Chapter 58 The Prodigy Shen Lingyue, the Unruly Madman...
He Rong has recently focused her surveillance on You Fengnian, mainly because the old lady at that age is a real homebody.
In addition, the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion is about to hold a birthday banquet and also wants to hold a celebration banquet for You Fengnian's success in passing the imperial examination. The whole mansion is very busy, and it is even more impossible for the Dongxiang Marquis's wife to go out at this critical moment.
He Rong learned that whenever the Imperial Academy was closed for the holidays, You Fengnian would not allow the Marquis's residence to send a carriage to pick him up. Instead, he would first go to the antique street to stroll around. Sometimes he would buy some inconspicuous little items, and sometimes he would just look without buying anything. Then he would take a shortcut and walk back to the Marquis's residence in Dongxiang.
One section of the road is the back alley of a government residence. The original owner of the house committed a crime, had his property confiscated, and was exiled. The house remains vacant and unsold to this day, and there are no other residents in the surrounding area, making it very secluded.
Shen Lingyue decided to go big.
—Such a perfect crime scene, it would be a waste not to put him in a sack!
On her day off, she took a carriage early in the morning and headed straight for the Imperial College.
Even the coachman wasn't from the Marquis's residence; He Rong himself drove the carriage to ensure the news didn't leak out.
As the sun rose high in the sky, Shen Lingyue dozed off in the carriage. He Rong whispered from outside, "Third Miss, You Fengnian is out."
Shen Lingyue quickly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to look outside.
You Fengnian had changed out of the uniform of the Imperial Academy and into a brocade robe woven with gold thread, which was gorgeous and dazzling, practically making the words "I am a tycoon" written on his forehead.
Shen Lingyue snorted. With his outfit, he could easily be ambushed and robbed if he went out.
We put a sack over his head, beat him up, stripped him of his clothes, and stole his purse!
"He Rong, follow him and see where he's going."
The carriage didn't move.
"He Rong"
Shen Lingyue, unaware of what was going on, opened the car door and looked up to meet Shen Ming'an's ambiguous smile. "Little sister, are you here to take your older brother home?"
Looking again, He Rong had already jumped off the carriage shaft, stood obediently to the side with his head down, and whispered, "Young Master."
Shen Lingyue forced a smile: "Big brother, what a coincidence, you're off today too?"
Shen Ming'an's smile vanished. "Don't try to fool me. He Liang told me a long time ago that he's been seeing his second brother loitering around the Imperial College lately—tell me, what exactly are you up to?"
He Liang, the elder brother of He Rong and Shuang Xu, and Shen Ming'an's personal servant.
Shen Lingyue: ...It's true what they say, you can guard against anything but a thief within your own family.
She lowered her head, her fingers digging into the car floor, and grumbled defiantly, "I want... I want to put a sack over You Fengnian's head and beat him up to vent my anger!"
Shen Lingyue looked at her expectantly, "Big brother, you're the best, you definitely won't tell Mother, right?"
Shen Ming'an shook his head. "If you want me to keep your secret, you have to agree to one condition."
"What are the conditions?"
"Count me in."
Shen Lingyue suddenly opened her eyes wide. "What?"
Shen Ming'an lifted his shirt, strode into the car, and said leisurely, "I've been annoyed with him for a long time, and I've been waiting for the right opportunity. Tell me your plan, and I'll see if I've missed anything."
The younger sister was standing up for her brother-in-law, and he also wanted to stand up for Wen Yuan.
After recovering from her initial shock, Shen Lingyue clenched her fists with bright eyes.
"Yay! We siblings working together are invincible!"
People like You Fengnian, who are foul-mouthed, ungrateful, and treacherous, are easy targets for everyone!
He Rong resumed driving, following You Fengnian's direction at a distance.
Shen Lingyue started rummaging through the car, finding a set of seemingly inconspicuous dark gray clothes. "Big brother, remember to change into these later. This is my husband's size. It might be a little big, but you'll have to make do."
Shen Ming'an was stuffed with a bundle of clothes, and then he saw Shen Lingyue take out another set of men's robes that was a size smaller. Even he, who was usually calm, couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
"Did you prepare all of this in advance?"
“That’s right.” Shen Lingyue said matter-of-factly, “Of course you have to disguise yourself and hide your identity when you do bad things. Haven’t you read any storybooks?”
Shen Ming'an: ...I understand the logic, but why is my sister so skilled at it?
As usual, You Fengnian entered the antique street. The carriage couldn't follow too closely, which gave the brother and sister time to take turns changing clothes.
After disguising themselves, the brother and sister became brothers, dressed in the common clothes that could be seen everywhere in the capital.
