Chapter 349: After Binding the Child-Bearing System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 350: Passersby Striving to Live (18)

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

"A Yan, Eldest Sister-in-law has been ill for a while now, hasn't she?"

In private, Shen Yao raised the matter of Luojing again. With Madam Liu not at their side, they spoke with complete abandon.

Liu Jingyan gave a hum, his expression unconcerned. "Eldest Brother said Eldest Sister-in-law's constitution has always been somewhat weak. This year, the cold spans all of Wei State, and Luojing has seen continuous heavy snow. From Eldest Brother's meaning, Eldest Sister-in-law needs to properly recuperate."

This is a common ailment of wealthy families; ordinary women in Luojing City more or less all carry a fragile air, unless they deliberately study martial arts.

But historically, mastering martial arts requires suffering hardship; the men of the household must uphold heaven and earth, while women, for the most part, never reach that stage.

Liu Jingsheng's wife is a Commandery Princess, raised in luxury from childhood; it is only normal that her body cannot endure the winter cold.

He explained softly for a couple of sentences, but Liu Jingyan not only failed to dispel Shen Yao's doubts, he instead aroused her suspicion.

"Falling ill at this time... perhaps Eldest Sister-in-law's condition is not as simple as it appears."

Shen Yao's brow arched. She picked up a handkerchief embroidered with flowers and turned it in her fingers. "Royal women may be somewhat frail, but the Imperial Physicians in the palace are not mere decorations. A Yan, Grandfather has been on campaign for several months with no definite news; indirectly, this shows the Emperor's personal expedition is not going well."

Luojing is the capital of Wei State, the royal family's back garden; now that the master's war situation is unfavorable, how could Luojing not be in chaos?

Shen Yao thought of the several Princes who fought until they had black eyes, and deeply felt they would not coexist peacefully; given the chance, they would rather directly crush each other to death.

Liu Jingyan looked at Shen Yao with an inscrutable expression. "You mean Eldest Sister-in-law's illness might be related to Eldest Brother?"

As for who could directly move against Eldest Sister-in-law, right now in all of Luojing's Liu Family only Eldest Brother remains; as for the few illegitimate brothers left in Luojing, with Father not in Luojing, they don't even count as a hair.

Shen Yao did not deny her speculation; Eldest Sister-in-law's illness is simply too coincidental. And these words, Liu Jingsheng could never write clearly in a letter.

"Regardless of whether there is a connection, if we think a little more, we can never go wrong."

Better to overthink than to underthink; at a time like this, the slightest carelessness leads to a situation of unending internal strife.

Liu Jingyan:...

Persuaded by Shen Yao in a few words, Liu Jingyan reached out and pinched his chin, suddenly feeling the progress at the manor outside the city was too slow; he should hire more people to speed it up.

Watching Liu Jingyan chat halfway then hurriedly run off again, Shen Yao sighed helplessly.

They only half-understand Luojing's affairs, and front-line progress is also intermittent. Tsk tsk tsk, clearly I'm not the protagonist but just a passerby; could it be I'm cannon fodder from the same era as the protagonist? And this protagonist isn't taking a grassroots rise but a path of power struggles and hegemony? Can't figure it out.

"Master, this servant sent people to inquire; there are no such people as you described in Yingchuan."

One clear morning, Qing Shui stood beside Shen Yao with a troubled face and reported back.

During this period, Master has been very concerned about the situation in the city, especially regarding young talents, those who achieved early.

However, those with some talent in Yingchuan all come from high-ranking great clans; commoners are all busy with daily livelihoods.

"As for the martial hall, it does recruit some commoners, but all have signed contracts selling themselves to the hall master; even after mastering their arts, they must sell their lives for the martial hall."

There is simply no one who can successfully break away from the martial hall; only a few promising ones merely become ordinary martial masters of the hall, daily enjoying the hall's offerings, and when effort is needed they cannot shrink back."

Qing Shui did not understand what use Master had for inquiring about these things, but she still went about it properly for several days, ensuring no information was missed before temporarily stopping.

"Since that's the case, then forget it; from now on only inquire about fresh news, no need to invest excessive energy in the rest."

Clicking her tongue inwardly, Shen Yao thought: novel contents truly cannot be fully believed.

Perhaps it's other cities where grassroots rise happens; in any case, not a trace of it can be seen in Yingchuan.

After all, the wealth gap in ancient times is enormous; martial hall expenses are not something ordinary commoners can afford; wanting to learn some skills to stand firm in this era, most need a bit of family foundation.

As for the matter Shen Yao had Qing Shui run off to investigate, it wasn't entirely useless; at least it once again verified the difficulty for those at the bottom to cross class boundaries.

"Qing Shui, has the Young Master still been busy with the manor's affairs lately?" Shen Yao pondered. It's been a good stretch of time, right?

Qing Shui nodded. Liu Jingyan's daily out-and-back times were fixed, and quite a few things from the Yingchuan ancestral home had also been sent to the suburban manor.

"Heard from the servants who went over that the manor is currently repairing the outer wall."

