Transmigrating into a book to save her best friend, her sickly husband vies for her affections every

"What are you saying? Your uncle would take any woman." Wei Yu straightened the bedding for her, a teasing smile on his face.

Ding Jiayu pondered Xiao Xu, "It wasn't good at first. Uncle married into the Ding family."

Well, the Ding family's business has always been quite well-known in the north. For Ding Ruguo to be chosen by the Ding family to be the son-in-law of their only daughter, he must have gone to great lengths. Or perhaps, the Ding family wanted to protect him at the time.

Although she was young at the time and her memories were vague, she could still sense the god-like status the Ning family held in the hearts of the people of the ten prefectures of the North.

It's highly unlikely that Ding Ruguo would have gone to great lengths to enter the Ding family on his own; it's more likely that the Ning family, unafraid of death, helped take him in.

"Although he shares the same surname, he is not well-liked. He was very handsome when he was young, but no matter how well he did, he was always called a pretty boy, both openly and secretly."

Well, it seems that hiding his identity was very successful. Ding Ruguo has endured humiliation and hardship.

With the Ning family's downfall, the Bai family was also implicated.

“My aunt was already in poor health, and after giving birth, her health deteriorated rapidly. My younger sister passed away when she was only three years old. My uncle was heartbroken. He then served the elders and daughters of the Ding family and gradually resolved many of the problems in the Ding family business. People gradually came to recognize him.”

The Ding family gave all their businesses to Ding Ruguo, which meant they tacitly approved of the Ning family's innocence and were willing to do everything in their power to help them clear their name, or perhaps seek revenge...

“My parents died, and I was shunned by my relatives. One family would feed me for a few days, and another would give me a few meals. When my uncle went home to repair the ancestral graves, he learned about my plight and felt very sorry for me. Coincidentally, his daughter also wanted someone to keep her company, so he adopted me.”

“They didn’t treat me like a maid. Instead, everyone called me Miss Cousin. What his daughter had, I had too. Later, his daughter…” Ding Xiayu paused, as if reluctant to continue, “He was also a bit overwhelmed, so he asked me to help deal with the business.”

In other words, you two spent more than ten years taking over the entire Ding family for your own use.

So, are you also one of the Ning family's henchmen?

Or are you someone else?

Yu knew very well who Ding Ruguo really was.

Ding Ruguo was a smart man; he should have understood that there might be people in the capital who knew him, and that he would take the risk to come and find Ding Xiayu at this time.

Yu had some vague guesses in her heart, but she still felt that the beads on the plate in front of her were missing a string to connect them.

"Uncle is fine," Ding Xiayu said calmly.

Seeing her drooping eyelids, Wei Yu tugged at the blankets for her, and Ding Xiayu slid in herself. Before falling completely asleep, she mumbled in her sleep, "Go and keep Xie Tinglan company for the next few days. Come and keep me company after her burial."

The voice grew fainter and fainter, and something was mumbled on the other end, but it was hard to hear clearly.

Yu got up and glanced at the people Ding Ruguo had brought: two maids, four old women, and two servants.

Bixi, Yuexi, Yao Yuan, and she were left behind, while the rest of the people were asked to leave the courtyard.

Yu smiled and looked at Granny Lan, who was leading the group. "Greetings, Granny Lan. I'm young and I'm not very good at taking care of people. You all grew up with Miss Ding, so please be understanding of the three of us who are clumsy."

Granny Lan was Ding Ruguo's attendant. She looked wise and immediately said, "We are not the young lady's personal servants. We were all assigned by the master. We come from a humble country. The Marquis's mansion is very strict. Please give Miss Yu some guidance."

"You flatter me with your guidance. I have to go and take care of things these next few days, so I'll leave this place to Mama Lan. Shun'an Courtyard has everything you need. If anything is missing, just send someone to find the Second Young Madam."

"The master instructed that we should not cause any trouble for the Marquis's residence. Anything that can be resolved with money should not be disturbed."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Wei Yu went to the front.

Looking at Xie Tinglan's memorial tablet, Wei Yu sighed silently and knelt by the brazier to burn paper money for her.

The body lay in state for three days before the funeral and burial. Zhu Chongsheng bestowed upon Xie Tinglan the title of Lady of the Imperial Decree.

It's obvious without even guessing that Xie Chunhe begged for it.

The capital city was bustling with activity once again.

In the tiny city of Beijing, today we talk about the hustle and bustle of this family, tomorrow we gossip about that family's interesting affairs, and the day after tomorrow we embellish the story with tales of other people's romantic escapades.

Amidst the constant stream of lively and interesting events, the affairs of the Marquis of Pingyang's residence gradually faded from people's conversations.

Although Xie Tinglan died, the two families still maintained contact because of Pan Ge'er.

With autumn approaching, people in the capital are starting to talk about this year's winter hunt.

Winter hunting happens every year, but this year's arrangements were handed over to Consort Xian, because the Empress said that she was no longer able to attend to her next life and that this year would be her last.

