Chapter 77 Marriage Every evil deed you have committed will be punished…
Yan Sheng arrived just as Madam Cui finished speaking to Chen Jingsheng. Granny Chen was seeing him off when she earnestly instructed him, "You must take Madam's words to heart. When you return, you should know what to say and what not to say."
Chen Jingsheng obediently replied, "I understand, godmother."
Granny Chen breathed a sigh of relief and had the time to look him over, saying, "You must have suffered a lot outside; you've lost a lot of weight."
The two are not biologically related as mother and son.
Chen Jingsheng was the son of a purchasing agent and a cook in the Yan family. The two had worked for the Yan family for many years, but they knowingly violated the law by using their connections to purchase inferior materials. During the renovation of the Yan family's waterside pavilion, many workers fell, some breaking their legs and others losing their lives.
Such a big matter naturally had to be investigated thoroughly. Cui investigated and found that it was the couple. Considering that the two had been in the household for many years, the original plan was to punish them and expel them from the household, no longer keeping them in service. But who would have thought that the purchasing agent could not withstand the punishment and actually lost his life after being given thirty strokes of the cane.
The cook thought the mansion wanted them dead, so she took the seven or eight-year-old child with her and committed suicide by poisoning themselves.
The child was clever and resourceful; he didn't eat the poisoned porridge when his mother handed it to him, thus saving his life.
Seeing his loneliness and feeling that it was fate that they shared the same surname, Chen Mama, who had been by Cui Shi's side for many years and had no intention of getting married and having children, asked for a favor and allowed Chen Jingsheng to become her godparent. The two would support each other in this courtyard, and he would take care of her in her old age and see her off in mourning.
Over the years, their bond had grown to be like that of a mother and son. Seeing this, she was heartbroken. She took out a few pieces of silver from her sleeve and said, "Take this and buy some of your favorite foods to help you recover."
Chen Jingsheng accepted, "My godmother is still the best to me."
Granny Chen wanted to talk to him more, but Cui Shi needed someone to serve her, and Chen Jingsheng had just returned, tired from the journey. Everyone loves their own child, so she didn't keep him any longer and told him, "I've had the accountant keep track of your monthly wages. Go and collect them after you've rested."
"Okay."
When the man came out, Yan Sheng called him back to her courtyard.
"Young Miss".
Chen Jingsheng bowed respectfully to Yan Sheng.
"Don't be so polite."
Yan Sheng patted his shoulder and said, "You grew up with me, so you're kind of like an older brother to me..."
"I dare not claim to be one of these people."
The most important thing for a servant is to be dutiful. This is the most important rule he learned in the high-ranking household. Even if these masters are easy to get along with and call you brother, you cannot put yourself on the same level as them and forget your own status.
Yan Sheng could see clearly that he was a well-behaved person by his brother's side; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to stay for so many years.
My elder brother appears gentle and polite, but in reality he is decisive and resolute. For those who slightly overstep their bounds, lack manners, or harbor ulterior motives, he would rather kill the innocent than let them go.
Before him, no close attendant had stayed by Yan Ning's side for more than a month.
She had originally intended to get closer to him and have a proper conversation, but seeing his attitude, she stopped being polite and went straight to the point, asking what she wanted to know.
What did your mother say to you?
Chen Jingsheng: "..."
That's really direct!
They're all masters, and no one can afford to offend them. How is he supposed to answer that?
Yan Sheng saw that his eyes were rolling around, and he was definitely thinking of something to fool her. She pretended to be angry, put on a stern face, and said, "Chen Jingsheng, don't forget, you are my brother's man. The instructions you should listen to and follow are my brother's. What I am talking to you about now concerns my brother, so you must answer me truthfully!"
"hurry up!"
The little girl is quite young, with some baby fat still on her face. Her deliberately fierce appearance gives the impression of a child pretending to be an adult, which doesn't make people feel scared or frightened. Instead, it makes her even more interesting.
However, since she was a young lady and a master, Chen Jingsheng certainly wouldn't dare to say these words directly.
He pretended to be frightened, took a deep breath, and said tremblingly, "Madam told me to come back and serve you, and not to mention Li Shi's matter in front of my husband."
It was just as she had imagined.
After the incident of Li Yunru jumping off the cliff in Xiangshan, the name Li Yunru became a taboo in the Yan family and was never mentioned.
Even the traces of her existence must be erased.
Sometimes Yan Sheng couldn't understand whether her parents wanted her brother to come to his senses. They knew that her brother was acting this way because of Li Shi, and that if they talked about her and the past with him, some stimulation would be beneficial to his recovery. But they chose to do the opposite...
"So what do you think?" Yan Sheng asked.
Chen Jingsheng replied, "I dare not disobey my master's orders."
Yan Sheng stared at him, her crisp voice harsh as she said, "I'm also a master. If I ask you to bring it up, will you listen or not?"
Chen Jingsheng chuckled and said, "Of course we'll listen to that too."
Before Yan Sheng could ask him how to achieve both, he took the initiative to say, "Madam forbids me from mentioning Li Shi, but she has been by your side for many years. Even if everything is gone, habits cannot be changed. Things etched in memory are always somewhat instinctive."
"No wonder my brother likes you; you are indeed clever." She patted Chen Jingsheng on the shoulder and stuffed a tael of silver into his hand. "Do your job well, and when my brother sobers up, he will not treat you unfairly."
Chen Jingsheng looked at the silver and smiled even more happily, "This servant will do his best."
Hearing his words, Yan Sheng felt much relieved and asked about the matter Yan Ning had asked him to investigate.
