I Became The Stepmother of My Ex-husband

by Usui Takumii

not mine, is from 'this seat is bored'.

1. 00 to 05

Description

Lin Wei Xi found out after she died that she was just a cannon fodder in a novel, used as contrast to the gentle and considerate and virtuous female lead.

The male lead was her ex-husband, the dignified heir of Yan Wang, his family were superior and brilliant, but the heroine was not her.

The female lead was her concubine-born younger sister, and her husband's white moonlight, his cinnabar mole, no wonder! After Lin Wei Xi died, her husband finally married her sister as he wished.

She watched coldly at the two like honey in the oil, in love and harmonious, everyone using the success of her younger sister to contrast the impropriety of the original wife.

Lin Wei Xi sneered, okay, since your love moves the world, then this sister will come back and be your stepmother!

So she married her ex-husband's father, the father-in-law she never met in the previous life, the country's God of war, who has not remarried after losing his wife, the one that hold military power, the brilliant Yan Wang.

Later Yan Wang, who was in his prime years and used to act decisively, looked at his small, delicate, much younger wife, and had a headache.

No matter, she is still young, he have to spoil her, indulge her, teach her.

Chapter 1 Part 1: Rebirth

The wind was cold and the night was breaking dawn early in winter, the person in the low room was delirious. Lin Wei Xi was lying on the bed with her fine eyebrows frowning, at once you could see that she didn't have a peaceful sleep.

The sound of cooking gradually could be heard from the village, the farmers did not have a fortune to be idle. Even on such a cold day, many people got up to burn wood and cook. There's also noise in the brightest room in the main courtyard. It seemed that Aunt Lin had risen. Lin Wei Xi had a vague thought, but her limbs were weak and confined in a dream, unable to break free.

In the dreamlike vermilion courtyard, there was a maid wearing double bun hairstyle and the fabric of her clothes were crisp and bright lu silk, she lowered her head as if she did not dare to face the person in front of her, her voice was as fine as a mosquito: "Shizi Consort, the front yard come over and pass the words, saying that shizi1 is busy today, and he was just arrive. If madam is uncomfortable, to call the imperial doctor to come and have a look."

The woman opposite seemed to have stopped for a long time, with hoarse voice before faintly sounded: "Busy? I don't know what is so important that even more important than I this dying wife."

"Madam..."

"Stop talking, I don't want to listen." The woman coughed twice. She seemed to try to suppress the cough, and refused to show weakness in front of others. The maids standing outside also knew the master's rules, held their breath and lowered their head, not looking at the other side's sickness appearance. After a while, the cough finally eased a little. The woman didn't care about moistening her throat with tea, but insisted on asking: "Who came to pass the message?"

The maid couldn't bear it: "Shizi consort..."

"Say it! "

The maid sighed and said, "It's Miss Yun Hui."

"Yun Hui..." The woman laughed lightly, unsure whether it was sarcasm or mocking herself, "It turned out to be her, can't compete, really can't compete with her. She serve shizi for many years, bestow by Shen Wangfei2 herself, this mutual affection for many years, do I as an outsider can match it?"

Obviously the Shizi Consort, but she said she was an outsider, if other people heard they would thought that was a joke, but in the Yan Wang Mansion the maid knew that the consort did not speak wrong.

Shizi and his consort had been married for one year, but they were even worse than strangers. The Shizi Consort was seriously ill, and these servants secretly went to the front yard and invited Shizi three or four times, but the result was chilling. The maid knew that although Shizi Consort was tough and forbid them to intercede with her problem, but she turned a blind eye to their little actions, showing that she also wanted to see him. But no, Shizi never came.

Lin Wei Xi was still lying on the simple wooden bed with her eyes closed, tears continued to flow from the corners of her eyes, making the pillow wet. Lin Wei Xi knew that she had been caught by a nightmare. Even in the dream, the memories of the past would not let her go. It took her back to the Yan Wang3 mansion and her failed marriage.

In fact, she was not originally called Lin Wei Xi, nor was she a girl from this small village. Her former family was very prominent. She was originally named Gao Xi, the eldest di4 granddaughter of Duke Yingguo Mansion. Her biological father was the only di son of the duke. Her biological mother was the only daughter of Grand Princess Shou Kang5. She was born in this kind of family and she came from quite a good background.

Because of her high status, Gao Xi was very strong minded since she was a child. Later, her marriage didn't make her lose honor. Relying on the face of her grandmother, she actually married Gu Cheng Yao, the only son of Yan Wang. After the announcement of the marriage, the whole capital was shocked that Grand Princess Shou Kang was able to make Gao Xi married the only son of Yan Wang, and the face of Princess Shou Kang was very real.

Speaking of Yan Wang, in the land under heaven regardless if it was men, women, young and old, even ignorant baby had heard of his prestigious name. The previous emperor's final years of Jianzhao was very turbulent, Bu Guifei6 with the help of powerful eunuch controlled the court, if it weren't for Yan Wang to send the troops to the capital in time, corrected the chaos and killed the eunuch, afraid that the future would change drastically.

Yan Wang protected the emperor and calm the upheaval, and after the death of the previous emperor, he supported the new emperor who was only eight years old to succeed the throne. The Great Zhou Dynasty's vassal state in the border took advantage of the new emperor young age. In the second year, many places in the border were becoming restless. Yan Wang took the initiative to ask for battle and brought the troops out of the capital to pacify the chaos. At that time Gao Xi was seriously ill bedridden for several days. The front line heard the news that Yang Wang had great victory, after the good news came, the court cheered. To put it more bluntly, the little Emperor was young, the Empress Dowager was cowardly, and the bureaucrats in the court were in chaos. Now the whole Zhou Dynasty was guarded by Yan Wang.

Yan Wang had only one son, Gu Cheng Yao. As Gu Cheng Yao's wife, when father-in-law repeatedly made military achievement, Gao Xi should feel proud. It was a pity that the glory of Yan Wang Mansion belongs to Yan Wang Mansion and had nothing to do with her.

Gao Xi sometimes wondered, when she first married Gu Cheng Yao, he had a deep affection, but why did he became cold all of a sudden?

She still remember that on the first night of their marriage, when Gu Cheng Yao lifted up her veil, he deliberately avoided everyone and said to her with a smile: "Look, I still found you."

Gao Xi was confused. What does that mean? However, the newlyweds were already thin-skinned, and Gu Cheng Yao regarded her silence as shy and stopped mentioning it with a faint smile. Which girl didn't cherish spring, Gao Xi grew up listening to Yan Wang's achievements, and now she married Yan Wang's only son, and the other person was such a deity, Gao Xi's small heart was instantly hit, and she became both anxious and happy to be Gu Cheng Yao's wife. In the next month, the two of them were very affectionate, almost inseparable, Gao Xi was so happy like she was falling into a honeypot. Since she was a child she grew up seeing her mother suffer from concubine's tricks. She never thought that her marriage would be an unexpectedly happy one.

But she still miscalculated God's kindness. The flowers will wither, a beautiful face will grow old, and things that are too good will never stay long. In just one month, Gu Cheng Yao's attitude took a sharp turn. That day, he looked at her coldly and asked: "Why did you lie? Why become an imposter?"

What?

She was sewing clothes for Gu Cheng Yao at that time. She was not very good at female's art, because she was always compared to Gao Ran, she didn't like doing it even more. But now, she wanted to make a set of clothes for Gu Cheng Yao with her own hands, even piercing her fingers with needles. Hearing Gu Cheng Yao's words, Gao Xi was confuse, what lie? What imposter?

Since then, Gao Xi and Gu Cheng Yao's husband and wife relationship had cooled down. Gao Xi was the eldest granddaughter of a Duke mansion, and had a princess grandmother that always spoiled her so she had stubborn personality. If Gu Cheng Yao didn't want to come then don't come. Don't expect her to be like a concobine, fighting for favor to make him stay.

Later, the husband and wife became more and more alienated, and they turned into enemies. In the end, when Gao Xiyu fell ill and couldn't get up again on the sickbed, Gu Cheng Yao refused to even look at her.

Gao Xi was a very proud person, but this failed marriage completely destroyed all her pride.

Gao Xi was not reconcile when she's facing death. Where did she not do well? Why Gu Cheng Yao didn't like her? Even if he didn't like her, how could he not even give her the last dignity as his wife?

Because of remaining grievances her soul was not taken away by the Ox-head and Horse-face7, she floated for a while and then she returned to the world again.

This time, Gao Xi finally knew why Gu Cheng Yao asked her those two questions and why she suddenly fell out of favor.

Gao Xi saw a book amidst the vast expanse of whiteness. She was puzzled and flipped through it tentatively. Then she was shocked and trembling by the contents.

There was Gao Xi's life in the book, but unfortunately, the protagonist was not her, but Gao Xi's shu8 younger sister, the torn on her side since childhood, Gao Ran.

The book said that Gao Ran was a transmigator and Gao Xi didn't understand what transmigator was, but this was just a passing point in the book and it was not important. What Gao Xi really care about was the following story.

According to the description in the book, Gao Ran transmigrated into an unfavored concubine daughter in Duke Yingguo Mansion when she was six years old. She had just gotten a serious illness and almost died. Perhaps she was already dead, so that Gao Ran could replace her.

Gao Ran reincarnated into the body, the shell was only six years old, but the soul was a 26-year-old adult. With the help of modern knowledge and adult experience, she pretended to be stupid, pretend to be a pig and eat tiger, and not only helped herself, but also her biological mother Han shi9 became the favorite concubine of the Duke Yingguo Shizi, and even taught her own younger brother, who would later be established as the heir of Yingguo dukedom. Gao Ran saved a masked man in a Buddhist temple when she was 13 years old. She didn't want to reveal her identity, but the other party held her hand and refused to let go. Gao Ran had no choice but to remove a jade pendant from her body. Let him find her by himself if he was capable.

Gao Xi laughed mournfully when she saw this, and burst into tears. No wonder when she was a child Gao Xi always accused by her elders to be not as sensible and caring as Gao Ran. No matter what she learned, Gao Ran was always ways ahead. Gao Xi originally thought that Gao Ran might really born smart. Now she understand that Gao Ran was not a child at all, her age was even comparable to Gao Xi's mother, an old ghost who lives in a child's body, it's not surprising that she was so well-rounded.

No wonder Gu Cheng Yao said to Gao Xi that day in the bridal chamber, "Look, I still found you." No wonder Gu Cheng Yao later said she lied.

That's it, that's it!

