C7 Her Background

Mo Shang couldn't shake the feeling that this woman was no ordinary person. What kind of woman would say such things to a frail husband on their wedding night? And who would defend a stranger of a husband so fiercely? Moreover, who would boldly break down the gate of the main house with such righteous indignation?

It was all too incredible, and frankly, a bit "dangerous."

"Yan Li?" Luo Tingye smiled elegantly. "Didn't you investigate her a few days ago? Since her identity is beyond doubt, she must be Yan Li. She just had a sudden illness that changed her personality a bit."

Of course, he had looked into Yan Li. From the moment she entered the Luo Mansion, he had Mo Shang investigate her. He couldn't let someone stay close to him without knowing their background. The results were unsurprising: Yan Li was indeed the fiancée of his cousin from the Luo family. A year ago, she had fallen gravely ill and nearly lost her life.

Since recovering, her once timid nature had transformed into something formidable. She had turned the tables on those who used to bully her, dealing with them in a way that left them wary of approaching her again.

There was something unusual, though. She had given up farming to grow flowers instead. She used her two acres to cultivate a variety of flowers, which bloomed so beautifully that their fragrance could be smelled from miles away. However, they were expensive—a small pot of jasmine could cost thirty or forty cents, with some even reaching a dollar.

Luo Tingye's smile deepened. He didn't see anything wrong with this. People often fight back when pushed too far; it wasn't unusual.

Gazing into the dark sky, Luo Tingye felt a sense of uncertainty. Perhaps, with her arrival, the Luo Mansion might slowly begin to change.

His deep eyes looked up at the stars, and he exhaled a breath of stale air. The scent of the freshly moved jasmine pots in the yard filled his senses, and he felt a wave of contentment wash over him.

At this moment, Luo Tingye showed no signs of frailty. Under the starry sky, he appeared full of energy and spirit.

"...Ayuv, you did well. If Nanny Lau tries to approach again, just reason with her like I do. If she doesn't listen, show a bit of vulnerability and distress. Remember, use your words, not your hands. You represent me when you're by my side, so don't give anyone a reason to say that everyone in the Banquet Night Courtyard is rude. Do you understand?"

Just then, Yan Li's voice drifted over, accompanied by Ayuv's frequent affirmations. Luo Tingye, with his keen hearing, couldn't help but smirk at how she instructed the honest and straightforward Ayuv. It suited her personality perfectly.

"Use your words, not your hands." Luo Tingye mulled over this phrase, finding it... quite endearing.

With a creak, the gate opened, and a light-footed figure approached. Mo Shang's presence vanished like a magician's trick. Luo Tingye returned to bed, leaning slightly against the headboard, instantly adopting a frail demeanor, his earlier vigor nowhere to be seen.

"Luo Tingye? Did I disturb you?" Yan Li asked as she entered the room, seeing the seemingly weak Luo Tingye sitting there.

"I'm really sorry. I had no choice but to come this early. It's still before dawn. Why don't you get some more sleep? I'll go to the kitchen and fry some small fish for you."

With that, Yan Li disappeared from the doorway.

Luo Tingye thought: ...She sure left quickly.

And so, a few days passed.

Mrs. Lau's eyes were shadowed with dark circles, and the once beautiful face in the mirror had become haggard.

"Is she crazy? Does she even know what morning and evening greetings are anymore?"

For several days in a row, before dawn, she would come "knocking" at the door, driving Mrs. Lau to the brink of madness. This wasn't a morning greeting; it was a disturbance. And it wasn't just the morning; there were evening visits too, right during dinner. With a seemingly kind heart, she would point at the dishes and say, "Too much oil, you'll gain weight. Better not eat it, ma'am." "The dishes are too plain; are you planning to go vegetarian?" "This dish is nice, but on the estate, we feed it to the pigs." And she'd end with, "Sorry, I'm just straightforward. If I said something wrong, please forgive me."

"Is she really misspeaking? She's got a knack for saying exactly what gets under your skin."

Nanny Lau advised, "Ma'am, perhaps it would be best to let go of this formality?"

Nanny Lau's eyes were shadowed with fatigue. If the lady of the house wasn't sleeping well, how could she? Besides, she was getting older, and her sleep was getting lighter. After several sleepless nights, her old bones couldn't take much more.

Mrs. Lau's fingers tightened, her eyes sharp. "Let go of this formality? Yan Li is dreaming if she thinks she can get away with this. Last time, she disrupted my son's ceremony, and now she's causing me trouble again. Yan Li, I refuse to believe I can't handle you. Nanny Lau, go find me some people."

Nanny Lau was startled and blurted out, "Ma'am, you wouldn't be thinking of having someone rough up the Great Young Madam, would you?"

That wouldn't do at all. The Old Master despised violence. Even though the Luo Mansion was a large estate, it didn't have the strict rules of a government household. However, one rule was absolute: no violence in the house. Anyone breaking this rule, no matter the reason, would be expelled. Nanny Lau didn't want that fate. At over fifty, her family depended on her monthly wages. If she left the Luo Mansion, how would she survive?

Mrs. Lau spat, "Do you think I'm a fool? I wouldn't break the Old Master's rule. I just want you to..."

Mrs. Lau whispered her instructions to Nanny Lau, whose eyes immediately brightened. She smiled and accepted the task.

"Ma'am, just you wait and see. I may not have many skills, but I know how to pick the right people. I'll find someone who will make you proud."

With that, Nanny Lau cheerfully swayed her way out.

Banquet Night Courtyard.

Yan Li listened to the news Ayuv brought, narrowing her eyes slightly. "Are you saying Mrs. Lau no longer wants me to pay my respects?"

Ayuv nodded firmly. "Yes, Great Young Madam. Nanny Lau just came by to report it."

Ayuv's eyes sparkled with admiration, feeling that the Great Young Madam was truly impressive. Mrs. Lau had been throwing her weight around in the Banquet Night Courtyard for years, but lately, things had changed. Not only was the courtyard gate smashed, but Nanny Lau was also left speechless. The atmosphere at that moment was incredibly satisfying.

Yan Li, however, wasn't as pleased as Ayuv. Instead, she grew concerned. "Would Mrs. Lau give up so easily? I doubt it."

Ayuv replied, "Why not? With the Old Master protecting you and your own strength, if it were me, I’d back down too."

Yan Li looked Ayuv up and down. You're you, and she's her. How can they be the same? If Mrs. Lau really thought that way, she wouldn't have started targeting Luo Tingye ten years ago, nor would she constantly make things difficult for him.