Chapter 986: Noticing Something Strange – County Princess Fuyun Has Arrived (3)

“Yanyan, if you want to know that brat’s past life, you could’ve just asked me. No need to wait for him to wake up,” came the chattering voice of Xue Tuanzi from within the space. Just moments ago, it had been desperate to speak, only to be blocked off by Mo Yan.

Mo Yan rubbed her temples and waved a hand. “Even if you tell me, you can’t relieve Cui Ping’an’s pain. So what’s the point?”

“Who says I can’t?” Xue Tuanzi huffed indignantly. “I could enter his dreams and erase his past-life memories. Problem solved!”

Mo Yan rolled her eyes, barely restraining herself from calling Xue Tuanzi an idiot. “If he forgets the past but still unconsciously follows the same path, and ends up creating another tragedy that ruins the rest of his life, wouldn't that be even worse?”

Xue Tuanzi was momentarily speechless. After a long while, it mumbled, “It… it might not turn out like that. He’s already in such a miserable state—would Old Madam Cui really still force him to do things he doesn’t want to do?”

Mo Yan shook her head. “Maybe she would, maybe she wouldn’t. Who knows? Either way, you’re not allowed to use dream magic on Cui Ping’an. If his current pain is something he brought upon himself, then maybe this is heaven’s punishment. If he’s been given another chance at life and still fails to learn or treasure it, then he doesn’t deserve happiness.”

Xue Tuanzi fell completely silent, but had to admit its master made a strong point. If that guy had done things right in his past life, there wouldn’t have been all the misery that followed. In the end, he had only himself to blame.

At that moment, no one noticed that in Cui Ping’an’s courtyard, a seemingly inconspicuous little maid slipped out with her head down, quickly making her way across a large portion of the Cui estate. She passed through a small moon gate and entered a grand courtyard that shared a wall with the Cui residence.

Unlike the low-key and restrained elegance of the Cui family’s home, this adjacent courtyard was adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, its eaves stretching high like the beaks of birds. It was lavish and majestic—entirely different in style from the Cui residence. If not for the connecting passage between the two, no one would assume this grand estate had anything to do with the Cui family.

In fact, technically speaking, this courtyard didn’t belong to the Cui family. It had been commissioned by order of Emperor Hui’an and built by the Ministry of Works. Its occupant was none other than the woman Old Madam Cui feared the most—County Princess Fuyun.

In Great Chu, princesses typically received a bestowed residence upon reaching fifteen and undergoing the hairpin ceremony. Favored princesses could have custom-built mansions, constructed according to their preferences by the Ministry of Works. Those less favored would have to move into previously reclaimed estates of deceased elder princesses after marriage, then live in the princess mansion with their consorts.

After marrying Cui Ping’an’s father, the third master of the Cui family, County Princess Fuyun should have moved into her designated princess mansion with him. However, she declined the princess mansion specially ordered for her by Emperor Hui’an, insisting on living with the Cui family after the wedding.

Concerned that his youngest sister might not be treated well, Emperor Hui’an ordered the Ministry of Works to build a mansion adjacent to the Cui residence—equal in scale and luxury to a princess mansion—and had a gate opened between the two courtyards. Although the grand estate didn’t carry a plaque proclaiming it as a Princess Mansion, everyone in the capital knew it essentially was. Even the Cui household referred to it as such.

This arrangement could be seen as a sign of respect toward County Princess Fuyun—or a sign that she was never truly accepted as one of the Cui family. After all, if she’d given up her own mansion to live with them, what had she been hoping to achieve?

After passing through layers of palace maid announcements, the little maid finally stood before County Princess Fuyun. That said, “stood before” was a stretch—she didn’t even dare to lift her head. Despite coming to the princess mansion countless times, she had never truly seen the princess’s face. All she knew was that she was a beauty—undoubtedly so—but one who had never earned the affection of Cui Third Master.

(End of chapter)

 Chapter 985: Noticing Something Strange – County Princess Fuyun Has Arrived (2)

During the most difficult days of his life, he had a little companion by his side. For him, that must have been an enormous comfort. Perhaps that young girl back then had played with him, slowly bringing joy into his life; perhaps she had cried with him, making him feel less alone; perhaps she had laughed with him, helping him forget his loneliness… Growing up together in innocence—even if it wasn't love, it would still be a touching bond of affection.

Xiao Qi's feelings for the girl named Fangcao likely went beyond affection developed over time. There must have been a layer of familial warmth mixed in. Emotions like that are the most resilient. How could they be so easily dismissed just because of a few disapproving words from his mother?

Unlike Old Madam Cui, Cui Qingrou used to visit the estate where Cui Ping’an lived before her separation. At the time, she had seen Fangcao several times and had a certain understanding of the girl’s character and conduct. She thought Fangcao was a simple and kindhearted girl, so she didn’t strongly object to her getting close to her nephew.

However, the disparity between their statuses was simply too great. It was acceptable for Fangcao to become a concubine, but it would be inappropriate for her to be the main wife—especially for families like theirs. A wife’s background being lower wasn't a big issue, but she at least needed to be educated, well-mannered, capable of handling social occasions, and able to uphold the family's reputation in public.

Fangcao had grown up in the countryside. Though she had learned some reading and writing with Xiao Qi, she was far from meeting the Cui family's standards. Her personality was also too simple and straightforward, making her ill-suited for life in a large, complex household. Even if she truly married Xiao Qi, she might not be happy. A life like that, dragged on long enough, would exhaust anyone.

After hearing what Mo Yan said, Old Madam Cui shed tears again. She held her grandson’s still slightly warm hand and muttered, “Child, just for the sake of one girl, you've done this to yourself? If you feel wronged, come at your grandmother with it—why torment your own body like this? Are you trying to force your grandmother to agree to let you marry that girl? If you like her so much, but you don’t wake up, how am I supposed to give you my blessing?”

Her words didn’t just move Cui Qingrou to tears, covering her mouth as she cried, but also struck a chord in Mo Yan. Regardless of whether Old Madam Cui had pressured Cui Ping’an or not, her intentions had always been good. Her feelings for her grandson were pure and unwavering.

Perhaps, in response to her words, Cui Ping’an—who had been in a deep sleep—slightly fluttered his eyelids, as if he was about to wake up.

