Chapter 55 What siblings are there in your You family...?
Shen Lingyue sat listlessly on the edge of the bed, holding down her scarf to keep it from getting in the way.
She viciously stroked the little fox's belly, "You naughty thing, you disturbed my and your Aunt Yan's sweet dreams, do you know you've caused a huge disaster?"
Yan Yi sat at the table, holding a charcoal pencil in her hand, trying her best to draw the young woman she saw in her dream.
Shen Lingyue picked up a few scattered pieces of paper, which contained keywords such as Gouzhuangtou, Peach Blossom Forest, and Wooden House.
She asked Shuangxu to call her second brother, He Rong, over.
"Go check the Dongxiang Marquis's residence, and how many estates Lady Tao owns, and whether there is an estate manager surnamed Gou. By the way, it has to be an estate manager from fifteen years ago."
He Rong was somewhat bewildered when he first heard this strange request.
Even if it's difficult to find out, it's still easier than buying two pounds of aphrodisiacs for the young lady...
He Rong, full of confidence, went out with the new activity funds in hand.
Five or six days later, he returned to report, but his expression was somewhat downcast.
Shen Lingyue asked, "Didn't you find out?"
He Rong shook his head. "I found out that the maternal family of Lady Tao, the wife of the Marquis of Dongxiang, owns a farm in Tianjin. Fifteen years ago, the farm manager's surname was Gou, but he passed away three years ago. The current farm manager is his son, also known as Little Gou Farm Manager."
It's quite normal for an old man to become a young man and for his son to inherit his father's business.
Shen Lingyue nodded. "And then? Are there any peach blossom groves and cabins near this Xiaogou Village?" She was a little excited; she had found You Zhenliang and his mistress so easily.
However, He Rong's dejected expression stemmed from this. He shook his head again: "Yes, there is, but the villagers living nearby said that a fire broke out in that peach orchard eight years ago and burned it all down."
As for the three small wooden houses hidden behind the peach grove, they have been abandoned for many years, uninhabited, and dilapidated due to wind and rain.
"how so?"
Shen Lingyue went to Yan Yi to discuss, "The clues given by the Goddess Xuan Nu have expired."
"Eight years ago, perhaps at a crucial juncture, something happened that caused You Zhenliang and his mistress to move out of the cabin and hide elsewhere."
Yan Yi advised her not to lose heart, "They were able to hide outside for twenty-five years without being discovered, perhaps they just moved every now and then? But no matter where they hide, the Lady of Dongxiang Marquis must know her son's every move, and she will probably continue to send him things regularly to maintain You Zhenliang's wealthy life."
Shen Lingyue followed her train of thought and reasoned further: "The Lady of Dongxiang is a ruthless character. Such people usually have a strong desire for control. To ensure everything goes smoothly, she would definitely want her son to stay under her watchful eye, in a place she can see frequently. So even if they move frequently, they won't be too far from the capital. They'll definitely be staying in one of the surrounding prefectures and counties?"
Yan Yi confirmed her guess and added a sentence.
"Also, in my dream, You Zhenliang said to that woman, 'I'm the one who faked my death, not you,' and 'In two years you'll be able to see Brother Nian'er'..."
Shen Lingyue's eyes widened.
"So this mistress not only stole Madam Sang's husband, but also gets to see her own son frequently?"
Yan Yi: "Yes, so I think she shouldn't be a woman that You Zhengliang just met outside. She should have a certain status and be related to the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion so that she could legitimately go to the Marquis's mansion to see You Fengnian."
Otherwise, You Zhengliang could have taken this woman into his household, just like Aunt Liu in the Shen family, and made her a glamorous concubine, and Madam Sang wouldn't have been able to do anything to her.
Why should the two of them hide outside for more than 20 years, unable to even raise their own son, and still have to act in such a secretive way?
"She has a status, but it can't be done in the open, so she can't raise a son..."