Shen Lingyue had a small bun on her head and her fair face painted black and yellow. She grinned at Shen Ming'an and said, "How about it? Can you still recognize me?"
Shen Ming'an turned his face away in disgust, "...Don't laugh, your teeth are too white, they're blinding me."
Shen Lingyue wrinkled her nose at him, "Big brother is so boring."
"Yes, I'm boring, but my brother-in-law is?" Shen Ming'an asked casually as he stood by the carriage. "Putting sacks on things is hard work, why didn't you ask him to help?"
He figured it out: his brother-in-law was definitely the kind of henpecked husband who would hand over the knife if his sister committed murder, and stand guard if his sister buried someone.
With a dark complexion that even her own mother wouldn't recognize, Shen Lingyue rested her chin on her hand and leaned against the car window, looking melancholy. "I wanted to stand up for him, but I didn't necessarily want him to know."
That day, Shen Lingyue pretended to argue with Pei Jinghuai. Afterwards, she reflected on her actions and realized that she had hurt the dog's feelings and needed to make amends.
"...Just keep being stubborn." Shen Ming'an tapped her forehead. "Silly sister, you're pouring your heart out to this man, but you're not letting him know. Isn't that a waste of your time?"
"What do you mean by 'opening one's heart'?" Shen Lingyue blinked, then suddenly looked terrified. "Big brother, don't be impulsive! We'll just beat up You Fengnian, no need to kill anyone!"
Shen Ming'an: ...
He rubbed his forehead and said, "Little sister, your older brother is a legitimate scholar with a degree in the imperial examinations. I'm not some outlaw or notorious bandit."
"Oh, you should have said so earlier! You scared me." Shen Lingyue chuckled and waved her hand dismissively. "What's the big deal about putting a burlap sack over your head? Did you expect me to go out of my way to brag to him?"
Thinking about it now, I feel a little embarrassed.
"You shouldn't have that idea."
Shen Ming'an suddenly became serious, his tone becoming earnest, "If you have done one part for your husband, you should tell him three parts; if you have done five parts, you should tell him eight parts; if you have done ten parts... then you should let as many people as possible know, so that everyone can see that you are a virtuous wife who is wholeheartedly devoted to your husband."
Seeing Shen Lingyue's seemingly understanding but not quite, he sighed softly, "Never mind, you've inherited your mother's personality. You only say three-tenths of what you do... You don't understand, men are blind. Some things are obvious, but they can't see them. They just love to listen to those who are sweet-talking."
The mother and Aunt Liu are the most obvious contrasts, and it is clear at a glance which side the father favors.
"Hehe, big brother, you actually betrayed your compatriots and even told me this 'secret'."
Shen Lingyue's eyes gleamed mischievously. "Are you going to be a blind husband from now on, ignoring your sister-in-law's sacrifices?"
"You heartless bastard, how dare you make fun of me?"
Shen Ming'an pretended to hit her, but his large hand only pinched her little pigtail. His gaze drifted into the distance, his eyes filled with determination, "I don't want to, and I don't want to become that kind of man."
My father is impeccable in his scholarship, but he is not a good husband and father.
“That’s right, I believe Pei Jinghuai isn’t that kind of person.” Shen Lingyue smiled brightly, her small white teeth shining even more. “He knows how good I am, so one or two small things won’t make a difference.”
Shen Ming'an chuckled and couldn't help teasing her, "I think you're afraid that if your brother-in-law finds out about your heroic feat of putting a sack over your head today, he'll think of you as a shrew."
He turned his head to look in the direction of the antique street and saw You Fengnian coming out of the last shop, as if he was preparing to return to the Dongxiang Marquis's residence.
"Alright, hurry up and follow them." Shen Ming'an stopped joking and quickly climbed into the carriage.
...
You Fengnian strolled leisurely along the familiar road home.
He was dressed in a brocade robe and swaggered down the middle of the road. The jade pendant hanging from his waist was lustrous and shimmered with a soft green color in the sunlight, exuding extreme wealth and nobility.
Wherever he went, the locals and passersby gave way, casting envious yet fearful glances at him.
This was the moment You Fengnian enjoyed the most.
He was destined to be a genius, destined to be a superior person, and he would eventually get everything he wanted!
Except for... Sang Wenyuan.
Thinking of that name that stirred his heart, You Fengnian clenched his fists in anger, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.
Sang Zhi Qiu claimed to treat him like her own son, yet she refused to grant him even this small wish and instead pushed for the marriage between Sang Wen Yuan and Shen Ming An.
