Chapter 948: Worse Than Death (1)  

The two men were so engrossed in their chess battle that they played deep into the night. Mo Yan yawned, her eyelids heavy with sleep, and finally couldn’t help but remind them, “Father, Brother Xiao, it’s already very late. You both should wash up and go to bed.”  

Mo Qingze glanced at Xiao Ruiyuan, who looked a bit tired, then at the water clock in the corner. Seeing that it was already well past the second half of the Hai hour (9–11 PM), he hesitated briefly before saying, “It’s late. You should stay the night.”  

Xiao Ruiyuan concealed the slight upward curve of his lips, stood up, and said with a face full of gratitude, “Many thanks, Father-in-law.”  

Too sleepy to notice his reaction, Mo Yan simply muttered, “There’s hot water in the pot,” and rubbed her eyes as she left the study, heading back to her courtyard.  

While soaking in her spatial hot spring, Xue Tuanzi leisurely floated over. Its two little stalk eyes peered into the bath for a moment before shifting away nonchalantly. “Yan Yan, you knew that foolish woman was going to act tonight. Why did you stay so late?”  

Feeling refreshed after her bath, Mo Yan poked Xue Tuanzi’s soft belly and said, “They didn’t get to do anything yet. They’re not going anywhere. What’s there to worry about?”  

Xue Tuanzi blinked and had nothing to say to that.  

After drying off, Mo Yan changed into a short-sleeved undergarment and shorts, left the space, and lay down on her bed. Just as she settled in, there was a knock on the sitting room door. Before the knocking could continue, the door creaked open by itself.  

She had deliberately left it unlocked this time—to let a few sneaky little thieves walk right into her trap.  

However, Xiao Ruiyuan misunderstood. He thought Mo Yan had been waiting for him. His lips curled into a pleased smile, but the moment he saw her fair arms and legs exposed under the lamplight, he nearly believed his beloved was deliberately trying to seduce him.  

Mo Yan, unaware of his thoughts, just wanted to get rid of him before the thieves arrived. She faked a yawn and said, “Brother Xiao, whatever you need, let’s talk tomorrow. I’m exhausted.”  

For a split second, the curve of Xiao Ruiyuan’s lips froze, but he quickly recovered and sat down at the edge of her bed. His voice was gentle as he said, “Go to sleep. I’ll leave once you’re asleep.”  

Mo Yan silently rolled her eyes and frowned. “But I can’t sleep with you here.”  

The smile disappeared from Xiao Ruiyuan’s face. His gaze sharpened slightly as he asked in a deep voice, “Are you hiding something from me?”  

She never rushed him out like this, no matter how late it was.  

Damn. Why is he so sharp?  

Mo Yan’s lips twitched. Maybe having a smart fiancé wasn’t such a good thing after all.  

Seeing his face darken, she caved and quickly explained, “N-no! It’s just… I can’t sleep with someone sitting next to me. If it were you, could you?”  

Xiao Ruiyuan’s furrowed brows relaxed slightly, as if he accepted her explanation. He stood up and moved to a chair opposite the bed, staring at her without blinking.  

Though he said nothing, his meaning was clear: I’m not at your bedside anymore. Now you can sleep.  

Mo Yan was speechless. Left with no choice, she lay down, shut her eyes, and forced herself into deep sleep mode, thinking that maybe once she dozed off, he would leave.  

It wasn’t a bad idea, but unfortunately, Xiao Ruiyuan didn’t play by the rules.  

When Mo Yan’s breathing evened out as if she had fallen asleep, he got up, walked back to the bed, and sat beside her. His rough fingertips gently traced the contours of her delicate face, as if he could never get enough of looking at her.  

This was utter torture for Mo Yan.  

Since she had her eyes closed, her other senses became much more sensitive. The warmth of his hand on her skin sent tingles through her entire body. Just as she was about to lose her patience and open her eyes to shoo him away, she suddenly felt something pressing down toward her—  

(End of chapter)

 Chapter 947: Secret Omen (4)  

Xiao Ruiyuan nodded slightly and did not hide anything. “Recently, a powerful cavalry force appeared from an unknown origin and destroyed a neighboring state of Kucha. Now, they intend to attack Kucha itself. The situation in Kucha has only just stabilized, and they are unable to resist this cavalry force. As a result, they have sent an envoy to request aid from His Majesty, who is considering deploying troops.”  

This cavalry force wasn’t large, only twenty thousand strong. However, they were exceptionally well-equipped and formidable in battle. In just over a month, they had decisively defeated Kucha’s neighboring state. Though Kucha had an army of one hundred thousand, they would likely be no match in a real fight.  

Moreover, those twenty thousand cavalry might only be the vanguard—no one knew if more troops were waiting behind them.  

If Kucha fell, the next likely target would be Da Chu. The principle of "lips gone, teeth cold" applied here—allying with Kucha to keep the cavalry force at bay beyond the borders was far better than allowing them to charge straight into Da Chu, pillaging and slaughtering its people.  

Ideally, Da Chu’s army could join forces with Kucha’s troops to eradicate this threat before it could grow.  

Hearing this, Mo Yan suddenly recalled something Xue Tuanzi had once told her—about a catastrophic war that had broken out in Da Chu during her first life. The invaders had ravaged Da Chu’s lands, slaughtering and enslaving its people. In just a few short years, fewer than thirty percent of the population had survived.  

However, that war had erupted after she had succumbed to the plague in her first life. The timing didn’t match. Could it be that she was overthinking things, and this cavalry force wasn’t the same as the invaders from her past life? Or had history’s trajectory changed, bringing everything forward?  

The second possibility sent a chill through Mo Yan’s entire body. She immediately asked Xue Tuanzi in her consciousness, “What’s going on? Has the war been brought forward?”  

Sensing her anxiety, Xue Tuanzi reassured her, “Yan Yan, don’t worry. This cavalry force is formidable and does have connections to the army that invaded Da Chu in your first life, but they are merely a vanguard and won’t cause much of a stir. In your first life, at this point in time, this cavalry force also attempted to invade Kucha, but they were eliminated by the joint efforts of Da Chu and Kucha’s armies.”  

They weren’t the same?  

Mo Yan let out a breath of relief. That was good. That was very good!  

However, when she thought about how this cavalry was merely a scouting force and that behind them might stand an army of hundreds of thousands, all eyeing Da Chu hungrily, she couldn’t feel at ease.  

