Chapter 19: The Dead General Returns (1)
The General of the Flying Cavalry received an imperial decree the day after his wedding: the border war was urgent, and he was ordered to depart immediately for the frontier to repel the enemy. Before leaving, he promised his wife that she would be his only one in this life, and that when he returned, he would treat her with utmost kindness.
Half a year later, however, news of his death arrived.
His mother-in-law viewed the Original Host as an enemy, blaming her daughter-in-law for causing the death of her only son.
Therefore, in the days that followed, she constantly tormented this daughter-in-law.
The Original Host only thought her mother-in-law was truly affected by her husband's death and had health problems, so she meticulously cared for her, never slacking for a single day. She managed General Cheng's Residence in an orderly manner and even saved her mother-in-law's life, which finally made her mother-in-law's attitude towards her change.
Just when she thought life would continue this way...
Three years later, General Cheng, who had been dead for three years, returned with a woman and two children.
The woman's name was Bai Rong'er. After Cheng Shaowu's accident, Bai Rong'er saved him; she was his savior.
The first thing Cheng Shaowu did after having an audience with the Emperor was to request an imperial decree to elevate Bai Rong'er to a co-wife.
In the days that followed, the Original Host was constantly framed and harmed by Bai Rong'er, and within two years, she died in the backyard of General Cheng's Residence.
At this moment, everyone in the mansion was standing at the main entrance to see Cheng Shaowu off.
Ning Yan: Damn, I'm too late. If only I could have come one day earlier—no, even half an hour earlier—I could have done something to Cheng Shaowu.
Cheng Shaowu took one last look at his reluctant old mother, then, without a trace of lingering attachment, rode off with his attendants.
After seeing Cheng Shaowu off and returning to her own courtyard, Ning Yan lay directly on the couch.
In the previous life, although they shared a room, they had no children. This time, that wouldn't do.
Didn't that Cheng fellow say that no matter who bore the child, they would have to call her 'mother' and they would all be her children?
Then she also had to bear him a son, and no matter who the child's father was, he would have to call him 'father' and they would all be his children.
Three days later, Ning Yan paid her respects to Old Madam, "Mother, your daughter-in-law heard that Fahua Temple has extremely strong incense, so I thought of going to Fahua Temple to pray for my husband for seven days. Would you like to come along?"
Old Madam was initially a little moved, but upon hearing that her daughter-in-law wanted to pray for seven days, she immediately gave up the idea. Seven days without meat—that kind of life was simply unbearable for a human, and she would never go.
"I won't go. The house can't be left without someone in charge. You go by yourself, but bring a few more maids and guards. Go safely and return safely."
Ning Yan bowed: "Yes, Mother."
Early the next morning, Ning Yan took her maids and eight guards to Fahua Temple.
Don't think she didn't know that Old Madam telling her to bring more people was to monitor her, but did she care?
In this world, it's incredibly difficult to achieve success and fame, but it's remarkably easy to do bad things.
Isn't it just about stealing someone?
There were many pilgrims at Fahua Temple. She had seven days to identify her target and then get the person into her bed on the last night.
Xiangluan had already booked the private rooms yesterday, and upon arriving at the temple, the young novice monk directly led them to their rooms.
After settling their belongings, Ning Yan followed the young novice monk to the front to chant scriptures with the masters.
This sitting lasted for two hours. At noon, they ate a vegetarian meal, rested for an hour, and then continued to meditate and chant scriptures for another two hours.
Finally, it was night.
There were still many people in the temple at night; many scholars who had come to the capital for the imperial examination were staying in the temple.
During the day, Xiangluan and the others had quietly inquired about everyone in the temple. The primary targets were those with beautiful appearances, because her young lady said that to have a beautiful child, it wasn't enough for just her to be good-looking; the man also had to be handsome.
Secondly, they needed to have brains, meaning they were learned. If both these points were met, then they would look at character. If the character was bad, no matter how good-looking or talented they were, it wouldn't work.
So, when Ning Yan finished her vegetarian meal and returned to her temporary room that evening, Xiangluan presented a list with seven names on it.
Changing into a different set of clothes, Ning Yan took four maids and left the courtyard.
There was a mountain spring behind Fahua Temple. Although it was still a bit cold at this time, it wasn't too cold. Those scholars had set up tables and chairs by the bamboo grove near the mountain spring, with a pot of clear tea, discussing their studies.
More than half of the individuals on Xiangluan's paper list were here.
As Ning Yan drew closer, she observed all the scholars present and suddenly noticed someone else not far away doing the same thing as her.
She looked towards the other party's position.
The person leading them wore a black cloak embroidered with golden hidden patterns. His face was like jade, and his eyes were like brilliant stars, exuding an extremely powerful aura that instantly captivated Ning Yan.
With this young master present, those scholars were no longer worth looking at.
Ning Yan always wanted only the best.
She gestured to Xiangluan.
"Go keep an eye on that young master and see which private room he's staying in."
Xiangluan nodded in agreement.
The Original Host was originally the only eldest young lady of Zhen Guo Duke's Mansion. Even the house guards in her mansion were skilled in martial arts, so how could the maids by the side of the mansion's only young mistress be ordinary maids? Even the Original Host herself was proficient in martial arts.
It was just that in a major battle with the Northern Desert three years ago, the Zhen Guo Duke and his wife both died on the battlefield.
Otherwise, even if Cheng Shaowu had eighteen times the guts, he wouldn't have dared to bully the Original Host to the point of suicide.
Having made her decision, Ning Yan naturally didn't stay. She turned and left her hiding place, taking her maids and planning to return to their private room.
After walking for not long, she unexpectedly encountered that young master and his servant again.
The two were no more than two meters apart. By the light of the lantern, Ning Yan scrutinized the other party again, "Young master, this madam finds you a bit familiar. May I ask your esteemed surname?"
Yuan Jingchen raised an eyebrow slightly. This way of striking up a conversation seemed a bit half-hearted. However, since this young lady had caught his eye, telling her was no harm.
"My surname is Yuan."
Ning Yan raised an eyebrow: "Then perhaps I was mistaken. I don't recall knowing anyone with the surname Yuan."
The person in front of her, how to describe him?
Most scholars stayed in the temple either because they arrived late and couldn't book good inns, or because they were short on money and would seek lodging at the temple. Of course, daily food and drink still cost money, but it was much cheaper than staying at an inn.
After passing the examination, they would also donate a sum of incense money to the temple.
But the cloak on the person in front of her would have cost a large sum of money to make, and the jade pendant at his waist was also very valuable. He shouldn't have been here.
Qian Fu, who was serving behind Yuan Jingchen: ...It was truly a bit hard to describe.
Ning Yan nodded at the other party, then took her maids and walked away.
Leaving Yuan Jingchen, master and servant, silently watching her retreating figure.
Upon returning to her private room, Ning Yan finished washing up, and Xiangluan returned, "Young lady, that young master and his party are staying in the Dried Bamboo Courtyard.
However, he brought eight guards and one attendant, so it won't be easy to approach him."
Ning Yan curved her lips, "Then let him come out himself." If I don't go to the mountain, then let the mountain come to me.
At midnight the next day, Ning Yan, unable to sleep, took her zither to a pavilion not far from her private room and played a rendition of "Ambush from Ten Sides."