My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion
Chapter 142 - 122: Sent to Become a Concubine

Chapter 142: Chapter 122: Sent to Become a Concubine

"West Factory Thousand Households, Chen Yi? That Chen Zunming who performed great deeds in protecting the emperor?"

He Shi’s eye twitched, and her voice even trembled a bit.

Teaming up together, they just wanted to send this trouble out of the house to never return. And what happened? Not only did she return, but the one who brought her back was actually that West Factory Thousand Households.

"That’s him. I saw his waist badge. He must be her lover; otherwise, why would such an important person personally escort her?"

Luo Shi repeatedly said.

He Shi stood up, paced back and forth, and then turned her head to retort:

"It’s not right... That trouble is not that kind of person; she’s always been well-behaved and disciplined. How could she find a lover?"

Luo Shi cautiously rechecked to ensure no one was around before saying:

"Didn’t Lin Yan always avoid consummating the marriage with her? When she returned home for a visit, we women talked about bedroom matters, but she knew nothing about it.

Think about it, Lin Yan neglected her; even the most well-behaved and respectable woman might need to find someone to pass the time with. Under that demure exterior, she’s a fox."

He Shi pondered upon these words, lowering her head.

Luo Shi seemingly unaware continued on her own accord:

"This time, we let her come back. Next time, it’ll be tougher to deceive her out. Otherwise, we could spread some rumors, making the matriarch and my husband believe she’s disgraced, thereby justifying driving her out."

Before she finished speaking, He Shi’s scalp tingled as she scolded:

"I think you’ve lost your mind, can’t think outside the box. Think about it, the West Factory Thousand Households, isn’t it immensely favored for his deeds in protecting the emperor?"

Luo Shi was baffled by these words, her neck turning red in embarrassment as she responded:

"You... she’s the one not following the rules, she’s the one disgracing herself by finding a lover, and you’re blaming me? Lin Er Gongzi hasn’t been dead long, and she’s not even widowed, doing something that defies natural order. Isn’t she shameless and deserving to be driven out?"

He Shi, seeing this woman’s foolishness, incapable of understanding her insinuations, sighed with contempt and straightforwardly said:

"Can we afford to provoke someone like a West Factory Thousand Households? What if she whispers sweet nothings to her lover, and we are without defense? The best in our Lin... Cui residence is nothing more than a Fourth Rank official of the Ministry of Personnel. If he brings us down, we have nowhere to plead our case!"

Luo Shi mulled it over, realizing the sense in what was being said and fell silent in her guilt.

He Shi continued:

"Here’s what I think: regarding that trouble... no, Third Sister, she doesn’t seem like that kind of person. It’s like passion stops at propriety. Third Sister seems to have feelings but doesn’t speak them. Do you think we should connect the Cui residence with this opportunity?"

"Are you suggesting... sending her right to them?"

"Don’t be so blunt. People will see right through Cui residence’s eagerness, looking down on us. I think, first, foster the relationship, and when the time is ripe, send her to be a concubine.

You see, this trouble, Third Sister will naturally leave, not dividing the family property nor having future worries, while bringing Cui residence a favor, a business that kills two birds with one stone!"

...............

Back at the West Factory, just after stepping off the carriage, Chen Yi saw Min Ning waiting. It was something that never happened before, but since returning from the underground palace, she seemed to always wait for him in one way or another, as if fearing something might happen to him on the way, that he wouldn’t come back.

Min Ning approached slowly, knowing what he went to do, asked:

"Why did you send her?"

"If I didn’t send her this time, she might never leave her mother’s family again, spending her life weaving red threads until she dies, while some insidious people might secretly kill her to sever ties with the Lin Party."

Chen Yi observed Min Ning for a moment, smiled, and said.

"So... you’re backing her up?"

Min Ning glanced sideways.

"Indeed."

Chen Yi answered resolutely.

Upon hearing this, Min Ning understood yet felt somehow uneasy inside.

"What is your relationship with her?"

After hesitating for a while, she bit her lip and asked.

The young knight couldn’t help but recall the scene from the underground palace when he held the Lin Family Young Lady firmly, striding through, and pondering this made the young knight feel breathless.

She didn’t know what was wrong with her. Preferring an easy-going nature, she usually didn’t dwell on things yet couldn’t help recollecting that scene repeatedly.

"...Just an acquaintance."

Chen Yi thought for a moment and said.

Though her appearance was thin, her looks were indeed decent, carrying the aura of a secluded lady. If it was to talk about affection, it wouldn’t truly hold; it’s just that he took a liking to not seeing her waste away senselessly in the underground palace.

Chen Yi glanced at Min Ning, noticing her unusual expression, asked with a smile:

"Do you think I’m changeable, not knowing the meaning of lasting affection?"

"What lasting affection, it’s not like you’re related to me."

