Chapter 291: The Heart’s Intent

 Chapter 458: Reaching a Cooperation and Stirring Up Trouble (1)

Sunlight poured through the windowsills, casting a quiet stillness over the room, punctuated only by the occasional rustling of pages flipping.

Even for someone who could read swiftly, going through 120 pages of documents took considerable time. Yan Junyu had shifted from casual browsing at the start to intense concentration later on, spending even more time than anticipated.

Watching him peruse her carefully prepared proposal, Mo Yan, though confident, couldn't relax until she received his definitive response.

An hour later, Yan Junyu finished reading the last word. His captivating peach blossom eyes fixed directly on the woman opposite, revealing a hint of admiration mixed with deep curiosity.

He had initially thought it would be a trivial matter, but this young girl had surprised and impressed him greatly. What was even more remarkable was her ability to judge the situation accurately, knowing she lacked the capability to handle this "piece of meat" on her own. She had generously sought out capable allies without any regrets, a boldness rarely seen, especially considering she was still an unmarried girl.

He wondered, this girl was just an ordinary farm girl. Even with the education she received from her scholar father, her exposure couldn't possibly match those noble ladies from influential families. Was it truly her innate intelligence that allowed her to be so? But worldly insight wasn't something innate!

Under the probing gaze, Mo Yan's heart raced. She couldn't help but retort, staring back bluntly, "Young Master Yan, regarding my previous proposal... what are your thoughts?"

Yan Junyu cast an amused glance at her, feeling mischievous. Propping his head on his right hand, he pretended to ponder deeply. With Mo Yan eagerly awaiting his response, he leisurely replied, "What you've written looks good, but this thing called 'wine' you propose—can you guarantee that many people will like it? If I invest a large sum to build a winery and the wine doesn't sell, you might not lose a penny, but my losses would be substantial! This business venture isn't worth my risk."

Mo Yan didn't argue but instead opened a small jar of grape wine she had placed on the table beforehand and poured it into a jade-green wine glass. Instantly, a sweet and long-lasting fragrance of wine filled the entire room.

As the grape wine gushed out of the jar, Yan Junyu was captivated by its enchanting color. Against the backdrop of the jade-green glass, its mystery and allure were amplified. Suddenly, a sense of reluctance surged within him; he hesitated to consume this marvelously beautiful glass of wine.

"Young Master Yan, this jar of grape wine was brewed by my own hands. It wouldn't hurt to taste and evaluate it before making a decision," Mo Yan said, noticing the unusual expression on his face and feeling immensely satisfied.

This jar of grape wine was from the first batch she brewed in her space. In real-time, only six or seven months had passed, but in her space, it had been aged for eighty to ninety years, far surpassing the jar consumed during the New Year.

Yan Junyu, whose attention had been captured by the wine, regained his composure. He glanced deeply at Mo Yan and then lifted the wine glass, sipping it gently, closing his eyes to savor the taste.

As the young master of the Wu'an Manor, beloved by the two major figures in the palace, he had tasted almost every delicacy and fine wine in the world. Yet today, he discovered that the so-called finest wines he had tasted were nothing compared to this glass of grape wine in terms of color, taste, or flavor.

The glass of wine quickly emptied. Yan Junyu's jade-like handsome face flushed slightly, and his bewitching peach blossom eyes shimmered with watery brilliance, hooking others' attention effortlessly.

 "IF YOU LIKE THE TRANSLATIONS, CONSIDER SUPPORTING US ON PATREON ads free with exclusive updates."

  **Chapter 183: Scared Me to Death**

“Is A Li’s misfortune because I had to ‘come back’?” 

She had wondered in the tower—if her return to life was not accidental, then what about A Li’s death? 

If A Li had died because of her, then she must find a way to return that life.

Even though A Li had been saved by her, saving someone was an act done out of her own will, and it didn’t mean that she could casually take A Li’s life whenever she wanted.

Wu Jue was stunned for a moment, then quickly understood the meaning behind her words. He hurriedly shook his head, saying, “How could that be... The formation, although forbidden, is not some kind of evil magic that exchanges life for life. Otherwise, how would I have just now discovered that you are the princess?”

He sighed, adding, “As for A Li’s fate... Do you still remember how you saved her back then?”

Chang Suining nodded. “I remember.”

Wu Jue continued, "At that time, a servant woman came to you, asking you to save her mistress and young daughter. It was a heavy snowstorm that night. When you went, you first found the woman’s corpse, but the child was nowhere to be found..."

"At that time, I cast a divination, and the signs indicated that the child’s life was near its end and there was no hope left... But it was you who refused to give up, you found her and saved her just before the last thread of hope was gone.”

“At that time, you temporarily changed her fate, but her calamity was difficult to avoid. Over the years, I’ve been secretly helping her avoid disaster. Old Chang didn’t dare let her practice martial arts before because of this worry. She didn’t like going outside or interacting with others. She only sought a peaceful life. But no matter how much we guarded against it, eventually..."

"The incident in Hezhou... should have been the end of her fate. It was truly hard to continue..." 

Wu Jue sighed again. "But who would have thought that the bond between the princess and A Li was so deep... Perhaps, this time, she unknowingly found you again, just like you brought her back all those years ago."

Thinking of the little girl’s once pure, lovely face, Chang Suining's voice became soft and slow. “I need to thank her.”

