Chapter 773: The Mystery of Her Origins (2)

Mo Yan’s words landed heavily, causing Du Shi to stagger backward. Her face turned as pale as a ghost, clearly shaken by the blow. “That’s not true, it’s not like that... I wasn’t wrong, I was forced into it. I didn’t mean to leave you all, I didn’t...” she stammered.

Mo Yan sighed inwardly, her expression still cold. “It doesn’t matter anymore. It’s pointless to argue over who was right or wrong. Just go back where you came from, and from now on... take care of yourself.”

After saying this, Mo Yan turned to leave. She had been outside for too long and worried her father might start looking for her.

“No, Yan Yan, you can’t leave, you can’t leave...” Seeing Mo Yan turning to leave, Du Shi suddenly seemed to wake up. She hurriedly stepped forward to block Mo Yan’s path. “Yan Yan, I need to tell you something, you can’t leave!”

Mo Yan frowned, an ominous feeling crossing her mind. But to avoid Du Shi’s endless pestering, she suppressed the urge to walk away and instead said coldly, “Speak.”

Du Shi dared not dwell on Mo Yan’s attitude anymore, but what she was about to say made her hesitate.

Seeing Du Shi’s reluctance, Mo Yan turned to leave.

“Yan Yan, don’t go!” Du Shi clung tightly to Mo Yan’s sleeve, closing her eyes as she finally said what she had been wanting to ask. “Please save Brother Ji, I beg you, save Brother Ji!”

Upon hearing this, Mo Yan’s face instantly darkened. The snow that had temporarily stopped falling resumed, the delicate flakes fluttering down, one of them lightly landing on her long eyelashes. It was cold, but not as cold as the ice in her heart.

On this snowy day, there wasn’t a single villager in sight. Even the birds, which weren’t afraid of the cold, had disappeared. The air seemed frozen, and all that could be heard was the faint rustling of snowflakes hitting the ground.

Du Shi waited for a response, but Mo Yan remained silent for a long time. Finally, Du Shi forced herself to open her eyes, only to meet Mo Yan’s clear, emotionless black gaze. The hope she had was completely extinguished by that look.

“Save Chen Ji? The man who once tried to murder my entire family?” Mo Yan sneered, her lips curling into a smile as if she had just heard the funniest joke. “Du Shi, you are unbelievably naïve!”

“He tried to kill you? No, no, Brother Ji wouldn’t do that!” Du Shi, though shaken, caught onto a few words, unwilling to believe the truth. “He sent someone to Mo Village recently to inquire about you and your siblings. He cares about you all, how could he want to kill you? Yan Yan, you must have misunderstood. You must have.”

Mo Yan snorted dismissively. “Believe it or not, it’s up to you. But one thing’s for sure: Chen Ji must die. Don’t even think about me saving him!” With that, she shook Du Shi off forcefully and turned to leave.

“No! Yan Yan, please save him! I beg you, save him!” Du Shi suddenly kneeled in the snow with a thud, not caring about the freezing cold. She hugged Mo Yan’s legs desperately. “Please, I beg you. If you save him, I will do anything, anything you ask. Even if it costs me my life, I won’t complain, just save him, please!”

Mo Yan was caught off guard by Du Shi’s sudden action. She instinctively tried to step back, but Du Shi tightly held her legs. Mo Yan knew her own strength—if she tried to break free too forcefully, she might hurt Du Shi, and that would only make matters worse.

“What are you doing? Get up! Get up now!” Mo Yan was horrified and immediately squatted down, trying to pull Du Shi’s arms away.

But Du Shi’s grip suddenly became unnaturally strong, and for a moment, Mo Yan couldn’t break free.

Enraged, Mo Yan snapped, “Kneeling won’t help! Chen Ji poisoned the late Empress, and killing his entire family would be too lenient. Even if you break your legs kneeling, I still won’t save him. I can’t, and I won’t!”

(End of Chapter) 

 Chapter 772: The Mystery of Her Origins (1)

Mo Yan never expected that Du Shi would come to their home right after being released from prison!

Yesterday, Grandpa Li had secretly told her that Du Shi had been sent to the escort bureau, waiting to be escorted along with the family’s goods to the south. Clearly, Du Shi had somehow escaped from the bureau, and had known where her family was staying in Liuyang Village, otherwise, she wouldn’t have found her way here so quickly.

This woman had known that they were in the capital, and even that they were living in Liuyang Village. She had been indifferent before, but now suddenly remembered them. Yet, from the start, she had no intention of recognizing her as her mother, and would not let her family see Du Shi, as it would disrupt their peaceful and happy life.

Looking at the tightly closed courtyard door, Du Shi, who had already anticipated this result, couldn’t help but shed painful tears. However, she knew that now was not the time for such emotions, as there was something even more important she had to do.

Du Shi extended her withered, yellow hand and heavily knocked on the door, crying out, “Yan Yan, please open the door! I’m your mother, I’m your real mother!”

Mo Yan stood behind the door, watching it shake with each knock, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. She then moved forward, unlocked the door, and tightly grabbed the hand that nearly struck her face, pulling Du Shi into a secluded corner with a blank expression.

“Yan Yan, you’re willing to see me? You still remember me, don’t you?” Du Shi exclaimed excitedly, reaching out to touch Mo Yan’s face, completely unaware of the coldness in her eyes.

Mo Yan leaned back, avoiding the hand about to touch her face, and coldly asked, “Speak, what exactly do you want?”

Du Shi froze in place, and tears immediately flowed again. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. Please don’t hate me, okay? I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong, woo woo…”

Mo Yan was willing to see Du Shi only because she didn’t want her commotion to reach the dining hall. However, seeing that Du Shi refused to get to the point, she grew impatient and said, “Say what you need to say quickly. I don’t want to hear your apology, nor do I have the time for it.”

Hearing this, Du Shi was so frightened she dared not cry out loud again. Instead, she sniffled silently, which only irritated Mo Yan further. “If you have nothing to say, then leave. Go live your life. If you have any malicious intent towards my Mo family, don’t blame me for being rude!”

Du Shi was frightened by Mo Yan’s harsh tone, suddenly realizing that the girl in front of her was no longer the small, soft child who would curl up in her arms, quietly listening to her stories.

With that thought, Du Shi’s sorrowful expression quickly shifted to anger. Her voice became shrill and harsh. “It’s your father, right? It’s your father who spoke ill of me in front of you, making you hate me and refuse to recognize me, isn’t it?”

Mo Yan was almost made to laugh out of anger. Sarcastically, she responded, “Spoke ill of you? Hated you? Who do you think you are?”

Seeing Du Shi shaking her head in disbelief, Mo Yan no longer bothered to spare her feelings. All the grievances she had endured before the soul merger poured out: “You abandoned your husband and children and ran off with another man, leaving my father, my siblings, and me to suffer endless ridicule and humiliation. Yet my father, when drunk, would grab our hands and tell us not to hate you, that you left because you had no choice and that you still loved us. But now I see how wrong my father was! If you truly cared about us, you wouldn’t be here today. All along, you’ve been the most selfish and heartless one. How dare you blame my father? Or are you ashamed to admit that you abandoned your family and ran off, so you’re blaming everything on my father just to cover your own shame? Do you think you can hide it?”

(End of Chapter) 

 Chapter 771: Du Shi Seeks Help After Being Released (4)

When Mo Yan went out to greet the guests earlier, she noticed that Liu Tinglan's complexion was not well. There was a trace of melancholy and irritation in her brows. Now, seeing her face more clouded, Liu often seemed distracted, almost letting the fire in the stove die out.