The great war twenty years later seemed unavoidable. Now that she knew about it, she had no choice but to find a way to warn Xiao Ruiyuan, who could then alert Chu Heng and Emperor Hui’an to remain vigilant. It would be best to investigate the origins of this cavalry force—after all, knowing the enemy was half the battle.  

If they could eliminate these invaders before they had the chance to prepare for their conquest of Da Chu, that would be even better!  

In the face of a collapsed nest, no egg remained unbroken. If the great war twenty years later was inevitable, she could only prepare by purchasing as much land as possible. She could use the land as cover to gradually bring out supplies stored in her space. Who knew how long the war would last? When the time came, provisions would be the most crucial factor—having enough or running out could determine victory or defeat.  

With a plan forming in her mind, Mo Yan gradually calmed down and focused on listening to the conversation between her father and her fiancé.  

“…His Majesty intends to cultivate young generals, so it is unlikely that I will be leading the troops this time. Father-in-law, you can rest assured.” Xiao Ruiyuan addressed himself as “son-in-law” and referred to Mo Qingze as “father-in-law” with practiced ease, clearly not saying it for the first time.  

Indeed, this wasn’t the first time. Now that both men were serving as officials in court and the imperial edict for the marriage had been issued, Xiao Ruiyuan had begun openly addressing Mo Qingze as his father-in-law. The first time he did so in front of all the Hanlin Academy officials, it had caused quite a stir.  

Though not entirely in accordance with protocol, it showed that the powerful General Xiao highly valued this imperial marriage.  

At first, Mo Qingze had kept a stern face, unwilling to acknowledge it. But after hearing it so many times, he had completely lost the will to argue and simply accepted it.  

“Ahem, there are indeed too few capable and battle-tested generals in the court. If His Majesty doesn’t intend for you to go, then don’t step forward. The younger generation must be given opportunities.” Mo Qingze coughed, tactfully expressing that he didn’t want his son-in-law to go to war.  

The battlefield was merciless, and he naturally didn’t want his son-in-law taking such a risk. Since the emperor had other plans, he could only remind Xiao Ruiyuan not to take on too much responsibility and push himself onto the battlefield. Whether His Majesty approved or not was another matter.  

Hearing this, Mo Yan glanced at Xiao Ruiyuan, who had an involuntary twitch at the corner of his eye, and stifled a laugh behind her hand. Did her father really think his son-in-law was old?  

Xiao Ruiyuan noticed her amusement but held back the urge to flick her forehead in front of his father-in-law. Instead, he respectfully said, “I will heed Father-in-law’s advice.”  

If this had been in the past—before he had anything to care about, before he understood Emperor Hui’an’s intentions—he might have voluntarily requested to lead troops to the frontier. But now, he had someone he wanted to protect, and he no longer felt the same eagerness to charge into battle.  

Mo Qingze, seeing that his son-in-law showed no signs of reluctance, was quite satisfied. After a few more words of encouragement, he pulled Xiao Ruiyuan back to another round of chess. The atmosphere became even more harmonious.  

Mo Yan let out a long sigh of relief, picked up the empty fruit plates, and walked out of the grand study.  

She admired heroes who defended their country, but she didn’t want the man she loved to risk his life on the battlefield. Call her narrow-minded or say she lacked a sense of national duty—she didn’t care. That was just how she felt.  

If he insisted on going, she wouldn’t stop him. She would even prepare his battle gear for him. But if this happened too many times, she couldn’t guarantee that one day, after too much waiting and too much worrying, she wouldn’t lose her hope for this relationship. She wasn’t sure if she could continue living in endless waiting and fear…  

(End of chapter)    

 Chapter 946: Secret Omen (3)  

“Cui Ping’an, you’d better not say it!”  

Mo Yan had a vague idea of what Cui Ping’an wanted to say and suddenly didn’t want to know. With Xue Tuanzi around, she already knew everything she needed to know. No matter how bizarre Cui Ping’an’s experiences were, she had no interest at all.  

The path ahead could only be walked alone. Whether it was her or him, they were no exception.  

Cui Ping’an, who had spent a long time mustering the courage to speak, was instantly dumbfounded. Was there really someone in this world who didn’t want to know another’s secret? Did this mean that the person before him was truly trustworthy?  

Mo Yan, unaware of Cui Ping’an’s thoughts, said seriously, “No matter what secret you have, as long as it could put you in danger, never tell anyone—even if that person is someone you trust with your life.”  

“W-why?” Cui Ping’an stammered, completely unable to understand why he couldn’t even confide in someone he trusted.  

That secret had been buried in his heart for too long. Every morning when he woke up, he wondered who he really was—was he the Cui Ping’an of his past life, who failed to protect the girl he loved and died in sorrow? Or was he the Cui Ping’an of this life, starting anew, where those tragedies had yet to happen but were about to unfold?  

“If there’s no conflict of interest, perhaps the person who knows your secret will keep it for you. But once interests are involved, it’s uncertain. Even if that secret torments you, you can try to forget it or use it as a warning, but don’t easily reveal it. Doing so protects both yourself and others.”  

Mo Yan knew that Cui Ping’an was simple-minded and lacked cunning. If he only encountered kind people, he might live a peaceful and happy life. But in a lifetime, who wouldn’t meet a few scoundrels? If she didn’t warn him now, who knew if he’d end up being sold out one day?  

If someone wanted to deal with Cui Ping’an and threatened the person who knew his secret, wouldn’t that secret bring disaster upon them? Under pressure, who could guarantee they wouldn’t reveal it?  

Cui Ping’an seemed to understand vaguely, though not entirely.  

Mo Yan smiled slightly and didn’t disturb him further. She picked up two plates of watermelon and quietly walked out of the kitchen.  

…  

In the grand study, the interaction between the father-in-law and son-in-law was quite harmonious. When Mo Yan entered, the two were engrossed in a game of chess.  

Back in Mo Family Village, Mo Qingze rarely had the chance to play chess with others, so his skills weren’t particularly advanced. But after coming to the capital, he had more opportunities to play, and with the help of the spiritual spring water enhancing his mental acuity, his chess skills had improved significantly.  

Xiao Ruiyuan had learned chess from the late Marquis Xiao since childhood and was quite skilled. In the past, he would have defeated Mo Qingze without leaving a single piece standing. Now, though he could still win, how could a son-in-law dare to completely defeat his father-in-law? That would just be asking for trouble!  

Their styles were completely different—one played with meticulous strategy, moving cautiously, while the other was decisive and aggressive. It was hard to say which approach was superior; it all depended on the level of play.  

