Chapter 7

Over the past few days, Lan Yi had been thinking of ways to sabotage the apprenticeship ceremony.

She had considered several methods: gathering more evidence of the Little Prince’s misbehavior to make Yang Wen Xu decline out of self-preservation; seeking out other renowned scholars in the city to divert the Little Prince’s choice; or going straight to the root—making Yang Wen Xu offend Prince Yi so severely within a month that the prince would naturally drop the idea…

At first glance, each approach seemed feasible, but when it came to actual execution, she hit a wall.

People—Lan Yi only had one and a half reliable individuals at her disposal, with Xiao Lingzi counting as half.  

Money—she had managed to grow her dowry over the years, but the Yang family had always been a financial burden. Later, they had to purchase property in the capital, and after she fell ill, the long-term medical expenses became another bottomless pit. Now, the funds she could access without alerting Yang Wen Xu amounted to less than a hundred taels.  

With such limited manpower and financial resources, and being a sickly woman herself, accomplishing anything substantial was truly difficult.  

Distractedly turning these thoughts over in her mind, Lan Yi noticed Yang Wen Xu sitting across from her, seemingly deep in thought. Breaking the silence of the past few days, he suddenly looked up and asked, “Have you been resenting me all this time?”  

Lan Yi was taken aback.  

After a moment of surprise, she realized—his “conscience” had stirred again.  

Her suffering in the Yang household was something Yang Wen Xu had always been aware of. In the early years of their marriage, he would coax her with sweet words. Back then, Lan Yi had fallen for it. Though her mother-in-law, Madam Yang, was difficult, her husband’s tenderness and conscience had made life bearable—until she gradually discovered that while Yang Wen Xu comforted her, he had also, without hesitation, obeyed Madam Yang and taken in Jiang Ru, who had come seeking refuge, within half a year of their marriage. Then, with Jiang Ru, he had their first child, then a second, and a third…  

She shook her head and replied, “No.”  

She neither resented nor blamed him—she simply hated him!  

A faint smile touched Lan Yi’s lips. She found this clarity refreshing. The tangled emotions that had once suffocated her had faded layer by layer during her time as a ghost, leaving behind only this one—simple, straightforward, sparing her much distress.  

Yang Wen Xu frowned slightly, hesitating as if wanting to say more.  

Lan Yi understood. He didn’t believe her, yet he couldn’t outright challenge her.  

Because he always assumed she could be placated.  

“The physician says your health has improved,” Yang Wen Xu predictably changed the subject without pressing further. “Once you’ve fully recovered, I’ll bring Rui Ge’er to you. He’s still too young to remember anything. If you raise him from infancy, he’ll be no different from your own child.”  

Lu Lan Yi: “…”  

For a moment, she felt dazed. She had heard these words before.  

After Jiang Ru gave birth to her second child, Big Sister, Yang Wen Xu had made the same offer—to let Lan Yi raise the child. And once Big Sister turned one, he had indeed brought her to the main household.  

By then, they had already moved to the capital, beyond Madam Yang’s reach, depriving her distant cousin-niece of protection. If Yang Wen Xu had held firm, the arrangement could have worked.  

By that time, Lan Yi had shed the naive illusions of her youth. She knew that to survive in this marriage, this was the best option. So she didn’t resist, silently accepting Big Sister—and Yang Wen Xu’s unspoken reconciliation.  

But Yang Wen Xu hadn’t held firm.

Big Sister cried frequently at night after being separated from her birth mother. Lan Yi and Cui Cui took turns comforting her through the night, often only managing to lull her into a brief sleep near dawn. The courtyard was small, and the child’s wails could be heard from every room. Jiang Ru came out and knelt before the main chamber’s door for nearly ten days until Yang Wen Xu finally carried the child out and returned her.

That night, no child disturbed Lan Yi’s rest. Yet she lay awake on her pillow, listening to the insects outside, watching the canopy shift from darkness to dimness as daylight gradually brightened the window. The sun rose, but she never slept, remaining fully conscious throughout.

…

“This time is different,” Yang Wen Xu clearly remembered too, adding in a lower voice, “I’ve spoken with Jiang Shi. She agreed. You needn’t worry.”

Lan Yi wasn’t worried, nor did she reply. She only laughed at herself.

How easily she had been placated before! She’d spoiled Yang Wen Xu so much that he dared reuse the same old tricks!

Yang Wen Xu waited, his brows gradually knitting together.

Finally, Lan Yi spoke: “No need. The child is young and unsettled without her birth mother.”

