Chapter 54: Best Friends Turn into Rival Friends? Or is it a May-December Romance...?
"Moon, what's wrong?"
Seeing that his sister looked unwell, Shen Yuanjia asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"
Shen Lingyue's mind was in a mess, with many fragmented plot points flooding her head, making her look like she was standing there blankly.
Yan Yi squeezed her hand and smiled at Shen Yuanjia: "She's fine, she just suddenly remembered... she forgot to feed Weibo'er jerky when she left this morning, and she wonders if it will make a fuss."
Reminded by her, Shen Lingyue quickly nodded, "Yes, yes, big sister, you have no idea how annoying Weibo is. Everyone in Danyue Pavilion is almost driven crazy by it..."
Shen Yuanjia shook his head with amusement, "I heard it was your brother-in-law who insisted on bringing it back to raise? Anyway, he doesn't have any other hobbies, so just let him be."
"Oh, although Weibo'er is a bit naughty, it is indeed cute. You can bring Heng'er to the Marquis's mansion to pet the fox another day. It loves playing with children."
Shen Lingyue realized that now was not a good time to speak, so she exchanged a glance with Yan Yi.
Seeing her exchanging glances with Yan Yi, Shen Yuanjia realized she clearly had her own little secret, and as the eldest sister, she felt a little jealous.
However, seeing the harmonious relationship between the sisters-in-law, Shen Yuanjia felt more gratified than anything else.
My little sister has grown up.
The three of them went into Jishantang together.
Shen Yuanjia was also here to donate silver today. He ran into Madam Sang at the door just now, which is why he stopped to exchange a few pleasantries.
The manager of Jishantang was a middle-aged man with a naturally smiling face. He warmly welcomed them and led the three of them inside for a tour.
Shen Lingyue's eyes swept around intently, as if she wasn't there to do charity work, but to conduct an undercover investigation.
Yan Yi chatted with the manager about the expenses of Jishantang, subtly inquiring whether the charitable donations from the women of each family had been used effectively.
The manager was clearly not a stranger to being "audited," and he answered the questions fluently, rattling off data on various expenditures and demonstrating a thorough understanding of the elderly and children housed in the charity.
In the backyard, about seven or eight children, dressed in slightly faded but still thick and clean clothes, were playing football together. Although they all looked thin, they seemed to be in good spirits.
Several elderly women sat under the eaves. The older ones were sunbathing, while the younger ones, still quite nimble, watched the children, some sewing insoles, others mending clothes, each with their own tasks.
"Uncle Fu!"
When a child saw the supervisor, he ran over excitedly and hugged his leg.
The steward patted his little head kindly: "It's Amao. Tell Uncle Fu what you ate for lunch today?"
Little Amao tilted his head and recalled, "Winter melon and cabbage stewed with meatballs, stir-fried greens, and cornbread. I ate two of them!"
He smiled, revealing his gap-toothed front teeth, and held up two fingers to the steward, saying, "I'm full."
Shen Lingyue bent down to meet his gaze. "Meatballs? Do you guys get to eat meat often?"
Little Amao shook his head, "Of course not! We only get to eat meat dishes once every ten days, I've been counting them. Hehe, I got three meatballs today, they smell amazing!"
As the little boy spoke, he smacked his lips with delight, as if he could still taste a hint of meat flavor.
The steward said to Shen Lingyue, "As you can see, Madam, we are helping more and more elderly, weak, orphans and children. We can only do our best to ensure that they have enough to eat first. Although they eat little meat, we will boil eggs for them every few days. Women and children with strength can also learn to grow vegetables and raise chickens to try to be self-sufficient."
Shen Lingyue nodded. With the current level of productivity, it is impossible to expect ordinary people to have meat at every meal.
On the bright side, at least these children don't have to "eat bran and wild vegetables," they still have corn and coarse grain buns.
Thanks to the corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, and thanks to the fellow villagers who introduced these high-yield crops; this is a truly great act of kindness that has saved countless lives.
