Chapter 89 Both she and she deserve to be favored by him…
"If that's what you mean, then I think..."
Inspired by her, Lian Shu also had a new idea.
He looked intently at Dong Lanyi, "When I read 'The Mirror' before, I felt something was off about it. Both the writing style and the story design were completely different from 'The Story of Qilan,' especially the ending, where the female lead actually forgave her unfaithful husband and even took the initiative to bring his beloved into the household. From then on, two women served one husband, living happily ever after..."
Lian Shu's face showed an expression as if she had swallowed a fly. "This is completely inconsistent with the tone at the beginning of the story. I thought the female protagonist would at least get a divorce, go home, and start a new life."
No wonder "The Romance in the Mirror" is a limited edition and will not be reprinted. Otherwise, if more readers saw this book, they would think that Xiaoxiang Gongzi was possessed by a ghost.
Because of the limited print run, it has only circulated within a small circle so far. It is estimated that many of his die-hard readers have chosen to indulge in it – after all, when it comes to writing, there are good and bad times, and it is normal to lack inspiration at times.
Upon hearing this, Dong Lanyi's eyes widened in anger, her hair practically standing on end, making her look like a fluffy little cat.
"...He plagiarized my story and even messed up my ending?!"
"The Romance in the Mirror" was the only work by Xiao Xiang Gong Zi that she did not finish reading. She was so angry when she discovered that he had copied the beginning of her story that she put the book away and refused to look at it again.
Unexpectedly, he disgusted her again.
Dong Lanyi frowned, unconsciously clenching Lian Shu's sleeve, swaying back and forth in anger.
Her face showed a hint of anger, and her fair cheeks seemed to be tinged with a light blush, making Lian Shu even more hesitant to move, afraid of disturbing this beautiful moment.
As a result, Dong Lanyi accidentally touched the back of his hand with her fingertips. She finally realized what was happening and hurriedly took two steps back. The half of her face that was turned slightly to the side seemed to turn even redder.
Lian Shu felt a pang of loss, but this was not the time to indulge in romantic thoughts. He coughed lightly and said seriously, "Now it seems that Young Master Xiaoxiang is a habitual plagiarist, the true owner of 'The Tale of Qilan'..."
He looked at the wall in front of him and thought, "That must be the mother of that little girl from earlier."
"But she can write such wonderful stories, why should she let Young Master Xiaoxiang possess them?"
A look of confusion appeared in Dong Lanyi's eyes; she couldn't understand it at all.
How could anyone be willing to give up a story they've painstakingly written?
"Perhaps she is troubled by family issues and has some unspeakable difficulties."
Lian Shu thought for a moment, then suddenly knelt down next to the hole in the wall that Xiao Nan had crawled into earlier, and tried calling out a few times, hoping to call her back and ask her what had happened.
But the courtyard inside the wall seemed very large, and Xiao Nan had disappeared. Even though Shu called for her for a long time, no one answered.
Dong Lanyi stood aside keeping watch. She was extremely nervous because it was the first time she had done something like this. Seeing that someone seemed to be coming from the direction of the alley entrance, she quickly grabbed Lian Shu's clothes and pulled him to hide in a corner.
"...Be careful, it might be that child's uncle coming back."
The two squeezed under the doorway of a house across the street. The doorway was very narrow, and in order not to reveal their whereabouts, Dong Lanyi and Lian Shu inevitably had some physical contact.
Lian Shu closed her eyes, not daring to look, and tried to squeeze her body into the corner to make more space for her.
But the faint, elegant fragrance wafted from her clothes as they brushed against each other. He inadvertently took a deep breath, then quickly held his breath, his face turning even redder.
Fortunately, Dong Lanyi had her back to him and didn't see his embarrassing situation.
She gripped the wall with her fingers, peeking cautiously out with only one eye showing, until she realized the man was just a passing peddler who had turned left and disappeared at the next intersection. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
Dong Lanyi came out and turned to Lian Shu, saying, "Waiting here isn't a solution. I should hurry back to the mansion to discuss a plan with my two sisters-in-law."
Lian Shu was finally relieved. She secretly took several deep breaths and nodded hurriedly, "I'll take you back."
