Chapter 63

For several days in a row, the rumors regarding Rong Mo’s life experience and parentage vanished without a trace.

Instead, the capital was flooded with rumors about Cheng Qingyao being jilted after maliciously framing her younger cousin. The gossip was spreading like wildfire, and Cheng Qingyao’s reputation was utterly destroyed.

Cheng Ruyi was listening to her maid, Moxiang, vividly recount the gossip with great relish. At the same time, she watched a few lazy red foxes resting not far away, her eyes and eyebrows crinkled with laughter.

Cheng Qingyao’s misfortune was her greatest joy.

These red foxes had been raised in the manor for some time now. Their fur was smooth, glossy, and as red as fire. They were the absolute darlings of her mother, Rong Susu, who frequently brought them along to gatherings of noble ladies.

Nowadays, Rong Susu was the darling of every banquet—a stark contrast to her past days of being ignored and neglected.

However, everyone knew the true purpose of these noble ladies: they wanted the divine medicine.

The popularity of the divine medicine far exceeded anyone’s imagination. Even wealthy people from neighboring countries were secretly sending agents to buy it. The allocation of two hundred pills a month was a mere drop in the bucket. Many high-ranking officials and noblemen in the capital couldn’t buy it even if they wanted to, let alone outsiders.

Thus, they began to curve their approach through the wives’ social circles.

A month’s time was more than enough for them to witness the immense benefits of the divine medicine for women.

In particular, the wife of Commander Wang, who was the earliest to enjoy its benefits, became an object of envy and jealousy among many military wives.

Rong Susu was busy off her feet every day, managing the household affairs, preparing for her daughter’s wedding, attending banquets, and looking for a suitable young lady for her cousin, Luo Fei…

Her father, the Marquis of Changle, was also swamped with social engagements lately. He frequently took the lazy tiger raised at home out to show off, successfully drawing massive amounts of envy wherever he went.

As for Rong Mo, after his lineage was exposed, he became even busier than before.

As the wedding date drew closer, the weather grew colder. Cheng Ruyi was assigned by her mother to help manage the household. Fortunately, with Nanny Yang helping her, she was able to slack off. Cheng Ruyi had long since learned how to manage a household, but her temperament was inherently lazy and lacked patience. However, she would conduct random inspections from time to time. It was impossible for the servants to deceive her.

“Moxiang, go ask the housekeeper if the roosters and eggs I requested are ready. Remind him to have the servants pick more vegetables from our garden. Oh, and also, tell him to instruct Uncle Li to pack two extra large roosters and have someone deliver them to Master Gongsun Yi in the imperial palace so he can taste them.”

The chickens and ducks in this manor were usually fed with vegetable leaves accelerated by Cheng Ruyi’s powers. They also exercised daily to the sound of the qin, so their meat was firm, chewy, and exceptionally delicious.

Both the Marquis of Changle and Rong Susu were particularly fond of it.

Cheng Ruyi felt that she should be a good child who remembers the source of her water when drinking from the well. She wanted Master Gongsun Yi to see the fruits of her labor.

“Yes, Miss!”

After hearing her mistress’s orders, Moxiang left immediately. As she walked, she silently complained in her heart. Her young lady’s gifts were simply too practical. Compared to other wealthy young misses, it was downright vulgar.

She only hoped that Master Gongsun Yi in the palace would not be frightened out of his wits when he received two large roosters from her miss.

Once Moxiang left, Cheng Ruyi headed to Rong Mo’s bamboo garden and hauled out two large chests. The boxes were filled with rare, ancient books, calligraphies, and paintings borrowed from Prince Rong. Since Rong Mo had already finished reading them all, Cheng Ruyi decided to return them.

While she was at it, she would bring along a carriage full of practical gifts.

She effortlessly carried the two large chests back to her courtyard. She then stuffed a wooden box containing two accelerated hundred-year-old ginsengs and a bottle of ginseng extract into one of the large chests. Right then, the housekeeper came over to report that the carriage was ready.

Since Cheng Ruyi was delivering gifts this time, she decided to drive the carriage herself.

The housekeeper found it bizarre: “Miss isn’t taking a driver?”

