Eavesdropping on Fu Bao's inner thoughts, emptying the stored grain and fleeing the famine

This winter seems colder than usual. Even though Rongrong's carriage was surrounded by thick barriers, it still couldn't keep out the cold wind from all directions.

"Miss, you don't look well." Chun Tao asked with concern when she saw Lian Rongrong's pale face.

Lian Rongrong waved her hand, "It's alright, I'll be fine after a rest."

"Miss, would you like to..." Chun Tao hadn't finished speaking when she suddenly remembered that Qiu Ju was still there.

Although Chun Tao knew that Qiu Ju was also someone the young lady trusted, since the young lady had not instructed her to tell Qiu Ju about the amber ring, Chun Tao naturally dared not make a decision on her own.

Lian Rongrong also saw through Chun Tao's intentions. Right now, she was indeed not feeling well, and it would be best if she could enter the space to rest.

But naturally, the fewer people who know about Fu Bao and the amber ring, the better. It's not that Lian Rongrong doesn't trust Qiu Ju, but having experienced life and death twice, Lian Rongrong really doesn't dare to be careless.

Lian Rongrong shook her head at Chun Tao and comforted her with a smile, "Don't worry about me, I should be here soon."

Seeing Lian Rongrong's attitude, Chun Tao said no more and just carefully served her the whole way.

As for young master Fu Bao, he was well-fed and slept soundly.

As dusk fell, the group arrived at the mountain retreat. Because their arrival was so sudden, none of the people at the retreat were prepared.

But this did not dampen the old lady's good mood at seeing her children and grandchildren.

As soon as the Lian family entered the main hall of the villa, the old lady, having received the news, rushed over.

"Didn't we agree to go back to Beijing? Why did you come all this way?"

Although the old lady was elderly, her voice was still strong. She walked to Lian Jinghuai's side, her eyes full of affection for her son.

The old lady of the Lian family was originally a princess of a marquis's family, of noble status, and was the most beautiful woman in the capital when she was young.

Although she is now old, she still exudes elegance. Even in the simplest of clothes, her inherent nobility cannot be concealed.

Lian Jinghuai bowed to his mother before speaking, "It's cold in winter, and I dare not let my mother get tired."

The old lady nodded with satisfaction and praised, "My son is the most filial son."

"Look, look. No matter how good a daughter is, she can't compare to a son, can she?"

The person speaking beside her was Lian Jinghuai's elder sister, Lian Xiuyan, the eldest daughter of the Lian family.

Although Lian Xiuyan is the biological daughter of Old Madam Lian, she does not resemble her mother in any way, whether in appearance or character.

Lian Xiuyan was plain-looking and had no talent; she was only able to marry Wang Qi, the son of a military family, because of her family background.

Lian Xiuyan had few redeeming qualities, but her womb proved her worth, giving birth to twins for the Wang family.

The daughter's name is Wang Yue, and her personality is just like Lian Xiuyan's—arrogant and domineering.

As for his son, Wang Yang, he inherited the extravagant lifestyle of scions of aristocratic families perfectly.

However, the reason why this mother and her two children are in this state is inseparable from Lian Jinghuai.

Wang Qi was not only Lian Jinghuai's brother-in-law, but also his comrade-in-arms. During a battle against the Shang Kingdom, Wang Qi lost his life to save Lian Jinghuai.

At that time, Wang Yang and Wang Yue were not even three years old, and Lian Xiuyan became a widow at a very young age because of this.

The old lady felt sorry for her daughter and grandson, and Lian Jinghuai felt guilty about his brother-in-law's death, so he took the mother and her two children back to the Lian family to be cared for.

Because of his guilt, Lian Jinghuai always doted on and tolerated his elder sister and nephew, but it was precisely because of this that he allowed Lian Xiuyan and her two sons to become even more domineering.

"Oh, this must be Rong'er's child. How come he's so ugly?"

