Chapter Three Plans

  With Jade as a living dictionary, I'm no longer afraid of running into acquaintances. After lying in bed for several days, my body has become stiff. Such a wonderful courtyard, if I don't take a stroll around, it would be a waste and unfair to myself.

  Yu'er reminded me that the one living opposite to me is the first lady, the second miss of the mansion, Zhou Muyan. We grew up together since childhood and have a very close relationship. Four years ago, she married He Yuanshan, the son of Vice Commander He Zong, but unfortunately, he died within a year. After her husband's death, Zhou Muyan's father, Zhou Renzheng, who was an official of the fourth rank and had a good relationship with He Zong, took his daughter back to the mansion to observe mourning rituals. That's why I saw her dressed in mourning attire the other day.

  Zhou Muyan also has an older sister, three years her senior, named Zhou Murong, who is currently the imperial crown prince's consort and has given birth to two daughters. It seems that this Zhou family can be considered as a noble family related to the royal family. Fortunately, I have fallen into such a body; if someone like me had fallen into a poor commoner's family, they would surely die of hunger or exhaustion.

  As soon as I left the hospital, I saw Zhou Muyan's beautiful appearance. She was still wearing a simple white dress, holding a book volume, half-reclining on a noble chair, her black hair falling down casually. Although she had no expression, she was still extremely beautiful, and I couldn't help but applaud. She raised her eyes to see me, got up, and asked how my body was doing.

  I smiled and looked at the stunning beauty, replying, "It's fine, sorry to have worried you guys."

  The beauty ignored my words, raised her hand to gently stroke my forehead, pinched my face and smiled, "Hmm, really okay, that day was almost scared to death, with a ferocious expression, like being haunted. Manya, what do you plan to do?"

  This question is really difficult. What does it mean by "how do I plan to"? I plan to go back, but that doesn't necessarily mean I'll be successful. How should I answer her?

  I pinched the jade beside me, she squeezed her eyes, and silently said with a mouth open and closed, oh my god, one gesture and one guess, it's really difficult, and we've only known each other for less than a week, our tacit understanding is limited.

  Rather than saying something wrong and being embarrassed, it's better to pretend to be stupid. Years of gossip experience have taught me that when celebrities encounter a question they don't want to answer, they usually engage in a fierce battle of wits with the entertainment reporter, speaking evasively and changing the subject. Since you asked a question that makes me so embarrassed, as a Scorpio, how can I not strike back?

  "I smiled and replied, 'And what do you plan to do?'"

  As expected, her face turned cold and she immediately became melancholic. She stood up and left the seat, just like all those ancient drama characters who recite poetry facing the bright moon. With her back to me, she sighed and said in a helpless tone, "What else can I do? Far Mountain has been gone for three years already. Father will definitely marry me off to someone else. Rather than becoming a concubine to one of those spoiled young masters, I would rather enter the palace. If I gain favor, it will bring honor to our family and not betray Father's upbringing. Marriage has always been out of my control. Manya, you are different from me, you still have a choice."

  What? She's going to enter the palace? Isn't she a widow whose husband has passed away? Does the Emperor have an interest in women who have been married before? Is this dynasty really lacking in women that much?! Her entering the palace was arranged by her father, but I'm not his daughter, whether or not I enter the palace is up to me, don't think you can make me become one of those pitiful women trapped deep within the palace.

  "I don't want it!" As soon as I thought of this, I got excited for a moment and unexpectedly shouted out the three words "I don't want it" loudly.

  She looked at me with a sad face, her expression was complex, as if it were affirmation, envy, and doubt. I should have come here to read expressions earlier, I would have done well to watch that "Lietome" back then.

  Goodbye Zhou Muyan, I really don't have the mood to go out and stroll around, it's too unreliable. What identity do I have in this mansion? Entering the palace, isn't that too exaggerated? Is it necessary for every time-traveling heroine to enter the palace and then develop a series of complicated love stories with the princes? How trite.

  With so many questions left unanswered, I really didn't have the mood to do anything else, so I called out again and performed another act of deep master-slave affection with Yu'er to extract information.

  Originally, I wasn't a member of the Zhou household, nor was I their relative. My surname is Wu and my name is Wu Manya. It's said that during the Four Kings' Rebellion, the war was extremely brutal, with countless lives lost and the land filled with the dead. And it was at that time that Lord Zhou picked me up. I don't know if it was because of Lord Zhou's exceptional kindness or because I looked too adorable.

  After coming to this mansion, not only did I not become a laborer who suffers from beatings and hunger, but I also enjoyed the same treatment as their young lady. Lord Zhou is very concerned about me and treats me in no way like an outsider. There was once a rumor in the mansion that I am his illegitimate daughter, but I don't think so, his face is so long, while this girl's face is quite round.

