Chapter 391 - 390: Linked Hearts

Chapter 391: Chapter 390: Linked Hearts

In Baijie Hall, a few bowls of Laba porridge were placed in front of Madam Wu.

Banqiao scooped a spoonful from each, mixing them.

Madam Wu ate slowly and methodically.

"Madam, when Second Madam returns from Fa Yin Temple, you can have a small bowl," Banqiao said with a smile.

Madam Wu waved her hand, saying, "I don’t know what’s going on this year, everything tastes so bland."

Banqiao said, "You’re probably worried about the Princely Heir and Lady, aren’t you? When there are concerns in your heart, food loses its flavor."

Madam Wu gave a bitter smile.

Banqiao was right; she was indeed worried about something.

"Go ask Fourth Madam to come," Madam Wu instructed Banqiao.

Mrs. Lu soon arrived, and Madam Wu stood up, holding onto her for support, and said calmly, "Come with me to Manhe Garden."

A flash of surprise crossed Mrs. Lu’s eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and agreed softly.

Banqiao carried a food box and followed Madam Wu and Mrs. Lu over.

Nanny Shan opened the door for them. Over the past year, Manhe Garden had become much more desolate. Aside from the young maids who fetched meals and daily necessities, no one else came and went.

Mu Yuanjing reclined on the Arhat Bed. Once plump, she had lost a lot of weight, her cheeks deeply sunken.

She looked calmly at Madam Wu, a far cry from her previous flamboyance and arrogance.

Seeing her once-flowerlike daughter reduced to this state, Madam Wu’s eyes reflected a mix of pain and helplessness.

Mu Yuanjing noticed, raised her hand to touch her pointed cheeks, and said, "You don’t need to feel sorry for me. When I’m underground, whether I have a bit more or less flesh doesn’t make a difference."

Madam Wu pressed her lips together and asked Nanny Shan to serve a bowl of Laba porridge to Mu Yuanjing.

Mu Yuanjing took it, finished it silently, and then said, "You came to see me today just to let me know my days are numbered, isn’t that right?"

Madam Wu sighed softly.

"There’s no need for you to do this," Mu Yuanjing sat up straight, "living like this is meaningless. Better to die early and be reincarnated sooner."

Madam Wu understood the twists in Mu Yuanjing’s words all too well. She didn’t respond, only looked at her a bit longer.

"Who came with you?" Mu Yuanjing asked.

Madam Wu replied, "Mrs. Yuan’an."

Mu Yuanjing gave a cold smile.

She understood Madam Wu’s intentions: they needed to "talk properly" as mother and daughter, and Mrs. Zhou and the Lian Family couldn’t be present.

Mu Yuanjing would pour scorn on Mrs. Zhou, choosing the harshest words, and was even more at odds with the Lian Family. Not to mention whether Mu Yuanjing would provoke the Lian Family, the Lian Family might wish to tear Mu Yuanjing apart.

Madam Wu was mindful of these sister-in-law relationships, so she had Mrs. Lu accompany her.

"Let me guess your intentions," Mu Yuanjing tilted her head, her smile brilliant yet her tone icy. "Lian Hui is getting married, right?

You might keep me around until next summer, but when the time comes, if the estate hosts my funeral, it won’t allow for wedding celebrations afterward.

Lian Xiao’s wife is due at the end of January or beginning of February, Lian Hui is marrying in spring. If I go before them, the estate can still have a bit of liveliness to dispel any gloom.

But you’re unwilling to let me go so soon, so you kept me a few more months.

If I die right now, Lian Hui has to mourn, and her wedding has to be postponed.

This, you and I both understand, but can’t lay out in front of Second Sister-in-law.

To save my life, you’ve delayed Lian Hui’s marriage, and Second Sister-in-law might very well flip my coffin.

After all, as mother and daughter, many things are well understood between us.

Madam Wu had Mu Yuanjing explain everything clearly, pressing her temples, she said, "I kept thinking of letting you have another bowl of Laba porridge. You loved it the most when you were little, always clamoring for it before the cold set in. The Old Marquis would indulge you in everything. If you asked, he would have the kitchen prepare it for you."

Mentioning the Old Marquis, Mu Yuanjing’s eyes reddened instantly. She smiled bitterly, "Well, then, I might as well go sooner to accompany Father. As for whether Second Sister-in-law wants to devour me alive, that’s none of my concern anymore."

Madam Wu frowned at her, "Why do you keep mentioning your Second Sister-in-law? In a situation like yours, who wouldn’t fight you tooth and nail?"

Upon hearing this, Mu Yuanjing instead giggled, her eyes wide and her voice heavy: "Mother, lately I’ve been thinking, why did Lian Kang go missing? Why is it that only Lian Kang absolutely must not return to the Capital alive?"

Mu Yuanjing’s words, one by one, were like heavy stones crashing onto Madam Wu’s heart.

Beside her, Nanny Shan cast a glance at Mu Yuanjing.

Since she started caring for Mu Yuanjing, Mu Yuanjing often spoke of such topics.

Mu Yuanjing was filled with malice towards the legitimate eldest branch and the second branch, hoping they would tear into each other and let her, who was dying, enjoy the spectacle.

No matter what happened in the estate, Mu Yuanjing always saw the worst in it. In her mind, Mrs. Zhou and the Lian Family were both utterly malicious.

"From the outcome, Lian Xiao became the Princely Heir, benefiting the legitimate eldest branch. But to put it another way, he was the legitimate eldest grandson of the legitimate eldest branch. Even if Lian Kang returned to the Capital, you wouldn’t pass the title of Princely Heir to the third branch. Eldest Sister-in-law had the upper hand, and with her deep nature, she wouldn’t overdo things;

it’s only the second branch. If Lian Kang returned to the Capital, who would Jiang Yunuan end up marrying? Who would you have Jiang Yunuan marry?

As long as Lian Kang lived, even if Lian Xiao died, who would inherit this vast family estate?"

Nanny Shan’s heart raced violently.

She had served Madam Wu for so many years, knew exactly what she thought and did.

Mu Yuanjing was stabbing Madam Wu’s heart repeatedly. Even as she faced death, she wanted the Marquis Mansion to have no peace.

Every word she uttered poked at Madam Wu’s soft spot, aiming to sow distrust between Madam Wu and her grandchildren, turning the legitimate eldest branch, second branch, and even third branch against each other.

Madam Wu saw through Mu Yuanjing’s scheme.

It was precisely because she saw through it that her heart ached all the more.

As mother and daughter, Mu Yuanjing relied on her status as her daughter, using her understanding of her to plot against her.

Madam Wu felt a blinding whiteness before her eyes, dizziness threatening to overtake her.

Nanny Shan quickly supported Madam Wu, and Mrs. Lu hurried inside, patting Madam Wu’s chest and pressing her philtrum to help her recover.

Mu Yuanjing watched expressionlessly, her demeanor calm to the point of cruelty.

Mrs. Lu glanced at her and shook her head subtly.

Mu Yuanjing, sensitive, chuckled: "Fourth Sister-in-law, don’t you think I’m right?"

Mrs. Lu didn’t respond.

Mu Yuanjing’s smile turned mocking, "I think I’m quite right. I thought it through for a long time.

This is truly interesting, indeed.

If Lian Xiao’s wife gives birth to a legitimate eldest son, and I die with my eyes closed, then this winter, it will be impossible for Lian Cheng’s wife to conceive again. This way, it’s another year gone by.

I’ve obstructed Lian Cheng’s descendants, Lian Hui’s marriage, and caused Lian Yu to disrupt familial norms.

Ha! I can’t wait to see Second Sister-in-law’s reaction."