Chapter 24: Ancestral Origins ◇

◎ Let Hua Ji howl in despair underground! ◎

Yi Po's son was efficient, immediately jotting down the names of those willing to sell their houses to the Hua family and those who would serve as guarantors. He presented the list to Yu Lian.

Yu Lian glanced over it. In just a short while, her predicament had been resolved. Ten people were available as guarantors, and an impressive ninety-three law-abiding citizens on the list were willing to vouch for her. Moreover, twenty-six properties were up for sale to her.

Li Xiang still beamed with triumph, declaring, "That's how it should be, it should have been done long ago. No matter how powerful the villain is, if we unite, whoever sells their house to Miss Sixth, we'll protect them. We'll join forces as guarantors. I'd like to see if this villain can kill one or two, let alone all the people in the world!"

"Absolutely right! The imperial edict stated that only Prince Hua Ji will face punishment, not the rest. We are all ordinary, law-abiding citizens, just like them. As such, we are protected by the laws of our dynasty. Why should someone with power be allowed to manipulate others behind their backs? Forcing people out of their homes without allowing them to purchase new ones—what kind of injustice is this?"

"I say we don't even need to buy a house. When the authorities come to evict us, we'll tell them that someone at the imperial court is preventing the Hua family from acquiring a residence. Let them investigate and sort it out before they proceed!"

"That may be true, but the officials are only following the law. The crucial thing is to identify the culprit behind this mischief. Otherwise, if Miss Sixth and her family, with their elders, women, and children, are truly evicted, where will they live?"

"Miss Sixth, please rest assured. We've agreed here today that if you find a suitable house, send word to the Fu Lai Teahouse in the city, saying that you've chosen a residence. We'll come forward as your guarantors."

"It's worth mentioning that the owner of Fu Lai Teahouse holds Miss Sixth in high esteem. The storytellers there exclusively recount tales of Miss Sixth and Prince Hua, with multiple versions already told. They even started a new segment yesterday."

With the list in her hand, Yu Lian smiled gently and said, "Uncles, aunts, and elder siblings, I, Yu Lian, am deeply grateful for your efforts in seeking justice for our Hu family. I have yet to repay your kindness when you sent me to the mansion that day, and now you've shown me another favor. I don't know how to reciprocate."

As she spoke, she bowed deeply.

The crowd hurriedly waved their hands, insisting it was unnecessary. Some of those standing at the front also bowed, feeling embarrassed. How could they allow the daughter of a Duke's residence to bow to them? She had even addressed them warmly as uncles and aunts.

"One doesn't need to be so polite, Miss Sixth. We merely admire your character and wish to speak up for you. Your courteous gesture leaves us, simple folk, at a loss," someone replied.

Yu Lian smiled. "I am now married and have taken on a new role. Would it be alright if you call me Lady Hu?"

Some of the people present had witnessed Yu Lian's journey from the Wei Duke's residence that fateful day. Recalling the scene, the departure of Prince Hu, and the tragic fate of this star-crossed couple, they couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for her as they observed the current state of the Hu family.

These days, the citizens of the capital were accustomed to addressing her as Miss Sixth, referring to Yu Lian, the sixth miss of the Wei Duke's residence. However, few had realized that she was indeed a married woman...

Someone called out, "Young Lady Hu."

Yu Lian nodded with a smile.

After the crowd dispersed, Li Xiang refused to leave and rushed to Yu Lian to claim credit for her actions.

"Surely you believe now that it wasn't me who did it?"

He then took the list of properties that Yu Lian had written out. "These residences are either in the southern or western part of the city. You don't need to consider the west, but the south might be viable. Ah, but if you're unwilling, I do have a house in the north that could suit you."

He pointed at two locations for Yu Lian's consideration. "Both of these are quite decent. Take your servants to view them tomorrow. Forget it, I'll come fetch you tomorrow. Would you like me to show you around?"

Yu Lian shook her head, asking him to return first. "Thank you for your help today."

Li Xiang stood where he was, watching her enter the estate until the gates closed before his lips curled into a smile.

