Chapter 56: Mr. Dongguo and the Wolf, the Farmer and the Snake...
Tracking is a skill, but more importantly, it's a talent.
As the chosen melon god, Shen Lingyue would never allow herself to make any noise, step on a branch, or kick a pebble.
She stood in a perfectly chosen blind spot, her eyes scanning back and forth like radar, her mind racing with thoughts, but she made absolutely no sound.
The unmarried young couple in the courtyard were completely unaware that they were being watched, or rather, watched by two people.
Shen Ming'an took the new pen from Sang Wenyuan, and naturally grasped her small hand, leaning forward slightly, the distance between them gradually closing...
"Wen Yuan!"
You Fengnian suddenly strode into the courtyard with a broad smile, "I just passed by the gatehouse and heard you came to the Imperial Academy..."
Upon hearing the sound, Shen Ming'an and Sang Wenyuan immediately separated, both standing up somewhat awkwardly.
Sang Wenyuan's face was still flushed, and she tucked her hair behind her ear to hide it. "It's my cousin."
Shen Ming'an cleared his throat, nodded to him with feigned composure, and said, "Chief You."
Jealousy gnawed at her heart like a venomous snake, but You Fengnian showed no sign of it on her face. Only after belatedly realizing what was happening did she exclaim, "Ah!" and then ask, "I thought you came to see me... Did I disturb you?"
As they were engaged, Sang Wenyuan was shy and only frowned slightly, emphasizing, "How many times have I told you, you're not allowed to call me by my name, you have to call me cousin."
My aunt's adopted son was good in every way, except he wasn't very respectful to his cousin, always calling her by her full name. When he was little, he would visit the Sang family and would always find a chance to sneak into her room. Once, he broke her favorite doll, which made her cry for days.
Sang Wenyuan didn't like him much, but she had been closest to her aunt since childhood, and You Fengnian was her aunt's only hope for the rest of her life. For her aunt's sake, she couldn't afford to make things too awkward.
“You’re not that much older than me, calling you ‘cousin’ is too formal, it makes you sound old.”
As if oblivious to her slightly disgruntled tone, You Fengnian walked to the stone table, picked up a wooden box, and said, "A newly made jade-tube wolf-hair brush, made by Master Shi himself? Hey, how did you know I was thinking of buying this..."
As he spoke, he reached out to tuck the object into his arms.
"Why!"
Sang Wenyuan was anxious. She had ordered this a long time in advance and it was a birthday gift for Shen Ming'an this year.
She reached out to snatch it back, "This isn't for you..."
You Fengnian grabbed her hand tightly, his eyes deep and unfathomable. "If it wasn't given to me, then who was it given to? Aren't I your cousin?"
Sang Wenyuan felt a sudden panic when he grabbed her hand and stared at her with that strange look. She quickly pulled her hand away and shook it behind her back.
...Seriously, this person has been so annoying since childhood, and hasn't changed!
Shen Ming'an subtly pulled Sang Wenyuan behind him.
He stepped forward, a flawless, polite smile playing on his lips: "Is Chief Scholar You here to discuss scholarship with me? Unfortunately, my fiancée has come by today..."
Shen Ming'an was a young man in his early twenties, inheriting the good looks of Zhao Lan and Shen Hang. He was tall and had a refined, gentlemanly air. Sang Wenyuan hid behind him, completely obscured.
You Fengnian was a head shorter than him, so he had to look up at him when he spoke, which made his jealousy and resentment grow stronger.
His words, which seemed to assert his dominance, stung You Fengnian deeply. He scoffed coldly, "We're all scholars, and I'm younger than you. I'm the top scholar, so why should I need to discuss scholarship with you?"
Such blatant mockery, the blatant malice is almost overflowing.
Sang Wenyuan gripped Shen Ming'an's clothes, feeling both angry and anxious at his impolite words, which showed no regard for her fiancé. She was about to stand up and refute him.
However, a voice came in from outside the door even faster than she did.
"Where did this little dwarf come from, daring to bully my big brother?!"
