Chapter 7 As the saying goes, a girl who transmigrates into a book has good luck…
"no."
Yan Yi calmly poured cold water on her.
“You know that feudal imperial power is supreme here. If we elope, it will be considered disobeying the imperial decree, and both the Zhou and Shen families will be punished.”
Yan Yi rubbed her bare wrist bones and murmured, "Although I would love to see that whole Zhou family of wolves and dogs go to jail... the Shen family should have treated you pretty well, right?"
Before Shen Lingyue could even be shocked by Yan Yi's "coldness," she was stumped by the second half of her question.
She bit her lip, her face showing a conflicted and hesitant expression, but she still nodded.
"Yes, I have my mother, older brother and sister here, and they are all very good to me."
After thinking for a moment, she added softly, "It's just like... your old home."
Yan Yi's parents are both successful people in their respective fields. She grew up in a happy family, following the model of a good child. She also has a lively and loving extended family with outstanding older siblings. Every year during the Lunar New Year, when she sees the family photos posted on social media, she can't help but feel like crying.
It's that feeling of being so happy, so longing for something, that you inexplicably want to cry.
Shen Lingyue tries hard to befriend Yan Yi and catch up with her, hoping to get closer to this light and warmth.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but worry again. She patted Yan Yi and muttered, "I can be fine anywhere by myself, but you're coming too. What will happen to your family?"
Shen Lingyue's eyes suddenly lit up with a whimsical idea, "Maybe our situations are different? I only transmigrated after I died, while you transmigrated into the book in a dream. After you lived a long and healthy life here, you opened your eyes and went back to the beginning!"
Yan Yi was amused by her words and nodded in agreement, "Yes, maybe it's really possible. Then I'd be lucky and could live two lifetimes."
Shen Lingyue grinned foolishly at her, holding onto her sleeve tightly, "Then you have to stay here with me for the rest of your life first!"
"Okay, I'll go with you." Yan Yi patted her head as before, "But running away from the wedding is not an option."
As expected of a top student, he didn't forget the main topic even after being rambled on by Shen Lingyue for a long time.
"Leaving aside whether the Shen family will be punished because of your elopement, and whether your family will be implicated—"
Yan Yi analyzed rationally, "This place is not like our hometown. The living conditions for single women here are unimaginably harsh and difficult. Without the protection of the Shen family and without the identity of Miss Shen the Third, have you thought about how you will survive?"
Just as Shen Lingyue was about to speak, Yan Yi quickly added, "...There are no electric bikes here for you to steal."
"I was just kidding." Shen Lingyue chuckled, then fell into deep thought.
She's a lazy, clueless college student with no skills or expertise. If she were to recklessly run away from her marriage and family, her life would never be any better than it is now.
They struggle to even support themselves, let alone Yan Yi.
We can't let Yan Yi go out and suffer with her, can we?
The plan to elope failed.
"Then marry him."
Shen Lingyue sighed deeply, then thought optimistically, "Once we're married, we can see each other every day, eat together, and go shopping together. It'll be even more convenient than it is now."
Moreover, as the saying goes, girls who transmigrate into books are usually lucky!
Even if their backgrounds are a bit bumpy and their characters are a bit annoying, the author will definitely give them a handsome husband, stunning good looks, an invincible ability to get pregnant, and the ability to always give birth to a boy...
Shen Lingyue was full of confidence, patting her chest and guaranteeing, "My readership won't lie to me!"
Yan Yi: ...Yes, you're right, you read a lot.
“If, and I mean if,” Shen Lingyue changed the subject, “if our husbands are really that bad, then we can only…”
"Only what?"
Shen Lingyue raised her hand and wiped her neck, feigning indifference.
“Go, Father; stay, Son.”
*
Zhao Lan noticed that ever since her daughter met Miss Zhou, she had suddenly regained her former vitality. She even got up on her own every morning without the maids having to urge her, and then came to the main courtyard to learn how to manage the household from her.
Shen Lingyue gave a very good reason for this.
"The Lady of Changning is my mother-in-law. She will definitely hand over the power of managing the household to me in the future. If I can't learn it well, wouldn't Zhou Yanyi laugh at me?"
