Chapter 1429: Suspicions in the Heart

Meng Yunzheng rubbed his forehead. "She said she wants to go with us to Dong'an Prefecture."

Pausing for a moment, he glanced in the direction of the room and lowered his voice. "Leaving is not a bad idea; the situation between the Tao and Meng families has become chaotic lately. She's not having an easy time at home."

Shu Yu narrowed her eyes. "What did you do?"

"Nothing much, just yesterday, after returning to Chenggu County, the county magistrate invited me to have a meal and we had a chat," he replied casually.

The county magistrate rewarded all the scholars who passed the exam this time, let alone Meng Yunzheng, who had excelled in the exams. As an official appointed by the court, the county magistrate knew a bit about Meng Yunzheng's background.

Meng Yunzheng was someone of great potential and hence received special treatment from the county magistrate, who invited him for the meal.

During the conversation, Meng Yunzheng inadvertently mentioned his recent worries, and the Tao family came up in the discussion.

He didn't intend to do anything to the Tao family, he just didn't want them to exploit his name for their own interests. Given Tao Qin's and Tao Shi's current behavior, this was bound to happen.

If they were merely bragging about their connection with him, that would be tolerable. But if they used his name as a future son-in-law while he was away from the county, things would get messy.

To prevent any potential issues, he decided to make it clear to the county magistrate and his subordinates about his relationship with the Tao family and that he had no involvement in their actions.

Shu Yu looked at him and silently gave him a thumbs-up.

"But, if the Tao family encounters trouble, won't Uncle [Meng Xiaoshu] help them?" she asked.

Meng Yunzheng calmly replied, "Unfortunately, Uncle received an important urgent escort mission this morning and has already left Chenggu County."

Shu Yu sighed, "I knew it."

Meng Yunzheng smiled, "Now, only Tao Shi is left at the Meng family, and Meng Qi is studying. As for Meng Han, she has run away, and Uncle is out on an escort mission. If anything happens, Tao Shi will have to deal with it herself."

If Tao Shi couldn't handle it, the Tao family would definitely blame her.

Although Meng Yunzheng claimed not to meddle in the Meng family's affairs, when necessary, he didn't mind creating some discord among them.

Shu Yu raised her head and smiled at him.

Then, she mentioned what she saw at the black market and Meng Yunzheng frowned. "From what you're saying, it does seem abnormal. Besides, on the way here, Meng Han encountered bandits on the main road, and they dared to kidnap people openly. With the scale of Changjin Prefecture, such incidents shouldn't occur."

Human trafficking, legal or illegal, was quite common, but performing such activities openly on a main road with constant traffic indicated lawlessness.

Meng Yunzheng pondered for a moment and said, "I'll send a message to Qi Lie and tell him about the situation here. If they can spare some manpower, they might send someone to investigate."

"Do you suspect something?" Shu Yu asked.

"Yes," Meng Yunzheng nodded. "I am concerned about the black market activities."

 Chapter 1428: Running Away from Home

Shu Yu came back to her senses and smiled, shaking her head. "No, Aunt He's cooking is delicious."

She then thought that Aunt He was a local, so she couldn't help but ask, "Auntie, I noticed many people selling themselves at the slaves market. Has something happened in Changjin Prefecture?"

Aunt He was taken aback and shook her head. "Not that I know of. Besides the county exam, there hasn't been any significant event recently. Miss, don't be surprised. At places like the slaves market, many people often sell themselves for a bite to eat."

Shu Yu was aware of this, but there seemed to be too many people doing so this time.

Her family was in Dong'an Prefecture, and she had visited capital, Huajiang Prefecture, and Shangyang Prefecture. Apart from briefly passing through and staying for a night in Shangyang Prefecture and Linzhang Prefecture, she had spent a few days or a considerable amount of time in the other three places.

Unfortunately, she had visited the slaves market in those three places, but they weren't as extreme as in Changjin Prefecture.

There didn't seem to be anything particularly special about Changjin Prefecture.

Shu Yu couldn't figure it out, but since it didn't concern her too much, apart from feeling strange, she temporarily stopped thinking about opening a shop here and didn't pay much attention to it.

However, the next morning, she went out again and couldn't help but visit the slaves market once more.

Compared to the previous day, there were slightly fewer people coming and going at the slaves market, but still more than she had imagined.

Shu Yu returned home again, still perplexed.

In the evening, Meng Yunzheng returned, but to Shu Yu's surprise, he was accompanied by Meng Han.

Meng Han seemed very happy. She rushed to Shu Yu as soon as she got off the carriage and said cheerfully, "Sister Shu Yu, I want to go to Dong'an Prefecture with you."

Shu Yu blinked, looking puzzled as she turned to Meng Yunzheng.

The latter seemed a bit unhappy and said, "We bumped into each other on the way."

Meng Han held Shu Yu's hand pitifully and said, "Sister Shu Yu, please don't chase me away. I'm now homeless. You don't know, this morning, Tao Qin provoked me again, and I couldn't help but hit her. Then I ran away."

It was the first time she had laid hands on Tao Qin, and she was both excited and worried. She was afraid that her mother and uncle would scold her, so she ran away in a fit of anger.

But she didn't know many people, and most of her relatives were in Chenggu County. The only person she could rely on was her elder cousin.

So she waited for her cousin at the city gate with her luggage. However, despite his outward appearance of being refined, courteous, and well-mannered, he was actually quite ruthless. He pretended not to see her and walked away directly.

Meng Han almost burst into tears. Since her cousin refused to take her in, she couldn't go back either. She had no choice but to follow him to the Changjin Prefecture.

She left the city gate and headed toward the city. It didn't matter; if her cousin wouldn't take her, she would find Sister Shu Yu instead.

However, because Meng Han was young and had never gone out alone before, she was easily targeted by someone.

On the way, someone attempted to kidnap her, but she managed to fight them off. Unfortunately, there were too many people trying to snatch her, and she was about to be taken away when Meng Yunzheng showed up and saved her, bringing her along.

Shu Yu examined Meng Han, understanding why she looked so disheveled when she got off the carriage, as if she had rolled on the ground.

She quickly asked Aunt He to prepare some water and let Meng Han take a bath first.

After Meng Han entered the room, Shu Yu turned to ask Meng Yunzheng, "What happened?"