Shen Lingyue stormed into the courtyard, looked You Fengnian up and down without any politeness, and sneered loudly.
"So this is the top scholar in this year's provincial examination? Nothing special. There are eighteen provincial examination champions every three years, not much different from the leeks in the field. What's so great about you? If you're so capable, show me how you can achieve the triple crown!"
Yu Fengnian, a teenager, was at the age when his self-esteem was at its strongest. He was also proud of his outstanding talent and always looked down on others. Wherever he went, from old women to young girls, as soon as they heard that he was a child prodigy and the top scholar at the age of fifteen, they would cast loving or admiring glances at him. He had never been ridiculed like this before.
Enraged, he clenched his fists, his eyes reddening, and shouted at Chen Lingyue in a high-pitched voice, "Who do you think you are, daring to look down on me—"
However, he forgot that he was still going through puberty. He could control his voice volume normally, but once he raised his voice, it would make a quacking sound like a duck, rough and harsh.
When he realized his voice was off, he quickly shut up, but it was too late.
Shen Lingyue clutched her stomach and laughed wildly, "Hahaha, where did this little male duck come from? Hurry up and go home to find your parents!"
"you!"
Enraged, and further provoked by the mention of "father and mother," You Fengnian raised his hand to hit her without thinking.
"Chief Case Officer You!"
Shen Ming'an grabbed his arm and easily subdued him, his face turning cold: "You barged into my yard for no reason and spoke rudely to me and my sister. What are your intentions?"
Yu Fengnian once again felt the difference in size and strength between the two of them, feeling both ashamed and angry. "Let me go! Otherwise, I'll tell Grandpa that you bullied me—"
"You Fengnian, haven't you caused enough trouble?!"
Sang Wenyuan, unable to bear it any longer, stood up and said, "If you want to complain, I'll complain to my grandfather too!"
You Fengnian trembled, looking at her incredulously: "You're not helping me? Whose side are you on anyway?"
Sang Wenyuan: ...
Whether it's helping the right side or helping relatives, You Fengnian doesn't take sides.
For her aunt's sake, she tried her best to control her dissatisfaction, and with the air of an older cousin, she pointed at Shen Lingyue and said, "She is the third young lady of the Shen family, and now the second young mistress of the Changning Marquis's mansion. You have been disrespectful and rude to her. Why don't you apologize to her right now?"
Shen Ming'an released his grip on You Fengnian, seemingly waiting for him to apologize to Shen Lingyue.
So it was his sister… You Fengnian stubbornly stuck out her neck and snorted coldly: “So it’s Pei Jinghuai’s good-for-nothing wife, what’s so great about her?”
The second son of the Marquis of Changning is inferior to his elder brother in every way. He is not good at studying and has no official rank. All he does is go out and play cockfighting and dog racing, wandering around aimlessly all day long...
"You brat, who are you calling a good-for-nothing?"
Shen Lingyue instantly bristled, grabbing his ear without thinking, "Is this how the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion usually teaches you? I'm going to go and ask them, how come your child only knows how to study and doesn't cultivate virtue!"
She seized the opportunity to say, "I've heard that Madam Sang is a lady from a distinguished family, well-educated and reasonable. How could she have raised such an arrogant and disrespectful fellow like you?"
Upon hearing Madam Sang's name, You Fengnian's pupils contracted, and a flash of resistance and rejection crossed his face. He pushed her away and hissed, "Stop making trouble here!"
Seeing his appearance, Shen Lingyue's heart sank.
Did You Fengnian already know his true identity? When was it, earlier than now?
"Third sister, please do me a favor and let it go."
Sang Wenyuan came over and took Chen Lingyue's hand, her eyes pleading, "My aunt has had a hard time in the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion, so please don't make things even harder for her. Besides, Fengnian is still a child..."
Yu Fengnian yelled at her indignantly, "I'm not a child anymore! I'm only four years younger than you!"
He's only four years old. When he turns twenty, Sang Wenyuan will only be twenty-four, which is nothing.
But why does everyone treat him like a child...?