Shen Lingyue's imagination ran wild, "Ah, could it be that You Zhenliang has fallen for his father, the Marquis of Dongxiang's, concubine, and the two have been having an affair, which is forbidden by law and etiquette, so they have no choice but to elope for love—"
Great, it's stepmother literature!
(crossed out)
"Cough cough!"
Yan Yi almost spat out her tea, pointing at her for a long time without being able to speak, "You, hurry up and stop your supernatural powers."
What kind of books does Little Moon read all day long? She's learning such a wide variety of things...
She seriously rejected Shen Lingyue's wild idea: "If she were really the concubine of the Marquis of Dongxiang, and had eloped from the manor, how would she dare to come to see You Fengnian?"
Shen Lingyue scratched her head. "So the only clues we have right now are a major event that happened eight years ago, and some clues from the daily routine of the Lady of Dongxiang?"
Yan Yi: "Well, let He Rong investigate the events of eight years ago while also sending someone to follow the Lady of Dongxiang to see how often she goes out and if she has any places she frequents."
...
The investigation into the Dongxiang Marquis's residence has temporarily reached a bottleneck.
So Shen Lingyue decided that when in doubt, she should go home and find her mother.
"The Marquis of Dongxiang's residence?"
Zhao Lan looked at her youngest daughter, who had suddenly returned home, with suspicion. "Why are you asking about their family?"
Zhao Lan was not as easily fooled as Meng Wanyin. On her way back, Shen Lingyue had already concocted what she thought was a flawless excuse.
“I heard some gossip from my mother-in-law about the love-hate relationship between the Lady of Dongxiang and my grandmother, the Dowager Lady of the Pei family. Mother, are you aware of it?”
Zhao Lan raised an eyebrow slightly, took a sip of tea with a reserved air, and said casually, "Tell me about it."
Shen Lingyue secretly gave herself a thumbs-up in her mind. Hehe, the first step of the plan was a success! ^_^
She knew it; nobody in this world could resist gossiping! Nobody could!
Shen Lingyue danced around excitedly, putting on a melodramatic love triangle for Zhao Lan, with the lines "You love me, I love him, he loves her."
Zhao Lan's family, both her maternal and paternal, were civil officials and not very familiar with the love, hate, and grudges of the older generation of noble families. She was so engrossed in listening that she forgot to drink her tea.
After listening to Zhao Lan's summary, she said, "Old Marquis Pei has good taste. Fortunately, the matriarch of your household is the current one."
Otherwise, with her little girl's mischievous and unruly behavior, she would suffer a lot after marrying into the family.
Shen Lingyue pouted, feigning dissatisfaction, "But this grandmother doesn't like me either. She favors my eldest brother and sister-in-law, afraid that our second branch will steal the title. On the second day after my marriage, she punished my husband by making him kneel in the ancestral hall for three hours!"
Zhao Lan lifted her eyelids slightly. "It's him kneeling, not you. And you're already feeling sorry for him?"
Shen Lingyue said confidently, "Yes, Pei Jinghuai is very, very good. I will cherish my own husband."
Who was it that didn't consummate the marriage for several days after their wedding?
Zhao Lan decided to save face for her youngest daughter and coughed lightly, "So what does this have to do with you inquiring about the Marquis of Dongxiang's residence? You don't actually think that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, do you?"
Before Shen Lingyue could speak, Zhao Lan shook her head firmly, "Give up, the Lady of Dongxiang is not someone you can handle."
That fox is a thousand-year-old fox. Yue'er? She's just a fox cub at best.
"You underestimate me. Can't I even give it a try?"
Shen Lingyue was still not giving up and added, "Don't forget, the daughter-in-law of the Marquis of Dongxiang is my future sister-in-law's aunt. In a way, our two families are relatives."
Speaking of the Sang family, Zhao Lan sat up straight and thought carefully, "Is it the Sang Madam who became a widow after only half a month of marriage and raised her adopted son alone for fifteen years?"