As they say, perseverance will eventually break even the hardest stone. With more effort, he would sooner or later win Yu Lian's heart and divert her affections towards him!

Yesterday, Yu Lian had been cold towards him, yet today she spoke more and even smiled at him.

If this progress continued, he would one day be able to marry her, leaving Hua Ji weeping bitterly in his grave!

Feeling optimistic, the young man mounted his horse and left with a radiant expression.

In an unknown alleyway, a figure clad in black pleaded earnestly, "This is not a place for prolonged stay. You've lingered here too long after escaping danger. If the emperor discovers you, all your efforts will be in vain! I beg you, sir, to reconsider and evacuate as soon as possible!"

Beside the window, a man sat at his desk, with several sheets of paper before him. If Yu Lian were there, she would recognize them. One was the elegy she had written for Hua Ji, hastily composed with just a single line, which had been partially burned and then whisked away by the wind. Another was a sketch of a house nestled among mountains and waters, drawn carelessly yet with a simple warmth that contrasted starkly with the mournful words.

Two more letters had arrived from the black-clad spies who had been watching the Hua residence.

The man's starry eyes gazed intently at the papers, remaining silent for a long while.

Curiosity flickered in his gaze as if he sought to see through the papers to their author.

On the elegy, elegant regular script spelled out six characters: "Heaven may not grow old, but love cannot be extinguished."

The casual doodle beside it, however, exuded an innocent warmth, creating a striking contrast with the farewell's decisiveness, both emanating from the same hand.

Just then, a homing pigeon perched at the window sill. The man reached out to retrieve the message, which read, "Master, trouble! Someone is vying for your wife, and the young madam even smiled at him."

He recalled the previous letter: "Sir, the young madam has been secretly thinking of you again, and she shed tears."

After a moment of silence, he instructed, "Send Zhu Ying. Bring back Zhu Qing."

The black-clad spy knew full well that Zhu Qing was a talkative and dramatic person. With a hidden smile tugging at his lips, he replied, "Rest assured, I'll dispatch Zhu Ying immediately. But I must remind you, with important matters at hand, you shouldn't be entangled with the Hua family. If the emperor finds out, it might endanger the young madam, Lady Elder, and others."

After a moment, the man said, "Once they've moved and settled in, we'll leave."

"Should we still send Zhu Ying over?"

"Yes."

...

To everyone's surprise, Yu Lian didn't send anyone to inspect the house the next day, nor did she leave the mansion herself. Over the past few days, a vague idea had started to take shape in her mind.

The events that had transpired lately, especially the recent commotion over purchasing the house, made her realize something clearly: Beijing was not a peaceful place, at least not for her family.

Though the emperor hadn't sought to exterminate them entirely or cause them trouble openly, he remained a potential threat. As Li Xiang had pointed out, the Seventh Prince was the one manipulating matters behind the scenes to make things difficult for them. This Seventh Prince was a cowardly opportunist who, after betraying the East Yuan Marquis and his son, had become nothing more than a lapdog for the emperor, solely focused on currying favor. It wasn't impossible that he intended to gain the emperor's favor by causing trouble for the Hua family through his own actions, just as the original owner of this body had done before.

Everyone knew that the emperor used to be Hua Ji's archrival. He disliked Hua Ji and the Hua Mansion, but since he sat high on the imperial throne and had just ascended to power, he needed to demonstrate kindness and avoid leaving any openings for criticism. Therefore, he wouldn't openly deal with a small fry like the Hua Mansion.

This left the door open for those who were skilled at interpreting the emperor's intentions to take matters into their own hands.

The original owner had ridiculed her fiancé, Hua Ji, in an attempt to win the emperor's favor and become a palace concubine.

Prince Seventh had also given trouble to the Hua residence, hoping to curry favor with the emperor and gain advantages from him.

Adding to this, there were the rivals and enemies of the East Yuan Marquis House in the past. These people might not hesitate to make a move. Now that the Hua family held no official rank, they were just an ordinary family. It would be as easy for them to cause significant trouble as crushing an ant.