Mo Yan understood that her usually bright and sunny friend’s current state was all because of the marriage to the Du family, or more specifically, because of Master Liu.

Once, when Mo Yan went to the Liu family to deliver New Year’s gifts, she ran into Young Master Du, who was also there. Her first impression was that he was an average-looking man. His slightly raised brows and the self-satisfied air he often unconsciously exuded showed a certain scholarly aloofness. Beyond that, there was nothing remarkable about him.

She later learned that his fiancée had a friend from a peasant background, and Young Master Du had repeatedly advised Liu Tinglan not to associate with her, fearing she would become tainted by the vulgarity of peasant life. After hearing that she had been titled a County Princess, he became eager to advise Liu Tinglan to maintain a good relationship with her. The drastic change in attitude made it clear that Young Master Du was not as aloof as he seemed, and could even be described as petty and materialistic. 

Originally indifferent to Young Master Du, this incident suddenly increased her disdain for him. Of course, it wasn’t out of any positive feelings!

At the same time, Mo Yan felt sorry for Liu Tinglan. The Du family wasn’t worthy of her, and there were times when she thought of encouraging her friend to break the engagement. Perhaps even persuading the Liu family to abandon the idea of having Young Master Du as their son-in-law and find a more reliable match. However, since the engagement with the Du family had been settled, breaking it off was not easy.

Compared to the gentle and courteous Shen Ji, who passed the imperial examination on his first try, Young Master Du—who failed and had an arrogant attitude—was instantly cast aside. Liu Tinglan deserved someone much better, and Mo Yan often wondered if she should encourage her to reconsider.

Not wanting to see her friend so depressed, Mo Yan spoke up: "Sister Lan, you haven't come in a few days, Mao Tuan misses you. Let me bring him in to keep you company!"

Actually, Mo Qingze had been imprisoned last month, and Liu Tinglan had stayed behind to accompany Mo Yan until the public trial. It wasn’t until Liu Tinglan’s mother fell ill that Mo Yan convinced her to leave, and the two hadn’t seen each other for half a month.

Liu Tinglan’s heart warmed, and a small smile appeared on her face: “Alright, I’ve missed him too. It’s been so long, I wonder if he still remembers me…”

As soon as she finished speaking, a yellow blur darted into the kitchen. Who else could it be but Mao Tuan, who wasn’t outside playing?

Hearing his name, Mao Tuan assumed that Mo Yan had made something delicious for him and rushed in excitedly. When he saw that Mo Yan only wanted him to play with Liu Tinglan, his enthusiasm waned slightly, but he obediently began to act cute in front of her, making her laugh.

Mao Tuan was quite the gentle and affectionate creature. When he wanted to act cute, he was just as entertaining as Xiao Hua when it came to making people laugh. Except for not allowing anyone unexpected to pet him, he was usually very easygoing, especially when Liu Tinglan teased him with a bamboo ball, which made him even more excited.

“Ah, that move was beautiful! Mao Tuan, you’re amazing!” Liu Tinglan praised him without reservation, her smile becoming more genuine.

Encouraged by the praise, Mao Tuan played even more energetically, jumping and grabbing with graceful movements that looked fierce, but in reality, he resembled a large cat, giving off a playful aura rather than a threatening one.

Seeing her friend finally smile, Mo Yan couldn’t help but smile herself and rewarded Mao Tuan with a piece of freshly braised pork.

The dishes were half done when Xiao Ruiyuan and Chu Heng arrived, a little later than expected, but it wasn’t intentional. Chu Heng was still recovering, and with the cold weather, they had to prepare carefully before leaving the house.

Xiao Ruiyuan brought with him a full cart of birthday gifts, ranging from valuable antiques and calligraphy to everyday essentials, covering all bases. These gifts would have made even a crown prince's visit pale in comparison.

Knowing that their presence might make others uncomfortable, Chu Heng excused himself, saying he was tired, and Mo Qingze arranged for him to rest in the room he had used during his previous visit.

Once Mo Qingze left, Xiao Ruiyuan, who had been tense ever since entering the Mo household, finally relaxed. Whether it was because he had to do something very important that day, he couldn’t quite tell, but since stepping into the Mo household, he had felt a tight knot in his stomach, especially seeing his future father-in-law. He was nervous about saying the wrong thing or coming off badly, leaving a poor impression. 

This behavior made Chu Heng feel completely embarrassed—he couldn’t even acknowledge this person as his cousin. It was just too much of a humiliation.

Xiao Ruiyuan was unaware of Chu Heng’s thoughts. Once he calmed down, he returned to his usual demeanor but ended up asking a question that completely undermined his image: "Cousin, is it possible to talk about that matter on another day?"

Chu Heng was thoroughly defeated by his cousin and didn’t even hesitate to throw the pillow from the bed at him, shouting, "You can talk about it yourself another day!"

Xiao Ruiyuan silently caught the pillow and, under Chu Heng’s disgusted gaze, walked over to place it back in its spot, silently marking himself with a big red cross in his mind.

In the kitchen, Mo Yan finished the last dish. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she mixed some creamy glutinous rice with translucent regular rice and placed it in a steamer.

Glutinous rice on its own can be a bit too heavy, but when mixed in the right proportions with regular rice, it becomes aromatic and delicious.

The dining room was already set up with two large round tables—one for the men, and one for the women and children. The dishes were served one by one, filling the tables with delicious, well-presented food.

Seeing the feast, everyone’s appetite was piqued. Once Chu Heng joined the table after Mo Qingze invited him, everyone sat down to enjoy the rare delicacy.

Mo Yan washed her oily hands in the rice water, untied her apron, and moved to sit with the women, but then she heard the bell on the eaves ringing loudly.

A distinguished guest had arrived. Since Li Xiu and her niece, Tang Xin, couldn’t join the main table, they were eating in the kitchen. Mo Yan didn’t interrupt them, excusing herself politely before going to open the door.

However, when she saw who was standing outside the courtyard, her expression changed abruptly, and with a loud bang, she slammed the gate shut! 

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 770: Du Shi Seeks Help After Being Released (3)

Du Shi’s silence made Chen Ji grow anxious. Just as he was about to speak, the heavy iron door was suddenly opened again, startling the couple.

Every time the door opened, it meant that Chen Ji would be taken for punishment. However, this time, it wasn’t the two usual guards who dragged him to the torture chamber, but the head of the prison.

...

"Ah, it's snowing!"

On the 10th day of the twelfth lunar month, Mo Yan woke up early, dressed, and opened the window, only to find snowflakes falling gently outside.

The weather had been gloomy the afternoon before, and though she had expected it might snow, she hadn’t anticipated it would start so soon. Fortunately, it wasn’t heavy, and the ground was still clear, so it wouldn’t interfere with travel.

Today was Mo Qingze's birthday. Since it wasn’t a milestone year, the family originally planned only a small meal to celebrate. But the Han and Liu families had sent word early to celebrate with him. So, they decided to host a small banquet, inviting a few families to gather and try to lift Mo Qingze's spirits after his unjust imprisonment.

Mao Tuan, still in bed and unwilling to get up, heard about the snow and quickly jumped out, stretching his neck to look outside. When he saw the snow, he excitedly let out a tiger’s roar, jumped off the bed, and ran out of the room to call Xiao Hua and the others to come play.