1 Heir of prominent family, usually conferred to the eldest son.↩

2 Princess consort, the primary wife of a Wang or prince.↩

3 Wang can be translated as King or Prince, to put it simply in here wang is prince and Yan is the title.↩

4 Born from primary wife, not from concubine.↩

5 Grand Princess usually conferred to the sister of the emperor, Shou Kang is the title.↩

6 High ranking imperial concubine.↩

7 Two Guardians of the underworld.↩

8 Concubine-born.↩

9 Refer to the surname of married women, like here Han is the surname it can roughly translated as Madam Han.↩

Chapter 1 Part 2: Rebirth

The corners of Gao Xi's eyes were red with anger. Her mother, Wei Shi, was the daughter of Grand Princess Shou Kang. The Princess had only this one child. It was not surprising that her character accustomed to being pampered. Therefore, Wei shi had always been putting on an air of noble lady, with a cold expression, refused to soften her body to coax her husband and master, and refused to make a gentle gesture. From a young age, Gao Xi watched her mother guard the lamp alone and waited until dawn for the arrival of her husband. At this time, Gao Xi's father, the duke shizi, was mostly in Han shi's courtyard.

Gao Xi felt sorry for her mother and was angry with the fox concubine in the west courtyard. But she was a di daughter and it's impossible for her to lower her status and fight with a concubine, so she desperately studied, trying to surpass the daughter of the west courtyard. However, the strange thing was that no matter how much work Gao Xi spent in private, she could never be as good as Gao Ran. Gao Ran could play novel song which surprised the zither master. She invented gomoku and checkers, which attracted brothers and sisters in the clan to vie for friendship. Sometimes, Gao Ran would blurt out some extremely delicate verses, but when asked again, Gao Ran smiled faintly, saying that she only thought of this sentence, and forgot the rest.

No one believed that Gao Ran had really forgotten such subtle verses, but felt that she was hiding something behind her, so everyone in the mansion paid more attention to her. Under the light of such a little sister, Gao Xi was under a lot of pressure. Fortunately, Gao Xi's identity could leave Gao Ran behind. With the influence of Grand Princess Shou Kang, Gao Xi could married Gu Cheng Yao of Yan Wang Mansion. Gao Xi once thought to herself that she finally won against Gao Ran. There would never be anyone in the capital higher than Gu Cheng Yao. Gao Ran, even if Gao Ran jumped again, in the future her husband's family would certainly lower than hers.

It's a pity that things were so funny. Gao Ran once rescued a man in a Buddhist temple. By coincidence, this man was Gu Cheng Yao. At that time, Gao Ran pulled a jade pendant off her body in order to get away. The jade pendant was in the shape of a fish. It was originally a pair. This was made by someone outside and gave it to Gao Xi. Gao Xi felt that the carving was quite delicate, so she gave the half of it to Gao Ran.

That was originally Gao Xi's jade pendant, but Gao Ran was afraid of getting into trouble, so she took Gao Xi's things out to eliminate the disaster. Gao Xi gave it to her in private, and if someone came to the door in the future, it would be Gao Xi who was left to handle it.

Gu Cheng Yao fell in love with the mysterious woman who saved him on that moonlit night. Although he didn't see her face, he decided to marry her. By mistake, Gu Cheng Yao used the half jade pendant to find Gao Xi and married her. He was so sure that Gao Xi was his lifesaver. In the first month after marriage, the two of them get along well. However, in the second month, when Gao Xi returned to her family's house, Gu Cheng Yao accompanied her back and in the Duke Yingguo Mansion met his wife's sister Gao Ran.

Without knowing the truth, Gao Xi was accused to lie and abandoned.

The malicious older sister that deceived feelings and replaced kindness had been dismantled. After that, her marriage was full of misfortune, but Gao Xi had a strong personality. The more Gu Cheng Yao ignored her, the more she had to prove it to everyone. Gao Xi personally managed Yan Wang Mansion, drastically rectifying the fields and shops of Yan Wang Mansion, internally suppressing the people around Gu Cheng Yao, and fighting against the personal girl Yunhui who had served Gu Cheng Yao for ten years. Gao Xi fully believe that as long as she was good enough, Gu Cheng Yao could see her, and changed his mind.

But she simply brought herself down and slowly died, to the end could only wait for Gu Cheng Yao to change his mind.

If the story only ends here, Gao Xi would only sighs and thought that she had no luck and didn't have enough fate with Gu Cheng Yao. But the story in the book had only progressed for a while, and the real climax had yet to arrive. After Gao Xi as failed elder sister and wife died, the Duke Yingguo also felt that Gao Xi was unqualified. She was simply not good example of what a wife should be. Duke Yingguo Mansion felt guilty towards Gu Cheng Yao and proposed to let Gao Ran marry him as a successor. Gu Cheng Yao certainly agreed. So not long after Gao Xi died, Gao Ran married as the second wife.

After Gao Ran married into Yan Wang Mansion, she always treated Gu Cheng Yao with gentleness and subtle intention. Gu Cheng Yao also very much cherished someone that he thought he lost, the two hearts beat as one. Gu Cheng Yao was moved by Gao Ran's sincerity, and even dismissed his concubine for her, only favor her alone. Many years later, Gu Cheng Yao took over the mantle of Yan Wang and became the new mainstay of the country, but even so he never took a concubine.

The second half of the book was the sweet daily life of Gu Cheng Yao and Gao Ran. Between the lines, it was said that Gu Cheng Yao loved how smart and capable Gao Ran was. She was a graceful and caring wife and everyone in Yan Wang Mansion respected this Shizi Consort. When people in the capital praise Gao Ran, they would always pull Gao Xi out and use Gao Xi's downright failure to contrast against Gao Ran's high EQ. Finally they conclude: "Sure enough, we can't just marry a wife based on family background, the most important is still character and temperament. The eldest di daughter of Duke Yingguo Mansion and the second wife of Yan Wang's Shizi are the best examples."

Look, Gao Xi, the original wife, was not even qualified to become the Shizi Consort.

When Gao Xi saw this, she didn't want to read anymore, she closed the book and let the tears ran down her cheeks.

The Buddha said that there are seven sufferings in the world: birth, old age, sickness, death, resentment, separation from the loves one, and not able to achieve what ones asked for.

Gu Cheng Yao was what Gao Xi coundn't ask for. She was dislike by her father and elders since she was a child. After marrying someone she liked, she saw that he ignored her, so she had to cover it up with toughness and carelessness, and then tried her best to attract him to come back. Until she exhausted herself and died in depression, she couldn't keep her husband from turning his back on her.

In fact, when Gao Xi died, she knew that Gu Cheng Yao was young and had an outstanding family background. He would definitely continue to marry in the future. With the power of Yan Wang, there were many noble women in the capital who were not inferior to her, rushing to marry Gu Cheng Yao. But that person, cannot be Gao Ran. Gao Xi hastily scanned the second half of the book, and she realized that Gu Cheng Yao could also tossing and begging, he would get off his high horse to please a woman, he even had no regrets. He could even keep himself pure for one woman and never touch other women.

When Gao Xi reading the book she thought: 'Scumbag'. Even if Gao Xi had never heard the word before, she could guess the meaning. Was Gu Cheng Yao a scumbag? It didn't seem so, he could also be deeply affectionate, and only take one scoop for three thousand weak water1, but then again this affection was not given to Gao Xi.

Gao Xi was very embarrassed, and her eyes gradually blurred. Before losing consciousness, Gao Xi saw a delicate girl smiled shyly at her: "Benefactor sister, I'm going to find my father. Six years ago you saved me but I'm unable to repay you, and now I have to bother you to keep on living for me."

Gao Xi was in dazed and not knowing how long she was asleep. When she woke up again, she saw a semi-old bed curtain, a dark wooden cabinet, and a pair of slender white hands.

It seemed to be very noisy outside. Many people were clamoring, and Gao Xi vaguely heard words like "to die for one's country", "Yan Wang's decree," and "to confer as Marquis" and so on. Gao Xi walked to the vanity mirror with her weak body, and stared at the face in the mirror for a long time.

Yes, the eldest granddaughter of Duke Yingguo Mansion and Yan Wang Mansion's Shizi Consort Gao Xi is dead. From today on, she is Lin Wei Xi.

1 It means: you may encounter many beautiful things in life but it's enough to grasp one of them carefully.↩

Chapter 2 Part 1: Forced Marriage

Lin Wei Xi finally woke up from the nightmare, she suddenly broke free from the dream, opened her eyes to look at the semi-old bed curtain, her limbs stiff, and her heart beating fast.

She dreamed of the things in her previous life again. Her failed marriage, the despair and abandonment at death, the weird book of heaven in her dream, and the horror and gratitude in her heart when she woke up in Lin Wei Xi's body.

Gao Xi had completely passed away. Since then, there was no Gao Xi in this world. The eldest granddaughter of Duke Yingguo and Yan Wang Mansion's Shizi Consort1 was buried and had become a cold memorial tablet. Gao Xi was dead, her identity and status, grievances and censure have nothing to do with Lin Wei Xi.

Resurrection from the dead was already a great kindness, she was Lin Wei Xi and she would never be trapped by those bitches in her previous life, she should start her new life.

Thinking about this, Lin Wei Xi slowly recovered from the horror of the nightmare. She sat up, moved her wrists lightly, and then walked on the ground slowly.

It had been a month since Lin Wei Xi came here. This month could not be said to be long nor short, but it was enough for her to understand Lin Wei Xi's situation. Speaking of her, she still had some connections with the original owner. When she was still Gao Xi, at the age of eleven years old, she came back from the princess mansion and met a pair of father and daughter at the Duke Yingguo Mansion's gate. She usually never seen this kind of thing and the driver who drove the carriage was afraid that she would be angry, and quickly scolded the father and daughter to walk away. Gao Xi opened the curtain casually and saw a man standing in front of the gatekeeper. He looked angry because he was humiliated by other people, but he looked back at his timid daughter and endured his breath, lower himself to look up at the gatekeeper, begged to give him a chance. He said he was strong enough to be a guard, he wouldn't do a sloppy job, even if they gave him work that only need strength also fine.

The man was talking in a low voice and the thin little girl coughed from time to time, her little hand always held the man's clothes tightly. Gao Xi's heart was suddenly moved. She was not very close to her father since she was a child. No matter what she did, the Duke Yingguo Shizi only gave an "Oh", then turned around and smiled at the two shu siblings. The Duke Yingguo Shizi complained that she was raised as an white-eyed wolf, always close to her mother and Grand Princess Shou Kang. But who would have guess that the arrogant Miss Gao Xi had also longed for fatherly love.

