In those days, the Yin family was not yet one of the five great families, and Wei Wensong was merely the unfavored eldest young master of the Wei family. He suddenly came to the Yin family to propose marriage, seeking the hand of the Yin family patriarch's daughter. The Yin family, fearing to offend him as a young master of one of the five great families, had no choice but to agree.
However, the Yin family patriarch had no legitimate daughter, so he could only have his most favored concubine's daughter registered under the main wife's name. She was married off as if she were a legitimate daughter, and her dowry was also prepared according to the share for a legitimate daughter.
It was only to help Wei Wensong secure the position of family patriarch that she invested her entire dowry. Later, Wei Wensong successfully assumed the position of family patriarch, and she naturally became the family matriarch. After that, she assumed she could use anything in the Wei family as she pleased, so she never thought about keeping any wealth for herself. As a result, she had no money on hand now, and her dowry had not been recovered.
Wei Wensong forbade Madam Yin from speaking of this matter, so Madam Yin had never uttered a word.
"Madam Wei, you should return." The Yin family patriarch turned away, not wanting to see her again. He feared he might not be able to resist killing her.
"But..." Madam Yin was anxious.
"Madam Wei, if the Wei family needs to save money, it shouldn't be done this way. If Wei Wensong wants the Yin family to be a scapegoat, he shouldn't send you!"
After saying this, the Yin family patriarch returned to the back courtyard.
Madam Yin was helped out by the servants. After getting into the carriage, she couldn't help but cry.
"Madam, please don't be sad. Young Master San has such high talent; the patriarch cannot abandon him," Madam Yin's personal nanny advised.
"Nanny Liu, you don't know, Tian'er is already considered crippled. If Hong'er cannot be cured..."
"Madam, Young Master San is the most talented among the patriarch's children, and his foundation is not damaged. As long as Madam can persuade the Old Ancestor not to change the heir, the patriarch will definitely save Young Master San."
"Yes, yes, the Old Ancestor, there's still the Old Ancestor. As long as the Old Ancestor does not agree, my Hong'er will still be the next family patriarch." Madam Yin murmured, as if clinging to a lifeline.
Madam Yin returned to the Wei mansion and immediately went to find the Wei family's Old Ancestor. No one knew what they discussed, only that the Wei family's Old Ancestor ordered Wei Wensong to spare no effort in curing Wei Chuhong.
Wei Wensong was furious at Madam Yin's preemptive action, but the Old Ancestor had given the order, and he could not disobey.
*
In the Ling family, Ling Luoyi had returned to Qingyin Pavilion within the Ling mansion at some unknown time.
When the Wei family's death warriors informed Ling Luoyi of these matters, she was stargazing.
Hearing this, Ling Luoyi was not surprised. She dismissed the Wei family's death warriors and then released Guanyue.
"Master, if you release me now, won't the Heavenly Dao be watching you?" Guanyue asked as soon as it emerged.
"Guanyue, I've spoken with the Heavenly Dao. As long as I don't kill people indiscriminately, it will turn a blind eye."
"Oh."
"Alright, stop fooling around. I'm letting you out to do something."
"Ah? Do what?"
It knew its master wouldn't release it without a reason.
As expected.
"The Wei family must spare no effort to cure Wei Chuhong. I think the Wei family has done quite well this time and I want to help them. Guanyue, you know what I mean, right?" Ling Luoyi winked at it, saying with ill intent.
Seeing her familiar smile, Guanyue understood and said, "I know, Master. I won't disappoint you."
"As expected of Guanyue." Seeing that it understood, Ling Luoyi's smile deepened and she said, "Guanyue, after you finish this task, I won't send you back."
"Mhm, mhm." Guanyue nodded excitedly, trembled its small body, and in the next moment, it shot out like an arrow.
Its excited appearance made Ling Luoyi laugh. It had clearly been confined for too long.
Ling Luoyi lightly stroked her chin, a cunning glint in her eyes, "Guanyue, go for it!"