Before long, the courtyard was filled with the sounds of the four beasts playing. However, the snow was light and didn’t accumulate much, so there wasn’t much to play with. Before Mo Yan could finish combing her hair, the four beasts had already shaken off the snow and rushed into the room, asking for food.

The four beasts ate an enormous amount—one meal wouldn’t even be enough to satisfy them. Not long ago, the space’s livestock area had welcomed its first batch of animals, including wild boars, wild sheep, and wild rabbits. These animals were all caught by the four beasts in the mountains for food.

These animals had the potential to awaken their spiritual intelligence, and once that happened, Mo Yan couldn’t bear to have the four beasts eat them. So, she stopped Xue Tuanzi from feeding them the spiritual spring water and ensured their food, such as vegetables and grass, grew on land free of spiritual energy.

There was already prepared meat in the space, so Mo Yan simply let the four beasts go in there. By the time she finished tidying up the room, the four had eaten their fill and spent several more days playing with Xue Tuanzi.

The snow had grown a little heavier, so Mo Yan, holding an oil-paper umbrella, walked outside. Looking at the thin layer of white snow on the ground, she couldn’t help but smile, picking up her pace as she headed toward the kitchen.

Li Xiu and her niece, Tang Xin, had gotten up even earlier and were already busy in the kitchen. Two large pots were steaming as they washed ingredients—using cold water would freeze their hands.

The counter was covered with several bowls of meat. In addition to the usual pork and chicken, there were bowls of wild game from the space. The family had long been used to the four beasts bringing wild game back home, unaware that it was raised in the space and was far superior in quality, both tender and flavorful compared to mountain game.

Mo Yan tied on her apron and rolled up her sleeves to begin working. Since the number of guests was small, two tables would suffice, so she decided to personally prepare the birthday meal. However, the meal wouldn’t be served until noon, so she quickly made a pot of chicken broth noodles for breakfast.

After breakfast, Mo Yan and the others returned to the kitchen to continue their preparations. Mo Qingze, with Zhen’er and Yun Zhao, waited in the living room for the guests to arrive.

Perhaps concerned about the snow making the roads difficult to travel, the Liu and Han families arrived quite early, before the end of the hour. Not long after, Shen Ji also arrived. Listening to the laughter and chatter in the hall, Mo Yan’s hand didn’t stop stirring the pot. In her heart, though, she was wondering when Xiao Ruiyuan would return.

The Han family’s eldest daughter was only twelve years old, and Liu Tinglan, who couldn’t relate to her, had chatted for a while before running to the kitchen to help Mo Yan stoke the fire.

(End of Chapter) 

 Chapter 769: Du Shi Seeks Help After Being Released (2)

Chen Shanshan fumed with anger, her gaze fixed on the two embracing figures. She wished she could stab them with a thousand needles. 

It was ironic, really. If Chen Shanshan hadn’t been so delicate, unable to endure the long days of running and exhaustion, and had insisted on disembarking at Binhai City, a thousand miles away from the capital, she would never have been spotted by Xiao Ruiyuan’s shadow guards. This led to the Chen family’s capture at a civilian house, and the three of them were eventually taken in.

On the very day they were captured, they were thrown into the dungeon of the Ministry of Justice, awaiting their death sentences.

Chen Shanshan harbored resentment toward her biological father, Chen Ji, for his immoral actions that had dragged her into this mess. She also blamed Du Shi, considering her a bad omen, someone who had cursed her life. Du Shi had stomped on all of Chen Ji’s fatherly affection, not a single bit of which had reached her heart. To Chen Shanshan, Du Shi was a wolf-hearted, ungrateful woman.

Indeed, Chen Ji deserved to die. At least, before he passed, he came to realize the true nature of the daughter he had raised for over a decade. That could be considered part of the punishment for his misdeeds. However, as an ordinary father, it was perhaps the greatest tragedy to have raised such a heartless daughter.

After Du Shi’s crying subsided and she calmed down, Chen Ji, summoning all his strength, took her hand and said with difficulty, “Lan’er, I cannot escape death, but I hope you can live on…” 

Du Shi cried again, her tears flowing freely as she shook her head violently. “No, Brother Ji, we aren’t destined to live together. We may not grow old together, but to die together is also a kind of happiness. To die with you, Brother Ji, is my fortune. I only hope that in the next life, we can meet again—living as a simple couple, working the land and growing old peacefully together.”

Du Shi wasn’t unaware of Chen Ji’s wrongdoings, but to her, Chen Ji was her husband, the man who had given her years of happiness. No matter what he had done, she couldn’t blame him or distance herself from him.

Chen Ji was deeply moved. The thought he had been nurturing in his heart grew stronger. He held Du Shi’s hand tightly and said with increasing seriousness, “Lan’er, I want you to live. Live for me, carrying a part of me with you. Promise me, promise me you’ll live.”

Du Shi wept bitterly, her voice full of sorrow as she replied, “Brother Ji, we can’t escape. None of us can escape…”

But Chen Ji shook his head, speaking with firm certainty. “Lan’er, I may not escape, but you are innocent. If someone is willing to protect you, you will surely be able to leave.”

Du Shi, who had always trusted Chen Ji, believed him completely. Thinking that he must have made some powerful connections, she urgently asked, “Who? Who is it? If they can help me, why can’t they help you, Brother Ji?”

Chen Ji smiled bitterly, then said something that shocked Du Shi to her core. “Lan’er, do you remember your eldest daughter, whom you’ve missed for so many years? She... not long ago, was conferred the title of ‘jun’ by the emperor! She is close with the crown prince and holds some influence before the emperor. If she is willing to plead for you, you will definitely be able to leave.”

Du Shi, who had lived in the capital for many years, understood the significance of the title of 'jun.' She was stunned and instinctively shouted, “No—no way! How is this possible? How could Yan’er be a ‘jun’? How could she become a ‘jun’?”

She knew that her husband would not lie about such matters, but she still couldn’t believe it. When she had left the Mo family, how old was her daughter? Six or seven? She remembered how small and fragile she had been, growing up in such harsh conditions. At night, she often lay awake, fearing that her daughter wouldn’t survive.

Several unexpected reunions had brought her great joy, and she was overjoyed to find that her children were alive and well. The guilt she had carried for so long began to loosen.

Now, her husband was telling her that her daughter had become a ‘jun,’ a person with the power to save her. But how could she, in her current state, have the face to ask her daughter for forgiveness and risk her life to save her? 

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 769: Du Shi Seeks Help After Being Released (2)

Chen Shanshan fumed with anger, her gaze fixed on the two embracing figures. She wished she could stab them with a thousand needles. 

It was ironic, really. If Chen Shanshan hadn’t been so delicate, unable to endure the long days of running and exhaustion, and had insisted on disembarking at Binhai City, a thousand miles away from the capital, she would never have been spotted by Xiao Ruiyuan’s shadow guards. This led to the Chen family’s capture at a civilian house, and the three of them were eventually taken in.

On the very day they were captured, they were thrown into the dungeon of the Ministry of Justice, awaiting their death sentences.

Chen Shanshan harbored resentment toward her biological father, Chen Ji, for his immoral actions that had dragged her into this mess. She also blamed Du Shi, considering her a bad omen, someone who had cursed her life. Du Shi had stomped on all of Chen Ji’s fatherly affection, not a single bit of which had reached her heart. To Chen Shanshan, Du Shi was a wolf-hearted, ungrateful woman.