You Fengnian's eyes were red, his breathing was rapid, and his chest rose and fell slightly, as if a huge amount of resentment was about to burst forth.
Shen Lingyue was afraid that he might explode on the spot in a fit of excitement, which would make the situation even more uncontrollable.
Sang Wenyuan is a year younger than her, but she calls her Third Sister, which is obviously because of Shen Ming'an's status.
Shen Lingyue rolled her eyes, feigning reluctance, and nodded to her, "Alright, sister-in-law, for your sake, I won't stoop to the level of a child."
This address of "elder sister-in-law" clearly hit a nerve with You Fengnian again. He glared angrily at the three "adults" in front of him, then flung his sleeves and ran away without looking back.
Sang Wenyuan sighed heavily, "I really don't know what's wrong with him. He's been acting strangely ever since last year, and it's even made my aunt worry..."
Shen Lingyue's eyes flickered slightly. "You mean You Fengnian's attitude changed drastically starting last year? When exactly?"
Sang Wenyuan was confused, but she still recalled for a while, "It seems to be around this time of year? Oh, maybe a little later. It was at my aunt's mother-in-law's birthday banquet, the Lady of Dongxiang. That day, he lost his temper with my aunt in front of the guests, making the atmosphere extremely awkward."
Sang Wenyuan also accompanied her mother to the banquet at the Dongxiang Marquis's residence and witnessed the whole process.
Lady Sang was humiliated in public by her adopted son, but the Lady of Dongxiang Marquis not only did not reprimand You Fengnian for disrespecting his elders, but also lightly brushed the matter aside, saying that the child was naughty and ignorant, and asked everyone to be lenient. She then had her maid take Lady Sang away to rest, and she did not show up until the end of the banquet.
Sang Wenyuan felt indignant on behalf of her aunt at the time. When she got home, she complained to her mother that her aunt had raised her with great care for more than ten years, only to have raised such an ungrateful child.
Madam Sang didn't take it seriously, but just shook her head and sighed, "Who told your aunt to have such a hard life, becoming a widow as soon as she entered the family. The Dongxiang Marquis's family not only didn't despise her for being a jinx, but also gave her an adopted son to carry on the family line and will take care of her in her old age. They have already been very tolerant. This little grievance is nothing, after all, they are not biological mother and son."
Sang Wenyuan was still unconvinced, "Then why not let my sister-in-law get a divorce and go home? She's all alone in her husband's family, raising a son who isn't her own, and expecting him to be a person with a conscience who can take care of her in her old age?"
Even biological children can be unfilial to their parents, let alone an adopted son.
"Nonsense! Our Sang family has a century-old reputation; how could we have a discarded wife? If she returns home, what will happen to your marriages with the other sisters? What will happen to the Sang family's reputation?"
Sang's mother scolded her daughter, telling her never to say such nonsense again, and then patiently reasoned with her.
“Don’t think Mother is heartless. I also married into the family from outside. Do you think I can make the decisions about the Sang family? Your aunt is such a good person. When she was young, she was always respectful and close to me, her sister-in-law. We have a good relationship. How could I not feel sorry for her being all alone and miserable?”
"Besides, it's not that your grandfather doesn't love his youngest daughter. Otherwise, why would he have personally supervised You Fengnian's progress in his studies from a young age, and then given him extra tutoring every now and then after he entered the Imperial Academy, teaching him how to take the imperial examinations? Wasn't he hoping that, out of consideration for the Sang family's all-out support and your aunt's kindness in raising him, he would let her live out her old age in peace?"
...
Sang Wenyuan didn't treat Shen Lingyue as an outsider, perhaps because she had been holding these words in for so long and finally told her everything.
Shen Lingyue rested her chin on her hand and sighed, "Isn't it said that this dynasty encourages widows to remarry? Why does everyone react like it's a monster the moment they hear the word 'divorce'?"
Previously, when she caught her brother-in-law Han Zhihuan cheating on her, her first reaction was to make her sister divorce him, but she ended up being taught a lesson by Zhao Lan instead.
