Chapter 81

In fact, it wasn’t bad for Cheng Qingyao to end up like this. Without her hoarded food and ice, she lost the capital needed to rise again. Living her own life quietly and abiding by the rules was not a bad thing at all.

Cheng Ruyi had no intention of going to Dahu County, and her family would not go there either. After the severe drought came floods. Then, Dahu County would be submerged in water next year, and the people there would migrate back toward the capital.

Tossing and turning back and forth was meaningless.

Time slowly moved into the sixth month, and the weather grew even hotter. The entire capital was like a giant steamer basket; waves of heat rolled over the city. Cheng Ruyi was already seven months pregnant, and the water in the wells had completely dried up.

After harvesting their first batch of drought-resistant crops, the commoners did not plant any more. The fields everywhere were severely cracked and parched due to lack of water, trees withered and died, and wild animals from deep in the mountains began attacking villages. Consequently, people began migrating toward places with water.

Perhaps because troops were stationed in various prefectures, commanderies, and counties, no riots broke out. Instead, everyone migrated toward Dahu County in an orderly manner.

The imperial court’s disaster relief was very timely, and the daily drinking water for the commoners was made from melted ice blocks.

The people of the capital fared the same.

The courtyard containing the thousand-year-old ancient tree was still heavily guarded by elite troops. It was not yet a time of absolute desperation; every household still possessed a large supply of ice, so the tree roots could not be dug up.

By now, Cheng Ruyi, Rong Mo, Prince Rong, and the others had moved from Prince Rong’s Mansion to the Changle Marquis Mansion.

The two families had moved in together.

Last year, the Changle Marquis Mansion had been planted with fruit trees all over, and this year they had begun bearing fruit one after another. The drought in the capital was extremely severe, and almost all trees elsewhere had withered and died, but the Changle Marquis Mansion was an exception. The fruit trees inside were thriving and lush. With the shade provided by these trees, the Changle Marquis Mansion was exceptionally cool.

Cheng Ruyi hadn’t wanted to be so conspicuous, but she couldn’t bring herself to watch all the fruit trees wither and die right before her eyes.

With the thousand-year-old ancient tree acting as a shield, it was only natural for the fruit trees and vegetables in the mansion to grow well.

As a result, everyone came to know that the Changle Marquis Mansion was a blessed land.

Cheng Ruyi took a bite of a sweet and juicy peach, feeling thoroughly satisfied. Fruits nourished by her wood-attribute superpower were truly delicious.

“Miss, the housekeeper from the Left Prime Minister’s Mansion has arrived.”

Moxiang walked over carrying a fruit basket filled with several large, red, and ripe peaches.

“Are they here to buy peaches again?” Cheng Ruyi took another bite of her peach, narrowing her eyes in enjoyment.

“Yes, lately many people have been sending servants to buy peaches from our mansion.” Every time Moxiang watched these people leave with baskets of peaches, her heart would ache.

She felt so stingy about it!

“If they want to buy them, just sell them. It’s no big deal.” Cheng Ruyi was very generous about it. After all, as long as she used her wood superpower to nourish them, there would be a continuous supply of peaches.

“…But, but if this keeps up, you won’t have any left to eat, Miss.” Moxiang looked pained. Why didn’t her lady care at all?

Cheng Ruyi gave Moxiang an amused look.

“I would never mistreat myself. Right, I heard that Cousin’s wife is also pregnant. Have someone send another basket of peaches to Cousin’s mansion.”

Moxiang: “…”

“Sister, this is bad! Something has happened!” Cheng Yu ran over in a panic, his face deathly pale and his eyes filled with terror.

Cheng Ruyi snapped up from her seat. Her loose ruqun could hardly conceal her astonishingly large pregnant belly. She asked Cheng Yu urgently, “Xiao Yu’er, what happened? Why are you in such a panic?”

“Sister, on her way here, Cousin’s wife encountered that crazy woman named Yan Zixuan from the Huaiyang Marquis Mansion. Her carriage was struck by that crazy woman’s carriage! Cousin’s wife was severely startled and began bleeding heavily from her lower body. Brother Rong Ting kicked that crazy woman away with one blow, and her head is covered in blood…”

Cheng Yu spoke rapidly, sweat dripping from his forehead.

“Where is Cousin’s wife?” Cheng Ruyi was shocked. This Yan Zixuan was a lunatic, completely unreasonable.

“She has already been sent to the nearest pharmacy.” Cheng Yu wiped the sweat from his face, though his complexion remained pale.