As it was already late at night, everyone in the Wei family, except for those who were taking care of the two young masters, had already rested.
Guanyue's small body landed without anyone noticing.
Guanyue scanned the area and then sped off in one direction.
Guanyue reached its destination, perched on a beam, and looked at the guards below. After thinking for a moment, it decided not to kill them.
Guanyue lightly tapped the beam with its small claws, and in the next instant, it disappeared.
In the room separated by a wall, looking at the items treasured within, Guanyue frowned. They were all junk, things that would gather dust at its master's place.
Guanyue shook its head. Never mind, it would take them all back. It was the master's business how to deal with them, let her worry about it.
Guanyue's small claws moved slightly, and the items on the shelves disappeared one by one, all collected by Guanyue into its storage ring.
Soon, Guanyue had cleared out the contents of this treasure vault and then headed for the next one, all without being discovered by anyone.
*
Within Fengxi Realm, Weiyu, who knew Guanyue could be released, was unhappy and began to cause a scene in Fengxi Realm.
"Master, Master, I want to go out too."
"Master, I promise I won't cause trouble, just let me out."
"Master~"
...
Ling Luoyi was so annoyed by the noise that she transmitted her voice, "Weiyu, don't make a fuss. I can't release you now. When we go to Longqing Kingdom, I'll release you then, okay?"
"Master, then why can Guanyue go out now?" Weiyu asked indignantly.
Ling Luoyi was helpless. It was indeed because of this.
"Weiyu, Guanyue cannot yet transform into human form. If it stays by my side, I still have a reason to explain. But you can transform into human form, so how can I explain the sudden appearance of a little girl?"
"But Master, I can also transform into my original form." Weiyu was still trying.
"Weiyu, your original form is a Vermillion Bird. Many people recognize you, so it will be very troublesome."
"But Guanyue is also an ancient divine beast?" Weiyu was dissatisfied. They were both ancient divine beasts, so why could Guanyue go out while she had to stay in Fengxi Realm?
"Weiyu, stop making a fuss. Guanyue is mature, but you are too childish. You will cause trouble for Master outside," Little Fengxi saw that Ling Luoyi didn't want to hurt Weiyu's feelings, so it kept making excuses and spoke directly.
Ling Luoyi also heard what Little Fengxi said and pressed her forehead, cutting off the spiritual connection with Weiyu.
Weiyu was stunned by Little Fengxi's words, and then burst into tears.
"Little Fengxi, you are too mean!"
Weiyu ran back to her small building, and the sound of her breakdown and crying echoed everywhere.
Little Fengxi covered Weiyu's small building, causing her cries to be contained within the vicinity of the building.
Seeing Little Fengxi's actions, Ling Luoyi transmitted her voice, "Little Fengxi, isn't this a bit too much?"
"Master, she's really too noisy."
Ling Luoyi sighed and transmitted, "Little Fengxi, Weiyu is also our companion, so there's no need to be so harsh."
"Master, I don't want to do this either, but if I don't, Weiyu will keep making a fuss."
"Little Fengxi, Weiyu is still a child."
"Master, a spoiled child is the most terrifying. Don't you remember what you said?"
Ling Luoyi was speechless. In her past life, she had said that if she had children, she would teach them well and would never raise them to be spoiled brats.
"Master, you are too easily soft-hearted, and that's not good."
Ling Luoyi knew it too, but she wouldn't be like this with others; she was only soft-hearted towards her own people.
Is it too afraid of loneliness? Afraid of being abandoned again?
After Little Fengxi said that, it fell silent.
Ling Luoyi couldn't sleep. She jumped onto the roof of Qingyin Pavilion and looked at the starry sky, her mind clearing up.
At this hour, everyone was basically asleep, and the candlelight had been extinguished.
Ling Luoyi suddenly saw a firelight in the distance, and the firelight slowly grew larger.
Is there a fire?
Ling Luoyi identified the direction. It was...
The Wei family!