Sang Wenyuan also wanted her aunt to divorce, but in return, she received a long speech from her mother.
"Well, the trend of widows remarrying that you mentioned, little sister, is mostly prevalent among the common people."
Shen Ming'an, who had been playing a supporting role throughout, spoke up at the right moment, poured a cup of tea for the two of them, and said unhurriedly, "In the common people, if there is a widow who has lost her husband, especially if she has not left any children, both the man's and woman's families usually support her remarriage."
For the groom's family, leaving a daughter-in-law to observe chastity sounds nice, but it not only doesn't add another laborer to the family, but also costs more food, which is not worthwhile.
Moreover, the rural areas are open-minded. If there are other men in the house living under the same roof, it is inevitable that gossip will spread over time, and even romantic affairs may occur, causing unrest in the household.
For the woman's family, taking their widowed daughter back home and finding her a new husband not only allows them to receive another dowry, but also ensures that their daughter will have children and support in the future. It's a win-win situation.
However, wealthy and powerful families do not have these problems.
Firstly, the extended family is well-off and has no shortage of food. Secondly, a widow living alone in seclusion, without contact with other men, can focus on remaining chaste for her deceased husband, unafraid of gossip, and can earn a reputation for chastity and gentleness for both families, which is beneficial to the family's traditions.
Shen Ming'an glanced at Sang Wenyuan without showing any emotion, and then added, "The Sang family is a prominent clan that has been flourishing for a hundred years since the previous dynasty. They adhere to etiquette and may have more considerations in this regard."
Shen Lingyue understood her elder brother's implication. To put it bluntly, the Sang family still adhered to the outdated rules of the previous dynasty, taking pride in a woman's fidelity to one man, and the chastity archway was their glory.
She lowered her head and secretly pouted.
No wonder I've seen jokes online about feudal ethics before, saying that productivity was not advanced in ancient times, and people were busy farming and producing crops every day. They were too busy to feed themselves and only had time to engage in feudalism during the off-season. But these rules could give way to survival.
But modern people are different. Modern productivity is so advanced that people don't have to focus all their energy on filling their stomachs every day. With their minds free, they can concentrate on feudalism.
—That's truly a collection of the worst aspects of five thousand years of history, even coming up with jokes like "Concubines can't eat braised pork, they can only eat steamed pork with rice flour."
To this, Shen Lingyue could only say: You big families are just like modern people, you're just bored and have nothing better to do!
"Who's overeating and making you uncomfortable?"
Sang Wenyuan looked over with concern, "Do you need me to go to the medicine shop and get you some hawthorn pills?"
When Shen Lingyue came to her senses, she realized that she had been cursing in her mind and had accidentally blurted it out.
She waved her hands repeatedly, "No, no, I was just making it up."
Ahem, let's not talk about the Sang family in front of my future sister-in-law.
However, since Sang Wenyuan was able to express her support for her aunt's divorce and return home, she must not agree with the Sang family's way of doing things.
Shen Lingyue breathed a sigh of relief. Having an open-minded sister-in-law was better than constantly spouting the three obediences and four virtues.
Otherwise, she would never dare to go back to her parents' home again.
Sang Wenyuan had stayed at Shen Ming'an's place for a bit too long, and worried that it would have a bad influence if word got out, she got up and prepared to go to her grandfather, Old Master Sang's, place to help him tidy up his house before going home.
Before leaving, she apologized to Shen Lingyue on behalf of You Fengnian, saying, "He is young and talented, so it's inevitable that he is arrogant and conceited, and he is sharp-tongued. I will definitely ask my grandfather to teach him a lesson. Please don't take it to heart."
Looking at her sincere expression, Shen Lingyue couldn't help but say, "Why are you so concerned about him, even though he's just a cousin and not a blood relative?"
Could it be that heartless brat has fallen for Sang Wenyuan just like that?
Sang Wenyuan shook her head repeatedly, "Isn't it all because of my aunt? Otherwise, he would be a stranger to me, and who would care about him?"