Shen Lingyue nodded vigorously, "It's her. I ran into her with my older sister a few days ago."
"That's right, your eldest sister's mother-in-law is a cousin of the Marquis of Dongxiang..."
Zhao Lan racked her brains for a long time, but there was no way to figure it out. The marriages among the families in the capital were so intricate that if you really wanted to count them all, they were all related by blood.
“Yes, yes, I heard from my eldest sister that Madam Sang’s adopted son is named You Fengnian? I heard that Madam Sang personally taught him and that he is a child prodigy.”
Zhao Lan looked at her strangely, "You don't know the name You Fengnian?"
Shen Lingyue nervously fiddled with her fingers: "Should I...know?"
"He is the top scholar in this year's provincial examination."
Zhao Lan reminded him, "Your second brother also participated in this provincial examination, but he didn't pass. Your father was furious and has been having another episode these past few days."
Shen Lingyue hissed.
Did You Fengnian's path to achieving the highest honors in three consecutive imperial examinations actually begin this year?
But he's only fifteen years old! Damn it, he really is a genius…
Zhao Lan also sighed, "Why do you think I went to such lengths to find a wife for your elder brother from the Sang family? The refined and elegant literary tradition of this century-old family can be seen from their daughters."
“Yes, otherwise they wouldn’t have given You Fengnian to Madam Sang to raise…” Shen Lingyue muttered softly.
Zhao Lan didn't hear clearly: "What did you say?"
"It's nothing, it's nothing." Shen Lingyue quickly changed the subject. "Then You Fengnian should be studying at the Imperial Academy now, right? Is he and my elder brother classmates?"
Zhao Lan nodded, "Indeed, but whether Ming An and he are acquainted, I have no idea."
You Fengnian and Shen Ming'an are six or seven years apart in age and did not pass the imperial examination in the same year. They are probably just ordinary classmates.
Shen Lingyue's eyes darted around, clearly having come up with a new idea.
She chatted with Zhao Lan for a while longer, repeatedly assuring her that she wouldn't do anything foolish like driving one tiger to devour another.
“Moon, listen to your mother. The Lady of Dongxiang is too cunning; you can’t control her.”
Zhao Lan tapped her forehead and began her usual refrain: "Your most important task now is to have a son. That's your only protection in the Marquis's mansion."
She no longer expects Shen Lingyue and Pei Jinghuai to win the title. Even Yue'er's own mother-in-law is unreliable. How can she gossip about the elders' past with her daughter-in-law?
Well, it was indeed quite exciting; even she might have been tempted to act the same way...
Zhao Lan, who won't be a mother-in-law until next year, silently shook her head. No, no, she had to maintain the dignity of an elder and absolutely could not do such a thing...
"Your eldest sister told me that you spend all your time at the Marquis's mansion petting cats or foxes. Shen Lingyue, Shen Lingyue, are you trying to drive me crazy? Can you give me a straight answer today? When am I going to be able to hold my grandson? I'll stop caring about you as long as you give birth to a son. If you give birth to a son, will your grandmother still have an excuse to pick a fight with you?"
The incessant chatter was deafening.
Shen Lingyue covered her ears and ran away, refusing to listen!
She strolled through the garden to the front yard, where she saw a figure ahead and stopped.
"Is Father off today?"
Shen Lingyue couldn't help but laugh whenever she saw Shen Hang. She held it in for a while before managing to force a concerned expression. "How have you been lately? Are you still able to speak clearly?"
Shen Hang knew she was going back to her parents' home today, so he came over specifically to wait for her.
He stood with his hands behind his back, staring at Shen Lingyue without saying a word, looking rather serious.
Shen Lingyue became nervous at this situation, and her heart pounded.
My second brother failed the imperial examination and became a scholar. My mother said that my father was angry with him. I wondered if she had walked into a trap.