As they spoke, they arrived at the backyard. A small door in the corner was half-open, and a woman wearing an apron, who looked like a cook, was standing at the door, talking to the people outside.
She frowned, shook her head helplessly, and was about to close the door.
A pale, withered hand suddenly braced against the door, nearly getting caught.
Shen Lingyue walked closer out of curiosity and saw a young woman standing outside the door, holding a three- or four-year-old girl in a floral jacket in her arms. She was holding the door panel with one hand to prevent the cook from closing it, and was about to kneel down with the other knee bent.
The cook was startled and quickly let go of her hand to pull her up. "Madam Wen, I really can't help you. You should try to find another way."
Madam Wen clung to her arm, pleading, "Sister-in-law, please have mercy and let me see the steward one more time. I truly have nowhere else to turn..."
Shen Lingyue suddenly spoke up: "You want to see the manager? The manager is here—"
She pulled the door open completely and pointed in the direction of the manager, "What do you need him for?"
Madam Wen's eyes lit up, and she immediately rushed into the courtyard with the child in her arms, kneeling down before him.
The manager's expression changed, and he quickly stepped forward, lowering his voice: "Madam Wen, didn't I make it very clear to you last time? The doctor said that your daughter was born with a congenital deficiency. This kind of disease of the rich requires careful care for a lifetime, which does not meet the requirements of our Jishantang for adopting orphans."
Madam Wen didn't say anything, but silently shed tears, hugged the innocent little girl in her arms tightly, and was about to kowtow to the steward.
Shen Yuanjia and Yan Yi also came over and asked in a low voice.
The steward looked worried: "This Madam Wen is also a pitiful person. A few years ago, her husband had an accident while working outside and broke his leg. At that time, she was pregnant. When she received the news, she was so excited that she went into premature labor and gave birth to a daughter who was less than a month old and had a congenital heart disease."
While caring for her bedridden, lame husband, Madam Wen also had to raise her ailing daughter. After three years of this, she had sold everything she could, leaving her penniless and unable to afford medical expenses. That's when she decided to send her daughter to the Jishantang run by Prince An's mansion, hoping for a way to survive.
"Ladies, it's not that I'm heartless and would rather see someone die than help, but children with congenital deficiencies like this need several taels of silver a month just for medicine to keep them healthy, and they might not even live for more than a few years..."
The manager didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood his unspoken meaning.
The money needed to raise this child could be used to help more people; it's simply "not worth it."
The steward glanced at Madam Wen and then lowered his voice, "If Jishantang opens this door, everyone will send their sick children who can't be raised here, and we won't be able to explain it to Prince An and the Princess."
In his opinion, this Lady Wen is too soft-hearted and lacks integrity. She squandered her family fortune on a little girl who isn't even a son to carry on the family line. Was it worth it?
Shen Lingyue frowned deeply.
Perhaps this was a "rational" choice made by Jishantang after weighing the pros and cons, but she could not accept it emotionally.
Does that mean sick or born disabled children don't deserve to live?
During the years she lived in the welfare home, she saw too many children abandoned because of illness or physical disability. However, the director and caregivers did not despise them and continued to give them the utmost patience and care, raising them to adulthood.
If we follow this manager's theory, wouldn't we just throw all those children out to fend for themselves and then use the money saved "for those who need it more"?
But who can guarantee that the "standard" for this judgment will never change, and that they won't be the one to be abandoned in the future?
Shen Lingyue looked coldly at the steward, her tone icy: "You'd better pray that you live to be seventy or eighty without any illness or disaster, and then just die suddenly. Otherwise, when you're paralyzed in bed and unable to move, you'll be thrown out just like this without any mercy, won't you?"
The steward paused for a moment, his face slowly turning red. He was somewhat unconvinced, yet dared not refute, and clenched his fists, which were hidden in his sleeves.
Shen Lingyue ignored him and went straight to Wen Niangzi, pulling her up from the ground.
“You’re dressed so lightly. If you catch a cold, there will be no one to take care of the child.”
