Chau- Apologiesforthedelayedrelease!I’vebeendownwithanawfulcaseofexamseason:/

  Old Eldest, in reference to Li Xiao Ran

  A sweet syrup made from fermented grains; thick consistency at roomtemperature, fluid when heated up

  JiuYiniangdidnotseemtohaveheardanythingLaoFurensaid.Shewasresistingasifshehadgonecrazy,wantingtoescapethecrowd.Shewascompletelydifferentfrombefore!

  LiXiaoRanstoodupandcoldlyshouted:“JiuYiniangfeignedinnocenceandignorance,sowhatabouttherestofyou?Ifanyofyoudaretospeakhalfalie,nooneistoescapepunishment!”


  TheyatousbyJiuYiniang’ssideweresoterrifiedthattheycontinuouslykowtowed.

  LaoFurenblanklysaid:“Theymustknowsomething.Dragthemalloutandbeatthemahundredstrokesuntiltheyarewillingtoconfess,thenweshallsee!”


  Theyatousweretremblingfromfear.Theguardsoutsidecameintodragthemout.Criesformercyrangthroughouttheroom!Atthistime,apale-faced,petiteyatousuddenlycriedoutandkowtowed,beggingforforgiveness:“Nubiwishestoconfess!LaoFurenhavemercy,Laoyehavemercy.JiuYiniangorderedNubitodoso.Nubitrulyhadnochoicebuttoobey.IfNubididnotfollowJiuYiniang’sorder,shewillsurelydriveNubiout!”


  LiXiaoRanwavedhishand.Theguardsloosenedtheirgrips.Theotheryatouslookedtoherindisbelief.

  LaoFurenlookedatherandasked:“Whatdidshehaveyoudo!”


  Herfacepaleasasheet,theyatousaid:“JiuYiniang…… JiuYiniangfoundanopportunityduringthepilgrimagetotakethegoldcollarouttoagoldshop,meltedthegold,andaddedsomemedicinalherbsinside.Nubidoesnotknowwhichherbswereputinside!NubineverthoughtthatshewantedtoharmSiShaoye!Atthetime,shejustsaidthegoldcollarwasworthsomuchthatshewouldnotbediscoveredifshetookabitofgold.SheevensaidthataslongasNubifollowedtheorder,shewouldmakeNubiasecond-rankedyatou!”


  Afterhearingthesewords,Tanshiwastremblingoutofanger.Coldwaveswashedoverherheartasifshehadfallenintoabottomlesspit.ShealwaysthoughtthatothershadprovokedJiuYiniangtodowrongfulthings,butwhowouldhavethoughtsheherselfhadtheintentiontomurderTanshi’sson!

  JiangYueLanrevealedanincredulousexpression:“JiuYiniang, youmustknowthatMinZhiwasinmycare.IfsomethinghappenedtoMinZhi,Icannotescapepunishment,sowhywouldyoudosuchathing!Youareclearly—— ” Asshewasspeaking,sheturnedhertear-filledeyestowardsLiXiaoRan.

  LiWeiYanglookedatJiuYiniang,whosefacewassolemnandunclear.Whoknowswhatshewasthinking?

  JiuYiniangwasstillstrugglingfiercelyandshouted:“Youareframingme!Allofyouhaveframedme!Youallcolludedtoframeme!”


  AsidefromJiuYiniang’sscreaming,noonedaredtoutterasound.Theatmosphereintheroomwasalmostsuffocating.LiXiaoRanslightlynarrowedhiseyes.HetrulycouldnothaveimaginedthatJiuYiniangdidthissortofthing!

  SiYiniangglancedatLiXiaoRanandsighed:“Laoye, theone-sidedtruthfromthisyatouisnotreliable.Itisnecessarytoinvestigatemuchmorecarefully,sothatJiuYiniangisn’twronglyaccused!”


  LaoFurenresentednotbeingabletopubliclyexecuteJiuYiniang.Hearingthis,shesneeredandsaid:“WeiYang, whatdoyousay?!”


  LiWeiYangfeltthateverythingkeptdescendingintochaos.Thereweremanythingsshehadtopersonallyinvestigate,soforthetimebeing,sheonlysaid:“EverythingshouldbelefttoLaoFurenandFuqintodecide,WeiYangdoesnotdaretointervene.”