Cheng Ruyi glanced at the housekeeper and waved her hand with complete nonchalance: “No need. Driving the carriage myself to deliver the gifts is the only way to show my sincerity.”

The housekeeper’s lips twitched. “…Miss, doing this will provoke gossip.”

Cheng Ruyi replied indifferently, “What do other people’s opinions have to do with me? As long as I am happy, that’s all that matters!”

The housekeeper was speechless: “…”

Forget it. Everyone knew Miss’s temperament. She had done so many outrageous things already; one more wouldn’t make a difference. He only hoped Prince Rong wouldn’t be shocked.

In the end, Cheng Ruyi drove a carriage away by herself. This was a carriage normally used by the manor for purchasing supplies, so it had plenty of space. However, the items arranged inside were quite peculiar.

Six hens were tied to the rear of the carriage. Two high-end, elegant large chests were placed in the middle. The remaining two baskets of chicken and duck eggs and two baskets of fresh, crisp vegetables were positioned right next to Cheng Ruyi, who was driving.

Along the way, accompanied by the energetic clucking of the hens, it was an incredibly flashy and eye-catching sight.

“Cluck, cluck, cluck… Cluck, cluck, cluck…”

Everyone’s gaze uniformly fixed upon the excitedly driving Cheng Ruyi, their faces filled with utter bewilderment.

Young masters, wealthy young ladies, and noble gentlemen in the restaurants and teahouses all leaned out of the windows, thoroughly amused as they watched Cheng Ruyi’s carriage parade flamboyantly through the streets.

“My goodness, Zihao, how on earth is Cheng Ruyi’s brain wired? How can she be so hilarious?” Inside a teahouse, Sun Ming was laughing so hard he could barely catch his breath.

It was rare for them to come out and relax today, and he never expected to witness such a scene.

Yan Zihao quietly gazed at his ex-fiancée, who was driving the carriage with a triumphant air. The corners of his mouth tilted slightly, and an involuntary hint of a smile appeared in his cool, aloof eyes.

Yet, his heart couldn’t help but feel a bit empty and lost.

“Oh right, Zihao, that highly favored concubine-born younger sister of yours has been chasing after the newly appointed third-place scholar, Luo Fei, recently. She couldn’t really have set her eyes on him, right? This Luo Fei is Cheng Ruyi’s cousin and a hot commodity right now. Your younger sister doesn’t seem to stand a chance.”

After laughing, Sun Ming brought up another matter.

Hearing his friend mention Yan Zixuan, Yan Zihao couldn’t help but frown slightly, a trace of dislike flashing in his eyes. This half-sister appeared delicate and bright, and she was deeply loved by his father, the Marquis of Huaiyang. Consequently, the status of her birth mother, Auntie Sun, had also risen.

However, he knew that this younger sister was actually a petty and vindictive person on the inside.

Auntie Sun was merely the daughter of a wealthy merchant who had latched onto his father, the Marquis of Huaiyang, through a so-called “accident.”

“Huh? Isn’t that your half-sister down there? She actually blocked Cheng Ruyi’s carriage. Is she looking for death?” Sun Ming suddenly cried out in surprise, his eyes gleaming with anticipation for a good show.

He was close friends with Yan Zihao, so he naturally knew his friend disliked this sister. Seeing her actively court disaster, he couldn’t help but feel a little excited.

Hearing this, Yan Zihao abruptly raised his head to look not far away.

It really was Yan Zixuan.

The current Yan Zixuan looked both unfamiliar and familiar, resembling someone completely blinded by jealousy and rage.

Cheng Ruyi, who was happily driving her carriage to deliver gifts, was very displeased to see a delicate-looking girl angrily block her path.

She had seen this girl once before in a restaurant. It seemed that on that day, as soon as this girl arrived at the restaurant, her cousin Luo Fei had fled in a desperate rush.

“Who are you? Why are you blocking my carriage?”

Yan Zixuan, standing right in the middle of the road, glared at the glamorous young girl on the carriage and questioned her furiously, “My name is Yan Zixuan, and my father is the Marquis of Huaiyang. Are you that uneducated, good-for-nothing cousin of Brother Luo Fei?”

When the onlookers realized that the girl blocking the road was the daughter of the Marquis of Huaiyang, they grew excited.