Gao Xi put down the curtain and ordered a few words to her close servant. The girl looked at Gao Xi with surprise, but still obediently jumped out of the carriage and gave the father and daughter twenty tael silver. Gao Xi guessed that the man was trying to raise medical expenses for his daughter, he was so anxious that he even unable to get angry. A penny stumps a hero, and it was not easy for anyone to live. Twenty teil was nothing for Gao Xi. If she could help them, then just regarded this as Gao Xi's longing for fatherly love since her childhood.

Gao Xi didn't know the rest of the matter. She didn't show up, didn't ask the father and daughter's name, and didn't tell them who she was. If this was Gao Ran, she must be inadvertently revealed it, to let people know that Gao Ran did a virtuous deeds, but Gao Xi would not. That was not her style of doing things. What she wanted to do was her own business. There was no need to use others to build her reputation.

It was just a chance meeting, and then she completely forgot about it. Later, the chaos of Bu Guifei2 caused everyone in capital to be in danger, and she was not in the mood to think about it. However, who knows that the father and daughter she rescued back then had another good luck. The man's name was Lin Yong, and the girl who need a doctor was Lin Wei Xi. Lin Yong used the twenty taels to seek cure for his daughter, and he managed to save her daughter's life. At that time, Yan Wang3 entered the capital to save the country. Lin Yong was born with unnatural power. He throw himself under Yan Wang to be his subordinate and then sent his daughter back to his hometown. He followed Yan Wang wholeheartedly in order to give his daughter a dowry.

In the thirteenth year of Jianzhao, Mu Zong Emperor died. Before his death, Yan Wang was named one of the three auxiliary ministers. Yan Wang could only stay in the capital and help the young emperor's eldest son to be the emperor. One year later, there was another situation in the border area. Yan Wang took the troops out of Capital in February and went to the border to calm the chaos.

Putting down the rebellion, supporting the new emperor, and going to the border to suppress the enemy, these inevitably required a lot of manpower. Lin Yong took this opportunity to gain a foothold under Yan Wang, and gradually made some accomplishment and fortunate enough to attract Yan Wang's attention. Yan Wang indeed saw the potential in Lin Yong, so he ordered Lin Yong to go with him. This time, the Duo Huo Ti tribe4 in the northwestern border took the opportunity to make trouble. The terrain was complicated and the climate was bitterly cold. Yan Wang worked bit by bit before he gradually gained the upper hand.

During a small-scale siege, Yan Wang was ambushed while Lin Yong died to save Yan Wang. Lin Yong was a strong man. Even when he was hit by three arrows on his back, he still desperately escorted Yan Wang to break through, but it was a pity that Lin Yong was too badly injured and unable to rush out. Duo Huo Ti failed to win with a single blow and became angry, so they let out their anger on Lin Yong, who had contributed the most, even after he died. Two or three days later, Lin Yong's head was cut off and hung from the city gate to demonstrate to Yan Wang.

Yan Wang spent a year of effort to almost exterminate the Duo Huo Ti tribe. The men and the boys were all killed, leaving only the elderly, women and children. In the following year, Yan Wang supported a new regime, took over the women and property of the Duo Huo Ti tribe, and formed checks and balances with the other two tribes in the north. After the northwestern situation was cleaned up, Yan Wang took Lin Yong's bones and returned to the court.

The news of Yan Wang's victory came to the capital, and the citizen were all delighted. The little emperor under the guidance of Teacher Zhang acted like a grown-up and write a letter to Yan Wang for him to request a reward. Yan Wang was already a Qinwang5 of Ten Thousand Houses, he also had authority as Regent Minister. He lack nothing in this world. If one had to say it was that his Wangfei died ten years ago, perhaps the thing he lacked was a new wife.

However, the reward that Yan Wang asked for was beyond everyone's expectations. He did not ask for money or an official position for his only son. Instead, he asked the emperor to enshrine Lin Yong as a martyr that die for the country. It was nothing more than an honorary title. It's much easier than awarding Yan Wang Mansion a reward, and by doing so it's also beneficial to the reputation of the court, so the First Assistant Zhang without hesitation agreed to Yan Wang's request to confer Lin Yong who were died for the country as Marquis Zhongyong.

Lin Yong's wife died of illness many years ago, and there was only one daughter under her knees. The title of Marquis of Zhongyong had come to an end. What Lin Wei Xi could use was nothing more than the reward and fame of his father's life.

1 Shizi means the heir's title of prominent family and Shizi Consort is the title of his primary wife.↩

2 High ranking imperial concubine.↩

3 Wang here means Prince as in the descendent of imperial family.↩

4 Dughlat – Mongol tribe.↩

5 Qinwang, first grade wang or prince, usually a title given to the sons of the emperor.↩

Chapter 2 Part 2: Forced Marriage

The news of Lin Yong's tragic death was sent to Lin's house in the second year of Yuanjia by Yan Wang. It was not until October in the fourth year of Yuanjia that the imperial court conferred Lin Yong as Marquis Zhongyong. At this time, Lin Wei Xi's three years of father's filial piety had not been finished. The original body was weak, her mother died when she gave birth many years ago. Over the years father and daughter could only rely on each other, the original body could last until now it was completely to wait for Yan Wang to send Lin Yong's bones back to their hometown.

Lin Wei Xi remembered that a month ago, the timid little girl of the original body suddenly appeared in her dream with a smile and said that she was going to find her father. Presumably by then, Lin Yong's remains had already set foot on the land of Great Zhou.

From the perspective of the original body, the good name of Marquis Zhongyong's orphan girl and the large amount of land canonized by the court were not as important as the bones of her father. Therefore, the original body waited for her father before leaving without worry, and Gao Xi, who had a good relationship with the Lin family, was able to be born again.

It was the first month of the fifth year of Yuanjia. Gao Xi passed away in December last year. The original owner followed Lin Yong. It has been a month now. She got it!

This was Lin Wei Xi's life experience, Gao Xi, or Lin Wei Xi sighed for a while, then she fetched water, stumbled and tidy up her appearance.

This was almost unthinkable in Lin Wei Xi's previous life. Even a second-class servant girl in the Duke Mansion did not have to do rough work such as sweeping. Since Lin Wei Xi was born, even washing hands she just need to spread her fingers and was wiped away by the servant girl. Now she had to learn to wash her face, comb her hair, and even wash clothes by herself.

In fact, Lin Yong had been conferred as Marquis Zhongyong by the court. Even if he couldn't be compared to the wealthy families in the capital, in a small countryside, it was enough for Lin Wei Xi to live a worry-free life. But Lin Wei Xi now needs to do everything by herself, in fact, she started doing this since the day the award was given.

The emperor in the capital ascended the throne at the age of eight and he's only twelve years old this year. How could one and a half child be expected to run the country. It was said that the young emperor was in power, but in fact, the whole country's government decrees came from First Assistant Zhang Xiao Lian.

This First Assistant had nothing to do with Lin Wei Xi. Zhang Xiao Lian worked in the capital circle, to get the reputation for valuing talent and cherishing capable people, at once handed over the matter of Jin Shu Iron Deed1 to the people below. Although Marquis Zhongyong was a noble title, had the name of a martyr, but he had no brothers, no sons, and no clan. There was only a lonely daughter behind him, there were no successor. One could well imagine how much the court's reward that had to go through layer upon layer of government's hands that were sent to Lin Wei Xi's place, had been hollowed out.

Lin Wei Xi was still angry at the thought of this. She came late and didn't know what was going on the day the imperial envoy arrived. Only knew that after the imperial envoy read the imperial decree, Lin Wei Xi was supposed to take the decree. But she didn't know what happened later, the imperial decree was transferred to the county magistrate. The rewards from the imperial court were all carried to the prefecture office. Lin Wei Xi was annoyed and anxious. This was obviously because she didn't give enough money that day, and was cheated on. Aunt Lin's family was also short-sighted. Why do you just want money? Take the imperial edict and the Jin Shu Iron Deed, ah!

The main things of the award by the imperial court was detained by county and village officials, and these so-called county magistrate leaked off a corner of it and it was controlled by Aunt Lin's family. In the end, the only thing that really fell into Lin Wei Xi's hands, this sole daughter, turned out to be only the 'martyr's daughter' title.

To get Lin Yong's things back, Lin Wei Xi couldn't avoided spending money to seek help. If it was in the past, Lin Wei Xi would just need to say something casually, but now she was no longer the Shizi Consort of Yan Wang mansion. If she wanted to get Lin Yong's things back she could only think of a solution herself.

Lin Wei Xi was thinking about taking back the imperial decree and the iron deed things, stumbling and twisting the towel in her hand, she managed to tidy herself up in order to meet people. Speaking of Lin Wei Xi's appearance, she was truly stunning. She had seen so many officials and aristocratic beauties in her previous life, no one could compare to Lin Wei Xi in terms of facial features. It was a kind of extreme exquisiteness, extreme beauty, and because it was too beautiful, it could make people felt contemptuous.

Lin Wei Xi just washed her face and wiped her arms, but she managed to wet most of the ground. She was in dazed and wanted to go out to find something to wipe the floor.

She just placed her hand on the door of the room when she suddenly heard voices outside.

Aunt Lin Xu thought that Lin Wei Xi had not woken up yet, and even if she was awake, she wouldn't be afraid of being heard. Aunt Lin spent her life squeezed out a living from the land, and suddenly a group of officials came and sent the imperial decree and many rewards. If Aunt Lin didn't want anything in her heart that would be weird.

"My brother's life is short. His wife was gone as soon as the daughter born, and he died on the battlefield to save others. This older sister loves him, ah! He sent the orphan to our home six years ago, and we still have many mouths to feeds, suddenly there is a medicine jar2, such a heavy burden have I said anything?"

Lin Wei Xi's hand on the door suddenly stopped. She listened quietly to the unconcealed conversation outside through the door.

"Sister-in-law Lin, I know that you have a kind heart and raised a daughter for your younger brother for six years, but now your younger brother has won fame, Sister Xi3 is no longer a drag, she is now a Marquis's daughter! Unfortunately she is not a man. Your brother's marquis title can only be a pity. The title can't be retained, but the money will not deceive people. Sister Xi has so many dowries, and she will be blessed to marry in the future."

Aunt Lin was not happy when she heard this: "I am his only sister. He is gone now. The money he earned can still pass me and leave it to Sister Xi? His daughters belong to other people. I and he are bone and flesh brother and sister. What's more, sister Xi can't bear the title, our family Li Da is a boy, ah!"

Li Da was the son of Aunt Lin, now 19 years old, not yet married . He was idle all day, and now he doesn't know where to go.

Grandma Wang was a well-known matchmaker in the village, she could only laugh at this. Although on the surface she was polite, Grandma Wang could not help muttering in her heart that she heard people left family property to their brothers and their daughters, but she had never heard sister's son coming over to inherit the title. What kind of reasoning was this?