“Let’s go, I’ll go see.”

After speaking, Cheng Ruyi strode forward like the wind despite her astonishingly large belly. Moxiang watched in sheer terror from behind and hurriedly chased after her.

“Miss, take it easy, take it easy… careful of the little young master…”

“Sister, wait for me, wait for me…” Cheng Yu hurriedly grabbed a peach and chased after her.

The servants in the mansion were all frightened by Cheng Ruyi as she rushed past. Imperial Physician Chen had said that the eldest young lady was close to giving birth, so what was going on now?

Even the Marquis of Changle, who was currently bargaining with the Left Prime Minister’s housekeeper, was alarmed.

Jimin Pharmacy

A concubine of the Huaiyang Marquis Mansion, Auntie Sun, was wailing and crying to the heavens, demanding that the Marquis of Huaiyang bring justice for her daughter. Her cries were incredibly grating.

Yan Zixuan had been kicked away by Rong Ting and landed face-first, getting badly scratched by the gravel on the ground. Her face was covered in blood, leaving her disfigured.

The Marquis of Huaiyang and Yan Zihao had rushed over upon receiving the news. Many people had witnessed the incident, so the rights and wrongs were crystal clear.

“Marquis, Yan Zixuan must give my wife an explanation for this matter.” Luo Fei looked coldly at Auntie Sun, then fixed his gaze directly on the Marquis of Huaiyang.

Now, Wang Ying had miscarried. Because she had lost too much blood, she was currently unconscious. This was his first child, and it was gone just like that. Luo Fei hated that crazy woman Yan Zixuan to the core.

“What explanation? You are the ones who need to give an explanation! Marquis, you must stand up for Zixuan! Her face has been ruined, how will she ever get married in the future…” Auntie Sun wept and tugged at the Marquis of Huaiyang’s sleeve.

At the thought that her tainted son had ruined her daughter, Auntie Sun wished she could tear Rong Mo apart. Between a son who had been taken away shortly after birth and a daughter who had grown up by her side, Auntie Sun naturally chose her daughter. Now that her daughter’s appearance was ruined, how could she not hate Rong Ting?

“Auntie Sun sure has a lot of nerve. A woman as malicious as her should be sliced into a thousand pieces. A mere disfigurement is letting her off too easy.”

A crisp female voice rang out. Immediately afterward, a beautiful young woman with a fierce glint in her eyes and an astonishingly large belly burst into the room. Her icy gaze shot straight toward Auntie Sun.

She released a wave of spiritual pressure.

Auntie Sun’s face turned white instantly, and her legs buckled as she fell to her knees with a thud, her eyes filled with terror. “You… you…”

The Marquis of Huaiyang looked coldly at Auntie Sun’s pathetic state. Yan Zihao stared at his former fiancée, who remained peerlessly beautiful despite her heavily pregnant belly, and pursed his thin lips.

“Hmph!” Cheng Ruyi snorted coldly. Turning back to look at her cousin Luo Fei, who was radiating fury, she asked out of concern, “Cousin, how is Cousin’s wife? Was the baby saved?”

A flash of agony crossed Luo Fei’s eyes, and he replied hoarsely, “Your cousin’s wife… she miscarried. She’s unconscious right now.”

Cheng Ruyi’s beautiful face instantly darkened. Her spiritual energy unconsciously flared outward, and the powerful pressure made everyone in the pharmacy feel as if they couldn’t breathe. She looked just like a female Rakshasa!

Auntie Sun bore a significant portion of the pressure; she spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed limply onto the ground, her eyes filled with terror and dismay.

“Yan Zixuan deserves to die!”

“Sister, you… are you okay?” Cheng Yu, who had chased her inside, was startled by the atmosphere.

Cheng Ruyi withdrew her spiritual pressure and swept a cold glance over the Marquis of Huaiyang and his son. “I am fine. This matter isn’t over today. Marquis Yan, how do you intend to handle this?”

“Marquis…” Auntie Sun looked at Cheng Ruyi in terror and turned pleadingly toward the Marquis of Huaiyang, terrified that he would abandon their daughter.

Luo Fei, who had been consumed by grief, was stunned by his domineering cousin.

The Marquis of Huaiyang, his face somewhat pale, looked at the imposing young woman before him. The shock in his eyes could not be hidden. Remembering the immense pressure just now and thinking of the malicious act Yan Zixuan had committed, he had already made his choice.