Zhao Lan couldn't help but sigh, "Competition really is a driving force."
Her daughter's sudden improvement made her want to secretly thank Miss Zhou.
Shen Lingyue put in the same serious effort she had for final exam review. Every day after studying, she would take notes and highlight the key points, then carefully put them in a locked box.
—These are all to be given to Yan Yi when we meet next time.
Yan Yi's life in the Zhou family was much worse than hers. Her biological mother died when she was young, and her stepmother, Lin Qiyu, was a sweet-faced but bitter-hearted woman. On the surface, she doted on the original owner, but in reality, she was using flattery to kill her. She didn't teach her anything proper that a young lady from a respectable family should learn. Instead, she was known for bringing misfortune to her family and being ignorant and incompetent.
Shen Lingyue had already thought it through. Yan Yi was smarter and more capable than her. Once Yan Yi learned how to manage the household, she could become a hands-off manager and relax comfortably.
Work hard now, and you'll be happy for the rest of your life!
That day, she was lingering by Zhao Lan's side, watching her check the accounts, when Liu Mama suddenly came in with a troubled expression.
"Miss Zheng has arrived. She's right outside the gate. Would you like to see her?"
Zhao Lan frowned almost imperceptibly, and after a moment of contemplation, she said, "Please ask her to sit in the flower hall for a while. I'll come over after I finish reading this ledger."
In any case, Minister Zheng was once Shen Hang's mentor, and now that he is abroad, it would be too undignified to avoid seeing him.
Shen Lingyue's keen ears caught the key words, "Is it that Miss Zheng who is going to marry into the Duke of Ling's mansion and inherit the family line?"
Zhao Lan gave her a reproachful look, "Where did you hear this gossip from? Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you?"
"If the Duke of Ling's mansion isn't afraid of being laughed at by outsiders, why should I be afraid?"
Shen Lingyue shrugged and then begged Zhao Lan to take her along.
When it comes to eating melons, you should definitely eat a whole bunch of them.
Zhao Lan agreed, then sighed, "Chunyun is a good girl, but she's just unlucky. The Zheng family suffered a misfortune, and even her fiancé took advantage of her misfortune."
Zheng Chunyun and Shen Lingyue tried their best to sift through the original owner's memories to find a dignified and elegant figure.
The two families used to be on good terms, and the original owner of this body had even received her care when she visited the Zheng family.
After waiting a while, Zhao Lan put down the account book and took Shen Lingyue to the flower hall.
Zheng Chunyun had a cup of tea beside her. When she saw Zhao Lan, she immediately stood up and bowed, saying, "I apologize for the intrusion, Auntie."
"You child, why are you being so polite with me? Please sit down."
Zhao Lan showed no sign of estrangement from the Zheng family. With a warm smile, she helped Zheng Chunyun up and explained, "Your sister Yue'er is getting married soon, and things are really hectic at home. I haven't been able to get away. Is the old lady feeling any better?"
"Thanks to the old ginseng that my aunt sent, my grandmother is much better now."
Zheng Chunyun wore a dress that was neither new nor old, and only had two or three hairpins on her head. She was very simple, but her posture was still neither humble nor arrogant, and she was poised and graceful.
She nodded slightly to Shen Lingyue behind Zhao Lan: "I haven't congratulated you yet, Sister Yue'er. This is a small dowry gift from your older sister."
A maid from the Zheng family presented a makeup box.
Shen Lingyue subconsciously looked at Zhao Lan.
"This is a token of your sister Zheng's affection, please accept it." Zhao Lan nodded gently, then said helplessly to Zheng Chunyun, "She was also sick a while ago and hasn't fully recovered yet, she looks a bit dazed."
Zheng Chunyun felt somewhat relieved, at least Aunt Zhao did not stop her from seeing Shen Lingyue.
The Duke of Lingguo's mansion suddenly broke off the engagement, but instead of canceling it, they wanted her to marry the already deceased heir, Gu Lin, as a secondary heir.
The Zheng family has fallen into ruin, and all she can rely on for the future are the few remaining vestiges of conscience in the families of her old friends.