  LaoFurennodded:“Withawitnessandatestimony,LaoDa

  ,whatdoyousayshouldbedonenow!”


  WhileLiXiaoRanhadfeelingsforJiuYiniang,harmingaLifamilyheirwasnotsomethinghecouldforgive.HelookedatJiuYiniangandsaid:“Ihavealwaysfavoredyou,butwasthatstillnotenoughforyou.YouwouldnotevenspareachildlikeMinZhi!”Hisvoicegrewcolderandcolder:“Sinceitisthatway,IcannotholdontolingeringfeelingsoritwillgoagainsttherulesoftheLifamily!Startingfromtoday,JiuYiniangistobelockedupandnotallowedtoleave.Asforthisyatou,lockherupinthewoodshedfirst.Oncetheownerofthegoldshopisfound,confrontthemandasktoverify.Ifitistrue,proceedtobeathertodeath!”


  Thatyatoubegantoscreamandcryasshewasdraggedout;LiWeiYanglookedatthissceneandfeltthatthismatterwasevenmorestrange.

  JiangYueLansighed:“ItrulydidnotexpectsomeoneasweakasJiuYiniangwoulddosuchathing!Fortunately,itwasquicklydiscovered,otherwiseitwouldhavecompromisedMinZhi’slife!”Then,shekneltdownandsaidtoLiXiaoRan,“Laoye, Ididn’ttakegoodcareofSiShaoye.Iwillnotlamentnomatterhowyouwishtopunishme.”


  LiXiaoRanglancedoveratLaoFurenandliftedheruptoherfeet.JiangYueLanrefusedtostand,hertearsstillfalling.LaoFurensaid:“Forgetit, thishasnothingtodowithyou.Getup.”


  JiangYueLanonlystooduponcesheheardthisandtearfullysaid:“ThenIwillbringMinZhibackandtakegoodcareofhim.”


  LaoFurenfrowned,watchingJiangYueLanwalkoverandtakeMinZhiintoherarmsunderTanshi’sreluctanteyes.ShehadjusttakentwostepswhenMinZhisuddenlyopenedhiseyesandbegantoshriekandcry.

  “Look,yousee!Whatelsecanyoudo!Youcan’teventakecareofachild!”LaoFurenwasangeredbythis.JiangYueLanfeltgenuinelywronged.Howwouldsheknowthischildwouldbeawokensoeasily!

  TanshihurriedlytookMinZhiintoherarms.Hesuddenlystoppedcryingandimmediatelyfellagainsthisbirthmother’schest,bright-eyedasifhistantrumhadneverhappened.Hislittlehandsweregrabbingatair,appearingverylively.

  Intheend,itseemedlikehisbirthmotherstillhadaway.LaoFurenfeltreassured,butthenpainstakinglysaid:“He’sbeenatFuRuiCourtyardforlessthantendays.Lookatthechild,hehasnolifeinhimanymoreandthiscan’tgoonlikethis!”


  LiWeiYangglancedoveratherlittlebrother.Asidefromthereddotsonhisarm,hewasstillfair-skinnedandchubbyandtheobnoxiousnessofhiscryingwasunrivaled.Therewasnosignthathislivelinesshadbeenaffectedatall.

  JiangYueLandidnotwanttoletgoofMinZhisoeasilyandcontinuedtosay:“Letmegiveitanothertry!Perhapsmyactionsjustnowwereabitrough,butIcanbegentler!”SheextendedherhandstotakeMinZhifromTanshi’sarms,butthemomenthewasinherarms,MinZhi’stearsranlikeafaucet,andhereturnedtoastateofcryinginearthshakingterror.

  Everyone’ssuspiciouseyesfellonJiangYueLan.LiXiaoRanfrowned:“Whydoesthechildkeepcryingthemomenthetouchesyou?”


  EvenLaoFurenwashelplessaboutittoo,JiangYueLanthoughttoherself.However,shedidnotdaretoutterthesewordsinfrontofeveryone,soshereluctantlysmiled:“Intheend,he’sstillclosertoQiYiniang!”Herpained,heartbreakinglookmadeLiXiaoRanfeelhiswordshadbeenabitharsh.

