Although she had done it during the day to avoid being caught, crying beside someone else’s coffin by the roadside was ultimately too unlucky. Wen Puchang grew angrier the more he thought about it.
He made Wen Lisheng kneel properly before the Wen family ancestors to reflect on her mistakes. But considering how hard the floor was, he still had Yu Gui bring in a cushion.
Wen Lisheng genuinely regretted her actions and sincerely apologized to the Wen ancestors.
The Wen family was a scholarly lineage. For generations, their ancestors had been well-read literati who studied diligently to pass the imperial examinations. However, perhaps they lacked the favor of the Literary Star, as none of them achieved success in their official careers over several generations. It wasn’t until Wen Puchang went to the capital for the imperial examinations and placed first as the top scholar that he brought glory to the Wen family.
Wen Puchang was the highest-ranking and most successful official in the Wen family’s recorded genealogy. But he had no sons, only Wen Lisheng as his daughter, and now she had turned out like this. Wen Puchang felt ashamed to face his ancestors in the afterlife. Having drunk a little wine in the evening, his emotions got the better of him, and he knelt beside Wen Lisheng, weeping uncontrollably.
Wen Lisheng watched helplessly and comforted him, “Father, don’t be sad. In the future, I’ll find you a capable son-in-law. No one will dare look down on the Wen family.”
Wen Puchang glanced at her and cried even harder. “With your troublemaking nature, you should be grateful if anyone is willing to marry you. That would be thanks to our ancestors’ blessings.”
These words stabbed Wen Lisheng’s heart like a knife, almost making her spit blood. “In all of Yiguan County, only you, Father, hurt me the most.”
“What, you won’t even let your father speak the truth?”
“I’m not that terrible, am I…” Wen Lisheng said. “At least I have a county magistrate father. Surely someone greedy for your wealth would be willing to marry me.”
“Don’t even think about it! I would never agree to such a match.” Wen Puchang snorted.
Wen Lisheng thought to herself that was true. Wen Puchang was extremely picky in this regard, which was why she hadn’t married even by the age of twenty in her previous life. In the end, he had no choice but to marry her off to the Sun family.
Wen Lisheng patted her chest and promised, “I’ll definitely find you an outstanding son-in-law! I always keep my word.”
Seeing her ambitious determination focused on this matter, Wen Puchang couldn’t be bothered to respond. After crying for a while, he grew tired, wiped his tears, told Wen Lisheng to kneel properly and reflect on her mistakes, then left the ancestral hall.
Wen Lisheng sighed, recalling how people in Yiguan often cursed her father as a corrupt official. The most common insult was that he had committed too many sins, which was why he had no sons and the Wen family had no heir. In truth, Wen Puchang had no intention of taking concubines or having sons.
She had no idea what he was thinking.
Wen Lisheng knelt until late at night before finally leaving the ancestral hall and returning to her room to sleep.
Wen Puchang had been busy for several days due to the prison fire incident, and the Mei family matter was still being handled. Most of the time, Wen Lisheng was alone in Wen Manor. She simply skipped the training at Eternal Peace Academy and spent the entire half-month idling around.
Shen Jiaqing was participating in the Martial Appreciation Assembly, so he had been busy practicing, and they had met less frequently these days.
One day, bored and with nothing to do, Wen Lisheng gathered her little followers.
She had a Chaos Squad, which Wen Puchang had named “Incapable of Success, Only Good at Failure.”
Now, the eight-member group stood neatly in front of Wen Manor.Yu Gui was the only girl among the eight-person group and also Wen Lisheng’s personal maid. Although she occupied the last character in the phrase “more likely to ruin things than accomplish them,” she was the leader among them. She straightened her posture and put on airs, admonishing, “Our young lady has been extremely idle lately, and there’s no telling who she might take a dislike to and pick a fight with. So when you see her later, behave properly and don’t become her punching bag.”
The others nodded hurriedly.
The boys ranged in age from twenty-one to fifteen, varying in height but all with delicate features.
Wen Lisheng swished her skirts as she walked out of the manor and stood before them. Immediately, they all bowed in unison. “Greetings, Boss.”
Wen Lisheng gave an approving nod. “After careful consideration these past few days, I’ve decided to undertake a great endeavor.”
A Cheng was the first to ask, “What is it, Boss? Just say the word.”
“I’m going to expand my Chaos Squad and strengthen my ranks,” Wen Lisheng declared with grand ambition. “Starting today, keep an eye out for anyone clever and quick-witted. Bring them into my squad—no restrictions on gender.”