Wu Jue let out a long sigh.

“Before this, I truly didn’t expect you would wake up in A Li’s body. The formation I set up originally indicated that your vitality should have been tied to the people of the Ming and Li families, those with blood relations to you..."

As Wu Jue spoke, he couldn’t help but recall the past when the princess had ordered the erasure of A Li’s identity after finding her...

Wu Jue looked at the person in front of him, and instinctively asked, “Princess, what about little A Li...?”

Chang Suining was silent for a moment before replying, “A Li and I indeed have some connection.”

The servant woman’s decision to ask for her help was not accidental. 

From the very beginning, she knew A Li’s identity, which is why she had been especially kind to her and had instructed Chang Kuo and others to treat her well before leaving for Northern Di.

Having received this answer, Wu Jue did not inquire further. He simply said, “Please rest assured, Princess, if you do not want others to know A Li’s identity, I will do everything in my power to prevent Holy Emperor from becoming suspicious.”

Chang Suining nodded to him.

“Please don’t overthink it,” Wu Jue’s red eyes held respect and affection as his voice was soft and slow. “I promise you, this formation never required any innocent sacrifice to bring you back. I know your character, and how could I dare to risk another’s life for yours?”

“Otherwise, I’m afraid you’d strike me with the first sword when you returned!”

“Wrong, I would strike myself first.” Chang Suining said as she looked at his arm. “What happened to this?”

“Ah, it’s different for me.” Wu Jue laughed, “This was left when I set up the formation. I was the one who set it up.”

He smiled again, adding, “And I was willing.”

Since he was willing, since it was his own choice, he wasn’t considered an innocent bystander, so it didn’t count as an innocent life being harmed.

Chang Suining looked at the scars on his arm, her voice lowering even further. “Is this all?”

This is what she could see, but what about the unseen cost?

“If I didn’t die when setting up the formation, I wouldn’t have died at that moment.” Wu Jue laughed. “It’s just that I’ve been unlucky.”

Chang Suining was half convinced. “Really?”

Wu Jue smiled, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her. “When have I ever lied to you?”

This “bad luck” was nothing more than disaster and misfortune, leading to a life without peace. 

As long as the princess could return, these things were nothing to him.

Since they were nothing, there was no need to mention them again.

Anyway, for the rest of his life, he could use these scars to gain sympathy, which was enough for the princess to favor him. He didn’t need anything more.

Chang Suining wasn’t sure if she fully believed his words, but at that moment, she took out the ring and handed it back to him, saying, “Take good care of this. Never let it leave your body again.”

“I’ll keep it with me. These past few days, I didn’t have it on me, and yesterday I fell into the mud.” Wu Jue carefully tucked the ring away, feeling a little sentimental.

When Master gave him this item, it was likely because he knew this day would come.

This item could protect him from disaster, but because he had set up this forbidden formation, he was destined to live a life of continuous misfortune.

“Princess, if you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Little Sui An is guarding outside. There's no need to hurry. If we wait for the next chance to talk alone, who knows when that will be?” Wu Jue said with a smile.

Chang Suining naturally had other questions to ask.

For example, the other question she still had.

But her intuition made her want to avoid it. If the answer wasn’t what she hoped for, she wasn’t sure how she would face it.

This avoidance made her deflect and ask a different question first. “Can this resurrection technique be used for anyone who dies?”

Wu Jue shook his head. “Of course not, otherwise the world would be in chaos.”

“Then why can I?”

"The concept of fate is always difficult to explain," Wu Jue said. "Though this formation is a forbidden technique, since it exists in the world, it is still subject to fate and causality. Perhaps it is because of the selfless acts you performed in the past that you were granted this slim chance at life... It’s said that those with such fortune appear only once every century."

Chang Suining understood. "So, does this mean I've accumulated a lot of merit in my past?"

Wu Jue smiled. "One might interpret it that way."

"I always thought my past was full of bloodshed and that the heavens would not favor me," Chang Suining sighed. "Only now do I realize that the heavens have not been too harsh on me."

She then looked at Wu Jue. "But compared to fate, I should thank you more."

Wu Jue pressed his finger to his dry eye and said in a hushed voice, "A soldier dies for the one who understands them… As long as you understand my intentions, that is enough."

Chang Suining patted his shoulder with understanding. "I do, I understand fully."

She then continued, "There is something I need you to do for me."

"Please command me, Princess."

"I’ve always wanted to handle A Li’s funeral privately, but I’m unsure how to do so properly," Chang Suining explained. "I have already avenged her, and if she wishes, she can be reborn by my side in the next life. I will protect her well. If she doesn’t wish that, then she can be born into a family of wealth and happiness, with loving parents, and live a peaceful life."

Wu Jue sighed softly and nodded. "Rest assured, Princess. I will take care of this matter."

After giving this instruction, Chang Suining asked, "Who, besides you and Cui Jing, knows that I’ve returned?"

Wu Jue answered, "For now, no one else knows."

"So, it’s still only suspicion and probing, and no one knows the truth yet, correct?" Chang Suining looked at him.

"Exactly," Wu Jue replied. "Holy Emperor ordered your entry into the tower for a blessing to test you... I didn’t dare to tell Holy Emperor your thoughts, so I kept quiet."

It seemed that his decision had been the right one.

"Since she knows of the existence of this formation, then..." Chang Suining hesitated for a moment but chose to ask the second question anyway. After all, avoiding it wouldn’t solve anything.