She didn't care about him at all; she just wanted to use him as a tool for retirement!
His expression was probably too ferocious, which frightened the little girl who was passing by. She hugged her mother's neck and began to sob softly.
You Fengnian snapped out of his daze, took a deep breath, and forced a flawless smile.
It's okay, he's still young, he still has a chance.
As long as he follows the instructions and walks step by step on the path to success through the imperial examinations, he will have many more and better women to choose from in the future...
As for Sang Wenyuan? Even if she marries into the Shen family, as long as he has enough power and status, he can still snatch her away.
Who knows, in the end, it might be her useless husband who, in order to please him, will willingly send her to his bed...
You Fengnian was lost in his beautiful fantasies about the future when he unknowingly walked into that quiet, deserted alley, a lewd and sinister smile still on his face.
boom!
A large sack fell from the sky, landing precisely on his head and covering his upper body.
The rope at the end of the sack was tied tightly, quickly wrapped around his body several times, and then tied into a tight knot.
Everything happened in an instant. Before You Fengnian could even cry for help, he was kicked to the ground and fell face-first into the mud.
"What? What happened?! Who attacked me?"
He rolled on the ground, flailing his arms in an attempt to break free, but all he received was a barrage of punches and kicks.
You Fengnian kept screaming in agony.
"Let me go! Do you know who I am? I am the future heir of the Marquis of Dongxiang, the top scholar in this imperial examination! Don't you want your lives?!"
No one answered; the punches and kicks continued in silence, and it wasn't just one person attacking from all directions.
You Fengnian's voice became hoarse from shouting. After all, he was still a fifteen-year-old boy and couldn't withstand a beating like an adult. His initial shouting turned into repeated pleading.
"Heroes, spare my life! You can take all the money on me, I promise I won't report you to the authorities, I just beg you to spare my life!"
"Grandpa, ancestors, please stop hitting me! If you keep hitting me, I'll really be disfigured! I still need to take the imperial examinations and become a high-ranking official!"
Silence, silence is the alleyway today.
Seeing You Fengnian curled up on the ground like a boiled shrimp, barely breathing and half-dead, Shen Ming'an stopped Shen Lingyue's fist and shook his head to indicate that it was okay.
He bent down and ripped the brocade pouch from You Fengnian's waist, deliberately adopting a hoarse voice to threaten him in a low voice: "You're the heir of the Marquis of Dongxiang's mansion, right? Grandpa will remember this. If you dare report this to the authorities, I'll kill your whole family!"
You Fengnian was almost crying himself unconscious in the sack. His face was covered in tears and snot, and his throat felt like it was on fire. He couldn't make a sound and could only nod desperately. His whole body was trembling.
With a wave of his hand, Shen Ming'an's team of sack-trappers decisively withdrew from the pre-planned route, leaving no trace whatsoever.
Only after the carriage had driven quite a distance did Shen Lingyue excitedly pat her chest, "That was so exciting! It's the first time I've ever done something like that!"
Shen Ming'an glanced at her sideways, "Really?"
His sister must be very talented.
Shen Lingyue realized what was happening and put her hands on her hips, unconvinced. "Big brother, you're quite skilled at this too. Those two sentences you used to threaten You Fengnian just now almost scared me."
She mimicked Shen Ming'an, lowering her voice, "If you dare report this to the authorities, I'll kill your whole family!"
That's too harsh; even she wouldn't say something so ruthless.
Shen Ming'an coughed and said reservedly, "I, your older brother, have also read quite a few tales of chivalrous heroes and wandering knights."
The "gifted" brother and sister exchanged a glance and then laughed together.
...
In a secluded alley, You Fengnian lay motionless on the ground, his upper body covered by a burlap sack, like a dead dog.
Across from the long-abandoned official's residence, several people were now standing on the artificial hill in the back garden.
The round lenses reflected a ray of bright sunlight, and the gaze shifted from You Fengnian to the direction the carriage had gone.
Lu Xilou stood at the front of the artificial hill, slowly put down the telescope in his hand, and turned to ask his subordinates in a subtle tone.
"Am I seeing things? The people who were just beating up someone down there with sacks over their heads were Pei Er's wife and... his brother-in-law?"
The news was so bizarre and shocking that even the well-informed Commander Lu had to silently process it for a while.
If Shen Lingyue were standing in front of him right now, he would definitely ask her sincerely, "Shen San, why is it you again?"
He had already kindly kept her secret from Pei Jinghuai when she secretly met with the newly appointed probationary scholar Qi Xiuyuan in the back alley of the Hanlin Academy.
