Chapter 1500: Interested in Ruan Dalai

The old lady happened to know both of them, as one was from Ruan Family Village and the other was from Shishi Village, so she paid some attention to them.

However, she didn't know much about their personalities and behavior, so she turned to Shu Yu and asked, "What do you think?"

Shu Yu, while pulling Xiao Zaozao along, nodded and said, "Both of them are good. Ruan Dalai is currently in charge of the oil mill, and Da Zhuang works in the city, doing sales. He gets bonuses for every company he brings in, and his wages are high."

Zhou Qiao agreed, adding that among the apprentices in the workshop, there were not many who hadn't married yet. As their elder sister, she did have her own preferences. While Da Zhuang was a good person, he was a bit older.

The old lady wasn't sure of Da Zhuang's age, but Shu Yu knew he was 21 this year, and his brother, was two years younger at 19. Given that Zhou Qiao's second sister was only 15 years old, a 21-year-old groom seemed quite mature for her.

Zhou Qiao explained, "Even if my second sister agrees to an engagement now, the wedding won't happen for a couple of years. She can't bear to leave our family, and she'll probably want to wait for our third sister to grow up a bit before getting married. By that time, Da Zhuang will be 23. Even if Da Zhuang is willing to wait, his family might not be so patient."

Moreover, many people had already proposed marriage to Da Zhuang since he started working at the oil mill.

The old lady agreed, "That's true. Then how about Ruan Dalai? Go back and ask your second sister and father for their opinions. If they agree, you can ask Ruan Dalai, and if both sides have no objections, we'll meet him in person."

Zhou Qiao smiled and said, "That's exactly what I had in mind."

She felt that for such matters, it was better to seek the opinions of their elders. After all, she had only been married for less than two years and didn't understand much about it herself.

However, Xiao Zaozao grew impatient with the adults discussing, so she squirmed and jumped back into Zhou Qiao's arms.

This reminded Shu Yu of something. Aunt Ah Xiang had asked her to look for a suitable match among the apprentices in the workshop.

But Shu Yu didn't know much about them.

She could only ask Zhou Qiao for help. Zhou Qiao frowned and hesitated, "Looking for a son-in-law is not an easy task. Nowadays, most people who marry into a family are not very capable. All the apprentices in the workshop can earn money, so why would they want to be a son-in-law?"

Shu Yu sighed, "That's exactly what Aunt Ah Xiang said. However, my sister can't bear to part with Aunt Ah Xiang."

Zhou Qiao thought for a moment and suggested, "Actually, there's another way. Aunt Ah Xiang can find a companion for herself. That way, my sister will feel more at ease."

The old lady found the idea feasible, saying, "Ah Xiang is still young, right? She's about 36 or 37 years old?"

Shu Yu: "..."

Are they serious?

"Aunt Ah Xiang is indeed relatively young, but she has worked hard to raise her daughter. Now that she has money and free time, she can take care of her grandchildren after my sister Xiangdi married. She'll have a more relaxed life. Why should she marry another man? Not only will she have to contribute her earnings, but she'll also have to do the housework and take care of the children. If there are any problems with the stepchildren, she'll be the one to suffer. This won't put my sister's mind at ease; it will only make her more anxious."

 Chapter 653: A Premonition in Dreams (2)

After hearing Snowball’s explanation, Mo Yan was very intrigued but didn’t immediately agree: “This is a technique from the cultivation world. It shouldn’t harm cultivators, but could it harm ordinary people who have no spiritual power?”

Snowball’s eyes widened s it replied firmly, “Of course not! ‘Dream Insertion’ is done while the person is asleep, just like dreaming. Have you ever heard of someone getting hurt in a dream? Besides, if ‘Dream Insertion’ harmed someone, we’d have to bear the consequences. Do you think I’d be foolish enough to dig my own grave?”

With her last concern addressed, Mo Yan was about to ask Snowball how to proceed. Then she suddenly remembered the restrictions imposed by the laws of heaven and earth, which prevented Snowball from leaving the space. If it did, there was a risk of being struck by heavenly lightning and being sealed again.

Her expression changed immediately. She grabbed Snowball’s belly and shook it like a rattle: “I’ll find another way to solve this issue. You mustn’t take risks!”

In her past life, Snowball had used secret techniques to temporarily bypass the laws of heaven and earth, breaking free from the seal to save Mo Yan’s soul fragments. Mo Yan absolutely refused to let Snowball risk being struck by lightning or re-sealed just for this small matter.

Snowball felt it had indeed chosen the right master, and was deeply moved. Its eye-like antennae rubbed against Mo Yan’s face, and its voice turned unusually gentle: “Yan Yan, don’t worry. As long as someone has drunk the spirit spring water or eaten the produce from the space, they’ll be connected to it. Through this connection, ‘Dream Insertion’ can be carried out smoothly without leaving the space.”

“Really? It’s that simple?” Mo Yan was astonished by Snowball’s abilities. The thought that such a small connection could achieve this was incredible. She couldn’t help but hug it and praise, “Snowball, you’re amazing!” It was a dream come true for her to have such a remarkable little treasure!

Seeing its master’s genuine delight, Snowball felt quite pleased. It looked eagerly at the high sun outside, waiting for the night to come…

In the entire Liuyang Village, almost no one had drunk the spirit spring water or eaten the produce from the space. Even if there were a few exceptions, as long as most people believed in something, over time, the few who didn’t would think their memories were faulty.

That night, Mo Yan lay in bed with her eyes closed, mentally visualizing a scene to be used: dozens of ox carts coming into the village, carrying bags of grain. In the villagers' envy, these carts entered Mo’s workshop, where a villager and the cart drivers piled hundreds of sacks of grain in the warehouse. Next door, the stone mill hummed with the sound of grinding rice…

To avoid detection, after performing the Dream Insertion technique, Mo Yan went to her own mill that night. She transported several hundred sacks of grain from the space and asked Snowball to help process some of it into white rice and grind corn kernels into grits. In short, she made sure all the staple grains sold in the mill were complete!

The Dream Insertion technique was a success. The next day, six villagers arrived early at the mill and began working just as in the virtual scene. Soon, the sound of the stone mill grinding grain could be heard.

With Snowball’s prior warning, Mo Yan was prepared for this outcome. She had taken care to include these details in the virtual scene.

The six villagers weren’t randomly chosen for the dream. They had previously helped manage Mo’s rice fields. They were diligent, honest people, and due to their large families, they were eager to take on extra work. When they heard that Mo’s mill was hiring, they volunteered to help.