"Does she have anything to do with this formation?" she asked. "I mean, was this resurrection formation at her request? What did she do for it?"

Wu Jue shook his head and explained the whole situation: "Originally, it was Old Meng who found this secret technique in the Western Regions and brought it to me. Unfortunately, Holy Emperor learned of it by accident. Unable to hide the truth, we ended up with the Heavenly Maiden Tower."

As he finished speaking, he saw the young woman in front of him sigh in relief.

"You scared me to death," she said.

Wu Jue raised an eyebrow. "?"

Chang Suining exhaled deeply. "I thought I was going to owe her again."

She had thought that her life had been given to her by Holy Emperor. If that were the case, it would have been a karmic bond impossible to sever or escape from.

Wu Jue seemed to understand, though not entirely, and responded, "This secret technique was found by Old Meng, and the formation was set by me..."

When he mentioned setting the formation, Wu Jue glanced at his own arm. Ah, a soldier dies for the one who understands them.

Chang Suining once again patted his shoulder, offering a silent acknowledgment.

Wu Jue then continued, "As for the money used to build the Dayun Temple and Heavenly Maiden Tower, most of it came from Dengtai Tower, which can be considered as funds you contributed yourself... In the end, it all comes from our Xuanzhe Mansion’s efforts. The credit never left, so you can rest assured and accept this life."

Chang Suining sat on the ground, casually supporting herself with her hands on either side. She visibly relaxed and nodded, "Alright, I'll accept it then."

Wu Jue, who had been listening up to this point, couldn't help but quietly ask, "What about your relationship with Holy Emperor…?"

"I have no relationship with her anymore," Chang Suining replied. "Right now, I am Chang Suining, and I will be from now on."

Her tone was casual, but Wu Jue could sense the silent determination in her words. It didn’t seem like a childish outburst.

Wu Jue nodded. "Understood. Rest assured, Your Highness."

"Tell me everything you know about Ming Hou, what they suspect, and why they turned their suspicion toward me," Chang Suining asked.

It was better to understand everything clearly to avoid being caught off guard, like when she arrived at the Dayun Temple, knowing nothing and having to stumble along, guessing as she went.

Wu Jue explained everything to her, focusing particularly on the reason why Holy Emperor had grown suspicious—due to a hint given by the Tianjing Master.

"…This time it’s his fault! He almost exposed your identity!"

Chang Suining thought for a moment and then said, "This shows that he is quite capable."

Wu Jue widened his eyes in shock. "But I set up the world's most unique formation!"

As he spoke, he raised his arm. *A soldier dies for the one who understands them...*

"Of course," Chang Suining interrupted him just in time. "You're still the most amazing. With you around, I feel at ease."

Wu Jue finally relaxed, satisfied, and continued, "According to Grand General Cui, Holy Emperor did send people to investigate your past in Hezhou, but fortunately, Vice Minister Wei helped keep it hidden."

"Wei Shuyi?" Chang Suining was somewhat surprised. 

Wei Shuyi didn't know her secret, but as an outsider, he managed to help her conceal it from Holy Emperor, which showed his loyalty, but also his sharp intelligence. She had only known about his cleverness before.

Thinking about secrets, Chang Suining then said, "Since Ming Hou don't know yet, to prevent any leaks or unnecessary complications, it’s best that as few people as possible know about this for now."

Wu Jue understood and assured her, "Rest assured, Your Highness, I’ll keep my mouth shut."

He added, "You needn't worry about Grand General Cui either, since we're all in the same boat."

Seeing his confident expression, Chang Suining couldn’t help but ask, "Did you reach any agreement or understanding with him in secret?"

Wu Jue was confused. "No, I didn’t."

Chang Suining was even more puzzled. "Then why do you trust him so much?"

Wu Jue replied, "Isn't it because he’s infatuated with you, and his heart is entirely set on you?"

Chang Suining: "…"

Wu Jue added, "During the Lotus Flower Banquet—"

Chang Suining: "That was all an act."

Wu Jue’s eyes widened in disbelief. "No way?"

"Did you even perform that act in front of me?" he said incredulously. "You even staged it at the formation’s secret passage!"

Chang Suining almost wanted to say that the two of them were like close friends who would risk their lives for each other, but when the words reached her lips, she blinked, unsure how to express it.

She just confirmed with a question, "So, it really was him who destroyed the formation’s focal point?"

"Of course, it was him." Wu Jue recounted how that night, he and Cui Jing had secretly discussed the matter. Breaking the formation had been Cui Jing's suggestion, and he had volunteered to go.

"...That formation was a death trap, very sinister. I couldn’t stop it, so I gave him the formation diagram and let him handle it." Wu Jue sighed in relief. "But looking back, I think I might have made a mistake in drawing one part of the diagram. After all, it’s been more than ten years... Luckily, everything went smoothly."

Chang Suining: ...

She now had a strong suspicion about why Cui Jing had gotten injured.

She asked, "Was he seriously injured?"

Wu Jue was surprised. "Grand General Cui was injured? Was it serious?"

Upon hearing the question, Chang Suining replied, "...Don’t you remember what I just asked you?"

Wu Jue thought for a moment, then realized. "Oh, he hasn’t come to find me since then, so I didn’t know about his injury... But considering how dangerous that formation was, his injury must have been severe. Normally, no one would survive, let alone try to break the formation."