With Xiao Ruiyuan subtly holding back, Mo Qingze won more games than he lost, yet he remained unaware that he was being given an advantage. But if one were to truly compare, Xiao Ruiyuan’s chess skills were still better.  

Mo Yan watched a game but didn’t notice anything unusual. She simply called them over to eat watermelon.  

Halfway through eating, Mo Qingze suddenly thought of something and asked Xiao Ruiyuan, “I heard that things in the northwest aren’t stable, and the court is considering sending troops. Is this true?”  

If it were anyone else, Mo Qingze wouldn’t inquire about court affairs so casually. But since the man before him was his son-in-law, things were different. If war broke out, his son-in-law would most likely go to the battlefield—how could he not be worried?  

(End of chapter)

Chapter 945: Secret Omen (2)  

Only Cui Ping’an remained mostly silent. Whenever the conversation turned to him, he would respond absentmindedly with a single sentence, his supposedly discreet gaze frequently darting between Mo Yan and Xiao Ruiyuan. His brows furrowed from time to time, as if he had encountered an unsolvable dilemma. 

With their keen senses, Mo Yan and Xiao Ruiyuan easily noticed Cui Ping’an’s unusual behavior. However, their interpretations differed—Mo Yan assumed he was struggling with her relationship with Xiao Ruiyuan, while Xiao Ruiyuan suspected that Cui Ping’an harbored ulterior motives and was trying to steal what was his. Even the fact that Cui Ping’an had someone he liked wasn’t enough to ease his vigilance.  

After dinner, when Xiao Ruiyuan was called to the study by Mo Qingze, Cui Ping’an seized the opportunity to find Mo Yan, who was cutting a watermelon. He seemed to want to ask something, but when the words reached his lips, he hesitated, unsure how to voice them.  

Mo Yan swiftly scooped out the bright red fruit, cutting it into even, bite-sized pieces and sticking a few bamboo skewers into them. This way, one could easily pick up a piece without dirtying their hands or getting watermelon juice all over their clothes.  

Noticing that Cui Ping’an still hadn’t spoken, Mo Yan grew impatient and asked directly, "Do you have something to say to me?"  

"Yes!" Cui Ping’an nodded honestly.  

Seeing him hesitate, Mo Yan sighed helplessly and urged, "If you have a question, ask it quickly. After that, eat some watermelon, wash up, and go to bed. You still have to water the backyard vegetable garden early tomorrow morning!"  

Cui Ping’an’s expression flickered with hesitation for a moment before he finally gathered his courage and spoke, shocking Mo Yan with his question: "Miss Mo, do you believe in past lives and reincarnation?"  

Mo Yan suppressed her surprise and scrutinized Cui Ping’an’s face, not missing a single change in his expression. "Such things exist if you believe in them and don’t if you don’t. But I do believe in reincarnation, which naturally means past lives and present lives exist." After all, wasn’t she the best example of that?  

Cui Ping’an’s eyes lit up, and he stammered, "Miss—Miss Mo, you—you really believe in it?"  

Observing his reaction, Mo Yan felt even more intrigued. "What exactly are you trying to say?"  

Cui Ping’an took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. Seeing that there was no one else in the kitchen, he stepped closer to Mo Yan and lowered his voice. "Miss Mo, there’s something I want to tell you. No matter whether you believe it or not, please don’t tell anyone else. Can you promise me that?"  

Looking at the nervous and uneasy Cui Ping’an, Mo Yan raised an eyebrow. "You can always choose not to say it."  

Hearing this, Cui Ping’an let out a long sigh of relief. "Miss Mo, what I’m about to say—whether you believe it or not—I hope you’ll treat it as just a story. Perhaps it is nothing more than a fantasy of mine."  

If it were anyone else, he would never reveal the secret buried deep in his heart. But for some reason, with this person he had only known for two days, a voice inside him whispered that she could be trusted. This secret had been suffocating him for too long!  

He didn’t know why or how it had happened, but after dying, he had found himself back in time—returning to the night six years ago when he had first arrived in the capital. Not only was he young again, but his beloved grandmother was still alive, and the girl he cherished had not yet died and was waiting for him in distant Yuancheng. Yet, many things were completely different from his memories.  

For example, the crown prince, who should have died a year ago, was still alive and well. Mo Yan and General Xiao—two people who never existed in his past life—were now part of this world. Even this year’s top scholar was not named Mo Qingze… In short, too many things didn’t match his previous memories at all!  

Fearing that he would be seen as a monster, he had never dared to reveal his secret to anyone. But deep inside, he had always longed for someone he could trust—someone who would listen to his absurd tale and help share the weight of the secret that had been crushing his heart.   

 Chapter 944: Secret Omen (1)  

Who says a woman's heart is unfathomable? Sometimes, a man's thoughts can be just as difficult to decipher. At least, Mo Yan hadn't guessed this subtle reason.  

To avoid a certain petty man using this as an excuse to pull her into doing something inappropriate, Mo Yan quietly relayed Cui Ping’an’s pitiful plea. Seeing that the man still looked disapproving, she was frustrated to realize that not only could she not get angry, but she also had to explain everything clearly—because once this person started making a fuss, she was completely no match for him!  

"He has a congenital deficiency. The fact that he's lived this long is thanks to the Cui family’s wealth. If he were born into an ordinary family, he might not have survived at all! I was just thinking of keeping him here temporarily to see if I could find a way to completely cure his condition. Since I’m learning medicine from Master, I should put my knowledge to use, shouldn’t I?"  

In this era, there were no prenatal checkups, so the chances of babies being born with congenital deficiencies were much higher than in her past life. Because there were no effective treatments, many children didn’t survive long after birth. Even those who managed to live often depended on medicine for their entire lives.  

She had checked Cui Ping’an’s pulse, and he seemed fine for now. At least he had grown up and could move freely instead of being bedridden. However, all medicine carries some toxicity. Given his frail constitution and the various herbs he had taken since childhood, toxins had accumulated in his body over time. Whether he would be able to father children in the future was uncertain.  

If there was a way to completely cure congenital deficiencies without leaving any aftereffects, it would be a tremendous blessing. Although drinking spiritual spring water several times could help expel the toxins accumulated in Cui Ping’an’s body over the years, it wasn’t practical to treat every person with congenital deficiencies the same way.  

Even if that was possible, she would eventually grow old and die. When that day came and there was no more spiritual spring water, what would happen to the children born with deficiencies in the future?  

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Xiao Ruiyuan abandoned the idea of sending Cui Ping’an away. In his heart, as long as something made Mo Yan happy, he wouldn’t oppose it.  

