Chapter 11: Listening to the Billows

  What's the big deal, it was just an excuse to get out of the rain anyway. But now that Wang Lin is giving off a murderous aura, I'm a bit concerned and will reluctantly ask about the situation. Actually, I'm afraid of asking too much and making mistakes.

  Nan Yue Lan said, "I don't quite recall, but I heard you say that I fainted by the lake. However, I clearly can't swim, it's really strange. Moreover, why was I the only one there that day? Why didn't you and Hua follow me?"

  "That day, I asked for a leave of absence and the young lady was in a bad mood. She made us wait at the side hall of the Taoist temple, saying she wanted to go to the back mountain to clear her mind. The master of the temple is an acquaintance of the madam's, and it just so happened that the mountain was closed for fasting and bathing, so I was sure there was no danger and let the young lady go out on her own. After waiting for a long time without seeing her return, I went with Hua to the small lake, where she was already soaked from head to toe and unconscious." It seems the young lady was really frightened, and everything before falling into the water is blurry.

  "What's behind the mountain?" As soon as this was said, it dawned on him that Nan Yue Lan Sheng used to often go to that Taoist temple.

  Unaware of the fruitless search, "Behind the mountain there are a few acres of orchards and a small lake, as well as several bamboo houses where Taoist priests practice asceticism, but I asked around, that day all the Taoist priests were in the main hall listening to the Tao."

  "Is there a bamboo house around where you found me?" Again it was a deserted mountain, and no one was there, but how did Wang Lin end up there?

  "No, there is one on the other side of the lake." You Hua Yin's wife and daughter were facing Gan, and he was willing to do his best for Miss.

  Nan Yue Lan Sheng thought for a while, then suddenly stood up, "Wu Guo, let's go to Tingtao Pavilion again!" Unable to hear anything conclusive, with doubts that cannot be verified, it's better to take a look in person.

  "I thought you really knew how to consider your mother, but it turns out you had this in mind." Wu Mei walked into the courtyard, with Hua following closely behind. "We'll set off after lunch, I don't have any free time to look for you, so you're not allowed to go anywhere."

  "Congratulations, Mother, your wish has finally come true and you can now return to your husband's side. What are you going to plot next? The position of the First Lady?" Nanyue Lan Sheng smiled and said with joy, "I think you're not as happy as I am, why don't you take this opportunity to keep me here instead? Nanyue Ping is the fourth in line, but she's called Third Miss, and you have to admit that your daughter doesn't have any talent or natural ability. Although I also don't know what those things are, so no matter how I look at it, I will become a burden to you."

  Wu Mei's eyes turned icy, "Even if you're useless, you're still mine. I won't abandon you, and you can't get rid of me either."

  "You want to abandon me but can't, because you're afraid of what others will say about your heartlessness and lack of emotions, not even caring for your own daughter. How could I forget? For three days after waking up, I didn't see you once, and when you finally came, instead of showing concern, you blamed me for causing trouble and wasting a lot of money on those Taoist priests just to avoid rumors ruining our reputation." Nan Yue Lan Sheng walked out, "I'll leave first and wait for you at the dock."

  "Wu Mei shouted, 'Halt!'"

  Nan Yue Lan said without stopping, "Don't worry, Mother, I have no money on me either. I was thinking of going back home with you to see what my father looks like, fulfilling a wish I've had for a long time."

  Wu Mei stared with her eyes wide open until the back of her daughter disappeared from view, then burst out laughing, "Your long-held thoughts aren't mine too? I can hardly remember what he looks like anymore."

  Hua muttered, "The mistress is so good to her, yet she's always like this."

  "I was not good to her." The smile faded, and the voice turned cold. "Who made her not like me, unable to help me in any way? If she had a bit of ability, I wouldn't have been driven out of the Nan Yue Fu's gate like that. I will never forget that humiliation, it's not her fault, but I couldn't help blaming her fate. There is a flower, go with her. She said she won't run away, but I'm afraid she'll cause trouble. Her eight characters are inauspicious, at the age of twenty she has a fatal destiny, evil spirits will visit, and I will also encounter great danger. Last time when I fell into the water, I thought it was over, didn't expect her to be able to survive."

  "I will never let her drag down her husband." You Hua clenched his fists.

  Wu Mei's eyes flashed with comfort, "It would be nice if you were really my own, go."

  After Hua left, Wu Mei walked out of the courtyard and saw Ning Guanshi frowning at the foot of the wall. "This expression is again saying that I am not in his heart."

  "Why bother? What's the point of being so tired?" Which mother and daughter in the world are as exhausting as this pair?

  "When she was born, I was still a child myself, and dealing with my vinegar-tempered sister exhausted me physically and mentally. But she never gave me any face, her silly and foolish appearance always made me angry. Now that I can finally return, I think she's probably not even as good as Ping Wa, it's frustrating! Frustrated, of course, I couldn't speak nicely to her. And another thing, she's also very confrontational, one word at a time, but when facing others, she becomes a soft persimmon." Wu Mei wrinkled her nose.

  "Madam is thirty-five, and this little girl's expression is unbearable." Ning Guanshi shook his head, "Besides, after Miss's serious illness, she seems to have come to her senses a lot. In the past, she wouldn't have said those words to Miss Ping in the main hall, and obviously helped you, madam."

  "Ning Shu doesn't understand, Nan Yueya just eats this set of mine." Although he said so, his expression became much more stable, as if he was thinking deeply, "I'm afraid that Hua hears and thinks I'm biased towards my own flesh and blood, so I only told you, Lan Sheng might have encountered evil."

  Ning Guanshi lost his smile, "Is this what you mean by supporting Miss's change of heart, madam?"

  "Don't you think so? She's been like a different person since she recovered from her illness. Not only is her body getting better every day, but she's also become more agile and quick-witted in the way she handles things. Sometimes I even can't keep up with her. And by the way, she wants to run away." Wu Mei narrowed her eyes.

  "Can you still be fooled even if I didn't actually run into evil?" Wu specialized in driving out ghosts and avoiding disasters.

  "I tried a few times, nothing unusual, but how can I explain her changes?" Wu Meizhen asked herself about her daughter.

  "After going through a tough time, I cherish myself more and understand that family relationships are precious." Ning Guanshi thought it was very wonderful.

  Wu Mei didn't say yes or no, "Let her be, as long as she doesn't interfere with my business."

  Nan Yue Lan was just mounting his horse when a flower came chasing after him.

  "Don't cause trouble for the lady at this time, okay? Hurry up and go back to pack your things. Even if you don't have a lot of luggage, you can still help the lady. You... "She opened her eyes wide in disbelief,"You're still planning to ride a horse?"What kind of young lady is this?

  "Miss Hua, madam doesn't need any help, the things at home have been packed up long ago." The silly little maid.

  "Hua Yi let out a cry of surprise, 'How is this possible? Nan Yueping only arrived today.'"

  "It was probably my father who sent a message, or there were my mother's informants on the other side of the family. Anyway, everything is ready, only waiting for the east wind. Today the east wind has arrived." Nan Yue Lan squeezed her legs together and the white horse under her opened its four hooves and galloped out.

  She chased after him in a flurry, but said, "Don't ever call me Miss again!"

  Nan Yue Lan was born with a smile like silver bells, "Who told you that your temper is even bigger than Miss's."

  Forced smile with no fruit, resulting in a more bitter mouth corner.

  Three people rushed to the Taoist temple, but saw that the mountain where the temple was located was filled with thick smoke and black fog, and a big fire was burning.