“Prepare two birthday gifts for children,” Shen Rusong said to Wu Shi as soon as he entered the room. “They’ll be needed tomorrow—one for a boy and one for a girl.”
“Alright. Whose family? How come two children are celebrating birthdays at the same time?” Wu Shi asked curiously.
“Guo Pangzi, remember? He had a pair of twins—a boy and a girl.”
“What truly immense fortune!” Wu Shi exclaimed in surprise. “Is tomorrow the third-day bathing ceremony or the full-month celebration? Why aren’t female guests invited? I’ve never seen twins before!”
“It’s neither. Guo Pangzi said that when the children were born, the daughter nearly didn’t survive, and the boy also appeared rather weak.”
“His family’s elderly lady sought a fate reading from Baosheng Niangniang, who said their fortune was too great, difficult for both the children and the Guo family to bear. They needed to ‘let the dragon lurk in the abyss, the phoenix perch in the forest, awaiting the time to soar.’ If they were flaunted from a young age, it would inevitably lead to ‘the dragon dying young, the phoenix breaking, disaster extending to the family.'”
“What happened afterward?”
Shen Rusong lifted his robe and sat down, crossing his legs. “The Guo family was desperate enough to try anything. Not only did they not hold any banquet, they didn’t even inform relatives and friends—only those within the Guo residence knew.”
“Strangely enough, raising them quietly like this, the two children truly grew stronger day by day. The Guo family regarded this principle of ‘lurking’ as sacred, never daring to let them meet outsiders, not even daring to give them formal names, only calling them by their milk names.”
“With such great fortune as twins, no amount of caution is excessive!” Wu Shi said with a look of envy, then puzzled, “But how did you come to know about it? Weren’t they supposed to avoid strangers?”
“That Baosheng Niangniang also interpreted the phrase ‘one phoenix, three dragons, five bring auspiciousness.’ Guo Pangzi said it indeed came true: his daughter’s health improved greatly after turning one, while the son frequently fell ill before the age of three—all matching the prediction.”
“A few days ago, they turned five, so presumably it’s no longer an issue. That’s why he proudly boasted to us. Since I heard about it, as their uncle, I ought to show some consideration.”
“What kind of deity is this Baosheng Niangniang? To be so efficacious?” Wu Shi marveled for a long while.
Hong’er and Nanny Tong, who were attending nearby, also listened intently.
“I seem to recall someone mentioning they worshipped her before. Vaguely remember she’s enshrined in some southwestern prefectures, specializing in protecting children. Never thought she’d have followers in Qingzhou as well. Although not officially recognized by the court, in some counties she’s included in public worship, so it can’t be considered illicit worship.”
“In that case, if I ever come across a Baosheng Niangniang temple in the future, I must pay respects, to pray for An Ge’er and—well, for their safety.”
“With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for!” Shen Rusong drawled, reaching out to flick Wu Shi’s earring.
“Husband~ there are still people here!” Wu Shi blushed coyly, glancing at Nanny Tong and the others who had retreated to the outer room, chiding him.
Since she had just thought of Shen Yiyi, she recounted today’s events.
Shen Rusong took her hand. “My wife is so kind-hearted! You’ve truly worked hard on my behalf. Since my wife dislikes it, I’ll send his family away sooner.” After saying this, he raised his voice, instructing someone to summon Song Jian and Cao Mo to wait in the study.
He wasn’t in a hurry to leave, instead asking Wu Shi in detail whether her appetite had improved today, what she had done, and if she felt bored. Unexpectedly, he heard Shen Yiyi’s name mentioned twice more.
As soon as he stepped out of the main house, Shen Rusong’s face darkened. He had long known Hu Sicai was no good. Since he was so impatient, there was no need to meticulously set a trap anymore—might as well send him on his way sooner.
As for this Yuan Jie’er, however, he had always harbored doubts.
Sister Gui and Sister Nian had sent letters to the mansion from the moment they became pregnant, with every detail from childbirth to the present clearly documented and traceable.
What Hu Sicai presented, however, was a solitary piece of evidence, and it wasn’t even written in Er Niang’s own hand.
Apart from that letter, there wasn’t a second person who could verify Yuan Jie’er’s identity. It was only out of trust in Er Niang’s character that he hadn’t driven the Hu Family scoundrels away on the very first day.
Song Jian had spent two days running around, but he still couldn’t uncover much about the child.
Granny Zheng, on the other hand, remembered clearly, saying that Er Niang had gone into labor on the night of the Lantern Festival in the sixteenth year. Because it was the Lantern Festival, no midwife could be found, and it was Nanny Li who delivered the baby.
He did have some recollection of Nanny Li, but unfortunately, she had died just a few days earlier. What terrible timing.
Judging by the dates, the child should be his. But Er Niang had first severed all ties with him, then concealed the truth from him for over six years.
Now, she neither explained it to him in person nor sent a witness, so he couldn’t help but feel resentful.
As for the so-called “blood-drop kinship test” among the common folk, he had seen many case records from his father and had even consulted with coroners, knowing full well that it was pure nonsense.
Torn between his past affection for Er Niang and the completely unverifiable origins of the child, Shen Rusong had been wrestling with his thoughts these past few days.
Enough. He would meet the child tomorrow and decide then. After all, it was just a girl—whether he acknowledged her or not wouldn’t affect the bigger picture.
Shen Yiyi had no idea that tomorrow she would face the ultimate interview for her entry into the Shen Mansion. Nor did she know that her unintentional actions had already dealt a devastating blow to Hu Sicai and Niu Shi.