However, the thought of Cui Ping’an being a grown man left Xiao Ruiyuan feeling uneasy, and his voice carried a strong note of jealousy as he said, "That kid is still a man. Be careful when you're around him. Even if you have no interest in him, getting too close might make him develop improper thoughts."  

Mo Yan rolled her eyes silently and said while stir-frying the vegetables, "Do you really think I’m that irresistible? Didn’t I just say that he already has someone he likes? He ran away from home because of that girl, so stop overthinking things."  

Seeing how unconcerned she was, Xiao Ruiyuan felt stifled. He was worried about his fiancée being snatched away by an opportunistic wolf—how was that overthinking?  

Mo Yan didn’t notice his sulky expression, but Li Yan, who had been watching from the side, caught everything. Her eyes widened in surprise—who would have thought that the usually cold and indifferent son-in-law could show such an expressive side? Realizing the reason behind it, she couldn’t help but cover her mouth to stifle a laugh, feeling happy for her dear Yan Yan.  

Only when someone truly values another do they fear losing them!  

With Xiao Ruiyuan present, Li Xiu and the others felt it was inappropriate to join them at the dining table, so they set up a small table in the courtyard. With the breeze outside, it was quite pleasant to eat there.  

Inside the dining hall, Mo Qingze sat at the head seat, with Xiao Ruiyuan to his right, followed by Cui Ping’an, then Yun Zhao and Zhen’er. On the left sat Mo Yan, followed by Xin’er and Sheng’er.  

The Mo family’s dinner table was always filled with laughter and joy. After ten days apart, they had endless things to talk about. As Mo Yan’s future husband, Xiao Ruiyuan set aside his usual quiet demeanor and occasionally joined in the conversation, making the atmosphere lively and warm.  

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 943: Showing Affection and a Surge of Jealousy (4)  

Meeting the man's piercing gaze, Cui Ping’an nearly dropped the firewood he was holding. He instinctively averted his eyes, not daring to make direct eye contact.  

While Cui Ping’an was sizing up Xiao Ruiyuan, Xiao Ruiyuan was also observing him in silence.  

The young man before him had delicate features, but he looked very immature and didn’t seem particularly courageous. Even though Xiao Ruiyuan knew this person posed no real threat to him, the thought of a strange man staying in the house—one who would even be spending time under the same roof as his fiancée—made him extremely unhappy!  

The atmosphere in the kitchen grew increasingly strange, even Zhen’er, who had been sneaking bites of food, noticed it. He looked up and finally saw the unfamiliar young man. Curious, he studied Cui Ping’an for a moment before walking over to Li Yan, who was tending the fire, and whispering, “Sister Yan, who is that big brother?”  

Li Yan had been enjoying the show. Hearing Zhen’er’s question, she lowered her voice and replied, “That big brother was picked up by Sister Yan on the road. He’s been chopping firewood for the family all day today.”  

As she spoke, she pointed to the neatly stacked pile of firewood in the corner.  

Hearing this, Zhen’er immediately assumed Cui Ping’an was homeless and had been kindly taken in by his eldest sister. His gaze turned sympathetic.  

Xiao Ruiyuan, on the other hand, had heard Li Yan’s words clearly. One look at Cui Ping’an’s fair and delicate neck and wrists told him that this was no commoner, nor was he someone who had been wandering without a home. His suspicion deepened—was Cui Ping’an deliberately using hardship as a ploy to gain Mo Yan’s sympathy?  

Just then, Mo Yan returned from the backyard, carrying two freshly picked scallions. The moment she saw Xiao Ruiyuan, an unconscious smile appeared on her face. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? Good thing I haven’t started cooking the rice yet, or there wouldn’t have been enough food.”  

The gloom in Xiao Ruiyuan’s eyes instantly vanished the moment he saw Mo Yan. A gentle smile replaced his stern expression as he explained, “It was a last-minute decision, so I didn’t have time to inform you.”  

Mo Yan had only been making small talk and wasn’t actually upset that he hadn’t informed her. Seeing how seriously he was explaining himself, she held back a laugh and asked, “What would you like to eat? I’ll make it for you.”  

Feeling the stifling heat in the kitchen, Xiao Ruiyuan couldn’t bear for her to suffer. He shook his head slightly and said, “I love everything you make. There’s no need for anything extra.”  

Mo Yan was about to say something when she noticed Li Yan giving her a mischievous grin. Clearing her throat, she decided not to press the matter and simply shooed Xiao Ruiyuan out of the kitchen. “It’s too hot in here. Go wait outside!”  

But Xiao Ruiyuan was reluctant to leave. He glanced around the kitchen and spotted a fan used for stoking the fire behind Li Yan. Walking over, he picked it up and, despite his unfamiliarity with the action, started fanning Mo Yan. “I’m not afraid of the heat.”  

A tall, handsome man fanning someone with a woven palm fan—it was such an unusual sight that no one had expected Xiao Ruiyuan to do something like this.  

Although Mo Yan’s body had been refined by spiritual spring water and she wasn’t particularly sensitive to heat, she was touched by Xiao Ruiyuan’s thoughtfulness. After a brief moment of surprise, she let him continue.  

Meanwhile, Li Yan and Cui Ping’an, both sweating from the kitchen heat, felt like they were being tormented by the couple’s affectionate display. Li Yan silently shoved more firewood into the stove, daydreaming about whether someone might fan her like that someday. Cui Ping’an, on the other hand, quietly stacked the firewood he had been carrying, feeling an even stronger longing for his childhood sweetheart far away in Yuancheng.  

Dazed, he wandered to the back of the kitchen to continue chopping wood, only to run into Li Xiu and Tang Xin, who had just finished watering the vegetable garden. Something suddenly occurred to him, and he stopped Li Xiu, pointing through the kitchen window at Xiao Ruiyuan. He whispered, “Sister Li, who is that man?”  

Following his gesture, Li Xiu looked inside and saw Xiao Ruiyuan fanning Mo Yan. After a brief moment of surprise, she smiled faintly and replied, “That’s Yan girl’s fiancé—Lord Xiao.”  

Lord Xiao? A man surnamed Xiao? And a court official?  

Cui Ping’an quickly searched his memories but found no trace of such a person in his past life. Could it be that this man’s rank was too low to be well-known? But judging by his imposing presence and strikingly handsome face, it was impossible for him to be obscure. After all, in the years before his death in his previous life, he had confined himself within the Cui residence, but he had still heard plenty about the outside world. Yet, there was absolutely no memory of this man.  