Her refusal was calm and decisive. This time, it was Yang Wen Xu who fell silent.

Her unusual coldness didn’t escape him. In the past, whenever he visited the main chamber to talk, her dull eyes would always brighten slightly. Now it was different. Leaning against the kang table opposite him, her expression carried a frostier, more distant air—as if emanating from some profoundly dark and remote place, separated by mountains and passes.

This change wasn’t just today’s occurrence. When had it begun? Yang Wen Xu pondered but couldn’t pinpoint it.

He’d been too busy. Official duties filled most of his days. What little time remained was spent resting, overseeing his eldest son’s early education, checking on his children’s daily lives, and exchanging casual words with Jiang Shi. Thus the days passed.

One after another.

Only after his mother’s death and his removal from office—when he suddenly found himself with ample free time—did he think of his ailing wife. He decided to use this period to sort out household affairs and mend their increasingly distant marital relationship.

He hadn’t expected to find himself at such a loss.

“Do you have anything else?” Lan Yi asked him.

Today Yang Wen Xu had stayed longer than usual, and his few words had been particularly unpleasant. Her patience was wearing thin as she issued this not-so-subtle dismissal.

She had no interest in whatever worthless conscience he’d dug up from some forgotten corner, nor did she wish to sit here serving as his living memorial tablet.

Yang Wen Xu’s furrowed brows slowly relaxed as he composed himself with practiced restraint. “There is,” he said deliberately.

“Rui Ge’er fell ill after returning, suffering from acclimatization. The servants delayed calling a physician for two days, nearly letting it develop into a serious condition.”

Lan Yi waited silently for him to continue.

She and Jiang Ru now lived farther apart. The Yang family’s residence in Qingzhou was considerably larger than their Beijing home. Aunt Zhou had arranged for the main branch to occupy a separate courtyard with side buildings, where Consort Jiang and the children resided. The two households basically didn’t interfere with each other.

Still, she’d known about Rui Ge’er’s illness—after all, physicians visiting the side buildings had to pass the main chamber. She simply hadn’t inquired, as it didn’t concern her.

“Aunt Zhou lacks household management skills. The Yang family shouldn’t be left in a concubine’s hands,” Yang Wen Xu continued.

Suddenly Lan Yi understood.

After all this circling, this was his real purpose.

He still hadn’t given up wresting control of the Yang household from Aunt Zhou.

Naturally, he was the de facto authority of the Yang family. His smooth sailing in the imperial examinations had fostered a proud disposition. Not tearing open old wounds with his father to pursue the grievances his mother endured while alive was already the limit of his tolerance. He would never tolerate Aunt Zhou, a low-born concubine, presiding over the household affairs.

Lan Yi remembered now—this had happened in her previous life. After several rounds of tug-of-war, Rui Ge’er eventually recovered from his illness, and Consort Jiang seized control of the inner household by leveraging this incident. It was a win-win.

She only realized this because she had forgotten she was alive now, and this matter had come to her first.  

“What do you mean?” Lan Yi asked knowingly.  

Yang Wen Xu hesitated. In his view, having Rui Ge’er raised in the main house and Lan Yi taking over the household affairs—just like the proper conduct of respectable noble families—would be the dignified way for the Yang family.  

Yet he had hit a wall with the first point. After seven or eight years of marriage, he had a premonition that the second wouldn’t go smoothly either—but he pressed on: “With Mother gone, the inner household should be managed by the eldest daughter-in-law. If you’re unable to handle it, you can let Jiang Shi assist with minor matters.”  

Lan Yi had anticipated this and replied casually, “My health is poor, and I still need rest. Let Jiang Shi manage it.”  

This wasn’t the answer Yang Wen Xu wanted.  

After a moment of silence, he insisted, “I’ll have Aunt Zhou come to hand over the accounts to you. If you lack the energy, instruct Jiang Shi to oversee them.”  

Lan Yi thought for a moment but neither agreed nor refused.  

She didn’t want to waste time arguing with him, but she wasn’t willing to comply readily either.  

Yang Wen Xu took it as silent consent and left.  

Lan Yi finally had peace—though only for half a day. In the afternoon, just after her nap, Aunt Zhou arrived with Consort Jiang. Aunt Zhou carried the account books and wore a forced smile: “…Madam, Master Yang instructed me to hand over the accounts to you.”  

Yang Wen Xu’s personal intervention made all the difference.  

This was only natural. Master Yang’s grand estate and beautiful concubines all came from his son’s official position. No matter how much he could bluster, he wouldn’t dare truly defy or offend him.  