Shen Lingyue took out a silver ingot from her purse and stuffed it into Wen Niangzi's hand without saying a word. "Take it, buy yourself some warm clothes, and then go see a doctor and get medicine for the child."
Shen Yuanjia and Yan Yi also generously contributed, eventually pooling together several dozen taels of silver and stuffing it all into her hand.
Lady Wen was stunned when Shen Lingyue walked over. She never expected that these seemingly unapproachable noblewomen would be so kind. Holding the money bag, she was so moved that she couldn't speak and tears fell down her cheeks.
She is actually very young. Poor families marry off their daughters early, and she is only in her early twenties this year. However, her husband's and daughter's illnesses have worn her down, making her look much older than her actual age.
Shen Lingyue raised her hand to tuck a stray hair behind her ear. "Hang in there a little longer, things will get better."
Lady Wen clutched the heavy money bag tightly, as if it contained her last hope.
She forced a smile, "Will it really... get better?"
Neither her own family nor her husband's family was willing to offer any help. Her husband's family cursed her, calling her a jinx who would bring misfortune to her husband and children.
Her family advised her to abandon her daughter in the mountains and leave it to fate. They suggested that while she was still young, she should leave her husband with a broken leg and remarry into a good family.
But Ya Ya is her own flesh and blood. She's so young and so well-behaved. She has a sweet smile and calls her "Mommy" in a soft voice. How could she bear to do that?
Yan Yi stepped forward, her gaze gentle. "I believe there's always a way out. It's not time to give up yet."
Holding her daughter, Madam Wen kowtowed to them with immense gratitude before turning and leaving.
As the steward watched Madam Wen's departing figure, his steps seemed to quicken, and a barely perceptible hint of sarcasm appeared on his lips.
How long can she hold on with such a heavy burden?
He then looked at Shen Lingyue with a forced smile: "Madam Shen is truly compassionate, but I wonder how many people you can save by throwing money around like this?"
Shen Lingyue glared at him and said seriously, "I'll save whoever I can. I'm not like you, nor like your master, who's picky about who to save."
...
"I'm so angry! What kind of garbage is this?!"
On the carriage back to the Marquis's residence, Shen Lingyue was still indignant.
She said fiercely to Yan Yi, "Like father, like son. Prince An is definitely not as kind as he appears!"
The Buddha preached to save all sentient beings, but I've never heard of sentient beings being picky.
"Okay, don't be angry anymore. As long as we have a clear conscience, that's enough."
Yan Yi gently put her arm around Shen Lingyue's shoulder and patted her back.
She knew that Little Moon was reminded of her past self, which was why she was a little overreacting.
During the years she lived in the welfare home, she must have witnessed many of the coldness and warmth of human relationships that children her age had never experienced. So whenever she had the chance, she always thought of giving back to as many people as possible.
In college, I joined a club to rescue stray animals, and during holidays I volunteered in the community, visiting and comforting elderly people living alone... Now that I've come to this city of Daye, with more disposable income, I want to help more people.
She half-jokingly coaxed Shen Lingyue: "It seems that my mother-in-law and I will have to work harder to manage the household and make the properties under the Marquis's name more profitable, otherwise it won't be enough for you to spend money like a child."
Shen Lingyue hugged her waist affectionately, "Hehe, Yan Yan is my money bag, my head housekeeper!"
The autumn wind was blowing bleakly outside. The carriage curtain was lifted a crack, and a fiery red maple leaf drifted in and landed on the hem of her skirt.
Yan Yi suddenly remembered, "By the way, what's the story behind Madam Sang that you mentioned earlier? Is there some other story behind her?"
Shen Lingyue slapped her forehead, "I almost forgot about that, it's all that lousy manager's fault..."
She sat up straight, cleared her throat, and poured out all the plot details she had remembered.
"Madam Sang was deceived by the Marquis of Dongxiang's mansion!"