This was now the second time something like this had happened. And it wasn’t just County Princess and this Lord Xiao—many other things were out of place. In his past life, the crown prince had already passed away by this time, and a new heir to the throne would be established two years later. But now, the crown prince was alive and well, and the previously prominent princes had seemingly vanished.  

He suddenly couldn’t tell whether his past life had been real or just a long, long dream. Maybe all those terrible things in his memory would never actually happen in this reality…  

Back in the kitchen, Xiao Ruiyuan was subtly trying to inquire about Cui Ping’an’s background. Upon learning that this was the troublemaker who had turned the Cui family upside down recently, his face instantly darkened.  

Mo Yan immediately guessed what he was thinking and, exasperated, said, “He already has someone he loves. Don’t get jealous over nothing.”  

Xiao Ruiyuan’s expression remained sour. “Since you know who he is, why haven’t you let the Cui family take him back? Normally, it’s just you ladies at home. It’s inappropriate for him to stay here.”  

He, the legitimate son-in-law of the Mo family, hadn’t even been allowed to move in, so why should some runaway brat get to stay?  

Of course, Xiao Ruiyuan would never admit that he was simply jealous…  

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 942: Showing Affection and a Surge of Jealousy (3)  

Wiping the sweat off his face, Cui Ping’an continued chopping firewood. His fair hands were covered by a pair of gloves, but even so, they were already riddled with blisters—almost unbearable to look at.  

Meanwhile, Mo Yan was in the kitchen preparing dinner. Compared to the usual three to five simple dishes, the ingredients on the cutting board this time were noticeably more abundant.  

Tomorrow, June 30th, was Zhen’er and Yun Zhao’s day off, as well as Mo Qingze’s rest day. Initially, Zhen’er and Yun Zhao had two days off every ten days, but ever since Mo Qingze moved to the Zhuangyuan Residence, the two of them would stay over for a night after their break. Under the guidance of their father (or adoptive father), they would review what they had learned over the past ten days. The following day, they would return home with him, free to play without worrying about schoolwork.  

This way, they had both study time and playtime, making them very satisfied. Every time a break came around, the two little ones eagerly went to the Zhuangyuan Residence on their own.  

As the sun set and the sky darkened, a carriage full of laughter and joy entered the borders of Liuyang Village as usual, bathed in the last rays of the evening glow.  

After moving into the Zhuangyuan Residence, Mo Qingze had bought another carriage for convenience. This one was even better than the one commonly used by the Mo family. The horse pulling it was a truly fine steed, and after unlocking its intelligence, it was put to use. Usually, Uncle Sun handled the reins.  

However, this time, there was an extra person and horse alongside the carriage—a tall and upright man riding on horseback. Who else could it be but Xiao Ruiyuan?  

Since the imperial decree for the marriage had been issued, this was Xiao Ruiyuan’s first time openly visiting with Mo Qingze’s tacit approval.  

Zhen’er leaned against the carriage window, gazing enviously at Xiao Ruiyuan. “Brother-in-law, did you tell Eldest Sister before coming?”  

Mo Qingze flicked his son’s forehead and scolded, “You’re calling him that again.”  

Zhen’er covered his head and muttered in protest, “Father, the imperial decree is already issued. Brother-in-law isn’t going anywhere. What difference does it make if I call him that a little earlier?”  

Besides, just because he called him “Brother-in-law” in advance, Brother Xiao had bought him so many fun things. If he took the gifts but refused to call him that, wouldn’t that be untrustworthy? A true man wouldn’t do such a thing!  

Watching his little brother-in-law bickering with his future father-in-law, Xiao Ruiyuan’s lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile. Worried that his father-in-law might notice, he quickly concealed it and seriously replied, “This visit was unexpected, so I didn’t have time to inform your eldest sister.”  

Hearing this, Zhen’er stopped arguing with his father and quickly reassured him, “Don’t worry, Brother-in-law! If Eldest Sister didn’t make your share of food, I’ll give you half of my favorite dishes.”  

Every time the father and sons returned home, Mo Yan would patiently prepare a few dishes they each liked, and the flavors were always exceptional.  

“In that case, thank you in advance, Zhen’er!” Xiao Ruiyuan cupped his hands with a smile, feeling that spoiling this little brother-in-law was definitely worthwhile.  

In his heart, he also resolved to continue winning over his little brother-in-law. As for his father-in-law, who rarely gave him a pleasant look, Xiao Ruiyuan had no intention of giving up. He secretly hoped that one day, if his father-in-law was in a good mood, he might agree to let the wedding happen earlier—then he could finally put an end to his monk-like days.  

“Eldest Sister! Second Sister! We’re back!” As soon as the carriage stopped, Zhen’er impatiently jumped out and ran into the courtyard, shouting loudly.  

Xiao Ruiyuan followed closely behind his father-in-law, reminding Zhen’er to be careful not to fall. Once they entered the Mo family’s main hall, he naturally followed Zhen’er straight into the kitchen.  

However, upon stepping into the kitchen, the first person he saw was not the one he longed for day and night—but instead, an unfamiliar young man!  

At that moment, Cui Ping’an was carrying a large bundle of firewood. The sudden entrance of an excited child already startled him, and right after that, an even more intimidating man walked in.  

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 941: Showing Affection and Growing Jealousy (2)

Old Madam Cui scolded, but deep down, she was more concerned about her grandson. After listening to her daughter, she picked up the letter again and looked it over. Seeing that her grandson had not mentioned when he would return, her anger flared up again: “Back then, I should have sent a strict teacher with him when he went south. If I had, he wouldn’t be so reckless even as an adult. When he comes back, I’ll have your older brother find a teacher to discipline him properly. Otherwise, he might only get worse.”

Knowing that her nephew had crossed her mother’s bottom line, Cui Qingrou smiled and said, “Mother, Xiao Qi is a good child, just a bit too simple-hearted. But that’s not a bad thing. If we left him in the south alone for more than ten years, anyone else would’ve likely held a grudge.”

“Xiao Qi is a kind-hearted and good child.” Old Madam Cui fully agreed with her daughter’s words, speaking with some pride.

When they had no choice but to send her grandson south years ago, she was worried that he might grow distant from the Cui family. But after all these years, he returned still willing to be close to her as his grandmother and showed great respect to his aunt and uncle, which showed he truly was a good person.

Though she thought this way, Old Madam Cui still hoped to find a teacher to properly guide her grandson—not just for his education but to teach him how to navigate the world and make his life smoother in the future.