Mo Yan noticed the change first and quickly leaned in, calling out, “Cui Ping’an! If you’re a man, if there are still people in this world you care about, if you truly like that girl Fangcao—then fight for it! Get better quickly! If you keep running away, you’ll never have another chance to be with her!”

Old Madam Cui and Cui Qingrou were immediately on edge, watching him closely. However, after just a slight flutter of his eyelids, Cui Ping’an fell still again. The three of them stared at him for a long time, but he still didn’t wake up.

Mo Yan was a little disappointed and said to the equally crestfallen mother and daughter, “Just go along with his thoughts and keep talking to him. He should be able to hear you. Once he sorts things out, he might wake up.”

The two women nodded repeatedly. They understood this was the only thing they could do for now—there were no other options.

Mo Yan then took Cui Ping’an’s pulse again. Finding it much steadier than before, she felt slightly more at ease. Right now, all they could do was wait for him to wake up. Only by uncovering the source of the pain tormenting his heart could they help him work through it and move on. If he didn’t wake and the fever kept returning, she would truly have no solution.

Still worried about Cui Ping’an, and seeing that it was still early, Mo Yan didn’t refuse the Cui family’s invitation to stay. She followed one of the household servants to a side room to rest and also lifted the barrier she had placed on Xue Tuanzi.

(End of chapter)

 Chapter 984: Noticing Something Strange – County Princess Fuyun Has Arrived (1)

After being reborn, Cui Ping’an instinctively resisted recalling anything from his previous life. It was as if only by doing so could he avoid facing the guilt and remorse buried in his heart for so many years.

However, deep down, a voice constantly reminded him that those tragedies had truly happened. What he was doing now was nothing more than deceiving himself! That day, a single sentence from Old Madam Cui had triggered the series of tragedies in his past life, forcing him to confront the mistakes he had once made.

He placed all the blame on himself, believing it was his own insatiable greed that had led to the death of the woman he loved, dragged his cousin into an unhappy marriage, and ultimately caused her early death. Two lives weighed heavily on his conscience—such things couldn't simply be forgotten because of one rebirth.

This illness had struck without warning and fiercely. It was rooted in Cui Ping’an’s refusal to confront the past, and his fear that he might once again tread the same path in this life without knowing how to change it. That deep sense of powerlessness gnawed at him, which was why he fell ill so suddenly, sinking deeper into the miseries of his previous life, unable to extricate himself.

In the past few days, the Cui family had sought help from over ten physicians, even summoning several imperial physicians from the palace. All of them diagnosed Cui Ping’an with a heart-borne ailment—one of the hardest to treat, requiring the patient to walk out of it on his own.

Cui Ping’an had been suffering from intermittent high fevers these days. Even a child knew that prolonged fever could damage the brain or even be life-threatening. The physicians and imperial physicians certainly knew this too, but the fever-reducing medicines they prescribed were practically taken like food, and yet had no effect at all. Sometimes, he would even vomit them up immediately after taking them, and the fever would worsen.

Yet Mo Yan had only fed him a small vial of some unknown medicinal liquid, and it calmed him down. He stopped muttering in his sleep, and his temperature gradually subsided. Just this one act was enough to earn the trust of Old Madam Cui and Cui Qingrou—they were convinced she would be able to cure their grandson (or nephew).

So, when Mo Yan asked what had happened after Cui Ping’an returned that day, Old Madam Cui hesitated only for a moment before revealing everything. In fact, she had been mulling over her words again and again ever since realizing her grandson’s illness was tied to a mental burden. She remembered clearly—it was right after she said she’d bring in that girl Fangcao and marry her off to the eldest grandson that Cui Ping’an’s condition began to change.

Over the past few days, Cui Ping’an had been repeatedly calling out those two names in his sleep, which further confirmed Old Madam Cui’s suspicions. However, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t figure out why that one sentence had triggered such an extreme reaction. It didn’t align with his usual temperament or behavior at all.

This was exactly what Mo Yan couldn’t figure out either.

Beside her, Cui Qingrou was just as puzzled. Watching Mo Yan probe cautiously, she asked, “County Princess, Ping’an stayed in your residence for a whole month—did he... did he ever say anything to you?”

Mo Yan thought for a moment, and suddenly recalled that day when Cui Ping’an had asked her whether she believed in past and present lives. At the time, she’d already suspected that he was reborn and had warned him not to casually reveal such a secret to others.

Looking at it now, he must indeed have been reborn. He hadn’t experienced any major hardships in this life, but his previous life might have been different. The way he constantly called out the name of the girl he loved and his cousin—perhaps the key to everything lay with those two people.

The more she thought about it, the more it seemed likely. But the matter itself was so fantastical that Mo Yan decided it would be better not to say it outright. So, she simply nodded at Cui Qingrou and said, “He often spoke of the days he spent at the southern estate. That girl named Fangcao was the one he mentioned the most.”

Hearing this, Cui Qingrou’s eyes turned red. She looked at the unconscious Cui Ping’an on the bed, unable to say a word.

A child only a few years old, sent to a distant estate thousands of miles away by his own family—even if it was unavoidable, even if his family never truly forgot about him—surely, his heart still harbored resentment, loneliness, and fear, didn’t it?

(End of chapter)

 Cui Ping'an suddenly fell ill in front of the Old Madam Cui. Even after consulting renowned physicians, none could do anything, so the old madam believed her grandson had been possessed. If it weren’t for the intervention of Master Cui, she would have gone to a Taoist temple to ask a priest to perform a ritual to save him.

“You wait here. I, the County Princess, will prepare and go with you,” Mo Yan said, furrowing her brows at the anxious maid before turning back to her own courtyard.

She was fully aware of her limitations—nowhere near the skill level of the imperial physicians in the Imperial Medical physicians. If even they couldn’t diagnose the illness, she was even less capable.

It had taken considerable effort just to nurse Cui Ping'an’s health back previously, so now all she could do was pin her hopes on the spiritual spring water, hoping it could bring down his fever. While she could have refused outright, since they had once known each other, even if she couldn’t help, she should at least visit.

After retrieving the spring water, Mo Yan hesitated for a moment before leaving the space. She used a small knife to cut a piece of black lingzhi and placed it into a jade box.