But she came here to act as a matchmaker, there was no need to have a stiff relationship with Aunt Lin. Grandma Wang continued to laugh and said: "Sister-in-law Lin is right. You are Sister Xi's aunt. Her parents are dead. Marriage matters naturally needs you to see. Sister-in-law, this son of Liu Yuanwai4 family is very popular. If sister Xi marry over she will live like a young madam. She doesn't have to go to the fields or do housework. There is even a little maid waiting on her! Sister-in-law, don't blame me this matchmaker to side with the main house, but Liu Yuanwai house is really good, within ten li5 and 8 village how many girls want to marry into their home, now Liu Yuanwei is willing to let Sister Xi to become the primary the family, this is excellent thing ah!

Exactly what excellent thing? Lin Wei Xi had a huge inheritance under her name, and she did not have any brothers and uncles to support her. Whoever married her, wouldn't it mean that he won a sky-high dowry for nothing? What's more, he could also use Lin Yong's Marquis Zhongyong title to make his descendants seems special, whether they wanted to take official post, or doing business, or if they wanted to take imperial exam, the benefit were so many.

Lin Wei Xi's fingers were clenched unconsciously. Her father's filial piety was not over yet, but these people already came to force her to marry.

Author's note:

Gao Xi is completely dead, so the ethical relationship between the heroine and the Yan Wang mansion due to marriage is no longer exist. Lin Wei Xi is now completely free and unmarried.

The heroine's character in this novel is different from the previous ones (tn: the author's work). If I have to sum it up, maybe it's like a little hot pepper? Toy poodle's body, Tibetan mastiff's temper…

1 Privilege certificate from the emperor to heroes and important minister, in a form of metal plaque↩

2 People who often get sick.↩

3 This is Lin Wei Xi's nickname, the pinyin actually Xi jie er, jie means older sister, er means child usually used as an endearment.↩

4 Landlord.↩

5 1 li is approx. 500m.↩

Chapter 3 Part 1: Yan Wang

If it was three months ago someone willing to marry Lin Wei Xi, Aunt Lin would have been happy to send the person over, but now...

Aunt Lin hesitated, she didn't dare to brush away Li Yuanwai's face, but she was really unwilling to part with her brother's property. She the elder sister who was married out of the house, couldn't seriously be count as Lin family's elder. Even if she could pull some from Lin Yong's estates, it was only a small amount. But if Lin Wei Xi was to marry her son, then Lin Yong's reward would all stay in their family. Maybe you could even go to the government to ask the title of Marquis Zhongyong be passed on to his son Li Da. This is a Marquis, ah! Much better than that scholar person next door, it would be out of the question if Aunt Lin was not green with envy.

Aunt Lin and Grandma Wang each harbor ulterior motive, and the two of them continued to pull each other, completely treating Lin Wei Xi as a decorative item. Lin Wei Xi stood in the room and gave a sneer while listening to this. Then suddenly scowled and pushed open the door.

The wooden door slammed into the wall, scaring the two people in the courtyard. Aunt Lin turned her head in horror and found that it was Lin Wei Xi. The fright immediately turned into anger: "What crazy things you do so early in the morning? Can you afford it if you broke the door?"

"How cannot afford?" Lin Wei Xi's back straightened and her clear eyes fixedly stared at Aunt Lin. The black and white of her eyes were extremely clear, as if all the dirt in the world was not worthy to enter those eyes, letting all nasty and sinister things had nowhere to hide, "Lin... Father died for the country, and the court named him Marquis Zhongyong. Aunt already seized so many things from my father, is she still reluctant to bear this small wooden door?"

Grandma Wang saw the person in the room and let out a sigh. She only knew that there was an orphan in Lin shi family's house. She heard that she was always sick and didn't go out to see people very often, so Grandma Wang never seen this Lin Wei Xi. It wasn't until the court sent the reward that Grandma Wang remembered about her. Now that the whole village was staring at Lin Wei Xi, this fat sheep, Grandma Wang after receiving money from Li Yuanwai, hurriedly came over to act as a matchmaker.

In Grandma Wang's mind, Lin Wei Xi was a medicine jar with a huge inheritance and a sick body who could die at any moment. This kind of person must be exhausted by the disease. She acted as matchmaker was certain that she wouldn't refuse. But now that Grandma Wang saw Lin Wei Xi, she didn't know that there was really a fairy-like appearance in this world, and the graceful celestial from the play unexpectedly really exist.

Grandma Wang was shocked by Lin Wei Xi's beauty, and her desire to make this marriage became more urgent. With thousands of wealth, the name of the only daughter of a martyr, and the appearance of Chang'e, this kind of woman she was a fool if she didn't grab it quickly.

Aunt Lin was also surprised. She knew that Lin Wei Xi's looks was good, but before Lin Wei Xi always shut herself in the room, did not talk to people or communicate with others, she always looked sick, and made people who saw her feels unlucky. Aunt Lin also resented Lin Wei Xi's timid nature. Her son proposed to marry Lin Wei Xi as his wife but Aunt Lin did not agree no matter what. Afterwards, she hated Lin Wei Xi even more. She wholeheartedly believe that this was a foxy child with a short life, entering the house would only cause bad luck. But after all, Aunt Lin had raised Lin Wei Xi for several years, and she couldn't lose so many rice for years for nothing. Aunt Lin already thought about it. Later, she would sell Lin Wei Xi to a rich family as a concubine, which was just right.

However, after knowing that Lin Wei Xi had Lin Yong's legacy, Aunt Lin changed her mind, but she just couldn't overcome the previous prejudice, which made her very tangled, even so Aunt Lin didn't put to Lin Wei Xi in her eyes. But now seeing Lin Wei Xi pushed the door to question her, she felt awe for some reason, even her knees were faintly shaking. This feeling was like seeing a high ranking madam.

Aunt Lin shook her head hard and secretly laughed at herself for being afraid of the sick girl in front of her. Aunt Lin slanted her eyes and glanced at Lin Wei Xi, with a shrill voice said: "What do you mean seizing? That is what Lin Yong left me. There are many things to buy during the New Year. I don't know how much money I have lost to support you over the years. Now my brother got the honor, what's wrong with taking some to subsidize family expenses?"

"Although I am staying at my aunt's house, I didn't spend the Li family's money. Father has worked under Yan Wang all of these years, and he sent money back every year, and I haven't even seen it once. See, it's all collected by auntie. Don't say these, just the box of silver ingot that auntie secretly hid when the court gave the title, that alone is enough to buy your little yard hundreds of times over."

Grandma Wang was shocked, a box of silver ingot? Aunt Lin's secret was exposed, she was flustered, her eyes twitching: "You little child knows nothing, don't talk nonsense. What silver ingot? just a few pieces of shards. I am Lin Yong's sister. He was rewarded by the court, so I can't take a few pieces of silver?"

A few pieces of broken silver... Lin Wei Xi sneered in her heart. Other family's farm worked for a year while live frugally could only bring two or three silver. This family with large number of people, based on the harvest of the Li family in a year, how could they make a couple of silver back? Before they embezzled Lin Yong and Lin Wei Xi's property, afraid Aunt Lin and the others never came across silver ingot before. Even now, Aunt Lin said she just got a few broken silver.

Lin Wei Xi was not a stingy person who didn't understand right and wrong. She was brought up as the eldest granddaughter of duke mansion and from time to time received guidance from Grand Princess Shou Kang. After that, she became the madam in charge of Yan Wang Mansion. She was not a cheapskate. On the contrary, she was very generous to her own people. If Aunt Lin treated Lin Wei Xi better, and had a little consideration towards her, it was impossible for Lin Wei Xi to keep Lin Yong's astronomical inheritance by herself, and not leave a single thing to Aunt Lin.

But in the past month Lin Wei Xi had been watching coldly, and Aunt Lin's performance was too disappointing. She never really regarded Lin Wei Xi's as her niece. She used to think Lin Wei Xi as a medicine jar. Later, Lin Yong was conferred posthumously by the court and leave behind a large inheritance. At this time, Aunt Lin recalled her brother and sister' deep feeling.

What was the best way to embezzle the brother's property? Of course, let Lin Wei Xi "voluntarily" marry Li Da, so that Lin Yong's things could belong to Aunt Lin and Li Da. Lin Wei Xi's health still not very good. If Lin Wei Xi died after passing the door, it would be even better.

Lin Wei Xi saw it clearly, and her heart became more and more angry. What kind of act this group played? Each and every one talked about benevolence, righteousness, etiquette, but their mind thought about making money and killing, Lin Wei Xi at last understood how the original owner died. The original owner was timid by nature, but Lin Wei Xi was not.

However, Lin Wei Xi thought of her mother's teaching and felt that it was not good to scold others, so she maintained her previous self-cultivation and said politely: "Auntie, I am grateful for your kindness in taking care of me, but my father's filial piety is not over, so I shouldn't talk about it now. Grandma Wang, thank you for taking this trip, but after you go back you can tell others, I Lin Wei Xi is grateful to my father for his kindness, and determined to recite sutras and pray for my father, so that I will not marry anyone in the future. Afterward if others ask you to act as a matchmaker, you don't have to accept it for me."

When Lin Wei Xi said that she would not marry in the future, Aunt Lin was more anxious than Grandma Wang: "How can this work? You are a little girl who doesn't know anything, but as elders I can't watch you make mistakes. There are not so many rules in the countryside. Mourning periods for a few months is enough. You are now still young and someone is willing to marry you, so you should marry as soon as possible."

Lin Wei Xi held back her anger and said, "I don't want to marry anyone." After speaking, she didn't want to listen anymore and turned around. Just walked into the room.

Aunt Lin jumped to her feet with anger, pointed at Lin Wei Xi with her finger, her words became more acrid: "You just pretending to be virtuous, act arrogance and say you don't want to marry. When you get older, no one will marry you again, I see what you do!"

Lin Wei Xi's back suddenly stopped, in the gloomy peasant house Lin Wei Xi's eyes glowed brightly.

Aunt Lin's words could be said to have stabbed Lin Wei Xi's achilles heel. Lin Wei Xi's previous life was a noble granddaughter of a Duke and grand princess, but after marrying, the life of husband and wife was very bad. Later she knew that she was just an unruly ex-wife, a failed original partner, a stepping stone to smooth out Gao Ran's path with status as shu daughter, so that Gao Ran could justify marrying into Yan Wang Mansion. This had become a thorn in Lin Wei Xi's heart. Now Aunt Lin in front of outsiders said that Lin Wei Xi pretending to be virtuous and no one would marry her in the future. This was like poking a hornet's nest.

