Chapter 5 Persuasion Original Release Network

  "Whatever!" Wei scolded Tao, then turned to He Huan and said: "That Lin girl is dead, it's the heavens helping us. Huan'er, as long as you follow Grandma's arrangements..."

  He Huan interrupted Wei Shi and said, "Auntie, you're old and shouldn't overexert yourself. However, there's one thing that only you can do." She ignored Wei Shi's angry expression and continued, "In the future, would you mind going to the Taoist temple to stay for a few days?"

  Wei's face turned bright red with anger as he shouted, "Are you trying to drive me away? You really have a conscience, aren't you afraid of ruining your own reputation?"

  He Huan ignored her shouting and turned to say to Mrs. Tao, "Auntie, you should know about the Qing Song Pavilion. I guess that after my cousin is buried, Mr. Shen will definitely go there for a short stay. At that time, I'll go visit Auntie and naturally be able to talk to him."

  "Huan'er, isn't this bad?" Mrs. Tao shook her head repeatedly, with a disapproving expression.

  "How did you know that Shen Jinglun would definitely go to Qing Song Guan?" Wei cut in, her thoughts becoming more active.

  He Xuan slightly curled up the corners of her mouth and said with confidence: "I not only know that he has a close relationship with the abbot of Qing Song Temple, but I also know what he likes and dislikes. I even know why he avoided me and my aunt as soon as he saw us from afar last time."

  "Why?" Wei asked hastily.

  He Huan said slowly, word by word: "The last time I lost to my cousin, the most important reason we all forgot was that Mr. Shen read 'Analects' and 'Hundred Schools of Thought' at the age of five, and became a high school champion at the age of fifteen. Afterwards, he always accompanied the crown prince as a reader. He attaches great importance to ethics and etiquette. How can he tolerate me calling his aunt 'grandmother', and recognizing a mysterious boat girl as his stepmother?"

  "Don't spout nonsense here!" Wei's face turned pale and then flushed with anger as he sneered, "You say he values propriety and etiquette the most, yet you want to secretly meet him at the Taoist temple..."

  "Auntie!" Madam Tao frowned and said in a low voice, "You're an elder, even if you don't care about Huan'er's reputation, you should consider Jing'er's future. If some words get out..."

  "What's wrong, don't you like the way I'm talking? We're all about to starve to death at this point, do we still have to die of hunger for the sake of our reputation?"

  Although Tao did not agree with this remark, he did not dare to retort and only lowered his head to repeatedly twist the handkerchief in his hand.

  He Huan was not angry. Earlier, Wei had said even more unpleasant things to the real He Huan, otherwise it would have been impossible to force her to surrender to Shen Jinglin. Fortunately, the real He Huan was timid and had also read a few years of books, so she did not undress in front of Shen Jinglin. Otherwise, if there had been such a precedent, with Shen Jinglin's temper, she might not have been able to get close to him for the rest of her life.

  Thinking of Shen Jinglin's various behaviors, He Huan felt both anxious and sentimental. She calmed herself down and asked Wei Shi: "Auntie, am I speaking nonsense? You're very clear in your heart. Over the years, you've 'accidentally' met with Mr. Shen many times; has he ever addressed you as 'Old Mrs. He'?"

  Wei felt even more embarrassed upon hearing this. She awkwardly retorted, "Do you think that just by calling him 'Auntie', he will change his opinion of you?"

  "Of course it's impossible." He Huan shook his head, "Talking to him is just the first step. He's a cold person who only loves playing chess, reading books and painting. We must cater to his interests. Moreover, the child left behind by my cousin is his eldest son, we also need to start with that child."

  Tao's eyes narrowed as he looked at He Huan, his brow furrowed even deeper. In a low voice, he asked: "Huan'er, how did you know about these things?"

  He Huan naturally didn't dare say that she was Lin Xiyu. She smiled sorrowfully and slowly recounted: "The bangle from yesterday is the only memento my mother left me. I couldn't bear to pawn it, originally wanting it to accompany me underground, but the white silk broke. When I returned to the city, I learned that my cousin had died in childbirth. So I used that bangle to bribe a servant of the Shen family. Last night, I was constantly gathering information."

  Tao heard her words and saw the bruise on her neck, which made her feelings even more complicated. Wei glanced at her lightly and secretly calculated in her mind.

  After a moment, He Huan said to Wei Shi: "Auntie, are you willing to go to Qing Song Guan for me and pave the way with just one sentence? However, I must remind you that you have seen the situation at home. Perhaps this is our last chance."

  "Huan'er, your great aunt still thinks it's not suitable. If this doesn't work out this time, how will you get married in the future?"