Previously, she’d traded a palm-sized piece of black lingzhi with the black clouded leopard for ginseng, then used some to detoxify Xiao Ruiyuan and Chu Heng. She also used some to stimulate the potential of the furballs. Though the black lingzhi was large and more than half remained, each use diminished it. Unless it was a matter of life and death, she wouldn’t take it out.

Since she didn’t know the exact condition of Cui Ping’an or whether it was life-threatening, she took the lingzhi as a precaution. If needed, it could save a life; if not, she could simply return it to the space—it wouldn’t spoil. She had no qualms about it.

Without further delay, Mo Yan exited the space with the spring water and lingzhi, changed clothes, and got into the Cui family’s carriage under the maid’s anxious urging, quickly heading toward the capital. When they arrived at the Cui residence, the carriage entered directly through the main gate.

Lately, many physicians had been coming and going from the residence, so although the servants found it odd that their young lady’s carriage entered through the main gate, they assumed it was another physician invited by the masters and didn’t dwell on it.

After getting off at the second gate, the maid led Mo Yan straight to Cui Ping'an’s courtyard. At this moment, he lay semi-conscious on the bed—his face flushed red, his lips dark and peeling, and he kept murmuring in pain. No matter how much the old madam and Cui Qingrou called him, he never opened his eyes.

Seeing the once lively and cheerful youth in such a state pained Mo Yan. She didn’t bother with formal greetings and hurried to the window to take his pulse.

The old madam, who had been weeping beside the bed, was startled when an unfamiliar girl suddenly approached. She didn’t react at first, but just as she was about to speak, Cui Qingrou stopped her, saying, “Mother, this young lady is the County Princess Hejia. She’s the one who helped treat Ping’an’s condition before.”

Upon hearing this, the old madam didn’t dare interrupt. She looked at Mo Yan with hope and without a trace of condescension due to her youth.

The room fell silent. No one dared speak, fearing they’d disturb Mo Yan as she took Cui Ping'an’s pulse.

After half a quarter-hour, Mo Yan finally withdrew her hand. Under the expectant gazes of the old madam and Cui Qingrou, she said nothing. Instead, she leaned closer to Cui Ping’an’s ear and heard him repeatedly muttering two words: “Fangcao” and “cousin.”

She recalled teasing Cui Ping'an before, when he’d blushed and spoken about his beloved Fangcao. It made sense that he would murmur his lover’s name while ill. But “cousin”? What was that about?

His condition clearly stemmed from emotional distress. If the cause wasn’t identified, how could a cure be found?

But right now, lowering his body temperature was the priority. Mo Yan took out a porcelain bottle from her medicine box and handed it to Cui Qingrou. “Madam, this is a fever-reducing potion I prepared. Please give this to him.”

Without hesitation, Cui Qingrou accepted the bottle and sat by the bed. With the help of a maid, she propped her nephew up and carefully poured the spring water into his mouth, not spilling a drop.

Mo Yan deeply appreciated this level of trust.

Though it was just a small bottle of water, Cui Ping’an was unconscious and difficult to feed. Cui Qingrou, worried that spilling it would affect its efficacy, fed him slowly and carefully. Though she had doubts about the clear, tasteless liquid, her trust in Mo Yan kept her from asking anything.

By the time the bottle was emptied, a full quarter-hour had passed.

As expected of the spiritual spring water, its effects appeared quickly—Cui Ping'an’s breathing gradually steadied, and he stopped murmuring. His peaceful expression now resembled that of someone asleep.

The old madam and Cui Qingrou noticed the change in their grandson (nephew) and finally felt a bit relieved. Their respect for Mo Yan’s medical skills grew immensely.

The old madam, overwhelmed with gratitude, stepped forward to bow to Mo Yan, only to be stopped in time.

“Saving lives is a healer’s duty, Madam. There's no need for this. But this is a matter of the heart. If we can't identify the source of the illness in his heart, I fear he won’t recover fully,” Mo Yan said sincerely.

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 982: Autumn Harvest and Seeking a Physician (3)

When Yang Bao heard this, he smiled and said, “Good, as long as the date is set. I’ll inform the villagers right away so they can plan accordingly.”

“Mm, thank you for the trouble, Uncle Yang,” Mo Yan said with a smile.

Yang Bao quickly waved his hand and said it was no trouble at all. Then, after hesitating for a moment, he asked with some curiosity, “Yan girl, this set of houses you’re building seems even larger than your own compound. What are they for?”

The Mo family was a rather unique presence in Liuyang Village and the nearby villages. Any small movement from them would draw plenty of attention and gossip. Now that the Mo family had suddenly hired so many people to build such a large structure without saying what it was for, speculation among the villagers only increased.

Some said it was for a medicinal workshop—after all, hadn’t they seen that large area of flourishing medicinal fields behind the mountain? Others believed it was a residential estate to be sold to wealthy city dwellers. One of the more outrageous theories claimed the Mo family had discovered a piece of prime feng shui land and were building a grand new residence there to bring prosperity and fortune to the family…

Living in the village herself, Mo Yan had heard these rumors. Since none of them were malicious, she didn’t bother to clarify. Now that Yang Bao brought it up again, she didn’t want to reveal the purpose before construction was even finished, lest it stir up even more gossip. So she simply said, “Uncle Yang, there’s certainly an important use for these houses. As for what they’re for, you’ll know when the time comes.”

Hearing this, Yang Bao didn’t press further, but his curiosity only deepened. He even started to think that if the Mo family had really found a spot with excellent feng shui and was planning to build a new residence there, he might build his own house nearby to share in their good fortune.

Last year, his family had earned a fair amount of silver from growing vegetables in greenhouses. He had planned to tear down the old house and build a new one. But the plot was too small—even with a new house, it wouldn’t be big enough for everyone, especially since his grandson would be of marrying age in a few years. He wanted a larger house so the whole family could live together.

To that end, he had even hired a feng shui master to pick a site, and the master had pointed straight to the Mo residence, saying it was the best spot in the entire village. He suggested building nearby.

However, all the empty land around the Mo house had already been bought by the Mo family. Though tempted, Yang Bao also knew the Mo family had chosen the secluded spot not only for its good feng shui but also for the peace and quiet. He didn’t feel right about asking them to sell a piece of land to him.

For now, his house plans were on hold. It worked out anyway, since his two sons wanted to start small businesses, so he gave them a portion of the money they’d earned to invest, hoping they’d earn more. Later, they could pick a good site and build a large residence.