Dong Lanyi walked towards the carriage first, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lian Shuyi following closely behind her, her face flushed. She couldn't help but secretly curl the corners of her lips.
What an idiot.
...
Upon returning to the Marquis's residence, Dong Lanyi dared not delay and immediately took the manuscript given to her by Xiaonan to Jiusi Academy.
If nothing unexpected happens, you can always find your second cousin's wife at your eldest cousin's house.
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi were huddled together figuring out how to get rid of this eyesore, Young Master Xiaoxiang, when their cousin unexpectedly presented them with a generous gift.
"Is this really the original manuscript of 'The Story of Qilan'?" Yan Yi picked up one of the manuscript pages. The handwriting on it, though scribbled over, was still delicate and beautiful, clearly the work of a woman.
Dong Lanyi nodded, then explained somewhat embarrassedly, "Back then, Xiaoxiang Gongzi's manuscript was auctioned off in a small circle of his readers, and each page fetched an astronomical price. I was fortunate enough to borrow it once, and his handwriting is completely different from the one on this page."
She then recounted Lian Shu's speculations about the ending of "The Romance in the Mirror" to the two of them.
Shen Lingyue frowned as she listened. "Please, who would think this kind of ending is a happy one? It's disgusting."
Yan Yi frowned and pondered for a moment, "The direction of this story does have a bit of the 'heartless scholar' style?"
Dong Lanyi, unaware of the situation, asked, "Who is the heartless scholar?"
"That was Shrimp Head Man's previous pseudonym... pen name."
Shen Lingyue asked Qingchan to go back to Danyue Pavilion and bring over the few novels written by the heartless scholar that she had accidentally bought before, and pile them all in front of Dong Lanyi.
“Cousin, you read a lot, so analyze the style of these stories.”
Although Dong Lanyi had prepared herself mentally, after quickly reading through the stories, she still couldn't help but ask for a bowl of hawthorn water to suppress the nausea and vomiting.
She spoke with difficulty: "It is indeed similar in style to 'The Mirror of Fate,' with many commonly used phrases and allusions, so it should be the work of one person."
Shen Lingyue snapped her fingers. "So this is the true level of Young Master Xiaoxiang. I knew he could never write something as trivial as 'The Story of Qilan'!"
Yan Yi said to her, "Young Master Xiaoxiang has already met He Rong. Find another unfamiliar face to follow his movements. Also, try to find out who lives in that family in Xingzi Lane in the east of the city."
Shen Lingyue nodded in agreement, "That's easy, I'll have Pei Jinghuai go find Lü Chong."
Lu Er was her biggest connection in Shuntian Prefecture. Checking property and household registration would be a piece of cake for her.
“My cousin did a great job today, so leave the rest to us.”
Yan Yi smiled gently at her, and seeing that Dong Lanyi's face was slightly red from walking too much, she couldn't help but advise, "You don't usually go out much, you must be exhausted today, go home and rest early."
Dong Lanyi nodded in agreement, but before leaving, she looked at the two of them hesitantly and said, "Sister-in-law, if you find the child's mother, who is the true author of 'The Story of Qilan,' could you tell me? I want to meet her and tell her in person how wonderful her story is."
When she was filled with confusion about the future and life, and didn't know what to do, it was "The Story of Qi Lan" that gave her the courage to face life and let her know that there could be such a free-spirited, unrestrained, and courageous girl.
Marriage is not a woman's only choice or way out. The world is vast, and there is always a place for her to belong. Even if she has to endure wind and dew, or travel through the night, her heart is so broad and joyful.
That's why she mistakenly thought that the Young Master Xiaoxiang was her soulmate, a wise man who would guide her through her confusion, and that's why she was once particularly infatuated with him.
Now she realized that behind the girl Qilan was another woman with a shining soul, who could resonate with her and the readers who loved the story.
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi readily agreed.
...
It was already dark when Xiao Lang got home.
He staggered into the courtyard, reeking of alcohol, and plopped down on the porch, looking up blankly at the dark night sky above.
The crescent moon hung like a hook, and there were only a few stars. Large swaths of dark clouds rolled in, looking as if a heavy rain was about to fall.
Xiao Lang's mood was as terrible as the weather.
