Chapter 103 part1

Comments:

Chau- Apologiesforthedelayedrelease!I’vebeendownwithanawfulcaseofexamseason:/

Notes:

[1]Old Eldest, in reference to Li Xiao Ran

[2]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,LaoDa1,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:“MinZhihasalwayslikedmaltose2, 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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