Liu Jingyan wants to build the manor into a Fortress, walling off the living area; even if enemies invade, they can lean against the Fortress to defend and counterattack.

Recently, Yingchuan commoners all know about the manor outside the city hiring workers.

Because the Liu Family offers high wages, many families send men, women, old, and young all together; even the government office's runners have to help maintain order.

Of course, with the Liu Family making such a huge spectacle, the money scattered out daily is incalculable.

Shen Yao, currently acting as the Liu Family's chief accountant, truly experienced once what it means to spend money like flowing water; her raised hand simply could not be put down.

Waving her hand to dismiss Qing Shui, Shen Yao walked two circles around the small courtyard before her.

Recently, disliking the cold, she didn't like going out, causing her body to grow somewhat sluggish.

Walk walk, move move, swing her arms and lift her legs; Shen Yao pondered whether she should make a trip to the manor.

Liu Jingyan has been running back and forth busy for months; the number of times she herself went over can be counted on one hand.

Moreover, Liu Jingyan promised to build the courtyard to her liking; Shen Yao still wants to guide on-site, and if anything is unsuitable, it can be changed anytime, anywhere.

"But it's rather chaotic outside; if you run into wind and sand, you might not make it back in time. Mingxuan and Mingfei are nearly one year old; can you bear to leave them at home?"

Liu Jingyan's first reaction upon hearing this was refusal; he can suffer hardship himself, but let his wife suffer? No.

Shen Yao gave a soft hmph. "If I don't go, how will I know the manor's progress?

A Yan, Mother is always at home, and Mingxuan and Mingfei still have wet nurses and servants by their side.

They aren't porcelain dolls that shatter at a touch; must you tether this birth mother by their side?

Besides, Mingxuan and Mingfei have been meticulously nurtured by Shen Yao since childhood; who knows how many Nurturing Body Pills they've eaten; their physiques are far healthier than ordinary people's.

Tugging at Liu Jingyan's hem and acting coquettish in various ways, Liu Jingyan could only throw up his hands in surrender.

"Fine, tomorrow early morning, we'll go out of the city together." It's just going to the manor; not difficult at all.

Shen Yao smiled like a flower. "A Yan, see? If you'd said so earlier, it would've been fine."

Liu Jingyan:...

Early the next morning, the two of them had their morning meal, sent the child to Madam Liu's place, then took the carriage outside the door out of the city.

Because the selected estate was located west of the city, after leaving the city they had to make a detour of about one and a half circles.

After about half an hour, Shen Yao, through the lifted curtain, saw an estate that had taken quite a shape.

Pitch black and gloomy, the city wall built outside was taller and heavier than imagined.

The party's carriage did not stop, passing through the city wall and continuing forward until they heard the entrance to an exquisite and luxurious residence at the center.

Holding onto Liu Jingyan's hand as she got out, Shen Yao raised her head to look at the surroundings.

At a glance, everyone was busy setting up, and the clansmen they had brought back were not idle either, leading errands running back and forth here.

"Let's go in and take a look. When spring comes and the weather warms, we'll move here to live."

Liu Jingyan brought Shen Yao into the residence; inside there were still some unfinished parts, with rock fragments scattered on the ground that had not been cleaned up in time.

Passing through the long corridor, walking through the corridor, Shen Yao let go of his hand and felt around by herself.

Liu Jingyan had matters to attend to, including purchasing and all construction supplies, all requiring his nod before they could be brought in from outside.

Shen Yao's purpose for coming was achieved, and she very considerately let Liu Jingyan leave.

"Master."

"Follow me to the back courtyard to take a look," this would be where she lived in the future, so it had to be arranged properly.

The arrangement Shen Yao had in mind was not those appearances or jewelry, but means to defend against strange phenomena and monsters.

The Demon Race could still move their hands and fight a bit, but these anti-human strange phenomena and monsters—she had to rely on the treasures she had saved up earlier.

Without Liu Jingyan following her at all times, Shen Yao would find things more convenient. First she sent Qing Shui to guard the doorway, and Shen Yao stayed alone in the room.

The empty room, with only a few screens hanging, had nothing worth looking at.

Shen Yao had learned the Gazing Qi Technique before, but could only count as half-baked skill; the geographical location of this estate was not bad, and being backed by mountains and beside water was suitable for survival.

Shen Yao could barely make out one character for "auspicious," and for anything more she was powerless.

And what she was doing now was adding a layer of Qi Luck Item on top of the auspicious character; one had to know that strange phenomena and monsters detested this kind of thing, and upon encountering it they would basically keep their distance.

Burying her head in the space and rummaging around, Shen Yao took out a scroll of painting canvas that was entirely jade white and of soft texture.

The painting canvas had no content on it, yet it could make a person calm and peaceful.

This also counted as a Buddhist Treasure; where she got it from, Shen Yao could not quite remember.

After all, she truly had many treasures; picking and choosing at random would be enough for her to benefit endlessly.

Taking out a talisman paper and pasting it on the canvas to merge it into the screen before her eyes, the screen remained its original appearance, but the inside had undergone earth-shaking changes.

