Chapter 81
Is there nothing else?
Xu Xuan shook his head.
Shen Yao couldn't help but advise, "Perhaps she just doesn't know how to face you."
Xu Xuan shook her head again, her voice hoarse as she said, "No, he just simply dislikes me."
These words must be words born of utter despair.
Shen Yao let out a breath and suddenly felt that it was better to keep quiet.
Xu Xuan felt the same way.
The two then fell silent.
After a while, probably when dinner was ready, Xu Xuan was called to the men's room to drink, while Shen Yao dined with Madam Shen.
Because the Duchess was seriously ill, Guo Fu went to serve her, so the position of mistress of the house fell to Aunt Liu.
With a face like a silver basin and eyes like apricots, she was an extremely beautiful woman.
This was her first impression on Shen Yao.
Shen Yao once again noticed the woman's refined speech and gentle demeanor during the meal.
No wonder Zhao Lian is so infatuated with her!
Tsk, Oedipus complex!
The Duchess fell ill suddenly. By evening she was still delirious and unconscious, but by the time the banquet ended, she was barely breathing.
It looks like my time is up tonight.
Zhao Lian stayed by his mother's bedside, accompanying her through her last night on earth.
A gust of cold wind swept by, making the lattice window creak and groan.
Zhao Lian was inexplicably annoyed and had the windows closed.
But the maid said, "The mistress said it's too hot inside and needs to be aired out."
"What's the point of breathing?"
A roar startled the maid into silence.
"This family's surname is Zhao, not Guo. When did it become her place to give orders?"
He pointed at the maid and said, word by word, "Close them immediately, close them all."
"Yes, yes."
Just as the maid turned around, a faint voice came out: the Duchess had woken up.
The woman lay on the bed with her eyes wide open and said, "It's hot, don't turn it off."
Zhao Lian knelt down on the ground, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Mother, you're awake."
The Duchess looked at him, smiled slightly, and beckoned him over, "Come here, let your mother take a good look at you."
"Um."
The lady held Zhao Lian's hand, tears welling in her eyes. "My son, you look so thin. Are you short of money?"
"No, Mother, don't worry about these things. Focus on getting better first."
"Okay, if anything is missing, be sure to tell Mother."
Zhao Lian nodded and wiped away his tears.
Footsteps sounded outside the door; it was the lady waking up, and her family members had come to visit her.
A group of people waited in front of the steps, but notably absent was the Duke of Xin, her husband.
The Duchess asked, "Where is the master?"
Aunt Liu hurriedly stepped forward to reply, "On the way, we'll be there soon, Madam, please wait a moment."
His tone was exceptionally gentle.
The Duchess smiled and nodded, "My health is poor, and you have to take care of all the big and small things in the manor. It's really hard on you. Cough cough cough... If there are any difficulties, let Guo Fu share some of the burden."
Guo Fu stepped forward and replied, "Yes, daughter-in-law will remember."
The lady nodded in satisfaction and then asked, "Has the master not arrived yet?"
Aunt Liu looked embarrassed and was about to answer when Zhao Lian interrupted, "I'll go check right away."
As he left, he gestured for Guo Fu to come out with him.
In the darkness of night, Zhao Lian stood under the eaves, the lantern reflecting off his pale face.
As soon as footsteps sounded, he asked impatiently, "Where is Father?"
Guo Fu replied with a cold expression, "She's inside the room and hasn't come out for half a month. She doesn't respond to anyone calling her."
Zhao Lian asked in disbelief, "Still cultivating Taoism?"
Guo Fu hummed in agreement.
Instantly, Zhao Lian's expression changed drastically. He slammed his fist into the wall, gritting his teeth and saying hatefully, "Worse than pigs and dogs."
Guo Fu was shocked and quickly looked around before lowering her voice, saying, "You've had too much to drink. You're talking nonsense. What if someone hears you?"
Zhao Lian sneered, "So what if we hear it? The old man's dirty deeds are no secret in the capital."