Indeed, Chen Ji deserved to die. At least, before he passed, he came to realize the true nature of the daughter he had raised for over a decade. That could be considered part of the punishment for his misdeeds. However, as an ordinary father, it was perhaps the greatest tragedy to have raised such a heartless daughter.

After Du Shi’s crying subsided and she calmed down, Chen Ji, summoning all his strength, took her hand and said with difficulty, “Lan’er, I cannot escape death, but I hope you can live on…” 

Du Shi cried again, her tears flowing freely as she shook her head violently. “No, Brother Ji, we aren’t destined to live together. We may not grow old together, but to die together is also a kind of happiness. To die with you, Brother Ji, is my fortune. I only hope that in the next life, we can meet again—living as a simple couple, working the land and growing old peacefully together.”

Du Shi wasn’t unaware of Chen Ji’s wrongdoings, but to her, Chen Ji was her husband, the man who had given her years of happiness. No matter what he had done, she couldn’t blame him or distance herself from him.

Chen Ji was deeply moved. The thought he had been nurturing in his heart grew stronger. He held Du Shi’s hand tightly and said with increasing seriousness, “Lan’er, I want you to live. Live for me, carrying a part of me with you. Promise me, promise me you’ll live.”

Du Shi wept bitterly, her voice full of sorrow as she replied, “Brother Ji, we can’t escape. None of us can escape…”

But Chen Ji shook his head, speaking with firm certainty. “Lan’er, I may not escape, but you are innocent. If someone is willing to protect you, you will surely be able to leave.”

Du Shi, who had always trusted Chen Ji, believed him completely. Thinking that he must have made some powerful connections, she urgently asked, “Who? Who is it? If they can help me, why can’t they help you, Brother Ji?”

Chen Ji smiled bitterly, then said something that shocked Du Shi to her core. “Lan’er, do you remember your eldest daughter, whom you’ve missed for so many years? She... not long ago, was conferred the title of ‘jun’ by the emperor! She is close with the crown prince and holds some influence before the emperor. If she is willing to plead for you, you will definitely be able to leave.”

Du Shi, who had lived in the capital for many years, understood the significance of the title of 'jun.' She was stunned and instinctively shouted, “No—no way! How is this possible? How could Yan’er be a ‘jun’? How could she become a ‘jun’?”

She knew that her husband would not lie about such matters, but she still couldn’t believe it. When she had left the Mo family, how old was her daughter? Six or seven? She remembered how small and fragile she had been, growing up in such harsh conditions. At night, she often lay awake, fearing that her daughter wouldn’t survive.

Several unexpected reunions had brought her great joy, and she was overjoyed to find that her children were alive and well. The guilt she had carried for so long began to loosen.

Now, her husband was telling her that her daughter had become a ‘jun,’ a person with the power to save her. But how could she, in her current state, have the face to ask her daughter for forgiveness and risk her life to save her? 

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 768: Du Shi Seeks Help After Being Released (1)

In the dark, damp, and cold dungeon of the Ministry of Justice, the air was thick with the stench of decay. Almost every cell housed one or two prisoners, dressed in tattered clothes. These prisoners cowered in the corners of their cells, their disheveled hair covering their faces. At the slightest sound or movement, they reacted like startled birds, their heads nearly shrinking into their chests in fear.

Compared to the cell Mo Qingze had previously occupied, the conditions here were undoubtedly much worse.

The dungeon of the Ministry of Justice was divided into different sections, depending on the severity of the crime. Those who hadn’t been sentenced or had committed minor offenses were placed in cells with slightly better conditions, while those who had committed heinous crimes and whose offenses were unforgivable found themselves in the worst cells. Once placed in these cells, the only way out was through death.

In the deepest part of the dungeon, in a cell facing away from the sun, four high walls blocked out the light year-round. There was only one iron door, which was always locked, with a small window about a foot square through which the food was passed each day.

At that moment, the Chen family of three was housed in this very cell.

Suddenly, the door to the cell was thrown open, and two prison guards dragged Chen Ji, who had just endured another round of brutal punishment. They threw him in as if he were a discarded item. With a loud clang, the iron door slammed shut again, plunging the cell into darkness once more. 

"Brother Ji, how are you, Brother Ji?" Du Shi, who had already grown accustomed to the darkness, crawled over to Chen Ji, who lay motionless on the floor. She shouted his name as tears flowed uncontrollably from her eyes.

Having been on the run for over ten days, eating and sleeping outdoors, and then dragged back to this dark and dreary prison, where she was only given a cold, hard bun to eat each day, Du Shi had aged years in just a short period. The once-smooth skin of hers had now become rough and weathered, transforming her into an old, dirty woman.

In the corner of the cell, Chen Shanshan coldly watched the scene, showing no intention of comforting her father. She seemed irritated by Du Shi’s constant crying and impatiently scolded, "He's not dead yet, you filthy woman, what are you crying for?"

Du Shi had long learned the harshness and cruelty of her stepdaughter. Pretending not to hear her insults, she continued calling out to Chen Ji, fearing that he might not survive this ordeal and die before her eyes. Though they would soon be sentenced to death, she couldn’t bear the thought of the man who had once treated her with such care dying before her.

The Chen family’s death sentence had not yet been passed, as bloodshed was considered unlucky close to the new year. However, Chen Ji knew full well that neither he nor his family could escape death. Every day, he was dragged to the torture chamber to undergo various forms of punishment, only to be thrown back into his cell. As the days went by, the time he spent unconscious after each beating grew longer.

Perhaps Du Shi’s calling had an effect, or perhaps Chen Ji’s will to live was strong. After some time, he finally regained consciousness. Hearing Du Shi’s anguished cries, he struggled to lift his right hand and weakly stroked her head, whispering, "Lan... Lan’er, don’t... don’t cry!"

"Brother Ji, you’re awake! You’re really awake!" Du Shi cried out in excitement as she rushed into his arms, sobbing.

Chen Shanshan looked on with disgust as the two comforted each other. Her heart was filled with revulsion and disappointment.

If neither of them survived, or if one of them died and the other committed suicide, she might have a chance to escape. She wouldn’t have to wait anxiously for her own death.

She was still young, with a bright future ahead of her. She hadn’t committed any crimes like murder or arson—why should she have to die with these two? She had done nothing wrong! She couldn’t accept it. She couldn’t accept dying like this!

(End of Chapter) 

 Chapter 767: Compatibility (4)

The young maid behind Liu Qingqing realized she had made a mistake and immediately became wary again, watching Mo Yan closely, afraid she might cause harm to her young lady.

Mo Yan feigned indifference and said, "Miss Liu, there is no need to be so polite. If it’s convenient, may I come in and speak?"

"If Miss Mo doesn’t mind the humble abode, it would be an honor for Qingqing!" Liu Qingqing’s expression didn’t change, and she maintained her politeness.

Mo Yan nodded slightly and didn’t wait for Liu Qingqing to formally invite her inside, walking in with an air of quiet pride.

Liu Qingqing furrowed her brows, stopping the maid, who looked ready to make a scene. She instructed her to go to the kitchen and prepare some tea.

The courtyard Liu Qingqing rented was small, consisting of a little hall, two rooms, and a kitchen. The door was closed, so the inside was hidden from view, but the hall itself was cozy and elegant, giving off a comfortable vibe.

After a quick glance around, Mo Yan felt a little more favorably towards Liu Qingqing.

