Chapter 1390: Chapter 1357: A Life Off Course 4
The wails of the servants were piercing, and their cries for mercy were even louder, Xiao Yuan frowned: "Hurry up and gag these unruly servants."
Soon, some coarse old women and strong guards gagged these people and tied them up, dragging them away.
The courtyard finally became quiet.
Chu Hong quietly poked her head out to take a look, then turned around and ran.
Soon, a servant sneaked out through the back door of the Wei Family.
The Miao Family
Mrs. Miao received the letter delivered by Chu Hong. After reading it, her face was full of anger: "Well, well, this Miao Anning, I thought she was honest, but didnât expect she was pretending all along. She acted as if she had backing after only a few days of marrying into the Wei Family, and now she doesnât respect me, her legitimate mother."
Mrs. Miao called an old woman: "Mrs. Wu, tomorrow you go to the Wei Family to find Miss Si and tell her Iâm sick, let her come back when she has time."
Mrs. Wu replied: "Iâll definitely persuade Miss Si to come back."
Mrs. Miao sneered coldly: "Sheâs a fool. Doesnât she know that her own family is her true support? Sheâs offended me now; if something happens in the Wei Family, who will help her clean up?"
"Indeed." Several old women flattered Mrs. Miao: "Madam speaks rightly, a woman, no matter what time it is, can only rely on her own family."
Actually, these old women didnât agree inwardly.
Each of them thinking that when Miss Si lived in the mansion before, her days were not good at all. The Madam was not kind at all and treated Miss Si terribly. To hope Miss Si would think of her family after getting married, that would be foolish.
Many actually thought Miss Si was quite smart. If they were her, they would also get rid of the servants sent by the Miao Family early, then win over Mr. Weiâs heart and have a child soon. That would be stable.
Meanwhile, in a household in the southwest corner of Wuyuan Prefecture City, Xin Lan finished brewing medicine and carried it into the room. Due to brewing the medicine, a layer of ash covered her face, making her look dusty.
"Father, itâs time for the medicine."
Xin Lan put down the medicine bowl and helped Mr. Xin up.
Mr. Xin had been ill for so long, and now he was so thin that he was just skin and bones.
He took the medicine bowl and drank it. Lying back down, his breath calmed a bit: "Lan, this illness of mine might never recover. Youâre not young anymore; you canât delay any longer. While I can still help arrange things, you need to find yourself a husband."
"Father, donât say such things. You will get better, certainly live a long life." Tears fell from Xin Lanâs eyes as she tucked Mr. Xin into bed: "Father, donât overthink, weâll take our medicine properly and youâll recover."
Mr. Xin smiled bitterly: "Iâm afraid not."
Xin Lan turned her head to wipe her tears: "Father, rest a while, Iâll go make some food."
Xin Lan left the room and saw her sister Xin Yun squatting outside the door.
She patted Xin Yunâs head: "Hungry, arenât you? Iâll go make some food."
"Brother hasnât come back yet."
Xin Yun looked up, her eyes red: "Sister, Iâm a little scared."
Xin Lan smiled: "Donât be afraid."
Xin Lanâs father, Mr. Xin, was a scholar. By rights, the Xin Familyâs life should be quite good, but Mr. Xin did not engage in production, and further had a son who was not only foolish but also undutiful and cruel in action.
Xin Lanâs brother was called Xin Hui. Xin Hui was unsuccessful in his studies and even worse in business; even collecting rent, he would be cheated. He had no redeeming qualities, but loved gambling, losing all the family wealth Mr. Xin had accumulated. Later, he sold the large house, leaving the family crammed into this small house of one section. Unable to afford any servants, they let them all go.
Currently, Xin Hui hadnât come back, probably off gambling somewhere again.
A couple of years ago, Xin Hui married a wife, a lady from a scholarâs family. His wifeâs character was decent but couldnât stand Xin Huiâs constant behavior. Recently, having argued after a few years of marriage, Granny Xin cleared out and returned to her own family.
Now, it was just a few of them left at home. Xin Lan rubbed her shoulders and sat on the ground to sigh.
Afterwards, she thought of someone, her eyebrows sharpened a bit.
Xin Lan thought of Wei Yuan.
Years ago, Xin Lan saw Wei Yuan at the market, one look and she was misled for life.
Wei Yuan indeed had striking looks, truly warm and jade-like, appearing gentlemanly. Since then, Xin Lan kept thinking of ways to encounter him, hoping her looks and talents would let her enter the Wei Family.
She knew Wei Yuan was married with children, but even so, she couldnât let go of him. All she thought of was entering the Wei Family; even if not as his wife, as a noble concubine would suffice.
But Wei Yuan was not interested in her, treating her politely upon meeting, which made Xin Lan quite angry.
She had eagerly awaited the original wife of Wei Yuan to die, believing there was hope to marry him, even specially asking someone to send word to Wei Yuan, expressing her wish to marry him as his wife and promising to treat his previous children well, respecting elders and treating servants kindly.
Xin Lan thought she and Wei Yuan had met many times, being as beautiful as she was, Wei Yuan surely had been charmed, just that he had wife and children and couldnât interact more. Now with his wife deceased, having made such promises, Wei Yuan surely wished to marry her.
She waited and waited, only to receive a word from Wei Yuan, who had someone deliver the message that she was desperate for a man to marry and wasnât a virtuous lady, thus not fit to enter the gates of the Wei Family.
This utterly infuriated Xin Lan, who cursed Wei Yuan countless times privately.
Then Wei Yuan married again.
And he married a concubine not worth presenting.
Whatâs good about the Miao Family? Mr. Miao was merely a sub-prefect, Miao Anning still a concubine.
Though Xin Lan was just a scholarâs daughter, she was after all a legitimate daughter; her status was definitely superior to Miao Anning. Wei Yuan, despite his blindness, chose that bastard Miao Anning instead.
Xin Lan was furious numerous times over this.
Recently, she had been monitoring the Wei Family and noticed Wei Yuan left shortly after marriage; presumably, his relationship with Miao Anning was not good, which pleased her.
Yesterday, she heard a Wei Family servant saying something about the Master returning to vent the Grannyâs anger, binding the servants in the little master and ladyâs rooms and having them led away by human traffickers. Xin Lanâs heart jolted.
Reflecting upon this now, Xin Lan still felt unsettled.
She looked at Xin Yun then thought about her fatherâs illness and the remaining Silver at home. Xin Lan gritted her teeth, she couldnât let things continue this way.
Since Wei Yuan looked down on her and married a concubine rather than her, since he felt she wasnât fit for his house, she was determined to intrude into it nonetheless.
Xin Lan resolved herself then returned to her room to rest a while.
During this rest, she dreamt a very long dream.