Min Ning’s heroic brows knitted together forcefully.

Chen Yi merely smiled, after a moment, spoke:

"Speaking of which, how’s your grandfather?"

After returning from the underground palace, Yin Weiyin lifted the spell, and Min Ning found her grandfather Min He.

The two cried passionately, although due to latent fears in the elderly’s heart, though Lin Party was gone, the Prince Mansion remained, and Min Ning still didn’t hear the truth about the Prime Minister’s case from him.

"At home... Sister cried for a long time when she saw Grandpa. But only three or four days are left before his soul returns to the underworld."

Min Ning hesitated momentarily, not looking at him, said:

"Do you want to see him once, it seems... he wants to pass on some skills to you."

Chen Yi looked at her strangely for a moment.

"Whether I see him or not is my choice."

Min Ning felt a chill under his gaze.

"I must see him. My martial skills are lacking, I need the senior’s guidance."

Chen Yi said with a smile.

Hearing his words, though it should bring happiness, somehow, Min Ning still felt a little uneasy.

She suddenly recalled a question Min Ming once asked—did he want you, or did he want you disguised as a man?

Could it be because, inadvertently, she thought, in his eyes... did she appear as a man?

Min Ning shivered, breaking into a cold sweat.

At this moment, Wudu Master approached from afar, seeking out Chen Yi.

Chen Yi went to meet him, and upon discussion, it turned out to be about the handover of the West Factory affairs.

They entered the study, where Wudu Master first sincerely expressed gratitude to Chen Yi, then spoke of rumors he heard—ordinarily, transferring out of the Jinyiwei requires relinquishing hereditary military positions like Hundred Households or Thousand Households, but the Empress Dowager, remembering his deed of protecting the emperor, made an exception, allowing him to retain this hereditary position nominally, while Min Ning would perform the duties of West Factory Thousand Households in the future.

"I also heard that if nothing unexpected happens, three or four years later, the Empress Dowager intends to confer a title of nobility upon you."

Wudu Master remarked with emotion. Becoming a general and obtaining a title, through the ages, has been a revered ideal for many.

However, he didn’t notice Chen Yi’s eyes gradually becoming gloomy.

Three or four years later...

The poison in his body wouldn’t allow him to live for three or four more years.

Shortly after, Chen Yi left the West Factory and was about to return to his residence when he saw a hawker selling tanghulu as he passed through the market.

"Give me a string of tanghulu."

"Sure."

Placing down the copper coin, Chen Yi grasped the string of tanghulu, contemplating.

Being transferred from the West Factory, a name recorded in the annals, and afterwards, being restrained by the Heavenly Family, it was a given, but the Empress still wasn’t assured. She previously mentioned Yin Tingxue, now let Min Ning act as West Factory Thousand Households, reminding him that those connected to him were under her control.

Gazing at the tanghulu in his hand, Chen Yi exhaled deeply.

Saying there’s not a bit of displeasure in his heart would be impossible. However, right now, heading home, after all, being a man, no matter what anger he harbors, it shouldn’t be taken home to unleash.

Stepping into the main hall, upon entering, Chen Yi saw Yin Tingxue flipping through a book, muttering something as if memorizing herb names.

Upon hearing footsteps, Yin Tingxue shuddered slightly, quickly closing the book and standing up saying:

"Why are you back so late?"

Chen Yi smiled, handing over the tanghulu,

"Bought you a string of tanghulu."

Yin Tingxue was momentarily stunned, then looking at the enticingly red tanghulu, her delicate brows arched slightly as she took it.

"I’ve prepared some good tea for you."

"Hmm."

Chen Yi held up a tea bowl, lifting the lid, drank it slowly and then said:

"Your technique has improved."

In truth, there wasn’t much change, but in a moment of displeasure, Chen Yi didn’t want to upset her, instead wanting to be kinder, not letting the little fox catch on.

Despite being the most feared person’s praise, Yin Tingxue still felt slightly pleased,

"Isn’t it though."

"What would you like for dinner tonight?"

Chen Yi gently asked.

Yin Tingxue was somewhat surprised by his kinder tone; coming home, he didn’t bully her, but she didn’t ponder too deeply and mentioned a few of her favorite dishes.

Chen Yi lifted his foot and left the main hall.

After he left, Yin Tingxue glanced again at the "Zi Yao Dan Jian," recalling the alchemy methodology Zhou Yitang recited...

She bit into the crisp tanghulu, swallowed a piece, and the sweetness nurturing her uneased mutter:

"Why’s he being so nice today?"

Yin Tingxue, although young, wasn’t stupid; reflecting on the alchemy method, somehow... her heart skipped a beat.

Was he so nice to her...

Because he was hoping she’d have a child?

The little fox had many thoughts, thinking it over, the tanghulu lost its sweetness.

I must quickly learn alchemy first...