He almost got himself drunk tonight, and after much pleading and persuasion, he finally managed to coax Boss Du into giving him another chance and temporarily ignoring today's losses.
However, Boss Du was no longer as attentive and enthusiastic towards him as before, and even hinted that he should finish the story of "Qilan's Biography" as soon as possible, after which he would no longer cooperate with him.
Clearly, Boss Du already knew about his grudge with Langhuan Pavilion and the underhanded things he had done behind the scenes, and chose to protect himself.
As the alcohol took effect, a faint sense of regret arose in Xiao Lang's heart.
I should never have tried to take advantage of Dong Lanyi, and I certainly shouldn't have stolen her story.
Otherwise, given how infatuated she was with him in the past, if she had just won him over, they could have made a fortune together as a couple, and with the backing of the Marquis's mansion, they would have been a hundred times more successful than they are now.
Now, one wrong move has led to total defeat.
It's okay, at worst I can just start over with a different pen name, just like before.
It was Xiao Xiang Gongzi who announced he was going to stop writing, what does that have to do with Xiao Lang?
Xiao Lang quickly calmed himself down, stumbled to his feet, and went to the backyard to find Xiao Suzhen.
"Sister, haven't you rested yet?"
He leaned against the doorway, grinning at her with a thick tongue.
Xiao Suzhen had already hidden the book when she heard footsteps approaching. She composed herself and looked up. "Yes, yes, I suddenly had a new inspiration. I was afraid I would forget it when I woke up tomorrow, so I quickly wrote it down."
Xiao Lang smiled with satisfaction, "Sister, you're amazing. Our family's good life today is all thanks to you."
When he spoke to her in a gentle and kind manner, it always reminded Xiao Suzhen of what her younger brother looked like when he was little, much cuter than he is now.
Back then, little Xiao Lang patted his chest and promised that he would protect his older sister when he grew up.
Later, when she was trapped in her husband's family home at her most desperate moment, he indeed fulfilled his childhood promise and rescued her and Xiaonan from that den of wolves.
Xiao Suzhen is always moved whenever she recalls her brother's kindness.
She couldn't help but get up and walk towards Xiao Lang, helping him back to his room. "You drank so much again. I'll go make you some hangover soup."
Xiao Lang leaned most of his body against her, and after a while he said, "Sister, let's finish the next volume of 'The Legend of Qi Lan'."
Xiao Suzhen paused, raising her head in disbelief: "Why? The story is only halfway through..."
Xiao Lang was furious. He pushed her away forcefully and said irritably, "The bookstore owner told me to. What could I do? It's because your new book isn't good enough to sell. He doesn't want to lose money anymore."
Xiao Suzhen frowned and remained silent for a long time, only her clenched hands betraying her true emotions.
For some reason, seeing her heartbroken over the news, Xiao Lang felt a sense of satisfaction.
"Sister, you don't really think you're some kind of writing genius, do you?" Xiao Lang's voice was full of malice. "If it weren't for my hard work outside, how could so many people have seen your story?"
Xiao Suzhen could no longer maintain her composure and, not wanting to continue the conversation, turned away somewhat embarrassedly, "I'll go to the kitchen to boil some water..."
She walked faster and faster until she was almost jogging.
Xiao Lang wasn't finished. He shouted at her retreating figure, "Remember this: I am the Young Master Xiaoxiang! Without me, none of you should exist!"
His eyes were filled with malice, as if he wanted to stare a hole through her.
These wretched women, unable to take the imperial examinations or become officials, how come they can still write such popular and critically acclaimed stories? God is unfair, why didn't He bestow such talent upon him?
When he received Xiao Suzhen's letter for help, he learned that her in-laws were going to forcibly detain her to carry on the family line, so he rushed to their door to demand her return.
Just kidding, that's his own sister. He used all the dowry he received when she got married the first time to go to school. Why can't he have another chance?
If he lets her stay in that dead husband's house and be his slave, wouldn't he be losing out big time?
Xiao Lang had originally planned to bring Xiao Suzhen back, find a matchmaker to marry her off, and then earn a dowry.
As for the little girl, she doesn't eat much. When she grows up, she can be a maid who does chores like washing and cleaning. When she's in her teens, she can be married off and exchanged for money.