Just as Shen Lingyue was contemplating whether to "escape from the Shen residence" in one fell swoop, Shen Hang suddenly spoke up—
"Eat grapes without spitting out the grape skins, or don't eat grapes but spit out the grape skins!"
Shen Lingyue: …………?
Why did Dad suddenly have such a crazy outburst in broad daylight?
Seeing her standing there blankly, not saying anything for a long time, Shen Hang got angry and flung his sleeve.
"Did you hear that? I'm all better, I'm completely healed!"
Hmph, let's see what she has to laugh at me with next!
Shen Lingyue forced a smile and mechanically clapped her hands: "Congratulations, Father! Congratulations, Father..."
Shen Hang was very dissatisfied with her indifferent reaction and blew on his beard.
A few days ago, when he was able to speak a complete sentence for the first time, Yi'er tugged at his sleeve and cried tears of joy.
Yue'er was spoiled by her mother... Never mind, important matters need to be addressed.
Shen Hang cleared his throat and said in a gentle tone, "Yue'er, you can see that you have gained a foothold in the Pei family now, but don't forget that you still have an older sister who is still unmarried."
Shen Lingyue: "So?"
When Shen Hang's hints failed, he had no choice but to be direct, "Exactly, when you visit any duke's mansion or marquis's mansion, ask them if they have any suitable men to help your second sister find a husband. Don't worry, Father will definitely remember this favor."
"Daddy, you're so biased!"
Shen Lingyue mimicked Shen Songyi's mannerisms, raising her voice and stomping her feet as she swayed back and forth, "I am the younger sister, and she is the older sister. How can a younger sister act as a matchmaker for her older sister? Father, you only care about my second sister's marriage, but don't I have any dignity?"
"What does this have to do with saving face?"
Shen Hang got goosebumps from what she said, but he resisted the urge to scratch. "If your second sister marries well, the three of you sisters can help each other out, and your mother and I will be at ease."
Shen Lingyue asked softly, "Father doesn't want a son-in-law who has passed the imperial examination?"
Shen Hang: ...
Of course he wanted to, but he wanted to live even more!
The Taoist priest said that Yi'er is destined for greatness, like a phoenix. What if she marries badly and all the retribution falls on his head?
He closed his eyes in anguish: "...As long as Yi'er can be happy, what does it matter if I, as her father, suffer a little grievance?"
"oh."
Shen Lingyue reverted to her natural voice, coldly refusing, "I don't care. When she tricked me into a swap marriage and pushed me behind the screen, making me fall flat on my face, why didn't you say she disregarded sisterly affection then?"
Shen Lingyue snorted heavily, "Anyway, it's none of my business who Shen Songyi marries!"
Before Shen Hang could get angry, he turned and ran away.
Enraged, Shen Hang screamed in a hoarse voice, "Ahhh, you unfilial daughter—!"
...
Shen Lingyue boarded the carriage but didn't rush back to the Marquis's residence.
"Go to the Imperial College."
It's been a long time since I've seen my older brother, so I'll go visit him.
While I'm at it, I'll also find out about You Fengnian's whereabouts, killing two birds with one stone.
The carriage stopped at a street corner in front of the Imperial College.
This is the famous "Top Scholar Street" in Beijing. Although it wasn't originally called this, people only remember it by this name now.
Located in a prime location adjacent to the Imperial College, the area is steeped in scholarly atmosphere and bustling with activity, catering exclusively to students.
Shen Lingyue had often enjoyed being fed remotely by her elder brother in the past, so it was naturally inappropriate for her to visit him empty-handed.
She walked into a calligraphy and painting shop and asked the owner, "Do you have any new, pretty stationery that's suitable for men?"
The shopkeeper chuckled, assuming she intended to give it to her lover. "This way, madam. We've just received a new batch of jade bamboo stationery..."
An argument broke out near the counter not far away.
"Where's my purse? It was just here, how did it disappear?"