"That young master You clearly had someone else in his heart, but he also coveted the reputation of Lady Sang. After marrying Lady Sang, he faked his death and left the mansion. He lived happily ever after with his true love outside, leaving Lady Sang to manage the household affairs of the Marquis of Dongxiang and to serve them like a slave!"
"And her so-called adopted son is actually the son of Prince You and Zhen'ai. They know that Madam Sang is learned and knowledgeable, the Sang family has a thriving literary tradition, and she has a father who is the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, so they let her raise their son, thinking that he will definitely have a great future!"
Yan Yi was stunned, her eyes widening. "This is... utterly shameless!"
This is a blatant attempt to exploit Madam Sang and the entire Sang family, leaving them completely drained of their resources.
Shen Lingyue gritted her teeth, "If I remember correctly, Madam Sang's adopted son, You Fengnian, was indeed 'promising.' From a young age, Madam Sang taught him to read and write by hand. He passed the imperial examinations with flying colors, achieving the highest honors in all three levels of the examinations. At the age of twenty-five, he became the top scholar in the imperial examinations, enjoying great success."
Yan Yi sat up straight. "Passed all three imperial examinations?"
It's not uncommon for a top scholar to be in his twenties, but to achieve the triple crown of the imperial examinations is a rare feat throughout history, and this achievement alone is enough to secure a place in history.
Shen Lingyue curled her lip in disdain, "Yes, he's unparalleled in his scholarship, but his character is as low as the Mariana Trench."
After You Fengnian became the top scholar in the imperial examination, he not only failed to thank Madam Sang for her more than 20 years of careful upbringing, but also openly brought his birth mother back to the Marquis's mansion and forced Madam Sang to ask for a divorce so that his birth mother could have a place to live.
Poor Madam Sang dedicated her entire life to her husband's family, only to find out in the end that she was a complete fool and that everyone had been deceiving her.
Just as Prince You and his true love returned to the manor in a sweet and high-profile manner, and were holding a lavish banquet to celebrate their son's success in the imperial examination, Madam Sang set fire to the backyard and committed suicide.
After her death, her ashes and memorial tablet were returned to the Sang family, where she remained a divorced woman.
No one in the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion appreciated her contributions over the past twenty years. Instead, they felt that her decision to commit suicide by setting fire to the mansion on the day of You Fengnian's high school graduation banquet was a deliberate act of bad luck and brought misfortune to the mansion. They even thought she should never be buried in the You family's ancestral graveyard.
Yan Yi remained silent for a while before she could process what was happening, and then murmured, "This family is really something, all of them are villains."
Is there not a single person with a conscience?
"Yes, that's too much!" Shen Lingyue pounded the carriage in anger. "My mother has been planning for over ten years to help my elder brother marry a girl from the Sang family, and the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion doesn't appreciate it at all!"
Yan Yi sighed, "Everyone says the Sang family's daughters have a good reputation, but in the end, it harmed Madam Sang and ruined her life."
After expressing their feelings, the two began to think about how to extricate Madam Sang from the ruthless and exploitative Dongxiang Marquis's mansion.
"Your eldest sister just said that Madam Sang mourned her deceased husband for fifteen years, and her adopted son became the top scholar at the age of twenty-five. Does that mean that Prince You and his true love will not return for another ten years? Madam Sang only has ten years left to live?"
“We definitely can’t wait for them to come back on their own.” Shen Lingyue slapped her thigh. “She has already wasted fifteen years. Every day from now on is precious and she should live for herself.”
Yan Yi nodded, "Then we need to find out where Prince You is hiding in advance, and then expose him at the right time."
Shen Lingyue looked at her expectantly: "How do we find it?"
In the plot she remembered, only Prince You and his true love returned to the mansion in a grand manner, but it didn't mention where they had lived for the past twenty years.
Yan Yi thought for a moment: "Lady of Dongxiang. She has made an indispensable contribution to keeping this secret from Lady Sang for more than 20 years. She must know where her son is hiding."
...
"The Lady of Dongxiang Marquis?"