Thinking about how the injured man was still on his way, heading toward dangerous territory, Chang Suining couldn’t help but feel distracted.

"Was the fire that day set by you?"

Wu Jue’s voice brought Chang Suining back to her thoughts. She nodded. "Yes, I set the fire."

"Why did you set the fire? To break the formation?"

Chang Suining replied, "What else could it be?"

Wu Jue frowned. "Do you even know anything about formations? You just went ahead and messed with a death trap like that?"

He began to scold her. "Earlier, when you suspected me, I didn’t mind. But when we were in the tower, I even knocked on the wooden fish to give you hints! You saw that I wasn’t on Holy Emperor’s side. If the formation could be broken, I would have figured it out myself. Why did you have to take the risk?"

"At that time, I could tell you weren’t on Ming Hou’s side," Chang Suining said. "But what if you were someone else’s person?"

Wu Jue: "...!"

Goodnight.

(End of Chapter)

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 457: Preparing to Build a Winery (3)

The bright future seemed just within reach, bringing radiant smiles to the faces of Wu shi and her daughter. However, Mo Wu's smile gradually dimmed as she looked at the strings of copper coins on the table. With some hesitation, she said to Mo Yan, "Yan girl, if my daughter and I go to the city every day to set up the stall, we can't hide it from those people at home. If they find out how profitable the stall is, they might get greedy. From now on, we’ll keep the daily earnings with you, and I'll come to you when we need money."

"Those people" naturally referred to Hong shi and Niu shi, even including Old Mo. These three were notoriously greedy and had often sought benefits under the pretext of taking care of Mo Qingze. After settling in Liuyang Village, they had also caused trouble for the Mo family, trying to take advantage whenever possible.

Given their insatiable greed, if they discovered the stall's profitability and Wu shi's involvement, they certainly wouldn't let her run it alone. It's no wonder Wu shi was being cautious.

"Aunt, don't worry. Keeping the money with me ensures no one will have any bad ideas," Mo Yan quickly agreed, not wanting Old Mo and his family to take advantage.

From then on, the responsibility for the stall was handed entirely to Wu shi and her daughter. Mo Yan no longer intervened. She noticed that they were bringing more ingredients daily and returning with heavier money bags, which reassured her and allowed her to focus on another important matter.

Even though it was the end of the first month of the lunar year and spring had technically arrived, the weather remained very cold. In the orchard, only the hardy orange seedlings had a few green leaves, while other saplings were bare. Fortunately, they had been watered with spiritual spring water, significantly enhancing their cold resistance. They were also wrapped in straw ropes for warmth, which kept them alive through the harsh winter.

"Young miss, these saplings are in their second year now and are growing well. Once it warms up, they might bloom. If they bear fruit, should we keep them?" Aunt Tong cautiously asked Mo Yan for her opinion, knowing how much she valued these precious saplings.

Typically, transplanted saplings bloom in their second year, but they are still young and need nutrients to grow, making them not suitable for bearing fruit. However, if the saplings were growing exceptionally well and absorbing enough nutrients, they might produce a few fruits, though these wouldn't be very large or tasty. To prevent the fruit from hindering the tree's growth, it would be best to remove the fruit.

Aunt Tong asked because she didn't fully understand the growth characteristics of these rare saplings and felt that if they bore fruit, keeping one or two wouldn't hurt.

With the spirit spring water, there was no worry about insufficient nutrients. However, having these saplings thrive after just one year and bear fruit the next would be too conspicuous. If this drew unnecessary trouble, Mo Yan wanted to avoid it. Though the thought of removing potential fruit was disheartening, she knew it was for the best.

After thinking for a while, Mo Yan decided, "Let's wait and see. If they don't bear fruit, that's fine. If they do, we'll leave one or two on each sapling to at least get a taste and see what they're like."

Aunt Tong understood and planned to collect more chicken manure to fertilize the saplings before they bloomed, ensuring the fruit wouldn't stunt their growth.

Leaving the orchard, Mo Yan walked upstream along the river, carefully observing the terrain near the banks. Since New Year's Eve, when she had the idea of starting a winery, it had been on her mind. Now, with the time and resources, she wanted to finalize the location for the vineyard and winery to begin construction as soon as possible.

Mo Yan envisioned a winery and vineyard that wasn't just a piece of land with grapevines and a few buildings for winemaking but a manor themed around wine culture.

In her past life, countless poets and scholars praised wine. Unlike other wines, grape wine had a romantic allure. If she could perfectly integrate wine culture into the winery, it would elevate the wine's status and attract the elite's favor.

Mo Yan knew building such a winery wouldn't happen overnight. The complexity, scale, and cost far exceeded her current capabilities. Once grape wine became popular in Da Chu, it would bring not only significant economic value but also potential dangers.

The allure of wine was undeniable, but as a poor farm girl without wealth or power, she couldn't manage it alone. She needed a partner, and she already had someone in mind.

However, convincing that person to willingly invest time and money required significant leverage. With a plan in mind, Mo Yan returned home and locked herself in her study, forbidding any interruptions. Except for essential needs, she didn't leave the room.

Xin'er and the others, knowing she was working on something important, didn't disturb her. Even the three animals, having been instructed beforehand, refrained from causing trouble. After a few days of boredom at home, Da Bai took Xiao Hua and Mao Tuan back to their old haunt, patrolling their territory, playing, and hunting freely.

