The two walked through the passageway, then around a carved huanghuali wood screen before finally entering the small reception hall.
A cool breeze greeted them.
There was no moisture from an ice container. Instead… was that peppermint?
Su Wan’ning quickly glanced around.
Just inside the entrance stood an old-rooted green bamboo plant. Hidden among its leaves was a hollow silver-wire incense burner, releasing a faint peppermint fragrance.
It wasn’t just peppermint. There was also atractylodes, green cinnamon, and dried orange peel.
The several medicinal fragrances were fresh and slightly sweet. Not only did they smell pleasant, they could also help nourish the waist and legs and soothe the muscles and bones.
What a clever arrangement.
Su Wan’ning slowed her breathing, trying to make every step conform to court etiquette without appearing stiff or nervous.
Xu Lingxi had already rushed forward.
“Old Ancestor! You were right! Wan’ning really isn’t angry with me! She’s so wonderful! She even started taking care of herself early so she’ll be able to perform well at your birthday banquet!”
“Oh? She’s putting so much thought into it? Then we must add two more dishes for lunch.”
The Old Ancestor spoke with a smile, her manner warm and amiable.
“This commoner Su Wan’ning pays her respects to the Old Ancestor.”
After properly performing the formal greeting, Su Wan’ning finally revealed a lively smile.
“Ah, I actually forgot that I’m a guest. I already added a loach dish just now.”
“Good girl, that’s exactly how it should be. I have no children of my own, and Lingxi has grown up by my side since she was little. She’s my own dear great-granddaughter. The two of you are clearly fated to meet. From now on, come here often and treat this place as your own home.”
The Old Ancestor beckoned Su Wan’ning closer and carefully looked her over.
“She really is just as Qingfang described—a lovely and refined girl. Come, sit here. Let’s have a little chat.”
“Okay.”
Su Wan’ning sat down beside her on the soft couch.
She also studied the Old Ancestor.
The old woman had a head full of silver hair, yet looked energetic and spirited. Her expression was kind and approachable.
On the surface, she truly looked like the sort of Old Ancestor worthy of Xu Lingxi’s love and respect.
Yet someone like this had actually ordered her torture and murder?
Truly, a Bodhisattva’s face with a serpent’s heart…
“What exactly happened this morning? You can tell us now, right?”
Xu Lingxi kicked off her shoes, climbed farther onto the couch, and began cracking pine nuts.
“It was my future sister-in-law. She went out early in the morning to catch loaches, but she didn’t even cook them properly.”
Su Wan’ning frowned.
“She simply chopped them up and stuffed them into wontons, saying she had specially caught them for me and made them for me. She said that if I refused to eat them, it meant I looked down on her, and then she started crying.”
“And you? You didn’t actually eat them, did you?”
Xu Lingxi clenched her fist angrily.
Anyone could tell that shameless sweet-talking woman had done it deliberately!
Su Wan’ning gave a sly smile.
“Of course I’m not that stupid. I made her eat them first. Then she said that if she ate them, it would be a waste. So, clearly, she knew perfectly well that the things were inedible.”
She imitated what had happened that morning, reaching out and squeezing her fingers together in midair.
“Then I stuffed one into her mouth and pinched her mouth shut. I told her, ‘You’ve already eaten it, so don’t waste it. Otherwise, get out!’”
“Pfft.”
The Old Ancestor couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.
Xu Lingxi laughed even harder, slapping the table.
“And then? What happened next?”
“She vomited.”
Su Wan’ning spread her hands and deliberately sighed.
“In the end, it was still wasted. Actually, loaches are especially plump and delicious this time of year. That’s why I thought we could have loaches for lunch.”
Xu Lingxi nodded repeatedly.
Loaches were warming and nourishing, with considerable medicinal value. The Old Ancestor also thought it was a good suggestion.
That little episode completely broke the slight formality in the atmosphere.
The room became much more cheerful.
The Old Ancestor then asked whether Su Wan’ning had settled everything properly and what she planned to do in the future.
“I don’t want to live with my aunt anymore.”
Su Wan’ning answered directly.
She had no intention of hiding what had happened with the Lin family.