 Chapter 1427: Strange Phenomenon

After Meng Yunzheng bought everything, he planned to return to Chenggu County the next day to pay respects to Song Xin's grave.

Shu Yu didn't go with him; it wasn't appropriate for her to go to Meng's family ancestral grave before their marriage. Moreover, after the unpleasant incident with the Tao family, she didn't want to have any more contact with them.

So they decided that Shu Yu would wait for him at home while he went.

However, she still felt a bit worried, so before Meng Yunzheng left, she carefully reminded him, "Please take care of yourself."

Meng Yunzheng smiled, "Don't worry, I'll take care of myself. You stay at home, and I'll be back by tomorrow afternoon at the latest."

Although he didn't plan to stay long at Meng's family, being a successful examinee, he still needed to visit the other candidates from the same year. Also, he had to express his gratitude to the scholar who vouched for him. So he might not be able to come back today.

Shu Yu watched Meng Yunzheng and Xia Yan leave. Once they were completely out of sight, she called Ying Xi and went out to stroll around.

She realized that she hadn't properly explored Changjin Prefecture during the few days she had been here.

On the first day, she arrived in the evening, the next day she went to Zhongo Village to find her master, and when she returned, she encountered Meng Xiaoshu's family. Yesterday, she accompanied Meng Yunzheng to buy things, but they had a purpose and a route.

So she still didn't know much about Changjin Prefecture compared to Dong'an Manor.

Shu Yu instructed Aunt He, "We might eat outside for lunch, so you don't need to prepare our meals."

"Okay, Miss. Take your time shopping. Changjin Prefecture is quite lively."

Shu Yu strolled around with Ying Xi, visiting all the nearby alleys and finally reaching the main street.

Changjin Prefecture was indeed much more bustling than Dong'an Prefecture. She began to consider opening a shop here.

Meng Yunzheng had told her before that the instant noodles she prepared for him had caught the attention of many people during the exam. Several examinees had inquired about them.

Meng Yunzheng had introduced them, but everyone was busy with the exam, and since they hadn't seen this type of food in Changjin Manor yet, they were afraid of not being used to it, so they temporarily didn't pay much attention.

But now that he had passed all the three levels, every move he made might become a focus of attention. Especially during the exam, what he ate and wore might be scrutinized.

Instant noodles were perfect for exam time. They could be eaten dry or cooked, and she believed they might become popular here in a few days.

Shu Yu thought that opening a noodle shop here might have a market.

However, she wasn't familiar with Changjin Prefecture, and she would need to do some market research if she wanted to do business here.

But she didn't have much time to stay here this time, and she might have to leave in a couple of days.

Forget it, she'll check the situation in the next two days.

Shu Yu began to observe the nearby shops and stalls with a purpose. She also went to inns and restaurants to listen to gossip, and even went to the vegetable market.

Then she accidentally noticed a very strange phenomenon—Changjin Prefecture... didn't seem as prosperous as it appeared on the surface.

There was a significant wealth disparity here. The rich were very wealthy, casually throwing silver notes around, which she found extravagant and wasteful.

On the other hand, the poor were struggling to make a living. Some were even selling themselves at the slaves market to become servants or maids.

Shu Yu frowned, lost in thought, as she returned to the small courtyard.

Aunt He noticed that she was absent-minded during dinner and couldn't help asking, "Miss, is the food not to your taste?"

Chapter 1426: Taking Them Home

Meng Xiaoshu's words were quite severe, and Tao Shi and Tao Qin were both stunned, looking up at him in disbelief.

Meng Xiaoshu took a deep breath and said to Meng Han, "Go pack your things; we're going home now."

"Yes, yes, Father." Meng Han nodded repeatedly, swallowing nervously, and hurried to pack.

Meng Xiaoshu turned around, full of apologies, and said to Meng Yunzheng, "Ah Yun, I'm sorry. Originally, I thought that since you passed the prefectural exam, our whole family would come to celebrate with you and have a good time. I didn't expect it to bring you trouble. I'll go back first, rest assured, I won't let anyone ruin your wedding."

For Meng Xiaoshu, although the Tao family was related to him, his nephew, his eldest brother, Meng Pei, meant more to him. They relied on each other when they were brothers, and everything he has today was given by his elder brother. As for Tao Qin, she naturally couldn't compare to his dear nephew, Meng Yunzheng.

Moreover, Tao Qin's actions today made Meng Xiaoshu even more disgusted.

If such a person were to marry Meng Yunzheng, wouldn't she drag him down in the future?

It seemed that he needed to have a good talk with his nephew after going back.

Meng Xiaoshu exhaled, then turned to Shu Yu and said, "You and Ah Yun take care of each other. What my niece-in-law did was improper, and I'm absolutely on your side. I hope you and Ah Yun will have a happy and fruitful life together. Ah Yun chose you, and I know he has good taste. You're a good girl."

Shu Yu smiled and said, "Thank you, Uncle."

As they spoke, Meng Han had already packed everything, and she came over, "Father, are we leaving now?"

"Yes." Meng Xiaoshu walked to Tao Shi and pulled her up with a face full of determination.

Tao Shi struggled, "What are you doing? I'm not leaving. Ah Qin is still sick..."

"If you're not leaving, then don't come back in the future." Meng Xiaoshu's face remained stern, with a touch of fierceness in his eyes.

Having traveled far and wide for many years, he naturally carried a bit of a bandit-like aura.

Seeing him like this, Tao Shi inexplicably felt afraid and stopped struggling, letting Meng Xiaoshu pull her out of the yard.

Xia Yan had already cleverly brought the carriage to the door. Meng Xiaoshu asked the two to get on the carriage, and Meng Han sat at the back. She waved excitedly at Shu Yu before hurrying to get in as well.

Once everyone was seated, Meng Xiaoshu shook the reins and left without any extra words.

In an instant, the noisy Meng family from earlier became quiet.

Shu Yu turned her head and looked at Meng Yunzheng, "They just... left like this?"

"Do you want them to stay for dinner?" Meng Yunzheng said with a smile.

"That's not it, it's just that it feels quite sudden. So, what should we do now?"

"Let's go shopping in the street."

"Okay."

Meng Yunzheng took the list that Meng Xiaoshu had given him and took Shu Yu's hand as they went shopping.

