At this moment, Ouyang Nuan and Ouyang Jue sat under the corridor, gazing at the courtyard full of plum blossoms. The gentle winter sunlight bathed them in warmth, and the unique fragrance of the blossoms filled the air, making everything feel exceptionally comfortable.

In her previous life, after marrying into the Su family, there had also been a grove of plum trees in the courtyard. During winter, whenever she pushed open the window and looked outside, she could clearly see each delicate blossom, filling her with joy and satisfaction. When she had first married, she had often imagined that once she had children, she would place a reclining chair in the corridor and hold her child in her arms while basking in the sun. They would watch the sea of flowers before them and breathe in the floral scent. Such a life would be more fulfilling than anything else. Yet, not even for a single day had she ever enjoyed such peace and happiness. After marrying into the Su family, her life had become nothing but endless torment and persecution. The happiness she had dreamed of had been completely destroyed by those people…… Ouyang Nuan closed her eyes slightly.

Ouyang Jue rested his head against her shoulder and murmured softly, “Sister, why aren’t you saying anything? Did you fall asleep? Did you not sleep well last night?”

Ouyang Nuan spoke gently, “Jue’er, look at how beautiful this courtyard is. Sister thinks this is really wonderful.”

Ouyang Jue pouted. “I’ve been looking at it since I was little, and I’ve seen it too many times to find it special anymore. The plum blossoms may be blooming brilliantly now, but in just a few days, one strong gust of wind will scatter them all over the ground, turning everything into a mess. Besides, there are some truly annoying people in this manor, so no matter how beautiful the courtyard is, living here is still unpleasant.”

Ouyang Nuan opened her eyes and smiled slightly. “What a silly child, but your words aren’t wrong.”

Ouyang Jue clung to her arm as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “But now that I have Sister with me, I’ll reluctantly put up with them!” He looked at Ouyang Nuan seriously. “Sister, you’ll always stay with me, won’t you?”

Ouyang Nuan met his gaze and said softly, “Jue’er, as long as Sister is alive, I will stay with you.”

“Mm! Sister protects me, so I have to grow up quickly and protect Sister too!” Ouyang Jue declared solemnly, as if making a vow. Ouyang Nuan chuckled lightly.

Perhaps it was the warmth of the sunlight today, but as Ouyang Jue spoke, he drifted off to sleep against Ouyang Nuan. Hongyu, standing nearby, immediately went back to the room to fetch a blanket and covered him with it. Ouyang Nuan gently stroked Ouyang Jue’s dark, glossy hair and murmured softly, “For you, even if I must become a demon, so be it……”

In this life, Ouyang Jue was her most precious treasure. If anyone dared to harm him, she would make them suffer a fate worse than death!

“Young Miss, I heard that over there, someone has fallen ill these past few days……” Nanny Fang deliberately lowered her voice, fearing she might wake the young master.

“Oh?” Ouyang Nuan knew that Li Yue’e was not just a pretty face. Ever since she had married in, Ouyang Zhi had only gone to Lin Wanru’s place to fulfill his duty, but the rest of the time, he preferred to spend with Li Yue’e. It seemed that this concubine’s arrival had been quite a blow to Lin Wanru.

────ρя


Early in the morning, as usual, Ouyang Nuan went to pay her respects to Old Madam Li. This time, Old Madam Li directly had her sit on the heated brick bed beside her, letting her stay warm while waiting for others to arrive for morning greetings. Not long after, Ouyang Zhi arrived with his newly married concubine, Li Yue’e. However, Lin Wanru and Ouyang Ke were absent, saying they were ill.

Old Madam Li’s expression shifted slightly before darkening. “Mother and daughter falling ill together? Could it be some contagious disease?”

“I’ve already sent someone to fetch a physician. I hope it’s nothing serious.” Ouyang Zhi said with concern.

Old Madam Li cast her son a cold glance and suddenly said, “You should go see them personally later. Since they live so close together, illnesses are easily spread. I just wonder if Ke’er has inherited her mother’s delicate constitution as well.”

Simply because Ouyang Zhi had taken a concubine, Lin Wanru dared to show attitude toward her mother-in-law. What a ridiculous thing!