  “QiYiniang,youshouldstillholdhim.”LiXiaoRanslowlysaid.

  Itwasratherstrange.OnceTanshitookMinZhi,thechild’sloudcryingimmediatelyquieteddown.Momentslater,hewasnolongercryingatallandhappilyrestingagainstTanshi,sniffingaroundher.TanshicaressedMinZhi’slittleface.MinZhistoppedcrying,laughed,andgrabbedTanshi’sfingerandstuckitinhismouthandstartedsuckingonit.

  “Muqin,SiDiisstillyounganddoesnotunderstand.Childrenarelikethat.Theymustcryandthrowatantrumforawhile.They’llforgetitoncetheygetusedtoit!”LiChangLegentlysaidassherubbedherface,whereshehadappliedmedicinalbalm.

  LaoFurenfrownedasifthinkingaboutsomething.

  JiangYueLanheardLiChangLe’swordsandimmediatelyadded:“Indeed, IwillbringMinZhibackfirst.IfItrulycannotmanageit,IwillletQiYiniangcometomyplacefortwodaysuntilMinZhiisaccustomedtome.”Sheglancedoveratthewetnurseaccompanyingher.ThewetnurseimmediatelyunderstoodandsteppedforwardtotakeMinZhi.

  LiWeiYangblanklylookedonasacoldsmileappearedonherlips.

  ThewetnursehadnoteventouchedMinZhi,butheloudlyburstintotears,refusingtoleaveTanshi’sarmsasifitwerelifeanddeath.Hewascryingandwrithing,tryingtoescapethewetnurse’shands.Hisdarkeyeswerebrightlikecrystalorbs,reflectingbackthelightandblockingoutthedarkness.Hesmiledalotonadailybasis,butnowhetearfullyleanedagainstTanshi,asightoflongingnessthatleftLaoFurendistressed.

  “YueLan,yousee……Thischildonlywantstobewithhisbirthmother.Inanycase,inthefuture,youwillalsohaveyourownchild.IstillthinkyoushouldletQiYiniangtakehimhome.”LaoFurenwashesitant.

  LiXiaoRannodded.Hestillfeltdistressedforhisson:“That’sright.YueLan,youarestillyoungandnotusedtotakingcareofchildren.LetMinZhistaywithQiYiniang.”


  LiWeiYanglookedatJiangYueLanwithahintofsmugnessinhersmile.

  JiangYueLan’ssmilewasalittlestiff,butshequicklyrecollectedherself.HereyesbecameabitdampasshelookedatMinZhi.

  LiChangLeclenchedherhandbutkeptthecheerfulsmileonherface:“LaoFurenisalwayskind,dotingonSiDiinsuchaway.Itistrulyablessingoftheheavens.ButMuqinputinsomucheffort,ifsheweretogiveupnow,wouldn’titallgotowaste?HopeFuqinandLaoFurenwillgiveheranotherchance!Childrenalwaysneedtimetoadjustandwillbefineafterafewmoredays!”


  LiXiaoRanfrownedandcouldnotbeartoseehisbelovedwifelooksopitifulandsaid,“Whynottryagainandsee?”


  JiangYueLaneagerlynoddedandimmediatelywenttoholdMinZhi:“Iwillwholeheartedlydomybest.”


  LiWeiYangcoldlylookedonbutdidn’tsayanything.QiYiniangcouldnotbeartheseparation,butrememberingherdaughter’swords,shehadnochoicebuttoletgoofMinZhiandstandofftotheside.

  However, JiangYueLan’sfinalattemptresultedinfailure.Twodayslater,shepersonallybroughtthechildbacktoQiYiniang.Shespokeemotionally:“Nothingcanbecomparedtohisbirthmother.Hecriesdayandnightwhenheiswithmethateveryonefeelssorryforhim.”