Seeing that Old Madam Cui had calmed down a bit, Cui Qingrou hesitated for a moment before asking, “Mother, should we wait for Xiao Qi to come back on his own after he’s had enough fun, or should we continue searching?”

Without hesitation, Old Madam Cui answered, “Naturally, we should continue searching. If he’s doing well, let him play for a while longer. But if things are bad, bring him back immediately.”

Cui Qingrou thought this approach was fine, but the problems that still needed to be addressed were unavoidable. If no solutions were found, her willful nephew might run away from home again. This time, he was lucky not to meet any bad people, but who could guarantee the same for next time?

Thinking of this, Cui Qingrou cautiously suggested, “Mother, Xiao Qi’s age is the most rebellious. Right now, he’s focused on the girl he grew up with. If we firmly oppose this, he might want to be with her even more. Instead of that, why not let them be? We could bring the girl to the mansion. Maybe over time, his feelings for her will fade. It’s better than forcing them apart and having Xiao Qi hold on to her in his heart forever.”

Old Madam Cui’s expression changed slightly, and with a sigh of helplessness, she looked at her daughter: “You know Xiao Qi’s temperament. Although he’s still like a child, when he’s set on something, when has he ever changed his mind? I worry that if we bring that girl into the house, if she doesn’t understand the rules and ends up offending someone, it won’t be good for Xiao Qi—it will only harm him.”

It turned out that Old Madam Cui had once considered bringing the girl into the mansion, but after witnessing how Cui Ping’an had dared to oppose her for that girl and even ran away from home, she completely gave up on that idea.

After hearing this, Cui Qingrou immediately understood the implication in her mother’s words and frowned.

Xiao Qi had his grandmother to protect him. Even if Princess Fuyun had ill intentions toward him, she would still hesitate to take action against him openly. But that girl was Xiao Qi’s soft spot. If she was brought into the mansion, how could Princess Fuyun let someone who could strike at Xiao Qi go free?

They could protect Xiao Qi because he was the Cui family’s bloodline, the master of the Cui family. But what was that girl? Princess Fuyun could easily find an excuse to deal with her, and they wouldn’t even have a reason to stop her.

It seemed she also needed to talk to Xiao Qi more and help him understand his mother’s good intentions so he would have a better understanding in the future…

Meanwhile, Cui Ping’an, who was still struggling with a pile of logs at the Mo family’s house, was unaware of the complicated issues ahead. Seeing the increasing amount of firewood on the ground, a smile of happiness appeared on his face.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 940: Displaying Affection and Stirring Jealousy (1)  

In the search for the runaway Master seventh young master Cui, it wasn’t just the Cui family that was thrown into chaos; even the streets and alleys of the capital saw an increased presence of patrolling officers, creating an atmosphere of panic. Several search parties even headed south toward Yuancheng, scouring the roads for any trace of him, but they found nothing—not even his shadow.  

Fearing that Old Madam Cui would not be able to withstand such a blow, Cui Qingrou and Master Cui did their best to keep the matter from her. However, with such a commotion, how could they truly conceal it from her?  

Upon learning that her most beloved grandson had not returned home all night, Old Madam Cui was both anxious and regretful. She was so distressed that she could not eat from that night until the following day. Seeing her eldest son exhausting all possible connections yet still failing to locate him, she began to suspect Princess Fuyun, believing that she had orchestrated something sinister against her grandson.  

However, without any evidence, Old Madam Cui did not directly confront Princess Fuyun. Instead, she instructed her most trusted attendants to keep an eye on the princess’s movements and report any suspicious activity immediately.  

On the day Cui Ping’an ran away from home, Princess Fuyun happened to be visiting another princess’s residence. She only learned about his disappearance upon returning in the evening. To her, Cui Ping’an and his mother were thorns in her side. With his birth mother already dead, all her resentment had transferred onto him, and she wished nothing more than for him to die outside and never return. Thus, she secretly sent people to track him down, planning to eliminate him quietly once he was found.  

However, after an entire day and night of searching, all that was discovered was that Cui Ping’an had nearly fallen victim to a street swindler and had attempted to rent a carriage south to Yuan. Beyond that, no one could determine where he had gone.  

Holding the safety letter Cui Ping’an had written, Mo Yan, mindful of Princess Fuyun’s threat, decided against delivering it directly to the Cui residence. Instead, she instructed an inconspicuous bird to carry it and drop it into Old Madam Cui’s courtyard.  

Taking in Cui Ping’an was indeed troublesome. If Princess Fuyun were to find out, refusing to hand him over would mean offending her. But at this point, there was no turning back—she couldn’t just throw him out now. The only option was to hide him well and wait until someone from the Cui family arrived to take him away before letting Princess Fuyun catch wind of anything.  

Even if the princess did eventually find out and blamed her for protecting Cui Ping’an, what could she do? Would she really go so far as to take action against her? And if she did, was Mo Yan supposed to be afraid?  

The messenger bird followed Mo Yan’s instructions, waiting until the courtyard was empty before releasing the letter from midair. The letter drifted gently down into the center of the courtyard and was soon picked up by a maid, who quickly delivered it to Old Madam Cui. Only then did the bird fly away, satisfied with its task.  

Recognizing the familiar handwriting on the envelope, Old Madam Cui sat up abruptly, her hands trembling as she opened it to read her grandson’s letter. Her eyes scanned the words swiftly, and upon confirming that he was safe and unharmed, the anxiety that had plagued her all day finally eased.  

Yet, the thought that her grandson would rather wander outside, letting his family worry for him, than return home made her furious. Slamming the letter onto the table, she shouted, “That ungrateful brat! Leaving without a word—does he even care about the Cui family? Does he even have a grandmother in his heart?”  

Cui Qingrou, worried that her mother’s health might suffer from the stress, had been staying by her side the whole time. Seeing that the letter was indeed written by her nephew, she set aside the urge to calm her mother and hurriedly picked it up for a closer look.  

Finding nothing unusual between the lines, she was reassured that, as the letter claimed, he had encountered no danger. A long breath of relief escaped her. Noticing her mother’s angry expression, she gently consoled her, “Mother, Little Seven being safe is already a blessing from the Buddha. He wrote this letter to let us know he’s well, inquired about your health, and even apologized to you. It’s clear that he still cares about you. Please forgive him this once—when he returns, we can properly teach him a lesson.”  

 Chapter 939: Tooth for a Tooth, Identity Exposed (4)  

If that time ever came, it would require a great number of physicians. Mo Yan intended to cultivate her own talent, even if not every healer possessed perfect medical ethics, it was still better than hiring those whose backgrounds were unknown.  