Shen Lingyue and Shen Ming'an watched Sang Wenyuan leave together.
This is the Imperial Academy, full of students. Sang Wenyuan feels right at home and shouldn't encounter any trouble.
"Big brother, what's wrong with you?"
Just as Shen Lingyue was about to ask a few more questions, she noticed that Shen Ming'an's expression was strange. His usually warm and handsome face was now tinged with a faint coldness.
Shen Ming'an turned to look at her, his voice slightly deep: "Little sister, you figured it out too, didn't you?"
"Ah...ah?" Shen Lingyue reacted, lowering her voice, "You mean, You Fengnian and my sister-in-law..."
Seriously? Big brother is this perceptive too?
Shen Ming'an's gaze drifted into the distance, and he scoffed lightly, "Don't forget, I'm a man too."
Wen Yuan was his betrothed wife, and men are very familiar with that kind of covetous, possessive, jealous, and resentful gaze.
Shen Lingyue had a toothache and hissed, "Big brother, don't overthink it. I think sister-in-law only sees him as a cousin and has absolutely no other intentions."
"What kind of petty, jealous husband do you think I am?"
Shen Ming'an was both annoyed and helpless. He lightly tapped her on the head and a confident smile appeared on his lips.
"I believe in Wen Yuan's feelings for me, and I don't believe I would lose to a mere boy."
Shen Lingyue covered her head and groaned, "What if, what if You Fengnian really was a genius who could pass all three levels of the imperial examinations?"
"So what?" Shen Ming'an said dismissively. "Today, your older brother will teach you a lesson: a man's good education doesn't necessarily mean he's a good person. Just look at your husband, don't you know?"
"Big brother!"
Shen Lingyue grumbled unhappily, "My husband just doesn't like studying and isn't interested in the imperial examinations... He does it so as not to compete with his elder brother for the title! Besides, he has so many good qualities that you just can't see!"
Shen Ming'an shook his head, suppressing a laugh. "Oh dear, girls really are more outgoing. Once they have a husband, they stop siding with their older brother."
Shen Lingyue acted like a possessive puppy, saying, "You're not allowed to say anything bad about him, otherwise even if you're my older brother, I'll still be unhappy with you."
Shen Ming'an raised his hands in surrender, "Alright, alright, I won't say it again, I just wanted to tease you. My brother-in-law is honest and kind-hearted, and handsome. Even if he's a bit carefree, he's still much better than those other rich and powerful kids who live a life of debauchery, isn't he?"
Shen Lingyue snorted smugly, "That's more like it."
"However, your brother is also thinking about your future as a couple."
Shen Ming'an, like a worried old mother, kept nagging, "The title of Marquis of Changning is destined to fall to the eldest son of the Pei family. After the Marquis passes away, are you two going to shamelessly stick with your brother and sister-in-law?"
Shen Lingyue blinked: "Is it not okay? My older brother and sister-in-law both said they would take care of us."
She doesn't want to be separated from Yan Yan. Even when they're old and full of children and grandchildren, they'll still live together!
Shen Ming'an: ...
One is willing to gnaw on you, and the other is willing to raise you, right?
He gave a polite, fake smile: "Your family is truly kind and virtuous, with brothers being friendly and respectful to each other."
"That's right, that's right, I'm doing great at the Marquis's residence!"
The brother and sister exchanged a few jokes, and then the topic returned to You Fengnian and Sang Wenyuan.
Shen Lingyue thought for a moment and reminded him, "Why don't you pass on a message to Miss Sang? If you don't have anything to do these days, you should stay home as much as possible. I'm really worried that she'll be bothered by that little madman."
Shen Ming'an frowned. "There's no such thing as being a thief for a thousand days and guarding against thieves for a thousand days. Does that mean that as long as he's in the capital, Wen Yuan can't go out and stroll around as she pleases?"
Shen Lingyue slapped her forehead. "Big brother is right. I was narrow-minded."
She really didn't think straight for a moment. It was You Fengnian who had coveted it, so why should Sang Wenyuan be forced to back down unjustly?