Ying Xi stayed at home to guard the door. When Aunt He brought a big basket of vegetables over, she saw only Ying Xi at home.

Aunt He was stunned and waited until she heard that Meng Xiaoshu's family had already left earlier. Then she looked down at the vegetables in the basket—did she buy too much?

Yesterday's vegetables haven't been cooked yet, and today, there was another big basket; in this hot weather, they might spoil.

Aunt He was quite worried.

Chapter 1425: Furious Meng Xiaoshu

Tao Qin took a sharp breath; of course, she didn't dare.

In this day and age, most people approached oaths with a devout and cautious mindset. Besides, what Shu Yu said was too cruel, mentioning being struck by lightning, intestines ruptured, and all that; even thinking about it made Tao Qin shudder.

But everyone was looking at her, and Shu Yu still had a gentle smile on her face.

Suddenly, Tao Qin couldn't catch her breath, her eyes rolled back, and she fell backward, fainting.

Tao Shi was greatly alarmed, "Ah Qin, Ah Qin, what's wrong with you?" She called out twice, then turned her head and glared angrily at Shu Yu, "It's all because of you. Ah Qin is already sick, and you still physically attacked her. Let me tell you, if anything happens to Ah Qin, I won't spare you."

Shu Yu chuckled, "Fainted? It's okay, I happened to have learned a little about medical skills, and I have experience with fainting spells. Don't worry, I'll wake her up now."

Saying that, she stepped forward and stomped on Tao Qin's fingers placed on the ground.

Tao Qin visibly trembled, and Shu Yu's smile grew even wider.

She squatted down and was about to pinch Tao Qin's pressure point.

"What are you doing? Stop it." Tao Shi wanted to stop her, but Shu Yu grabbed her wrist and exerted some force, causing Tao Shi to cry out in pain.

Shu Yu let go of her hand and accurately pressed Tao Qin's pressure point.

Tao Qin was not a person with much perseverance, and her hand had been painful after Shu Yu stomped on it; now, under Shu Yu's forceful pressure, how could she endure it?

She woke up with a cry.

Shu Yu clapped her hands, "See, it's all fine now."

"You, you..." Tao Shi looked at her with hatred.

"Alright, Miss Tao, you can continue with your oath now," Shu Yu said calmly.

Tao Qin didn't dare to make the oath; she immediately pounced into Tao Shi's arms and started sobbing.

In the room, Meng Xiaoshu's temples throbbed, and he was furious. He loved and trusted his wife and niece, so if they had some selfish motives and didn't like Shu Yu, he didn't think it was a big deal. After all, they wouldn't be living together in the future, so there was no need to force harmony between them.

But that didn't mean he was a fool. Meng Xiaoshu had traveled far and wide and had seen through many tricks like Tao Qin's.

Seeing Tao Shi looking at him again, wanting him to make a decision, Meng Xiaoshu suddenly roared, "Enough!"

"Uncle..."

Meng Xiaoshu's face was stern, "Do you two have any sense of shame? Trying to sabotage Ah Yun's marriage and thinking it's justified? In the past, you didn't like him, but now that you see he's successful, you want to pounce on him. Where can you find such a good deal in the world!! Both of you, get up and come back with me to Chenggu County now."

Tao Shi widened her eyes in disbelief, "husband, what are you saying? Ah Qin is still sick..."

"What illness? I see she has enough energy to cause trouble, not at all like someone who's sick. I've been saying, the county town has a medical clinic with skilled doctors. She keeps running to the capital city to see what illness can't be cured. It's clear that she's come up with the idea of destroying someone else's marriage."

He got angrier and angrier as he spoke, "You two insist on meddling in Ah Yun's life. You're happy when you turn our family upside down, aren't you? Such young girl, why don't you do something better instead of willingly becoming vixen? You've truly disgraced the Meng and Tao families."

Shu Yu thought, 'Vixen' is too much of a compliment for Tao Qin. With her appearance, she's more like a toad.

 Chapter 1424: Do You Dare?!

Meng Han swallowed hard, her eyes gradually shining.

"U-understood."

She never thought there could be such a solution.

Looking at Tao Qin, who had always been able to gain her mother's unconditional support just by flattering her, now with a red and swollen face, sitting on the ground and trembling, Meng Han felt an indescribable pleasure.

At the next moment, Tao Shi screamed, pushing Ying Xi away, and hugged Tao Qin, crying in sorrow.

"My poor Ah Qin, no one has ever dared to hit you from childhood until now. How dare she, how dare she use such a heavy hand on you."

Shu Yu felt embarrassed listening to her words, as if Tao Qin were her daughter.

Tao Shi suddenly looked up, with red eyes, and looked at Meng Xiaoshu, "husband, are you just going to stand there and watch? She hit Ah Qin, you saw it with your own eyes."

Meng Xiaoshu opened his mouth, genuinely confused by the situation in front of him.

Meng Yunzheng explained, "Don't be troubled, Uncle. Shu Yu just feels that she can't let Miss Tao's false accusations go unchallenged. Since she said that Shu Yu hit her, it's only right to implement her claim and give each other an explanation."

Meng Xiaoshu, "... What? Explanation?"

He looked at Meng Yunzheng with a complex expression, but the latter was serious, as if he didn't think there was anything wrong with what he had just said.

Shu Yu also turned around and sincerely said to Meng Xiaoshu, "Yes, Uncle, don't feel troubled. This is a conflict between the two of us. Miss Tao knows that Ah Yun is my fiancé, but she still wants to covet him. She should bear the consequences. It's just a slap, and I think it's too light. After all, for shameless women like her, they deserve to be dunked in a pig cage."

Meng Xiaoshu was trembling with anger. "C-Covet Ah Yun???"

Shu Yu nodded, "She just said it herself. She wants me to step down and give up my position for her. She says I'm just a county girl, even if I'm made a village lord, I have no power or status, and I'm not qualified to be Ah Yun's wife, especially considering his boundless future. But she's different. Her aunt is Ah Yun's aunt, and her uncle is Ah Yun's Uncle, so they have an unbreakable relationship. Her aunt and uncle will definitely support her and persuade me to be sensible, not making a scene that will make both of us look bad."

She raised her head, "Just now, I saw it clearly. Little aunt did help her. So... Uncle, what about you? Do you also think I'm not worthy of Ah Yun and want me to break off the engagement, giving up the position to your niece?"