Half a month later, Mo Yan emerged from her room with red, swollen eyes. Without resting, she took a 120-page proposal for the winery, drove her cart, and headed straight to Huixian Residence with full confidence.

 "IF YOU LIKE THE TRANSLATIONS, CONSIDER SUPPORTING US ON PATREON ads free with exclusive updates."

  **Chapter 182: Reunion (Supplementary Update)**

Chang Sui'an shook his head. “We still don’t know which family the girl belongs to. All we know is that she was with the others picking chrysanthemums at the back mountain yesterday, and she seems to have disappeared there… The monks and the imperial guards searched all night, but still haven’t found her.”

Chang Suining understood the situation. The phrase “still don’t know which family” likely meant that the girl’s family had intentionally concealed her identity.

The women traveling with her were all from noble or influential families. The girl had been missing for a day and night now, and if the news spread widely, even if they found her, it would bring trouble and unwanted attention. To protect the family’s reputation and avoid public scrutiny, they had likely kept her identity a secret.

Among the group of women, some may have suspected who was missing, but men like her brother wouldn’t have the means to figure it out.

“We, along with Sixth Master Cui, intended to help search for her, but the imperial guards insisted it wasn’t necessary and didn’t let us get close. Now, the back mountain has been surrounded,” Chang Sui'an continued.

Cui Lang had said it was because they didn’t want unrelated individuals getting involved.

Chang Suining nodded. “With the imperial guards involved, there should be enough manpower for the search…”

The imperial guards’ actions must have been coordinated with the girl’s family or authorized by the emperor. The reasons were clear: first, to avoid revealing the identity of the missing girl; second, if the worst happened, it would help preserve the integrity of the scene and minimize any disturbance.

With these thoughts in mind, Chang Suining instinctively said, “No matter whose daughter she is, I hope she can be found safely.”

Chang Sui'an nodded.

The abbot’s room was now just ahead, and the siblings decided to put the matter aside for the time being.

As they stepped into the room, Chang Suining made a conscious effort to appear natural, to avoid drawing attention to herself.

Master Wu Jue appeared unchanged, and upon seeing the siblings, he smiled and urged his disciples to set up the meal.

“You must have been bored in the tower these past three days. The meal must be cold by now…” Master Wu Jue said as he personally served vegetables into Chang Suining’s bowl. “Come, eat something warm to refresh yourself.”

Chang Suining looked at the vegetables he had placed into her bowl, and her gaze shifted to the table. In that moment, she felt as though she had been transported back to many years ago.

Chang Sui'an also noticed something odd. “The food today seems different from usual.”

“Of course it’s different,” Master Wu Jue laughed. “I made it myself today.”

Chang Sui'an was surprised. “You’re skilled in cooking?”

“Didn’t your father ever tell you? When I used to accompany His Highness on military campaigns, I often cooked. I personally made lamb soup noodles that were so fragrant—your father could eat five whole bowls in one sitting. He’d almost start gnawing on the pot!”

“He still often asks me to make him a bowl, but that’s no longer possible now. I’ve become a monk.”

Master Wu Jue smiled like a Maitreya Buddha as he watched Chang Suining quietly eating her vegetables. “I can’t cook meat anymore, but I’ve made some vegetarian dishes for you to try. It’s been a while since I’ve cooked, so I’m not sure if my skills are still intact.”

Chang Suining chewed slowly. 

The taste was still there. 

It was just like before, unchanged. 

It was as if after finishing this meal, she would rise, don her armor, and join Old Chang and the others to march out and fight.

Chang Sui'an tasted a few bites and nodded repeatedly, clearly impressed. “It’s really good! No wonder Father was always so greedy for it!”

Master Wu Jue paused halfway through his meal, setting down his chopsticks with a smile. “Sui An, you stay and eat slowly. I’ll take Xiao Suining to the inner room to discuss the teachings of Buddhism. If anyone comes knocking, just tell them we haven’t finished eating and ask them to wait outside.”

Chang Sui'an was momentarily stunned. What could Master Wu Jue want to discuss with his sister alone? 

The way he phrased it also made it sound more like he wanted him to stay behind as a lookout while they went inside. 

The young man glanced at his sister, who also set her bowl down. He nodded reluctantly.

Though he didn’t understand the situation, one was his sister and the other was Master Wu Jue, who had watched him grow up, so he trusted their judgment and stayed behind to continue eating.

Chang Suining followed Master Wu Jue into the inner room.

“What does Father want to discuss with me?” she asked.

“Don’t rush. We’ll talk inside…” Master Wu Jue said as he gestured towards the back.

Chang Suining followed his gesture, but… was that under the bed?

The space seemed a bit too deep.

Master Wu Jue motioned for her to go in first.

“Since you’re the elder, please go ahead,” Chang Suining said, deferring to him.

“What, afraid there’s some trap waiting for you?” Master Wu Jue scoffed, his voice tinged with discontent. “Do you really not trust me this much?”

With that, he confidently walked toward the bed, bent down, and crawled underneath.

A moment later, a muffled voice came from beneath the bed. “See? I’m not dead.”

“….” Chang Suining followed him inside.

She followed Master Wu Jue through a hidden passageway to a secret chamber.

Just like last time with Cui Jing, Chang Suining’s gaze was immediately drawn to the wine jars.