Mo Yan didn’t know about any of Yang Bao’s thoughts. After the two chatted for a bit more, Yang Bao took his leave.

On the sixth day of the eighth lunar month, the day chosen to break ground, Mo Yan solemnly set up an altar and offered prayers to the gods. Then, at the chosen foundation site, she dug the first shovel of earth.

Afterward, the gathered villagers who had also paid their respects scattered to various foundation sites and eagerly began digging with shovels and pickaxes.

Mo Yan walked around to inspect each site briefly, then returned home. Just as she sat down to rest, someone came to the door. It was none other than one of the two maidservants who had previously accompanied Cui Qingrou to the Mo residence to take Cui Ping’an home.

“…County Princess, my young lady truly has no other choice and had to ask you to come to the estate. For the sake of Seventh Young Master’s acquaintance with you, please, we beg you to help him.”

After hearing the maidservant’s tearful account, Mo Yan learned that shortly after returning home, Cui Ping’an had suddenly fallen severely ill. He’d had an intermittent high fever for six days and nights now and had not regained consciousness.

During this time, the Cui family had summoned every reputable physician in the capital to examine him, but none could find a solution. The Cui Matriarch even used her own name card to request an imperial physician from the palace. But even that physician failed to identify the illness, and despite prescribing several strong medicines, none had brought down Cui Ping’an’s fever.

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 981: Autumn Harvest and Seeking a Physician (2)

Up to now, Mo Yan had never personally visited the farmstead. If Xin'er hadn't mentioned it today, she might have forgotten about it again.

Now that the crops on the estate were about to be harvested, it was indeed time to make a trip. So Mo Yan said to Xin'er, “There’s too much going on these couple of days, I don’t have time to go. Let’s wait until Father and the others return, then we’ll be free to go together and take a look.”

Xin’er cheered, clapping her hands in excitement. “Great! I’ve been wanting to see it for a long time! The whole estate is ours—maybe it even looks better than our home!”

Mo Yan gently tapped Xin’er’s forehead and said helplessly, “If you wanted to go, why didn’t you say so earlier? But last time the steward came by, he gave a brief report about the estate. Besides farmland, there’s also a very large residence. The scenery is said to be quite beautiful. If it’s really like that, we could stay there for a few days as a family now and then. It would be a nice change of pace.”

Xin’er replied a bit shyly, “At the time, Father was studying hard, Zhen’er and the others were rarely home, and you’re always busy, Sister. It wouldn’t have been any fun going alone.”

Mo Yan smiled, patted Xin’er’s head, and said, “Then wait just a couple more days. There’s still a lot to do at home right now.”

“Mhm, I know. The estate won’t run away—it’ll be there no matter when we go,” Xin’er said cheerfully, her bright eyes full of anticipation.

After chatting a while longer, the sisters parted ways. Mo Yan picked up the abacus and started tallying up the materials recently purchased.

Tasks like harvesting from the orchard and rice fields could be left to others, but the materials for building the housing for the three hundred soldiers and the third phase of the winery’s construction had to be handled personally by her.

Some payments for materials had already been completed, which made organizing easier. But there were still scattered items that hadn’t all arrived yet and needed to be sorted again. Doing the accounting this way was a bit tedious. Fortunately, Mo Yan was quick-minded and used modern calculation methods, so she managed to get things sorted rather quickly.

Just as she put down her pen and stretched, ready to get up and cut some watermelon, Yang Bao knocked on the door and entered.

“Yan girl, the wood beams we cut a while ago have dried out pretty well, and most of the bricks and tiles you ordered have arrived. When do you plan to start construction? Once the date’s confirmed, the villagers can also plan around the autumn harvest.”

Previously, Mo Yan had hired quite a few workers to go into the mountains to cut timber for beams, and that was when the villagers learned the Mo family was building houses again. Although they didn’t know where the houses would be or what they were for, just the three hundred wood beams drying at the site already made it clear the houses were going to be large-scale.

Building eighty to ninety houses in a month wasn’t an easy task—it required a lot of manpower. So Mo Yan had already spread word about the hiring ahead of time, and the daily wages were ten wen higher than in the city. As a result, not only did laborers from Liuyang Village aim for the job, but people from neighboring villages also came daily to inquire, hoping to earn a share of the wages.

That was exactly the effect Mo Yan wanted. In addition to the villagers who had helped in her previous house construction, she also asked the village heads of several nearby villages to help screen and recommend hardworking, capable laborers from their own communities. All of them agreed readily and quickly sent over lists of names.

Now, all the laborers had been gathered—a total of two hundred people. As long as there were no rainy days, the houses could be built within a month. After that, they’d be aired and ventilated for another month, just in time for the three hundred border soldiers to be brought back by Qi Nan.

Mo Yan had already planned out the construction start date, so she said to Yang Bao, “The sixth day of the eighth lunar month, which is the day after tomorrow, is an auspicious day for breaking ground. I plan to start construction then. I was going to inform the villagers tomorrow, but you’ve already come by, Uncle Yang. If building the houses will delay the autumn harvest, then let’s have everyone focus on the harvest first—it won’t hurt to start two days later.”

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 980: Autumn Harvest, Seeking Treatment (1)

As soon as the Chushu solar term passed, August arrived with steadily cooling weather—even though the noonday sun still blazed fiercely. Few people dared to work in the fields under that relentless heat, but compared to the raging inferno of June and July, those few heat-sensitive fellows had it much easier.

August is also the season of harvest, and the Mo family’s orchard is enjoying an abundant yield. Although the fruit trees have not yet fully blossomed, the fruits hanging on them are so heavy that the branches bend under the weight. Without the need to weigh each one individually, it is clear that this year’s harvest is at least five times greater than last year’s.

Last year, the number of fruits was rather modest. Mo Yan and Yan Junyu set aside a small portion while sending the rest directly to the palace. Those fruits turned out to be far superior in quality to the so-called tribute produce shipped from the south, and even the palace couldn’t quite divide them all among themselves.

Thus, with this year’s orchard yielding such a prodigious output, Mo Yan had no worries about selling the fruit. Even if the palace could not consume all of it, there were plenty of people outside eager to buy, and the prices would surely be high.