  Chapter 652: A Premonition in Dreams (1)

After harvesting and drying the rice from the 130 acres, Mo Yan didn't have it weighed but instead piled it into the empty rooms in the front courtyard, filling three entire rooms. Guan Yu and fifty others spent nearly an hour weighing all the rice with more than twenty scales. The final tally shocked everyone!

145,000 jin—exactly 145,000 jin! This means the yield per mu was over 1,100 jin, more than 100 jin above the estimated 1,000 jin per mu, and 800 jin more than the average yield of rice in the Da Chu.

This yield was within Mo Yan's expectations. If it weren’t for the new terraced fields’ poor soil quality and her concerns about others noticing, she would have dared to water the fields with spirit water more generously, possibly increasing the yield by another 200 jin.

Hearing the exact yield, Yan Junyu was overjoyed. He immediately sought Mo Yan’s opinion on whether he could transport all the rice to use as seed to cultivate more rice, which would then be planted throughout the Da Chu.

Mo Yan had intended to promote the high-yield rice throughout the Da Chu to help the impoverished people suffering from hunger, a noble and beneficial cause she wouldn’t refuse.

However, Mo Yan had another purpose in growing the rice: to openly extract the grains from her space. Every time she secretly took grains from the warehouse, she was risking a lot. It was manageable in the short term, but over time, someone might notice and suspect something was amiss.

After all, seeing the grains being taken out of the warehouse without knowing how they got in would make anyone with a brain doubt that the grains appeared out of thin air!

While Mo Yan was troubled about how to transport the grains from the space without raising suspicion, she suddenly heard Snowball's voice in her mind: “Yan Yan, leave this to me. Just make sure to get a bit more silver; we can’t make a loss on this deal!”

Snowball’s initial comment delighted Mo Yan, though she chose to ignore the latter part. The benefits of freely providing high-yield rice were far more than a few hundred taels of silver!

This time, Yan Junyu unusually did not insist on staying for lunch. After thanking Mo Yan sincerely, he returned to the capital with the first batch of transported rice.

The matter of high-yield rice was crucial. He needed to get to the Jing Mountain villa quickly to strategize on how to leverage this opportunity to boost Chu Heng’s reputation, solidify his position as crown prince, and severely suppress the Lin family.

Eager to return to her room and consult Snowball on the method, Mo Yan was unaware that the high-yield rice would become entangled with politics. Holding Snowball’s small body with her left hand and poking its soft belly with her right index finger, she asked, “You said you have a solution. How exactly are we going to do it?”

Snowball, initially intending to act coy to gain some perks from its master, found itself ticklish from the pokes and wriggled around, trying to avoid its master's mischievous fingers. Unable to escape, it finally surrendered and disclosed everything.

It turned out that after Snowball developed its main body, it learned many human spiritual techniques in the cultivation world. One of these techniques was the "Dream Insertion Technique." The practitioner of this technique would first create a virtual event or person and, while the subject was asleep, use spiritual power to insert this into another person’s mind, making them firmly believe it was a real event or person, similar to psychological suggestion.

This technique, originally used as a playful trick among friends in the cultivation world, could only be used by someone with higher spiritual power on someone with lower spiritual power. The duration of the effect varied based on the power difference. If used on an ordinary person and not a cultivator, this suggestion could last for their entire life.

  Chapter 651: His Unspoken Feelings of Protection (4)

Yan Junyu, unable to suppress his jealousy, felt a burgeoning, deeply buried emotion breaking free from its constraints, desperately trying to emerge. He looked at the puzzled woman before him, closing his eyes to hide all his emotions: She doesn’t know anything...

Mo Yan, seeing Yan Junyu’s troubled expression, couldn’t understand what he was imagining. She suddenly thought that when a man starts daydreaming, it’s even scarier than when a woman does! She felt she should say something, but her instincts told her that saying more might only lead to trouble, so she decided to stay quiet.

Yan Junyu’s loss of composure didn’t last long. Soon, his face was again adorned with a lazy smile. “I’ve heard your insincere words countless times. I’m very angry now, so you’re punished to chat with me until I feel better!”

Mo Yan was amused by his shamelessness and asked, “What do you want to chat about?”

This question left Yan Junyu at a loss. He simply wanted to keep her company, as if that could fill the emptiness inside him. The actual conversation seemed secondary.

Seeing his bewildered expression, Mo Yan felt a pang of sympathy. It was like someone who, despite having many friends, still felt lonely inside. They were unwilling to confide in their loved ones but deeply feared being alone, finding solace in having someone nearby, even if no words were exchanged.

This person wasn’t the debauched fool that people said he was. He deliberately presented himself in this manner, likely due to some hidden struggles. Constantly suppressing his true nature, over time, he might even have lost sight of whether he was pretending or if this was his real self.

Seeing the pity in Mo Yan’s eyes, Yan Junyu became frustrated and wanted to shout that he, the noble young master of a prominent family, with no peer among his contemporaries and favored by both the emperor and empress, had no reason to feel pitiful. Despite being in a world full of power and wealth, he too felt confined and unable to fully express himself.

Yet, when he was about to speak, the words got stuck in his throat. Despite his high status, being loved by the emperor, and the empress’s favor, he could not do what he truly wished, much like a dragon trapped in a small pond, unable to swim freely.

Yan Junyu’s unusual silence left Mo Yan feeling uncertain about how to comfort him. She patted Xiao Hua, who was yawning and lying on the ground, signaling it to comfort its former owner.

Xiao Hua responded immediately, sitting up and nudging Yan Junyu’s hand with its cool nose. Then it rested its large head on Yan Junyu’s lap, gazing at him with a calm and gentle expression.

Despite being an animal, Xiao Hua was more intelligent than the average wolf, with a wisdom comparable to that of a seven or eight-year-old child. Having spent years with Yan Junyu, Xiao Hua understood him well. When Yan Junyu was unhappy in the past, Xiao Hua would comfort him in this way.

As expected, Xiao Hua’s actions softened Yan Junyu’s expression. He reached out as usual to pat its head, intending to reassure it, but then noticed Mo Yan, the girl who made him feel conflicted. His Gesture shifted from a gentle pat to a push, nearly sending the unprepared Xiao Hua to the ground.

He glared at Xiao Hua with disdain and said harshly, “It’s been days since you bathed. You’re filthy and still dare to rub against me. Don’t you know I’m a clean freak?”