Noticing that Mo Yan was studying the room in silence, Liu Qingqing couldn’t read her intentions and wisely refrained from speaking first.

Mo Yan had no intention of being direct, either. After surveying the hall, she asked a few unrelated questions.

Liu Qingqing responded carefully, though nothing she said revealed anything of substance, showing that she was a thoughtful and intelligent woman.

When Mo Yan realized she wouldn’t get any more information, she stopped beating around the bush and directly stated her purpose: "Tie Tou is my cousin. He’s honest and easily deceived, and Aunt Wu has always wanted to find him a decent and capable wife. Not long ago, someone who knew them saw the two of you together in the street. When Aunt Wu found out, she was against him marrying you. Now they’re at an impasse, neither side willing to compromise. All of this is because of you... What are your thoughts on this?"

More than a month ago, Aunt Wu had opened a new food stall in the East Market, and the middle-aged woman running it had been someone Aunt Wu had bought previously. This woman was the one who had seen Tie Tou and Liu Qingqing together on the street.

When Aunt Wu learned that her son had finally fallen for someone, she was overjoyed. She had tried asking him several times when he returned from the rice shop, but Tie Tou was hesitant and refused to speak plainly. This aroused Aunt Wu’s suspicions, and she pressured him into revealing the truth by suggesting an arranged engagement. This led to the intense confrontation between mother and son.

Hearing Mo Yan’s words, Liu Qingqing tightly clenched the handkerchief in her hand, and her expression grew bleak.

Seeing this, Mo Yan couldn’t quite explain how she felt. If one day she and Xiao Ruiyuan faced opposition, she wasn’t sure they would stay together. Just thinking about it made her heart ache. Moreover, the future for Tie Tou and Liu Qingqing seemed full of obstacles, and it was possible that neither would end up happy.

Liu Qingqing remained silent for a long time. Just as Mo Yan thought she would refuse to answer, she finally spoke, though her words came through her tears: "I... I’ve already expected this day. I should be thankful that Tie Tou’s family hasn’t come to make things difficult for me! Though I come from the brothel, my feelings for Tie Tou are genuine. If his family firmly opposes us, I... I can’t accept it, I can’t accept it..."

She had fallen into the world of pleasure for many years, but she had always remained true to herself. Finally free from it, she had hoped to live the rest of her life peacefully, only to meet that naive, simple man who had made her heart stir for the first time.

That man didn’t care about her past, and though he was clumsy with words, he truly cared for her, making her heart fall for his sincere smile. Even she couldn’t explain why, in just a few months, she couldn’t let go of this younger man who had shown her so much kindness.

She had once naïvely thought that perhaps Heaven had taken pity on her, offering her a bit of happiness to compensate for her difficult life. But fantasies were just that—fantasies. Who would want to accept a woman like her, who had come from the brothel?

She couldn’t accept it. How could she?

Mo Yan had never doubted Liu Qingqing’s sincerity. Hearing her despairing cry, Mo Yan’s heart also sank. She put aside the pride she had feigned earlier, gently patting Liu Qingqing’s trembling shoulder and offering comfort. "As long as you and Tie Tou are unwavering, you will find a way."

Most women faced hardships. If they were lucky enough to have loving parents, they might enjoy at least a decade of comfort. If they found a good in-laws family, life wouldn’t be too difficult. But for someone like Liu Qingqing, whose father never cared for her and whose mother had passed, her best hope was to become a concubine or marry a widower or an old bachelor who couldn’t find a wife. Otherwise, she might end up lonely for life.

Though Mo Yan hadn’t known Liu Qingqing for long, she could tell from her speech and demeanor that she was a capable, calm, and dignified woman. She was an excellent person.

Without a maternal family to rely on, Liu Qingqing would likely be entirely devoted to Tie Tou and his family. If she and Tie Tou could be together, she wouldn’t need to worry about the Wu family being taken advantage of.

But no matter how much Mo Yan wanted to help, Liu Qingqing’s past was a huge obstacle. The hardest part was how to get Aunt Wu to accept her. Mo Yan truly didn’t feel confident about it.

Mo Yan’s words were like a lifeline, filling Liu Qingqing with hope. She looked up, eyes filled with emotion, and asked, "Miss Mo, you... you don’t oppose us?"

Mo Yan smiled bitterly, "Whether I oppose or not doesn’t matter. What matters is whether Aunt Wu will accept you and the Wu family accept you."

Liu Qingqing calmed down and, to Mo Yan’s surprise, suddenly knelt before her: "Miss Mo, I, Liu Qingqing, am not a bad person. If I can marry Tie Tou, I will treat his mother like my own, and his sisters like my own. I hope you can help me."

Mo Yan’s expression changed, and she hurried to help her up. "What are you doing? Quickly, get up!"

Liu Qingqing, not wanting Mo Yan to think she was threatening her, obediently stood and pleaded, "Miss Mo, if you’re willing to help, I will be forever grateful and repay your kindness."

Mo Yan shook her head. "I will help you and Tie Tou. You don’t need to repay me. If Aunt Wu can accept you and allow you to be with Tie Tou, just be sure to be good to her in the future."

"Yes!" Liu Qingqing grasped Mo Yan’s hand tightly, nodding earnestly. 

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 766: Compatibility (3) 

Tie Tou was so excited that he couldn’t form a coherent sentence, not knowing what to do. He instinctively rubbed his hands together, but in doing so, he aggravated his frostbite, making the already horrific wounds even worse. The pain caused him to grimace in agony.

Mo Yan couldn’t help but laugh, but after a moment, her expression became serious. "Tie Tou, have you thought about what will happen if you and Liu Qingqing actually end up together? How will the people in the village look at you both?"

Liu Qingqing had been to the old Mo family’s house in Liuyang village, so her background couldn’t be kept secret. Moreover, she didn’t have a maternal family, yet her behavior was very different from that of the typical village girls. Over time, people would surely start to suspect something.

Some relationships fade away not because of a lack of love, but because one cannot bear the weight of external pressure. Mo Yan was worried that gossip in the village would eventually harm these two, leading them to become a couple full of resentment, ending in separation.

She thought that Tie Tou would be caught off guard by this question, but his response shocked her. She could never forget the determined look in his eyes and the firm words he spoke.

"Yan girl, Tie Tou is just a rough man, I don’t understand all those high-minded theories, but I do know one thing. People live for themselves, for their families, not for the opinions of outsiders. What does it matter to me what others say or think? They can talk all they want. I live my own life, and it has nothing to do with them. I don’t care what they say!"

...

After learning Liu Qingqing’s location, Mo Yan drove her carriage straight there to avoid having to witness Tie Tou’s foolishness any longer.

Liu Qingqing’s rented place was in a somewhat remote area. Mo Yan drove around for a while before finally spotting the large copper-covered door Tie Tou had mentioned.

She knocked, and soon a twelve or thirteen-year-old maid opened the door slightly. This was the same maid who had been with Liu Qingqing when she came from the Misty Rain Pavilion.

The maid, who had seen her fair share of people in the Misty Rain Pavilion, noticed Mo Yan’s refined attire and sensed that she was someone of significance. Though still cautious, she spoke politely. "May I ask who you are looking for, miss?"

Mo Yan didn’t act arrogantly and spoke gently, "I’m looking for a young lady Liu Qingqing. I’ve been entrusted to find her."

Upon hearing that the visitor was looking for her young lady, the maid became more guarded. "May I ask who has sent you? My young lady is reclusive and does not like to meet strangers."