Meng Wanyin told Qi's mother to quickly take the fluffy ball out of her arms, lest Yan Yi sneeze again.
She asked the two of them curiously, "Why are you suddenly asking about her?"
On the way to Tanghua Garden, Shen Lingyue had already prepared her words: "Today we went to Jishan Hall and happened to run into Madam Sang from the Dongxiang Marquis's residence. As you know, my family and the Sang family are related by marriage. Madam Sang is the elder of my future sister-in-law. I heard that she was a famous talented woman in her youth, so I thought... I'd like to get to know her?"
The reason is a bit far-fetched, but who can blame me when my mother-in-law is so soft-hearted and easy to fool? ^_^
"You mean her?" Meng Wanyin sighed. "Mrs. Sang is such a pitiful woman."
Meng Wanyin knew almost everything that Shen Yuanjia had told them. Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi chatted with her for a while, wanting to find out if the Pei family and the Dongxiang Marquis's Mansion had any dealings on a regular basis.
We always need a pretext to conduct an on-site investigation... no, to make a visit.
Meng Wanyin shook her head, "Our family has no relatives with the Marquis of Dongxiang's mansion. We don't exchange gifts during festivals, and we basically have no contact with each other."
He paused, then added, "Even if you deliver the invitation to their door, you probably won't get a response."
Shen Lingyue frowned. "Why?"
We are all from noble and aristocratic families. Even if we have no relatives or friends, do we not even have to follow the crowd in exchanging gifts and making social obligations?
Why does it sound like there's some kind of grudge between them?
Meng Wanyin coughed twice, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Shen Lingyue was all too familiar with this expression; there was definitely something fishy going on!
She immediately got up to close the doors and windows, then pulled Yan Yi closer to Meng Wanyin and whispered, "There are no outsiders here, so you can speak freely."
Meng Wanyin put her hand to her mouth and whispered, "It's all because of the Grand Madam. When she was young, she and Lady Tao, the wife of the Marquis of Dongxiang, were originally good sisters, but they both fell for your grandfather... and later they became enemies and never spoke to each other again."
Shen Lingyue: ...Goodness, best friend turned into enemy best friend.
She covered her mouth and chuckled, "I didn't expect Grandma to be so formidable when she was young—a victor in the war of love!"
"The Dowager Lady married your grandfather as she wished, but Tao Shi wasted seven or eight years in her maiden home and became a well-known old maid in the capital. Then one day she suddenly got engaged to the second son of the Marquis of Dongxiang, who was ten years younger than her."
Shen Lingyue: ...It's a relationship between an older woman and a younger man? How exciting!
Yan Yi silently calculated her age in her mind and asked, "Isn't Tao's husband the current Marquis of Dongxiang? But he's clearly the second son..."
"Yes, because his elder brother died suddenly from an illness, the title fell to him."
Meng Wanyin's tone was somewhat subtle when she said this.
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi exchanged a glance and boldly hypothesized: "Could it be that his elder brother's death was not an accident, but rather caused by someone?"
Meng Wanyin waved her hand, "We shouldn't speculate on things without evidence. In any case, the second young master will inherit the title in the end, and Tao will become the current Lady of Dongxiang."
Shen Lingyue whispered to Yan Yi, "Grandmother, that enemy of ours, is a ruthless person."
If she married into the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion solely for the title, given her temperament and methods, it wouldn't be surprising if she were to conceal the truth from Madam Sang and deceive her into serving the You family like a slave for over twenty years.
Shen Lingyue bowed to the air, "Amitabha, suddenly I feel that my grandmother has become kind and gentle."
We are so grateful for our grandfather's foresight back then! Otherwise, the two of them wouldn't be living such a comfortable life today.
Meng Wanyin felt a pang of sympathy. "Yes, your grandmother was just a bit sharp-tongued, but she really never did anything bad..."
However, it was precisely because the former heir of the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion died mysteriously that the Grand Madam was so concerned about Pei Jingyi and raised him by her side since he was a child.