Some matters seemed insignificant until one delved deeper, revealing a chilling realization. Yu Lian deduced that the reason nothing had happened yet was likely due to the timing. She had just married into the Hua family, enjoying great prestige and public attention. They wouldn't strike at such a moment. Once they moved out of the marquis residence, the public's interest would naturally wane. As more time passed and new news replaced old topics, who would still remember a Hua family in the capital?

Then, they could do whatever they pleased without any constraints.

Since they had purchased a house and planned to leave the East Yuan Marquis Mansion, it signified settling down permanently in some part of the capital. This wasn't a matter of days, months, or even a year or two; it would take decades.

To survive in one place for a long time, stability was paramount. The common folk might lend assistance once or twice, but they couldn't be relied upon indefinitely. This time, they supported her due to her good reputation, but would they continue to help in the future? Not for countless times to come, surely?

Could they help her for a lifetime?

Over time, even the strongest goodwill would fade.

If not for the threats from those in the court and the emperor, Yu Lian would happily reside in a place where she was generally well-received. However, with these lurking dangers that couldn't be ignored, she needed to be much more cautious.

No reputation, no matter how impeccable, can withstand the crushing weight of power.

She understood this all too well.

It was precisely because of this realization that despite Li Xiang's assistance and the support of the common folk in securing a house, Yu Lian lost her desire to continue searching for one.

But living in the East Yuan Marquis's residence was no longer an option. In just a few days, the authorities would arrive to seal it off.

In this vast world, where should she go? Where should she take her family?

Recalling the small manor on the outskirts of the capital, Yu Lian felt a pang of regret. Losing her appetite, she decided to step out for a walk and catch some fresh air.

As she walked, she found herself subconsciously heading towards her grandmother's courtyard. It wasn't until she reached the entrance that she came back to her senses.

Yi Po had already spotted the young madam and greeted her warmly, calling out inside, "The young madam has come to visit you."

"You've arrived at just the right time. The old lady has just woken up to have her meal and was just talking about you."

"I saw the scene at the gate yesterday too. With your good reputation, the common people are willing to help you. This old servant thought you'd be out viewing houses today. Yet, you haven't taken a single step outside. Are you troubled by something?"

Yu Lian shook her head and sighed.

Silently, she entered her grandmother's room.

On a small round table were simple porridge and light dishes. The old lady was delighted to see her granddaughter and invited her to sit down. "My appetite is weak due to my age. Lian'er, tell Yi Po what you'd like to eat."

Yu Lian served herself a bowl of porridge but shook her head, saying she wasn't hungry.

The old lady looked at her for a moment. Seeing that she had taken the porridge but wasn't eating it, only stirring it aimlessly in the bowl, she asked with concern, "What's the matter?"

"Grandmother..." Yu Lian began, then paused. Encouraged by her grandmother's supportive gaze, she realized that her grandmother, with a lifetime of experience, would be someone to consult. So, she shared her concerns. "I didn't think about this before, but the recent house purchase has made me realize something. Grandmother, I have a premonition that this is just the beginning. In the capital... under the Emperor's feet, it's a prosperous era, with everything seemingly perfect. But there are too many influential figures, and we won't be able to stay here for long."

"I understand that my late husband and father-in-law were once too prominent, making countless enemies. Now that they're gone, those foes hold the upper hand and wield power. Our Hua family is like a fish on a chopping block, powerless to resist. Not only will the Emperor not protect us from their attacks, he might even turn a blind eye. How can we live peacefully in the shadow of the Emperor's throne?"

The old lady let out a long sigh and held her granddaughter's hand. "Lian'er, you're right. I've had the same worries, but I don't know what to do. I thought that in broad daylight, they might refrain from acting because of the consequences. But you're correct – we can't guard against danger forever."

Recalling the former glory of the East Yuan Marquis's household, the old lady couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow. Now, despite the vastness of the world, there seemed to be no place for their vulnerable family.

Yi Po entered at that moment and, noticing that Madam had not touched her food, said, "Madam, feel free to order whatever you desire. Erya's culinary skills were taught by me; she hasn't even mastered half of my techniques."