Now, with the fruits nearly ripe and ready for picking in less than ten days, Mo Yan instructed Aunt Tong to oversee the arrangements. She even sent advance notice to Yan Junyu, asking him to have his men come over in ten days to load up and take away the share of fruit that belonged to him. As for her own share, it would be hauled away separately. Either way, her silver coins wouldn’t be any less—and it would save her a good deal of work.

Over a hundred acres of rice in the low hills had also turned yellow. In three to five days, it would be time to harvest. As usual, Mo Yan entrusted the matter to Uncle Ding, asking him to hire workers to help with the harvest, with the wages calculated just as in previous years.

However, the rice that had just been sown this year had already been requisitioned by the court. After harvest, it was slated to serve as seed rice for trial planting throughout the Dachu region. As for the grain from last year, it had already been allocated by the court to various imperial estates early this year. These, too, would be harvested in the coming days and then used as seed rice for experimental planting in various locales.

Mo Yan mulled over the prospect of how much silver the combined income from the fruit and rice would bring to the family. Just then, Xin’er stepped in and, gently sliding a string of counting beads through her fingers, asked, “Sister, when you were given the title of County Princess, the Emperor awarded you that estate—aren’t you planning to go take a look at it?”

Last year, Mo Yan had received a title alongside that of County Princess, along with a string of awards. Among those awards was a thousand-acre estate. That estate lay about thirty li south of the city. Its size was considerable, and it was all fine-quality farmland—worth no less than over ten thousand taels of silver if measured purely by price, an amount that would be impossible to come by by any ordinary means.

That imperial edict of awards had completely stunned everyone in the Mo family. None could fully grasp the array of rewards—and the deed for the thousand-acre estate tucked among them was hardly noticed. When Mo Yan received the imperial decree, she simply enshrined it without a second thought, inadvertently overlooking that the family now possessed a vast estate.

It wasn’t until this spring when the estate’s overseer, noticing that the new mistress had yet to dispatch anyone to arrange the spring plowing and related matters, had to go through much trouble to track her down in Liuyang Village. Only then did Mo Yan learn that her family actually owned a thousand-acre estate—and she also discovered its origins.

The previous owner of the estate had been a corrupt high official. A couple of years ago, when his household was confiscated, the estate reverted to the court. The original fifty tenant households, who once farmed it, continued to rent and cultivate the land—but now the rent and taxes they paid went straight to the court.

That very overseer had once served as a servant to the corrupt official. After the estate was absorbed by the court, he became a sort of official retainer, continuing to manage the estate. Once the estate was granted to Mo Yan, he naturally came to serve the Mo family—or more specifically, Mo Yan herself.

At that time, Mo Yan was as busy as a dog and had little energy to manage the estate. She simply left the estate’s affairs to that overseer, instructing him to handle all the necessary arrangements. All she knew was that the estate actually contained two hundred waterways for rice cultivation. With that knowledge, she provided him with high-yield rice seeds, explained the general planting method, and sent the overseer on his way.

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 979: Inciting Possession (4)

By the time he finished the wedding ceremony and rushed out of the residence upon receiving the news, Fangcao had already been assaulted by a thug on her way home from the city. Unable to bear the humiliation, she jumped into the moat. When her body was retrieved, it was completely unrecognizable, becoming the nightmare that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Back then, he had wished to follow Fangcao in death. His grandmother had to threaten him with her own life to stop him from jumping into the moat, but his heart had already died with Fangcao.

Like a walking corpse, Cui Ping’an clung to Fangcao’s body without sleeping or resting. He only fainted from starvation after her corpse had rotted beyond recognition. Only then did the Cui family’s servants bury Fangcao and bring him back home.

When Cui Ping’an finally regained consciousness, he was like a soul without a body. Every day, he remained by Fangcao’s grave, not returning home for days at a time. He forgot about the Cui family, forgot about his grandmother, and even forgot about his cousin—his newlywed wife.

His new wife couldn’t stand that her husband’s heart was with someone else. She also knew that no living person could compete with the dead. So, she left behind a letter of separation and returned to her maiden home, never stepping into the Cui household again.

However, having been married—even without consummation—she became the subject of unbearable rumors. No respectable family was willing to take her in, and in the end, she could only marry a widower.

That widower was a third-rank deputy general. Though he seemed dignified on the surface, he was actually cruel and violent behind closed doors. If displeased, he would hit people without hesitation. His first wife, pregnant at the time, was beaten to death over a trivial matter. Because he had kept the incident well hidden, outsiders believed the wife had died due to premature labor and complications in childbirth, as he claimed.

With Cui Ping’an’s cousin’s reputation already tarnished, the deputy general used it as an excuse to mistreat her. She was beaten to death within six months of the marriage. Although Cui Ping’an’s maternal grandfather uncovered the truth and ensured the deputy general paid with his life, the dead could never return.

Because of this incident, Madam Cui’s maternal family completely severed ties with her. When she later died of depression, none of her relatives came to pay their respects.

A few years after Madam Cui’s death, Cui Ping’an also passed away from grief. Though not yet thirty, his hair had turned completely white, his face gaunt like that of a sixty-year-old man. His tragic end drew sighs from all who heard of it.

Cui Ping’an left the world in utter despair, never imagining that he would have a chance to wake up again. When he opened his eyes once more, he immediately resolved to convince his grandmother to let him grow old with the one he loved. He would not drag his innocent cousin into a tragic fate again. If he couldn’t have this, he would rather never marry than repeat the miseries of his past life.

It was the first time Madam Cui had seen her grandson so resolute. This side of him was unfamiliar, making it impossible for her to continue treating him as a child. But it wasn’t out of snobbery that she refused to let him marry the daughter of a tenant farmer—such a daughter-in-law could never be a match for Princess Fuyun. If the princess wanted to eliminate a low-born concubine’s daughter, she wouldn’t even need to lift a finger—someone else would do it for her.

And when that time came, how could her grandson endure it? If he acted on impulse and did anything to Princess Fuyun—even if she was unharmed—she would have ample cause to accuse him of disrespecting his legitimate mother and committing the grave offense of insubordination. At that point, not only would her grandson be in trouble, but the entire Cui family would be implicated, which was the last thing she wanted.

However, seeing the deep pleading in her grandson’s eyes, she couldn’t bear to refuse him outright as she had before.

Madam Cui took a deep breath, as though making an important decision. “Xiao Qi, as long as you're willing to marry your cousin, Grandmother can allow that girl to live in the residence. That way, you two can still spend time together like before, and it won’t interfere with your marriage to your cousin.”