Master Wu Jue walked to the stone wall and lit a lamp.

As the lamp flickered to life, he stood in place, facing away from Chang Suining.

The surrounding atmosphere was eerily quiet.

After a long moment, it was Chang Suining who finally spoke up. "Where’s the Buddhist teachings?"

Master Wu Jue didn’t respond.

Another moment of silence passed before the round figure finally spoke. His voice was low, a bit hoarse, tinged with a sigh, a hint of complaint, and a certain tenderness as if caring for a younger one.

“You’ve come back… and you didn’t say anything?” 

When there was no reply, Master Wu Jue slowly turned around, his eyes red-rimmed, his voice rising slightly as he asked again, “You’ve returned… and you didn’t even inform me?”

Chang Suining looked at him, confused. “...What do you mean by ‘returned’?”

Master Wu Jue glared at her. “You still won’t admit it!”

Chang Suining was even more bewildered. “Admit what...?”

Master Wu Jue’s nose seemed to twitch, and with a “thud,” he sat down, slapped his leg, and began crying. “How cruel you are! Even now, you won’t acknowledge me!”

Chang Suining: “...”

“You rulers... are all this heartless, aren’t you?” 

“I’ve been waiting for you day and night... At my age, how many more days do I have left?”

“You refused to take the ring I gave you, and now you still pretend not to recognize me... Could I possibly harm you?”

Master Wu Jue sobbed, his words pouring out as if years of repressed emotions were finally being released.

Chang Suining felt a headache coming on. 

He must have calculated that she was most afraid of those around her crying in front of her.

Master Wu Jue’s crying wasn’t enough; he even rolled up his monk robe sleeves and continued to cry even more pitifully. “Look at these poison sores on my arms, how could I ever harm you?”

Poison sores?

Chang Suining looked over and saw his arms covered in dense scars, each one an obvious mark. The sight was shocking.

Where did these come from?

Master Wu Jue wiped his nose and continued crying. “I’ve become a monk, and all these poison sores are for you! You might not believe Old Chang or Old Meng, but you can’t deny me!”

For her?

Master Wu Jue continued to cry, “If you still have a shred of conscience, please acknowledge me!”

Chang Suining: “I don’t quite understand what you’re saying…”

Master Wu Jue was insistent, “You understand!”

He continued, “Only someone like you would have such a stubborn mouth!”

Chang Suining: “...I’m not.”

Master Wu Jue: “You are!”

Before Chang Suining could deny it again, he stared at her with tear-filled eyes and spoke first, “Whoever lies is a donkey!”

He added, “Whoever doesn’t admit it will be bald tomorrow!”

Chang Suining: “...”

There really was no need for threats to be so elaborate!

Master Wu Jue fixed his gaze on her. “So, tell me, are you or are you not?”

“...” Chang Suining sighed helplessly, looking into his eyes. 

They stared at each other for a moment, and Chang Suining finally exhaled a sigh.

Wu Jue was clearly already completely certain, and her denial was meaningless.

Chang Suining, who had no desire to return to being that unlucky person, was somewhat frustrated. She raised her head to look at the sky, only to find the dirt wall in front of her.

"Fine, it's me," she said.

In the next moment, she felt Wu Jue throw himself at her, kneeling at her feet and bursting into loud tears.

“You finally admitted it!”

“These poison sores I got back then were so round, I knew from the start that they’d lead to something big… It turns out they weren’t in vain!”

Chang Suining looked down at the abbot lying at her feet and crying loudly. After a long moment, she squatted down and gently patted his back. "Alright, you're a revered monk now. What’s this crying all about?"

Wu Jue wiped his tears. "It’s because you made me so angry..."

"You’re the one who’s making things difficult," Chang Suining said, leaning back casually. "I should be the one crying."

Wu Jue, feeling wronged, said, "I only wanted to acknowledge you. I wasn’t trying to force you to do anything..."

Since she had already admitted it, Chang Suining didn’t dwell on it. Instead, she asked him, “But how were you so sure it was me?”

Was she that easy to recognize?

Someone who had been dead for over ten years suddenly came back to life in another person’s body—such an unbelievable thing, if told, no one would believe it.

What made Wu Jue so certain? — Was it the secret of the Heavenly Woman Tower?

Before Cui Jing left, he had hinted that Wu Jue had the answers she needed.

Wu Jue, still sniffling, said, "All things in the world have cause and effect. Although you changed your appearance and identity, you’re still you... It was fate that made me recognize you."

Chang Suining raised an eyebrow. “...Can you say something people can understand?”

Wu Jue’s sobs stopped for a moment, then he said, “It was General Cui who told me.”

“Cui Jing?” Chang Suining asked.

“Yes,” Wu Jue nodded. “It was General Cui who first recognized you... I set up a forbidden formation in the Heavenly Maiden Tower, and he was the key to that formation. He is a perceptive person, and when he observed your actions without intention, he started to suspect.”

“What really confirmed his suspicion was the unusual way you saved yourself when you were in a difficult situation in Hezhou,” Wu Jue asked. “That’s when you truly returned, right?”

Chang Suining nodded slightly.

Wu Jue said, “Even back then, the formation in the tower had already pointed the way... But at the time, no one expected that you had already returned.”

Chang Suining looked at him. “So, the formation in the Tower...”

Wu Jue: “It was set up to bring you back to life.”