Mo Yan’s eyes glinted with meaning. "The kind of servant you have is often the reflection of the master you serve." The maid’s suspicious behavior showed that Liu Qingqing was even more formidable than Mo Yan had anticipated.

From Tie Tou’s straightforward nature, Mo Yan figured it might be better for him to have a strong woman managing their household, but if Liu Qingqing was too domineering, she could push his mother and sisters aside, and that would be problematic. Mo Yan hoped Liu Qingqing wasn’t that kind of person.

"You just tell your young lady that my surname is Mo. Whether she meets me or not is not for you to decide," Mo Yan said firmly.

"Mo?" The maid’s eyes flickered with doubt, and she sized Mo Yan up. She thought Mo Yan might be the younger sister of Liu Qingqing’s lover. Her attitude immediately shifted, and she quickly said, "Miss Mo, please wait. I’ll go and invite my young lady right away."

With that, the maid turned and hurried into the house, leaving the gate slightly open behind her.

Before long, Mo Yan saw a woman in a light purple waist-length coat, her appearance graceful and elegant, walking out with quick steps. It was Liu Qingqing, the same person Mo Yan had met once before.

Upon seeing Mo Yan, Liu Qingqing was slightly startled, then quickly smiled politely. "So it’s Miss Mo visiting. Qingqing is sorry for not greeting you earlier. Please don’t mind."

(End of Chapter) 

 Chapter 765: Compatibility (2)

"Old age, old age, my memory wasn’t this bad before," Li Zhong said helplessly, touching his white hair. At his age, there was no denying it.

"Grandpa Li’s energy and spirit are still good, you’re not old at all!" Mo Yan reassured him. 

Her words weren’t entirely just comforting. Compared to when they first met, Li Zhong’s health had improved significantly, thanks to the nourishing effects of Spirit Spring water and the crops from the space. He was in better shape than many men in their forties.

Li Zhong looked at Mo Yan with gratitude, saying, "I owe all of this to you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be living such a good life now."

Li Zhong had said this many times before. Mo Yan couldn’t help but feel a bit helpless, but she just smiled and didn’t try to convince him anymore, as she had done in the past, not to dwell on such matters.

The old and young chatted for a while, until they heard several customers arriving outside. Since Tie Tou and Wang Pangtou were too busy to attend to them, they were complaining. Mo Yan and Li Zhong stopped talking and hurried outside to greet them.

When the rush was over and things had settled down, Mo Yan called Tie Tou into the small room to talk.

Earlier, during her conversation with Li Zhong, he had casually mentioned that Tie Tou had been distracted lately and had made several mistakes in his calculations. After a harsh scolding from Li Zhong, things improved somewhat, but he still wasn’t as reliable as before.

Mo Yan knew the reason for this but couldn’t tell Li Zhong. Instead, she decided to talk to Tie Tou privately to see if she could help him resolve the issue and make sure he and Liu Qingqing could marry smoothly.

Seeing the painful frostbite on Tie Tou’s face and hands, Mo Yan finally understood why Aunt Wu was so heartbroken. She almost wanted to knock some sense into the man and ask him what he was thinking.

Did he really think that for the sake of love, it was okay to hurt the person who truly cared for him—his own mother? Was his stubbornness and lack of action going to get him anywhere? Would moping and waiting solve anything?

But then, thinking of Tie Tou’s simple and earnest nature, Mo Yan couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on. If left to him, he would probably think that by injuring himself, his mother, Aunt Wu, would feel pity and agree to his relationship with Liu Qingqing. He probably didn’t realize that by doing this, he was unknowingly hurting the person who truly cared about him.

"Tie Tou, where does Liu Qingqing live?"

Given that Tie Tou didn’t understand subtle hints, Mo Yan was direct and asked him plainly about Liu Qingqing’s residence.

Though Xue Tuanzi had mentioned that Tie Tou and Liu Qingqing had a destined connection, not all fates led to a good outcome, and not all outcomes were happy.

Mo Yan decided to meet the woman who had captured Tie Tou’s heart to see if she was truly worthy of his sincerity and if she was worth asking Wu Shi for leniency on their behalf.

"No, Yan girl, Tie Tou can’t tell you, can’t," Tie Tou refused, misunderstanding that Mo Yan was asking on Aunt Wu’s behalf. He planned to force Liu Qingqing to leave and wouldn’t reveal her location.

Mo Yan was frustrated and didn’t want to waste time arguing. She lowered her voice and said firmly, "If you don’t tell me, don’t ever think I’ll help you with Aunt Wu. If you can’t marry Liu Qingqing, don’t blame me for not helping you."

Tie Tou’s eyes widened in shock. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. "Yan, Yan girl, you… you want to help me? Help me talk to my mother and get her to agree to me marrying Qingqing?"

He was already somewhat simple-minded, but now, with this realization, he seemed even more foolish.

Mo Yan couldn’t hold back her laughter and chuckled, "Of course, I’m serious. Do you think I have nothing better to do?"

"Okay, thank you, Yan girl! Thank you so much! Thank you..." Tie Tou’s voice trailed off in gratitude, overjoyed. 

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 764: Compatibility (1)

The two of them had very little time together, and opportunities to meet were rare. However, Xiao Ruiyuan had official business to attend to and couldn’t stay with Mo Yan for long.

Although Mo Yan felt regretful, she wasn’t a young girl of fourteen or fifteen, who would demand that the person they liked stay by their side. So, the two of them went to Huixian Residence, ordered a few dishes, and had lunch together before parting ways—one heading to the government office to work, the other going to the rice shop to arrange some matters.

After a year of business, thanks to the high quality and variety of the rice, Mo Family’s fragrant rice shop had gained significant recognition within the capital. It had already attracted the attention of many middle and upper-class families, with daily sales exceeding three thousand jin. This meant that every other day, rice needed to be transported from Liuyang Village to the shop.

When Mo Yan arrived at the rice shop, Li Zhong, Tie Tou, and Wang Pangtou, who had been busy all morning, were having lunch in a small room.

Seeing her arrive at this hour, the three assumed she hadn’t eaten yet. Wang Pangtou immediately put down his bowl and was about to go to the kitchen to prepare more dishes, but Mo Yan stopped him, saying, "Sit down and eat. I’ve already had lunch."

Li Zhong laughed and said, "Pang Tou’s cooking is quite good. Yan girl, why not have some more?"

"It’s a shame. If I hadn’t just come from Huixian Residence, I would definitely try it!" Mo Yan smiled as she declined.

Li Zhong didn’t press further after hearing this.

Mo Yan allowed them to continue eating while she took the ledger and walked over to the counter outside to look it over.

The rice shop's business was booming, and the daily earnings were growing. By the end of the month, they could easily make seven or eight hundred taels of profit, far surpassing what Mo Yan had initially expected.

When the three in the small room finished eating, Mo Yan had also finished reviewing the ledger. She asked Li Zhong to stay in the small room while Tie Tou and Wang Pangtou went outside to handle the customers. 

Once the door to the small room was closed, Mo Yan’s expression became more serious as she spoke to Li Zhong, "Grandpa Li, there’s something I can’t handle personally, so I need to ask you for a favor."

Seeing her serious demeanor, Li Zhong also stopped smiling and said, "Yan girl, just tell me."