The Eldest Miss Cheng’s ex-fiancé was the legitimate second son of the Marquis of Huaiyang. Now, the daughter of the Marquis of Huaiyang was suddenly blocking Miss Cheng to pick a fight. A great drama was about to unfold!

Cheng Ruyi sneered. Was there anyone in the capital who didn’t know who she was? This was hilarious. Thus, she did not hesitate to humiliate her face-to-face: “Cut the crap. I’m in a hurry. If there’s nothing else, scram to the side. Don’t block my way!”

She remembered that her ex-fiancé belonged to the Huaiyang Marquis Manor. The Marquis only had two legitimate sons and no legitimate daughters. This girl named Yan Zixuan was definitely born to one of the Marquis’s concubines.

She was just her ex-fiancé’s half-sister. Crushing her required absolutely zero effort!

“You uncultured woman!” Yan Zixuan’s face flushed red with anger.

Cheng Ruyi snapped. With a sharp crack , she whipped out a lash from her waist, cracked it twice in the air, and stared fiercely at Yan Zixuan.

“Scram!”

“Cluck, cluck, cluck…”

Accompanied by the squawking of the hens, Yan Zixuan’s face turned pale. Terrified, she took a step back, glaring at Cheng Ruyi as she barked with false bravado.

“My father is the Marquis of Huaiyang! How dare you lift a hand against me!”

Who cares who the Marquis of Huaiyang is…

Cheng Ruyi smiled mockingly, flicking the whip in her hand: “Are you going to scram or not? My time is precious. If you don’t get lost, I will strike!”

“Cluck, cluck, cluck…” The hens continued to strain their throats and squawk.

“You… you… you stay away from Brother Luo Fei, or else I’ll make things ugly for you!” Yan Zixuan recalled Cheng Ruyi’s terrifying track record of violent feats. Her expression turned extremely ugly. Leaving behind those words with hollow defiance, she slipped away in disgrace.

The surrounding crowd booed in disappointment. They had expected a fierce catfight, but they hadn’t anticipated Eldest Miss Cheng to be so fierce that she would scare the girl away instantly.

From the teahouse, Yan Zihao coldly watched his half-sister be driven away in such embarrassment, completely unmoved.

Sun Ming smacked his lips, wanting more. This Miss Yan Zixuan was far too cowardly. He had really wanted to see Cheng Ruyi tear someone apart.

Cheng Ruyi curled her lips. A total weakling, yet she dares to look for trouble! How bizarre!

However, what did that young miss mean by her final words? Did she have her eyes on cousin Luo Fei? Cousin Luo Fei’s charm was truly immense!

Sighing with emotion, Cheng Ruyi put away her whip and continued to drive her flashy carriage away, leaving a trail of “cluck, cluck, cluck” sounds echoing in everyone’s ears.

At Prince Rong’s mansion, Prince Rong was playing a game of chess back and forth with Grandmaster Huiyuan in the courtyard. Li Fan rushed forward to report: “Your Highness, the Eldest Miss of the Changle Marquis Manor has arrived.”

Upon hearing that his future daughter-in-law had come to visit, Prince Rong was overjoyed. Abandoning the chess game entirely, he immediately went to meet her.

He wondered what delicious food his daughter-in-law had brought this time. Prince Rong’s heart was filled with anticipation.

When Prince Rong reached the manor gates, he heard a chorus of loud clucking. Looking closely, he saw a beautiful young girl in red effortlessly unloading chests and baskets from a carriage.

Wang Shun was currently directing the manor servants to help organize the items.

There were chicken and duck eggs, fresh, crisp vegetables, and six fiercely squawking large hens.

Prince Rong was absolutely delighted.

His future daughter-in-law was truly too considerate, bringing so much delicious food over again. He had heard the Marquis of Changle boast about the manor’s vegetables multiple times, and now he could finally taste them.

“Your Highness, I’ve brought back the two chests of rare ancient books and calligraphies we borrowed before. I also brought some good food. Your Highness, you’re in for a treat!” Spotting Prince Rong, Cheng Ruyi immediately waved her hand happily.

Wang Shun and the others quickly bowed to Prince Rong.