  LiWeiYangblanklyeyedJiangYueLan’sdarkeyecirclesandpalecomplexionandthoughttoherself:Yourheartisn’thurtingforMinZhi.It’sonlybecauseFuqinwouldrathergotoSiYiniangtorestinsteadofFuRuiCourtyardbecauseofMinZhi’scrying,causingyoutolosefavor.OutsidersalsospreadrumorsthatthenewFurendidnotcheckinonSiShaoyeatnightbutrathersecretlyprickedhisfeetwithneedles,whichiswhyhecriesmorefiercelyeverytimeheseesthenewFuren.Oncethoseviciousrumorsspread,JiangYueLan’seffortsturnedtodust.LiXiaoRanrepeatedlyadvisedthatshemustbemoregenerouswithconcubine-bornchildren.JiangYueLansuffered,unabletosayawordindefense.Afterthinkingitthrough,shewasfinallyforcedtoreturnthechild.LikeLiWeiYangsaid,withintendays,LiMinZhireturnedtohisbirthmother’sside.

  WhenJiangYueLanleft,shesawMinZhihappilysmilingandfeltitwasstrangeandsuspicious.Althoughshecouldnotoverturnthingsthathappenedbefore,shetrulyhadnootherway.Whensheleft,everyonebreathedoutinrelief.

  MinZhi’sbrighteyeswerefixedonTanshi.Hereachedoutwithhischubby,lotusroot-likehandwithasmileonhislittlemouth.ThereweretearsonTanshi’sface.Shecouldnothelpitanymore.Sherushedoverandtookthechildfromyatou’sarmsandtightlyembracedhim.Sheheldherchildtightlyinherarmsandkissedhislittlefaceandthenfromhistinyhandstonecktohair,cryingandsmilingatthesametime.

  LiWeiYangcouldn’tdescribethewarmthemittedfromthesightwithwordsandquietlyasked:“HaspoisoninSiShaoye’sbodybeentreated?”


  BaiZhirepliedinlowvoice:“TheImperialphysicianprescribedsomemedicine,andtherashonSiShaoyehasdisappeared.”


  LiWeiYangnodded,hereyesreturningtothesmilingMinZhi.

  Tanshiwasafraidofinvolvingherdaughter,soshesuppressedherfeelings,butnowthatherpreciouschildhadreturnedtoher,sheputherfaceagainsthislittlefaceandfelthissmallhandandheardhissoftheartbeat.HerhearttrembledwithhappinessandjoyaseachoneofhertearsfellontoMinZhi’sface.Onceshewascalmagain,shesaweveryonelookingatherandrealized.ShereluctantlyplacedMinZhiinthecradleandsmiled:“WeiYang, itwasindeedasyousaid,buthowdidyoudoit?”


  LiWeiYangsmiled:“Everyoneelse, gooutside.”


  Theyatousheardandquietlywithdrew.

  LiWeiYangwalkedovertothecradleandheldoutarattletoMinZhi.MinZhihappilyreachedup,wantingabite.LiWeiYanggentlypulledtherattleawayandslowlysaid:“MinZhihasalwayslikedmaltose

  , buthewastooyoungandcouldnoteatit.So,everytime,Ihadyatouputabitonaspoonoronthewetnurse’sbody,soMinZhicouldatleasthaveataste.

  Eventually, MinZhiexpectstohavemaltoseevery day,adesirestrongerthanwantingmilk.”Whileshewassayingthis,MinZhilaughedandsmiledwidely.LiWeiYangpinkedhischubbycheekandcontinued:“Later, whenJiangYueLantookhimwithher,thisprivilegenolongerexisted.Thisgreedy,littlekittenwilltrytofindmaltoseinfourhoursalone.Withoutit,hewillkeepcrying.”


  Tanshiwasindisbelief:“It’sthatsimple?”


  LiWeiYanglaughedaloud:“Howcomplicatedcoulditbe?”Alright,somaybeshedidn’tmentioneverything,butMinZhiwouldcrywithoutmaltose.Nomatterwhoheldhim,herefusedtostopcrying.ThatdayTanshididasLiWeiYangsaidandsmearedmaltoseonherhands,sowhenMinZhirecognizedthesmell,hewasimmediatelyhappyagain.Ofcourse,thatalonewasnotenough.ThischildMinZhiwasabitnaive,happilysmilingateveryone,evenJiangYueLan,sothemomentJiangYueLanwasmarriedintothehousehold,LiWeiYangbegantoprepareforwhenadaylikethiswouldcome.