Back to life?

Though she had suspected this possibility in the past few days, hearing it spoken aloud still caused a stir in Chang Suining’s heart.

It turned out that her "resurrection" wasn’t a coincidence, but something that had been orchestrated.

Now, she had two questions that needed to be verified, that she had to face.

The first one she asked was the one that mattered most to her.

Goodnight, everyone.  

(End of chapter)

Next Chapter▶▶

  **Chapter 264: The Stage at the Marquis Jinyang’s Residence**

Feng Xuanbo wasn’t foolish; it was obvious that the ugly pouch was something his mother had made specifically for Feng Xuanrui.

He wasn’t jealous, though, because after all, Feng Xuanrui was their mother’s biological son, and it was only natural for a mother to make things for her own child.

Moreover...

That pouch was so ugly, Feng Xuanbo thought. Honestly, he wasn’t very interested in it either.

However, that didn’t stop him from teasing Feng Xuanrui.

Feng Xuanbo enjoyed seeing Feng Xuanrui’s disgruntled face, knowing that the little one couldn’t refute him.

He he, it was a strange kind of pleasure from teasing his younger brother.

Feng Xuanrui would’ve loved to cover Feng Xuanbo’s mouth.

But at that moment, Suisui came over, her bright round eyes lighting up as she looked at the pouch on her brother’s chest: “This was sewn by Mother, it’s super pretty!!!”

The little child, like a proud peacock, lifted her head high, eager for the whole world to know that the pouch was sewn by their mother and that it was particularly, particularly beautiful!

Children’s sense of beauty is illogical; what their mother makes is always the best, no arguments accepted.

Feng Xuanbo, who had originally planned to mock Feng Xuanrui, immediately changed his tune when he heard Suisui say that. He smiled and said, “As expected, Suisui has good taste! Fifth Brother was just about to praise Sixth brother’s pouch. Fifth Brother is envious, you know?”

Feng Xuanrui: ?  

Fifth Brother, I never imagined you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, would lie so blatantly!

Feng Xuanrui looked at Feng Xuanbo in disbelief.

Feng Xuanbo, unbothered, let him stare, while slyly holding Suisui’s hand.

Liu Hemeng, who had been pushed aside, wasn’t angry. She simply walked over and took Shen Huatang’s hand.

Feng Xuanrui had originally planned to argue with Feng Xuanbo, but when he saw that his sister’s hand had been taken away, he quickly squeezed himself into the group.

Feng Xuanbin, not understanding why they were squeezing, followed suit and squeezed in too!

Suisui had always believed that whatever their mother made was the best.

Now, after hearing Fifth Brother’s praise, she proudly lifted her little head even higher: “Right, right, Mother made it the best, I like it the most!”

Although their mother had only made something for her older brothers, Suisui wasn’t jealous, nor was she upset.

Her brothers were the best in the world, and good things should be given to them.

So, it was fine that she didn’t have one.

As long as her brothers had it, that was good enough!

The children played and laughed as they made their way outside.

Feng Xuanrui had originally felt embarrassed to wear the ugly pouch his mother had sewn, but after Suisui’s praise, he thought...

It actually wasn’t that ugly.

Moreover, it had a very distinct personal touch.

Upon closer inspection, it even had its own charm.

With these thoughts in mind, Feng Xuanrui puffed out his chest, and even his steps seemed to carry a bit of pride.

In today’s class, the first half was a review of previous lessons, while the second half followed the young masters’ progress.

Suisui has not yet had formal enlightenment education, and there are many things she doesn’t understand.

However, Prince Qi has already discussed with Master Shen and arranged for him to provide private lessons for Suisui. Each day, he will set aside the time it takes to burn one incense stick to personally teach her.

The child is still young, so they plan to teach her slowly.

Moreover, this is considered a private tutoring arrangement with a famous teacher, one-on-one lessons, so regardless of how the schedule is arranged, there’s plenty of time.

Master Shen has a good impression of Suisui and sympathizes with her past misfortunes, especially since his granddaughter likes her.

Therefore, he had no objections to giving Suisui this special arrangement.

Of course, the most important reason is...

The residence of Marquis Jinyang has been in chaos recently. The Xu family no longer has the time or energy to make trouble for the Xie family, which has made life much easier for his niece.

Regarding the incident where his niece had her head injured, when Master Shen visited later, he inquired about the cause. It turned out that the injury was an unwarranted misfortune.

The wife of Marquis Jinyang went to the Xie family to find Marquis Jinyang's sister and complained about her husband’s behavior.

Since Master Xie is the Minister of Justice, Marquis Jinyang’s wife’s plan was to find an excuse to have the women, who were residing at a country estate as Marquis Jinyang’s mistresses, all arrested on charges and locked away until they died!

Of course, whether this fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice was another matter.

But the real problem was... what excuse could there be?

To arrest someone, you need evidence, you need a reason. Just because they are mistresses, does that mean they should be arrested? What if the woman had just kept her husband in check from the beginning?

Marquis Jinyang’s wife wasn’t ignorant, but after all these years, she had gone a bit mad. And since Madam Xie had a soft temperament, she was always easily controlled by her.

Thus, whenever Marquis Jinyang's wife was upset, she would cause a scene at the Xie family’s residence.

On that day, Master Shen’s niece happened to be passing by. She wasn’t unaware of the Xu family’s nature, so when they showed up, she deliberately avoided them.