Meng Xiaoshu was so angry that he trembled all over, "Nonsense, how could I help her? You and Yunzheng are officially engaged through proper matchmaking and formal exchanges of betrothal gifts. No one is allowed to disrupt it. You are the daughter-in-law recognized by my big brother and Ah Yun. No one can compare to you."

Shu Yu looked relaxed, "If that's the case, I can rest assured."

But Tao Shi and Tao Qin were almost fuming with smoke coming out of their heads. They never expected that the twisted truth that they planned to tell would be preempted by Lu Shu Yu.

Tao Qin endured the pain and shouted, "Uncle, don't listen to her lies. I never said those things at all."

Shu Yu smiled, "Oh? Is that so? Then, do you dare to say that you never coveted Ah Yun? Do you dare to swear an oath, saying that if you have any improper thoughts, you'll be struck by lightning, your appearance ruined, intestines ruptured, and never die a good death? Do you... dare?!"

Chapter 1423: Shu Yu Slaps Back

Tao Qin lowered her head slightly and said softly, "Miss Lu, I know I'm not as good as you. You are the village lord, and your status is more noble than mine. But my aunt is Young Master Meng's aunt, and we naturally have an unbreakable relationship. Miss Lu, I'm willing to serve Young Master Meng with you."

"But I don't want to."

"Miss Lu, why do you have to refuse so quickly? My aunt's words just now were not wrong. She..."

Tao Qin's words were not finished yet when Tao Shi suddenly cleared her throat from the side.

The next moment, Shu Yu saw Tao Qin raise her head, looking as if she was about to cry, and then she slapped herself in the face with a "smack," then fell to the ground.

Shu Yu, "..."

Tao Shi rushed over, squatting beside Tao Qin, and asked sternly, "Lu Shu Yu, what are you doing, hitting someone?"

Shu Yu's mouth twitched, and at that moment, Meng Xiaoshu and the others entered the room.

"What's going on? What's happened?" asked Meng Xiaoshu in confusion.

Tao Shi pointed at Shu Yu, angrily saying, "husband, you have to make a decision for Ah Qin. She's been pushed too far. Ah Qin accidentally bumped into her, and she actually slapped her, poor Ah Qin is still unwell."

Meng Xiaoshu looked puzzled as he glanced at Shu Yu and then at Tao Qin lying on the ground.

Meng Xiaoshu couldn't understand, "Shu Yu, did you really hit her?"

Before Shu Yu could answer, Tao Shi continued, "Of course, she did! Yesterday, she said she would take an axe and smash her grandmother's house. I thought she was exaggerating and trying to scare people, but I didn't expect her to actually hit someone without any restraint."

Shu Yu smiled, watching as Tao Shi helped the crying Tao Qin stand up.

She suddenly turned her head and called, "Ying Xi."

"Miss." Ying Xi was at the door and came in with a few steps.

Shu Yu rubbed her wrist and said to her, "Help Miss Tao to the side to rest."

"Yes." Ying Xi went forward and helped Tao Shi walk to the side.

Tao Shi widened her eyes, "What are you doing? Let go of me!"

But she was no match for Ying Xi, who practiced martial arts, and her wrist was in severe pain. She could only stagger a few steps to the side.

Then, at the next moment, Shu Yu suddenly rushed forward and raised her hand.

With a "smack," she slapped Tao Qin's face heavily.

"Ah..." Tao Qin screamed and retreated two steps, falling to the ground in real pain.

Tao Shi's shouting stopped, and Meng Han subconsciously covered her mouth. Meng Xiaoshu was about to step forward but was stopped by Meng Yunzheng.

In the room, there was silence.

Shu Yu looked down at Tao Qin from above, satisfied with her handiwork.

Then she turned her head to look at Tao Shi, a smile on her face, "Auntie, do you see now? If I really hit someone, it would be at least this hard. How could I leave just a faint mark without any force? That would make me too useless."

Tao Shi stared at her in shock. She never expected that Shu Yu not only did not explain, but also actually struck someone in front of everyone.

Shu Yu shook her wrist and turned to Meng Han, "Little Sister Han, I heard you practiced martial arts, right?"

Meng Han opened her mouth and unconsciously nodded.

Shu Yu taught her, "Since you've practiced martial arts, your strength should be greater than your cousin's. If she insists on taking things from you next time, crying or reporting won't help. You should just fight back. One time, then twice, and if that's not enough, three times. Keep hitting until she's afraid. Understand?"

 Chapter 549: Hidden Malice (8)

It wasn’t really an “accident” as it was orchestrated by Mo Yan herself. She had instructed her spies to pose as ordinary people and inform the Fang family that they were looking for a suitable match with Mo Yongxi’s birthdate. Mo Yongxi, desperate and attracted by the prospect of such a match, was eager to seize the opportunity.

Mo Yongxi’s reputation in the village was tarnished, and no one, whether in the village or surrounding areas, was willing to marry her. As she grew older, the urgency to find a good match increased. When a seemingly good match fell from the sky, she grabbed it without hesitation.

While Mo Yongxi was trying to get close to the Fang family, Mo Yan had her spies pretend to be Daoist priests, prophesizing that if the Fang family married someone with a compatible birthdate, their family would flourish and their wealth would increase.

The Fang elders, believing the "priests" who seemed to know everything about them, followed their guidance and soon found Mo Yongxi, who had been waiting as instructed.

The Fang family then demanded a dowry of fifty taels of silver from the Old Mo family under the "priest's" direction, threatening to annul the marriage if the demand was not met. This led to incidents where Tie Tou was forced into marriage, and the Third Sister and Shi Tou were nearly sold. Eventually, it allowed them to escape the Old Mo family and reunite with Wu Shi.

...This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://www.eternalnovelhits.com

Mo Yan was not a saint. The Old Mo family had treated the original owner harshly, and even indirectly caused her death. She could not forgive them, as it would be unfair to the original owner.

After coming to Liuyang Village, the Old Mo family, especially Mo Yongxi, had tried to damage her reputation, destroy her crops, and even attempted to ruin her appearance. Mo Yongxi not only showed no remorse but also intensified her efforts to harm her. Mo Yan could not let such a venomous snake go unpunished.