Chapter 3 Part 2: Yan Wang

Lin Wei Xi suddenly turned around, with blazing flames in her eyes: "Whether I can marry or not is it up to you? Who do you think you are? Besides, if I don't marry, I will be tortured to death early by you, shouldn't you be happy? If I die, Lin family's reputation, Lin family's rewards are all yours."

Aunt Lin jumped up like someone stepped on her tail, "Hey, what are you talking about!"

"I speak so clearly you don't understand, are you deaf? You really think I don't know about your vicious plan? I will tell you clearly, I will not marry in the future, I Lin Wei Xi born as Lin family's person, dead I am Lin family's ghost. Marquis Zhongyong's estate will not have anything to do with you and your son!"

Lin Wei Xi's speech was very fast, would not let other people insert a word, as it happened she didn't use obscenity but her words were sharp, like countless small knives that jabbed people till they were full of cuts and bruises. Aunt Lin was so hurt in her lungs that she was trembling, "You, you, I" for half a day, but she couldn't complete the whole sentence.

Grandma Wang was also surprised and couldn't close her mouth. This little girl looked delicate and weak, but when she scold it was this fiercely? Looking at this mouth that was very nimble, not like Aunt Lin said that she didn't see other people all day long, on the contrary... it was like she often scold people like this.

Grandma Wang didn't know where she got this strange sense. She shook her head, put aside this strange thought and said to Lin Wei Xi with a smile on her face: "Sister Xi understands her own heart. We outsiders look at you and feel distressed, want to pull you but afraid to let you aunt and niece's hearts stranded away. Now it's better for Sister Xi to figure it out by yourself. Sister Xi, you stay with your aunt's family is not very good match, although Li Da is loyal, but the Li family is farmers after all. Unlike Li Yuanwai's house, heirs of poetry and books1, generations of hairpins2, if you married in you are going to have a young lady's life, and there will be a maid that takes care of you! Sister Xi, if you miss this village, there won't be other inn. You can't let it slip by, ah!"

Lin Wei Xi was so angry she laughed: "You are in front of me, saying poetry and book heirs, generations of hairpins? It must be hard for you to memorize these two fancy lines. You and my aunt are just like the one who retreated 50 steps laughs at the one who retreated 100 steps3. The Li family is like jackal and wolf, and the Li Yuanwai's home is like a tiger's nest. Who can't tell the vile ideas in your heart? I plainly tell you, don't even think about it."

Li Yuanwai was the local tyrant of this area. Grandma Wang was very proud to be a matchmaker for the son of Li Yuanwai's family. Now Lin Wei Xi threw Li Yuanwai's face on the ground and stepped on it, Grandma Wang was immediately annoyed, she lowered her face and said, "Don't be shameless. You are just an orphan without a father and no brother. We give you face and call you 'A martyr's daughter', you really think of yourself as the miss of marquis mansion? Let me tell you, Li Yuanwai take a fancy on you is your blessing, you need to be tactful otherwise you don't want to marry also need to marry. If you are still pretentious be careful to offend Li Yuanwai and reduce you to a concubine. Don't tell me become proper young lady won't do it, insist to be a little woman, when the time comes even you want to cry there won't be a place to cry."

"You're just a second-rate matchmaker, dare to speak such big words, and still want to force a good-born girl to be a concubine?" Lin Wei Xi's jade-like eyes fell on Grandma Wang's body, she let out a soft laugh with a lot of sarcasm, "What a big tone, a landlord that came out from a donation4, really think of himself as a local tyrant? I know the one speaking is a rich village squire, but if you don't know you will think his son is an Emperor's son, selecting his imperial concubine."

Grandma Wang heard this were scared half to death: "You don't want your life, this kind of beheading words also dare to say!"

"Since you people dare to do it, why you don't dare to let people talk about it. It's ridiculous to play this trick with me. This great aunt, what I have been experienced, you people don't know about it." Lin Wei Xi's eyebrows gently raised, her thick eyelashes were slightly drooping and her voice was like ice hitting jade. It was obvious that these words were condescending and a little bit mean, but her voice was clear and cold, her tone was a little delicate, and with Lin Wei Xi's fast and smooth speech, even when she cursed, unexpectedly could still feel a little enjoyment.

Lin Wei Xi didn't know that her admonishment was judged as enjoyment by others, if she knew she would have been so angry. She was still pointing at Grandma Wang and scold: "I let you know, this great aunt will not marry, and no one in this world can force me. Today it's Li Yuanwai's son, will there be Wang Yuanwai's grandson tomorrow? If you have such a nasty thought again in the future, I will hang a white silk on the front beam of the county magistrate office. Anyway, my father's Jin Shu Iron Deed5 are still being held up, I will die just for everyone to see how you people persecute the daughter of a martyr! When the time comes, things will be big, let the capital and Yan Wang know about this, and none of you can have an easy time!"

"Sister Xi..."

"Go away! If you say one more word I'm going to cast myself to the lake now!"

Outside the courtyard, the county magistrate that accompanying was in cold sweat. A man gently rubbed his jade thumb ring and asked indistinctly, "Lin Yong's Jin Shu Iron Deed were held up?"

"No, this little one is… em..., it was just to give temporary custody for Marquis Zhongyong for safekeeping, the people's wisdom is not open in the countryside, not really enlighten, theft and other things are always exist, local government worried Marquis Zhongyong's Jin Shu Iron Deed will be stolen by a thief, so it's being kept in the county office."

Very poor official article6, the man did not say whether he believed it or not. He took a look at the particularly lively peasant house, and said: "While Marquis Zhongyong still alive the most reassuring thing for him was his only daughter. Although she is only a little girl, she is Lin Yong's proper successor. Fetch the things back and hand them to her."

"Yes."

The man's tone was plain but unquestionable. It could clearly be seen that he was a high-ranking person for many years, and used to giving orders. After the county magistrate responded with cold sweat on his face, he found that the man was not moving. The magistrate was surprised, and then realized as he hurriedly arched his waist and walked toward Aunt Lin's courtyard.

In the yard, Aunt Lin and Grandma Wang were both suffocated. They also often quarreled with neighbors and villagers, but everyone come and go, and each had wins and losses, not like right now. To say something only to be interrupted again, couldn't get a single word in. Their ear could only hear Lin Wei Xi's unceasing voice, truly infuriating.

Aunt Lin was so angry she wanted to hit someone. She just had this thought but suddenly felt that the atmosphere was not right. She hurriedly turned her head and saw someone came, her legs were almost weak.

"Master county magistrate..."

The county magistrate waved his hand angrily, the big Buddha outside was still looking at him, whose your master? Don't ruin his official career. After secretly warning the two village women, the county magistrate turned to look at Lin Wei Xi, his face immediately became kind: "Miss Lin, I heard that you were ill again a few days ago. Are you better now?"

Lin Wei Xi was not an ordinary village girl, she recognized that the county magistrate wore the most formal official uniform, and this county magistrate was fawning on her. Lin Wei Xi became more alert in her heart. She looked at the other person defensively, perform a salute first, and then asked tensely: "The county magistrate is here, what is the matter?"

The smile on the county magistrate's face became more obvious, and after listening to the county magistrate's words, Lin Wei Xi became more surprised.

The county magistrate actually returned the Jin Shu Iron Deed to her, and furthermore the rewards brought by the court would be transferred to Lin Wei Xi's name intact. How could this be possible? What is this abnormal goblin, what does he want to do?

When the county magistrate saw Lin Wei Xi's reluctance to speak up, he was so anxious that he was sweating. He really had no choice but to turn sideways and pointed outside, then motioned Lin Wei Xi with his eyes: "The big man from the capital is here, he wants to give it to you, you should accept it."

Lin Wei Xi followed and looked out, she saw there were many horses tied to the crooked tree on the other side of the road. There were so many people standing there, but all of theme were silent, stood behind one person in awe.

Lin Wei Xi grew up so big, how many big scenes she went in and out, but she was actually captured by the other person's aura. Lin Wei Xi's eyes were blank and asked, "Who is that?"

"Yan Wang."

1 It comes from Sanhui hall inscription that means passing down loyal and kind moral qualities from generatin to generation.↩

2 Successive generation have been high ranking officials.↩

3 The pot calls the kettle black.↩

4 People who bought their official post.↩

5 Privilege certificate from the emperor to heroes and important minister.↩

6 In the old offialdom there were routine official document with fixed formats and formulas, metaphorically, attention was paid to the form, empty words without actual content, or perfunctory platitudes.↩

Chapter 4 Part 1: Take Away

Lin Wei Xi stared blankly. The county magistrate thought she didn't know who Yan Wang was, so he could only add: "That person is His Royal Highness Yan Wang. He entered the capital to save the country to support the new emperor. The previous emperor named him one of the three auxiliary ministers before his death. Now he just returned from calming the upheaval in Dingbian, specially come to Shunde Prefecture to send Marquis Zhongyong's bones back to his hometown."

Of course Lin Wei Xi knew who Yan Wang was. She looked at the man outside in a daze. This was the famous and powerful Yan Wang, and the father-in-law she never met in her previous life.

In the previous life, because Lin Wei Xi was going to marry Yan Wang's only son, numerous noble ladies in the capital throw her sarcastic remarks for two years. Later, she and Gu Cheng Yao broke up, and the sour words outside got better. But even so, no one could deny that Lin Wei Xi married very well in her previous life. She was the granddaughter of a Duke and the granddaughter of a Grand Princess. With such a prominent status, to marry Yan Wang's son was still marrying above.

Lin Wei Xi's grandmother was an imperial princess, and she spent most of her time in the princess mansion every year, so since Lin Wei Xi was very young, she had heard Yan Wang's accomplishment. According to reports, Yan Wang led soldiers to the battlefield at the age of fifteen. In the first year of Jianzhao, the old Yan Wang passed away, and Gu Hui Yan, who was only seventeen years old, became the new Yan Wang. In the past ten years, he had fought war on all side, and Emperor Muzong also put him in an important position. Later, the palace was in chaos, and Emperor Muzong's first secret edict was issued to Yan Wang. Yan Wang lived up to the expectations to pacify the chaos in the capital and cleaned up the dynasty situation. Later, Emperor Muzong entrusted him to assist the eight years old eldest son and now the little emperor.

Lin Wei Xi grew up listening to Yan Wang's story. She didn't know how happy when she knew she was going to marry Gu Cheng Yao. But in the end, she and Yan Wang Mansion were not fortunate. Lin Wei Xi married Gu Cheng Yao in the first month of Yuanjia's fourth year, in Yuanjia's second year, Yan Wang went out of the capital to quell Duo Huo La Ti's rebellion. Even when his son marry he didn't return. Then later she died.