It was just that the area covered by the canvas was not large—only a hundred meters around the small courtyard, just enough for their family to live.

Shen Yao did not lack better treasures in her hand, but a hundred-meter range was not small, and with this painting canvas being something that enhanced fortune, it would not produce substantive attacks.

Shen Yao, after all, still had some selfishness; this residence would later house quite a few people, and she did not want her treasures to benefit others cheaply—just as long as her own people did not suffer losses, everything else was left to the will of heaven.

Those assigned to live by their side naturally had good fortune; those not assigned could not blame Shen Yao, anyway, rich water does not flow to outsiders' fields—ultimately, nothing was sent out.

"Qing Shui, go to the front courtyard."

After finishing the matters at hand, Shen Yao followed and rushed to inspect other places.

Especially the hot spring pool she had been longing for—the foundation had been dug and stone slabs laid, just waiting for the mountain spring water to be brought in before it could be used.

It was a pity that the weather was still cold; although the outdoor hot spring was good, using it would freeze the body, which was hardly worth the loss.

Shen Yao could only regretfully bid farewell to the hot spring pool, reluctantly boarding the carriage back to the city.

Liu Jingyan felt heartache for his own wife and promised that when he had time, he would build a residence for living beside the hot spring pool; then they would live nearby, and could soak in the hot spring whenever they wanted.

Anyway, the estate was large, and other clansmen had also been allotted land; as long as they were not intentionally causing trouble for the Liu Family, they could all come live at the estate.

After going there once, before spring warmth and flower blossoms arrived, Shen Yao did not come out from the ancestral home again.

Mainly because there were not many places to play in ancient times; Yingchuan City occasionally had some liveliness, and during festivals one could visit temple fairs and watch fireworks.

After going to the manor outside the city, everywhere was dust and smoke, with many people and mixed eyes; Shen Yao suddenly lost interest.

Staying at the ancestral home every day listening to gossip and viewing the garden scenery, chatting with the two children and Madam Liu, and in the evening cultivating feelings with Liu Jingyan—Shen Yao lived quite a fulfilling life.

Until war reports came from the front line: the Human Race suffered losses, several Seventh Rank Experts were injured, Luojing City was in turmoil inside, the Princes were assassinated and killed, Wei State experienced sudden internal unrest, and everywhere around sprang up chaotic phenomena.

Madam Liu pulled Liu Jingyan's hand, concerned about how Liu Jingsheng was doing.

Liu Jingyan could only fob her off with everything being fine, though Madam Liu's expression was anxious; actually, they had lost contact with Luojing and did not know the latest situation at the Liu Fu.

"When Grandfather left, he surely gave instructions to Eldest Young Master," Liu Jingsheng, as long as he was not stupid, would have a retreat route to fall back on.

Losing contact at this time was not entirely a bad thing; perhaps the retreat was chaotic, and there was no time to send out letters.

Liu Jingyan grabbed Shen Yao's wrist: "I am not only worried about Eldest Young Master, but also Grandfather." The front line was more dangerous than the rear area; Seventh Rank Experts were injured—how could those of lower ranks survive? The Emperor would not really die on the battlefield, would he?

Liu Jingyan did not care whether the Emperor lived or died, but who made Grandfather also be on the front line?

Once the Emperor was gone, Grandfather basically could not escape; however, there was still an Eighth Rank Expert by the Emperor's side, who should be able to protect the Emperor.

Liu Jingyan could not make up his mind for a moment, and his head was even more of a mess, full of various news sent from outside.

Whether true or false was unknown; he could only rely on his own experience to judge.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao glared at Liu Jingyan displeasedly: "We are in Yingchuan; regarding what happens in Luojing, we are willing but unable. Let's stabilize the present situation first."

Yingchuan could not be thrown into chaos; this was their base camp. Only by firmly holding this side in hand could Liu Jingyan help with matters outside.

Liu Jingyan:...

Liu Jingyan felt he could not do it; he was merely a third-rank weakling. Compared to ordinary people, he could hold his own, but if compared to some hidden old monsters in Yingchuan, he could only be delivering himself as food.

Now Yingchuan could take the Liu Family as the leader because of the existence of Liu Xiuwen.

A Seventh Rank Expert could casually stretch out a hand and crush everyone below his rank to death.

Right now Liu Xiuwen was not in Yingchuan, so Liu Jingyan was like a fox borrowing the tiger's might; the confidence in his heart naturally was not very full.

Shen Yao continued to encourage Liu Jingyan: "Grandfather and Eldest Young Master will not meet with trouble. We just need to stabilize the situation in Yingchuan first, and wait for the whole family to gather."

Shen Yao's faith was firm, and her words even stirred some inclination in Liu Jingyan. Liu Jingyan did not know where Shen Yao's confidence came from, but this did not hinder him from choosing to believe.

Yes, Eldest Young Master is the Liu Family's Qilin Son, resourceful and intelligent, mindful of the overall situation; Grandfather has always possessed unparalleled wisdom, preserving the Liu Family's wealth for many years — how could the two of them possibly meet with mishap? They will certainly be safe and sound.