If a man in his twenties can die suddenly and mysteriously, the potential risks were even greater for Pei Jingyi, who was just a child at the time.
Meng Wanyin dared to say that she had never intended to harm anyone since marrying into the family, so no matter how much the Grand Madam mocked, ridiculed, and suppressed her, she silently endured it all, because she believed that the facts would speak for themselves.
Sure enough, Pei Jingyi grew up safely and got married. Although the Marquis has not yet submitted a petition to establish an heir, it is obvious to everyone that Pei Jinghuai will definitely not be able to compete with his elder brother.
Shen Lingyue massaged Meng Wanyin's shoulders and said sincerely, "Mother has suffered so much injustice over the years. My husband and I will definitely take good care of you."
Yan Yi nodded in agreement, "I will also try to share your burdens more in the future."
Being a stepmother has always been difficult, and there aren't many who can do what Meng Wanyin did.
Ultimately, it's because she's a good person, and good people deserve good rewards.
Meng Wanyin smiled and grabbed one of them with each hand, "Alright, alright, I'll be waiting for your tribute."
Shen Lingyue ate a bellyful of new melons and was very satisfied; she was even a little stuffed.
But a new problem arose—thanks to the Dowager Lady, how could they get close to Lady Tao, the wife of the Marquis of Dongxiang?
It was still early, and Yan Yi was bored going back to Jiu Si Yuan alone, so she went back to Dan Yue Xuan with Shen Ling Yue to pet the fox.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, they heard Shuangxu, Shen Lingyue's usually composed and capable maid, shouting in a frenzy, "Weibo! Look what you've done—"
Shuangxu held up a "cropped skirt" in her hand, her voice trembling with anger, "It's a brand new skirt that I just finished making, and I've never worn it even once..."
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Laughing so wildly and unrestrainedly, and chasing its tail around the yard, there's no one else but Wei Bo'er.
Shen Lingyue stood at the door, covering her face, feeling a desolate sense of not daring to go in and face reality.
Pei Jinghuai, that big liar! We agreed he'd be in charge of everything on Weibo, and look what happened?!
Shen Lingyue strongly suspected that this guy had been going out more often lately because he didn't want to clean up the mess that Weibo had made of the house.
This house-destroying monster is terrifying!
"Chirp!"
The little girl chased her tail and played with it. When she turned her head, she saw Shen Lingyue hiding behind the door. Her big tail instantly turned into a propeller and she pounced on her.
With a fox-like creature on her head, Shen Lingyue stepped across the threshold with a look of utter despair.
Shuangxu looked at her quietly, "Miss is back."
The tone made it sound as if Shen Lingyue were some unfaithful man who had been sleeping with prostitutes outside, as if he were possessed by a vengeful spirit.
Just like any parent whose child has caused trouble outside, Shen Lingyue apologized without saying a word: "It's all our fault for not teaching our child well... You chewed up the skirt, right? I'll pay you back, I'll pay you back ten skirts!"
Shuangxu sighed, threw the tattered skirt onto the stone table, and couldn't help but say, "Miss, the skirt is a small matter, but the scarf is really too naughty. I'm really afraid that it will cause a big disaster one day and there will be no way to fix it."
Like any protective parent, Shen Lingyue weakly explained, "Weibo is very clever. It's a bully who picks on the weak and fears the strong. It knows that only people in our courtyard can be bullied at will. You see, it doesn't go to other courtyards to cause trouble..."
Frosty Floss: ...Is this something to be proud of?!
She gritted her teeth and suddenly said, "I heard my second brother say that the piglets raised on the farm are castrated. That way they won't dig and root around, and they'll become docile and focus on gaining weight. I think we should also..."
Frosty clouds stared menacingly at the scarf's genitals.
"Chirp!"
The scarf perched on Shen Lingyue's head, its claws hooking into her hair, baring its teeth at Shuangxu.
Shen Lingyue quickly raised her hand to cover the fox's ears, "Don't listen to the Weibo post, it's a bad review."
