[Mo Dao Zu Shi Fanfiction] I Raise A Ying in Yiling

"Ah? Uh, is there something you need Aunt Yan's help with?" Yan Niangzi asked, her thoughts interrupted by Wei Chaoyan.

“Aunt Yan, could you take a few people to help A-Ying, the father of my newly adopted brother, the two elders Zezang, build a cenotaph next to my parents’ graves? That way, A-Ying will have a place to pay his respects to his parents during festivals,” Wei Chaoyan said with a face full of pity.

"Oh, it's Wei Ying! I know, Aunt Yan will bring people over and make sure everything is taken care of." Madam Yan assured her, "But you don't have any of Zezang and his wife's belongings, so how will you build a cenotaph? You can't just build an empty tomb, can you?"

“No,” Wei Chaoyan shook her head and denied, “I will put a memorial tablet with their names engraved on it in the tomb, and also cut a lock of A-Ying’s hair, wrap it in a purse and put it in the tomb. I will have A-Ying embroider the purse a few times, so that A-Ying’s wishes can be fulfilled.”

Oh, right! We also need to add the paper A-Ying has been using for calligraphy practice lately. Hmm, I'll see if I can teach A-Ying a few passages from the *Classic of Filial Piety* these next few days, and then have him copy them onto paper and put them in the cenotaph.”

"Tsk, just talking about that kid makes you want to stuff all the good things in the world into his arms!" Lady Yan exclaimed.

“I’m not just nice to A-Ying. I treat Qi Ye and Qing Yan the same way.” Wei Chaoyan retorted. She wasn’t the kind of person who couldn’t treat everyone equally. Her three younger brothers were all good in their own way. She loved them so much, how could she bear to be biased and make them sad?

"Alright, alright, the best sister in the world!" Lady Yan teased. "Is there anything else? I don't believe such a small matter is worth you asking me to come here so late at night."

“Uh, Aunt Yan,” Wei Chaoyan hesitated for a moment, then said as if she had made up her mind, “After we pay respects to my parents, I’ll trouble you to arrange for a few reliable people to keep an eye on Aying and the other two. As for the two of us, I’ll take you to secretly survey the area around where the Repelling Resentment Grass is, so that we can prepare the things we need when we go to pick the Repelling Resentment Grass after the weather improves next spring.”

Upon hearing Wei Chaoyan's words, Yan Niangzi sat up abruptly, the force of which caused the chair beneath her to creak loudly, standing out conspicuously in the quiet night.

"Aunt Yan, be quiet, don't wake my brothers!" Wei Chaoyan complained.

"Yan girl, why did you suddenly decide to go and see that place ahead of time? Didn't you say last time that you would wait until spring?" Yan Niangzi ignored Wei Chaoyan's small complaint and asked in surprise.

"No, Aunt Yan, I did say we'd go pick the herbs after spring when the weather is better, but I didn't say we couldn't check out the surrounding area beforehand!" Wei Chaoyan rolled her eyes in annoyance. "If I don't take you to check out the area, how are you going to prepare the necessary supplies? Are you just going to prepare them blindly? You know, there aren't many repelling herbs left in the places my father used to frequent. We need to go in a different direction and search deeper. Are we planning to deliver free lunchboxes to the evil spirits and wild beasts in the deep mountains without making adequate preparations?"

Once Yan Niangzi calmed down, she ignored Wei Chaoyan's sarcastic remarks and complained with a smile, "Yan girl, you really know how to make things difficult for your Aunt Yan. You're making recipes, opening restaurants and eateries, building intelligence points, and surveying the area around the exorcising grass. Are you trying to work your Aunt Yan to death?"

"The capable should do more work, the capable should do more work, hehe!" Wei Chaoyan winked at Yan Niangzi.

"You're being silly!" Lady Yan laughed as she poked Wei Chaoyan's comical face.

"Um, hehe," Wei Chaoyan said, rubbing her hands a little shyly, "Aunt Yan, could I trouble you for another small favor?"

"What's the matter? Tell me."

"It's you, um, could you help me hide A-Ying's whereabouts within your authority, so that other forces—especially the Yunmeng Jiang Clan—can't find A-Ying?"

"You?" Lady Yan stared at the somewhat embarrassed Wei Chaoyan with a complicated expression. "What are you guarding against?"

“Aying’s parents are renowned throughout the land, and his own talent and aptitude are extraordinary. If other forces find him, it would be one thing if they were kind, but I’m afraid they might be eyeing Aying’s talent and want to take him for themselves. I’m too young and weak to compete with them for Aying’s custody,” Wei Chaoyan said worriedly.

"Wouldn't it be better if Wei Ying were chosen by them and taken back to a prestigious cultivation family to be properly nurtured? You should know that the resources and foundation of a prestigious cultivation family are beyond the imagination of us mortals, especially since your conditions are so poor, you can't even afford the resources of some poor rogue cultivators. If you force him to stay, wouldn't you be wasting his talent and potential?" Lady Yan retorted.

"..." Wei Chaoyan remained silent for a long time before finally speaking softly, "I know that keeping A-Ying by my side limits his development, but I'm not sure how those people will torment him after he's taken into the immortal sect in order to cultivate his loyalty. At least he'll grow up well and happily by my side! Besides," Wei Chaoyan confidently curled her lips, "I believe that in a few years, with my abilities, our family won't remain so poor forever. No matter what, by then, the Wei family's power will be enough to be the size of a small family, won't it?"

After considering the information Wei Chaoyan had provided, and with the powerful weapon of the Exorcising Resentment Grass in hand, and with the strong support of the imperial court and her own abilities, it wouldn't be difficult for her to develop a small family in a few years. With this thought in mind, Lady Yan knew that Wei Chaoyan wasn't exaggerating.

"Alright, as long as you understand." Madam Yan readily nodded in agreement. "I'll help you with this, but let me make this clear: I can cover for you for a while, but I can't hide it forever. You should be prepared for that!"

"No, I'm happy as long as Aunt Yan can help. I don't need anything else," Wei Chaoyan quickly assured her.