The Favorite of the Sick and Weak Lady - Chapter 7

Was it convenient?

The original host had been driven out by her own mother.

Who could guarantee they wouldn’t be kicked out tomorrow?

Xiao Yu pursed her lips. According to her previous plan, she would marry Song Luoning, earn money to repay Song Luoning, then divorce her. After that, she’d be free to go wherever she pleased, eventually settling down in the most comfortable place she could find.

As for the original host’s family…

Xiao Yu had no intention of reconnecting. In the original host’s memories, her mother had been a good one. If not for the host’s reckless behavior, her mother wouldn’t have severed ties out of fear she’d squander the family fortune.

Over the years, the host hadn’t starved thanks to her mother secretly sending food.

Thinking about it, the original host really wasn’t a good person. Now that Xiao Yu had taken over her identity, she wouldn’t behave the same way. Since she couldn’t leave for now, she might as well take care of the host’s mother.

Having made up her mind, Xiao Yu sighed in relief. Looking at the fragile face of the young lady, she couldn’t help but sigh again.

How could a marriage certificate have such an effect?

Yesterday she was guarded like a wolf, today she was calling her husband and talking about meeting the in-laws.

Ancient women truly followed the rule: obey your father at home, your husband after marriage. But that was fine obedient and sensible meant less effort for her.

Xiao Yu thought for a moment and said, “You should rest well. Tomorrow is not too late.” After all, she was her wife now even if it was fake it didn’t stop her from feeling concerned.

Besides, the original host’s mother lived far away. Chen Family Village was near the mountain, and the host’s mud-brick house was at the foot of it. Her original home was at the village entrance, a walk of about a tea’s time.

The young lady was coughing so badly walking might make her collapse. So…

Xiao Yu also needed time to sort through the host’s memories to avoid being exposed and burned as a monster.

Seeing her agree, Song Luoning didn’t say more. She smiled softly at Xiao Yu, her pale and beautiful face like a spring breeze. Xiao Yu instinctively swallowed and looked away.

What was with this woman?

She was actually tempting her. Xiao Yu bit her lip. Though their relationship was now legal, she had principles. They’d only known each other for two days doing that kind of thing…

Xiao Yu bit her lip again, sizing her up. If they had to do it, it wasn’t impossible.

Ah, pfft!

What was she thinking? She couldn’t take advantage of a sick person like some beast.

As for the future… they’d see.

Ah!

No, not even in the future. She shook her head. How had she been so tempted by this young lady that her brain stopped working?

Unable to resist temptation, Xiao Yu’s voice was a bit unnatural: “You rest first. I’ll go eat.” She fled the room.

“Whew~” Xiao Yu let out a long breath. She hadn’t expected to be so easily swayed. If this continued, she’d be doomed!

Beauty was dangerous!

Xiao Yu pinched her arm hard, wincing in pain. All romantic thoughts vanished.

The porridge in the pot was soon ready, fragrant and delicious—no worse than the system’s medicinal porridge. Xiao Yu drank two full bowls.

Considering she didn’t know the host’s mother’s attitude, she went alone to visit her after lunch.

The host’s home was a two-entry courtyard with high walls, showing its former glory unlike the current place where everything was visible from the street.

Xiao Yu knocked on the door. Soon, a 13- or 14-year-old maid opened it. She was pretty, but seeing Xiao Yu, she trembled and stammered, “Y-young master.”

Xiao Yu frowned.

“Please wait, I’ll inform the madam.” She ran off like fleeing a beast.

Xiao Yu: “…”

Clearly, the host had bullied this maid before. Poor girl was terrified.

Soon, the courtyard door opened again. This time, a woman in her thirties appeared—graceful and elegant, with no trace of age on her face.

Xiao Yu was stunned. A thought popped into her head: “Time never defeats beauty.”

Madam Jiang’s brows furrowed. She said sternly, “Why are you here? You have nothing to do with the Xiao family anymore.”

“…” Xiao Yu shrank back, too scared to speak.

“Speak.” Jiang Wanrou frowned.

How had she ended up with such a troublesome child? The thought made her heart ache.