Mo Yan, unaware that Yan Junyu’s ego was at play and that he had pushed Xiao Hua and away to avoid showing weakness, felt quite irritated seeing Xiao Hua’s pitiful look. Though she was angry with Yan Junyu, she said nothing and silently comforted Xiao Hua by patting its head.

Yan Junyu, feeling deeply frustrated, had ruined the pleasant atmosphere he had created...

 Chapter 650: His Unspoken Feelings of Protection (3)

Although Snow ball in the space had foreseen the situation, it did not remind Mo Yan. With a daughter as fortunate as the master and with influential help on the side, her father would be safe. However, it was crucial for the master to continue growing!

On the third day of the autumn examinations, Yan Junyu, dressed in understated attire, arrived in Liuyang Village in a modestly decorated carriage. What wasn't modest were the dozens of open-top ox carts following behind, which successfully attracted the attention of everyone in Liuyang Village, from eighty-year-old elders to toddlers just learning to walk.

Mo Yan, feeling rather speechless, welcomed him in and promptly closed the courtyard door to shut out the countless curious eyes from outside.

Yan Junyu came this time for the high-yield rice. Originally, he should have come to transport the rice from the Phoenix Mountain reserve after returning, but due to some delays, he only found time now.

Mo Yan had expected Yan Junyu to get straight to business and leave quickly. However, to her surprise, he immediately instructed Guan Yu and others to go to Mo’s granary to bag and weigh the high-yield rice harvested recently. Meanwhile, Yan Junyu leisurely lounged under the vines, giving instructions to Mo Yan as if she where a servant girl, asking her to serve tea, snacks, and an assortment of delicious, juicy fruits.

Mo Yan, busy with these tasks, served the food and let Xiao Hua accompany him. She then prepared to leave to check the construction materials on-site. Yan Junyu, however, lazily called out, “You’re leaving just because I’m here for a short while? I rarely come by. Shouldn’t you spend more time with me? Such a good opportunity, other girls would be begging for it!”

Mo Yan twitched at the corner of her eye. The way it sounded was so awkward. Even if a girl liked his appearance, she wouldn’t shamelessly beg to see him, unless she were truly a “girl.” If he said this to other girls, they would surely be upset!

Knowing he was just trying to provoke her, Mo Yan responded calmly, “If that’s the case, then Young Master Yan should go find such girls. When you do, remember to bring some money; in such places, just having a pretty face won’t suffice.”

Yan Junyu, taken aback that his intended effect didn’t occur, straightened up and asked in surprise, “Aren’t you angry?”

He had used this line to tease many girls who were eager to get close to him, only to have them cry out of frustration and scold him as a “scoundrel.” No wonder he had such a reputation for being a debauched flirt in the capital.

Mo Yan looked at Yan Junyu as if he were an idiot, giving Xiao Hua a strawberry and watching it frown as it ate. In a rather pleasant mood, she said, “I know you’re deliberately trying to provoke me. If I got angry, wouldn’t it be just what you wanted?”

Moreover, if your reputation as a debauched flirt spreads, any future girl you truly like will be your own fault. Though, she felt it was unnecessary to remind him, as he would likely dismiss it with a sneer.

“Hmph, at least you’re speaking honestly!” Yan Junyu, not only failing to achieve his goal but also being mocked by Mo Yan, didn’t get angry. Instead, he felt more at ease with her attitude, a charming smile appearing on his sexy lips. “Since you admit that I have a face, tell me, between me and Han Zhang, who is better looking?”

Mo Yan was speechless. How vain could one be? A grown man obsessing over comparing looks with another man? But seeing Yan Junyu’s “if you don’t say, I won’t let you go” attitude, she had no choice but to answer truthfully, “Young Master Yan and Brother Xiao are two completely different types in terms of both temperament and appearance. It’s hard to judge who is better.”

Yan Junyu was not satisfied with this answer. What made him feel even more sour was Mo Yan’s choice of titles—why did she call him the polite “Young Master Yan,” but referred to the other as “Brother Xiao”? That cold, unapproachable man who never spoke a comforting word, even if he looked good, how was he better than himself?

Chapter 1499: Second sister Zhou Marriage

With the matter settled, Shu Yu visited the tenant households but couldn't gather any useful information about Jiang Kuanyu. She returned to the manor and chatted with Xiao Ya'er instead.

Unfortunately, Xiao Ya'er had very little interaction with Jiang Kuanyu. Apart from the two days when her grandfather was murdered, she had only seen him a few times over the years. Thus, Shu Yu's trip yielded little information about Jiang Kuanyu.

As it was getting late, Shu Yu decided to head back. Zhou Qiao had already packed her things and joined them on the journey. Xiao Zaozao was sitting in the carriage, very excited. She had already slept well during the nap and was full of energy, squirming around without stopping.

Zhou Qiao struggled to hold her in place and said, "You've been on a carriage before, why are you so excited?"

grandma Lu took out a plush toy to distract Xiao Zaozao's attention and said with a smile, "She's still young. Even if she has been on a carriage before, she probably doesn't remember."

"Ahh..." Xiao Zaozao reached out with her chubby hands to grab the toy, and Zhou Qiao followed her, almost falling forward.

Shu Yu quickly reached out and supported her, effortlessly carrying the mischievous little one in her arms.

Zhou Qiao sighed and rubbed her arms, feeling a bit exhausted. "This girl has boundless energy. grandma Lu, you'll have to work hard during the upcoming days."

grandma Lu waved her hand, "Why would I be tired? We have servants at home, and I can take turns carrying her for a while until you come back in the evening. When you're back in Shishi Village, just listen and observe. If your mother-in-law asks you to do something, do it. She has her own ideas and doesn't like to hear others' opinions. Actually, everything for Lan Hua's wedding is already prepared, but your mother-in-law has high expectations, always afraid that something might be missing."

"I understand. I'll listen and observe more. By the way, with this experience, I'll be better prepared for my other sisters' marriages in the future."

Hearing her mention her other sisters, grandma Lu asked with concern, "I remember your second sister is also grown up. She's just a year younger than Ah Yu, right?"

"Yes." Zhou Qiao smiled wryly, "That's why I'm going back this time, not just to help my mother-in-law but also to ask my second sister about her thoughts."

"Does she have a suitor?"