However, she wasn’t able to avoid them completely. Halfway through, a shoe came flying out of nowhere and hit her head.

Her head wasn’t actually injured, but it did become red.

However, Madam Xie, not wanting to make things worse, told others that her injuries were far more serious, and that her husband had to mediate to maintain peace in the family. Her father-in-law also wouldn’t intervene.

Thus, Madam Xie exaggerated the severity of the injury, claiming she was still bedridden.

It was actually Marquis Jinyang’s wife who caused Madam Xie’s injury.

Whether it was Master Xie’s eldest son or Master Xie himself, neither of them could ignore such an incident.

Eventually, Marquis Jinyang’s wife left the Xie residence in tears, and not only did Master Xie’s eldest son accompany her, but they also brought along compensation as they left.

After this incident, Marquis Jinyang’s wife became even more irritable. When she returned home, she was scolded by the old matriarch and then proceeded to vent her frustrations in the residence.

Master Shen, following the advice of Physician Liu, used some means and connections to make Marquis Jinyang act impulsively and bring back one of his pregnant mistresses to temporarily stay in the residence.

Marquis Jinyang’s wife had already been wronged, and seeing her husband’s actions only made her lose control.

It is said that Marquis Jinyang, in an effort to protect his pregnant mistress, was scratched on the face, leaving visible scars, and has not gone out in public recently.

In the past, he might not have openly appeared in places like restaurants and brothels every day, but at least once every few days, people would spot him.

Recently, however, he has remained very quiet in the residence.

In the end, the pregnant mistress was sent away to give birth elsewhere.

Not only because Marquis Jinyang’s wife opposed it, but also because of the turmoil caused by her actions...

There were doubts about whether the child would even survive.

Due to these events, the atmosphere in Marquis Jinyang’s residence has been quite tense recently, with everyone on edge.

Also, since the incident with Master Xie publicly humiliating Marquis Jinyang, it seems unlikely that they will stir up any trouble with the Xie family in the near future.

Although this may not be a long-term solution.

However, family relationships are complicated.

Master Xie is already quite old, and it’s hard to imagine him divorcing his wife at this stage.

They still have children and grandchildren to consider, and the reputation of the family is also at stake.

All in all, there are too many factors involved, and unless absolutely necessary, divorce is not a viable option.

But even so, Master Shen felt relieved that his niece had been able to get some revenge.

In a good mood, Master Shen’s demeanor became much kinder during lessons.

The young masters of the household felt a bit uneasy at the sight of such a friendly and gentle teacher.

When Master Shen is in such a good mood...

Would he be holding back some big surprise? 

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 456: Preparing to Build a Winery (2)

Mo Yan didn't expect the first day's business to be so good, selling so much. She mentally calculated and found that after deducting the cost of materials, the net profit was nearly 500 wen!

Announcing this number, Wu shi's eyes widened in shock. She stared at Mo Yan and stammered, "Yan, Yan girl, is, is it really that much? Are you sure there's no mistake?"

It wasn't surprising that Wu shi found it hard to believe. The small stall had made almost as much in half a day as a laborer in the city earned in a month.

Mo Yan understood her feelings and smiled, "Aunt, it's correct. If you don't believe me, you can count it yourself!"

Jianbing guozi, egg rolls, and spicy paste soup—the most expensive ingredients were the eggs, marinated meat, and bacon.

An egg cost one wen, a pancake with vegetables, green onions, sauce, and half a youtiao (fried dough) cost at most one and a half wen. Adding other meat fillings brought the cost to about three and a half wen per pancake, but they sold for six wen each. The egg rolls were slightly simpler in ingredients and sold for five wen each. While the price was lower, the cost was lower too, resulting in higher profit margins. The spicy paste soup sold for two wen per bowl, and a large pot could yield forty to fifty bowls, with a total cost of only fifteen wen.

Wu shi didn't doubt Mo Yan's calculations; the earnings far exceeded her expectations. She was so happy she didn’t know what to do.

Gripping Mo Yan’s hand excitedly, she stammered her thanks, "Yan girl, thank you... If it weren't for you... I don't know how to thank you..."

Mo Yan shook her head, holding Mo Wu's hand in return, "If anyone should be thanking someone, it’s me thanking you. The stall is partly mine, and without your hard work, I wouldn't earn this money. The stall’s future business depends on you. I don’t deserve your thanks."

Wu shi's eyes welled up, understanding that her niece was trying to ease her burden. She knew Mo Yan, despite her distaste for her grandparents, repeatedly helped their family because of past kindnesses. Mo Yan's kindness was repaying the care she and her siblings had received.

Mo Dani, like her mother, was grateful. Though she didn't speak, her admiring gaze at Mo Yan spoke volumes.

Unable to bear their grateful looks, Mo Yan quickly changed the subject, "The first day's success is a good sign! Once our reputation spreads, even if business isn't as good every day, it won't be bad. Calculating this way, we can earn a lot in a month!"

The mother and daughter indeed shifted their focus, calculating in their minds. This new calculation stunned them again: if they could earn 500 wen daily, it would total 15 taels of silver in a month!

Fifteen taels! Even if they only received half, it would still be seven and a half taels, amounting to eighty or ninety taels a year. That would be enough to build a large house with blue bricks and tiles, and even find several wives for their son (or brother)!