanjia sighed, "Have you forgotten? It was those two concubines that my mother brought back for me."
Originally, it was supposed to be part of Shen Lingyue's dowry when she went to the Marquis's mansion.
The two men stepped forward and greeted her: "Greetings, Madam. Greetings, Third Miss."
Shen Yuanjia coughed lightly, reminding the charming woman on his left, "You should call her Madam Pei the Second."
She wasn't officially a maidservant of the Shen family; she was bought from outside.
The woman on the left quickly changed her words.
Shen Lingyue waved for them to leave, then blinked her almond-shaped eyes and asked Shen Yuanjia, "Brother-in-law, haven't you realized that these two were people you arranged?"
Shen Yuanjia gave a mocking smirk, "He's always surrounded by beauties, watching them fight over him, he's having a great time, why would he bother using his brain?"
As they spoke, the two entered Shen Yuanjia's room. Shen Lingyue sniffed and said, "Big sister, what kind of incense are you using? It smells quite nice."
Shen Yuanjia paused for a moment before saying, "It's an ancient incense recipe that Yao Niang gave me. If you like it, take a copy with you when you leave."
Shen Lingyue was shocked, "You...you still have dealings with Yao Niang?"
-----------------------
The author's note: ① Liu Yuxi's "Bamboo in the Courtyard"
Yuezai started searching for NPCs on the [Capital City] map to accept quests. [doge][doge]
The gossip about the Duke of Ling's mansion has come to a temporary end. I might catch up on things occasionally later~ Our two little darlings, Yan Yue and I, live by the motto: More friends! Fewer enemies!
//I was shocked when I checked the nutrient solution in the backend this afternoon! Ahhhhh, your speed is insane... But updating so frequently might be a bit tough on my wrists and neck [crying emoji] So I'll try to update every other day, okay? [Let me see][Let me see]
But I'm still so happy to receive so much nutrient solution! Super happy! You guys just keep feeding it to me, I'll be frantically paying off the debt behind you! [heart emoji][heart emoji]
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