“No, Grandmother!” The words, identical to those spoken in his previous life, brought all the memories rushing back to Cui Ping’an. His face turned deathly pale as he cried out emotionally, “You can’t do this! You can’t bring Fangcao here! I can’t marry my cousin—I can’t! Otherwise, they’ll both die! They’ll all die!”

Seeing her grandson so out of control, Madam Cui was shocked. She hurriedly pulled him into her arms, gently patting his back and soothing him with worry in her voice, “Xiao Qi, what’s wrong? What’s the matter with you? Don’t scare your grandmother like this…”

Cui Ping’an vaguely heard someone calling him, but he was trapped in the tragedy of his past life, unable to pull himself out. He couldn’t tell who was speaking to him—he only sobbed helplessly, completely unlike the cheerful, bright youth he used to be.

The commotion in the room did not escape the notice of the maids guarding the door. Hearing Ping’an’s anguished cries and Madam Cui’s weak attempts at comfort, her trusted maid grew worried and hurried off to find Cui Qingrou.

Cui Qingrou had just finished bathing. Hearing the maid’s report, she didn’t even bother to brush her damp hair—she simply tied it up hastily with a ribbon and rushed over.

When she arrived, Madam Cui cried out anxiously, “Rou’er, come quickly and check on Xiao Qi—look at him, is he possessed or something?”

Cui Qingrou was alarmed. She quickly stepped forward and saw her normally composed nephew, eyes shut tightly, face pale, slumped weakly in his mother’s arms, murmuring something under his breath.

Cui Qingrou leaned in to listen, only vaguely catching words like “don’t jump” and “don’t die.” Seeing the pain etched in his expression, her heart clenched. She quickly called out to a maid nearby, “Hurry and help the Young Master lie down on the bed, and get the physician immediately!”

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 978: Stirring Up Mischief (3)

But what he didn’t know was that, aside from the matter he kept clinging to, his grandmother was actually willing to give in to his wishes and no longer force him into anything. So, despite this whole episode of running away from home, the conflict between grandmother and grandson remained unresolved.

Old Madam Cui ordered a chair to be brought over and placed in front of her, then had Cui Ping’an sit down so she could affectionately ask how he had been over the past month at the Mo family. Her slightly thin hand held tightly onto her grandson's and never let go.

Not wanting to upset his grandmother, Cui Ping’an wisely left out the part where he chopped firewood and carried water every day. He simply said that the Mo family had treated him very well—that he ate and slept comfortably, and his body had been nourished with medicine. All in all, he said, his days were good, and he hadn’t suffered or been wronged.

Old Madam Cui could see that her grandson was indeed much sturdier than before, and his complexion had improved—no longer that worrisome pallor from before. But the thick calluses on his hands told her plainly that he had endured plenty of hardship over the past month.

Since Cui Ping’an wasn’t willing to talk about it, she didn’t ask. The two of them chatted warmly for quite a while until the topic gradually shifted to someone Cui Ping’an didn’t want to hear about.

“…When you ran away from home, your great-uncle was beside himself with worry. He ordered every servant in the estate to go out and search for you. If you hadn’t sent that letter to reassure us of your safety, he was about to send your cousin down south to look for you himself. Even your cousin-sister was worried—she often came by to ask for news of you. Only after hearing that you were safe would she be able to leave with her heart at ease.”

As she spoke, Old Madam Cui carefully observed her grandson’s expression. Seeing that he furrowed his brows without saying a word, she knew he was still resistant. For a moment, she didn’t know how to continue.

Her elder brother had indeed been worried about Little Seventh’s safety and sent people everywhere to look for him—but that worry came from concern for his grandnephew and maternal grandson, not from the perspective of a future grandson-in-law. As for her grandniece, she had merely sent someone to ask about him. Deep down, she probably wasn’t too keen on this arranged marriage and was only going along with it because of her parents’ orders and the matchmaker’s arrangements.

Her grandson had a weak constitution and was born of a concubine. With Princess Fuyun as the legitimate wife, her elder brother likely had reservations in his heart, even if he loved his grandson. But Old Madam Cui had no other options—she had thickened her face and begged for her grandniece to become her granddaughter-in-law. She didn’t even dare reveal the true reason behind Ping’an’s runaway to her natal family, or the whole arrangement would fall apart.

After a long silence, Cui Ping’an suddenly got up and knelt straight in front of his grandmother. “Grandmother, I know how good Grandfather and Cousin-sister have been to me. I don’t want to marry her. First, because I already have someone I love and cannot betray her. Second, I don’t want to deceive Grandfather or Cousin-sister. She’s a good person. If she marries me, I’ll only end up disappointing her. When that day comes, Grandfather and Cousin-sister won’t just hate me—they’ll likely blame you too. The relationship between our families would be ruined. That’s not a result I want to see. Grandmother, you don’t want to see that either, do you?”

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Cui was so angry she struck her grandson several more times. “If you already knew the consequences, then why couldn’t you pull your heart back and treat your cousin-sister properly? If you truly can’t let go of that Fangcao girl, I’ll allow you to bring her to the capital—but you must still marry your cousin-sister!”

Cui Ping’an gave a bitter smile, his expression showing a weariness far beyond his age. But his voice carried a resolve she had never heard from him before: “Grandmother, I only have one heart. If it already belongs to Fangcao, then I can’t give it to anyone else. If you don’t like Fangcao, I can choose not to marry her—but I won’t marry my cousin-sister either. Grandmother, I’m not threatening you… I just don’t want to keep making mistakes.”

In his past life, he had been foolish. He had listened to his grandmother and brought Fangcao to live by his side, while also marrying his cousin-sister, thinking he could please everyone. But on the day of their wedding, Fangcao had left the residence.

(End of chapter)

 Chapter 977: Stirring Up Mischief (2)

Mo Yan grinned mischievously at her seemingly acquiescent father, completely unaware of what he was truly thinking—or that he and Cui Qingrou had already met once before. She was merely basing her assumption on his earlier odd behavior and was convinced that he felt something different toward Cui Qingrou.

That feeling might not necessarily be romantic—love at first sight was rare, after all. And they were both well past the age of youthful infatuations. At most, it was a favorable impression. But as long as there was a good starting point, and if both parties were willing to nurture it with care, love would eventually blossom and take root.