Upon hearing from Sister Gui that Shen Yiyi had been “dragged out by the maids” and “locked in a room, unable to come out again,” especially the gloating remark, “I wonder how she’ll ever show her face again,” Hu Sicai and Niu Shi’s first reaction was: Had their scheme been exposed?!
Anxious and suspicious, the two waited until dark, but Shen Yiyi still hadn’t returned. Summoning their courage, they went to ask, only to be met with a single word: “Scram.”
After hearing the maids’ irritable reply, the already guilt-ridden couple tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.
“Husband, the Shen Family has detained her. Could it be… they know?”
“If they know, they know! What are you so scared of? This is Hu Erya’s disgraceful deed—what does it have to do with me?” Hu Sicai growled in agitation.
“How can it have nothing to do with you? You deliberately sent an illegitimate daughter—isn’t that just asking for trouble?” Niu Shi snapped back.
Hu Sicai was deeply unsettled.
He had returned to Xilin Village early that morning to ask the village head for a travel permit. With this prepared, if things went wrong, he could flee Anyang County, and Master Shen would be powerless to reach him.
But someone had gleefully told him that the day before, people had come to the village to inquire about his family’s situation, even specifically examining the little girl’s belongings that Niu Shi had sold.
The Shen Family was investigating them! Hu Sicai broke into a cold sweat, grabbed the travel permit, and fled.
Had they really uncovered something?
That day, when the Shen Family said they could leave the mansion, Hu Sicai hadn’t yet decided whether to go or not, but then he saw Lu Laogou sweeping in front of the courtyard gate.
The old man, upon hearing that he was Master Shen’s newly acquired brother-in-law, fawned over him shamelessly, pulling him to a secluded tile-house.
With few customers early in the morning, Lu Laogou arranged for someone to keep him company in gambling, and at noon, he even insisted on dragging him to the backyard to rest.
Reluctant to leave the gambling table, Hu Sicai was initially unwilling to go.
Upon entering the rear courtyard, he discovered a hidden paradise within! He had long coveted such a place! But with the little money he had before, it wasn’t even enough for gambling.
Lu Laogou ordered a lavish feast of fish and meat, and Hu Sicai ate until his mouth was slick with grease. For the first time, he had women clinging to him on both sides, and he was utterly delighted.
Amidst the drunken revelry, Lu Laogou mentioned that he had an elder brother who ran a similar tile-house in Qingzhou Prefecture and wanted Hu Sicai’s help to keep the place in order.
Hu Sicai nearly spat out his wine. He was nothing but a poor ruffian who couldn’t even make it in Anyang County and had been driven to live in a village.
The plan to claim kinship seemed on the verge of falling apart again. With that wretched Hu Erya having run off, even putting food on the table would become a problem for him in the future.
How could he dare to go to the prefectural city to protect someone else?
Lu Laogou quickly explained that Shen Rusong’s father-in-law had previously served as the Qingzhou Prefecture Assistant Judge and had been promoted to the capital last year.
Hu Sicai’s eyes turned red with envy—Shen’s luck was just too good! His official father had died, but his father-in-law kept climbing the ranks.
If only that dead girl were really his daughter! Then he could have firmly latched onto this golden opportunity. Ah, what misfortune for the family!
Lu Laogou kept toasting him, piling on flattery, while the two seductive courtesans by his side cooed and fawned over him.
Hu Sicai had never experienced such treatment before. In a moment of heated excitement, he puffed out his chest and boldly agreed to take on the task.
Once the words were out, he even began to think this was a great opportunity! The Shen Mansion affair seemed doomed to fail, offering no benefits and only trouble. It would be perfect to flee to the prefectural city and lay low. At worst, he could make a quick profit there and then run away.
If the Shen family, concerned about their reputation, kept the matter quiet, then he could continue playing the role of the “younger brother-in-law” indefinitely!
Hu Sicai couldn’t remember much of what happened afterward. He seemed to have signed some document agreeing to go? In any case, by the time he left the tile-house, it was already dark, and his back ached while his legs felt weak.
Staggering back unsteadily, Hu Sicai felt that place was nothing short of a paradise on earth—with gambling, wine, and women. Thinking about the life he would soon lead, he couldn’t wait to gather enough travel funds and set off.
Come to think of it… I wonder if that place takes in young girls…
With such a heavenly life within reach, if he were exposed now, everything with Lu Laogou would fall apart! But what if the Shen family hadn’t yet obtained solid evidence? Running away first would only give him away.
Hu Sicai pondered back and forth but still couldn’t make up his mind.
Niu Shi muttered for a while, then trembling, asked, “Husband, I’ve heard that scholars care deeply about their reputations. If we expose their shameful secret, won’t… won’t they silence us?”
Hu Sicai shuddered all over. “How dare they! Is there no law anymore?”
But then it occurred to him that his entire family was now inside Shen Mansion. If the gates were closed, they could be slaughtered, thrown into a pit…
He had heard too many stories like this in the gambling dens.
His mother had also told him that his good-for-nothing father, whom he had never met, had died under mysterious circumstances. The authorities couldn’t be bothered to investigate the death of a ruffian.
As long as there was no body and no one reported the crime, who would care? A living person could just vanish without a trace, without causing any stir.
The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became. Hu Sicai felt the Shen Mansion was eerily sinister and immediately wanted to escape. But night had fallen, and the mansion gates were already closed.
He had to run!
At dawn, he would ask Lu Laogou where his elder brother’s tile-house was located in the prefectural city, then rush over immediately—every bit of profit counted!
“As soon as it’s light, pack everything up,” Hu Sicai made up his mind. “We need to leave quickly!”
“What about that dead girl? Aren’t we selling her? Didn’t you say she was worth several taels?”