If Mo Yongxi had been more rational and had investigated the Fang family thoroughly, she might have avoided marrying an unhappy man. Unfortunately, she was blinded by vanity and high self-esteem, never considering that the sweetness might be laced with poison.

Instead of letting her remain in the village causing harm, it was better to direct her malice elsewhere. It was not unfair for the Fang family to suffer; they knew their son preferred men yet still tried to harm an innocent girl by marrying her off to a man who would leave her miserable.

Seeing the Old Mo family’s downfall and the infighting, Mo Yan felt no regret. She had no qualms about letting them face their own reckoning.

Wu Shi, noticing Mo Yan's silence, thought she wasn’t interested in the matter and began talking about other topics. Eventually, she mentioned her eldest daughter, Da Nier, who was now seventeen: “I wonder what kind of marriage she will have. Da Ni has suffered a lot; I don’t expect her to become rich, but I hope she finds someone who truly cares for her and lives a good life.”

Since the news of their brick house spread, several suitors had shown interest but were turned down. It wasn’t due to any disdain for the suitors but because they had many siblings or unkind elders. She didn’t want her daughter to follow the same difficult path she had faced.

Mo Yan, observing the graceful and efficient Da Ni, comforted her with a smile: “Da Ni is capable and virtuous. Such a good girl is hard to find. Whoever marries her will be lucky. She will surely find a good match!”

Wu Shi, hearing this, smiled proudly, her wrinkles deepening: “I’m not boasting. Da Ni is indeed good. If not for that disaster, she wouldn’t be delayed until now. Fortunately, those scoundrels are gone, and we can find her a good family.”

At this moment, Da Ni, carrying a basket of vegetables, walked over and overheard the conversation. Her face turned red as she thought of a captivating face.

Noticing her blush, Mo Yan teased with a smile: “Look at Da Ni, all red-faced. Are you thinking about someone special?”

Da Ni was startled and blushed even more. Nervously or feeling guilty, she shook her head and stammered, “N-no, I wasn’t thinking about anything!”

“Ha ha, Da Ni'er’s face is so red I feel embarrassed teasing you now,” Mo Yan laughed heartily, unaware of Da Nier’s discomfort.

Wu Shi noticed her daughter’s unusual reaction and felt a pang of concern. She tested gently, “Da Ni’er, you’re a grown girl and usually sensible. If you have any thoughts, just tell me. I won’t blame you.”

Da Nier hesitated and then shook her head. “Mother, there’s nothing. Don’t worry about it. You should focus more on my brother. He hasn’t married yet.”

Wu Shi looked at her daughter intently and replied, “Your brother is a man; he won’t suffer as much. If he truly has someone he likes, regardless of her appearance or background, I will make sure he marries her.”

Da Ni’er, feeling guilty, glanced at her mother and hesitated. Seeing Mo Yan listening intently, she couldn’t help but say, “Yan’er will be fifteen next year. When Uncle Mo becomes a scholar, Yan’er will be a scholar’s daughter and might marry into an official family.”

Mo Yan was taken aback. She hadn’t expected the topic to shift to herself. Thinking about her father being a scholar and even a top scholar, she felt a pang of disappointment as her family background was far from that of the Fang family. She was left speechless.

  Chapter 548: Hidden Malice (7)

Mo Yan’s face showed a strange smile upon hearing this. “So it was set for today—what a good day.” She nearly forgot about this.

The villager didn’t notice Mo Yan’s odd expression and thought she was genuinely happy for the Old Mo family. He found it strange, though, as the two families had been estranged for a long time. Could it be that rich people think differently from ordinary folks?

Shaking his head, the villager decided not to dwell on it and focused on working hard to earn his thirty wen for the day.

Since the construction just started, there wasn’t much to do on-site today. Mo Yan went back home to help Li Xiu, Wu Shi, and two village women who had assisted with Mo’s house construction last year prepare lunch. Cooking for over a hundred workers from both construction sites was no easy task.

While washing vegetables, Wu Shi brought up Mo Yongxi’s marriage: “She’s lucky to marry into a wealthy family in the city as a primary wife. If she could change her nature and live a peaceful life, she’d be set for the rest of her life.”

Mo Yan’s lips curled into a cold smile as she shook her head. “Old habits die hard. With her temperament, it’s unlikely she’ll change. If she had married someone of similar status, they might have endured her. Now that she’s climbed so high, she’ll have her share of troubles.”

Wu Shi was puzzled and asked, “If the Fang family isn’t short of money and could easily find someone of similar or lesser status, why would they choose someone like Mo Yongxi?”

Mo Yongxi’s reputation was well-known in the village. Anyone with a good standing would avoid such a bride. The Fang family’s eagerness was unusual.

Mo Yan, seeing Wu Shi’s genuinely kind and gentle demeanor, decided not to share the unsavory details with her to spare her distress.

The Fang family, Mo Yongxi’s in-laws, owned a small general store with an annual income of seventy to eighty taels of silver. They had a servant for heavy chores, making them a modestly prosperous household.

The Fang family didn’t really admire Mo Yongxi’s appearance or character. Their only son, Fang Da Shao, was the sole heir. Unfortunately, this only heir was a gay man who had no interest in women, whether they were gentle or virtuous.

What made the Fang elders despair was that their son had fallen for an actress and secretly used the family’s savings to keep her. News of this affair quickly spread through the neighborhood.

When the Fang elders found out, they severely punished their son. Despite being bedridden from the beating, Fang Da Shao refused to leave the actress or marry a wife and start a family.

...This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://www.eternalnovelhits.com

Heartbroken yet unable to kill their only son, they decided to find a wife for him to cover up the family disgrace and preserve their lineage.

However, once the news of Fang Da Shao’s affair became known, no respectable families were interested in matchmaking. Even with promises of substantial rewards to matchmakers, the attempts were futile. No decent family would consider marrying their daughter into such a scandalous situation.

Seeing that city girls were no longer an option, the Fang elders looked to the outskirts. But as before, any potential candidates who inquired would quickly learn of the situation and withdraw. Just then, Mo Yongxi “accidentally” came into their view.

 Chapter 1422: Speaking from the Heart

Meng Yunzheng planned to return to Chenggu County and head to the mountain on his own. After visiting his mother, he would return to Jiangyuan County. Before that, he wanted to make all the necessary preparations to avoid staying in Chenggu County.