Prince Rong walked over with a beaming smile, looking at the four large baskets on the ground with immense satisfaction. He ordered the servants to take the vegetables and eggs to the kitchen, then looked up at his future daughter-in-law, noticing no one else was with her.

“Girl Ruyi, how come you are alone?”

Cheng Ruyi waved her hand: “I drove the carriage here myself, so of course I’m alone.” As she spoke, she declined the servants who came forward to lift the chests. With both hands, she effortlessly lifted the two large chests containing the ancient books.

She then walked into Prince Rong’s Manor alongside everyone.

Walking beside her, Prince Rong was speechless: “…”

This girl was truly carefree. But remembering her freakish strength, it felt perfectly natural. Still, he asked out of concern, “Was the journey smooth?”

Cheng Ruyi replied in an excellent mood, “It was fine. I just ran into a crazy woman blocking the road, but I scared her off.”

Prince Rong coughed. To think someone actually dared to block Ruyi’s path; his heart was incredibly curious. “Who was the woman blocking the road?”

Cheng Ruyi curled her lips: “A weakling named Yan Zixuan. Apparently, her father is the Marquis of Huaiyang!”

A weakling…

The corner of Prince Rong’s mouth twitched: “…”

However, the name Yan Zixuan sounded a bit familiar. Wait, he remembered that the woman who had an affair with Grandmaster Huiyuan had ultimately entered the Huaiyang Marquis Manor as a concubine and gave birth to a daughter. That daughter was named Yan Zixuan.

He never expected the two of them to clash.

“Girl Ruyi, what exactly happened?”

Cheng Ruyi shrugged and gave a brief summary: “Just that crazy woman has her eyes on cousin Luo Fei, and she inexplicably came to throw threats at me.”

Prince Rong: “…” What a tangled, ill-fated relationship!

Reaching the courtyard, Cheng Ruyi set the two large chests onto the ground, clapped her hands clean, opened one of the chests, pulled out a redwood box, and handed it to Prince Rong.

“Your Highness, inside are two stalks of ginseng and a bottle of ginseng extract. Take a small sip of the extract every seven days. Once you finish this small bottle, your body will be fully recovered.”

Prince Rong happily took the redwood box and called Li Fan to place it in his study. This future daughter-in-law was truly both thoughtful and filial.

The ginseng sent by his future daughter-in-law was incredibly effective. After drinking tea brewed with it for a few days, his entire body was bursting with energy, and his past weakness was completely gone.

At this moment, Grandmaster Huiyuan walked over while rolling his Buddhist beads.

“Oh, Big Monk, why are you here?” Cheng Ruyi looked at Grandmaster Huiyuan in surprise. Didn’t this master say he was going to travel abroad as an ascetic monk?

Grandmaster Huiyuan smiled slightly: “Amitabha. Female benefactor, we meet again.”

Cheng Ruyi didn’t have a very good impression of Grandmaster Huiyuan and let out a huff. Prince Rong, knowing the history and complications between them, couldn’t help but smile and briefly explained Grandmaster Huiyuan’s situation to Cheng Ruyi.

When Grandmaster Huiyuan was young, he was a handsome monk and the closed-door disciple of a high monk. Miss Sun, from a wealthy merchant family in the capital, fell in love with him at first sight while offering incense. She pursued him relentlessly in secret. In the end, the young Grandmaster Huiyuan could not resist the temptation of beauty. The two carried on a secret affair, which eventually resulted in a hidden pregnancy and the birth of a son.

However, before that son was even a month old, he was snatched away by agents sent by the fake Princess Consort.

For the sake of his reputation and his son, Grandmaster Huiyuan was forced to agree to three conditions set by the fake Princess Consort. One could say that the reason the fake Princess Consort’s original reputation had been so pristine was largely due to Grandmaster Huiyuan.

Aside from helping the fake Princess Consort build her reputation, the master also performed annual rituals to dispel negative energy for her. After all, in legal terms, the fake Princess Consort was already dead, but her name was carved on the tombstone. Her destiny wasn’t noble enough to withstand such royal prestige, making it easy for her to revert to her original form or die.

The so-called annual reciting of sutras to pray for her deceased elder sister on her death anniversary was entirely a lie; it was actually a ritual to extend her own life. As long as she persisted for twenty years, she could break free from the shackles of her destiny.