But this time, she not only dressed herself up as a dark-faced young boy, but also dragged the usually upright and virtuous Young Master Shen into fooling around, putting sacks on her and fighting in underground boxing matches.
It seems the one being beaten is You Fengnian, the fifteen-year-old prodigy who was the adopted grandson of the Marquis of Dongxiang.
Lu Xilou was confused. What kind of... what kind of goddess had his good brother Pei Huaizhou married?
"Find a brother who doesn't recognize you, pretend to be a passerby, and escort You Anshou back to the Dongxiang Marquis's residence."
Lu Xilou raised his hand and ordered, "Go and find out how he offended the Shen siblings and got beaten up so badly."
Wow, that's too brutal.
Lu Xilou shook his head and walked down the artificial hill, muttering to himself, "I can't keep it a secret anymore. I have to let Huaizhou know the true face of his wife."
Otherwise, he was really afraid that one day he would see his brother's name in the case file of his husband's murder.
...
Shocking! A 15-year-old top scholar in the imperial examinations was brutally beaten and robbed in the street!
The villain was extremely cruel and threatened to kill his entire family if he reported the matter to the authorities!
The Embroidered Uniform Guard never concealed their actions. The "helpful passerby" sent by Lu Xilou to rescue the man simply got a cart, put the dying You Fengnian on it, and ostentatiously pulled him back to the Dongxiang Marquis's residence, giving the people of the entire capital plenty of entertainment.
When the news reached Pei Jinghuai's ears, he was having a gathering with several "second-in-commands" when he dropped his cup.
Who? You Fengnian got a sack over his head?
Pei Jinghuai was dazed. Did he really do this? Could it be that he drank too much and blacked out, not even remembering what he did?
He repeatedly questioned everyone at the table, "Have I been sitting here all day without leaving? Have I fallen asleep? Did I sleepwalk?"
His brothers were so annoyed that they all booed him, saying, "We've said it eight hundred times, it's not you, it's not you! Just think of it as a divine intervention to vent your anger!"
"Exactly, since you haven't even had a chance to do anything yet, this saves us a lot of trouble."
Pei Jinghuai thought about it again and was pleased.
When he got home that night, he boasted to Shen Lingyue that it was his doing.
Surely she'll finally take pity on him and let him sleep in bed, right?
...No, what if she presses me for details about putting the sack on me?
Thinking of this, Pei Jinghuai changed direction on his way home and headed straight for the Marquis of Dongxiang's residence.
He found a teahouse and patiently waited until dark. He then found his way to the northwest corner of the courtyard wall of the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion, easily climbed over it, and, using the darkness and the flowers and trees as cover, successfully made his way to You Fengnian's courtyard. He climbed onto the roof, lifted a small tile, and looked down.
...
The Dongxiang Marquis's residence was in complete chaos that day.
Who doesn't know that You Fengnian is the lifeblood of the entire Hou family? Ever since the heir fell off a cliff and died fifteen years ago, the Hou lady took You Fengnian back from the clan and registered him under You Zhengliang's name as her adopted son. She really cherished him more than her own eyes, hoping that he would grow up smoothly, inherit the title, and bring glory to the family.
Now, You Fengnian was brought back with his face covered in blood. His miserable appearance reminded some of the old people in the manor of the time when the young master had his accident.
—Is the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion cursed, with its male members destined to die young?
First it was the Marquis's elder brother, then the Marquis's son, and now it's the heir's grandson's turn...
"Brother Nian, my Brother Nian!"
Lady Dongxiang broke her Buddhist prayer beads and stumbled out, throwing herself onto You Fengnian and wailing, "You can't be hurt! You've killed your grandmother... Ahhh, my poor son..."
"Cough, cough..."
You Fengnian was almost overwhelmed by the Lady of Dongxiang, and managed to squeeze out a voice from his throat, "Grandmother, I'm not dead... it's just that my body hurts so much..."
After saying that, he tilted his head and fainted.
"Nian-ge'er!" Lady Dongxiang Hou shouted, "Quickly take my token and summon the imperial physician, the best one."
The imperial physician quickly arrived with his medicine chest and carefully examined You Fengnian's pulse. "Madam, there's no need to worry. Your son's injuries are mostly superficial; they haven't damaged his bones or internal organs..."
"Impossible!" Lady Dongxiang said sternly. "If he wasn't seriously injured, how could he have fainted and remained unconscious?"
She sized up the young imperial physician, her eyes full of distrust. "Do you even know how to treat patients? How did you get into the Imperial Hospital?"
He then turned to the steward and said, "Didn't I tell you to fetch the best imperial physician? Why did you bring back such an incompetent one?"