The elder lady chuckled. "She's excellent at preparing dishes from the Northwest. Yu Lian, why don't you give them a try?"

Yu Lian paused. "What did you call Yi Po just now?"

Yi Po was taken aback. "I said that if Madam wants something, I'll cook it for her."

"What about the next part?"

"I taught Erya how to cook..."

Suddenly, Yu Lian stood up, unable to remain seated any longer. She finally recalled the fleeting thought that had crossed her mind when she overheard Erya mentioning her family's origins in the Northwest.

Everyone has a lineage, whether they be nobles or commoners. One can always trace their roots back to an initial place, known as their ancestral hometown.

If Yi Po's family hailed from the Northwest, then where did her own family come from?

Where was the Hua family's ancestral home?

She had heard her mother mention that the Hua family's ancestors were farmers who later devoted themselves to scholarly pursuits, suggesting they weren't originally from the capital. In this area, the only Hua family she knew of was the East Yuan Marquis House.

The elderly lady spun her around so much that she became dizzy, urging, "Stop, stop! What has gotten into you, my little mischievous monkey?"

Yu Lian paused, unusually cheerful as she exclaimed, "Grandmother, I've just thought of where we should go!"

"I heard from Mother that our ancestors started as farmers and scholars. So, where is our ancestral hometown?"

The elder replied, "Your grandfather mentioned it once. Despite our former prosperity, our ancestral home is quite remote and poor, far away from the capital. According to your grandfather, before our ancestors prospered, their entire town had only one family producing scholars, with even the county having only a few educated men. How could that compare to the capital?"

Yu Lian's eyes lit up. The more remote, the better; the farther from the capital, the better. At this moment, that was the best condition!

She promptly suggested, "Grandmother, let's not look for a house in the capital anymore. How about we move back to our ancestral hometown as a family?"

The elder was hesitant. If they truly left the capital, it would mean taking a step backward, returning to being peasants. In the countryside, with twin babies at home, even if they wanted to hire a tutor, they wouldn't be able to find someone knowledgeable. Moreover, it would feel like completely accepting their fate, acknowledging their failure and retreat, stepping away from the center of power and becoming an insignificant ripple.

But she quickly came to her senses. She was being foolish. Even if they didn't leave, their family had already failed. Hua Ji had sacrificed his life to protect them and preserve the Hua lineage. How could she risk everything by letting her family continue living in fear and vulnerability in the capital?

Seeing the elder silent, Yu Lian tried to reason with her. "Grandmother, as the saying goes, 'the sky is high, and the emperor is far away.' You mentioned that our hometown is remote. If we move away, what can the emperor do to us? He can't possibly send people all the way there to silence us, can he? Besides, seeing us leave, he'll feel relieved knowing that we're just a family of elders, women, and children, honestly returning to the countryside to farm, with no chance of turning the tables. Would he really bother to make things difficult for us?"

The old lady was no fool. At first, she was just unaccustomed to the sudden change due to her lifelong habits. As the matriarch of the marquis' residence, she had always been fawned upon and admired. Now, her granddaughter-in-law suddenly suggested they return to their ancestral village to farm for a living, catching her off guard.

After some contemplation, she sighed, "Well, well, I should have accepted this a long time ago. Ever since Hua'er left, I should have foreseen this day. Yu Lian, you're right. We have neither power nor influence, and we're still under the watchful eyes of the emperor and our enemies. It's no longer suitable for us to remain in the capital. Moving back to our ancestral village is a good solution."

"In that case, the emperor and those people will see our wisdom and let us be. We'll avoid becoming the subject of gossip."

Yu Lian sat beside the old lady, holding her arm, and said joyfully, "Grandmother, you're so insightful. You're the wisest person in the world."

