Chapter 4: A Heavenly Life
Liu Fuying set aside her thoughts, descended the steps, and was supported by Jin Li as she went forward to greet the visitor.
“Mother-in-law.”
The newcomer was Shen Xiunian’s mother, Old Madam Shen, Yu Shuang.
“A Yin, you’ve finally returned. You scared me to death. You’re finally back.”
As soon as she reached her, Old Madam Shen pulled Liu Fuying into her embrace, but the name she called out was “A Yin,” not Fuying.
“Mother-in-law, it’s my fault for worrying you.”
Liu Fuying returned the embrace with one arm, gently patting her back to comfort her.
“Let me look at you.” Old Madam Shen pulled her out of the embrace and examined her carefully from head to toe. “Why do you need someone to support you to stand steady? Are you injured? Have you seen a doctor?”
“I have, I’ve seen them all. The doctor said it’s nothing serious.”
“That’s good, that’s really good.”
Old Madam Shen wiped away her tears, her demeanor carrying an unusual air, and her sobs sounded almost childlike.
However, this state was already a significant improvement for Old Madam Shen.
Liu Fuying still remembered the first time she saw her—she was completely deranged and nearly hit by a carriage on the road.
Old Madam Shen had become this way not only due to her inner demons but also because of years of harassment and mistreatment from the second uncle’s family.
For this reason, among others, Shen Xiunian would never agree to hand over the family business to the second uncle.
Liu Fuying accompanied Old Madam Shen back to her room, ordered dinner to be served, and coaxed the old madam into eating as if she were a child. After the meal, it was time for the medicinal soup, but the old madam mumbled that the medicine was too bitter and refused to drink it. Liu Fuying then sent someone to her own courtyard to fetch the medicine brewed according to the prescription the doctor had given her that day, intending to drink it alongside Old Madam Shen.
“A Yin, you must take your medicine properly and get better quickly.”
Old Madam Shen, though refusing to drink her own medicine, earnestly urged Liu Fuying to take hers. Yet, her repeated use of “A Yin” revealed that she still mistook Liu Fuying for someone else.
That girl was Xu Liangyin.
According to Shen Xiunian, Xu Liangyin was the daughter of Old Madam Shen’s closest friend.
Back then, Xu Liangyin was only four or five years old when she was left in the care of the Shen Family. Later, due to an unintentional oversight by Old Madam Shen, Xu Liangyin lost her life. Xu Liangyin’s mother had originally left her daughter with the Shen Family while she went out to search for her missing husband. Over a year later, she only managed to recover her husband’s corpse, and upon returning, she learned the tragic news of her daughter’s death. Overwhelmed with grief, she took her own life.
For many years, this incident had become Old Madam Shen’s inner demon and the root cause of her later madness.
During their first meeting, Old Madam Shen had mistaken Liu Fuying for Xu Liangyin and insisted on bringing her back to the Shen Family.
But ever since meeting Liu Fuying, Old Madam Shen’s condition had improved day by day.
This was also the reason Shen Xiunian had married her—solely to have her care for Old Madam Shen.
After drinking the medicine, Old Madam Shen thoughtfully urged Liu Fuying to return and rest.
Liu Fuying’s hands and feet were currently inconvenient, and she needed proper recuperation.
“Madam, your ankle is so swollen you mustn’t walk too much. What if you injure the bone even more seriously?”
“I know, I’ll go back and rest properly now.”
She also wanted to recover quickly so she could enter the mountains sooner. Matters of offspring were better addressed sooner rather than later.
Returning to her own courtyard, Jin Li removed Liu Fuying’s shoes and socks, lifted her leg, and used ice wrapped in cotton cloth to reduce the swelling.
Liu Fuying looked at her with gentle eyes and brushed aside the stray hairs on Jin Li’s forehead.
“You must have been terribly frightened yesterday.”
Yesterday, Jin Li had accompanied her to offer incense at Changmingguan. When she returned with the borrowed umbrella and found her missing, Jin Li must have been scared out of her wits.
“Naturally, I was terrified. In this world, you are my only family, miss. If anything were to happen to you, I wouldn’t want to live either.”
The word “miss” stirred deep emotions in Liu Fuying.
As a concubine-born daughter, she had never been favored in her family. After her mother passed away, the bullying and mistreatment only intensified. On ordinary days, being able to eat coarse food was considered fortunate, and during the hardest times, it was Jin Li who endured alongside her.
“Don’t be afraid… if only for your sake, I must fight for it.”
“Fight for what?”
Fight for what? Fight for the Shen Family estate that Shen Xiunian had promised her.
“By the way, how much do you know about the incident when Marquis Pei was imprisoned for rebellion?” Liu Fuying suddenly thought of this and asked Jin Li, seemingly changing the subject.
“Marquis Pei… are you referring to the empress’s younger brother?”
“Yes, him.”
“Why would you ask about him, miss? I haven’t heard much about his affairs. It seems he was accused of colluding with the enemy and treason. In the end, one of his subordinates took the blame and cleared his name. However, he was still charged with failing to discipline his subordinates properly. Though this wasn’t enough to land him in prison, he was confined to Xiangshan for self-reflection, with the promise of release once the investigation was fully concluded. But…”
But, it was likely he would never come out.
Rebellion was a sensitive matter to begin with, and Pei Zhouwu had previously achieved remarkable military feats, to the point of overshadowing the emperor. Whether he had actually plotted rebellion or not, the emperor would never allow a powerful maternal relative to threaten his imperial authority. All talk of self-reflection and awaiting investigation was merely a polite facade for outsiders.
Liu Fuying leaned back, her gaze drifting.
Truth be told, Liu Fuying was actually quite satisfied with this marriage in name only.
Shen Xiunian had no other siblings. Though the family line was thin, it was peaceful—no large household to manage, no need to warm the bed or attend to a husband, and her mother-in-law adored her as if she were her own daughter. All she had to do was eat, drink, and enjoy life without a care.
Wasn’t this a heavenly existence?
Originally, she hadn’t even needed to have a child, since raising one was no easy task.
She had even considered faking a pregnancy and adopting a child, but the attitudes of those in her second uncle’s household served as a stark warning.
What if the child grew up, learned of their origins, and insisted on searching for their birth family? Or worse, secretly supported their blood relatives and squandered the family fortune? What would she do then?
No matter how she thought about it, having a child of her own bloodline seemed the safest option.
“In a few days, once my mother-in-law recovers from her illness and my own health improves, we’ll go back to Changmingguan in the mountains to fulfill our vow.”
Half a month later.
Liu Fuying had instructed Jin Li the day before to prepare everything needed for the incense offering at the Taoist Temple. They set out by carriage early in the morning, planning to return after the midday vegetarian meal.
The weather was pleasant today, with bright sunshine and a touch of warmth.
As the Great Heat season approached, the intense sunlight would dry her hair more quickly—a good thing.
Liu Fuying also had Jin Li prepare an extra set of clothes to change into after going into the water. While hair dried easily, water-soaked clothing would leave obvious traces.
She had already confided everything about Pei Zhouwu to Jin Li.
Jin Li was somewhat nervous, but she had the virtue of unwavering loyalty to Liu Fuying.
“Miss!”
Though Liu Fuying had been married for two and a half years, Jin Li still often slipped up with the address, hurriedly correcting herself before continuing.
“Madam, I’ve checked. Behind the house where Concubine Zhao’s memorial tablet is enshrined, there is a spot where one can descend the mountain. However, it’s overgrown with weeds and difficult to walk, with no visible path at all.”