  "No 'ifs'!" He Huan's eyes gleamed as he stared at Wei Shi, "Auntie, I know you have your own stash of silver, but living off it will only last for so long. How many days can that silver really sustain you?"

  "Even if I wanted to go, do you think Qing Song Guan would let me eat and stay for free?"

  He Xuan's heart knew that Wei Shi had agreed, and she looked at Tao Shi again, saying: "Elder Aunt, let bygones be bygones from now on. From now on, we must work together with one mind, otherwise, even if Jingdi is clever, without a good teacher, how can he become a high-ranking scholar? Elder Uncle repeatedly instructed you before his death that even if life is hard, selling property and land should also allow Jingdi to study well..."

  "I... I still have some private savings... that can be used for Jing'er's education... even if we have to live a simpler life." Madam Tao still disapproved.

  Wei hummed coldly and said, as if to herself, that she was old and weak, and didn't know what would happen tomorrow. She was willing to go to Qing Song Guan, without any private motives, completely for the sake of the He family, for He Huan and He Jing. After speaking, she gave He Huan a sideways glance, hinting at her to quickly persuade Tao Shi.

  He Huan was just about to speak when a commotion broke out outside the door. She opened it to see Cao Shi holding a small stick, seemingly wanting to break open the west wing's door, while Bai Mu was half-pulling and half-restraining her. By the window of the west wing, He Jing poked out more than half his body, hesitating whether he should climb out the window.

  "What are you doing!" Wei scolded, but unfortunately no one paid attention to her.

  Earlier, Cao was intimidated by He Huan's momentum. After washing her face with cold water and calming down, she thought that He Jing was born to her, the entire He family were their mother and son, and she didn't need to be afraid at all.

  She originally planned to drag He Jing to force He Huan to surrender, but found that He Huan had locked He Jing in the west wing house. This was a rare opportunity, and she must let He Jing see He Huan's true face!

  When Cao saw that the door of the main house was already open, she didn't know where a burst of evil energy came from, and with one push, she knocked down Bai Shao. Her mouth shouted loudly: "Jing Er, don't be afraid, I'll save you right away." After speaking, she swung her small club and "thudded" against the door.

  The He family's grand mansion was built during the heyday of the family, and although it has now fallen into disrepair, everywhere is filled with decay and desolation. However, the materials used to build the mansion were all genuine and authentic. Cao's small hammer struck the door panel, but not only did it fail to break open the door, but the rebounding hammer also tripped him up, causing him to stumble and crash into the corridor pillar.

  He Jing saw his birth mother fall down and jumped out of the window to hold her up.

  Mrs. Cao was dazed from being hit by the pillar and didn't notice her son's actions, only seeing Bai Miao trying to help her up. She waved her hand and slapped him, spitting on his body, scolding: "You ungrateful little beast, black-hearted and white-eyed wolf! You've been freeloading at home for so many years, now that you have the upper hand, you think you can turn against me? Today I'll let you know who's the real master!" As she scolded, she punched and kicked Bai Miao.

  He Huan had already bypassed the Wei family and walked to the center of the courtyard. Seeing Cao's scolding, she slowed down her pace and her eyes fell on He Jing. He Jing was very close to the real He Huan, but after all, she didn't understand his temperament.

  On the side, He Jing was frightened by the scene in front of her, to be exact, she was scared by Cao Shi. He stepped forward and wanted to pull Cao Shi, explaining urgently: "Second Auntie, you misunderstood, Big Sister didn't lock me up, I was just reading books at the door."

  It's unclear whether it was because of He Jing's soft voice, her small stature, or Cao Shi's raging anger that made her lose her rationality. She swung her right hand with force and pushed He Jing away, not even turning her head back as she continued to scold Bai Miao.

  He Jing was pushed away by Cao's family and retreated several steps before stabilizing his body. "Second Aunt, don't hit anymore, it really has nothing to do with Bai Miao." He said as he pulled Bai Miao back while trying to persuade her.

  Tao didn't know why He Huan slowed down her pace, she walked past her to the corridor, pulled He Jing behind her and loudly questioned Cao: "You want to discipline your subordinates, do you have to do it in front of everyone? Besides, the west wing is where I and Jing'er live, you live in the east wing, what qualifications do you have to smash the door of the west wing?"

  "What's going on, are you all ganging up to bully me now? Jing'er, come with me!" Cao pulled He Jing's wrist, "This place can't accommodate us mother and son, let's go."

  "Jing'er is the eldest son of the main house, he's my son!" Madam Tao grasped Jing's other wrist.

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