  Zhou Muyan was able to enter the palace not because there were few women in this dynasty, but because she was a renowned beauty. Four years ago, when Zhou Muyu had already become the crown prince's concubine and was highly favored, Zhou Muyan also got along well with He Yuanshan. Mr. Zhou thought it would be good to find a son-in-law from a military family background, so he hastily married off Zhou Muyan to the He family in order to avoid the upcoming election six months later. Who knew that heaven would not comply with human wishes? After giving birth to two daughters, Zhou Muyu gradually fell out of favor, and He Yuanshan also died of illness. Zhou Muyan spent three years mourning for him, which was considered a deepening of their husband-wife relationship.

  At this moment, the two interests at home were lost. Mr. Zhou was not done yet. On the one hand, he spent money to let people praise his daughter in front of the emperor, and on the other hand, he persuaded Zhou Muyan to enter the palace. It's really unknown whether the emperor is unreliable or this dynasty is as open as the Tang Dynasty. The emperor heard that such a beauty was left behind by the people and had a lustful heart, ignoring the opinions of the harem and the court, and insisted on letting Zhou Muyan participate in this year's imperial concubine selection.

  Alas, poor Zhou Niang has become a political pawn for her long-faced father. You can't speak ill of people during the day, just as I mentioned his long face, he appeared.

  With Yu'er's support, I bowed deeply to Lord Zhou and heard his calm voice say gently, "Manya, are you feeling better? You've just recovered from a serious illness, how could you rush out like this? If you catch the wind, it'll be troublesome."

  Alas, he really is concerned about me, no wonder there are such rumors in the mansion. Could it be that he is indeed my biological father? I raised my head and carefully sized him up, wearing a peacock blue brocade robe, with a jade belt around his waist, playing with a black jade ring, his hair was flecked with gray, although his face maintained a smile, but had a news anchor-like expression.

  He turned from a smile to anger, and shouted in a cold voice, "Yu'er, how do you take care of your master? If he gets sick again, can you afford it?"

  It's really worthy of being an official, a few words scared Yuer into trembling. I hastily interjected, "Uncle, this was my idea. Being cooped up in the house for so long made me feel stifled. Since my body is feeling better today, I planned to come and pay respects to Uncle. It's just that I forgot something, so I came back with Yuer to retrieve it, not expecting Uncle to arrive."

  Mr. Zhou listened to my words and immediately brought out his signature warm smile, shouting that he didn't become an actor for nothing, and his emotions changed too quickly. Thinking of what just happened with Zhou Muyan, it was really unfair to her, so I plucked up the courage to ask him about it.

  "Uncle, regarding the matter of Mu Yan entering the palace, what plans do you have?"

  Master Zhou didn't expect me to ask this question, he was taken aback at first and slowly replied, "This is the emperor's decree, it's also Yan'er's fate, I have no say in the matter."

  What nonsense are you talking about? It's clear that you yourself sold your own daughter for wealth and glory, and yet you still have the face to pretend to be innocent. Be careful or you'll get struck by lightning!

  "He said again, 'Manya, what are you going to do now?'"

  These two are really in sync. Just now his daughter asked me, and this time it's her dad's turn. Don't worry, I won't let you boss me around.

  I smiled foolishly and replied in a cold voice, "Although it is said that fate is determined by heaven, unfortunately I don't believe it. Unlike Mu Yan, my life is mine to control, no one else can interfere."

  I looked at Mr. Zhou's expression, which seemed to be one of disappointment, yet somehow also a little angry, and yet again with a hint of sinister smile, he said "good" several times before leaving.

  I'm speechless, completely speechless. I was trying to provoke him by saying those words just now, but it seems like it didn't have the expected effect. Sigh, these politicians are all weirdos, you can never figure out what's going on in their minds.

  After dinner, I sent Yu'er away and sat alone in the room, staring blankly. Although it was already dark outside, according to my experience, it should only be around 9 o'clock now. The life of ancient people is really boring, no, it should be said that the life of ancient women is boring. Men can still go out and have fun, but women can only clean up and sleep. Mu Yan's side had already gone dark, and this backyard was pitch black, you couldn't see your fingers in front of you. Alas, it's so early, normally I'm a night owl and can't sleep until midnight. Moreover, the beds in ancient times are hard as nails, after lying on them for a few days, I really feel like I've developed calcium deficiency, my waist hurts, back hurts, legs cramp.

  I let out a deep sigh, and at this moment, a sigh also came from outside, "Who is it?"

  I casually picked up something that looked like a candle holder and opened the door, but to my surprise, there was no one. Oh my god, it can't be this eerie! Alright, alright, I'll go to bed early and not disturb you from coming out to exercise. A young woman has no knowledge, please don't take offense.

  No sooner had I closed the door than the window suddenly opened, and before I could see clearly, a dark shadow jumped in, quickly walked to my front, and tightly covered my mouth that wanted to shout loudly.

  Who is coming after all?