Lin Wei Xi could not believe that even when she married into Yan Wang Mansion she never had a chance to meet Yan Wang, but after being reborn, she met the legendary God of War in a small village.

Lin Wei Xi's heart was very complicated. She and Gu Cheng Yao finished like that, based on Lin Wei Xi's temperament, she should hate the house and its crow, no longer have a good impression of the entire Yan Wang Mansion. But at this moment, when Lin Wei Xi saw Yan Wang the man himself, she realized that she couldn't gave birth to anger in her heart. Yan Wang just stood there, and the invisible power enveloped everyone, making people not dare to felt contempt in their heart, much less to complain.

It turned out that this was Yan Wang… The shock in Lin Wei Xi's heart was simply beyond expression. Yan Wang unexpectedly this young and his looks was extremely outstanding. It's just that in his position, no one could notice his appearance anymore. With such a high position, under this deterrence of killing, who else would dare to evaluate Yan Wang's appearance.

It might be that Lin Wei Xi had been staring for too long that Yan Wang who noticed it, slightly moved his eyebrows. Gu Hui Yan was the commander of the army and the head of the family of Yan Wang Mansion, he would never lack of sight, but there were few girls like Lin Wei Xi. He had been fighting for many years, and his murderous spirit was awe-inspiring. Even when the Empress Dowager saw him, she was a little restrained, let alone other women. When in the capital, younger women bowed their heads and held their breath when they saw him. The girls who hadn't left the budoir were so scared that they didn't even dare to lift their heads. There were few people like Lin Wei Xi who took the initiative to watch him, and could stared at him for so long. Yes, she was the only one. Moreover, the eyes of this little girl were also very interesting.

Gu Hui Yan looked back with a slight smile, the meaning of inquiry in his eyes was hidden deep, almost imperceptible. Lin Wei Xi suddenly met Gu Hui Yan's line of sight. After a short while, Lin Wei Xi lowered her head to avoid Yan Wang's gaze.

Seeing Lin Wei Xi lower her head, Gu Hui Yan no longer forced the little girl. If it wasn't for Lin Wei Xi looked for a long time and the expression in her eyes were very strange, Gu Hui Yan would not look back at this little girl, and Gu Hui Yan certainly would not pressure her to look at him. A little kid, he pretended not to know and let it passed.

Lin Wei Xi lowered her head, her heart pounding in her chest. Too scary. The father-in-law of her previous life turned out to be so scary. She thought that there would be not much difference between father and son, but after seeing it today, she knew that her imagination of Yan Wang was still too shallow.

Everyone knew that Yan Wang had come, the atmosphere on the scene changed immediately. The county magistrate Li Zheng were just like facing big enemy. Grandma Wang and Aunt Lin had long retreated to a corner, shivering, and Lin Wei Xi also hung her head, like a rabbit with ears hanging down, where was that impressive verbal sparring of Confucian's group just now?

Gu Hui Yan didn't came here deliberately to listen to Lin Wei Xi's quarrel with her aunt. He looked at the county magistrate and asked, "Where is Lin Yong's cenotaph?"

He came to Shunde Prefecture this time to bury Lin Yong's bones and along the way take a look at Lin Yong's only daughter, Lin Yong's only concern before his death. Now it seemed that Lin Yong's description of his daughter was very inaccurate. Gu Hui Yan had settled Lin Wei Xi's affairs, naturally now he was going to open Lin Yong's coffin to bury his bones.

Opening the coffin was not a trivial matter. Li Zheng and the village head lead Gu Hui Yan to Lin Yong's cenotaph, and the men in the village flapping around and followed halfway. At this time, Lin Wei Xi was very dissatisfied with her identity as a daughter. Because she was a woman, she couldn't even participate in such major events as burying her biological father's bone.

Because of this matter, Aunt Lin was in a daze, and she no longer had thought of arranging marriage for Lin Wei Xi. Lin Wei Xi also returned to her room with a loaded mind. She originally went out to get a cloth to wipe the water on the ground. After such a long time, the water on the ground had dried up. Lin Wei Xi stared at the water stain blankly for a while, the confusion in her eyes dissipated, and her expression gradually became firmer.

She couldn't stay in this ignorant little village, where everyone had the same surname. She could escape Li Da and Li Yuan, but could she escape Li Er and Li San. She was very wealthy but had no power to protect herself. If she continued to stay in this village, she would only brought her own death.

Lin Wei Xi had lived a lifetime, and what she cherished the most was her life.

However, she was a weak lone woman, without parental protection, no family deterrence, and had a face that could be a burden. Even if she converts all her property into silver, and an escape from the village, she would not be able to run long on the road. .

The only way was Yan Wang. Although Lin Wei Xi was reluctant to continue dealing with Yan Wang's family, but for the present, only Yan Wang could take her away unscathed and find a place for her to settle down.

As to how to convince Yan Wang... Lin Wei Xi never cast a lovable front so seek a man's feeling, she felt it was embarrassing, but this time she would try her best...

Opening the tomb was not a light matter, when the task finished the sky was already dark. The village head was very polite, immediately invited Yan Wang to go to his humble house, and the county magistrate also urged Yan Wang to go to the county seat. He said he had already arranged to pick up the wine.

Gu Hui Yan didn't want to toss around too much. He had been marching with the army for many years, for a long time he was already not picky about the environment, so instead of going to the county seat, he went to lead his people to the village head's house to stay for the night.

This time, Gu Hui Yan took the troops to return to the court. Halfway through, he took his trusted subordinates to leave the march, first came to Shunde Prefecture to deliver Lin Yong's bones to be buried, and then set off directly to chase the troops tomorrow. After all, during the march, it was not good for him to leave the army for too long.

Gu Hui Yan refused to stay in the county seat. Although the county magistrate felt regret, he was also quietly relieved in his heart. Accompanying the monarch was like accompanying a tiger. Although this was not a monarch, but his influence was not small. He should not bet on his career prospects.

When the village head learned that His Royal Highness Yan Wang really wanted to stay in his home, he felt very flattered, and immediately sent someone back to clean up the house, and went to notify other squires who had idle houses. Yan Wang's trip also brought many people. Even if the countryside was large and empty, it was not a trivial matter to settle so many people at once.

The village head hurried away. Gu Hui Yan was not in a hurry to go back, so he got off his horse, dismissed his entourage, and walked slowly on the moonlit country road. He rarely had such a relaxing time, there was no war, no politics, no social necessities. There was a vast starry sky above his head, and frosty land under his feet, aimless and undisturbed.

The country was extremely dark at night, the stars in the sky faintly outline the trees on both sides. Gu Hui Yan's ears suddenly moved and his footsteps stopped.

Chapter 4 Part 2: Take Away

The clouds in the sky covered the moon, and there were shadows in the bushes, he could not see clearly, only saw a vague shadow: "...Daddy, this unfilial daughter has let you down. I've been so weak since I was a child and killed my mother when I was born. Yet still trouble you to run around everywhere for me. Six years ago you said that you would save me a dowry, let me feel at ease to go home and wait for your good news, but I didn't expect that we father and daughter will separate forever. Daddy because you sacrifice yourself for the country you become a great hero in the whole dynasty. Your daughter should be proud of you... But, daughter would rather her father never been to the capital. Daughter don't want any dowry. We father and daughter depend on each other for our lives, it would be great to live this way. Now that your heroic soul has return and your bones return home, I can't even send you to the earth safely with my own eyes..."

Gu Hui Yan stopped in place, his face hidden by the night, and he couldn't see clearly. The people far behind saw that Yan Wang hadn't moved for a long time and wanted to ask questions, but Gu Hui Yan pinned him in place with a gesture.

The sky was dark here, and Gu Hui Yan came quietly without making much movement. Lin Wei Xi didn't know what was happening outside on the road. She was immersed in her grief and squatted under the tree where she played in her childhood to mourn her father: "Daddy, daughter respects you as a hero. When I was born mother had a difficult birth causing her to die, it was you both as father and mother who raised me. Daughter doesn't want to marry. I really don't want to marry. I just want to stay by my daddy's side and be your little girl. You finally return home today, your daughter will send you all the way. If you in the yellow spring aware, you don't have to be concerned about this unfilial daughter anymore."

"If you really don't marry for a lifetime, he won't be able to die contentedly."

Lin Wei Xi stood up from the ground in surprise, with slightly dry tears still hanging on her face. She looked in the direction of the incoming person and stared for a long time before she recognized the speaker in the dim night: "Your Highness Yan Wang?"

"It's me." Gu Hui Yan slowly came out of the shadow, and he stopped three steps away from Lin Wei Xi. Looking at the thin and pale girl in front of him, with waist that was not as thick as his arms, he couldn't help sighing, "You are young and still in your best time, why would you say such depressing words?"

"It's not depressing words." Lin Wei Xi was not used to be seen crying. She wanted to raise her hand to wipe her tears but felt it was too obvious. So she turned her face away and looked to the side forcefully, "Today made Yan Wang laughed. Since this little girl's ugly side have been seen, also does not need to worry about family affairs, might as well talk to Yan Wang directly. Look at my current situation, even if you help me get my father's Jin Shu Iron Deed, do you think I can hold it? My aunt already like this, let alone the other people in the village, their surname are all Li, and my name is Lin. If something happens in the future, I can't even run."

Gu Hui Yan heard the crux of the problem: "You don't want to marry?"

"There are so many women in the world, everyone has their own way of living, why insist on getting married!" Lin Wei Xi couldn't help raising her voice, and then she realized that she was too emotional, she took a deep breath and lowered her head, said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, this little girl is rude."

Children nowadays all don't want to get married? Gu Hui Yan was not good at talking to an unmarried little girl, could only shelve this subject, rather quietly asked: "Then what are you going to do?"

"Your Highness, Yan Wang." Lin Wei Xi suddenly solemnly paid a junior salute to Yan Wang, raised her eyes, and looked at Gu Hui Yan intently and firmly. "Since this little girl was a child, have always admired Yan Wang's achievements, this time can see you personally this is the blessing of this little girl for two lifetimes. Thank you for your help today. This little girl may be seen as to win an inch, want a foot, but I still want to take the liberty to ask you to take me out of Lijia village. After I leave here, Yan Wang can put me in a small town that no one knows, this little girl doesn't want the reputation of Marquis Zhongyong's woman. Afterwards, I will guards my father's decree and recites the scriptures and worships the Buddha every day. Calm and peaceful throughout one's life, this one already satisfied."

Gu Hui Yan looked at her, with a voice that couldn't be distinguish whether it's joy or anger: "Do you want to leave like this? Think clearly, this is your hometown, your sole relatives is here."