After teasing Lian Jinghuai, Lian Xiuyan turned her attention to Lian Rongrong. She walked up to Lian Rongrong and pinched Fu Bao's face.

Fu Bao, who had just been fast asleep, suddenly pouted and burst into tears.

Who is it? Who pinched me? Waaaaah, Mommy, there's a bad person!

The little one was crying so hard he could barely breathe, and he looked extremely aggrieved, which showed that Lian Xiuyan had indeed used force in that blow.

Lian Rongrong looked at the red mark on Fu Bao's face with heartache and couldn't help but complain:

“Fu Bao is still young, so Aunt should be careful with her strength.”

As soon as Lian Rongrong finished speaking, Lian Xiuyan rolled her eyes at her disdainfully and said sarcastically:

"Oh my, it's just a baby, what's so precious about it?"

I just touched it because I liked, and look at your attitude! Jinghuai, is this the kind of daughter you raised?

Lian Xiuyan looked at Lian Jinghuai, wishing he would immediately reprimand Lian Rongrong.

Although Lian Jinghuai always yielded to his elder sister out of guilt, he would not make things difficult for his precious daughter because of it.

Standing beside Lian Rongrong and her son, Lian Jinghuai explained to Lian Xiuyan with a beaming smile:

"Elder sister, please don't be offended. After all, this is Rong'er's first time being a mother, and it's inevitable that she will love her child."

"My elder sister was much more attentive to Yue'er and Yang'er back then. I remember she wouldn't even let me hug her when I wanted to."

Seeing Lian Jinghuai so protective of Lian Rongrong, Lian Xiuyan snorted coldly and replied indifferently:

"Yes! You used to love Yue'er and Yang'er so much. But after you had your own children, my son had to take a backseat."

"Alright, alright. Doesn't your brother love Yue'er and Yang'er enough?"

Yiyun and Yicheng have everything Yue'er and Yang'er don't; he just favors his daughters a bit more, and you're still being jealous.

What kind of aunt would argue with her niece like that? She's really getting more and more precocious as she gets older!

Seeing her mother's reaction, Lian Xiuyan stopped arguing and just gave Lian Rongrong a displeased look.

Lian Rongrong was speechless. She really didn't know what she had done to offend this aunt.

[Old woman, ugly woman, I hate her! I hate her so much!]

Fu Bao cried a few more times, venting her dissatisfaction.

Lian Jinghuai turned to look at Lian Rongrong, then said to the old lady beside him:

“Mother, Third Sister has just given birth and has been traveling continuously. She must be exhausted. Why don’t we let her and her child go back to their room to rest first?”

The old lady was kind and naturally agreed, but Lian Xiuyan couldn't help but question it upon hearing this:

"Going out right after giving birth? That's really something! Did you do something shameful and get kicked out by your in-laws?"

Since arriving at the villa, Lian Xiuyan had been provoking her. At first, Lian Rongrong didn't want to cause trouble, but she found that the more she tolerated this old woman, the more she took advantage of her.

"Given a second chance at life, am I really going to have to suffer this injustice again?" Lian Rongrong glanced at the still-fading red mark on Fu Bao's face, and her anger grew even stronger.

She suddenly stepped forward, holding Fu Bao, and met Lian Xiuyan's eyes, asking in return:

“I really don’t know what I did to offend you, Aunt, that you would target me like this.”

"Ever since we entered the villa, my aunt first pinched Fu Bao until she cried, and then she started to berate her with every word she said."

"Now they've even brought up the word 'scandal.' My niece's surname is Lian, and my aunt's surname is also Lian."

"What? If the Lian family is disgraced, how can your aunt possibly have any pride?"

Feeling humiliated by Lian Rongrong's retort, Lian Xiuyan adopted an elder's tone and yelled at Lian Rongrong:

"What a sharp-tongued girl! Is this how you're raised in the Lian family to respect your elders?"

"Respecting elders also requires elders to act like elders."