"Alright, I understand you mean well. I'll remember your kindness." Shen Ming'an patted her head. "You used so much force, your head is all red. Be careful you don't turn into a little fool."
Shen Lingyue chuckled.
Upon leaving the Imperial Academy and returning to the Marquis's residence, she couldn't wait to go and share the information with Yan Yi.
"Does You Fengnian have ulterior motives towards your future sister-in-law?"
When Yan Yi first heard this shocking revelation, she was stunned for a long time before she could react.
She stammered, "But, but he's only fifteen..."
"Fifteen isn't young anymore. Back in our area, that's high school." Shen Lingyue snorted. "Those brats, back in junior high they were always getting together to discuss which girl had big breasts, and they were secretly passing around swimsuit magazines."
Yan Yi thought about it and realized that this made sense. Besides, people in ancient times had shorter lifespans. If you were fifteen years old in the previous dynasty, you would have been able to get married by then.
Shen Lingyue clenched her fist, "I, Yue Aotian, will swear to protect my elder brother and sister-in-law's beautiful love with my life! You little brat, don't even think about causing trouble!"
She must hurry up and expose the ruthless and heartless nature of the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion, so that the Sang family can see clearly that You Fengnian is an ungrateful little ingrate!
"Your future sister-in-law said that You Fengnian's attitude suddenly changed last year, and he even lost his temper with Madam Sang at the birthday banquet of the Marquis of Dongxiang?"
Yan Yi noted down this timeline and urged Chen Lingyue to recall, "Think carefully, did something happen around the time of last year's birthday banquet?"
"Could it be that You Fengnian learned about his true identity last year?"
Shen Lingyue stroked her chin. "But even if he knew, so what? Madam Sang has never mistreated him all these years. The entire Sang family treats him like their own grandson, pampering and spoiling him. Why should he take his anger out on Madam Sang?"
Yan Yi pondered for a moment, then shook her head. "I think it's not just about him knowing his own background. Think about it again."
When Shen Lingyue transmigrated, she still had the original owner's memories. She frantically searched for a long time before finally having a flash of inspiration and snapping her fingers.
“That’s right! It was last autumn that my mother and the Sang family formally exchanged betrothal gifts and arranged my eldest brother and sister-in-law’s marriage!”
Yan Yi lowered her eyes and nodded gently, "That makes sense then. Perhaps You Fengnian found out that Sang Wenyuan was engaged, and he had long harbored feelings for her, so he took his anger out on his adoptive mother, Madam Sang, feeling that she hadn't helped him plan things out and was watching helplessly as his beloved was about to marry someone else..."
“What you’re saying is very likely.” Shen Lingyue tried hard to recall. “Isn’t my eldest sister’s mother-in-law related to the Dongxiang Marquis’s family? I remember when my mother was arranging a marriage for my eldest brother, my eldest sister also helped a lot. It seems that she even visited Madam Sang and arranged to meet Sang Wenyuan in her name?”
Now everything makes sense. You Fengnian likes Sang Wenyuan, but Madam Sang indirectly facilitated the marriage between the Sang and Shen families. How could he not resent her?
Shen Lingyue gritted her teeth, "When did this little brat fall for my sister-in-law? He's way too precocious!"
If Madam Sang knew that her adopted son had been resenting her for so long, she would be heartbroken.
Who would have thought that a fourteen-year-old boy would fall in love with his eighteen-year-old cousin? Are you suggesting that Sang Wenyuan should remain unmarried and wait for you to marry her?
“The Sang family will not agree.” Yan Yi calmly analyzed the pros and cons. “Even if You Fengnian is a young genius who can pass the imperial examinations in three consecutive years, Madam Sang is his mother in terms of etiquette. This kinship is already strong enough. There is no need to drag Sang Wenyuan into it.”
"Yes, if You Fengnian is not You Zhenliang and Xiao San's child, but really an orphan adopted by the Lady of Dongxiang from her clan, then the Sang family's plan to support him to rise to prominence is absolutely without question."
