The more he thought about it, the more feasible Li Shan found it.
A widow was hard to deal with, but what was the difference between a divorced woman and a widow? No matter how strong this woman was, wouldn't she turn into a puddle of water on the bed, ready for him to take?
"Lian'er, pack up, we're going to the county town." Li Shan's voice trembled with excitement.
"Go to the county town?" Bai Xuelian repeated, her guard immediately going up. "Brother Shanzi, what are you going to the county town for? Are you going to reconcile with Ruixue? Then what about me? What am I? I gave you my pure body, and now you're thinking about your divorced wife..."
As she spoke, she began to sob, tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms, her small face pale. She looked incredibly pitiful.
So delicate and charming, she seemed to depend on him entirely. Thinking of how this little vixen wore him out at night, a surge of ambition rose in Li Shan's heart. He reached out and pulled her into his arms. "My darling, what are you thinking? Lin Shi is opening a noodle shop in the county town now. Think about it, once the noodle shop is open, it'll be a golden goose, laying golden eggs. With the noodle shop, won't all the silver come pouring in? I'll coax Lin Shi, and if she changes her mind, the three of us will live together harmoniously. Isn't that better than anything?"
"Think about it, all the hard and tiring work will be done by her, and you'll just be in charge of collecting the money. At night, I'll still dote on you. Wouldn't such a life be wonderful?"
"At that time, you'll be living the life of those rich ladies."
Bai Xuelian stopped sobbing, her eyes and face filled with joy. "Brother Shanzi, are you serious?"
Li Shan nodded heartily, "Your Grandpa loves you the most, naturally."
Bai Xuelian wrapped her arms around Li Shan's neck, hanging onto him entirely. She whispered softly into his ear, "Brother Shanzi, you must remember your words. I only have you to rely on. If you treat me badly in the future, I won't let it go."
Li Shan's thoughts were in a whirl. He flipped her over and pinned her down, his breathing quickening. "You little vixen, you're so alluring. How can Grandpa leave you?"
Their heavy breaths intertwined. In broad daylight, the two of them impatiently tumbled into a heap.
Meanwhile, Qi Zhenzhen was chatting with Yun Shi and Yu Shi about her encounter with Bai Lianhua.
"She's quite active in the village, her words are sweet, and she knows how to coax people. Several young wives are quite close to her. There's nothing that can be done about it. After the Lantern Festival, Li Shan hosted a banquet, and they are now a proper couple," Yu Shi said. "It was the day after you went to the county town."
"As for whether she's pregnant, I haven't heard anything, but looking at her, she doesn't seem to be. Perhaps she knows about the Lin family's business with your family and is just putting on a show in front of you to disgust you."
Qi Zhenzhen sighed, "Qian Bo lives there, I wonder if it's convenient."
"They wouldn't dare cause any trouble. That's the old Song family residence, after all," Yu Shi said with a slight smile.
One could only hope so.
Capital City, Protector Duke's Manor.
Maids and servants went in and out, carrying things back and forth.
A soft sedan chair, carried by four bearers, moved steadily. Gu Sinian walked alongside the left side of the sedan chair and entered the manor with it.
Today was the seventeenth of the second month. After more than a month of travel, they had finally brought Grandmother back.
Gu Sinian, concerned about Qin Shi, escorted the old madam Lan Shi to Yanniang Courtyard and then hurried away.
Lan Zhi Courtyard had received the news early that Gu Sinian and the old madam were returning today. Qin Shi, supported by someone, stood at the entrance, looking out expectantly.
"Mother," Gu Sinian said as he entered the courtyard and saw Qin Shi. He quickly walked over. "Why did you come out? Are you feeling any better? Hurry inside and lie down to rest."
Qin Shi smiled, her face showing unconcealed paleness. "Your maternal grandmother won't let me get out of bed. Lying down all day, I feel like I'm falling apart. Did your trip go smoothly? How was your grandmother on the road? Is she settled now? Come, go with me to pay your respects to her."
"Mother, with your condition, you should rest," Gu Sinian said, his eyes full of concern.
"Go, we must go now," Madam Qin said as she emerged from the inner room. "Let your grandmother see what kind of state your mother has been reduced to in her absence. Your good father hasn't set foot in Lan Zhi Courtyard once in over a month, not even sending someone to check. I, this old woman, am still living here. He not only disregards your mother but also filial piety and respect. Let your grandmother know what kind of person he is."
Both Qin Shi and Madam Qin insisted on going, so Gu Sinian had to have a soft sedan chair prepared.
The group slowly made their way to Yanniang Courtyard.
Lan Shi was just resting on a couch, writing. She was old now and not like in her youth; traveling made her feel as if she would fall apart.
Yanniang Courtyard was already mostly settled. The people in the courtyard were all performing their duties, efficiently and orderly.
Seeing the Young Duke and Madam approaching from afar, someone had already informed the嬷嬷 (momo - elderly female attendant) by the old madam's side.
Lan Shi mustered her strength and sat up. "She has suffered too. I am fine, let's meet. This matter is truly Gu Changwei's fault."
Qin Shi, supported by Gu Sinian, entered the room. Her face was deathly pale, and she was emaciated.
Dong Ningwan was truly a menace. Even after so many years, she had still managed to mess up the Protector Duke's Manor. How could her son have been so infatuated? His wife was chosen by her personally – knowledgeable, virtuous, beautiful, and from a good background. Yet, she had been tormented to this extent in their Protector Duke's Manor. She also had daughters and knew how much Madam Qin doted on her.
Lan Shi, with reddened eyes, helped Qin Shi sit on the couch and then motioned for Madam Qin to sit down.
"Sister-in-law, it is my fault. I should not have left the manor just to seek peace. If I had been in the manor, Tingxue would not have ended up like this," Lan Shi said sincerely.
Madam Qin disliked Gu Changwei and detested this Protector Duke's Manor, but she could not dislike Lan Shi.
From beginning to end, Lan Shi had done everything perfectly, doting on Tingxue as if she were her own daughter.
"Good sister, what can I say? Seeing Tingxue like this, my heart as a mother is breaking. I have no other requests today, only to ask you to make the decision to let me take Tingxue back. I fear that if she stays here, I might end up burying my own child one day," Madam Qin said, choking back tears.
Lan Shi understood Madam Qin's feelings, but she could not agree to this.
If the dignified Madam of the Protector Duke's Manor returned to her maiden home like this, wouldn't the Protector Duke's Manor be in an uproar?
The Protector Duke's lineage was of military generals, deeply trusted by the Emperor. However, the Qin family was not to be trifled with either; they were also the Emperor's trusted aides.
If such a situation were to arise, it would truly be a laughingstock.
"Old sister, I know you are not feeling well, and I know Tingxue has suffered. I am back, and I am not leaving. Rest assured, with me protecting Tingxue and A'nian, that scoundrel will not be able to cause any trouble. A'nian is also grown, and he has military achievements. This Protector Duke's Manor will eventually be handed over to him. We can endure these days," Lan Shi said with a serious expression. "As for Dong Shi's son, don't even think about it."