Zhou Qiao shook her head, "Not yet. A few days ago, my father came to the estate and mentioned that my second aunt wants to introduce a relative from our maternal family to my second sister. grandma, you know what my second aunt is like, always chasing after money. I really don't feel at ease letting her take charge of my second sister's marriage."

Since their mother had passed away, their close female relatives were limited, and the only one Zhou Qiao could rely on was her second aunt.

She wanted to take charge of her sister's marriage, and Zhou Qiao was not happy about it. Her sisters were all obedient and well-behaved. They didn't need to marry into a wealthy family. As long as the other party was hardworking, kind, and would treat them well, it would be enough.

Her criteria were different from her second aunt's.

grandma Lu nodded, "Your sister's marriage will indeed require your involvement. So, do you have any suitable candidates in mind?"

With this question, Zhou Qiao pursed her lips and whispered with a smile, "I quite like Ruan Dalai and Da Zhuang."

She had been living in the estate all this time, so the people she knew were either the workshop's apprentices or the tenant households. She didn't know anyone else.

  Chapter 649: His Unspoken Feelings of Protection (2)

The Lin family’s disciples were spread across the nation, enjoying a high reputation among scholars. Before the Lin family fell out of favor with Emperor Hui’an and before the favored consort was demoted to the cold palace, the period between the autumn examinations and the following spring examinations saw a steady stream of scholars visiting the Lin family. Even if they were courteously invited in and had to wait ten days or half a month without seeing Master Lin, they would not give up until Master Lin began his lectures.

Despite the Lin family’s current diminished status after falling out of favor with Emperor Hui’an, the high-minded scholars continued to revere them, believing that the Lin family was truly above worldly desires and thus held in even higher esteem.

Both Xiao Ruiyuan and Chu Heng never believed that the Lin family was truly as detached from fame and fortune as they appeared. After all, how could they have raised a daughter like the favored consort, who was ruthless enough to poison Empress Chunyi to seize the position of crown princess? When Chu Heng’s poison was not yet cured, everyone thought he would not survive Emperor Hui’an. The most likely candidate for crown prince was Prince Heng, with the Lin family’s involvement behind it.

Now that Chu Heng’s poison was cured and Prince Heng had been disfigured, not only was Chu Heng’s position as crown prince more secure, but even if he were removed, the successor would not be Prince Heng unless all the other royal princes and dukes were also incapacitated or dead.

The Lin family knew that once Chu Heng ascended, their fate would be dire. They could not sit idly by and were using the autumn examinations as an opportunity to topple Chu Heng and support Prince Heng or another prince they could control.

Chu Heng had a good guess about the Lin family’s schemes. Hearing Xiao Ruiyuan’s question, he sneered, “Father wants me to establish my reputation among the scholars so that I can build my own power base before the spring examinations. The Lin family must have received news of this and is making all these moves to try and undermine me. Their goal is either to challenge me directly, hoping to bring me down, or to frame me for corruption, tarnishing my reputation and turning me into a scapegoat!”

As Chu Heng spoke, he seemed to remember something, and his expression changed slightly. He said to Xiao Ruiyuan, “You mentioned before that Miss Mo’s father will be participating in this autumn examination. If the Lin family and Prince Heng resent Miss Mo for disrupting their plans, they might even target her father.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ruiyuan’s face darkened suddenly, his eyes flashing with a bloodthirsty light. “If they dare to do that, I, Xiao Ruiyuan, will make them pay a hundred times over!”

Miss Mo’s father was the most important person to him. He couldn’t bear to see her hurt, let alone allow such petty people to cause her pain.

Chu Heng looked at his cousin’s murderous intent with helplessness. He said, “If such a situation really arises, even if you tear the culprit to pieces, what’s the use? The priority now is to send someone to warn Miss Mo’s father before the examination begins. He must be careful not to fall into traps. Even if someone tries to frame him, we can help clear his name.”

Xiao Ruiyuan, agitated by concern, lost his composure for a moment. After hearing Chu Heng’s words, he quickly stood up, forgetting to say goodbye, and rushed off.

He couldn’t rest easy tonight without personally informing his future father-in-law about the situation and the potential risks.

Chu Heng, left “abandoned” by his cousin, shook his head in exasperation. He picked up a white stone from the chessbox and placed it on the unfinished board. The game, which had seemed decided, was instantly turned around, with the white stones reversing the outcome…

Miss Mo was unaware that the seemingly ordinary autumn examination had become a battlefield of competing forces, and that because of her, her father was entangled in a dangerous situation, nearly falling victim to a plot against his life.

  Chapter 648: His Unspoken Feelings of Protection (1)

The two cousins had supported each other for many years. Chu Heng knew very well what kind of person his cousin was. On the surface, Xiao Ruiyuan was upright and composed, but in reality, he was cold-hearted and destined to be alone. When had he ever seen him so flustered and embarrassed?

In the capital, which noble young man at the age of twenty-three didn’t have a household full of wives and children running around? Yet, this cousin of his had neither children nor even a servant girl to attend to him. Chu Heng had once suspected that his cousin might be suffering from some hidden illness; otherwise, why would he only have rigid attendants serving him and endure such a lonely existence for so many years?

Now, seeing his cousin defend Miss Mo, it was clear that he had deep feelings for her. With his stubborn personality, once he made up his mind, nothing could change it. He was unlikely to fall for anyone else, and no one could force him to accept another woman.

Chu Heng sighed inwardly, thinking, “Indeed, one cannot hold back a growing child!”

Although Miss Mo came from a humble background and technically didn’t even qualify to be a concubine to his cousin, she had saved his life. Even if he wasn’t entirely pleased, he couldn’t bear to break up the pair. Moreover, she had also saved his cousin's life. She was kind-hearted and noble, qualities that couldn’t be overlooked. Since his cousin didn’t care about his future wife’s background, Chu Heng, as his older cousin, had no reason to object.

With this in mind, Chu Heng’s expression softened. Seeing the hidden tension in his cousin’s eyes, he spoke with resignation, “Do you think I’m the kind of person who can’t tell right from wrong, someone who would repay kindness with ingratitude? Even if that woman is Miss Mo’s biological mother, she severed ties with her the day she eloped with Chen Ji. Moreover, Miss Mo bears the Mo surname and just taught Chen Ji a lesson for me. I will remember this favor.”

Hearing this, Xiao Ruiyuan’s furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and a faint smile appeared on his usually stern lips, brightening the room. “Thank you, Brother!”