Royal affairs are always a topic of discussion.

Zou was no exception. She was telling her husband, Zhang Ruizhe, who had just returned, "The Xie family's status in the capital is getting higher and higher. Now they don't even care about our Marquis's Mansion anymore. I sent someone to bring Pan'er back for a short stay of two or three days, but the gatekeeper of the Duke's Mansion actually kicked them out..."

Zhang Ruizhe was changing his clothes behind the screen. "It's getting chilly lately. If Pan-ge'er catches a cold and it bothers him and us, if you want to see him, just send a letter to the Duke's mansion."

As he spoke, he called his attendant in and instructed him to deliver a letter to the Duke's mansion, saying that he would visit his grandson the next day. He then stepped out from behind the screen and said, "Call An'er here, and his mother as well."

As Madam Zou peeled the outer skin of a walnut for Zhang Ruizhe, she said, "What you're saying, Lord Marquis, is quite something. After all, Pan-ge'er is of our Marquis's blood and will inherit the title in the future. It's one thing if she's not close to us, but what if the Duke's Mansion instigates her to resent us? What will become of us then?"

"With what you've said, no wonder Tinglan's dying wish was for the Xie family to raise Pan Ge'er." Zhang Ruizhe snorted coldly.

Ms. Zou felt a pang of guilt, "But they shouldn't have..."

"You've done too many things you shouldn't have done. People only did one or two things to you, and they weren't even targeting you. The old women around you are all unruly. If you say something they don't like to hear, you'll only make a fool of yourself."

Zhang Ruizhe took the teacup handed to him by the maid and looked at Madam Zou, "How has things been at home these past two months?"

Ms. Zou picked up a plate of peeled walnuts and handed it to Zhang Ruizhe. “What can we do? The one who cried the most is gone. It’s peaceful now.”

She knew exactly what Zhang Ruizhe wanted to hear, but she deliberately didn't let him have his way and said what she wanted to say.

“I’m looking for a new wife for your son. Although according to the rules, a new wife can only be married after a year, a good wife can’t be found just like that. We have to take our time to find one. Your son doesn’t give me any face at all.”

"Alright, let's leave it at that. There's also Ding Xiayu. I told her to go and take good care of the young master. She did go once, but I don't know what she did, she made the young master so angry that he has a headache!"

"And your mother, she's always saying I'm looking for things to do. If I don't do these things, who will?"

Zhang Ruizhe began to frown.

Chapter 141

The husband should observe a year of mourning after his wife's death. Is he trying to ruin Zhang Zhengming's reputation by starting to look for a second wife now?

Since Zhang Zhengming was uncooperative, she actually tried to persuade Ding Xiayu to get close to him.

Ding Xiayu stayed at the Marquis's residence to recuperate. She came back this time to thank the young lady in person and apologize, and to let her know if they could help each other in the future.

“Lord Marquis.” Madam Zou turned around and sat opposite Zhang Ruizhe. “An’er is the eldest grandson of our Marquis’s family. He will definitely shoulder the heavy responsibilities of the Marquis’s family in the future. Now he has been led astray by Xie Shuang and Wan Liu and has no manners at all.”

As she spoke of this, Mrs. Zou was so angry that she pounded her chest and stamped her feet.

“Taking An’er to skip school and play in the suburbs, and Wan Liu, all day long gossiping about An’er, An’er’s studies have deteriorated a lot, and his handwriting is ridiculously ugly. If I die in the future, how will I face Zheng Liu?”

Zhang Ruizhe listened quietly, letting Zou Shi ramble on. Only when someone outside announced that Zhao Ruhui had arrived did he wipe his mouth with a handkerchief and say, "Don't be so polite, sit down and let's talk."

Zhao Ruhui dared not be disrespectful, so she obediently bowed before saying, "An'er has gone to fly a kite, and I have sent someone to look for him."

Madam Zou immediately retorted angrily, "If you don't study and instead fly kites, and you get hurt, are you trying to make the Zhang family line end?"

Zhao Ruhui said cautiously, "An'er has finished all his homework for today, and besides, he's been following Xie You around lately, so he's grown quite a bit taller. I just think—"

"What do you think? An'er is first and foremost a member of my Marquis's bloodline, and only then your son." Madam Zou dared not vent her anger on Zhang Ruizhe, but she was still very daring to bully this helpless daughter-in-law. "Or do you think that with Xie Tinglan dead, you can call the shots in the inner quarters of the Marquis's mansion?"

Zhao Ruhui was about to kneel down when Zhang Ruizhe slammed his hand on the table. "What are you saying Ruhui is doing?" He paused. "Xie You is a formidable young man. If An'er can build a good relationship with him, he will have his own connections in the future. It's good for boys to know a little martial arts; it's good for them to stay healthy and protect themselves."

Zou pursed her lips in anger, and Zhao Ruhui dared not sit down.