Xiao Yu instinctively touched her nose. Given the host’s past behavior, Madam Jiang’s harsh attitude still showed she cared. If she spoke properly, she probably wouldn’t be kicked out tomorrow.

She lowered her head and hesitated: “I came to tell you… I got married.”

“What?” Jiang Wanrou nearly choked on her own saliva, coughing violently. The maid rushed to help, but she brushed her off and pointed at Xiao Yu: “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Was this another scheme to ask for money?

Her peach blossom eyes just like Xiao Yu’s stared sharply.

As if saying: “Try lying to me.”

Xiao Yu felt uneasy under her gaze, swallowed nervously, and said softly: “I’m not lying. It’s true. We have a marriage certificate. She wants to come… serve you tea.”

Serve tea?

Jiang Wanrou nearly spat blood. Her anger surged. This troublesome child…

Serve tea? More like trying to kill her with rage.

She looked around. Today she had to beat this child until even her father wouldn’t recognize her. Did she not understand her identity?

If her female identity was exposed, it would be a crime of deceiving the emperor. Though their branch had declined, they were still direct descendants of the founding emperor. Xiao Yu was a posthumous child. To protect their assets, she had impulsively claimed her daughter was a son.

As her daughter grew, she regretted it but what could she do? Her identity must never be revealed.

Whether the marriage was real or not, she had to make Xiao Yu understand the seriousness of the situation.

Jiang Wanrou grabbed a wooden stick.

“…” Xiao Yu froze, lips trembling. Was she really going to hit her? The host’s frail body couldn’t handle this!

Jiang Wanrou put her hands on her hips: “Explain. What’s this marriage about?”

Xiao Yu was nearly in tears. She hadn’t expected the host’s mother to be so fierce. She dared not hide anything and explained everything, saying pitifully: “Didn’t you arrange the marriage? The girl came with the certificate.”

She arranged it?

Jiang Wanrou was stunned. When?

Suddenly, a memory from fifteen years ago surfaced.

During a rare drought, bandits roamed. On the way to the county, she had saved a dying official’s wife who was pregnant. Later, when her husband came to fetch her…

Jiang Wanrou couldn’t recall the details clearly.

Before leaving, the official’s wife had supposedly arranged a marriage between their children and left half a jade pendant.

She hadn’t taken it seriously how could an official marry into her family? But now, fifteen years later, the girl had come with the certificate.

Wait.

She needed to confirm the family. “What’s her name?”

Xiao Yu didn’t dare hide it: “Her name is Song Luoning…”

Song?

That official’s surname was also Song.

Jiang Wanrou’s mind buzzed. She didn’t hear anything else Xiao Yu said. Only two words echoed in her head:

It’s over.

What now? That troublesome child even got the certificate.

If it were a common girl, they could pay her off. But they couldn’t afford to offend an official’s family.

Why hadn’t this child come to discuss such a big matter before acting?

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Wanrou said, “Let’s go see your wife.”

“…”

Xiao Yu quickly stopped her: “She said she’ll come tomorrow to greet you.”

Greet?

Jiang Wanrou paused. Right when did mothers-in-law go to see daughters-in-law?

She had to stay calm and plan carefully.

She couldn’t panic. Hopefully, she could annul the marriage tomorrow.

Jiang Wanrou cleared her throat: “Go back and keep her calm. Especially your identity must remain secret.”

“…”

Xiao Yu pursed her lips. Could she say the girl already knew? She glanced at the wooden stick in her mother’s hand and shrank back. Some things were better left unsaid.

Leaving the Xiao home, Xiao Yu returned. Song Luoning was resting, so she didn’t disturb her.

Since she was here, she had to make the best of it. Thinking of the grain shop owner’s words, she decided to make a tool to remove rice bran maybe she could earn money from it.

She remembered reading about rice dehusking in Tiangong Kaiwu.

A stone roller could remove the husk, a fan could separate husk and grain, and a stone mortar could grind off the bran.

These were ancient inventions no modern tech needed.

Xiao Yu found a rusty machete in the kitchen, grabbed a bamboo basket, and headed to the mountain.

Using the host’s memories, she quickly found a large bamboo forest. The green stalks swayed in the spring breeze.

It was spring if lucky, she could dig up bamboo shoots. Tender and crispy.

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