The imperial physician's face tightened, showing some displeasure: "His Majesty has graciously granted permission for noble families and court officials to come to the Imperial Medical Academy with their tokens to summon people in case of emergencies. Today is the day for the empresses of the harem to have their pulses checked, and I am on duty at the Imperial Medical Academy."
Lady Dongxiang scoffed, "That's because you're incompetent. You're not qualified to take the pulse of the ladies in the palace; you can only sit on the sidelines."
"Mother, please calm down. Right now, Nian'er's health is the most important thing."
Madam Sang rushed over upon receiving the news and heard her questioning the imperial physician's medical skills, so she quickly went into the room to smooth things over.
She nodded politely to the imperial physician, "You said that Nian'er's injuries are not serious, so why is he unconscious? Is there some internal injury that hasn't been detected? Please take a closer look, sir. The child is still young, and we must not let him develop any chronic illnesses."
Madam Sang spoke gently, her face revealing undisguised concern, yet she refrained from pressing further, which pleased the imperial physician. He patiently explained, "The young master's injury is external. His unconsciousness is due to a sudden surge of anger affecting his heart, coupled with his physical weakness, which is why he has fallen into a deep sleep—it's his body's way of protecting itself..."
Lady Dongxiang exploded again, "Who are you calling weak? Our Nian'er can eat three bowls of rice in one meal, and he hasn't even caught a cold twice in a whole year. How can you say he's weak? Do you even know how to diagnose a patient?!"
The imperial physician, having reached his limit, decided to abandon all pretense of courtesy and stood up, stating bluntly, "Your young master suffers from kidney deficiency, premature ejaculation, and excessive depletion. His weakness lies internally rather than externally. If Madam truly cares for him, she should discipline him strictly, encouraging him to purify his mind and abstain from sexual activity. Otherwise, his extravagant lifestyle at such a young age may lead to difficulties in conceiving in the future!"
After saying that, he didn't even write a prescription, picked up his medicine box, and stormed off.
He comes from a family of doctors and entered the Imperial Medical Academy based on his own talent and learning. How dare he question his medical skills?
After the imperial physician left, an eerie silence fell over the room.
Lady Dongxiang opened her mouth, then suddenly glared angrily at Lady Sang, "How have you been taking care of Nian'er? Did you put some seductive maidservants in his room to lead him astray?"
Madam Sang's face turned pale, and she shook her head repeatedly, "My daughter-in-law has no such intention. The maids who serve Nian-ge'er are all honest and dutiful. They wouldn't dare."
"How could my young son have been so..." Lady Dongxiang was too ashamed to speak, and angrily slammed her hand on the bed, "Who corrupted him!"
Madam Sang thought for a moment and said, "Nian-ge'er usually eats and lives at the Imperial Academy, so he shouldn't have picked up any vices related to prostitution..."
"The Imperial Academy? Isn't that your Sang family's territory?" The Lady of Dongxiang frowned and reprimanded her bluntly, "Your father is the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy and also Nian'er's maternal grandfather. He promised me that he would take good care of Nian'er and teach him to study diligently. And what happened?"
She got more and more excited as she spoke, pointing at Madam Sang's forehead so hard it was almost poking her face. "It's your Sang family that didn't take good care of Nian Ge'er! Everyone outside says you're a jinx, that you killed my son. Have I ever blamed you all these years? It was the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion that gave you food and even gave you a son to raise. Is this how you repay us?"
Madam Sang lowered her head, forcing back her tears, and said in a choked voice, "It's all my fault, daughter-in-law. From now on, I will take extra care of Nian-ge'er and help him recover..."
Lady Dongxiang was barely satisfied. She snorted and got up, saying, "You stay here and serve him well. Don't leave Nian'er's side for even a moment. Come and tell me as soon as he wakes up."
...
In the dead of night, Pei Jinghuai carefully lifted the tile, and the first thing he saw was You Fengnian, whose face was covered in all sorts of colors, and whose features were squeezed together so that he could not be recognized as a human.
Wow, which deity was so ruthless?
It was only on the second glance that I saw Madam Sang sitting by the bed, carefully wiping him with a damp cloth.
There was no disgust on her face, only helplessness and heartache. Her movements were gentle, full of care.
Pei Jinghuai watched for a while and had to admit that even Meng Wanyin had never been this attentive to him when they were children.
Anyway, when he was a kid, chasing cats all over Tanghua Garden, Meng Wanyin would only beat him, never the cats.
Suddenly, a muffled groan came from below, and You Fengnian struggled to open his bruised eyes.
"Nian-ge'er, you're awake?" Madam Sang's face lit up with surprise. "How are you feeling now? Are you still in pain? Would you like some water or something to eat?"