Li Yue’e hesitated for a moment before putting on a worried expression for the main wife’s health. Yet, deep down, she was secretly pleased that Old Madam Li wanted to give Lin Wanru a hard time. She quickly chimed in, “Old Madam is right. Since both Madam and Second Miss are ill, Master should certainly go check on them.”

Ouyang Nuan lowered her eyes, her long lashes concealing the faint amusement in her gaze. Just a few days ago, Li Yue’e had been calling Old Madam Li ‘Aunt’, but now she had already adjusted to addressing her as ‘Old Madam’. Her role transition was indeed swift.

Old Madam Li gave Li Yue’e a brief glance, took a sip of tea, and dropped the subject.

Ouyang Nuan smiled and paid her respects to Ouyang Zhi before exchanging a few polite words with Li Yue’e. They chatted about how Li Yue’e was adjusting to her new courtyard, while Nanny Zhang made a few lighthearted remarks to keep the atmosphere lively. After some casual conversation, the morning greetings concluded.

Once Ouyang Zhi and Li Yue’e had left, Old Madam Li kept Ouyang Nuan back for a chat. As they spoke, Old Madam Li suddenly asked, “Nuan’er, do you think your mother and sister are truly sick?”

This was not an easy question to answer.

Ouyang Nuan looked slightly puzzled. “Grandmother, isn’t that what Father said?”

“Hmph, and you just believe him? He’s a grown man who can’t even manage his own woman properly.” Old Madam Li scoffed coldly, her eyes flashing with an icy light.

Ouyang Nuan smiled slightly and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Grandmother, don’t blame Mother. Father has just married a new concubine, so Mother is momentarily distressed and unable to appreciate your kindness. She will come around in time. As for my sister, seeing her mother upset has naturally made her resentful. But she’s still a child and doesn’t fully understand things yet. Please don’t hold it against her.”

Her words seemed to be defending Lin Wanru and Ouyang Ke, yet upon closer thought, they only further implied that Lin Wanru was deliberately putting on airs and that Ouyang Ke had been emboldened by her mother’s indulgence. As expected, Old Madam Li’s expression grew even darker. She patted Ouyang Nuan’s hand lightly and said, “You’re more sensible than all of them.”

Ouyang Nuan lowered her eyes, appearing utterly humble. The greatest advantage of being close to Lin Wanru for many years was that she understood her thoroughly. Lin Wanru had once been a concubine-born daughter of a marquis’ household, accustomed to treading carefully. But after a decade as the main wife, with a beloved daughter, a husband’s favor, a stepdaughter’s respect and control over the Ouyang household, she had long grown used to admiration and respect. The world praised her for being virtuous and kind, a model of womanhood. She was no longer that trembling concubine-born girl from the marquis’ household who had anxiously married into the Ouyang family as a second wife.

Precisely because of this that she had believed that the days of bowing and scraping to please others were long behind her. Yet, who would have thought that the old madam would humiliate her in public, leaving her no way to retreat? Instinctively, she had retaliated with a cold expression. However, this time, she had miscalculated. Old Madam Li was a narrow-minded woman who never let go of a grudge. What she cared about most were her son and her eldest grandson. Lin Wanru’s actions had committed two grave offenses— first, indulging unruly servants who harmed the old madam’s beloved grandson, and second, preventing the old madam from taking a concubine for her son to extend the Ouyang family line. Both directly violated the old madam’s greatest taboos.

No matter how much control Lin Wanru wielded over Ouyang Manor, she could not challenge the authority of the old madam. No matter how skilled she was at maintaining a perfect reputation, if she failed to win her mother-in-law’s favor, she would suffer the consequences.

As for Ouyang Zhi, though he valued Lin Wanru as a wife, he valued his status and reputation even more. By pretending illness, Lin Wanru was openly defying the old madam. If word got out, it would be seen as unfilial— a grave stain on his reputation. And with the old madam’s newfound fondness for the delicate Li Yue’e, the outcome was obvious.

Ouyang Nuan sipped her tea slowly. Tomorrow, there would be a spectacle to watch.