Even though Chu Heng knew his cousin’s beauty was unparalleled, that rare smile still dazzled him. After a brief moment of distraction, he couldn’t help but joke, “I must never stand next to you in the future, or else I, the crown prince of a nation, might be laughed at as a mere foil to your beauty!”

At first, Xiao Ruiyuan didn’t understand, but once he did, his face darkened. To him, appearance was just a shell, something he never paid much attention to. Now, being teased by his cousin, he felt aggrieved. How could a dignified man be compared to a beautiful flower?

However, his mind involuntarily conjured up an image of someone who had haunted his dreams. He remembered how, whenever he smiled at her, she would stare at him, her dazed and silly look etched clearly in his memory. Each time, her eyes would reflect different emotions… 

Chu Heng had no idea that his casual remark had triggered his cousin’s thoughts. Seeing his cousin’s gaze drifting off into the distance with that fleeting, stunning smile again, Chu Heng was taken aback.

Could his cousin be bewitched? Otherwise, how could someone who rarely smiled twice in a year now smile twice in just a few moments?

Xiao Ruiyuan snapped out of his reverie, noticing his cousin’s strange stare. Feeling slightly uncomfortable, he turned his head and skillfully changed the subject, “Recently, the Lin family has been making frequent moves, all aimed at this year’s autumn examinations. What are your plans, Brother?”

(End of the chapter)

 Chapter 1498: Zhou Qiao's Request

Zhou Qiao glanced at Da Niu before speaking up.

"Go ahead," Shu Yu replied.

Zhou Qiao sat down and said, "I observed earlier that grandmother really likes the child. So, I'd like to take Xiao Zaozao to stay at your place for a while. Of course, it's not just for grandmother's sake. Next month is Lan Hua's wedding day, and as her sister-in-law, I should go back to help."

Shu Yu immediately understood Zhou Qiao's meaning.

Currently living in the estate, she was quite far from the village. If she wanted to help with Lan Hua's wedding, she would have to bring her child back to Shishi Village. After all, Lan Hua was getting married in Shishi Village.

However, living in the village meant facing Li Shi face-to-face every day.

Although Li Shi was relatively tolerant towards her because of Xiao Zaozao, if Zhou Qiao made even a minor mistake, Li Shi would blow it out of proportion and think that she, as a daughter-in-law, couldn't stand to see her daughter-in-law doing well.

During that time, there wouldn't be Da Niu as an intermediary to mediate, so Zhou Qiao could only endure the situation. The days would be difficult to bear.

But if Xiao Zaozao stayed with Nainai in the county, it would be different. As Xiao Zaozao's birth mother, Zhou Qiao couldn't completely let go. Even if she couldn't be with her every day, she could at least spend a night with her every once in a while.

Since grandmother had just fallen ill, Li Shi couldn't say anything if she wanted Xiao Zaozao to stay by her side.

Shu Yu could understand Zhou Qiao's thoughts, and she had no objections.

"Let grandmother know about this, and if she agrees, it's fine," Shu Yu said.

Shu Yu also wanted Xiao Zaozao to be by grandma Lu's side. Although the Lu family had many children, they were all busy with their own things.

Apart from Shu Yu's four siblings, Er Niu from Da Niu's family and Da Bao from Lu Sanzhu family were both attending school. They only visited during holidays.

As for Xiao Zhen from Fourth family, they had started helping with household chores according to their abilities. In addition, the distance was quite far, and they had to travel by carriage, so they didn't come over very often.

The youngest ones, Quan Quan and Xiao Songle, visited the most, but these two three-year-old children were unpredictable and liked to run around. They couldn't stay at home and had already become wild under the care of Zhang Cai Mao.

The only relatively well-behaved one was Cui Hua's son, Lai Yuan. He had already gone to school to study.

The Lu family might have many children, but they couldn't always be by grandma Lu's side.

Now, there was only Xiao Zaozao left, who couldn't run around and could accompany grandma Lu.

Shu Yu was quite happy to have Xiao Zaozao, the adorable little baby, living in the estate, and she liked it too.

Zhou Qiao smiled and said, "Alright, I'll talk to grandmother."

She glanced at Da Niu again, and he chuckled, "Why are you looking at me? I have no objections. Besides, I was going to tell you that the shop in the city will be opening soon, and I'll be very busy. I'll have to rely on you more for the family affairs."

Since he had already said that, Zhou Qiao didn't hesitate.

After grandma Lu woke up, she shared her thoughts, and grandma Lu was overjoyed.

grandma Lu understood Li Shi very well. She thought it was a good idea to have Xiao Zaozao around. The child was well-behaved, and she also had a nanny with her.

 Chapter 1497: Suspicion from Elder Yuan

Shu Yu was puzzled, "What happened?"

Da Niu continued to gaze at the sunflower field outside and said, "Elder Yuan and his wife were snooping around here a few days ago. When they were discovered by Lao Yang, he scolded them, and they ran away."

Elder Yuan was the elder brother of Shu Yu's uncle, Yuan Shanchuan.

As soon as Da Niu mentioned it, Shu Yu understood what he was referring to.

"Are you saying that Elder Yuan might have already noticed our sunflower seeds? The ones we bought from him earlier, the same ones he dug out from under his house?" Shu Yu asked.

The sunflower seeds were originally purchased by Shu Yu and Da Niu from Elder Yuan.

Shu Yu had already prepared for this, as it was impossible to hide the fact that they were growing sunflowers. Elder Yuan would eventually realize that the sunflowers looked exactly like the seeds he had in his possession.

Da Niu nodded, "But it seems like he's not entirely sure. It has been quite some time, and I guess even they can't quite remember the appearance of the seeds they had back then. Still, they came over, so they must have some suspicions."

Shu Yu smiled, "If they have doubts, let them be. We didn't steal or snatch anything; we bought them fair and square. Not to mention, I disguised myself as a middle-aged man when purchasing them. Even if I had gone with my original appearance, this matter has already been settled, and it's none of their concern anymore."

Without her, Elder Yuan wouldn't have been able to sell those seeds at all.

He had either been turned away by various grocery and drug stores or offered a pittance just to get rid of him. After encountering obstacles on all fronts, Elder Yuan had even considered throwing away those seeds.

If he wanted to cause trouble now, he would need a reasonable justification.

Shu Yu said, "Tell Lao Yang to be vigilant and not let anyone come into the workshop to cause trouble. Let's just observe how Elder Yuan behaves."

Da Niu nodded, "Alright, I understand."