  JiangYueLanlikedusingagarwoodincense,whichhadalong-lastinganddelicatefragrance.EverytimethewetnursebreastfedMinZhi,half-waythrough,LiWeiYangwouldhaveBaiZhibringanincenseburnerwithagarwoodnearMinZhiandorderedthewetnursetostopbreastfeeding.

  Eventually, MinZhibegantounderstandthatifanyonewiththatsmellappeared,hewouldnotbeabletodrinkmilkanymore.Manyhabitsaredifficulttochangeoncetheyhavedeveloped.Achildislikeapuppyinregard tofood,ifthatfoodistakenaway,itisonlynaturaltohaveastrongfeelingagainstthosewiththatfragrance.EvenifJiangYueLanlookedafterhimwithgreatcare,shecouldnotchangethehabitLiWeiYanghadstartedawhileback.Thatiswhyontheseconddayafterthewedding,MinZhiwasstillsmilingwhenJiangYueLanheldhimbutlateron,heburstedintotearswhenshetouchedhim.

  LiWeiYangwouldnotrevealthissecrettoTanshibecauseasamother,shecertainlywouldbeverydistressed,butLiWeiYangthoughtthatthechildMinZhineededtobedisciplinedabit.Otherwise,hewillseeeveryoneashismotherandbecomingnaivelyobedientwasnotagoodthing.Perhapstherewasnobettermethodthantoallowhimtoreturntohisbirthmother.

  MinZhiopenedhiseyeswide,hisdarkeyesfocusedonhiscunningjiejie,completelyunawarethatshehadsoldhimoutlikethatandcontinuedtosmilehappily.

  “MinZhiescapedthistime,butwhatarewetodoinfuture?Whenwecan’tusecryingtacticswhenhe’sthreeorfouryearsold?”Tanshiwasworried.

  LiWeiYangsmiled:“Inthefuture?JiangYueLanwillsoonhaveachildofherown.Evenifshedoesn’t,shewon’thavethemindtopayattentiontoMinZhi.”


  Atthemoment,theyshouldnotworryaboutthefuturebutratherwhathappenedtwodaysago.ThethoughtthatsomeoneusedMinZhitoprovokeherinfuriatedLiWeiYang.Shestaredintentlyathischubbyarm,freeofanymarks,andcontemplatedaboutwhatthenextstepwouldbenow.

  Tofindthetruth,itisoftennotfoundbylookingatthesurfacebutratherbyexaminingwhohasthemosttogain.WithJiuYiniang’smisfortune,thepersonwiththemosttogainwasnaturallyJiangYueLan,butJiangYueLanwasnotsuchashort-sightedindividualandwouldnotdoso.ThenextmostsuspiciouspersonwasnotSiYiniangbutLiChangLe.

  Afterwards, LiWeiYangarrangedforpeopletoinvestigatetheshopwhereLaoFurenhadthegoldcollarmade.Unfortunately,thestorehadchangedownership.TheowneroftheshopthatmeltedthegoldforJiuYiniangsuddenlydiedofillness.Thismatterbecameevenmoreuncertain.IfonesaiditconcernedaFurenofahousehold,wouldtheownerofaluxuriousgoldshopbeconvinced?Itwasobviouslynotthatsimple.

  LiWeiYangturnedaroundandsaid:“Ihavesomethingandmustgobackfirst.”


  Tanshilookedtoherdaughterinsurprise.ShedidnotknowwhatLiWeiYangwouldhaveatthistime,butsheknewshecouldnotadviseotherwise,soshesmiledandsaid:“It’scoldoutside,letmeprepareahandwarmerforyou.”


  LiWeiYangshookherhead:“Noneed.” Shequicklywalkedout.Assoonasshewasbeyondthedoors,shewasmetwithacoldgustofwind.Sheinvoluntarilyshivered.BaiZhirushedoverfromwhereshewasstandingbythedoorsandquicklyputathickfurcloakoverher:“Xiaojie, arewegoingbacknow?”


  LiWeiYangshookherheadandloweredhervoice:“Let’sgoseeJiuYiniangnow.”
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  Translator: Chau

  Editor: Erica

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