Mo Yan didn’t hesitate and explained what she needed: "Please go to the Ministry of Justice’s prison tomorrow, pick up someone, then find a reliable escort agency to send that person to my hometown. You don’t need to worry about anything else, and don’t tell anyone in the family about this."

By saving Du Shi, Mo Yan had done enough; she didn’t want to see her again, nor did she want Du Shi to know that it was her who saved her. As for her family, she was even less willing to mention it.

Li Zhong, hearing this, didn’t find it difficult and immediately agreed, "This is easy. Don’t worry, Yan girl, I’ll take care of it for you."

Though Li Zhong had his doubts, he wasn’t the type to ask unnecessary questions. He understood that Mo Yan trusted him because he was discreet and would never leak anything to her family.

"Thank you, Grandpa Li! The day after tomorrow is my father’s birthday. The shop can be looked after by Tie Tou and Pang Tou. You should take a couple of days off and rest at home."

With the rice shop’s business flourishing, there were inevitably people who grew envious. However, due to the influence of the Marquis Wu’s household and Mo Yan’s status as a county princess, no one dared to directly interfere with Mo Family’s fragrant rice shop. To prevent any backdoor scheming, Li Zhong and the others had been staying at the shop to keep watch.

This arrangement also saved them the trouble of running around, especially now that the cold weather made getting up early a struggle. Staying at the shop was much more convenient.

Hearing this, Li Zhong smacked his head and lamented, "If you hadn’t reminded me, I would’ve forgotten that the day after tomorrow is your father’s birthday! Alright, I’ll head back tomorrow afternoon."

Mo Yan smiled, "Grandpa Li, you’ve been so busy every day, it’s normal to forget." 

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 763: Capturing and Entering the Palace to Plead for Mercy (4)

However, Mo Yan wasn’t focused on finding a way to help the Wu family mother and son. This was because the Chen family had already been arrested. Just a few days ago, they were escorted to the capital, awaiting their fate.

The day after the Chen family was escorted to the capital, Mo Yan submitted a petition to the palace, requesting an audience with the emperor. But she had yet to receive any news about being summoned by Emperor Hui’an. 

Mo Yan felt that Emperor Hui’an likely already knew the true reason behind her request to meet. The fact that he hadn’t summoned her was likely his way of refusing to forgive Du Shi. Without access to the palace, she could not plead for Du Shi in person and could only place her hope in Xiao Ruiyuan, hoping he could persuade Chu Heng. If that happened, she might have a chance to enter the palace and convince Emperor Hui’an to pardon Du Shi’s death sentence.

Days passed, and after seven or eight days, Mo Yan hadn’t received any news from either the palace or Xiao Ruiyuan. She began to feel more and more anxious. The longer the delay, the more she worried that the next news she would receive would be about the Chen family’s execution.

Mo Qingze, who had been quietly studying at home, noticed Mo Yan’s unease and couldn’t help but ask her several times.

Mo Yan, not daring to tell him the truth, made up vague excuses to avoid answering. She decided to keep the matter concerning Chen Ji’s actions a secret from her family. The plan to save Du Shi would also proceed in secrecy. If Emperor Hui’an pardoned Du Shi, Mo Yan intended to secretly arrange for Du Shi’s safety without letting anyone in the family know, as she didn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble for them.

Fortunately, on the ninth day, Xiao Ruiyuan sent word through his secret agents that Chu Heng was willing to forgive Du Shi and would enter the palace to plead for her, as a way of repaying Mo Yan’s previous act of saving him.

Mo Yan felt a great weight lifted from her heart. With Chu Heng willing to show mercy, the possibility of Emperor Hui’an softening his stance increased significantly.

On the afternoon of the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, a young palace eunuch arrived at the Mo family home, delivering an imperial edict from Emperor Hui’an. Mo Yan was to enter the palace on the eighth day of the month, at the fifth watch, to meet the emperor.

Finally, she had received concrete news, and Mo Yan felt a sense of relief. The next morning, she prepared herself, dressing in her official robes, and set off for the palace to meet Emperor Hui’an.

Upon entering the palace gates, a palace eunuch was waiting to escort her. He led her directly to the imperial study, where she was greeted by Xiao Ruiyuan, who had been waiting for her.

After sending the eunuch away, Xiao Ruiyuan spoke as they walked inside, “The emperor has softened his stance. Once you enter, just tell him the truth about why you want to save Du Shi.”

“I understand,” Mo Yan replied with a smile, though in her heart, she knew she must never reveal the true reason for saving Du Shi.

Once inside, after the eunuch went in to announce her presence, Mo Yan and Xiao Ruiyuan were allowed to enter.

Emperor Hui’an’s expression was solemn, and Mo Yan felt a sense of unease as she bowed to pay her respects and waited for him to speak.

After a long silence, Emperor Hui’an finally asked about Mo Yan’s reasons for wanting to save the criminal Du Shi. His tone was neutral, making it hard to discern what he truly thought.

Mo Yan quickly composed herself and bowed again before speaking with a solemn expression, “Chen Ji committed grave offenses that harmed his family. Both he and his relatives are beyond forgiveness. However, Du Shi is the biological mother of He Jia, and she gave birth to her. Even though she abandoned He Jia, we cannot deny the fact that she is her mother. The Da Chu dynasty upholds filial piety, and it is well-known that Your Majesty is deeply devoted to the Empress Dowager. He Jia also follows Your Majesty’s example and strives to be a filial daughter. She cannot bear to see Du Shi suffer a death sentence.”

After speaking, Mo Yan bowed deeply again and remained in that position for a long time.

None of her words were directly pleading for mercy, yet each sentence emphasized filial piety, subtly praising the emperor, ensuring no offense was caused.

Emperor Hui’an’s expression remained unchanged, but a trace of approval flashed in his eyes. He asked in a deep voice, “You know that Chen Ji is guilty of heinous crimes, and his family is also unforgivable. If I refuse to pardon Du Shi, what will you do?”

Mo Yan responded quickly, “Loyalty and filial piety have always been difficult to reconcile. If Your Majesty refuses to pardon Du Shi, He Jia will obey your decision. I will only find her a good burial place and offer daily prayers for her, wishing her peace and happiness in the afterlife, so as to fulfill the bond between mother and daughter.”

Emperor Hui’an, expecting Mo Yan to continue pleading with her past deeds or promises as leverage, was taken aback by her response. Was this her true intention, or was she just trying to deceive him?

In the span of a moment, the suspicious emperor began to doubt Mo Yan’s real motives.

Under the sharp gaze from the emperor, Mo Yan dared not look up. Her words were mostly to placate him, and if the emperor truly refused to pardon Du Shi, she would have no choice but to offer up that old promise in exchange.

No matter how important loyalty to the emperor was, her siblings were more important.

After a long silence, Emperor Hui’an’s voice finally softened, “You have a pure and filial heart. If I refuse to grant your wish, it would make me seem cruel and heartless. For the sake of your past contributions, I will pardon Du Shi’s death sentence.”

Mo Yan’s heart soared with joy, and she quickly dropped to her knees to express her gratitude, “Your Majesty is compassionate and has honored He Jia’s filial piety. He Jia thanks Your Majesty for your great mercy!”

Seeing the sincere happiness on Mo Yan’s face, Emperor Hui’an had initially thought that her plea for Du Shi was for another purpose. Now, however, it seemed she truly possessed a pure filial heart. Such a person would be useful.

Thinking this, Emperor Hui’an cast a subtle glance at Xiao Ruiyuan, who was watching Mo Yan’s knees with an intense gaze. The emperor’s expression softened slightly.