Meng Xiaoshu felt it was appropriate and suggested accompanying him.

At that moment, Tao Shi, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, "husband, why don't you make a list for them? Otherwise, those two young ones wouldn't know what to buy. You understand these things, write it down for them to avoid missing anything."

"That's a good idea. Ah Yun, let's go to the study, and I'll write the list for you," said Meng Xiaoshu.

"Alright." Meng Yunzheng led Meng Xiaoshu to the study.

As they left, Tao Shi turned to Meng Han, "You go and make tea for your father and cousin."

"I'll go." Shu Yu offered.

"Let her go," Tao Shi smiled, holding onto Shu Yu. "Ah Han is not young anymore, but she lacks some insight. She needs to exercise and not act like a spoiled girl."

Shu Yu raised an eyebrow, curious about what Tao Shi was up to.

So, she didn't say anything more, and Meng Han looked worriedly at her. Based on her understanding of Tao Shi, she had a feeling that her mother was up to something.

However, Tao Shi just guided her out of the main hall to do a normal task, making tea, and she couldn't decline, so she went to the kitchen.

With that, Meng Xiaoshu and Meng Yunzheng went to the study, Ying Xi and Xia Yan went to feed the horses and harness the carriage, and Meng Han made tea in the kitchen. Only the three of them were left in the main hall.

Tao Shi finally let go of Shu Yu's hand, and her and Tao Qin's smiling expressions suddenly changed dramatically, like they were putting on an act, becoming exceptionally dramatic.

Shu Yu looked at the two of them, "Do you have something to tell me, Auntie?"

"Yes." Tao Shi nodded and put on a serious expression, "Shu Yu, I know my words yesterday made you unhappy. After we returned to the inn, the master also talked to me, asking me to get along well with you, saying that you are Yunzheng's future wife and part of the Meng family."

"Well, I have also thought carefully about it. Since we are family, as an elder, I feel obligated to speak candidly and sincerely to you."

Shu Yu quietly watched her, curious about what Tao Shi wanted to say.

Tao Shi sighed, "You have seen it too. Ah Yun is very talented in his studies, achieving outstanding results in the imperial examination on his first attempt, even obtaining third place in the small triennial exams. With his achievements and appearance, he is not an ordinary person. It's possible for him to become a high-ranking official, right?"

That's not right; Ah Yun's future plan is not to become an official.

But Shu Yu didn't interrupt and simply observed her.

Tao Shi continued, "As an experienced person, I have seen and heard many things. Throughout history, officials in the imperial court all had three or four wives and numerous concubines, isn't that so?"

"Let alone court officials, any person with some achievements will have women throwing themselves at him."

"Now, you are engaged to Ah Yun, but this engagement may not be effective. When he becomes an official, he will be rewarded with women as well. Yunzheng might not want to accept them, but he will have to. In the future, there will be many of such situations for you to face, right?"

Shu Yu smiled, "So, Auntie wants to talk to me about this? That's why you are desperately trying to match Tao Qin with Ah Yun?"

As she spoke, she glanced at Tao Qin.

 Chapter 1421: Difficult to Interfere

After listening, Shu Yu remained silent for a while, then shook her head and sighed, "For the moment, I don't know what can be done."

Meng Han felt somewhat disappointed, but she didn't insist on finding a solution.

Shu Yu patted her shoulder, "Alright, let's take our time to think about it. It's getting late; you should rest now. There are things to do tomorrow."

"Okay."

Meng Han stood up dejectedly, climbed onto the bed, and went to sleep.

Shu Yu, on the other hand, stayed in place and had a few sips of tea. Solving Tao Shi's problem was not an easy task, but there must be a way. However, this was a matter for the Meng family, and Shu Yu's involvement was minimal.

Even if Meng Han asked her to come up with ideas, she couldn't simply dictate how things should be handled.

They had only just met, and she couldn't be sure if Meng Han's words were entirely true.

Perhaps she should consult with Meng Yunzheng first.

The next morning, while Meng Han was getting ready, Shu Yu spoke with Meng Yunzheng.

The latter didn't seem surprised and commented, "What she said is true. My aunt is indeed fixated on her younger brother, and she treats her nephews and nieces better than her own children. The term 'brother-supporting demon' is quite fitting."

He chuckled and nodded in agreement.

Shu Yu resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "So, do we intervene in this matter?"

Meng Yunzheng shook his head, "It's difficult to interfere."

The key to resolving Tao Shi's problem lies with Uncle Meng. It's a family matter for Uncle Meng and Meng Han's brother, Meng Qi.

Meng Yunzheng, as a newly returned 'pseudo-nephew' to the Meng family, getting involved would not be appropriate.

"I understand," Shu Yu replied.

However, while they had no intention of meddling in Meng family affairs, the Tao family had other ideas and wanted to get involved in their matters.

As they were discussing this, Meng Xiaoshu arrived with Tao Shi and Tao Qin.

The three of them came early, holding breakfast they bought from outside, including various kinds of dumplings, noodles, and buns.

To Meng Xiaoshu, Meng Yunzheng was a junior and a student without any income. He had already spent a lot on the big feast last night, so he felt responsible for the necessities and expenses of the rest of the family.

With a smile, Meng Xiaoshu placed the food on the table and asked Meng Han, "Did you cause any trouble to your cousin and Ah Yu last night?"

Meng Han felt a little guilty for talking to Shu Yu for so long last night, but Shu Yu, passing by, said, "No, Ah Han is well-behaved."

Meng Xiaoshu became even more pleased, "That's good. Come, let's have breakfast together."

Shu Yu looked at Tao Shi and Tao Qin with some suspicion. Why were these two... strangely quiet since they entered the room? And they were smiling so amiably. Compared to yesterday, it was like they were different people.

What's going on? Were they hiding some mischief?

After finishing breakfast, Meng Yunzheng said he would go buy something in the street, "I'm going to Chenggu County tomorrow to pay respects to my mother. Since I passed the examination, I should tell her the good news."

 Chapter 547: Hidden Malice (6)

Thinking of this, a look of satisfaction appeared on his face. The master now had a beloved lady, and soon he would marry and have a true wife who cared for him and children who would bring him familial joy. The old Marquis could finally rest in peace.