Running a medical clinic and training physicians was no small feat—it was a monumental task that couldn’t be completed in a short time. These plans were still part of Mo Yan’s future goals, but when they would come to fruition, she had no idea.  

Once the medicinal herbs were dried, Mo Yan returned indoors and heard the sound of chopping wood coming from the backyard. She saw the lean young man swinging the axe with all his might and, surprisingly, hitting the log accurately with every strike. She smiled. Had he truly gotten better with practice?  

Although the log was still intact after each strike, it seemed like a good way to build his strength.  

Mao Tuan, lounging in the shade under the eaves, lazily opened one eye and watched as Cui Ping’an chopped wood. When it noticed Mo Yan approaching, it immediately stood up and rubbed against her legs, sticking out its bright red tongue and licking its lips with a "smack-smack" sound.  

Mo Yan immediately understood what the little creature wanted. She smiled, retrieved three freshly picked watermelons from the well, and instructed Mao Tuan to go inside and invite the five beasts hiding in the cool shade to eat.  

“The sun’s too hot. You should rest for a while, eat some watermelon, and then continue chopping,” Mo Yan said as she entered the kitchen to slice the melons, calling out to Cui Ping’an outside.  

Cui Ping’an, feeling exhausted and thirsty, perked up at the mention of watermelon. He immediately dropped the axe and rushed into the kitchen. Upon seeing the large, round watermelons, he nearly drooled. After washing his hands and face, he returned with the others and the five beasts.  

Mo Yan cut the watermelon into pieces, giving the two largest ones to the six beasts with hearty appetites, while the smallest one was shared among the seven people.  

The watermelons were homegrown, planted just outside the courtyard walls. Thanks to regular watering with spiritual spring water, they grew large and juicy with a refreshing, sweet taste.  

For Mo Yan’s family, eating the watermelons was a common occurrence, but for Cui Ping’an, it was his first time tasting them. He found them to be the most delicious watermelon he had ever eaten, devouring three large pieces in one go, yet still feeling unsatisfied.  

Mo Yan stopped him from eating a fourth piece—not because she was stingy, but because his body was in such a fragile state. While the watermelon was filled with beneficial energy, it was also cold in nature, and consuming too much could cause diarrhea.  

Cui Ping’an clearly understood that he couldn’t eat too much. His greed had gotten the better of him, but after Mo Yan pointed it out, he no longer insisted. After a short rest, he went back to chopping wood.  

Mo Yan said nothing further. Just as she was about to return to her own courtyard to take a nap, the birds she had sent out earlier to gather information began to return one by one.  

Listening to Xue Tuanzi translate the feedback from the birds, it turned out just as Mo Yan had suspected—the young man indeed came from an extraordinary background. However, she had never expected that he was actually Cui Ping’an—the very same Seventh Master Cui, whom the matchmaker had once brought to her for a potential match!  

Mo Yan rubbed her aching forehead, unsure if Cui Ping’an knew the truth. Whether he knew or not, she could no longer keep him around. She went straight to the point, saying to him, “Your family is searching for you everywhere. They’ve turned the capital upside down looking for you. You should go home as soon as possible.”  

“No, I won’t go back!” Cui Ping’an immediately shook his head in refusal. But as soon as he realized what Mo Yan had just said, his eyes widened in shock. He stared at her and even dropped the axe in his hand, “How do you know my family is looking for me? You know who I am, don’t you?”  

Mo Yan waved her hand impatiently. “Don’t worry about how I know your family is looking for you. I don’t know who you are, but I can’t keep you here anymore. If you insist on staying, I’ll send someone to your family and have them come get you.”  

“No, you can’t do that!” Cui Ping’an cried out in panic, blocking Mo Yan’s path as though afraid she would really go to his family. “The capital isn’t my home. I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to marry my cousin from my uncle’s side. I want to go back to Yuan City. I want to find Fang Cao.”  

Mo Yan was taken aback, noticing how strongly he resisted. Her tone softened. “Your family is searching for you because they care about you. How could you bear to make them worry like this? Your grandmother treats you so well. She’s so old, yet she’s still worried about you. Do you think it’s fair to put her through this?”  

Cui Ping’an instinctively shook his head. He thought back to how weak and worried his grandmother had looked when he had run away last night. A trace of concern appeared on his face.  

Mo Yan continued, “So why not go back? If you make your grandmother worry so much that something happens to her, do you think you’ll ever find peace in this life?”  

A conflicted look appeared on Cui Ping’an’s face as he struggled to speak. “But that’s not really my home. I’m not happy there. I don’t want to go back! If my grandmother is willing to come back to Yuan City with me, I’ll take care of her for the rest of my life.”  

Mo Yan looked at him, suddenly feeling a twinge of sympathy for this seemingly naive young man. Perhaps he wasn’t very clever, but it seemed like he understood more than he let on. When he mentioned going back to Yuan City to find someone named Fang Cao, Mo Yan guessed that Fang Cao was probably a girl—perhaps the one he had feelings for.  

Cui Ping’an had no idea what Mo Yan was thinking. Seeing that she remained silent, his anxiety grew, and he clenched his fists. “Miss Mo, I’ll write a letter to my grandmother. Please, you can send it to the Cui family. Once she sees the letter, she won’t worry anymore.”  

Seeing his pleading expression, Mo Yan’s heart softened. She sighed and nodded. “Go ahead and write it. I’ll find someone to send it, but if your family finds me and comes to take you back, you must go with them.”  

Cui Ping’an nodded vigorously, his delicate face full of gratitude. “Thank you, thank you, Miss Mo.”  

(End of Chapter)    

 Chapter 938: Tooth for a Tooth, Identity Exposed (3)  

By the time breakfast rolled around, Cui Ping’an had barely managed to chop a few logs. Worried that his frail body might collapse from hunger, Li Yan, with Mo Yan’s silent approval, brought him a bowl of porridge and some steamed buns.  

However, Cui Ping’an refused, declaring that he wouldn’t eat until he finished chopping the firewood. He insisted that as a man, he had to follow through on his word.  

Li Yan tried to persuade him for a long time, but it was no use. Left with no choice, she brought the food back.  

Mo Yan said nothing, merely instructing Mao Tuan to keep an eye on him. If he collapsed, it was to drag him back into the house.  

Mao Tuan, having enjoyed its rewards from the previous night, readily agreed. Once it had eaten its fill, it sprawled under the eaves, keeping a close watch.  