"This little girl has figured it out clearly. It can't be said that this is my hometown. Father and aunt fled because of famine. Here, my aunt married into this village, but my father because I was not well ran around all over the place. To me, this is not even my hometown. My hometown is where my father is."

Gu Hui Yan looked at Lin Wei Xi for a while, he then raised his eyes and looked up at the vast starry sky behind her. Lin Wei Xi's heart was tense, her palms were almost oozing sweat. She took a risk today, but Yan Wang would leave tomorrow, if she did not act tonight, there would be no more chance.

Gu Hui Yan withdrew his gaze from the sky full of stars, glanced at Lin Wei Xi lightly, turned and left. Lin Wei Xi's heart almost popped out of her throat. What does Wang Yan mean? She deliberately imitated Gao Ran's method to "inadvertently" crying and being heard, she still failed?

Lin Wei Xi couldn't help chasing after two steps: "Your Highness Yan..."

"It's getting late, and it's getting colder outside. Go back first."

"You haven't said whether you will to take me away or not!"

Gu Hui Yan sighed. He had been in power for many years, and this was the first time he had been questioned like this. Fortunately, his followers stood far away, otherwise if they heard this then his private affairs would be spread tomorrow. These men have been with Yan Wang for many years, from the cradle to the grave, trusted with each other lives. Gu Hui Yan regarded these people as his hands and feet, but these rough masters have one bad thing, that is, they were too concerned about his private affairs.

A Wangfei1 was not a necessity, Yan Wang Mansion was very good now, and he did not lack heirs. In this way, there was no need to marry new Wangfei.

What's more, there was still a green young girl in front of him. She was only fifteen or sixteen years old, younger than his son. Gu Hui Yan knew that Lin Wei Xi shouted those words just because she was anxious and had no other meaning, and Gu Hui Yan was also an old man. He didn't want his reputation to be ruined in such a place, so he stopped his body and explained his plan for the first time: "I will find you a safe place to live and settled you in. Don't worry, Lin Yong has a life-saving grace to me. You are his only daughter, and I will not leave you alone."

Lin Wei Xi finally breathed a sigh of relief, it's good to get the words from Yan Wang. Ever since Gu Hui Yan became Yan Wang at the age of seventeen, even earlier than that, since he joined the army at the age of fifteen, he had never been so rudely called like this. Gu Hui Yan didn't want to care about the little girl. He continued to walk forward. After two steps, there was footsteps behind. The little girl caught up again: "Your Highness, if I go with you tomorrow, I will have to pack up my things tonight? When will we meet tomorrow?"

It was this kind of ambiguity that would make others doubt his character if they heard. Gu Hui Yan could only stop and said to Lin Wei Xi, "You don't have to worry, I will send someone to take care of it. Miss Lin, it's getting late, you go back first."

No need for her to pack things up she can understand, but did not even say the hour? Lin Wei Xi was very skeptical, and couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, you are not scheming me right?"

Gu Hui Yan didn't expect that one day he would hear such words from someone. He smiled lightly and asked: "What did you say?"

Lin Wei Xi shut up and silently lowered her head under Gu Hui Yan's gaze. Seeing this, Gu Hui Yan withdrew his gaze, and continued to walk towards his horse without joy or anger.

After Gu Hui Yan walked out for a while, Lin Wei Xi thought he could not hear it, and in a very small voice she muttered to herself: "None are good people."

Gu Hui Yan's footsteps stopped, his eyes sinking slightly, for the first time he met someone who could provoke his restraint over and over again. He didn't turn around, lightly said to the back: "The wind is cold at night, Miss Lin should go back quickly. Next time if you want to talk to me, just come to me directly, you don't have to run so far and risk catching the cold wind under the tree."

After Lin Wei Xi finished speaking, she regretted it. She was emotional just now, and somehow she thought of Gu Cheng Yao. In her heart, she felt that there was no good person in the Gu family, who would have thought that the words just came out. As soon as she blurted out she regretted it. Gu Cheng Yao was unworthy that was true, but Yan Wang haven't done anything wrong to her. He was the guardian god of the dynasty, and even more so, he helped her. How could she say such ungrateful thing? When Lin Wei Xi heard Yan Wang's words her face turned red and she could hardly speak: "You know?"

How could he not know, her cover-up and technique were too clumsy. Gu Hui Yan did not stay again this time, and went straight into the night.

1 Princess consort or primary wife of a prince, since I use Wang instead of prince then I'm going to use Wangfei instead of princess consort.↩

Chapter 5 Part 1: Overlord

(Please don't repost this work of translation on other sites)

Lin Wei Xi went home in the dark. She just pushed open the courtyard door, and a voice suddenly sounded in the dark courtyard: "Where have you been?"

Lin Wei Xi was taken aback. She stroked her heart, calmed her mind, and saw the person who had spoken. She rolled her eyes secretly, not wanting to say anything, walked towards her room.

Li Da saw that Lin Wei Xi regarded him as air, his felt really unhappy in his heart. He stepped forward and blocked Lin Wei Xi, his voice couldn't help but increased: "I want to ask you something!"

Lin Wei Xi frowned and tried to get around, but after she took a few steps Li Da followed and kept blocking her. After doing this three or four times, the distance between Li Da and Lin Wei Xi was getting closer and closer. He gradually thought it was interesting, but Lin Wei Xi was annoyed.

Lin Wei Xi lowered her face and said coldly: "Get out of the way."

It was rare for Li Da to be so close to Lin Wei Xi. He also felt resentful when he saw Lin Wei Xi's face sinking. But looking at Lin Wei Xi's face, which man would be angry at such face, his tone couldn't help but soften: "I'm worried about you! You are an unmarried girl, to go outside alone in such a dark night, what does it look like? I have been waiting for you for a long time, and you only coming back now. Do you think this is right? Even if you want to go out to relax, you should talk to me or my mother, and I will accompany you to go out."

Lin Wei Xi gave a short laugh, full of icy meaning: "No need, I'm going back." She walked forward but was blocked by Li Da's two quick steps again. Lin Wei Xi tried two more times, all of which he firmly blocked. Lin Wei Xi frowned, gently raised one side of her eyebrow to look at Li Da: "What do you want?"

A beauty was a beauty, even with such a cold frown the face was still good looking, it's amazing. Li Da smiled and said, "Cousin, what do I want, don't you understand? We are cousins of the same age. Since the ancient time it is the best way to marry a spouse. I know that uncle is gone and you must feel sad, but don't worry, I will take care of you in place of uncle in the future."

Lin Wei Xi smiled lightly, when she smiled her eyes were slightly bent, which was more dazzling than the stars in the sky. Li Da looked a little silly. But in the next moment, the beauty stopped smiling, and her mouth spitted out a sharp ice thorn: "By taking care of me, you mean taking care of the silver from the field left by my father, right?"

Li Da's face shrank as he was embarrassed: "Cousin, what are you talking about?"

"Why, big man, dare to do it but not dare to admit it? Didn't you and your mother have a lot ghost idea in your stomach? Do you really think yourself as a good person, thinking that you are doing good deeds and accumulating virtues, taking in a lonely little cousin? Hurry up and take back your hypocrisy. Without you and your mother, I can definitely live better."

After Lin Wei Xi finished she stared at Li Da coldly, and walked around him without looking back. This time Li Da did not come to stop her. He stood by himself for a while, and when Lin Wei Xi was about to enter the door, he suddenly said to her: "Cousin, my mother has that kind of temperament, and I can't help it. I know all these years she has been indifference to you and let you be wronged. Don't worry. I'll go and tell her so that you will never be wronged again. I really want to marry you. Long before my uncle's reward come, I told my mother I'm going to marry you as my wife."

"So?" Lin Wei Xi did not look back, still looking cold, "She said that she disagreed, so you didn't say anything. Moreover, if it wasn't for my dad conferred as Marquis Zhongyang, you won't say that you won't wronged me in the future. It's ridiculous, do you still feel like an infatuated person and can't extricate yourself? Oh, in fact, you just refuse to admit it, you are a coward who has no opinion of your own and dare not defy your mother."

After finished speaking, Lin Wei Xi didn't bother to look at Li Da's expression and pushed open the door and walked in. But as she reached the doorstep, she heard Li Da say: "Cousin, you are so mean. If it weren't for your good-looking face, with your temper, no man would want to marry you."

Lin Wei Xi's anger rushed directly to the top of her head. Li Da and Aunt Lin were the kind of people who believe 'if a bride were not meant to marry into family, fate would not bring her to the door', didn't matter if their ability was nothing to speak of, they always look down on women. Did they think women should gently and gracefully flatter them? Did Li Da and Aunt Lin thought they were imperial family?

Lin Wei Xi felt suffocated. The failed marriage in her previous life was a thorn in her heart. In this life, the most taboo thing for her was if people said that she cannot get married or her husband would not like her. Whoever touched this reverse scale would die.

Lin Wei Xi turned around and even smiled at Li Da. Her looks was outrageously beautiful resembling a fairy, but the words that followed were like a knife: "What if no man wants to marry me? My father was conferred Marquis Zhongyang by the court, there's thousands hectares of fertile land to my own name. Even if there is no man, just by relying on the shelter left by my father I can live a thousand times better than you in this life."

Li Da was always held in the cup of Aunt Lin's hands since he was a child, to hear this kind of words he was so angry that his chest moved up and down. He pointed his finger at Lin Wei Xi: "You..."

Lin Wei Xi raised her eyebrows slightly: "What are you doing, put your hand down, who allowed you to point your finger at me?"

When Lin Wei Xi was still Gao Xi in her previous life, because of her temper, she was told off many times by Duke Yangguo Shizi Madam. Shizi Madam often said that she was the Grand Princess's daughter, had always been pampered since young, but she did not develop Lin Wei Xi's temperament that was so unreasonable and could scold people till they cry. Grand Princess Shou Kang laughed when she heard this, people always looked at their own children fondly. Grand Princess said that Sister Xi was the granddaughter of a duke and the granddaughter of Grand Princess, so what if her temper a little bit big? People made mistake, they should be scolded by her.

In the past, Lin Wei Xi married to Yan Wang Mansion and became Shizi Consort. A daughter-in-law of an imperial household always had to be a little gentler. She did not dare to be presumptuous in Yan Wang Mansion, so she reprimanded the servants and took care of the family business with much restraint. Even so, the old people in the mansion still bear grudges, and spread it to Gu Cheng Yao's ears, he naturally became disgusted.

After Lin Wei Xi was reborn, she became negative for a long time. She also wondered if it was really because of her bad temper that she broke a good hand, fell into depression, and in the end died. Perhaps, Gao Ran's personality was really the type that men likes.