Her father had led such a hard life. He lost both parents at a young age and was constantly schemed against by old man Mo and Madam Mo Hong. When he finally reached adulthood and started his own family, his wife Du shi ran off with another man, leaving him to endure years of ridicule and scorn.

For so many years, their family had only relied on each other. But Mo Yan and her brothers would one day build families of their own—it was impossible to stay by their father's side forever. He needed someone by his side, someone who would be there when he turned around, someone to speak to so he wouldn’t be met with nothing but silence and loneliness.

Though she had only interacted with Cui Qingrou for less than a day, Mo Yan trusted her own instincts—her first impression of the woman was very good. Not only was she graceful and poised, but she was also beautiful. More importantly, Mo Yan felt that she and her father were well matched, whether in temperament, looks, or personality. If the two of them truly ended up together, Mo Yan believed their life would be warm and fulfilling.

Even if it wasn’t Cui Ping’an’s aunt in the end, Mo Yan still hoped there would be someone else. So she earnestly tried to persuade him: “Father, you’re still young. But we siblings will eventually leave your side. I sincerely hope there will be someone who can stay with you, so that you won’t be alone.” She looked at her father and said seriously, “You don’t have a wife, and Cui Ping’an’s aunt doesn’t have a husband. As long as you both are willing and the Cui family has no objections, why couldn’t you be together? Your happiness isn’t just my wish—it’s also what Xin’er and Zhen’er hope for. So you don’t need to worry about our opinions.”

“You... you little rascal…” Mo Qingze’s eyes turned slightly red. He reached out to stroke her head but didn’t know what to say.

“Hehe, Father, are you touched already?” Mo Yan broke into a grin and teased, “Then hurry up and get married again! I wouldn’t mind having one more person to spoil me. But no matter how I look at it, I still think Cui Ping’an’s aunt is the most suitable. Father, aren’t you even going to consider it?”

Mo Qingze: “……”

With another flick of his fingers, he gave his daughter a light knock on the head, refusing to respond any further to the topic.

Mo Yan rubbed her slightly sore forehead and looked at her father’s handsome side profile. She was already planning in her head—she would find the right opportunity to talk to that Cui Ping’an boy. After all, this concerned his aunt’s lifelong happiness, didn’t it? …

Cui Ping’an’s safe return to the Cui household caused quite a stir. Everyone was speculating about where the Seventh Young Master had gone for nearly a month and what he had experienced.

After returning to his courtyard, Cui Ping’an washed up and changed into clean, tidy clothes. Then he hurried off to Old Madam Cui’s courtyard, where he dropped to his knees with a thud and pleaded for her forgiveness.

At first, the old madam had simply been relieved and grateful that her grandson had returned safely. But when he knelt before her, she couldn’t help but smack him a few times and scolded him with several exasperated cries of “you little rascal.”

Cui Ping’an didn’t resist in the slightest and let his grandmother hit him. Tears welled up in his eyes. That month at the Mo family’s made him realize how reckless he had been to run away from home. On the journey back, he had made a silent promise to himself: aside from the one matter where he could not yield to his grandmother, he would no longer go against her wishes in anything else.

(End of chapter)

 Chapter 976: Stirring Up Mischief (1)

Although the two recognized each other and felt a mutual affection, neither brought up that night at the entrance of the restaurant. After expressing her gratitude once more to the Mo family, Cui Qingrou took Cui Ping’an and left.

Mo Qingze and his daughter stood at the doorway, watching the Cui family’s carriage drive away. Only when it had completely disappeared from sight did Mo Qingze retract his gaze. He looked at Mo Yan, puzzled, and asked, “Yan’er, didn’t you say we’d send the Cui boy back only after properly nursing him back to health? Why inform the Cui family in advance?”

Mo Yan, clearly disapproving of Yan Junyu’s actions, replied, “Wasn’t that thanks to that rascal Yan Junyu!” She then explained how he had taken it upon himself to notify the Cui family of Cui Ping’an’s whereabouts.

Mo Qingze couldn’t help but laugh after hearing it: “Still a child at heart—but a rare kind of child, at that.”

Mo Yan wasn’t interested in dissecting Yan Junyu’s temperament. What she really wanted to know was—what exactly had her father been thinking when he had stared absentmindedly at Cui Ping’an’s aunt.

A strong wave of gossipy curiosity surged toward Mo Qingze like a tide.

Luckily, she knew her father’s character well. Just as she was about to probe directly, she bit her tongue and asked a seemingly unrelated question instead: “Father, what do you think of Cui Ping’an?”

Mo Qingze, oblivious to his daughter’s hidden motive, nodded and said, “The boy’s not bad—simple-minded but not clueless, resilient and with a mind of his own. If well-taught, he might become something quite impressive.”

Mo Yan hadn’t expected such high praise from her father. But upon reflection, she realized the boy really was like that. Nodding in agreement, she deliberately attributed these traits to the Cui family’s upbringing. “The Cui family is indeed a house with deep roots. Even though Cui Ping’an didn’t grow up in their household, the people around him are competent and reliable. He must’ve been influenced to some extent. And his aunt—she’s the very model of a noble lady. I’ve never met a woman with more poise or substance than her.”

Upon hearing this, Mo Qingze seemed to hear a gentle and clear voice echo in his ears, and the graceful figure of Cui Qingrou slowly formed in his mind.

Mo Yan had been watching her father’s expression the whole time. Seeing his dazed look return, she couldn’t help but cover her mouth and chuckle—loudly enough that it startled Mo Qingze back to his senses.

Realizing that his daughter might have seen through him, Mo Qingze’s face flushed red. He reached out and flicked her on the forehead, pretending to scold her sternly: “You dare mock your own father? Where are your manners?”

Mo Yan hugged her head in mock pain and countered: “I didn’t say anything! You’re the one jumping to conclusions and accusing your poor daughter. I’m heartbroken!”

She even squeezed out two tear drops on the spot to make her protest look more convincing.

Mo Qingze felt a headache coming on. He wasn’t sure whether to argue back or just remain silent.

But Mo Yan wasn’t going to let it go. With certainty in her voice, she said, “You were totally thinking about Cui Ping’an’s aunt. You were staring at her so hard you zoned out. Don’t take your daughter for a fool—I saw everything.”