The boys simultaneously wore troubled expressions, glancing at one another. A Cheng spoke up, “That might not be appropriate, might it?”
Wen Lisheng frowned. “Why not?”
“In Yiguan County, there are very few outstanding young people like us. I’m afraid we won’t find anyone else to join our squad,” Da Shi said.
Wen Lisheng bared her teeth and pinched his cheek. “If you don’t want that face of yours, give it to me!”
Da Shi yelped in pain, grimacing.
Yu Gui shot him a glare. “Don’t defy the Boss!”
Da Shi had no choice but to cover half his face and sulkily fall silent.
Wen Lisheng raised both hands high. “Repeat after me: Strengthening the ranks is everyone’s responsibility; the Chaos Squad is invincible!”
The boys reluctantly raised their hands, their voices sparse and scattered.
Wen Lisheng raised her voice. “Louder!”
Just as the boys were shouting, Wen Puchang’s furious roar echoed from a distance. “Wen Lisheng—!”
Wen Lisheng jumped in fright and turned to see that her father, who was usually so busy she hardly ever saw him, had suddenly returned and was storming toward her.
She quickly waved her hands. “Disperse, disperse! We’ll discuss strengthening the squad another day.”
The seven exchanged bewildered glances and quickly scattered, leaving only Wen Lisheng and Yu Gui behind.
“Father,” Wen Lisheng greeted with a beaming smile as she approached. “You’ve been so busy these past few days I haven’t seen a trace of you. What brings you back today?”
Wen Puchang fumed. “Can’t I return to my own home?”
“I’m just happy to see you, that’s all,” she giggled, her demeanor casual. Taking a fan from Yu Gui’s hands, she diligently fanned Wen Puchang. “The weather is scorching. Let’s go inside the manor.”
Wen Puchang sighed in exasperation. “Can’t you stay away from Wen Manor? Don’t stand at the entrance making a spectacle of yourself.”
“How could this be considered making a spectacle?” Wen Lisheng clicked her tongue. “You just don’t understand.”
“It seems you’ve been too idle these past few days.” Knowing that idleness would only lead her to more mischief, Wen Puchang said, “Coincidentally, tomorrow is the Old Matriarch of the He Family’s birthday. Take the congratulatory gifts and go pay your respects.”
Upon hearing this, Wen Lisheng exclaimed, “Oh no!” and protested, “The He Family is so far from the city—it takes several hours by carriage. I definitely won’t be able to return tonight. I don’t want to go.”
“I’m tied up here with the Mei Family affairs and can’t get away. If you don’t go, who will?” Wen Puchang said as he walked toward the house. “Or perhaps I should adopt a godson and hand everything over to him, so I won’t have to trouble you.””Really?” Wen Lisheng was half-convinced, half-doubtful.
Could such good fortune exist?
“Really. Then he’ll compete with you for favor and family property, and after I pass away, he’ll drive you out of the Wen family, leaving you with no one to rely on, forced to marry some old beggar on the street.” Wen Puchang sneered.
“Fine, I’ll go then.” Wen Lisheng raised her hands in surrender. “When do we leave?”
“Right now.” Wen Puchang waved a hand, and the steward, Old Yun, presented the invitation from the He Family. He handed it to Wen Lisheng. “Dress properly, bring the congratulatory gifts, and behave with decorum. If you embarrass me again, don’t even think about coming home tomorrow.”
Because of that remark, Wen Lisheng stormed back to her room and piled on every expensive piece of jewelry she owned. She adorned her ears with glittering gold, braided her long hair, and strung it with white jade beads and gemstones. She then put on a gold-threaded pleated gown so heavy it made walking a struggle.
When she stood before Wen Puchang in this extravagant attire, it nearly blinded him, yet he praised her repeatedly: “Excellent, excellent! This look is splendid!”
Wen Lisheng’s features were as if finely carved, her skin fair and delicate. Though dressed in opulence, she did not appear vulgar but rather strikingly radiant.
Wen Puchang looked her over and, noticing some empty space in her hair, called for Yu Gui to fetch another pair of hairpins. Unwilling to add more weight to her head, Wen Lisheng hastily climbed into the carriage, declaring confidently, “Don’t worry, Father. I absolutely will not embarrass you again.”
Steward Old Yun led the servants carrying the congratulatory gifts, following behind the carriage as the procession made a grand exit from the city.
Wen Puchang stood in place, sighed, clasped his hands together, and bowed toward the sky, praying devoutly, “Ancestors, please grant me some face by keeping this little plague from causing a scene.”