She grimaced as she freed her hair, shaking her head vigorously at Shuangxu, "No, no, I've only ever heard of pig castrators, not fox castrators."
Our little one is still a baby, don't sterilize her!
She pulled the scarf off, pointed at its nose, and scolded it, "You're not allowed to bully Sister Shuangxu anymore, and you can't bite her things, or I'll really hit you!"
Yan Yi watched with a smile as she "trained the fox in the hall," and then played a ball-throwing game with Wei Bo'er for half a day until she was exhausted and went to curl up on the mat to sleep.
"Oh dear, my old arms, legs, and back..."
Shen Lingyue groaned and pulled Yan Yi down onto the bed, saying, "Good Yan Yan, quickly give me a massage."
The two lay down side by side, thinking of several ways to get close to Lady Dongxiang, but then rejected them one by one.
"That old woman is ruthless and vicious; we'll probably have to resort to some extreme measures..."
Shen Lingyue mumbled something, her voice fading. Yan Yi turned to look at her and saw that she had fallen asleep from exhaustion.
Yan Yi was also a little sleepy, so she took her hand and closed her eyes.
...
That familiar, long-lost feeling returned.
She finally had another dream.
Ahead lay an endless peach blossom grove, with petals drifting down in the wind like a pink snowfall.
Peach blossoms bloom in spring, but in reality it is already autumn.
Isn't this the current timeline?
Yan Yi wandered around the peach grove and soon found a path worn by human feet. She walked along the path, passed through the peach grove, and the view ahead suddenly opened up.
On a flat, open hillside stand three small wooden houses, surrounded by a fence. Wild vines climb all over the houses, with a few small white flowers blooming here and there, swaying gently in the wind.
In the small courtyard in front of the wooden house, there are flower beds, chicken coops, and a vegetable garden next to it, where tender green vegetables have already grown, lush and full of life.
"Waaah, waaah..."
The sound of a baby crying came from inside the house. Yan Yi, relying on the fact that she wouldn't be discovered in her dream, boldly walked into the courtyard and stood under the half-open window.
Inside the house, a young woman, cradling a crying baby, leaned against her husband with red eyes. "Husband, are we really going to send Nian'er back? He's our first child, I can't bear to be separated from him..."
The man embraced his wife and young son, comforting them repeatedly: "Listen to me, this is for our future. If we don't give Madam Sang a child to remember us by, how can she willingly stay in the Marquis's mansion and remain faithful to me? Besides, Nian'er is our eldest son, and he will inherit the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion in the future. Only by sending him back can we have a legitimate claim to the mansion. Moreover, he has been taught by Madam Sang since he was a child, so his future achievements will certainly not be bad."
The woman nestled sweetly in his arms, playfully scolding, "Mrs. Sang, Mrs. Sang, all you know is Mrs. Sang. Yes, she's a well-educated and virtuous lady from a prestigious family, unlike me, who knows nothing and just followed you without thinking..."
"Jiaojiao, I even faked my death to leave the manor for you, don't you understand my feelings?"
The man held her hand, his tone earnest, "That Sang woman only has a good background. My mother said she would be useful to the You family, so I had no choice but to marry her. Look at her dull, boring, and wooden appearance, always spouting classical Chinese phrases, just like a nagging old scholar. How can she compare to even a single hair on your head?"
The woman burst into laughter through her tears, gently punching his chest. "You smooth talker..."
"No way! If I dared to lie to you, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death."
The man placed the now-silent baby into the cradle, put his arm around the woman's waist, and began to have his hands wander.
"As long as we live here as a happy, carefree couple, we'll always have more children. I, You Zhenliang, swear that I'll only have children with you in this lifetime..."
Seeing the scene inside the room heading in an indescribable direction, Yan Yi frowned, wanting to leave immediately, but afraid of missing some important clues, so she patiently listened for a while longer.
Intermittently, she heard the man say, "Anyway, it was me who faked my death, not you. Just wait patiently for two more years, and then... are you afraid you won't see Nian-ge'er again?"