“She is merely a concubine-born daughter. She is at the Consort’s disposal. The Huaiyang Marquis Mansion will present a grand gift to apologize!”

“Very well. Marquis Yan is indeed upright and selfless!” Cheng Ruyi was very satisfied to see that the Marquis of Huaiyang did not choose to shield Yan Zixuan. Turning back to Luo Fei, she said, “Cousin, that woman Yan Zixuan is handed over to you to deal with. Kill her or cut her as you please.”

Luo Fei nodded gratefully. However, a profound sense of unwillingness welled up in his heart. If his cousin hadn’t forcefully intervened today, this matter might have been brushed under the rug, and the blame might have even been twisted onto his wife.

“Seeing as the Marquis is so upright and selfless, and has worn a pair of worn-out shoes for so many years, I will generously give you a piece of information. Your concubine, Auntie Sun, gave birth to a son before she married you…” Cheng Ruyi smiled as she dropped a massive scandal.

“You’re talking nonsense!” Auntie Sun shrieked, absolute terror gripping her heart. She hurriedly clung to the Marquis of Huaiyang’s leg and cried tears of distress, “Marquis, I didn’t! This concubine was pure…”

The Marquis of Huaiyang’s expression changed drastically. Looking at the weeping Lady Sun, suspicion bloomed in his heart, and he forcefully threw off her hand. “May I ask how the Consort came to know of this?”

Yan Zihao raised an eyebrow slightly, completely unexpected that this Auntie Sun had such a past. Luo Fei was dumbfounded. Was his cousin going to wipe them out all at once? Beautifully done!

“This matter isn’t difficult to investigate. Over twenty years ago, she had an affair with a certain high monk, fell pregnant in secret, and gave birth to a son. Later, her son was taken away by the fake Princess Rong, and she severed ties with the high monk. Finally, under her family’s schemes, she climbed onto the Marquis… I was originally too lazy to meddle in others’ business, but who told her to give birth to such a malicious daughter?” Cheng Ruyi explained slowly, a cold sneer present in her eyes as she looked at Auntie Sun.

“You… you are falsely accusing me!” Auntie Sun screamed in panic, but the terror and guilt in her eyes did not escape the Marquis of Huaiyang and Yan Zihao.

“Whether it’s true or not, the Marquis can find out with a simple investigation.” Cheng Ruyi arched an eyebrow.

Auntie Sun’s face instantly turned ashen. It was over, it was over, everything was truly over now. She glared viciously at Rong Ting, who remained silent to the side. It was all because of this damnable Rong Ting; if he hadn’t ruined her daughter’s face… But at this moment, she could only pray that no traces had been left behind. She must absolutely not acknowledge Rong Ting.

“Ruyi!”

At this moment, a deep voice laced with panic rang out, and a tall, elegant figure rushed inside. Moxiang followed closely behind.

“Ah Mo, why are you here…” Cheng Ruyi looked at his slightly irritated handsome face with a bit of a guilty conscience, offering a pleasing smile.

Looking at his heavily pregnant little wife, Rong Mo felt both angry and helpless. “You…”

“Ah Mo, I’m perfectly fine. The babies are all being very good.” Cheng Ruyi continued to smile pleasingly. Her constitution was different from ordinary people, and the babies she carried were different as well.

Rong Mo: “…”

The surrounding crowd watched in absolute dumbfoundment as the domineering Cheng Ruyi instantly transformed into a docile little sheep upon seeing Rong Mo. Was this what it meant for one creature to subdue another?

Before long, Commander Wang, the Marquis of Changle, Rong Susu, and the others all arrived. They were shocked to learn that Cheng Ruyi had already resolved the matter. However, seeing her arrive while heavily pregnant, their faces darkened with worry and anger after the initial shock.

They took turns giving her a thorough scolding. Cheng Ruyi obediently promised that she wouldn’t act recklessly next time, and only then did everyone let her off.

The weak and unconscious Wang Ying was brought back to the Changle Marquis Mansion to recuperate, and Luo Fei moved in with her. The Changle Marquis Mansion was vast, and a courtyard had already been reserved for Luo Fei. This time, it was perfect for them to move back to prevent any further accidents.

In the end, Yan Zixuan was expelled from the Marquis Mansion. After the Marquis of Huaiyang uncovered the truth, Auntie Sun was also driven back to her maiden home. The mother and daughter returned to the Sun family in absolute disgrace.

Cheng Ruyi didn’t know about the subsequent events, because she had been grounded.

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