He was determined to "sell" Xiao Suzhen for a good price again, and he picked and chose among the families introduced by the matchmaker, but could never find one that satisfied him.
At this very moment, Xiao Suzhen unexpectedly told him that she had written a storybook and asked if he could help sell it to supplement their household income.
As a result, the "heartless scholar" disappeared without a trace, while the Xiaoxiang Gentleman became a sensation in the capital.
He no longer had to rent a house with his sister and niece; instead, he bought the two-courtyard house outright—of course, the deed only had his name on it.
While Xiao Lang was jealous of her talent, he also had to rely on Xiao Suzhen to write more stories, which turned into a continuous stream of money and fame, making him extremely popular and loved and adored by so many young ladies and wives.
He groped his way back to his room and lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Once "The Story of Qi Lan" is finished, I'll have my sister quickly come up with new stories. When her inspiration runs dry and her new books stop selling, I'll just sell her as well.
...
"What? The owner of that house in Xingzi Lane is Xiao Lang?"
Shen Lingyue repeatedly confirmed with Pei Jinghuai, "I didn't get the location wrong, did I?"
Pei Jinghuai clicked his tongue, "I can't even handle such a small matter? It's clearly written in the household registration file that No. 13 Xingzi Lane is occupied by a single person named Xiao Lang, who is 28 years old and whose ancestral home is Bingzhou."
"That's not right. My cousin and Manager Lian clearly saw that little girl crawl through the hole in the wall and say that she was going to deliver a book to her mother."
Pei Jinghuai waved his hand, "That means Xiao Lang deliberately didn't register their information. There are countless hidden households like this in the capital, or people come from other places to visit relatives and friends. Shuntian Prefecture doesn't have enough manpower to register them in real time."
Shen Lingyue rolled her eyes and pushed him out again, "Brother Xiaozhou, could you do me another favor and go to the household registration office to check if Xiao Lang has any other relatives?"
Pei Jinghuai was caught off guard and was pushed back a few steps. He quickly regained his balance, cleared his throat, and raised an eyebrow with a hint of self-satisfaction: "Do you think I would forget such an obvious truth?"
Since we're going to investigate Xiao Lang, we should of course investigate his ancestors for eighteen generations.
This was a valuable lesson he learned from Lu Xilou: better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free.
Pei Jinghuai took the initiative, grabbing Shen Lingyue's wrist and pulling her into his arms. He then sat her down on a low couch and said slowly, "Xiao Lang's parents are both dead, leaving only an older sister named Xiao Suzhen. She is thirty years old this year. Eight years ago, she married into the Wang family in Sishui County, Bingzhou. She married his eldest son, and the two have a daughter whose name is unknown, but she should be six years old this year."
"Last spring, Xiao Suzhen's husband died suddenly. Not long after, Xiao Lang came to her home as a member of her family and took Xiao Suzhen and her daughter away. Their household registration was moved out of the Wang family. There are no new records since then."
Shen Lingyue clapped her hands. "The little girl my cousin met is Xiao Suzhen's daughter, and the uncle she mentioned who is not allowed to go out or see guests is Xiao Lang?"
Pei Jinghuai was still racking his brains to remember, "Oh right, speaking of the Wang family, they also have two sons and three daughters, who are..."
"Alright, alright, Xiao Suzhen has already left. Who wants to hear about her dead husband's family matters?"
Shen Lingyue couldn't wait to share the news with others. She stood up from Pei Jinghuai's lap and casually patted his head twice. "Well done, I'll give you credit."
Then he ran away without looking back.
Enraged, Pei Jinghuai clenched his fist. Was he really being treated like a servant?
While Shen Lingyue was on her way to find Yan Yi, she sent someone to fetch Dong Lanyi.
When she arrived at the gate of Jiusi Academy, she saw Dong Lanyi walking quickly from another direction, panting heavily. She was no longer the dignified and quiet woman she used to be. She even raised her hand and fanned herself a few times. She was holding her hands on her knees and breathing heavily. "Second sister-in-law, is there any news about that mother and daughter?"
Shen Lingyue suppressed a laugh and helped her up, saying, "Cousin, you need to exercise more in the future. Writing books is very physically demanding."
But my cousin is much cuter now than she was before. ^_^
Upon entering the house and seeing Yan Yi, the two didn't waste any words and went straight to the point.