Unfortunately, she crossed paths with Cheng Ruyi. All her efforts fell short at the final hurdle!

Hearing that Grandmaster Huiyuan had not participated in the massacre of the Rong family, Cheng Ruyi’s impression of him improved slightly. However, she was still highly displeased that the daughter of his former lover had come to find trouble with her.

“What a melodrama. Big Monk, have you found your son yet?” Cheng Ruyi felt her own luck was rather bizarre. Grandmaster Huiyuan was a Buddhist disciple who broke his vows, and Daoist Master Yunqing was a foolish Taoist who was silenced after being used to kill people. Both were victims harmed by Old Lady Lin and the fake Princess Consort.

Grandmaster Huiyuan shook his head bitterly. “No.”

“Big Monk, aren’t you skilled in divination? You can perform a reading for your son,” Cheng Ruyi said, completely unable to comprehend why he hadn’t.

Grandmaster Huiyuan fell silent: “…”

He had divined many times, and every reading indicated his son was still alive. However, as for his exact location, it could never be discerned. Otherwise, how could he have willingly served the fake Princess Consort for so many years?

“Big Monk, you’ve already broken the vow of celibacy anyway. You might as well return to secular life and practice with your hair grown out. Otherwise, when your son is eventually found and realizes he has a monk for a father, what if he can’t handle the shock?” Cheng Ruyi kindly offered him a piece of advice.

Grandmaster Huiyuan’s entire body froze. He gripped the Buddhist beads in his hand tightly, as if he had never considered this issue before. Perhaps he truly could consider returning to secular life.

Prince Rong nodded secretly. What girl Ruyi said indeed made sense. However, thinking about his own son’s status, he couldn’t help but frown.

Those old fellows in the imperial clan held immensely high seniority; even the Emperor had to show them some deference. If they hadn’t vehemently opposed announcing the truth of the matter, how could Rong Mo’s situation be so awkward?

Whenever he thought about how his beloved woman and son had to take the blame for that imposter and bear a foul reputation, the usually refined and calm Prince Rong couldn’t help but feel a bit agitated.

In the end, Grandmaster Huiyuan had an epiphany. He immediately left Prince Rong’s Manor and returned to Xiangguo Temple to prepare for his return to secular life.

Cheng Ruyi felt a bit smug. She had actually convinced a grandmaster to return to the secular world, haha!

Prince Rong shook his head in amusement. This girl!

Cheng Ruyi and Prince Rong got along famously. As they chatted, she ended up staying at Prince Rong’s Manor for lunch. Upon learning this, Rong Mo rushed over as well.

With his son and future daughter-in-law dining with him, Prince Rong was exceedingly happy, eating a bowl of rice more than usual. He was even reluctant to see them leave.

Upon returning to their manor, Cheng Ruyi enthusiastically shared Cheng Qingyao’s gossip and Luo Fei’s unwanted romantic entanglement, Yan Zixuan, with Rong Mo. She mocked her unlucky cousin Luo Fei along the way. Finally, still wanting more, she voiced her confusion: “Ah Mo, it’s been several days now. Why haven’t Uncle and Aunt suppressed the rumors?”

Rong Mo listened with a smile and explained, “It’s Cheng Wanru who has been secretly pulling the strings. Otherwise, how do you think the rumors could spread with increasing fervor?”

“So that’s how it is. What goes around comes around.” Cheng Ruyi nodded understandingly. Recalling the accident on the day of Cheng Wanru’s wedding, she silently lit a candle of pity for Cheng Qingyao.

Rong Mo: “…”

Just then, Cheng Ruyi’s sharp ears caught two passing servants whispering about a certain young master splurging a thousand gold pieces to drink and make merry in a brothel.

It suddenly dawned on her that she was about to get married soon. Regarding that aspect of things, she was theoretically an experienced veteran, but realistically, she didn’t have a shred of actual experience.

Talking about it and doing it were two completely different matters.

She secretly sneaked a glance at Rong Mo’s handsome profile and thought to herself: Should I slip into a brothel to observe and study a bit? That way, I can give Ah Mo an unforgettable bridal night!

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