Earlier, she had deliberately used Jiang Tao’er as a joke to reveal her true position within the Lin family.
Besides, the Li family had considerable influence. Investigating her would be incredibly easy for them.
If she told a mixture of truth and lies herself, it would actually seem more believable.
“The cousin sister that Zhao Escort Leader mentioned—that was the younger sister from your aunt’s family?”
Xu Lingxi remembered what had happened on the road.
“Yes.”
Su Wan’ning changed the subject.
“My aunt adopted me when I was young, and my cousin has always treated me well. She even arranged an escort for me when I returned home. But I can’t keep troubling them, so I’m planning to move to the county town and open a shop as soon as possible. That way, I’ll have something to support myself, and I’ll also be in a better position to take care of my aunt and her family.”
“That’s right. Having your own ability is what truly matters.”
The Old Ancestor nodded.
“But you should think things through carefully. Your future sister-in-law hasn’t even married into the family yet, and she already dares to treat you this way. Have you thought about why?”
Su Wan’ning was secretly surprised.
Why did the Old Ancestor’s words sound almost like she was trying to guide her?
But the surprise only flashed across her face before she deliberately looked confused and said angrily,
“My younger brother and I have always been close, and my aunt dotes on me. She must be afraid I’ll steal their affection, so she deliberately wanted to give me a warning.”
“No, your aunt was there too, and she didn’t stop her.”
Xu Lingxi immediately exposed the problem.
“Your sister-in-law clearly dared to do it because someone was backing her up. You fool, how could your aunt possibly dote on you?”
“Ah… That’s impossible.”
Su Wan’ning’s nose suddenly stung, and tears unexpectedly welled up in her eyes.
She had indeed intended to portray herself as a foolish, devoted girl so that Xu Lingxi—and the Old Ancestor—would feel sorry for her and take her side.
But when Xu Lingxi bluntly said it aloud, an overwhelming sense of grievance unexpectedly surged through her.
She had already died once.
She clearly knew that she was acting in front of her enemies…
So why did she still feel wronged?
“I… I… Don’t cry! I didn’t say anything wrong…”
Xu Lingxi hurriedly grabbed a handkerchief and wiped her tears.
“Lingxi!”
The Old Ancestor gave her a stern reprimand.
“Good girl, don’t cry. This girl has always been careless with her words. She deserves to be punished. You’ve lived with them since childhood, so you know better than anyone who is good and who is bad. Why listen to outsiders gossiping? Don’t take it to heart. Just know the truth in your own heart.”
“Mm. Thank you.”
Su Wan’ning’s eyes were still red.
But after listening to such a long reassurance, she actually felt calmer and gradually stopped crying.
Just then, a maid entered and reported that the loaches had been caught. The kitchen was asking how the master wanted them prepared.
Su Wan’ning was about to stand up when Xu Lingxi pulled her back.
“What are you doing? You don’t need to cook today. Just tell us what you want to eat.”
“That’s right. Is there anything else you like to eat?”
The Old Ancestor also smiled and asked.
The atmosphere was incredibly warm.
Su Wan’ning found the scene both familiar and unfamiliar.
In her previous life, the people in her aunt’s household had also acted as though they took good care of her.
But in the end, they always found one excuse or another to deny her anything good.
She not only received nothing, she even had to thank them profusely.
What about now?
Was this also an illusion?
“I like everything.”
Su Wan’ning smiled through her tears.
“I’m not picky at all. And I’m sure everything cooked in the Old Ancestor’s courtyard must be delicious.”
“You little flatterer. Quickly, add another serving of candied honey-date pastry. I need something sweet too. How did you become so good at talking?”
The Old Ancestor laughed heartily and ordered several more dishes.
Only then did the little maid take her leave.
Xu Lingxi didn’t mention the Lin family again. Instead, she brought up the shop.
“The address you left for me—isn’t that the location of your shop?”
Madam Zhou had originally sent people to find the address written on the note, but the courtyard there was empty.
Fortunately, Qingfang remembered that it was Shili Village, so they eventually managed to find the Lin family.
“Yes, but it’s not mine yet.”
This was the shop Su Wan’ning had wanted to buy even in her previous life.