As they chatted, the carriage quickly arrived at the estate.

The two of them went to see their grandmother and found her resting on the bed, with Xiao Zaozao sleeping beside her. The sight of the two of them lying side by side looked particularly harmonious.

After a quick glance, Shu Yu left and asked Zhou Qiao, "Is grandmother doing well?"

Zhou Qiao smiled, "She seems to be in good spirits. After you left, we went to the fields for a walk. Grandmother saw a few tenants working there, so she went down to chat with them while watching the sunflower stalks. She even caught two insects while at it."

Zhou Qiao found it quite interesting to recount the story.

"I think grandmother is in a good mood. We can occasionally bring her over in the future."

Shu Yu and Da Niu exchanged glances. Though they hadn't seen grandma's expression at the time, it seemed that Shu Yu's guess was correct—grandma Lu was beginning to feel nostalgic about the fields.

Shu Yu nodded, "That's a good idea. We have plenty of rooms in the estate. Occasionally, we can bring her here to see our vast land. Over a hundred mu of land is something grandmother can take pride in."

"When it's time to harvest the sunflowers, we can also take her along," Da Niu suggested.

Everyone present realized that they shouldn't let grandmother stay at home all the time.

Zhou Qiao hesitated a bit as she looked at the room and said, "There's something on my mind, second Sister-in-law."

  Chapter 647: Reckless Response (4)

Refusing Snow ball's help, Mo Yan took a bamboo basket and headed to the orchard to pick some fruit. Compared to the small plot before, the orchard had expanded to over fifty acres thanks to Snow ball's efforts. With the time flow in the space now accelerated to about one day outside equating to a year inside, the trees would only produce fruit continuously if they were picked. Otherwise, the fruit trees would have created an overwhelming amount of fruit, which would have been a hassle.

The space was now neatly divided by Snow ball into several sections: orchard, grains, herb fields, breeding area, and storage "warehouse." This organization prevented the fruit trees from spreading unchecked, herbs from encroaching on the grain fields, and animals from roaming freely and leaving messes everywhere.

Except for the breeding area, which was temporarily unused, all other areas were vibrant and thriving. The warehouse was piled high with grains, fruits, herbs, and more, which brought joy to anyone who saw it. However, leaving all this unused would be wasteful, so Mo Yan planned to use these resources in the real world when the opportunity arose.

After filling her basket with her favorite fruits, Mo Yan sat down and started eating with a crunch. Snow ball, seeing her enjoy herself, gleefully summoned a heap of fruits from the warehouse and threatened the five beasts to finish them all, warning them that if any lagged behind, it would poke holes in them without using spiritual energy.

The five beasts looked at Mo Yan with pitiful eyes and glared resentfully at Snow ball before reluctantly starting to eat. Ever since their training began, they hadn't been allowed to eat meat. It had been twenty years (twenty days outside) of only fruits and even more bitter herbs, making them so crave meat that they'd gnaw on their own tails if they could!

"Haha—" Receiving the beasts' pitiful glances, Mo Yan laughed heartily. After they finished the pile of fruits, she said, "From now on, you can stay in the space during the day and sleep outside at night. Things might not be peaceful at home soon, and I need you to keep an eye on things."

The beasts instantly perked up and simultaneously looked at Snow ball on Mo Yan's shoulder.

They liked staying in the space, but they loved going outside even more, where they could feast on meat to their hearts' content. However, without Snow ball's permission, they couldn’t leave the space even if Mo Yan ordered it.

Seeing the drooling beasts, Snow ball disdainfully said, "If you want to go out, then get out quickly. But if you don’t protect Yan Yan well, be prepared to have your hides peeled!"

Knowing that Snow ball never made empty threats, the beasts shivered and swore in their hearts to protect Mo Yan well and keep their "clothes" intact since they had no desire to run around naked.

Watching the beasts leave the space with Mo Yan and joyfully roll around in the small house outside, Snow ball remained in the quiet space, its round eyes reflecting a deep loneliness.

The night was deep at Jing Shan Residence.

Xiao Ruiyuan was playing chess with Chu Heng in his room when he received a message from the secret guards in Liuyang Village. As he read the note, his eyes darkened with intense killing intent.

Seeing this, Chu Heng put down his chess piece and asked with concern, "Is it something about Miss Mo?"

After twenty days of careful recuperation, Chu Heng still looked thin but had regained some color in his face and no longer seemed terminally ill. His spirits had also significantly improved.

Xiao Ruiyuan nodded, then handed the note to Chu Heng, hesitatingly saying, "Chen Ji... is the current husband of Yan'er's biological mother."

As one of the culprits behind poisoning the Empress Chunyi, how could Chu Heng not know Chen Ji? Hearing this, he frowned. He quickly read the note, his expression turning to shock upon learning that Mo Yan had kicked Chen Ji's knee, breaking it: was this the same seemingly weak woman who had done this?

Xiao Ruiyuan, thinking Chu Heng was surprised by the relationship between Mo Yan and Chen Ji, voiced his doubt, "Brother, knowing what Chen Ji did, why didn't you eliminate him to avenge Aunt?"

Chu Heng placed the note on the table, pushing it towards Xiao Ruiyuan. "Father's hatred for the Lin family is no less than mine. He's been biding his time, so there must be something we don't know. Moving against Chen Ji might alert others, and we might uncover some clues from him."

Xiao Ruiyuan nodded in realization. "Chen Ji came from humble beginnings. Yet, shortly after arriving in the capital, he caught the Lin family's eye. There must be secrets we aren't aware of."

Chu Heng sneered, a deep hatred flashing in his eyes. "Otherwise, why would I have let him live until now?"

Feeling heavy-hearted, Xiao Ruiyuan couldn’t help but speak up to clarify Mo Yan's innocence. "Yan'er's mother left when she was under seven and never returned. Despite knowing Yan'er's family was in the capital, she never reached out. Chen Ji's actions have nothing to do with them, Brother..."

Before he could finish, he noticed his brother's teasing smile, and his ears turned red, suddenly finding himself unable to continue.

 Chapter 646: Reckless Response (3)

Snow ball had said that unless absolutely necessary, one must not harbor murderous thoughts or actually kill others. Bloodshed could affect one's fortune, and once fortune changes, unpredictable consequences might ensue. Cause and effect are indeed real!

Mo Yan rolled around on her large bed, unable to come up with a solution. Frustrated, she entered her space, looking at the endless greenery and the five beasts frolicking around, gradually relaxing her mood.