After saying that, he turned and left, leaving Guo Fu in shock.
Zhao Lian personally went to invite the Duke of Xin, explaining that his wife was seriously ill and pleading with him to come out and see her one last time. However, as expected, he was turned away.
A moment later, a handsome servant dressed in a Taoist robe came out to deliver a message: "The Duke is currently fasting. Please have your wife rest well and do not disturb her with anything else."
Zhao Lian was trembling with rage. He punched him and cursed, "You filthy human, wearing human skin, dare to talk to me like that? Believe me or not, I'll skin you and make you into a ball to kick."
The servant covered his face, collapsed to the ground, and groaned in pain.
Zhao Lian continued to roar, "Take it off yourself!"
Guo Fu ran over, stopped the frenzied Zhao Lian, and shouted, "Are you crazy? Why aren't you by your mother's side at a time like this? Why are you causing trouble for him? If your father-in-law finds out, you'll be in big trouble."
Zhao Lian sneered, revealing his sinister white teeth. "It's all because of these bastards who bewitched my father. What 'yin-yang replenishment' and 'yin-yang harmony'? Bah! The Duke's mansion should just be renamed 'Lewd Den'."
He was about to hit her again when Guo Fu grabbed him and the two struggled in the wind until a series of cries and hurried footsteps suddenly rang out in the distance.
The red lanterns were quietly taken down, and the white lanterns were hung high.
The Duchess has passed away.
*
The next day, the news of the Duke's death reached the Shen family, who were gathered together drinking tea.
Madam Shen sighed, "They still couldn't make it through. How pitiful."
Master Shen replied, "Life and death are preordained, and fate has its own destiny. Why do you pity me? Instead of wasting your time, you should think about your son's marriage."
Everyone looked at Shen Fan.
Shen Fan pursed his lips and said, "It seems that Miss Zhao won't be able to enter the Shen family anytime soon."
Master Shen glared at him and cursed, "You good-for-nothing."
Shen Fan couldn't help but retort, "Dad, you're going too far. How can you blame me for someone else's death? What kind of unlucky and tragic life do I have?"
"Don't say bad luck or bad fortune," Madam Shen quickly stopped them.
Shen Fan nodded repeatedly, "Okay, okay, I'll do whatever you say."
He touched the tip of his nose and lowered his head to drink his tea.
Madam Shen then steered the conversation back to Aunt Liu.
After all, the Duke spent his days cultivating immortality and seeking enlightenment, and all the affairs of the mansion were managed by his concubine. The Duke only needed to ask for money.
Madam Shen said, "I should have more contact with Madam Liu in the future."
Startled by the quick change in address, Shen Yao asked, "Can a concubine become the principal wife?"
Madam Shen smiled and said, "Of course not, unless His Majesty gives special permission. But calling it in private is fine."
Shen Yao seemed to understand but not quite, and looked at Xu Xuan beside her.
The advantage of being close is that you can immediately sense any movement from the people next to you.
She happened to make eye contact with Xu Xuan, and after one second, two seconds, three seconds, they both looked away at the same time.
Shen Yao asked again, "Mother, do you think the Duke of Xin will take another wife?"
“No,” Madam Shen replied quickly. “With all the things he’s done, what decent family would want him to marry into?”
Sensing the scent of gossip, Shen Yao craned her neck and asked, "What's going on with him?"
As soon as she asked the question, Xu Xuan grabbed her clothes and gave her a warning look, causing Shen Yao to pull her neck back.
Now, everyone in the room looked at her.
Xu Xuan quickly made an excuse and pulled Shen Yao out.
Shen Fan followed.
Both of them looked at Xu Xuan, and Shen Yao asked, "What are you doing?"
Xu Xuan said, "You ask about things that can't be brought to light in broad daylight. How are people supposed to answer that?"