“You little brat, don’t spout nonsense! If someone hears that, how is your father supposed to face anyone?” Mo Qingze finally lost his composure. He scolded her with a serious tone—but that deeply flushed face of his, red as a boiled shrimp, really undermined the effect.

Mo Yan wasn’t afraid in the slightest. In fact, she was quite enjoying her father’s flustered reaction. She continued poking at him: “Father, when you explain like that, it just makes you look guiltier. If you weren’t hiding anything, why are you raising your voice?”

Mo Qingze felt his head ache even more. He admitted to himself that he had taken a liking to that woman the moment they first met. But it was just a mild affection—nothing so serious as to make him consider remarrying. If he said that out loud, his daughter would definitely launch into another long-winded speech, and he could kiss peace and quiet goodbye. So he chose to shut his mouth and say nothing.

(End of chapter)

 Chapter 975: Fondness (4)

After bathing and washing off all the sweat and dirt, Cui Ping’an changed back into the clothes he had worn when he first arrived at the Mo household. To his amazement, he discovered that his sleeves were now a bit too short—just by a little.

“Aunt, look! I’ve grown taller—I’ve grown taller again!” Cui Ping’an rushed out of the bathhouse in excitement, forgetting to even button up his clothes, eager to share the good news with his aunt.

Ever since he turned seventeen, his height had stopped increasing, leaving him noticeably shorter than his peers. Now that he was growing again, even if he didn’t surpass others, he likely wouldn’t fall too far behind. For someone who had always felt self-conscious about his height, this discovery thrilled him.

“Mm-hmm, Xiao Qi has grown taller. It won’t be long before you surpass your aunt,” Cui Qingrou said fondly.

She hadn’t expected such a surprise from this visit to the Mo family. Watching her nephew filled with joy, she didn’t even know what to say. All she could do was quietly tuck her gratitude toward the Mo family deep into her heart.

Declining Mo Yan’s offer to stay for dinner, Cui Qingrou urged the reluctant Cui Ping’an to leave. But just as the three of them reached the entrance, a carriage slowly pulled up. A gentle voice called out, “Zhen’er, slow down. Wait until the carriage stops before getting off—don’t trip.”

Cui Qingrou found the voice oddly familiar, as if she’d heard it somewhere before. Then she saw Mo Yan skipping happily toward the carriage and calling out with a smile, “Father, why are you back so early today?”

At that moment, Cui Ping’an nudged her and said, “Aunt, Uncle Mo is back. Let’s say hello before we go!”

Cui Qingrou snapped out of her thoughts and looked at him, smiling with satisfaction. “You’re right. Xiao Qi really is growing up.” In the past, her nephew wouldn’t have thought of such a thing.

Cui Ping’an blushed, not from her praise but from shame over how thoughtless he used to be.

By now, Zhen’er had already jumped down from the carriage and was about to run into the house. But when he saw two unfamiliar figures at the entrance—one he recognized and one he didn’t—he stopped.

Zhen’er ran over and looked at them carefully. Seeing that they resembled each other a bit, he curiously asked, “Brother Ping’an, is this beautiful lady your aunt—the one you said was really, really nice to you?”

Zhen’er had visited twice before and always pestered Cui Ping’an to tell him stories. Since he wasn’t much of a storyteller, Ping’an had simply shared his experiences in the south, often mentioning his aunt Cui Qingrou. So Zhen’er remembered her well.

Cui Ping’an nodded proudly. “You guessed right—this is my beautiful aunt.”

“She really is! Brother Ping’an, you’re so lucky!” Zhen’er looked genuinely envious. He had an aunt too, but she was a cousin and neither pretty nor kind. He didn’t like her at all.

But Brother Ping’an’s aunt was so beautiful and treated him so well. Why couldn’t he have a perfect aunt like that?

Even with all those thoughts in his head, Zhen’er didn’t forget his manners. He took small steps forward and bowed politely to Cui Qingrou. “Zhen’er greets Madam.”

Cui Qingrou had already been amused by the conversation between her nephew and the little one. Now, seeing how well-mannered Zhen’er was, she liked him even more. She reached out to help him up herself. “So your name is Zhen’er? What a good boy.”

As she spoke, she gave a look to the maid behind her. The maid, perceptive and quick, immediately brought out a pouch and respectfully handed it to her mistress.

Cui Qingrou took the pouch and spoke gently to Zhen’er. “This is our first meeting. I don’t know what you like, so take this and play with it, alright?”

Though her words sounded casual, Cui Qingrou had come prepared. Aside from a chest of thank-you gifts, she had specially prepared small presents for the children of the Mo household.

Zhen’er understood this was the custom of wealthy households. Declining would only seem impolite, so he accepted it with ease and smiled as he cupped his hands in thanks.

He was just too adorable. Cui Qingrou had to resist the urge to pat his head. Her gaze drifted past him and landed on the man who had just stepped down from the carriage—only to unexpectedly meet his gentle, water-like eyes. She froze.

Mo Qingze was also stunned. But he recovered quickly and looked toward his daughter for answers.

Mo Yan didn’t notice her father’s odd reaction, but she did catch Cui Qingrou’s brief moment of daze. Pretending not to notice, she calmly said, “Father, this lady’s surname is Cui. She’s Cui Ping’an’s aunt and came today to take him home.”

Cui Qingrou also snapped back to her senses and recognized that this man was the one who had helped her out the night her nephew went missing. Seeing him again stirred a strange flutter in her heart—an unfamiliar sense of joy.

“Greetings, Lord Mo,” she said, suppressing the unfamiliar emotion. She stepped forward and gave a respectful curtsy, her smile warm but not frivolous.

Hearing her gentle, clear voice, Mo Qingze felt a strange familiarity—as if he’d heard it before. He thought hard, and suddenly it clicked: the woman he had helped outside the restaurant not long ago—it was her.

The voice was exactly the same.

Could they be the same person?

It had just been an ordinary encounter, but he couldn’t figure out why it had stuck in his mind. Perhaps it was her beautiful voice, or maybe her elegant demeanor had left such a strong impression that when he encountered someone with the same aura and voice again, the memory came rushing back.

Noticing her father staring blankly at Cui Qingrou, Mo Yan couldn’t help but glance at Cui Qingrou as well, a thoughtful look appearing in her eyes…

(End of Chapter)