You Fengnian coldly pushed her away, saying, "Stop making so much noise. Can't you tell I'm feeling really uncomfortable?"
Madam Sang took two steps back, standing on the ground somewhat embarrassed and at a loss. After a long while, she cautiously asked, "Then do you want to see Grandmother? I'll send someone to invite her—"
Soon, Lady Dongxiang called Nian'er over. Following behind her was a woman in her early thirties, dressed in gold and silver, in fine clothes and skirts, looking much more imposing than Lady Sang, who had been widowed and always dressed plainly.
She pushed Madam Sang aside without ceremony, rushed to Nian'er's bedside, and held his hand tightly. "Nian'er, does it still hurt? You scared your aunt to death..."
As she spoke, tears streamed down her face, each drop landing on the back of You Fengnian's hand.
You Fengnian looked at her intently, "Auntie... I'm fine, seeing you makes me feel much better."
You Nianjiao smiled through her tears, "Okay, Auntie won't go anywhere, I'll stay here with you. Do you want something to eat? I'll have the kitchen make it right now."
"I want to eat the wontons that Auntie makes by hand." You Fengnian made the request without any restraint, in a very affectionate manner.
"Okay, okay, whatever you want to eat, Auntie will make it for you."
You Nianjiao lovingly touched his swollen face, then got up and hurriedly walked out.
As she passed Madam Sang, she glared at her and said, "How did you take care of Nian-ge'er? Didn't you even know he was hungry?"
Lady Dongxiang said to Lady Sang, "Nian'er is awake. Jiaojiao is here to take care of him. Nian'er has always loved to stick with her since he was little, so you don't need to worry. Go back to your room and rest."
Madam Sang lowered her head and responded, then dragged her numb legs away.
The small kitchen had all the ingredients ready, and You Nianjiao quickly wrapped a bowl of chicken and vegetable wontons and brought it in.
You Fengnian straightened up and sat against the headboard, scooped up a spoonful of soup, smelled it, and showed a nostalgic expression.
"Mom, I haven't had your cooking in so long, I miss it so much."
You Nianjiao's expression changed, and she quickly shushed, "This is the Marquis's residence, don't let anyone hear us."
"What's there to be afraid of? She's gone anyway, and it's just our family here." You Fengnian looked at the Lady of Dongxiang, "Right, Grandmother?"
Lady Dongxiang looked at him with loving eyes, "Jiaojiao, Nian'er misses you so much. Even though you only come back once a year, he knows very well who his real mother is."
You Nianjiao personally fed You Fengnian a whole night's worth of wontons, and then wiped his mouth and face.
Lady Dongxiang asked, "Nian'er, who beat you up like this?"
You Fengnian shook his head, "I was walking along the road when someone put a sack over my head, beat me up, and stole my purse."
You Nianjiao: "Could it be that some bad guys saw you dressed well and tried to rob you?"
"Impossible." You Fengnian denied it outright. "I've always been lucky. I can find money just by walking around, and I can find bargains in antique markets. How could I possibly encounter something like this?"
He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, his expression sinister. "Someone must be jealous of my talent and is plotting revenge."
"Who is it? Tell me, and Grandma will come to your door to seek justice for you."
You Fengnian: ...I have too many enemies, I really can't think of any for the time being.
He asked You Nianjiao, "Mother, why didn't Father come back with you this time? I miss him."
“Your father is in Fengxiang County. I heard that a top-quality jade was unearthed there, and he wants to buy it to give to your grandmother.”
You Nianjiao smiled and said to Lady Dongxiang, "Zhengliang has always been thinking of you. He feels guilty that he can't come back openly to celebrate your birthday. He just wants to give you the best things."
Lady Dongxiang smiled faintly, gently stroking her hand. "It's alright. You come back to see me every year, don't you? I'm already content."
...
Pei Jinghuai lay on the roof, his brain overloaded, almost petrified.
He overheard some earth-shattering secret!
Is You Fengnian's biological mother You Nianjiao? Is his biological father You Zhenliang? And is You Zhenliang still alive?
...What's the relationship between the three of you? Something seems off to me...?
Pei Jinghuai climbed down in a daze, and then climbed over the wall and left in a daze.
Such exciting news, of course I have to share it with... my good buddy right away!
Northern Garrison Command.
Lu Xilou had just interrogated a group of prisoners and still smelled of fresh blood. When he heard his subordinates say that Pei Jinghuai was waiting for him outside, he immediately dropped his whip and strode out.
Why is Pei Er looking for him in the middle of the night?