Xiao Ruiyuan’s gaze fell once more on the letter, his expression inscrutable.

It had taken considerable effort to trace the origin of the Heart-Eating Poison. Not only him but also twenty years ago when the late Empress was poisoned and his cousin was gravely injured, it was the same person who had provided the poison to the Lin family, which was then used by that consort to poison the late Empress.

While the consort who administered the poison was indeed detestable, the Lin family, Empress Lin, and the poison supplier were the true culprits. Until they were completely eradicated, the suffering of his cousin would never end.

What surprised him was that the poison supplier had connections to Yan'er. If not for Shiliu noticing something unusual and investigating, he wouldn’t have known that Yan'er’s birth mother was still alive and was now the wife of his and his cousin’s enemy.

Not to mention that the woman was his enemy, just thinking about how Du Shi abandoned her husband and children to elope made Xiao Ruiyuan harbor no good feelings toward his future “mother-in-law.” Therefore, he had no intention of sharing this matter with the woman he loved.

……

On the eighth day of the eighth month, an auspicious day for marriage and ground-breaking, Mo Yan was busy with both the rice harvesting and the ground-breaking for the wine house and Wu's new home.

With everything scheduled at once, Mo Yan found it difficult to manage everything. Fortunately, Grandpa Ding was in the fields, so she didn’t need to worry about the rice harvest. The villagers who helped with the harvest went home for lunch, and Mo’s family only needed to send some tea to the fields.

For the rice harvest, Mo Yan had sent about half of the village laborers away. The remaining villagers were supervised by Lin Yong, with thirty selected workers. Twenty were led by Master Lu to dig the foundation for the wine house, while the other ten helped dig the foundation for Wu's new home. Master Lu’s top disciple was handling the construction of Wu’s house, making it a simple task.

Mo Qingze was preparing for the provincial examination in September and was thus unavailable. Mo Yan had to take on all the responsibilities for the wine house construction.

The bricks, tiles, and wood had long been prepared. The wine house’s construction area was not smaller than Mo’s family residence and would even surpass it once completed.

However, the construction of the wine house couldn’t be rushed. Mo Yan divided the project into three phases. The first phase, which was currently underway, would be completed before winter. By next autumn, when the interior was furnished and the orchard’s fruit had ripened, the wine house would be ready for use.

The second and third phases would be built in the spring and autumn of the following year. The families who had hired Master Lu to build their houses would have to wait. If not for Master Lu’s interest in the blueprints Mo Yan provided and the favor of Liu Tinglan, he might not have agreed.

A long string of firecrackers exploded, marking the official start of construction as Mo Yan took the first shovel of earth.

...This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://www.eternalnovelhits.com

Just as the firecracker noise from one side ended, a longer string of firecrackers erupted from the other side. Mo Yan looked over and saw that it wasn’t the location where Wu’s house was being built. She casually asked a nearby villager, “Is there a wedding in the village today?”

Generally, when a family had a wedding, they would inform close friends and invite them for a drink. Others would go to congratulate them and seek good fortune.

The villager thought for a moment, looked at Mo Yan hesitantly, and said, “It should be the Old Mo family’s daughter getting married. I heard the Fang family wanted to marry quickly, but July was a ghost month with no good days, so they scheduled it for August.”

  Chapter 546: Hidden Malice (5) 

Since it turned black, the black lingze had not changed in size, but its color seemed even darker, glistening with an oily sheen as if it might drip oil at any moment.

In contrast, the two ginseng plants had changed significantly. Although the ginseng bodies underground were not visible, their noticeably larger size and vibrant green leaves indicated that they were growing very well.

After watering them with spiritual spring water and pulling out the surrounding medicinal herbs that had grown around them, Mo Yan looked at the golden yellow and spreading green in the space with a bit of a headache.

Previously, she had worried about the chickens becoming a nuisance, but now that they had been moved to the orchard, most of the space was occupied by various medicinal herbs.

Before the medicine garden was established, she collected seeds daily. Once she had enough seeds, she mostly neglected them and focused all her efforts on growing food crops. Although medicinal herb seeds would continue to grow without being picked, their roots and stems would keep growing in the soil. After more than a year, what had started as less than two mu had grown to its current state.

...This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://www.eternalnovelhits.com

Mo Yan crouched down, resignedly pulling out the medicinal herbs that were almost covering the rice plants, piling them to the side. She planned to take them to Dr. Du when she had time.

She spent a good two to three hours on this task. Standing up, wiping the sweat from her forehead, and rubbing her aching back, she looked at the areas she hadn’t yet cleared and shouted in frustration, “Heaven, grant me a万能小帮手 (万能小帮手 means 'all-purpose assistant')! I will offer you pigs, cows, and sheep during festivals! Ah——ah——ah——”

Unaware that the Jade Heart’s merit bead flashed with ripples on its transparent surface, where a tiny black dot appeared for a moment before vanishing as if it had never existed.

……

In the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion, the study in the outer courtyard.

Xiao Ruiyuan was frowning as he read a book titled “Mingzhou Mountain Chronicles,” a book introducing the mountains of the continent.

Recently, aside from handling official duties, Xiao Ruiyuan had devoted all his energy to books about mountains, hoping to find potential locations where thousand-year-old ginseng might grow and then send people to search for them.

This approach was akin to finding a needle in a haystack. Even if they could determine which famous mountains and rivers might harbor thousand-year-old ginseng, the people sent might not find it.

However, this was the only method available. With Chu Heng’s time running short, Xiao Ruiyuan had less than five months to find the thousand-year-old ginseng. This was all he could do.

“Knock, knock, knock—”

While Xiao Ruiyuan was deep in thought, the study door was knocked. Xiao Shiyi entered, presenting a recently received letter. “Master, there is news from Shiliu.”

Xiao Ruiyuan set aside his book and took the letter. When he read its contents, a grave expression crossed his calm eyes. “Tell Shiliu to keep a close watch and report immediately if there’s any news! Also, send two more people to secretly protect Miss Mo. If anyone dares to harm her, kill them—without mercy!”

At that moment, Xiao Ruiyuan was genuinely enraged. If it weren’t for the fear of disrupting the bigger situation, he would have ordered the death of those who investigated Mo Yan the moment they were sent.