The Old Matriarch of the He Family resided in the northern part of Yiguan City, near the dense forests and mountains. Wen Puchang had taken her there before, but due to the long journey and the necessity of staying overnight at the He residence, Wen Lisheng had been reluctant to go again.
This time, however, Wen Puchang was tied up with other matters and couldn’t stand seeing Wen Lisheng idle and looking for trouble, so he assigned her this task.
The journey was unbearably dull. Wen Lisheng tilted her head back and fell asleep, occasionally waking to wipe away drool and shift positions, heedless of the disarray of her hair ornaments.
Only when the carriage entered the grounds of the He residence did Yu Gui wake Wen Lisheng, helping her sit up and straightening her hair accessories.
Wen Lisheng was bleary-eyed, yawning repeatedly. By the time the carriage stopped, her hair and ornaments had been tidied. She stepped down from the carriage, needing a hand to steady herself. Looking up, she saw the solemn and majestic He Family mansion standing before her, backed by the mountains.
Not many people had come, only those who had received invitations from the He Family. At the sight of Wen Lisheng descending from the carriage in her resplendent attire, they all cast astonished glances her way.
Wen Lisheng remained completely unaware. She yawned lazily and said, “Let’s go. Time to offer birthday wishes.”
The He Family held considerable fame and status in Yiguan County, a prominent sect that usually kept to itself outside the county city, having little interaction with other factions.
Wen Lisheng was welcomed into the He mansion, where she presented the invitation and gifts. She was received by the Second Madam of the He Family, whose face stiffened slightly at the sight of her glittering outfit but who dared not slight her, instead feigning enthusiasm as she ushered her through the gates.
All along the way, Wen Lisheng drew many eyes, yet she seemed utterly oblivious. As she moved, the gold ornaments on her person clinked together, and the sunlight reflecting off them stung the eyes of many onlookers.The second wife truly couldn’t bring herself to smile at this walking gold ingot any longer. She led Wen Lisheng to the backyard, letting her entertain herself, and quickly excused herself under some pretext.
In the backyard stood an enormous bamboo frame covered in lush greenery, blocking the sunlight and casting a cool shade beneath. Under the bamboo frame, a stage was set up. A dan role dressed in vibrant opera costumes was singing in a melodious, drawn-out manner, accompanied by slightly cheerful musical tunes, creating a very pleasant sound.
Most of the seats in front of the stage were empty, with only a few scattered individuals seated.
Drawn by the singing on the stage and thinking she had nothing else to do at the moment, Wen Lisheng walked straight to the front row and took a seat closest to the stage.
As soon as she sat down, the gold, silver, and jade ornaments on her head swayed slightly, refracting the scattered sunlight and shining directly into Xie Xiaonan’s eyes from the diagonal row behind her. He frowned slightly.
Wen Lisheng hadn’t noticed at all while walking to the front row that among the sparse audience, Xie Xiaonan would be present. Otherwise, even with two extra doses of courage, she wouldn’t have dared to sit in front of him.
Just as she was enjoying the opera singing, an unwelcome guest stood before her.
Wen Lisheng looked up and immediately darkened her expression. “Why is it you again?”
Qiao Ling smiled. “Miss Wen, would you mind moving to the back?”
“Why should I?” Wen Lisheng’s tone was full of dissatisfaction. “I’ll sit wherever I want. Even if the heir himself—”
Her arrogant words were cut short as she suddenly realized something. She glanced around and immediately spotted Xie Xiaonan sitting diagonally behind her. Wen Lisheng quickly changed her tune, stood up, and said with a smile, “Not only would I move to the back, I’d even stand to listen to the opera.”
Xie Xiaonan had originally been watching the stage. Sensing her gaze, he turned his head to meet her eyes. His gaze swept over the gold hairpin on her head, the small gold ingot earrings, and the numerous bright accessories on her body. He suddenly remarked, “Are you afraid people won’t know that Prefect Wen is a corrupt official?”
Wen Lisheng was startled and hurriedly replied, “You misunderstand, Heir. My father is upright and honest; he has never taken a single coin from the people. What I’m wearing are just worthless trinkets—copper ornaments plated with gold.”
Father, between your reputation and your dignity, you can only choose one.
“My father’s socks have two holes in them, and he’s been wearing them for two years,” Wen Lisheng added.
Xie Xiaonan rested his head on his hand, exuding an air of laziness. “Is there a single truthful word in your mouth?”
Wen Lisheng’s expression changed, becoming extremely sincere and earnest, with a touch of pitiful charm. “I never lie. Truly.”