Shen Lingyue shook her head, "This is truly like Mr. Dongguo and the wolf, the farmer and the snake, and Madam Sang and You Fengnian."
Yan Yi thought, "That's right, you can send a message to He Rong and ask him to send two people to keep an eye on You Fengnian's movements."
Shen Lingyue quickly realized, "Since he already knows about his background, it's very likely that he knows the whereabouts of his biological parents?"
Yan Yi nodded, "The Lady of Dongxiang is cunning and shrewd, able to deceive everyone for fifteen years without leaving a trace. It's difficult to find a breakthrough with her. It's better to choose You Fengnian, who is younger, more impulsive, and less likely to keep secrets."
"That's right. Besides, the Lady of Dongxiang is not young anymore, and she is becoming increasingly reclusive. She might not even leave the mansion to see her son once a year."
Shen Lingyue clapped her hands, “But You Fengnian can. He usually lives at the Imperial Academy, and the Chancellor is his maternal grandfather. It would be easy for him to ask for a few days off and sneak out.”
She sent Shuangxu to deliver a message to He Rong, and when Shuangxu returned, she brought back new information.
“My second brother found out that there was an epidemic in the capital eight years ago, and many wealthy families were infected, including You Fengnian, the young master of the Dongxiang Marquis’s mansion. It is said that he was extremely ill and many doctors said that even a god could not save him.”
Shen Lingyue sat up straight. "And then what happened? How did he survive?"
Shuangxu recalled: "It is said that the Lady of Dongxiang Marquis took the young master out of the mansion overnight to seek medical treatment in the capital. They stayed outside for three months and only returned after curing the young master's disease."
During that time, Madam Sang visited every temple, monastery, Taoist temple, and heavenly palace around the capital, praying to every god and Buddha she could. She even kowtowed all the way up to the mountain gate, her forehead covered in blood bruises, and fainted several times in front of the Buddha statue, only asking all the gods to bless her child with a safe recovery.
...
"It seems that the news spread throughout the capital at the time. Everyone praised Madam Sang for being a woman of noble birth, for her chastity, and for her dedication to an adopted son with no blood relation. She truly moved Heaven and pulled You Fengnian's life back from the brink of death."
Shen Lingyue said to Yan Yi, "I don't believe in any divine intervention. But could it be that at that time, the Lady of Dongxiang was afraid that her grandson would die of illness, so she simply took him away from the Marquis's mansion to find his biological parents?"
As it turned out, they actually encountered some amazing doctor who saved You Fengnian again.
The reason why the peach grove and the cabin were abandoned after the fire eight years ago can be found: it was done by the Lady of Dongxiang to erase the traces and move You Zhenliang and his mistress to a new place.
"Oh, He Rong also found out that You Fengnian wasn't a child prodigy who loved studying from a young age. He was particularly mischievous and a troublemaker when he was young. Everything changed after he had that serious illness eight years ago. Suddenly, he seemed like a different person and started to study hard, making rapid progress in just a few years."
Shen Lingyue concluded: "It must be because he learned about his background and knew that he would have a bad end if he didn't study hard, so he suddenly changed his ways!"
Yan Yi frowned slightly, feeling that something was off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
...
When Pei Jingyi returned home from his shift, Yan Yi was still sitting on the small couch by the window, resting her chin on her hand and gazing into the distance in deep thought.
He sat down behind her with practiced ease, wrapped one arm around her waist, and pressed his cool lips against her ear: "Is my wife thinking of me?"
Yan Yi came to her senses, “...No.”
Pei Jingyi raised an eyebrow, feigning displeasure. "Then who is A-Tan thinking about?"
His gaze shifted downwards, and he picked up a small portrait that was under the tea tray. He unfolded it, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
"Madam, did you paint this?" Pei Jingyi looked at it from left to right, admiring it carefully. "How come it's so different from the meticulous paintings of famous artists that I've seen? It's simply... lifelike."
Yan Yi coughed lightly. "How do you explain this thing being called a figure sketch?"
"I just paint for fun, it's nothing like the meticulous brushwork of a famous artist."