“You’re right, my husband, you’re so clever… ah…”
Yan Yi silently left the courtyard; she couldn't listen anymore, she really couldn't listen anymore.
Even though she was usually good-tempered, she couldn't help but clench her fist and mutter "cheap couple" under her breath.
These two people must be Madam Sang's "deceased husband," You Zhenliang, and his true love.
However, the timeline of this dream should be fifteen years ago, shortly after the birth of the "adopted son" You Fengnian.
The man and woman inside looked to be young, in their early twenties.
Yan Yi had already memorized the woman's appearance and was just waiting to draw it after waking up from the dream, so that he could find her by following the picture.
The next step was to identify the surrounding terrain and locate the couple's "love nest".
Yan Yi looked up at the towering green mountains in front of her. This place was obviously far from human habitation, and there wasn't even a village nearby.
That's very strange. You Zhenliang is the heir of a marquis's family and grew up in luxury. Could it be that he eloped with his true love to retire to the countryside?
...Does he know how to farm?
Yan Yi kept thinking as she continued to "drift" into the distance.
If only I could see other passersby in my dreams, perhaps I could even figure out where I am by listening to their conversations.
Her consciousness continued to rise, and everything on the ground seemed like a miniature landscape, getting smaller and smaller.
Finally, she saw traces of a village to the north of the peach blossom grove and immediately headed in that direction.
No, it's not a village, it should be the estate of some wealthy family.
It's similar to the estates under the Changning Marquis's name.
Yan Yi saw a carriage stop in front of the door, and a woman in her fifties, dressed in fine clothes, stepped out. She had a long, thin face and a stern and imposing expression, making her seem unapproachable.
A man who looked like a village head stepped forward respectfully to greet her, "Greetings, Madam Hou."
...Is she Lady Tao, the wife of the Marquis of Dongxiang?
She nodded and asked, "Have you prepared everything for the young master, including his food, clothing, and other necessities?"
"It's all ready. Three large trucks are fully loaded, enough for them to use for half a year."
"Where is the car parked? I need to check it again."
Lady Dongxiang followed the head servant inside, saying, "The young master has never suffered like this before. You must take good care of him, and make sure the things you send are of good quality. You must not mistreat them..."
On the way, they met farmers in the village and respectfully put down their hoes: "Gou Village Chief, the irrigation canal that was washed away on the south side has been repaired."
With a little more clue, Yan Yi silently noted down the head of the village's surname.
This should be the residence of the Marquis of Dongxiang, or a farm under the Tao family that they trusted enough to provide food and supplies to You Zhenliang, who lived nearby, and support their "secluded life".
As Lady Dongxiang walked further and further away, Yan Yi was about to follow when she suddenly felt a huge external force pulling her, as if someone had punched her hard in the stomach, and her consciousness instantly left the dream.
Yan Yi suddenly opened her eyes and met a pair of bright, fox-like eyes.
It turned out that the scarf had jumped on her and woke her up.
Yan Yi: ...
She glanced at Shen Lingyue, who was still asleep beside her, and couldn't help but clench her fist.
“Scarf, if you keep being naughty like this, I think I'll really have to get you castrated…”
"Chirp!"
The scarf flapped around on her body, howling and protesting loudly in dissatisfaction.
"It's so noisy... Weibo, stop messing around..."
Shen Lingyue woke up rubbing her eyes and saw Yan Yi holding a fox-mouthed tube, saying to her earnestly, "Good news: Goddess Xuan Nu appeared to me in a dream."
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Author's Note: Hehe, another day of plenty of gossip! [doge][doge]
Yesterday I saw that some clever readers had already guessed part of the plot! Looks like you guys read a lot, just like me! [cheers!] But to avoid spoilers, I'm hiding the comments this morning. I'll release them after this chapter is updated, so I can leave some surprises for the other readers! [heart emoji]
I'll try not to leave things out like this in the future [purple heart] so you won't have a chance to spoil the plot, hahaha.
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