Cui Ping’an mistakenly assumed that Mao Tuan was there to monitor his work, and frustration welled up in his chest—he felt like Mo Yan didn’t trust him. Fueled by indignation, he put even more force into his swings, increasing his efficiency.  

Unfortunately, the young master’s delicate body wasn’t built for this kind of labor. Not only did his soft, pampered hands quickly develop large blisters, but after chopping just twenty logs, he was completely spent. In the end, he couldn’t even hold onto the axe, collapsing onto the ground, his face pale as paper, drenched in cold sweat.  

Bored out of its mind, Mao Tuan perked up at the sight and immediately rushed over, dragging him back into the house. It also called out to Mo Yan, who was in the courtyard drying medicinal herbs.  

Mo Yan took one look at Cui Ping’an’s pitiful state and checked his pulse. Seeing that it was still steady, she knew he was simply exhausted from unfamiliar labor rather than suffering from any serious ailment.  

Sure enough, before long, Cui Ping’an recovered on his own. However, having skipped breakfast, his body remained weak and sluggish.  

When Mo Yan brought over porridge and steamed buns this time, he didn’t refuse. Instead, he sincerely thanked her before devouring the food ravenously.  

Seeing that he was fine, Mo Yan returned to handling the medicinal herbs in the courtyard. The sun wasn’t too harsh yet, and the air was dry—perfect conditions for drying the herbs before the midday heat set in.  

These herbs were fairly common—some harvested from her medicine field, while others were discreetly taken from her space under the guise of gathering wild herbs in the mountains.  

The ones from her medicine field were watered with diluted spiritual spring water, making them more potent than ordinary herbs but still inferior to those from her space. She always dried them separately and sold them at two different price points to Du’s Medical Clinic.  

Initially, Mo Yan hadn’t planned on accepting payment for the herbs, but Old Physician Du refused to take them for free. He insisted on paying and even offered a rate 30% higher than the market price because the herbs’ effectiveness was well worth the cost.  

Every ten days, Mo Yan delivered a batch of medicinal herbs, earning her household an additional two hundred taels of silver per month. With the superior medicinal effects, more and more patients were successfully treated, drawing in even more people. As a result, Du’s Medical Clinic’s reputation soared, gradually becoming the most renowned clinic in the capital.  

Aside from occasionally helping out at the clinic to hone her skills under Old Physician Du’s guidance, the clinic had also hired two more physicians to keep up with the workload. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to manage.  

In Mo Yan’s original plan to accumulate merit, the medical clinic played a crucial role. However, running a clinic could easily lead to disputes. Without a strong backing to deter malicious individuals, she hadn’t dared to act rashly.  

After the Chongyang Festival, once she had settled the three hundred soldiers at the border, she intended to shift the credit to Chu Heng. If he was willing to accept it, then the clinic would be secure. At that point, she could discuss with her master the possibility of leveraging Du’s Medical Clinic’s growing reputation to expand into nearby towns—or perhaps, if the timing was right, even establish clinics across the entire Da Chu.  

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 937: Tooth for a Tooth, Identity Exposed (2)  

With the birds keeping watch, Mo Yan could monitor the movements of that master and servant pair at any time. The reason there had been no action in the past few days was simple—Fan Meijiao, as a pampered young lady of the inner courtyard, was lazy and indulgent. She lacked capable subordinates, and for the time being, she couldn't find a reliable person to carry out her schemes.  

Still, to be safe, Mo Yan had six of her beasts take turns keeping watch at night. That way, if anything suspicious happened near the Mo residence, she would be the first to know.  

After a restful night’s sleep, Mo Yan woke up the next morning feeling refreshed. However, her mood soured the moment she saw Cui Ping’an lounging like a young master, casually ordering Li Yan to bring him water for washing. She nearly grabbed the washbasin and dumped it over his head.  

“I told you, you can stay at my house, but you have to take care of yourself. Don’t expect anyone to serve you. If you keep acting like some privileged young master here, you can pack up and leave.”  

Seeing Cui Ping’an stiffen at her words, Mo Yan didn’t bother being polite. This guy truly had no sense of shame. If she didn’t already know this was just how he was, she would have had Mao Tuan throw him out long ago.  

Cui Ping’an had been used to a life where everything was done for him. Even something as simple as washing his face had always been handled by maids. Now, being expected to do it himself felt unnatural, so he instinctively ordered Li Yan around—only to get caught before he even started.  

Worried that Mo Yan might throw him out on a whim, Cui Ping’an swallowed his grievances and quickly apologized. “I was wrong, I was wrong! I’ll change, I swear! Just don’t kick me out.”  

After all, he was still counting on this noble lady to be kind enough to send him to Yuan City.  

Mo Yan snorted and pointed to the pile of round logs stacked in the corner. “If you chop all of these today, I won’t kick you out. Otherwise, you either leave or go without food until you finish.”  

Cui Ping’an’s eyes widened in horror at the sight of the small mountain of logs. He shouted in protest, “No way! I don’t know how to chop wood! And even if I did, there’s no way I could finish all that! You can’t just set me up like this to force me out!”  

Mo Yan didn’t argue. Instead, she walked over to the logs, placed one as thick as a child’s waist upright on a flat stone, picked up an axe, and swung it down with precision. With a sharp crack, the log split cleanly in half and tumbled to the ground.  

Casting a glance at the dumbfounded Cui Ping’an, she continued chopping. The rhythmic crack, crack of splitting wood echoed through the air, growing faster and faster. In no time, a sizable pile of firewood had formed, enough to last the Mo family three to five days.  

Tossing the axe aside, Mo Yan dusted off her hands and gave Cui Ping’an a final look—one that hit him harder than any scolding. Without saying another word, she turned and walked past him.  

But Cui Ping’an felt as if that gaze had physically slapped him across the face. It stung.  

A girl younger than him had just chopped all that wood in one go, yet he—a grown man—was making excuses?  

Fueled by wounded pride, Cui Ping’an’s fighting spirit ignited. He picked up the heavy axe, gathered all his strength, and swung it down at the log on the flat stone—only for the axe to miss entirely and slam into the ground. He nearly tumbled forward from the force.  

Watching through the kitchen window, Mo Yan saw everything clearly. As she noticed the stubborn young man pick up the axe again, refusing to give up and repeatedly trying to split the log, a faint smile crossed her lips.  

The others might not have understood why Mo Yan was making him do this, but they had always trusted that she had her reasons. Now, seeing Cui Ping’an’s determined struggle, they finally understood.  

Suddenly, he didn’t seem so insufferable anymore.  

(End of Chapter)