"It seems that Xiao Lang accidentally discovered his older sister's talent for writing, so he appropriated her story for himself, locked her at home to write books for him, and made a name for himself," Yan Yi concluded.
"That shameless thief!" Shen Lingyue punched and kicked at the air, then said to the two, "We have to find a way to let Sister Xiao see Xiao Lang's true colors and get rid of his control!"
Dong Lanyi nodded repeatedly, and together with Shen Lingyue, they looked expectantly at Yan Yi, hoping she would come up with a good idea.
Yan Yi carefully considered her words, "Xiao Suzhen and Xiao Lang are siblings. What if she knew about this and voluntarily remained behind the scenes?"
“Definitely not.” Shen Lingyue said without hesitation, “Didn’t my cousin say that Xiao Lang wouldn’t even let Xiao Suzhen read her new book? He tore it up in front of the child. Is this how you treat your own sister? Besides, she’s not just his sister, she’s his cash cow.”
In her impatience, she turned to Dong Lanyi and said, "Never mind, we must see Xiao Suzhen in person and persuade her to wake up and escape this misery as soon as possible!"
Dong Lanyi agreed, "Second cousin-in-law, I'll listen to you."
"Are you two planning to ditch me and act alone?" Yan Yi joked, then said seriously, "Now that we know about this, there's no reason for us to sit idly by."
Xiao Lang stole the talent and glory that didn't belong to him. Now it's time for the real genius to step into the spotlight and be seen by everyone.
...
A few days later, Xiao Lang suddenly received news that a major bookseller from Jinling had taken a liking to Xiao Xiang Gongzi's work and wanted to discuss exclusive distribution rights in Jiangnan with him, offering very generous terms.
Jiangnan is a prosperous region, and Xiao Lang was overjoyed upon receiving the news. He dressed up smartly and went out early in the morning.
Not long after he left home, an inconspicuous carriage quietly drove into Xingzi Lane.
Seeing that no one was around, Pei Jinghuai nimbly climbed over the wall and opened the gate from the inside.
Shen Lingyue, Yan Yi, and Dong Lanyi quickly squeezed in through the crack in the door.
It was Dong Lanyi's first time participating in such an event, and she nervously tugged at Yan Yi's sleeve, "Won't we be discovered?"
"Don't worry, Xiao Lang won't be back until tonight. Besides, I've already inquired, and only he, Xiao Suzhen, and their daughter live in this house; they haven't bought any servants."
The house wasn't big, and the four of them quickly arrived at the backyard. There, they saw a thin, small figure squatting by the well, scrubbing clothes in a large wooden basin.
Shen Lingyue's fist hardened. Good heavens, they don't buy servants because they have a niece to order around? That's too heartless, she's only six years old!
The little girl was scrubbing her clothes vigorously when she suddenly saw several figures on the ground approaching her.
She turned around and saw Pei Jinghuai first, then screamed in fright, "How did you get in?!"
Dong Lanyi quickly stepped forward and whispered, "Little sister, it's me. Do you remember me?"
The little girl looked closely, then relaxed, and exclaimed, "You're the older sister who gave me the book!"
She put down her wet clothes, ran quickly to her, looked up at her with an innocent expression, and asked, "Sister, did you come to see me? But how did you get in? Did my uncle forget to lock the door?"
"Oh, none of that matters." Shen Lingyue asked anxiously, "We want to see your mother. Can you take us there?"
"OK."
Trusting Dong Lanyi, Xiaonan was completely unsuspecting and led them directly to Xiao Suzhen's study. Pointing to the door, she said in a clear voice, "My mother is writing a book inside, but you probably won't be able to see her. You'll have to wait for my uncle to come back."
The four people looked at the brass lock and the several-wound iron chain hanging on the study door and were speechless for a moment.
"This is clearly imprisonment!" Shen Lingyue gritted her teeth. "Pei Jinghuai, go and break the lock."
Even if the King of Heaven himself came today, it wouldn't matter; she's determined to take Xiao Suzhen and her daughter away!
-----------------------
Author's Note: [Pei Da: Yet again, I missed family activities because of work [crying emoji]]
[Let me see] It's still an extra update tonight~
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