Whatever, she thought. Let’s deal with problems as they come. There’s no point in overthinking when she doesn’t even know what Chen Ji might do next. If he dared to have malicious thoughts, she could have the red python summon a group of minions to bury his mansion, and maybe even give him a taste of paralysis, a crooked mouth, and a lifetime of lying in bed, unable to speak clearly. Let’s see if he still dared to harbor evil thoughts then.

The five beasts soon noticed Mo Yan and dashed towards her at a speed too fast for the naked eye, leaving only afterimages.

Just as they were about to pounce on Mo Yan, they seemed to hit an invisible barrier a foot away from her, their five big heads making a collective thud. Due to the inertia, their large bodies tumbled to the ground.

"Snow ball, you're being naughty again!" Mo Yan reached out and touched the barrier, confirming it was there. She then spoke to Snow ball, who was lazily flying over.

Unfazed by her scolding, Snow ball snorted indignantly and said, "I've been training them for so many days, yet they still crash into the barrier. It only shows how dumb they are. How can you blame me for that?"

By this time, the five beasts had picked themselves up from the ground. Hearing Snow ball's words, their unique eyes were filled with defiance. How could they react in time with such a powerful barrier set so close without warning?

Snow ball could easily read their thoughts and was genuinely angry this time. "You five idiots! I’ve wasted my spiritual power, tirelessly clearing your meridians and training your abilities. Yet, you dare blame me for your slowness? Hmph, if you can’t pass my test in ten days, I’ll refine you into fertilizer for the fields to avoid disgracing me."

Being reprimanded in front of Mo Yan, the five beasts felt deeply ashamed, wishing they could find a hole to hide in. Snow ball's mockery and threats were quite effective, making the beasts, whose strength had recently surged, humbly retract their proud tails.

Mo Yan had seen this teacher-student dynamic many times, yet it always felt fresh. The visual contrast of the huge beasts cowering before the palm-sized Snow ball was amusing enough to entertain her for a while.

Mo Yan knew that despite Snow ball's disdainful attitude and penchant for bullying the beasts, it liked them. She couldn’t stay in the space all day to keep it company, so the beasts were a bright and warm presence in Snow ball’s lonely and long life, bringing it much joy.

Seeing Mo Yan laughing heartily, Snow ball's tension eased. Observing everything from outside the space, it was genuinely worried that Mo Yan might rashly order the red python to gather minions against Chen Ji. That would be a real headache.

Once the master started down that path, it might be hard to stop if similar situations arose in the future.

Chapter 1496: Mid-Autumn Festival Gift

Wei Ronghua continued to work as a shopkeeper, but it seemed that his ideas didn't align well with his current employer, and the person seemed quite dissatisfied with him.

Master Miao had a deep impression of Wei Ronghua. Now, with a change of heart, he felt that it was a waste to let him stay in Donggu County like that, especially considering Wei Ronghua's abilities, which Master Miao highly praised. So he thought of Shu Yu. He knew that Shu Yu's business would continue to grow, and though he didn't know if she needed more staff right now, he still introduced Wei Ronghua to her. Whether to hire him or not would be up to Shu Yu.

Shu Yu was very interested in Wei Ronghua, wondering how capable he must be to receive praise from someone as ruthless as Master Miao who even spared him after being rivals.

She had planned to go to Donggu County tomorrow. However, Da Niu told her today that someone had already started planting sunflowers in Donggu County.

Since that was the case, she should go and take a look.

With this in mind, Shu Yu raised her head and said to everyone, ''I have something to attend to tomorrow, so Da Niu and Da Zhuang will go to the capital for promotion. Here, I'll leave it to you three. Three days later is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and I've already prepared the list for the festival gifts. Wang Kangfu, you and Ruan Dalai will go to the county town tomorrow and fetch the items from Ying Dong. With so many people at the workshop, you might have to make two or three trips. Deliver the items the day before Mid-Autumn Festival. Luo Chun, you stay and watch over the workshop.''

The others were slightly excited and promptly replied, ''Yes.''

They liked receiving gifts during festivals, and even when Shu Yu wasn't around, she would have Da Niu prepare the gifts.

The items weren't many, just mooncakes, pomegranates, and osmanthus wine for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Shu Yu had the mooncakes custom-made by an old and well-established shop in the county, two pomegranates per person, and the osmanthus wine was ordered from Jiang Family's Auspicious Liquor Store.

The prices were reasonable; they just wanted to add to the festive atmosphere.

For the staff, these items were not cheap to buy on their own, so they cherished them even more. Now that Shu Yu had provided everyone with their gifts, how could they not be happy?

Shu Yu nodded, ''On Mid-Autumn Festival day, you can finish work a bit earlier. There will be flower lantern displays and riddles guessing in the county at night. If anyone is interested, you can go and enjoy the festivities. It's fine to start work a bit later the next day. We are about to open the shop, and there's a lot of work to be done. I can only rely on all of you.''

''It's not hard, Boss Lu. You're already very generous.'' Other workshops wouldn't even give their staff a chance to leave work early to see the flower lanterns, let alone travel to the county to enjoy the festival.

Besides, the workshop was far from the county, and not many of them would actually go there.

Shu Yu smiled, ''Alright, that's settled. If you have any questions, we can discuss them later. You may go and get busy now.''

Wang Kangfu took the Mid-Autumn Festival gift list handed over by Shu Yu, and one by one, the others left the workshop.

Shu Yu stretched and looked at Da Niu, ''Is there anything else to do now? Grandma has arrived, would you like to go and see her?''

''Grandmother is here?'' Da Niu was surprised.

Shu Yu nodded and mentioned that her grandmother was unwell.

Da Niu frowned; he was the eldest grandson of the Lu family and knew something about his grandmother's situation.

''Let's go and check on her. When she mentioned it before, her mood wasn't good. Unfortunately, we didn't have the means back then, but now that we do, it won't hurt to inquire.''

Since their grandmother had arrived, it was only natural for Da Niu to visit her. The two of them tidied up and left the workshop.

As they rode in the carriage and neared the estate, Da Niu looked at the distant sunflower field and suddenly turned to Shu Yu, ''Oh, there's something I almost forgot to tell you.''

 Chapter 1495: Introduction of the Shopkeeper by Master Miao

After everyone had memorized the lines, Da Niu pointed to the last two sentences and asked, "Is the shop opening on September 1st?"