Lin Wei Xi was negative for a month and then get over it, anyway she didn't plan to marry again in her life. A rebirth was a godsend, she didn't need to wronged herself for others' opinions. She had such an unpleasant character, she realized the only thing she could do was to stop marrying, not to harm another family. As for the rest of her life, let her live as she pleases.

However, Lin Wei Xi overlooked something. In the past, people she admonished were so embarrassed they did not dare to raise their heads. Most of it because of her identity. Now she was without the protection of Duke Yingguo Mansion, Grand Princess Princess Shoukang, and even Yan Wang Mansion. Could not keep the one that were scolded from getting back on their mouths, and it's easy for angry people to make some extreme actions.

Li Da was like that. Lin Wei Xi's every words was like a sharp knife inserted into his heart, but he couldn't return even one word. Li Da was anxious and rushed towards Lin Wei Xi. Wanted to let Lin Wei Xi experienced for herself whether she want a man or not.

Lin Wei Xi was startled when she saw Li Da's momentum, she reflexively looked at the main room and found that the lights in the main room had been turned off, showing a deliberate silence. Lin Wei Xi understood that this family had long planned to make 'the overlord use the bow' (r^pe).

Lin Wei Xi was a little frightened, her body was not very healthy, walked two steps too quickly and she would cough. How could she be able to match the strength of a young man like Li Da. She knew that she couldn't stay in the house, otherwise even if she cry no one would help. She didn't know what she picked up on her hand, without looking immediately threw it at Li Da's face. Li Da was attacked by the oncoming bread crumbs and couldn't help but stop and rub his eyes. Lin Wei Xi took the opportunity to desperately run and rushed towards the courtyard door. Li Da couldn't see things clearly with his eyes, it gave Lin Wei Xi opportunity to run past him. When his eyes finally felt better, Li Da grinned and chased after Lin Wei Xi.

Lin Wei Xi just opened the door latch and found that Li Da had already caught up. She panicked and slammed the door on Li Da's face, and stumbled outside.

But what strength Lin Wei Xi's small body could have, she was quickly chased by Li Da. He hold Lin Wei Xi with one hand, Lin Wei Xi was kicking and hitting, but she couldn't break free at all. The people in this village were all surnamed Li, and the villagers were fierce and hated outsiders. Even if they could hear the unusual sound of Lin Wei Xi here, they would not came out to help her. Lin Wei Xi hated her lack of strength. Seeing that she was about to be dragged back to Aunt Lin's house, Lin Wei Xi suddenly thought that she was once a lady from the Duke Mansion. Those big families attached to security the most, and they arranged people to guard the courtyard's wall day and night. The big families in peaceful era were like this, what about Yan Wang?

Lin Wei Xi couldn't help but took a gamble. She didn't care about the demeanor of a lady for many years, and shouted: "Your Highness, you promised to put me in a good place, will you let me be bullied? Your high..."

Before Lin Wei Xi finished shouting, she felt a strong wind grazed the back of her neck, and then the arm that hold her loosened. Li Da was knocked unconscious.

Chapter 5 Part 2: Overlord

(Please don't repost this work of translation on other site)

Lin Wei Xi was stunned for a moment, then quickly withdrew her hand and wiped the place that Li Da had touched. The person who shot was silent like an iron tower with a black hole behind him. If he hadn't just saved Lin Wei Xi, she would have been scared to death.

"Thank you..." Lin Wei Xi looked at the person in front of her and couldn't help swallowing her saliva. She tried her best to show a gentle and harmless smile, totally different from the person from a moment ago. "What is this hero called?"

"Zhou Mao Cheng." The bear-like man looked at Lin Wei Xi very strangely. He endured and endured it, but he couldn't hold back, "You were calling our Wangye1?"

"Yes." Lin Wei Xi smiled gently and tried her best to show her benefactor her quiet side, "Zhou Enren2, can you send me to Yan Wang? You have seen this place... I probably can't live here anymore."

Zhou Mao Cheng's eyes on Lin Wei Xi simply couldn't be described with words. Lin Wei Xi was caught by such look, her smile was stiff. What did it mean? She just cursed people like a shrew and left a bad impression?

Zhou Mao Cheng was arranged by Yan Wang to guard Lin Yong's daughter. He felt very strange when he received this task. Why would Wangye paid attention to a little girl? Then he thought that Lin Yong and they were comrades-in-arms, iron-like brothers, and his daughter was also Zhou Mao Cheng's daughter, so it was reasonable to guard the little girl all night. Martial artist had sharp eyes and ears, and when Zhou Mao Cheng squatted outside listening to Lin Wei Xi's scolding, he felt that Lin Yong's description of his daughter was not stable, this father's beautification was too serious. But he had to say listening to this little girl cursing was pretty good.

Later when Li Da became restless, Zhou Mao Cheng cursed in his heart, and immediately came to rescue Lin Wei Xi. However, he did not expect that he heard such unexpected words from Lin Wei Xi's mouth a moment later.

Who did Lin Wei Xi call? Yan Wang?

Zhou Mao Cheng's expression was dark like a bear, but the drama in his heart played one after another. Lin Wei Xi felt this army man glanced at her over and over, her heart couldn't help beating like a drum, did she say something wrong?

In the village head's house, Gu Hui Yan was still checking the letters from the capital under the light, he couldn't leave the things in the army and capital to others for the moment. Besides, he might not be able to catch up with the big troops as planned tomorrow. These things must be arranged properly.

After an unknown period of time, the door was knocked three times. This was the rule in the army. Gu Hui Yan didn't lift his head and said, "Come in."

Zhou Mao Cheng entered the door, and said with a taut face: "Wangye, the daughter of Lin Yong's family wants to see you."

Gu Hui Yan paused before removing the image of Lin Wei Xi hooking the bait from Lin Yong's daughter, Gu Hui Yan thought of the little girl and couldn't help but pressed his eyebrows: "What's wrong with her?"

"She said that she will go with you tomorrow, and she won't return today. She wants to stay with you."

Zhou Mao Cheng's face was tense. But his eyes sneaking up on Gu Hui Yan's face. He watched as Wangye, who had always seems inhumane, pressed his eyebrows and sighed lightly: "I said I won't leave her... Nevermind, just let her be at ease, let her stay. Mingda, you packed my room and let Lin Wei Xi live in it. Arrange a few more people to patrol the house at night, and replace them more frequently."

Gu Hui Yan stopped after speaking and then added: "You go to Lijia village head and ask for few a new bedding, add to my credit and pay them together tomorrow." After finished speaking, Gu Hui Yan himself was a little bit unsure: "What else do I need to raise this kind of little girl? Do I have to buy dresses and eyebrow pomade too?"

This question could be difficult for men. They could speak well about the troops and war, but Lin Wei Xi was a delicate little girl...

Gu Hui Yan looked at the expression of people in the room and knew that he couldn't count on them. He tried to recall the layout of Yan Wang Mansion, and said: "Let the village head's wife arrange it. Now there are many things that won't be available for a while, we will talk about it when we go to the county town tomorrow."

After Gu Hui Yan gave his orders, he found that Zhou Mao Cheng had been stuck in place, did not move. Gu Hui Yan moved his eyebrows lightly, and his voice neither too fast nor too slow, seemed like just an ordinary question: "What's the matter?"

Zhou Mao Cheng woke up like from a dream, immediately stood up straight to give Gu Hui Yan a military salute, and stepped back orderly: "This subordinate obeys."

Lin Wei Xi waited outside the courtyard for a while, then she was led to a spacious room by the village head's wife. Although she felt that the eyes of the people around her were a little strange when she entered the house, she did not take it to heart. She silently lamented that the village head's family was really rich, even the room provided for her at the last minute was so spacious and warm.

Lin Wei Xi said to Zhou Mao Cheng on the road that there was no need to tell Yan Wang about what happened with Li Da. Lin Wei Xi didn't care about her reputation for this kind of thing. She just felt that Yan Wang was her childhood idol, and she should not tell Yan Wang about her unsightly personal affairs.

Lin Wei Xi was sitting on the soft bedding. Thinking back to today matters, she finally gave birth to a sense of realism. At this moment, she felt a little afraid of what had happened just now. Lin Wei Xi fell backward onto the bed, her nose filled with the unique smell of sunlight after the bedding was sun-dried. She stared at the top of the bed for a while, and suddenly burst out a big smile.

The nightmare-like life was finally over. Later, whether Aunt Lin's family was dead or alive, Lin Wei Xi didn't want to care anymore. Tomorrow she would get up early and kept watch on Yan Wang, anyway, she would rely on Yan Wang to take her away. After finding a quiet and simple town, Yan Wang would no longer had to be entangled with her. In the future, when Lin Wei Xi copied the scriptures for Lin Yong and her mother to pray for blessings, she would definitely also burn long life incense for Yan Wang. His son made her so miserable. Lin Wei Xi just asked Yan Wang this much, it's not excessive right?

Lin Wei Xi kept thinking about her thoughts for a while, and fell asleep like that. This was a rare peace of mind since her rebirth. Lin Wei Xi slept until dawn. When she opened her eyes and saw the dazzling sunshine outside, Lin Wei Xi felt dull for a moment and woke up abruptly.

Oops! Lin Wei Xi hurriedly tidy up her hair, put on her clothes, and ran. As soon as she opened the door, she was stunned when she saw the man in the yard.

Gu Hui Yan turned his head when he heard the voice. The sun shone on him, as if plated by a gold rim: "Awake?"

Lin Wei Xi looked at him blankly for a moment, and closed the door silently.

Gu Hui Yan turned his head and continued to comb Zhao Xue's mane, but there was a slight smile on his lips. Zhou Mao Cheng couldn't figure it out when he saw this: "What's the matter with the Lin family girl? Why did she go back?"

Gu Hui Yan chuckled and shook his head without saying a word.

After a while, Lin Wei Xi pushed the door open again. This time, her cheeks were fair and her hair was neat. Although she did not applied powder, her facial features were almost as dazzling as sunshine. Gu Hui Yan found a carriage for her unknowing from where. Lin Wei Xi raised her chin slightly and boarded the carriage elegantly. After Gu Hui Yan saw it, a thread of smiles appeared in his immovable eyes. Seeing that everyone was ready, he took the lead on Zhao Xue, his voice was clear and majestic: "Leave."

"Yes." The response was loud and full of masculinity, identical like came from one person, the voice rang in the sky and followed by uniform sound of mounting horses. Zhou Mao Cheng was still wondering until he sat down on his horse Shangdu, what was Wangye laughing at? Why didn't he see what was funny?

1 His (your) royal highness the prince. Respectful way to call a Wang or prince.↩

2 Benefactor.↩