“Yes! I will follow your orders!” Xiao Shiyi responded, suppressing his shock. The master’s command had once again shifted his perception of Miss Mo.

Even without extraordinary beauty or a prestigious background, the fact that the master valued her so highly, even deploying six skilled covert guards for her protection, meant that Miss Mo was indeed exceptional. It seemed that the master had truly fallen for her!

 Chapter 1420: Most Hated Meng Yunzheng

"Sister Ah Yu, you don't know, when my father was in danger before, it was my maternal grandfather who saved his life."

Shu Yu suddenly understood that Meng Yunzheng's uncle a person who valued gratitude and friendship. After this in-laws parents passed away and this brother-in-law was not capable enough, he took it upon himself to bear the responsibility.

Moreover, considering the current situation in the Meng family, what Tao Shi did was not enough to cross uncle Meng's bottom line.

Meng Han forced a bitter smile. "My father is generous by nature. When I told him that my mother gave all my belongings to my cousin, he thought it was fine and that he could buy me new things."

Shu Yu patted her shoulder. "I understand that human emotions are complex. Buying new things won't be the same as the original ones, and the meaning behind them would be different."

"Sister Ah Yu, your words really comfort me. When I told others about this, they couldn't understand my feelings and thought I was being petty. Only you know how sad and upset I am." After filing several complaints with Uncle Meng, Meng Han gave up since it had no effect.

Besides, Uncle Meng was away on escort missions most of the time, and whenever he returned, Meng Han was happy to see him, so she didn't want to bother him with these matters.

However, her feelings for her maternal uncle were now only filled with disgust.

"What about your father? Can't you rely on him? What about your older brother?"

"My brother... he can somewhat understand me. His belongings were also sent to our uncle's house by my mother. He also dislikes what our mother did. But since he was sent to study when he was young, he was always busy and even lived at school later, so he didn't suffer as much as I did. As he grew older, he became more like my father. As long as our mother's actions don't cross the line, he just turns a blind eye. And... "

Meng Han said, looking up at Shu Yu.

The latter raised an eyebrow, "And what?"

"And my brother's most disliked person now is our cousin."

Shu Yu replied, "..."

"Why? Does he think that Ah Yun will compete with him for the family's inheritance?"

Meng Han shook her head. "No, I mentioned it earlier, didn't I? My brother is studying, but he's not cut out for it, just like the other members of the Meng family. My father thinks studying is important, so he wanted him to at least become a xiucai. But my brother failed the exams twice and even fell seriously ill once. Last year, my father gave up and told him to take the last exam this year, and if he still couldn't pass, then forget about it."

"Who would have known, in the second half of last year, our cousin returned and said he wanted to take the imperial exam. This year, he even ranked first in the county exam. Although my brother failed, my father seems to have seen hope. Not only did he force my brother to continue studying, but he also spent a lot of money to send him to the most prestigious school. My father believes that if our cousin can achieve so much, it proves that the Meng family still has a talent for studying, and if my brother works hard, he can do it too."

Shu Yu almost choked on her water. She didn't know if the Meng family had a talent for studying, but the problem was that Meng Yunzheng had no blood relation to the Meng family.

Hmm, now she understood why Meng Han's brother disliked Meng Yunzheng.

He was finally about to be free, but with Meng Yunzheng's arrival, his hope was completely shattered.

On this point, Shu Yu sympathized with him.

Other people's children are always easy to provoke hatred.

"Sister Ah Yu, do you think you can help?" Meng Han asked with hope.

Since she couldn't rely on her parents or her older brother, she could only seek help from others.

 Chapter 1419: It's as If Meng Yunzheng Has Become One of Their Family

As she continued speaking, Meng Han's discomfort deepened.

She took a deep breath. "Actually, when Uncle and Cousin first returned, I didn't like them and even resisted their presence. It's because we already have a leech in our family, and I didn't want another one."

"My mother kept telling us that they came back to claim their share of the family property and drive us out. But later, when Uncle left and Aunt was buried, they hurriedly left our house."

"Mother was ecstatic, but I still doubted that it was just a trick by Uncle and cousin to make us lower our guard. So, she worked tirelessly to transfer things to the Tao family, thinking it was safer there."

"If my father hadn't been at home during that time and not away on business, my mother would have been even more extreme."

"Afterward, cousin came back, saying he was back to take part in the county examination."

"Everyone in our family, including me, didn't hold much hope for him because no one from the Meng family has ever been good at studying."

"But he achieved the top score in the county examination, which brought honor to our family."

"My uncle was so happy, and the Tao family set their eyes on cousin then. Mother liked the idea, never considering that he already had a fiancée."

"But cousin came to the Changjin city after the county examination results were out. Mother thought of waiting for his prefectural examination results before making a decision."

"But he also got the top score in the prefectural examination."

"The Tao family was overjoyed and treated him as if he were already one of their family."

"When the results of the provincial examination came out, my uncle came to the county city. At that time, Tao Qin wanted to come along, but the weather was changing a lot, and she caught a cold, so she couldn't leave the house."

"But that didn't stop her and the Tao family's plan. After the results were out, she said she would come over."

"I didn't originally plan to come because I wasn't very familiar with my cousin, and it felt strange to come all of a sudden. But since my cousin came along, I was worried that something might happen, so I insisted on coming. It was also an opportunity to seek advice from my cousin."

"Who knew that my cousin's fiancée was also here, and my cousin was completely defeated in their confrontation."

Meng Han was delighted and almost burst into laughter. She was Tao Shi's daughter, but she wished for Tao Shi to suffer a loss.

"Sister Ah Yu, I really don't know what to do anymore. When I was young, she gave my toys and food to my cousin. As I grew older, she gave my clothes and jewelry to my cousin. I cried, I threw tantrums, and I almost ran away from home. But my mother thought I was being unreasonable, that I was immature and didn't understand the importance of building a good relationship with my uncle's family, that my uncle would be my support in the future."

"Support? More like a leech! If she wants something, she can take it. I'm better off alone than having an uncle and his family."

Shu Yu listened attentively, pondering the situation. "In theory, your father should be the one to solve this issue. He's the most capable of stopping your mother from transferring things to your uncle's home from yours. It's better to tell your father about this rather than telling me."

But at the mention of her father, Meng Han's eyes filled with tears.