The conversation inevitably turned to her marriage, which was the talk of the town.
Zhao Lan offered a dry consolation: "Prince Gu died in battle for the country. His Majesty, out of compassion, has granted him a special title. If you have a son or daughter to carry on the family line, you will have someone to rely on."
Prince Gu?
A sudden thought struck Shen Lingyue, and she blurted out, "Gu Lin?!"
Zhao Lan was startled. "Why are you calling out Prince Gu's name?"
Shen Lingyue didn't care about being scolded; a flood of information rushed into her mind.
I remember now!
She'd seen this story before!
— Zheng Chunyun married into the Duke of Lingguo's mansion, but on her wedding night she was left alone in her room. For the next six months, the second young master, Gu Yuan, was deeply in love with Qin Zhengzheng, the woman who had saved him, and never set foot in the main room.
After Qin Zhengzheng was diagnosed with pregnancy, Gu Yuan pretended to consummate his marriage with Zheng Chunyun, but instead drugged her and then had another man defile her.
When Zheng Chunyun also discovered she was pregnant, Gu Yuan flew into a rage, claiming that he had never touched her and that Zheng Chunyun must have committed adultery out of loneliness.
The news somehow leaked out and spread throughout the capital. Zheng Chunyun's grandfather died of anger, and his grandmother soon passed away as well, causing the Zheng family to decline completely.
Zheng Chunyun was ordered to open the ancestral hall of the Duke's mansion to be punished according to family law, and her unborn child was starved to death in a dark underground room!
Later, Qin Zhengzheng gave birth to a baby boy, and Gu Yuan feigned willingness to give his eldest son to his brother for adoption.
As for the military achievements and titles that Prince Gu earned with his life, he inherited them all, and from then on, he rose rapidly through the ranks...
Shameless!
Shen Lingyue clenched her fists. Gu Yuan and Zheng Chunyun were betrothed since childhood and were childhood sweethearts. How could they change their minds so easily and be so ruthless?
Shen Lingyue had underestimated his ruthlessness. He could have broken off the engagement, but instead he ruined the Zheng family's reputation and took Zheng Chunyun's life.
Perhaps she didn't realize it while reading the book, but now that Zheng Chunyun is standing right in front of her, Shen Lingyue simply can't stand by and watch.
Besides, what did she do wrong? Why should she be sacrificed for Gu Yuan and Qin Zhengzheng's "beautiful love"?
Shen Lingyue was racking her brains to recall more of the plot and find a way out for Zheng Chunyun.
To outsiders, it looked as if she had suddenly lost her mind and was in a daze.
Zhao Lan called out to her several times, and finally had to pinch her arm.
Interrupted, Shen Lingyue clutched her arm and grimaced, "Why are you pinching me?!"
Zhao Lan sighed, rubbing her forehead. How could she have given birth to such a troublesome little devil?
*
Zheng Chunyun did not stay long; after sitting for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she got up to take her leave.
Zhao Lan politely asked Shen Lingyue to see her off.
"Please wait a moment, little sister."
Upon reaching the second gate, Zheng Chunyun took the initiative to speak.
Shen Lingyue had seemed absent-minded the whole way. Upon hearing this, she looked up and said, "Sister Zheng, you... please take good care of yourself."
Zheng Chunyun lowered her eyes, a bitter smile appearing on her lips. "I will."
She knew, of course, that her marriage had become a laughing stock in the capital, but now the Zheng family's favors left her no choice but to accept it.
Marrying into the Duke of Ling's mansion and taking on the title of the eldest son's wife would at least protect the Zheng family from being taken advantage of by their political enemies.
She grew up with her grandparents from a young age. Her grandfather taught her poetry and literature, and her grandmother taught her to be reasonable. Now it is her turn to protect her family.
A note from the author:
----------------------
*The novels that Yuezai and Yanyan transmigrate into belong to a fictional world that's a hodgepodge of numerous melodramatic stories. Some of the plot points are ones Yuezai has already read, and meeting the people involved will trigger her memories; others require her to actively investigate. That's the general premise.
*The next chapter will reveal Yan Yan's abilities; feel free to guess what they are!
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