The old lady pinched her nose, "You silly child, why are you so happy about moving to the countryside? You could have lived comfortably in the Duke's residence and married into the Ru Yang Marquis family. Instead, you chose to suffer with us, and now you're willing to abandon your life in the capital and flee with us to the countryside. Do you know how remote and poor that place is? Your grandfather mentioned that it's mountainous, with inconvenient transportation. It's been a poor area since our ancestors' times, even through the changes of dynasties. The people there barely make ends meet by farming. As a young girl, you won't even find a place to buy makeup. I'm afraid you'll suffer there and won't be able to adapt."

Yu Lian shook her head with a smile, "How can that be? As long as there are green mountains and clear waters, how can we not survive? I actually yearn for a rural lifestyle, where we work during the day and rest at night, free from all the chaos. In the capital, one wrong move from an imperial prince or a high-ranking official could crush us. It's better to return to the countryside, where we can farm and raise chickens peacefully. As for you, don't worry too much. I've heard that the air is fresh in the countryside, and it will be good for your health. You can recover and live a long life, accompanying me for years to come."

The old lady was delighted and thoroughly convinced by her words. Her heart was moved.

"You're so sweet-tongued and skilled at cheering me up. Then, let's do as Yu Lian suggests. After lunch, I'll take you to see your father-in-law. Let's check if he's awake and discuss our plans. We shouldn't delay; we need to prepare to set out as soon as possible."

Yu Lian hadn't expected the old lady to be such a decisive person, taking action immediately after making up her mind without hesitation.

After finishing their meal, the grandmother and granddaughter-in-law went together. When they arrived, Yu Lian's mother-in-law was pacing anxiously. Seeing them, she cried, "Yan'er, Xing'er is nowhere to be found. I've searched everywhere but couldn't locate him."

In an instant, the old lady forgot everything. "The children are gone, why didn't you send someone to inform us? Why just stand there worrying?"

Mrs. Chen sobbed, "Mother, please don't be angry. I've just discovered this as well. I was about to ask Nurse An to bring the two children back for dinner when I realized they were missing."

"Today, Lord Chen seemed a little more energetic and stayed awake longer, so I accompanied him in conversation. In the blink of an eye, Yan'er and Xing'er disappeared."

Yu Lian instructed Erya to check with the other concubines as well. She reassured the old lady not to worry and to sit inside while she went out with her people to search. Seeing this, Mrs. Chen rushed after them in tears.

After searching for almost an hour, they couldn't find the two mischievous children. Just as Yu Lian was instructing her people to report to the local authorities, the two children returned.

They were covered in mud, with scratches and bruises on their noses and faces, suggesting they had fallen or collided with something.

Upon seeing their family and elders, they burst into tears.

"The young prince from the Duke of Old County's family sicced his dogs on us and had his servants catch us. He made us hold apples on our heads for his elder brother to practice archery," one of them cried.

"Wuwuwu, Grandmother, we were terrified. We managed to escape with great difficulty, but then we fell off the wall," the other twin wailed, their cries echoing loudly and tragically.

Yu Lian initially assumed it was merely children's play, but her expression darkened upon hearing this.

It was evident that they were being deliberately teased. How could they have escaped?

The elder matriarch, fuming with anger, drew her two grandsons into an embrace, consoling them with great affection. Seeing that her granddaughter-in-law was unaware, she explained, "The Old Duke is our neighbor, living right next door. He's just a leisurely member of the royal family, someone on the outskirts with no real power. Always trying to keep a low profile, he used to send his grandson over to our residence to play with Yan'er and Xing'er."

Yu Lian asked, "Our gates have been closed to visitors, and all exits are locked. How did you two manage to get out?"

Feeling guilty, the twins slunk behind their mother. Mrs. Chen had already been weeping in distress and had instructed Aunt An to fetch ointment for their wounds.

The younger one whispered, "There's a dog hole over there. We squeezed through it. Mother doesn't let us go out, so we're always confined within the courtyard. We were bored, and Little Fatty called us out, saying he had something fun to show us."

Yu Lian exchanged a glance with the elder matriarch, both of them now resolutely determined to leave as soon as possible.

A cough echoed from inside the room, followed by a weary voice, "Mother, please come in for a moment. I have something to discuss with you."