Could it be that Shen Lingyue has finally revealed her cruel nature and ruthlessly killed her husband, and he has come to him for help?
Lu Xilou felt increasingly uneasy and quickened his pace, rushing out like a gust of wind. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Pei Jinghuai standing unharmed at the door, with no missing limbs and a clean face.
He stepped forward slowly and patted Pei Jinghuai's shoulder sympathetically. "You knew everything?"
Pei Jinghuai was still in a daze, and subconsciously nodded, "I, I know everything."
"Brother, please accept my condolences," Lu Xilou sincerely comforted him. "Just let me know if you need anything. Although it's not easy to divorce someone who has been granted a marriage by imperial decree, your wife is already in such a state, so we can just take the initiative and do it first..."
A night breeze blew by, and Pei Jinghuai snapped back to reality.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" he glared at Lu Xilou. "My wife is perfectly fine, what do you want to do to her?!"
Lu Xilou: ?
No, things have come to this point, why are you still so devoted to protecting her?
"What's a man's problem if he doesn't have a wife!" Lu Xilou cried out in anguish. "Even without Shen Lingyue, I'll definitely find you someone better, a true lady from a prestigious family... Ah!"
Pei Jinghuai punched him in the face, "Are you crazy?!"
Lu Xilou covered his face, also annoyed, "Are you sick in the head?!"
"You surnamed Lu, @#￥%..."
“Pei Er, you @#￥%…”
The Imperial Guards standing guard at the entrance of the Northern Garrison Command watched helplessly as their commander and his sworn brother wrestled together in the street.
The newly arrived Imperial Guard asked, "Should we go and break up the fight?"
The Imperial Guard B, who had been working there for several years, said: "No need. They're always like this; they'll be fine in a bit."
After several dozen moves, Lu Xilou grabbed Pei Jinghuai's thigh, while Pei Jinghuai twisted Lu Xilou's arm, and the two of them were strangely tangled together on the ground.
"Let go first."
"Let go first!"
"Then I'll count to three, one, two, three—"
Neither of them moved, and for a moment the atmosphere was eerily quiet.
Lu Xilou: "Why won't you let go?"
Pei Jinghuai: "You didn't loosen your grip either, did you? You lied to me like that last time—"
"Alright, alright, this time it's for real! Anyone who lies is a dog!"
After three shouts, the two men, covered in dust, got up from the ground.
Lu Xilou dusted off the corner of his clothes, looking disgusted. "Get out, get out! I'm never going to interfere in your family affairs again. Go live with whoever you want."
"You were the one who spoke ill of my wife first. What did she do to offend you?"
Pei Jinghuai snorted twice, "I think of you whenever something good happens, and I've come all this way to give you credit."
Lu Xilou: "Are you sure this is a merit and not a trouble?"
Last time, Pei Erxing excitedly asked him to go to Lianhua Temple to catch the monks who were swindling people, but the abbot committed suicide on the spot, which also caused him to offend Prince An.
Pei Jinghuai touched his nose guiltily and emphasized again, "This time it's for real, I promise I won't lie to you!"
He leaned close to Lu Xilou's ear and whispered something.
The latter's fox-like eyes widened more and more, almost turning the snow fox into a Tibetan fox.
"Are you serious?!"
Pei Jinghuai patted his chest, "Guaranteed authentic! Fresh and hot, I came as soon as I heard about it."
Lu Xilou grinned his tiger teeth and sneered, "What audacity the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion has! To defile the inner quarters is an unforgivable crime..."
I heard that the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion intends to apply for a chastity memorial arch for Lady Sang, who has been widowed for fifteen years.
Let's see if he doesn't smash down all the plaques in the Marquis's mansion this time!
His Majesty was just worrying about what to do with these old nobles who held their positions without doing any work, and Pei Jinghuai's help came like a godsend.
"Good brother, I appreciate it."
Lu Xilou wrapped his arm around his neck, his pale, bloodless face twisted into a sinister smile that was even more chilling in the night, like a ghostly figure taking away souls.
"Don't worry, I won't take your money. I will definitely report the truth to His Majesty and he will remember your great service."
Pei Jinghuai: ...There's absolutely no need for that.
Is it something to be proud of to climb over someone's wall in the middle of the night and eavesdrop on their roof?
...
Pei Jinghuai did not return home all night, and Shen Lingyue had gotten used to it, comfortably occupying the large bed all to herself.
Then, when she opened her eyes, she found a fluffy head in her arms, clinging to her tightly like an octopus.
Pei Jinghuai hadn't slept all night, his eyes still gleaming as he stared intently at her: "Madam, I've avenged you."