A girl in a light blue dress anxiously touched her cuffs, her brows furrowed.
The waiter who greeted her looked disdainful. "You made me search for ages, and you didn't say you didn't have money earlier? Are you kidding me?"
The girl stamped her feet anxiously, "No, I really did bring money, I probably dropped it on the road..."
Shen Lingyue followed the sound and found that it was someone she knew.
"Miss Sang?"
Shen Lingyue walked up to Sang Wenyuan and, in front of the shop assistant, slapped a money pouch on the counter, saying, "I'll pay whatever she spent."
Sang Wenyuan realized what was happening and quickly stopped her, "No need, no need, I'll just have the maid go home to get the money, how can I let you spend so much..."
Shen Lingyue turned around and winked at her, "Just consider it as me trying to please my future sister-in-law in advance."
Sang Wenyuan blushed at her teasing, smiled, and accepted the kindness.
"Okay, I'll pay you back next time I buy something."
The shop assistant took the money without complaining, quickly wrapped up the things Sang Wenyuan had asked for, and respectfully handed them to her.
The boss was a step behind, slapped the waiter on the head, and then bowed repeatedly to Sang Wenyuan, saying, "Seventh Miss, my waiter is new and has offended you without recognizing your greatness. Please don't hold it against him."
She tried to return the money, saying, "You are the granddaughter of the Grand Master of Ceremonies, how could I accept your money..."
Sang Wenyuan shook her head and refused to accept the money. "Even if my grandfather went out to buy things, there was no reason for him not to pay. How could I flaunt the Sang family name everywhere?"
She repeated herself to Shen Lingyue earnestly, "Consider this money a loan from you. I'll have someone deliver it to your residence as soon as I get back."
"Do you really have to be so calculating with me?"
Shen Lingyue feigned grievance, glanced at the package in her arms again, pointed to the jade bamboo slip on top, and smiled slyly, "Besides, these wouldn't be for my older brother, would they?"
Sang Wenyuan blushed, but did not deny it, and gently hummed in agreement.
Shen Lingyue took her arm. "I'm here to see my older brother too, so shall we go in together?"
...
The marriage between Sang Wenyuan and Shen Ming'an is already in the process of going through the formalities. Previously, Sang's mother was reluctant to let her daughter get married too early, and since she and Shen Lingyue were both the youngest in their families, she was inevitably spoiled. Now, however, she is going to marry into the Shen family as the eldest daughter-in-law, and she still needs to learn many household management skills.
However, the two were not in a relationship where they were arranged to marry without meeting each other until their wedding night.
For the past two years, Shen Ming'an has been studying at the Imperial Academy. Sang Wenyuan sometimes comes to deliver clothes and food to her grandfather, and occasionally she will run into Shen Ming'an and exchange a few words with him.
It can be said that both families were happy to see the marriage happen and did not prevent the unmarried couple from seeing each other.
As the future grandson-in-law of the Grand Master of Ceremonies, Shen Ming'an's younger brother, Shen Mingda, also benefited from the honor and received special treatment from the Grand Master Sang.
However, Shen Mingda was indeed not very talented in studying, and he failed the provincial examination again this time.
To give Shen Ming'an and Sang Wenyuan some space to talk, Shen Lingyue went to see her second brother, Shen Mingda, first, bringing him a basket of pastries and dried meat.
"Little sister, you understand me best!"
With a pastry in one hand and dried meat in the other, Shen Mingda was so happy he almost cried, "The Imperial College's dining hall is not fit for human consumption!"
It's pitiful that he can't study well, he can't eat enough, and he suffers every day here, which is worse than being in prison.
Shen Mingda said with tears in his eyes, "Please talk to my father for me and ask him to open a carpentry shop for me. I will definitely work hard."
Shen Lingyue smiled and waved her hand, "I wouldn't dare to offend him. You failed the exam again this time, and your father is so angry at home that he's started practicing tongue twisters."