Shen Yao exclaimed in surprise, muttering in confusion, "I was just curious. Hey, Xu Ziwei, you're saying this so you must know. Tell me quickly, what exactly is going on with that Duke?"
Some people are inherently wicked; they pique people's curiosity, but when it's time to uncover the mystery, they just pack up and leave.
Shen Yao stomped her foot in anger and asked Shen Fan again. Shen Fan smiled and said, "If you can't sleep at night after hearing this, don't come looking for me."
"Stop talking nonsense."
"That Duke specifically targeted boys and girls aged twelve or thirteen, and killed countless people."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yao immediately understood.
Shen Yao was familiar with these events from historical records, but living in this era and witnessing them firsthand still made her feel disgusted.
Human life is cheap. When selfish desires swell to infinity and morality gradually declines, does the phrase "the law does not favor the powerful" still have any place to exist?
Shen Yao couldn't give an answer, but perhaps the answer had already been revealed.
*
Shen Yao had a very happy time throughout the first month of the lunar calendar.
During the day, she would go out shopping and to temple fairs with her maids, and at night she would go home and sleep until dawn. She had no worries about food or clothing, and her life was so comfortable that she forgot that there were people in the palace who were eagerly waiting for her.
So he took a piece of fancy stationery, gently picked up a jade pen, and began to play with wool. He then wrote a reply to Wei Luo and sent it along with some new trinkets.
Biluo asked curiously, "What do you write?"
Shen Yao glanced at her and smiled, "Words that make people blush and their hearts race."
Hey, Biluo was immediately delighted and clung to Shen Yao, refusing to let go, insisting that she tell her the contents of the letter.
Shen Yao said in a serious tone, "Biluo, you are too young to hear certain things, or your ears will get sores."
"No way, girl, you're lying."
Shen Yao chuckled and went to the side to tease the parrot.
After several days of getting to know each other, they have been able to coexist peacefully with the two guys.
As soon as Shen Yao arrived, the two foodies inside started jumping around and chattering, calling for food.
As they were feeding the animals, Xu Xuan came over.
Following Wei Luo's instructions, Shen Yao instructed Xu Xuan to go home during the day to care for the sick, and then return to stay at night.
At first he was unwilling, but he couldn't resist Shen Yao's persuasive words and reasoning, "You don't have to go every day, just make a show of it, and you can avoid a lot of trouble."
After much hesitation, Xu Xuan finally compromised and did as instructed. Simply to avoid trouble.
Shen Yao poured him a cup of hot tea and asked, "Aren't you going back to the Xu family today?"
"No, I just went back yesterday." Finally, he asked Shen Yao, "What are you doing today?"
Shen Yao replied, "There are no plans yet."
He walked to the side and continued feeding the parrot.
Xu Xuan put down her teacup and walked over to stand next to her. The difference was that Shen Yao looked at the parrot, while Xu Xuan looked at her.
After a while, Xu Xuan said, "Deng Yan said we should go see the lanterns together tonight and invited me to come along. I'd also like you to come along too."
"ah?"
Shen Yao was surprised, "Did his wife go over there too?"
Xu Xuan nodded, "The banquet has been booked."
As he spoke, he took out the invitation from his pocket and showed it to Shen Yao.
“I don’t know about this. If you don’t want to go, I will refuse him.”
Shen Yao opened the invitation and looked at it, then looked up at Xu Xuan. After hesitating for a moment, she said, "Never mind, Deng Yan is on good terms with you, and besides, his wife is going too, so he won't be bored."
Having agreed, Xu Xuan's face lit up with joy, and he quickly replied, "Okay, I'll reply right away."
He ran out quickly.
Shen Yao looked at him and couldn't help but sigh, "Men are really troublesome."
Biluo sighed, "It's good, but I wonder how many jealous people His Highness will get."
She bent down, teasing the parrot, and chuckled, "Isn't that right, Little Red and Little Green?"
Shen Yao asked, "When was the name chosen?"
Bilu blinked. "Just now."
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