Shen Lingyue, still half asleep: ?
"That brat surnamed You won't be able to hop around in front of you anymore," Pei Jinghuai said, rubbing against her as if to claim credit. "The Dongxiang Marquis's mansion is doomed, hahaha!"
Shen Lingyue suddenly recalled Shen Ming'an's words from yesterday: "If you dare to take revenge, I will kill your whole family."
I'll kill your whole family...
The Marquis of Dongxiang's mansion is finished...
She grabbed Pei Jinghuai's collar nervously and shook him violently: "What were you doing last night? You didn't really wipe out their whole family, did you???"
...
Yan Yi, holding her teacup, was completely stunned.
"So... while we were still figuring out how to break this deadlock, Pei Jinghuai had already cleared the game?"
Shen Lingyue nodded mechanically: "You also think it's magical, right?"
She had only beaten up You Fengnian with her brother, and yet it led to You Nianjiao and the Lady of Dongxiang Marquis's self-destruction?
Yan Yi chuckled softly, seemingly lost in thought.
"Don't you always say we're the chosen ones? Look, isn't this proof enough?"
She got up to get some snacks for Shen Lingyue, but somehow she stumbled and quickly grabbed Shen Lingyue's shoulder.
"Yan Yan, what's wrong?" Seeing her frown, Shen Lingyue quickly asked anxiously, "Are you dizzy?"
Yan Yi did feel a wave of dizziness. She grabbed Shen Lingyue's hand and it took her a while to speak: "My precognitive dream... seems to have leveled up."
Previously, only when she and Little Moon held hands and fell asleep together could they dream of the future.
But she had only been distracted for a moment, and a memory that wasn't hers had appeared in her head.
"Ah, what did you see this time? Is it the aftermath of the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion?"
"I see, now everything makes sense."
Yan Yi curled her lips into a smile. "The Lady of Dongxiang has really played a grand game. It turns out the truth is that she switched the baby with the baby—You Nianjiao is her biological daughter, and You Zhengliang was adopted from outside."
She had just "seen" the scene of Lady Dongxiang giving birth and was quite certain that the midwife had delivered a daughter, who also had a red birthmark on her shoulder.
Shen Lingyue frowned: "But so many years have passed, we definitely can't find that midwife, and the Lady of Dongxiang Marquis won't admit it."
To confuse bloodlines and falsely claim a title is a serious crime, punishable by having your title revoked and your property confiscated in no time.
There are no paternity tests available here, and the blood test for kinship has long been proven to be fake and cannot be considered evidence.
"Yes, so we need to come up with another way as soon as possible to confirm You Nianjiao's identity."
Yan Yi lowered her eyes and pondered: "And it must be done in full view of everyone, with reason and evidence, so that the Lady of Dongxiang cannot refute it."
...
Soon it arrived that it was time for the Lady of Dongxiang's birthday celebration.
Early in the morning, the area in front of the Marquis's mansion was bustling with carriages and horses, a lively and noisy scene.
This year marks the birthday of Lady Dongxiang, and coincidentally, You Fengnian achieved the highest score in the provincial examination, making it a double celebration. Therefore, the birthday banquet was held in a grand and lively manner.
Even many civil officials and courtiers who usually had no dealings with the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion came to congratulate You Fengnian, a young genius, with the intention of befriending and winning him over.
The Dongxiang Marquis's residence naturally welcomed all visitors and hoped the scene would be as lively as possible.
Just then, several carriages bearing the insignia of the Marquis of Changning slowly came to a stop in front of the gate of the Marquis of Dongxiang.
The carriage came to a stop, and the matriarch, dressed in magnificent attire, slowly stepped down with the help of Meng Wanyin and Pei Yuzhen, her sandalwood cane making a rhythmic tapping sound.
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi got off the carriage behind and followed closely behind the Grand Madam.
Amidst the bewildered gaze of the steward of the Dongxiang Marquis's residence, the Dowager Lady stepped forward and spoke haughtily: "Go tell Tao Minmin that an old friend has come to wish her a happy birthday, and ask her if she dares to invite me in."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Today is another 10,000-word update, Master Dou! [Go for it!][Go for it!] I wasn't defeated by plagiarism; instead, I've become stronger!
...Although the birthday banquet hasn't been mentioned yet [doge][doge], this chapter hints at a lot of information, and we'll reveal it all tomorrow [cheer up] After all, we need to find the most reasonable way to present Mei Bao's cheat ability~~
And here's an update on the progress: I received feedback from the other party's email this afternoon; the plagiarism issue has been verified and is being processed. [Applause][Applause]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
