Volume One, Chapter Eight: Seeking Grandmother’s Aid to Secure a Future for Her Grandson

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Yin Tiantian thought this to herself and spoke it aloud. In her past life in the capital, she had seen all kinds of young gentlemen: the refined and elegant son of the prime minister’s residence, the arrogant and dashing young master of the Marquis of the North’s household, the alluring heir of Minister Du’s family...

They were all like celestial beings, but none compared to her young master in his rough linen clothes, eyes misty with tenderness that stirred the heart.

“Still not getting up?”

Yin Tiantian was annoyed—how could she tease her young master like that!

As Cui Heng’s leg pain subsided, he looked her straight in the eyes. Yin Tiantian climbed out from him, lowering her head shyly like a quail.

He sat up, tidied his disheveled clothes, and chuckled softly.

“Bold one moment, timid the next—dare to tease me but can’t even look me in the eye?”

Yin Tiantian blushed deeply. Even if given ten times her courage, she wouldn’t dare entertain such indecent thoughts; she was only speaking honestly—her young master was truly handsome!

Cui Heng organized the manuscripts.

“Next time you go to the city, give these manuscripts to one of the county school teachers, any one will do. It’s best if you hand them over publicly.”

Still annoyed by her earlier rashness, Yin Tiantian didn’t grasp his meaning.

“And then?”

Their eyes unexpectedly met, and she quickly looked away.

“Then wait for the teacher to come over.”

Cui Heng was confident in his talent. He was certain that once the teacher read his work, they would seek him out. It would be difficult to achieve great wealth now, but earning a little pocket money to support the family wasn’t impossible.

After all, he couldn’t rely on a little maid to make money for him!

Yin Tiantian packed the manuscripts with her embroidery.

“I’ll go to the city tomorrow! Young master, you should sleep early!”

The late autumn night was cold. Yin Tiantian lay down but couldn’t fall asleep, chilled through. Exhausted from yesterday, she had fallen into unconsciousness then, but tonight no drowsiness came. Beyond the curtain, she heard Cui Heng’s steady breathing; the young master must have fallen asleep.

She took a deep breath and turned over.

“Can’t sleep?”

Cui Heng lifted the curtain, seeing her curled up pitifully. He pulled the curtain away and pulled her into the blanket.

His scent enveloped her. Yin Tiantian stiffened, trying to move away, but he held her firmly.

“I can’t sleep either!”

His tone held a hint of grievance—not true resentment, but tinged with desire...

Since they had embraced earlier, the young master’s expression had started to show restraint.

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If Yin Tiantian still didn’t understand, then she’d lived in vain!

She dared not move now.

“You and Shen Fuzhu…”

He paused, as if choosing his words carefully. Yin Tiantian shook her head vigorously.

“There’s nothing between me and Brother Fuzhu. I used to share a room with my parents, and only this summer did I move here. There was a curtain between us; I didn’t…”

She felt guilty. Shen’s parents had them share a room to encourage consummation, but she had lived a hard life before, and just happened to be reborn at that time. When Shen Fuzhu wanted to consummate, she refused, saying her body hadn’t matured yet and asked him to wait another year.

She knew within a year, Shen Fuzhu would be taken away by the Marquis’s family and she would soon be abandoned.

Cui Heng seemed to chuckle lightly.

“That’s not what I meant…”

He wanted to ask if she was sad that Shen Fuzhu had left. She seemed to have misunderstood.

“Brother Fuzhu has servants around him. He has returned to his own parents to enjoy life; he doesn’t need me to worry about him. But young master has only me and my parents. If we don’t care for him, how miserable would young master be!”

Yin Tiantian seemed to see through his thoughts and answered on her own.

“You must have been a good person once, young master, with a bright future. It’s just a pity our family is so poor and has held you back.”

People didn’t know how Shen’s son switched identities with the Marquis’s heir. Yin Tiantian knew a bit.

Shen Fuzhu’s grandmother, Mrs. Jiao, was a midwife renowned far and wide. The lady of the Marquis’s family gave birth while returning to the capital, coincidentally the same day as Shen’s wife.

Mrs. Jiao was a village woman unfamiliar with the Marquis’s wealth. Seeing the son born to her daughter-in-law, she had wicked thoughts and switched the two babies.

Eighteen years later, the Marquis’s family discovered the truth and sent someone to retrieve Shen Fuzhu. Hearing the news, Mrs. Jiao, fearing retribution, packed up and fled to her natal home overnight, never to return.

Perhaps out of affection for Cui Heng, the Marquis’s family didn’t pursue the matter fully, only reprimanding Shen’s parents to vent their anger. Otherwise, the Shen family might not have escaped.

“Young master, go to sleep.”

Wrapped warmly, Yin Tiantian was drowsy. Cui Heng exhaled heavily and closed his eyes.

The next morning, they were awakened by an argument.

“I came to see my dear grandson. Why are you stopping me?”

A sharp voice came from outside.

“If it weren’t for me back then, with our family this poor, would your son be living in comfort? Would your son be enjoying life in the capital? You two are ungrateful, and you have the nerve to blame me?”

“Shen Dalang, you’ve grown bold, daring to stop your mother? Move aside quickly, don’t delay me from seeing my grandson!”

A little old lady burst in and grabbed Yin Tiantian’s ear, pulling her up.

“It’s broad daylight, and you’re still asleep? Get up and work!”

Yin Tiantian had been exhausted these past few days. Shen’s mother pitied her and hadn’t called her this morning, hoping she could rest more, as the family was injured and disabled, leaving only her to work.

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But in Mrs. Jiao’s eyes, a child bride was just a servant in the household. If the masters were already up working, how could the servant still be sleeping?

“Ouch…”

Cui Heng grabbed Mrs. Jiao’s wrist, rescuing Yin Tiantian’s ear from her grasp.

Mrs. Jiao looked at him, pleased to see his serious expression.

“My dear grandson, you’ve lived well in the Marquis’s house all these years thanks to me. Now that you’ve succeeded, don’t forget your grandmother’s kindness!”

She patted Cui Heng’s hand.

“Dear grandson, let go—grandmother’s wrist hurts!”

Cui Heng’s gaze darkened ominously. The joy on Mrs. Jiao’s face faded into unease. She trembled under his stare, finally breaking free, clutching her chest.

“The capital really breeds strong people. Dear grandson, with your strength, if you become the top martial scholar, you’ll bring glory to the Shen family!”

Cui Heng snorted and pulled back the blanket, revealing his injured leg.

“A crippled champion?”

Mrs. Jiao’s smile froze.

“What happened? Was it the Marquis’s men? How could they be so heartless to harm the son they raised for eighteen years?”

Cui Heng said nothing, only watching coldly as she tried to find a way out.

“Can it be healed?”

Cui Heng remained silent. Shen’s parents wiped their tears; Yin Tiantian lowered her head. Mrs. Jiao gave an awkward smile.

“If it can’t be healed, it’s alright. You must be studying in the Marquis’s house. If not, we’ll aim for a civil rank. Becoming an official is just as good!”

“Grandmother, do you really think I can become an official if I offend the Marquis’s family?”

Mrs. Jiao’s smile vanished completely.

“Then do some business here... The Marquis’s family is wealthy and influential in the capital. You must have learned many skills. You’ll find a way to survive!”

Cui Heng shook his head.

“Please find a way out for your grandson.”

Mrs. Jiao cursed silently at his uselessness but glanced at the pile of grain nearby. Maybe he still had some silver with him?

“Dear grandson, after all these years, the Marquis’s family won’t just let you leave empty-handed and abandon you, right?”