Shen Mingda: ?
Reciting tongue twisters—is this some new way to de-stress?
"By the way, Second Brother, do you know You Fengnian, the top scholar in this year's provincial examination?"
Shen Lingyue suddenly remembered that Shen Mingda and You Fengnian were candidates in the same subject this year.
Shen Mingda's face fell, and even the jerky in his mouth didn't taste good anymore.
"He's already the top scholar, how could I not know him? It's just that I know him, but he doesn't know me..."
Shen Lingyue urged him, "Then tell me, what kind of person is he usually? Who does he usually associate with?"
Shen Mingda shook his head. "He has no friends, he's always alone, and he lives in a dormitory by himself. As for his personality... he's quite difficult to get along with."
Shen Mingda's words were rather tactful. After all, You Fengnian had been a famous child prodigy since entering the Imperial Academy, and he had always been extremely arrogant and never even glanced at a student like him who was a complete failure.
He shrugged, looking nonchalant. "Who can blame him? He's talented, and he comes from a good family. He's the grandson of Lord Sang."
"That's right, he is Madam Sang's adopted son, so he should also call the Grand Master of Ceremonies 'Grandfather'."
Shen Lingyue muttered under her breath, "He really gets all the benefits..."
No wonder Lady Dongxiang and You Zhenliang went to great lengths to send You Fengnian to Lady Sang's side to be raised; they clearly coveted the Sang family's literary style and readily available educational resources.
Despite having gained so many advantages, You Fengnian ruthlessly abandoned Madam Sang's care after becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination, forcing her to leave the family, showing no maternal affection whatsoever.
How black is this guy's conscience?
When did he learn about his true origins?
"Second brother, take your time eating. I'll bring you more later."
Shen Lingyue bid farewell to Shen Mingda and prepared to go to Shen Ming'an to inquire about more information.
The second brother is an unpopular academic underachiever, and You Fengnian looks down on him. But the eldest brother is also a top student at the Imperial Academy; perhaps the two have some connection?
She had just stepped onto a side path when she saw a teenage boy with a gloomy face striding towards her from the opposite corner.
It seems to be You Fengnian?
Shen Lingyue instinctively dodged to avoid being noticed and quietly followed him.
As she walked, she felt that the road was somewhat familiar—wasn't this the direction leading to Shen Ming'an's school?
You Fengnian stopped outside the courtyard gate and stood in front of a carved window, his expression somber.
Inside the courtyard, Shen Ming'an and Sang Wenyuan were sitting at a stone table, drinking tea and talking.
Sang Wenyuan handed him the paper and brush she had just bought, her cheeks slightly flushed, and said generously, "From now on, we'll use this paper to compose poems together. The shopkeeper said this kind of paper is waterproof and moisture-proof, and can be preserved for a long time."
Shen Ming'an looked tenderly at his fiancée, "Okay, this way it's easier to keep and we can leave it for our children to see in the future."
Sang Wenyuan's face turned even redder, and she spat at him, "Aren't you afraid of corrupting the children?"
Shen Ming'an's smile widened. "Our poems are all about spring flowers and autumn scenery, birds, insects, fish and rocks, or using the past to satirize the present and express our feelings. How is that not serious?"
The unmarried young couple were enjoying a sweet moment in the courtyard.
Separated by a window, You Fengnian clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the smiling Sang Wenyuan, his eyes filled with fervent longing and resentful jealousy.
Shen Lingyue hid on the other side of the courtyard wall, taking in the scene inside and outside the wall, and frantically ate her hand.
No way, no way? You Fengnian actually has his eye on her future sister-in-law?!
But you're four years apart! And you're only fifteen!
Does your You family have a history of sibling-like relationships?
-----------------------
Author's Note: Lady of Dongxiang: The struggle for the heir apparent has always been like this!
Moon Child: New machine, wow! I'm the best detective in Da Ye! [Go for it!][Go for it!]
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