Mo Yan, unaware of the emperor’s thoughts, felt a quiet sense of relief. Little did she know that, in the future, her value would be exploited by the royal family, leading to much frustration and dissatisfaction.

(End of Chapter) 

 Chapter 762: Capturing and Entering the Palace to Plead for Mercy (3)

After thinking for a while, Mo Yan asked Xue Tuanzi, “So now, do Tie Tou and Liu Qingqing still have a chance to be together?” 

“They will!” Xue Tuanzi answered without hesitation. “If you hadn’t helped the Wu family escape the Old Mo family, Tie Tou would never have married Liu Qingqing. He would have become disheartened, left home, worked for a courier company, been attacked by bandits, lost his legs, and died poor and lonely. Liu Qingqing would have ended up tragically, dying of depression due to missing Tie Tou. All in all, your good deed truly saved two lives. Now, do you still feel guilty?”

Mo Yan wiped away the cold sweat from her forehead and quickly shook her head.

Xue Tuanzi, feeling gratified, turned its eyes in a wise manner and said, “Ah, this child is teachable!”

Mo Yan’s mood brightened, and she spun around happily while holding Xue Tuanzi. However, her brows soon furrowed, and with a worried expression, she said, “Aunt Wu will never agree to Tie Tou marrying Liu Qingqing. If they really break up, will they end up on the path you mentioned?”

Xue Tuanzi shivered and regained its pure white form, replying, “Of course they will! However, if you help them and let them marry smoothly, there will be no issue!”

Mo Yan sighed at this, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you! If one day Zhen’er falls for a girl from a brothel and wants to marry her as my sister-in-law, I would probably be unwilling. Aunt Wu’s thoughts are even more conservative. Convincing her to approve of Tie Tou and Liu Qingqing will be very difficult!”

Xue Tuanzi, however, reassured her, “It will be difficult, but not impossible! Besides, putting virtue aside, you can’t bear to see the Wu family fall apart, can you?”

Mo Yan thought for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, I must help.”

Although Mo Yan knew the consequences, she could never sit idly by and watch the Wu family fall apart. But the question was, how should she help? That would require some careful thought.

After playing with Xue Tuanzi for a while, Mo Yan left the space and made her way home.

The rest of the Mo family had not yet gone to bed, clearly still concerned about the Wu family.

Mo Yan didn’t say much, only mentioning that Tie Tou had made a mistake and been punished. She didn’t elaborate.

The others sensed that the situation wasn’t as simple as it seemed. Seeing that Mo Yan wasn’t saying more, they didn’t press further and instead casually chatted before returning to their rooms to rest.

After taking a bath, Mo Yan lay on her bed and pondered how to handle the situation. Various solutions came to mind, but she pushed each one aside. After thinking for a while, she still felt that it was a difficult problem to solve. In the end, her mind wandered, and she drifted off to sleep.

The next few days were relatively quiet for the Wu family. However, Wu Shi was determined to make Tie Tou sever ties with Liu Qingqing, insisting that after the rice shop closed, he had to come home and sleep.

Tie Tou, being filial, even though he was unwilling in his heart, dared not make his mother sad. He began going to the rice shop early every morning and returned late at night, braving the cold. The freezing winds made his face, ears, and hands swell up, developing frostbite that was as swollen as steamed buns.

As a mother, Wu Shi couldn’t help but feel heartbroken seeing her son suffer. Despite her reluctance, she didn’t let him continue sleeping at the rice shop. She bought cotton and good fabric and worked late into the night, sewing thick cotton clothes, socks, and shoes for Tie Tou, even making several pairs of sleeves.

But Tie Tou, stubborn as ever, refused to wear the new cotton clothes and shoes. After a few days, his frostbite began to break open, bleeding and oozing pus. It was so painful that anyone who saw it could feel it.

Wu Shi could only buy the best ointment and secretly go to Tie Tou’s room every night to apply it while he was asleep.

At first, Tie Tou didn’t notice, but later, he figured it out and locked the door. Perhaps, unable to think of any other solution, he resorted to this clumsy method, hoping his mother would relent. Little did he know, this approach not only hurt him but also deeply wounded a mother’s heart. 

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 1619: Meng Han Prepares to Leave

Meng Yunzheng saw that Meng Han had plans to leave, so he didn't say much.

After all, Meng Han was a young girl, and even though she followed the escort bureau, they were still concerned about her being alone.

With Meng Pei around, Meng Han felt relieved.

However...

Meng Yunzheng turned back and exchanged a serious look with Shu Yu, who was standing behind him.

Shu Yu walked forward and came to Meng Han's side, pulling her back to the room.

"Let's go, I'll help you pack. Your grandma has prepared many local specialties for you to take back. I'll bring them tomorrow for you to take with you."

"Okay." Meng Han obediently let her lead her into the room.

Once they left, Meng Yunzheng lowered his voice and said, "Dad, let's talk inside."

He had Xia Yan stay at the door while he discussed the current situation in Changjin Prefecture with Meng Pei.

Since Gongqiu was beheaded, Meng Yunzheng had no intention of getting involved in the court's power struggles, and as for Meng Pei, it was even less of an option. Now that he had proper work, his son had achieved scholarly success and got engaged, and he had also reunited with his brother, the court's affairs were too distant for him.

Even during the Emperor's feigned illness, Meng Yunzheng had only informed Meng Pei without involving him.

Thus, Meng Pei was unaware of the situation in Changjin Prefecture.

But this time, as he was returning to the old Meng family, who knew what kind of troubles he might encounter, so Meng Yunzheng reminded him.

Meng Pei was taken aback after hearing the situation and sighed deeply. "I understand. I'll be careful. If brother comes back from his long journey, I want to bring them all over to avoid any problems."

Meng Yunzheng felt helpless. "How do we avoid it? Uncle's family has significant assets, and our family's escort bureau is still operating there, with many escorts relying on it for a living. Moreover, we don't know when the chaos in Changjin Prefecture will erupt. Maybe it'll happen in two months, half a year, or even one or two years from now. Who can say for sure?"

Even if they managed to find an excuse to bring Uncle's family over, they couldn't possibly stay here for a year or more.

Meng Pei was anxious, "Then what should we do?"

"For now, we can only plan for a way out. If something happens, we'll be prepared and have a safe place to retreat to in advance."

Meng Pei thought it over and realized that he could only make plans after going to Changjin Prefecture.

Meng Yunzheng had not been with the Meng family for long, so apart from avoiding suspicion, he hadn't properly familiarized himself with the layout of the escort bureau. He didn't even know who the people in the bureau were and how to arrange things if something went wrong. He could only talk without any substantial details.

They decided on this plan for now, and Meng Yunzheng sent Meng Han to see grandmother Lu the next day. Meng Pei then began to arrange the travel details, while Meng Yunzheng sought out Zhao Xi, obtained some medicine, and handed it to Meng Han.

When Meng Han saw the words "sedative" and "poison" written on the medicine package, her heart trembled, and she looked at Meng Yunzheng with a puzzled expression. "Cousin, why are you giving me these?"

Meng Yunzheng calmly replied, "They're for self-defense."

Self-defense?

But holding these medicines made her feel like something big and dangerous was about to happen.

Meng Han felt that she didn't need them. "Cousin, I have good skills, and I can handle ordinary thugs. Even if I can't defeat them, I can still escape."