Yan Yi chuckled, then noticed he was still staring intently at the young woman in the portrait, and couldn't help but ask, "Do you know this person?"
"I don't recognize him." Pei Jingyi shook his head decisively and immediately placed the portrait on the table.
Yan Yi felt a little bubble forming in her heart, and she gave a soft snort, "Then why were you watching so intently..."
Pei Jingyi pulled her into his arms tightly. "Madam, you've misunderstood. I really don't know her, but I can't quite put my finger on why, she just seems a little familiar?"
Yan Yi knew, of course, that Pei Jingyi did not recognize her. The woman in the portrait was You Fengnian's biological mother, who must be in her thirties now, and had no connection with Pei Jingyi.
But since he said he recognized it... could it be that he saw it by chance at someone's house when he was a child and went out to visit someone?
Yan Yi was a little excited. She turned around in his arms and looked at him expectantly: "Think carefully again, have you seen her somewhere before?"
Pei Jingyi saw her bright eyes, her small, jade-like face looking up at him with such longing, so delicate and pitiful. He was momentarily moved and grabbed Yan Yi's chin to kiss her.
Caught off guard by his "sneak attack," Yan Yi raised her hand and pushed him twice, trying to say that she had important business to attend to.
The result was that someone became even more brazen and took advantage of him completely.
The low table was haphazardly pushed aside, and Pei Jingyi pressed her down on the couch, making love to her. His large hands gripped her waist, and he repeatedly lowered his head to peck and kiss her, while his eyes filled with resentful accusation.
"What has A-Tan been busy with lately? He hasn't checked on me for days."
"Lately... I've been busy..." Yan Yi was so disoriented by the impact that her broken voice was incoherent, her mind already wandering, "Busy with what... looking for someone..."
She barely managed to regain her composure, her small hands bracing against his chest. "Think about it, where have you seen that woman before..."
Pei Jingyi chuckled softly, his chest vibrating slightly as he pulled her a little closer to him.
He leaned down and took her in his mouth. "My lady is really crazy. How could she let me think about other women at a time like this?"
...
The sky grew completely dark.
Yan Yi lay listlessly among the mess of clothes, utterly exhausted, as Pei Jingyi carefully wiped her down and took out clean nightgowns from the wardrobe to change her into.
"...No, I haven't showered yet." Yan Yi reluctantly raised her hand to push him away, then scolded him, "Why are you in such a hurry?"
Pei Jingyi looked innocent and composed. "When people are hungry, they need to eat. It's only natural. Why are you in such a hurry?"
He reached out and scooped her up through the crook of Yan Yi's legs, carrying her towards the side room. "May I help you bathe and change, Madam?"
Suddenly suspended in mid-air, Yan Yi quickly wrapped her arms around his neck. When she looked up, she met the man's misty, almond-shaped eyes, which held a triumphant slyness. Unable to contain herself any longer, she pinched his back, "...Bad leopard."
Pei Jingyi didn't hear clearly, so he leaned closer and asked, "What?"
Yan Yi repeated softly, "You are a cunning and wicked leopard."
Pei Jingyi gently placed her into the bathtub filled with water.
Yan Yi submerged most of her body in the water. "You can go out now. I can manage on my own."
However, Pei Jingyi did not leave. Instead, he took off the outer robe he was wearing, and the next second, he took a long stride and walked straight into the water.
The already cramped bathtub suddenly became even more crowded.
Yan Yi tried to run away, but he pressed her back down.
"The naughty leopard wants to take a bath with its beloved little rabbit now, okay?"
-----------------------
Author's Note: Master Dou: (reaching out) Settle my appearance fee. [empty bowl][empty bowl]
Pei Da: (Smiling) You ran off with my wife and now you want my money? Drag him out—
...
// (Gets up, bruised and battered) (Brushes off the dust) (Head held high) This is a draft chapter! I've received my appearance fee from Young Master Pei, (choking back tears) I'm going to see the giant dinosaur tonight! [crying][crying][clown][clown]
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