This matter should have been reported directly to Yan Ning, but since he was already in this state, after a moment's thought, he decided to explain it clearly to Yan Sheng.
Yan Sheng was young and had never experienced such wickedness. She was so frightened that she sat down in a chair and drank several cups of tea before she could recover. But she still held onto a sliver of hope and asked in disbelief, "Is what you said true?"
Chen Jingsheng: "I dare not lie."
Imprisonment, humiliation, scheming...
What did her mother do with her sister-in-law in Kyoto?
And there's Sister Cui...
She was also involved in these things.
How could this be!
She looked so gentle, poised, and elegant!
How could someone do such a thing!
This was all beyond her comprehension!
Yan Sheng was at a loss for what to do, so she told Chen Jingsheng to go down first and she would think about it some more.
After Chen Jingsheng left, and with no one around, she completely relaxed, slumped into a chair, and gasped for breath, trying to process the sudden news.
But she couldn't get over it in her heart, so she finally got up and hurriedly went to her mother's Buddhist shrine.
She was performing her evening prayers, and the Buddhist verses she uttered seemed so ironic in light of what she was doing.
Yan Sheng swept the offerings in front of the hall with her hand, scattering fresh fruit and incense sticks all over the ground, with sparks flying everywhere.
"What's the use of reciting these things? Can they atone for the sins you've committed?"
"Miss!" Granny Chen realized what she had done and quickly covered her mouth. "Don't talk nonsense. You can't talk to Madam like that."
Yan Sheng was too angry to listen to anything, and shoved her away, saying, "You're an accomplice too!"
"With your kind of mentality, you still think you can live a peaceful life, expecting someone to take care of you in your old age and see you off in your final days? Dream on! Every evil deed you've committed will be punished, and you won't be..."
"Smack!"
A crisp slap rang out.
Cui rose from the prayer mat, holding a string of emerald prayer beads in her hand. Her demeanor was calm and composed, but upon closer inspection, one could see that her hands were trembling slightly.
She opened her mouth with difficulty and angrily rebuked, "Who taught you manners to talk to your mother like that!"
"Rules, rules, it's all these rules again. It's because of these rules that you insist on harming your sister-in-law, bullying her, insisting on Sister Cui marrying into the family, and insisting on Brother living like this, so foolish and simple-minded!"
"What are you afraid of? Are you afraid that once your brother wakes up and knows everything, he won't do what you want him to do?"
It's all because of the Li family again!
Madam Cui frowned and asked in a cold voice, "Did someone say something to you?"
Are you feeling guilty?
"Smack!"
Madam Cui slapped him again, "What do I have to feel guilty about? I am your mother. Everything I have done is for you and for your brother. I have a clear conscience!"
The two slaps stung Yan Sheng's face, but her heart ached even more. She never imagined that her mother, who was so kind and always looked out for her and her brother, would turn out to be this kind of person.
She felt that she was just a bit old-fashioned and conservative, and shouldn't be like that!
People are heartbroken and disappointed.
It seems like everything is turning upside down!
Madam Cui looked at her daughter, who had always been obedient and well-behaved, and who had only ever expressed her refusal to marry when she opposed the marriage, but now spoke to her so harshly on behalf of Madam Li, completely disregarding their noble family status and showing no manners or etiquette.
She was also disappointed.
They were all corrupted by the Li family!
It never used to be like this. One or two people got involved with her and started becoming more and more unruly!
Madam Cui took a deep breath and said to Granny Chen, "Send the young lady back. From today onwards, without my order, she is not allowed to leave the courtyard or receive guests!"
"You'll regret it, one day you'll regret it!"
Yan Sheng's wailing echoed throughout the nunnery, but it did nothing to change anything; the marriage between the Cui and Yan families continued.
Before we knew it, it was the third day of the fourth lunar month.
The sky was clear and blue, without a single cloud. The Yan family got up early to dress and tidy up Yan Ning, and invited several young men from prominent families to accompany them. They chose an auspicious time and headed to the Cui family's gate on the main street of the city.
The wedding was a grand and lively affair, even more so than the first one. People from all over the city lined both sides of the road, just to catch a glimpse of the handsome young man from Jiangzuo who was marrying for the second time.
As Yan Ning rode in the float through the middle, the sounds of praise and applause filled the air, a deafening roar.
The person didn't show much expression, but seemed strangely familiar, so I couldn't help but furrow my brow.
Seeing this, Lu Wu hurriedly asked, "What's wrong? Has Changjun remembered something?"
He had no interest in a marriage alliance with a prominent family, after all, he himself had married a noblewoman from a prestigious family. However, his friend and the Li family had gone through many twists and turns, and he had witnessed their journey together. He hoped that there would be a resolution, even if it was bad, it should not end under such circumstances.
People should be clearly aware of what they are doing.
Wang Wu had a different idea. He had a deep understanding of Li Shi's vulgarity and Yan Ning's obsession with appearance. He thought that it was unbecoming of a commoner girl to behave so poorly!
Among the noble families, only Yan San can rival him. Even though there are disagreements, they hope he can return to his former refined and gentle demeanor. So, pretending not to understand Lu Wu's words, he casually joked from the side, "Zizhan, your question is unnecessary. With the eldest prince in this state, how can I answer you? I suppose you've been staying in the mansion for too long and are not used to such liveliness. You and I have been ordered by our master to accompany the bride, so we should be loyal to our master's affairs and not think about things we shouldn't think about."
The floats continued their journey.
Chen Jingsheng followed below, remaining silent.
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