"Yes, there's still over half a month left. It's enough time for the jingle to spread all over the streets and alleys. And September 1st is an auspicious day for opening."

Indeed, that was true. Last time, when she went to Dongqing Temple, she happened to hear someone inquiring about an auspicious day. She overheard it from Sister Qiu.

However, that person had chosen September 7th, because that day was even better. But that date happened to coincide with Lan Hua's wedding. Not to mention Shu Yu, even Da Niu, her biological brother, couldn't possibly not attend.

So, they settled on September 1st, which was also a good day.

"Alright, then let's prepare for the opening on September 1st." Da Niu excitedly said, "What's the meaning behind the prizes?"

"It's just an activity to spread the word on the first day. We'll set up a lottery stand at the entrance. Customers can participate by spending a certain amount and get a chance to win prizes. As for the prizes, I'll think about it and decide what would be suitable."

That's a good idea, actually. Other forms of promotion aren't as appealing as this lottery.

People don't need to buy anything; they can just come to see what's happening, and it's a way to boost the shop's reputation.

So, they decided on this plan. Tomorrow, Da Niu and Da Zhuang would go to the city together to spread the jingle and also take care of the shop's preparations. They might need to stay in the city for a couple of days.

Thankfully, the backyard of the shop was already suitable for lodging.

What Da Niu was more concerned about was, "What about the shopkeeper and the assistants for the shop?"

Shu Yu already had an idea about this, "I already have a candidate for the shopkeeper. As for the assistants, we can send Ren Yiping from the county shop in the town over to the city."

They didn't really need two assistants in the county shop, so one of them could be transferred to the city.

Both assistants were chosen by Shu Yu initially, and both of them were flexible, efficient, and hospitable. Shu Yu was quite satisfied with them, which is why she had already given them a raise within just six months.

Earlier, Shu Yu had asked the two of them if anyone wanted to work in the city.

Ren Yiping was willing to go, but the other one, He Sheng, wasn't interested due to family reasons.

Ren Yiping only had a younger sister at home, and he himself wasn't married yet, so he didn't have many concerns. But he needed to earn more money to marry a wife for himself and save dowry for his sister.

The wages in the city would certainly be higher, and if the business did well, Shu Yu would provide bonuses. There were more wealthy people in the city, offering more opportunities, which is why Ren Yiping chose to go there without a second thought.

As for the shopkeeper, Master Miao recommended someone.

A few days ago, Master Miao had someone deliver a letter to her, recommending a person.

A man named Wei Ronghua, reportedly quite capable, used to be the shopkeeper of a restaurant. However, that shop conflicted with Master Miao's business, and since Master Miao was not a saintly person back then, he naturally took action against anyone blocking his path.

However, though Wei Ronghua was a rival, Master Miao saw potential in him. He drove Wei Ronghua out of his original shop and wanted him to work in his own shop.

But Wei Ronghua didn't like Master Miao's way of doing things and felt that his business wasn't legitimate. He firmly refused.

Master Miao, feeling indignant, thought that Wei Ronghua didn't know how to appreciate kindness and forced him to leave the city.

Master Miao didn't know where he went afterwards. But he saw Wei Ronghua again a few days ago in Donggu County.

***This is all for today guys, I have been so busy these days and my stocks are already been depleted,

  Chapter 645: Reckless Response (2)

Mo Yan took the letter, puzzled, and asked, "How did your master know this day would come?"

The two dark guards shook their heads simultaneously. They were also ranked and assigned different tasks, rarely working on the same mission together, so the information they obtained varied. Without their master’s orders, they couldn’t casually share information, especially on confidential tasks where the fewer people knew, the better.

Seeing this, Mo Yan stopped asking and returned to her room with the thick envelope. After spending nearly half an hour carefully reading through all the information about Chen Ji, she was stunned. After a long while, she cursed vehemently, "Damn it, that Chen guy is courting death!"

It turned out that Chen Ji had brought back the deadly Heart-Eating Poison from beyond the border and offered it to the Lin family. Knowing full well that the Lin family intended to poison Empress Chunyi, he still participated in the plot, devising a scheme to kill her indirectly. This level of audacity and cruelty was beyond ordinary.

Although his machinations were eventually discovered by Emperor Hui'an, leading to Consort Lin being imprisoned in the Cold Palace, the plot succeeded, earning him the trust of the Lin family head and gradually integrating him into the power center of the Lin family.

Not only did he partake in the murder of Empress Chunyi, but over the years, he also handled many of the Lin family’s unsavory affairs. Even if he didn’t personally kill anyone, his hands were stained with the blood of innocent people.

If the heavens had eyes, a hundred lightning strikes wouldn’t be enough to wash away his sins. Such a person deserved to be obliterated, never to be reincarnated!

The Lin family wasn’t just backed by Consort Lin and their nephew, Prince Heng. The current family head was a three-dynasty elder and the emperor’s teacher, with many students and connections in the court. Such deep-rooted influence meant that any move against them would have widespread repercussions. Thus, when Emperor Hui'an learned of their deeds, he only sidelined the family and imprisoned Consort Lin.

Even though the Lin family was now very low-key, seemingly withdrawn from the center of Da Chu’s power, Emperor Hui'an likely would have acted against them long ago if they were truly harmless. The fact that he didn’t, despite knowing they poisoned his empress and nearly killed his beloved son, showed how formidable they were.

No wonder Chen Shanshan was so arrogant and domineering; her father had secured such a powerful backer, making her feel like a true noble lady. However, Chen Ji was indeed capable and ruthless. Today’s events might incite his revenge. If he retaliated openly using the Lin family’s influence, Mo Yan wasn’t afraid; but if he resorted to underhanded tactics, she might not be able to handle it.

As long as the Lin family existed, Chen Ji would remain untouchable. If Emperor Hui'an couldn’t eradicate the Lin family, once Chu Heng ascended the throne, he would likely target them first, avenging his mother’s death.

Based on Chu Heng’s decisive actions at Phoenix Mountain, he was undoubtedly ruthless. The Lin family would face dire consequences under his rule. However, Emperor Hui'an was not yet fifty and still robust. Who knew when Chu Heng would take the throne? By then, it might be too late to deal with the Lin family and Chen Ji.

Realizing the intricacies, Mo Yan became increasingly frustrated. A wild idea suddenly popped into her head: Should she strike first and kill Chen Ji?

Startled by her own violent thought, she quickly shook her head to dismiss it.