She quickly wrote a letter and had it delivered by express rider to the capital, determined to inform the Crown Prince of the news as soon as possible, no matter what.
She would have to live in this world for a long time to come. If the Crown Prince ascended to the throne, it would only bring her benefits, not harm. Moreover, the Crown Prince was resourceful and principled, destined to be a wise ruler.
Soon, envoys from the Crown Prince contacted Wu Caiwei. She did not involve herself in the subsequent affairs, knowing that curiosity could be fatal and knowing too much was not good.
Wu Caiwei believed that doing good deeds was always the right thing to do, regardless of the time. Thus, she took in the elderly and widowed, established schools, built roads and bridges, and offered free medical consultations.
Lin Shuisheng stayed by her side throughout, supporting her in everything she wished to do.
They soon had their first son. During the delivery, seeing basins of blood being carried out, Lin Shuisheng turned pale with fright. He absolutely forbade her from having another child, believing that one child was enough to inherit the Liu family. If Wu Caiwei truly loved children, they could adopt.
Her return to the capital was again at the Emperor's summons. All the imperial physicians declared Princess Anhe beyond saving. The Emperor thought of Wu Caiwei and, despite her own illness, pleaded with her mother.
Upon seeing Princess Anhe, Wu Caiwei shattered the last of the princess’s hope.
Princess Anhe’s health deteriorated visibly with each passing day.
Within a few days, news of her death spread. In reality, the princess had managed to hold on this long due to her noble status and the excellent medication she received.
Not long after, the Emperor also passed away, and the Crown Prince smoothly ascended to the throne.
It was only then that Wu Caiwei learned that Princess Anhe’s stockpiling of grain in the south was to feed the army. King Wu and she had conspired to have her maternal uncle secretly return to the capital to support his rebellion.
For the rest of their lives, they dedicated themselves to good deeds, becoming renowned as "great philanthropists." Their deaths caused a stir.
Wu Caiwei felt that her life had been worthwhile. After a period of vigorous enterprise, she handed over her businesses to her children. The couple traveled extensively, experiencing the rugged beauty of the northern frontiers and enjoying leisurely stays in the Jiangnan region.
On her deathbed, she saw the pleased expression of the original host. A beam of golden light entered her body. Though she didn’t know what it was, her intuition told her it was something beneficial.
Returning to modern times once more, Wu Caiwei felt a sense of disorientation. Although only a day had passed in the modern world, she had lived an entire lifetime in ancient times.
Uncertain if she would ever see Lin Shuisheng again, Wu Caiwei felt a pang of sadness. When the voice in her mind asked if she wished to continue with the next mission, she chose to proceed without hesitation. After so many years, she had grown accustomed to his companionship. Suddenly living alone was disorienting. Starting a new mission would help her redirect her focus.
Almost instantaneously, she found herself in an unfamiliar place. She was dressed in simple cloth, the ground uneven beneath her feet, and the house furnished with basic items. "This time, I have to start all over again," Wu Caiwei thought to herself.
"Didn't you hear me? How many times have I told you? If it weren't for Xiao Rui's father, I wouldn't have made it back. It's only right that we take care of him and his mother, isn't it? You're reluctant to part with even this little bit of food?" The middle-aged man handed her a piece of meat. Seeing her refuse, he chided her.
"My stomach hurts. I'm going to the outhouse," Wu Caiwei said, turning and running outside, ignoring the man’s incessant nagging.
Reaching the corner of the house and seeing no one watching, she quickly absorbed the memories.
"Leaving the clothes here unwashed, where else did you go to slack off? A woman as lazy as you won't be tolerated in any household. Be careful, I'll have Caiyou divorce you." As soon as Mother Li entered the house, she saw the laundry half-done and her daughter-in-law nowhere in sight, her temper flaring.
"I'm not feeling well today. Whoever wants to wash can do it. If your Li family wants to divorce me, fine. But I'm taking Zhutao with me, and you'll compensate me for my years of hardship." Wu Caiwei emerged from the corner, her expressionless. If the original host had been spoken to like this by Mother Li, she would have rushed to do the chores in a panic. Wu Caiwei had no intention of indulging them.
"Sun Yuanyue, you don't want to live anymore, do you? How dare you speak to me like that? I'll go to your Sun family tomorrow and reason with them. How could they raise such a daughter?" Mother Li exploded in anger, saying furiously.
"Didn't you just say you wanted to divorce me? I'm merely stating facts." Wu Caiwei looked at the fierce old woman. The original host must have been bullied by her countless times. Did she think Wu Caiwei would docilely comply like the original host? That was impossible.
"Yuanyue, I know you're unhappy about me always sending things to Xiao Rui's mother. But if we don't repay kindness, people will point fingers at us when we go out." Li Youcai thought Sun Yuanyue was upset because he had been sending things to their home daily and quickly tried to reason with her.
"My life is also difficult. Zhutao and I haven't eaten meat in days. Why don't you say we should also have some good food? I've noticed the place you hold in your heart is far more important than ours. You wouldn't have any ulterior motives, would you?"
"How could that be? Isn't my care for them because Xiao Rui's father saved my life? Besides, you're the one who always delivers the things. I never meet her to avoid gossip." Li Youcai quickly denied it, feeling a little guilty, afraid that Sun Yuanyue might see through something.
"Why are you speaking so loudly? The louder you are, the more guilty you sound. Anyone else would think there's something going on between you two. As for this meat today, I'll consider it for Zhutao and me as a treat. I won't send it. If you send it out, I'll go back to the Sun family and tell everyone."
"Why are you so unreasonable? I've told you, they are our benefactors, and we must repay their kindness. What more do you want?" Li Youcai was truly exasperated by her, no matter what he said, she didn't believe him.
"Didn't your mother want to divorce me? I've stated my conditions. If you agree, marry whoever you want. Just find someone to have a son for you."
"What are you talking about? How could that be? We've been together for so many years. We're still young. I believe we'll have children." Li Youcai was tempted but refused to admit it verbally.
"I suspect you're just saying that. Everyone knows what you and your mother are thinking. I've already stated my conditions. It all depends on how much your sincerity is worth." If she hadn't known the plot that followed, Wu Caiwei would have truly believed this man was simply repaying a debt of gratitude.
"I was just scaring you. We've been saying that for years, and when has it ever been implemented? I just want a grandson to carry on the Li family name. In my heart, you've always been my only daughter-in-law." Mother Li quickly chimed in, hearing her daughter-in-law take her words seriously.
Although she was displeased with her daughter-in-law, she was even more displeased with the widow, as her son was too close to that widow.
While it was supposedly to repay kindness, given the living conditions of a farming family, you couldn't send her good food and drink every day, especially with a whole family to feed. There was a limit to the care one could provide. She decided to constantly remind her son from now on.