“I know. The young master has already spoken. You and Jiang Shi can handle it,” Lan Yi said lightly.  

As soon as the words fell, the eyes of both concubines—past and present—lit up.  

For Consort Jiang, Lan Yi’s complete relinquishment of authority meant she could take over smoothly. As for Aunt Zhou, contending with Consort Jiang was far better than dealing with Lan Yi, the principal daughter-in-law of the main branch—she could even stand a little taller.  

The two exchanged a glance, each satisfied for the moment. Consort Jiang said, “Madam, take care of your health. I will certainly fulfill the tasks assigned by the young master and you.”  

After a bow, she left with Aunt Zhou.  

Cui Cui stepped forward, displeased. “Look at how smug she is. Madam is just letting her take advantage for nothing.”  

Lan Yi smiled. What smugness? What advantage?  

“She’s just a fool.”  

She had exhausted her lifeblood bearing three children for someone and diligently managed his household for years, only to be kicked back to her hometown a thousand miles away when a new woman entered the household—without even getting a side courtyard.  

A complete fool.  

Cui Cui blinked in confusion—she didn’t understand.  

Lan Yi didn’t explain, nor could she. Fortunately, Cui Cui’s attention soon wandered elsewhere. Due to disputes over accounts and various household trivialities, Aunt Zhou and Consort Jiang clashed constantly. Cui Cui reveled in the drama, gleefully watching every day, no longer thinking that Lan Yi’s refusal to take over household affairs was any great loss.

A month was neither too short nor too long, and one-third of it had already passed leisurely.  

Lan Yi was growing restless. Empty speculation wouldn’t solve anything, but she dared not act rashly. If she alarmed Yang Wenxu and aroused his suspicion, she wouldn’t get a second chance.  

Just as she was feeling agitated, Sister-in-law Ji came to visit again.  

“Elder Sister, I’ve made some inquiries for you,” Sister-in-law Ji said excitedly as soon as she sat down. “Prince Yi is still at Reverence Heaven Temple!”  

Lu Lanyi: “…”  

When had she asked her to investigate? And how had it become “for her”?  

Sister-in-law Ji continued without waiting for a response, “Six days from now is the birthday celebration of the Purple Star Emperor and the Azure Cloud Primordial Goddess. Reverence Heaven Temple will hold a grand ritual. Your brother and I have been offering the First Incense for several days in a row, and we finally managed to pry some information from the Taoist priests—” She leaned forward, half-mysterious, half-boastful. “Prince Yi will stay until the ritual. If your husband wishes to pay him a visit, now is the best time. The temple’s threshold is much easier to cross than the prince’s residence.”  

“…” Lan Yi couldn’t help but say, “Didn’t my husband already tell you? The Yang family has no connection with Prince Yi’s Residence.”  

“Connections don’t just appear out of nowhere—they’re built through interaction,” Sister-in-law Ji retorted, sounding both dismissive and reasonable. “The First Incense at Reverence Heaven Temple isn’t cheap, Elder Sister. You should persuade your husband—even if it’s just for the sake of the three hundred taels, he shouldn’t waste this opportunity.”  

Lan Yi was startled—three hundred taels?  

Then it dawned on her. “Was this Father’s idea?”  

Her brother wasn’t in charge of the household finances. There was no way he could have produced such a sum on his own—it had to be Master Lu’s doing.  

Sister-in-law Ji admitted it. “Elder Sister, you don’t understand the benefits of befriending Prince Yi’s Residence. He’s practically the local emperor of Qingzhou. Even the crumbs from his fingers would be enough to make us prosper. I know your husband is a scholar, proud and principled, but Prince Yi has always had a good reputation—not like those reckless nobles. It wouldn’t be beneath your husband to associate with him.”  

Lan Yi fell into thought.  

Sister-in-law Ji pressed on, “Elder Sister, if you help make this connection, not only will your brother and I rise in status, but even you—Father will surely forgive you for not attending your mother-in-law’s funeral and causing our family to lose face. He might even come to visit you in person. Doesn’t that sound good?”  

Lan Yi suddenly lifted her gaze, her eyes icy.  

She smiled faintly, soundlessly. “Very good.”  

She had been hesitating about whether to use this opportunity to act. But with her father and brother behaving like this, all her reservations were severed. Perfect.  

“No need to tell my husband yet. I’ll go with you to assess the situation first. Then I can discuss it with him afterward.”  

Sister-in-law Ji was overjoyed. “That’s the spirit, Elder Sister! I knew you still cared for your family!”