Just then, Ange'er's laughter rang out, "Grandfather!" He ran in, opened his arms, and threw himself on Zhang Ruizhe.

"Our Ange'er has grown taller!" Zhang Ruizhe liked this child who looked just like his youngest son very much. He picked him up and put him down, pinching his arm. "He's also gotten stronger. What has he learned this time?"

Ange'er's eyes crinkled into crescents. "I can ride a horse now, and I also play Cuju (ancient Chinese football), Juwan (ancient Chinese football), fishing, climbing trees..." He rattled off a whole bunch of things in one breath. "I'm not strong enough for archery, so Xie You makes me lift stones every day. Oh, and I'm learning my father's cursive script, but everyone says it's ugly. Grandfather, you're different from them, aren't you?"

Zhang Ruizhe: ……

He was truly ugly; even the tutor at the private school sent him a letter, telling An'er to write down his own charm.

"Where did you go, all covered in sweat?" Zhao Ruhui asked.

If her son wanted to learn his father's handwriting, she, as his mother, naturally wouldn't stop him.

Who has good handwriting from the start?

"Aunt Yu is flying a kite with me!" Ange'er said with a grin, pointing outside the door.

Zhang Ruizhe looked at An Ge'er and said, "Your teacher will come to the capital to report on his work during the Spring Festival. It's only three or four months away. Would you like to go to the north to broaden your horizons? Or come back with your teacher for the Spring Festival?"

Madam Zou immediately exclaimed, "The North?"

Zhao Ruhui was also stunned. "Father, I heard things are still chaotic in the north. There's also the Ning family case, and An'er is still so young..."

She originally thought the Marquis's mansion wouldn't pursue the matter of An'ge'er causing Ding Xiayu to lose her child.

In hindsight, she was overthinking things.

The Northland...

She grew up on the western battlefield and knew all too well how life on the frontier could be peaceful one moment and storm the next, with bloodshed and carnage raging throughout the city!

“I do!” Anger said voluntarily.

He had long wanted to go there after hearing Xie You describe the scenery of the North, and he was sure he could learn much more from Xie Shuang than he would in the capital.

Zhang Ruizhe patted his head and said to the two protesters, "At first, I thought Xie Shuang's teaching of An Ge'er was nothing more than arranging two people to come, and he would occasionally remember to exchange a few pleasantries, and then have the Xie family help out, and that would be about it."

"He wrote me many letters, he really wanted to teach Xie Shuang. He is a very capable person, and if An'er follows him, he will surely become an outstanding person."

Then, looking at Madam Zou, she said, "Even Xie Shuang couldn't protect An'ge'er. You said it yourself, An'ge'er is the eldest grandson of the legitimate wife. So, he should go out and see more of the world, so that he can see clearly what kind of path he wants to take in the future."

He paused, then looked at Zhao Ruhui, "Are you worried that the Ding family might do something to An'er?"

This is exactly what Zhao Ruhui is worried about.

If it weren't for the Ding Xiayu incident, and Xie Shuang had persuaded Zhang Ruizhe to take An Ge'er away, she probably would have accepted it.

But now, no, absolutely not...

“If the Ding family dares to do that, then everyone in their Ding family business will have to die. And I know that Ding Xiayu has never wanted the child in her womb.”

Zhang Ruizhe stared at An Ge'er, "This is also your punishment. Leave home, go to the border, and face your own responsibilities. Your younger brother's health will only be able to be maintained by the wealthy in the future. So, the heavy burden is all on your shoulders, understand?"

Ange'er: "Grandfather, rest assured, I will take good care of my younger brother and will not let the Marquis's Mansion decline under my leadership. I will get along well with the Ding family and learn from my teacher. I will never bring shame to the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion."

Zhang Ruizhe was very satisfied. "Then go pack your things and come with me in a few days. I'll see you off for half the journey, and your teacher will come to pick you up personally."

"Then, then I'll go prepare some gifts for the teacher." Anger was a little excited and turned to run out.

Wei Yu stood at the door with a kite in her hand, and could hear clearly what was being said inside.

"Aunt Yu, do you know what your teacher likes?"

Wei Yu shook her head and said, "Your Uncle Lin told me that your teacher has a cat by his side. Why don't you try to curry favor with this cat?"

Ange puffed out his cheeks and thought, "Then take me to Uncle Xie San. He must know what the teacher needs."

Wei Yu was pulled down the steps by him. "Brother An, let's send someone to tell your third uncle. Look, it's going to rain."

Ango: "No, I want to go myself. That's called sincerity."

He grabbed Wei Yu and ran out, saying, "Grandfather usually only comes back for five days before leaving again. Teacher is no ordinary person, so the things he needs will definitely be hard to find. I need to start preparing now!"

"Do you have any money?" Wei Yu teased. "What your teacher wants is probably very expensive."

Ange'er: "Third Uncle has it!"

Yu chuckled.

"Let's go, let's also go see Ange'er. He can crawl now! He wants me to carry him!"