Crossing Over to Yamada Love

Wang nodded gently and lay down as instructed by Mo Lan.

After Xia Yu finished tidying up, Mo Lan instructed her and Granny Bai to stand guard outside the door, telling them that no one was allowed to approach without her permission.

The two agreed, knowing that the grandfather and grandson had something confidential to discuss. They diligently stood guard at the door.

“Grandma, that day I was having dinner with the young master of the Xue family at the restaurant. When I went downstairs, I met an old man. I felt that the way he looked at me was strange. Later I found out that he was Lord Chen. When I came back, I intended to tell you, but it was too late that day. I was afraid that if I told you, you wouldn’t be able to sleep well. In the following days, I was busy preparing the dishes and forgot about it. What happened?” Mo Lan said softly.

Upon hearing Mo Lan's words, Madam Wang became agitated again. She sat up abruptly and said angrily, "That damned old scoundrel actually sent a matchmaker to our door today, saying he wanted to take you as a concubine. I refused outright, and the matchmaker even added that the old dog was willing to take you as a secondary wife. I'm so angry! How dare that old dog send someone here? Doesn't he think he's done enough harm to our Wang family? Does he want me to die before he's satisfied? Doesn't he realize he's almost dead? How could he treat you and us like this?" Mo Lan felt a pang of heartache seeing Madam Wang's resentful and sorrowful expression.

Mo Lan hadn't expected Chen Xuewen to do this; he probably wasn't really concerned about her health, and he must have been treating her as a substitute for her grandmother.

"Grandma, what exactly happened between you and him? Please tell me so I can understand the reason. I only knew before that he broke off the engagement and framed my maternal grandfather. But I don't know the details. You have to let me understand the cause and effect." Mo Lan asked directly. She felt that she had to understand so that she could persuade Wang Shi.

Wang glanced at Mo Lan, picked up the teacup by the bedside, slowly took a sip of water, narrowed her eyes, and fell into memories.

After a long pause, she slowly said, "Old Dog's father and my father were classmates and had a close relationship. My father entered the court as an official, but Old Dog's father was always unsuccessful and his family was relatively poor."

When Lao Gou was five years old, his father brought him to visit us. His father, seeing his handsome features and intelligence, took a liking to him and recommended him to a good private school. Later, his father died, leaving behind his widowed mother. Knowing this, his father often helped them financially. Before her death, his mother entrusted him to his father, who agreed. His father brought him into the mansion, settling him in a courtyard and providing him with ample food, clothing, and other necessities.

Speaking of which, that old dog was quite promising; he passed the imperial examination at the age of thirteen and became a scholar. My father liked him very much. When he was fifteen, I was twelve. Because my father admired his talent and pitied him as the only son of an old friend, he did not mind his poverty and betrothed me to him.

Because he lived in the mansion, we often saw each other since we were young. After he entered the mansion, he treated me very well. That's why I didn't realize that he was actually a heartless beast.

He passed the imperial examination at eighteen and became a scholar. My father had made arrangements for him and planned to marry us the following year. But that same year, the princes vied for the throne. My father supported the second prince because the eldest prince had died. The second prince was the eldest and a virtuous man, so my father supported him. But in the end, it was the third prince who ascended the throne.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, he purged his opponents, starting with his own father, who opposed him. He even possessed letters between his father and the second prince, which led to his father's imprisonment. Besides his father and two elder brothers, only his father knew about these letters. His father treated him like family, hiding nothing from him, unaware that this would sow the seeds of his own destruction. This man actually stole the letters and gave them to the new emperor, repaying kindness with enmity and harming our entire family.”

As Wang spoke, her face was covered in tears, but her eyes flashed with anger, clearly showing that her hatred for Chen Xuewen was deeply ingrained.

Mo Lan didn't reply. She poured Wang a cup of warm water and placed it in her hand. Wang took the water, drank a sip, and then said, "Father was imprisoned and murdered in prison within a few days. Meanwhile, that old dog rose through the ranks, not only becoming an official in the court but also being granted a marriage by the new emperor, marrying a woman from a good family."

Not long after, the new emperor issued an imperial edict, and my family was exiled to Dandong. Before the exile, Old Dog secretly came to see me and said that he could bribe the officials to secretly switch me out. He would buy me a house to settle me in, and he said that as long as I didn't make a fuss, he would treat me well for the rest of his life.

How could I possibly become the mistress of my father's killer? Enraged, I slapped him twice. I chased him away with a stern voice, and I never saw him again. On our way to exile, he sent men to kidnap me, intending to take me to the capital and make me his mistress.

I really don't know what that old dog is up to. He's actually targeting you again today. He'll definitely get what's coming to him.

In the end, Wang cursed loudly to vent her anger.

Mo Lan understood the gist of it and sighed inwardly. She thought that Chen Xuewen had often visited her grandmother's house since he was a child. He often met with her and naturally had a bond with her. Moreover, he was fair-skinned, gentle, and well-educated. It was likely that not only her grandmother's father liked him, but her grandmother must have secretly fallen for him at that time.

A young woman, nestled in her boudoir, eagerly anticipates growing old with her future husband. A moment of blushing joy and boundless dreams fills her with happiness. Little did she know that her beloved would so cruelly betray her family and marry another woman. Who wouldn't hate such a tragedy? Who could bear to let it go?

However, according to Grandma, Chen Xuewen must have liked her. Otherwise, he wouldn't have secretly sought her out, trying to bribe the officials to release her, nor would he have sent people to kidnap her, intending to make her his mistress. All of this suggests that he genuinely liked Grandma. If he did like her, why did he steal the letter? Why did he harm Grandma's family? According to Grandma, her father had done him a great favor. What was he thinking? What was his true motive?

Mo Lan thought about it for a long time, but she still couldn't figure it out. If she couldn't figure it out, she wouldn't think about it anymore. Otherwise, she would just be wasting her time.

Mo Lan stopped thinking about it and asked softly, "Has the Lady of the Marquis agreed?"

"No, how could I possibly agree? My Wang family has an irreconcilable feud with him, there's no way we could agree to this. Even if you, sister-in-law, agreed, I wouldn't accept it. They can't decide your marriage. I'd rather die than let that old dog have his way." Wang Shi became agitated and angry whenever she mentioned Chen Xuewen.

Seeing her like this, Mo Lan quickly comforted her, "Grandma, don't be angry. Your health is important. If you get sick from anger, we'll be the ones who suffer, while others will be the ones who rejoice. So many years have passed. Try to be more understanding. He only sent a matchmaker to say that we shouldn't have come. Besides..." Mo Lan lowered her voice and said, "The Marquis and the Xue family are gathering evidence to eliminate his power. Before long, they will definitely bring him down. Don't worry, Grandma. Your wish will surely come true."

Upon hearing Mo Lan's words, Wang's eyes lit up, and she asked urgently, "Really?"

The light in her eyes dazzled Mo Lan, who sighed inwardly; her grandmother's hatred was too intense. So intense that even she was afraid.

Seeing Mo Lan nod, Madam Wang breathed a sigh of relief, her body went limp, and she leaned against the brocade quilt, saying, "I will definitely wait for that day. I will definitely wait."

Mo Lan comforted Wang Shi and helped her lie down to rest. After Wang Shi closed her eyes, she went out of the inner room. She instructed Xia Yu to watch over Wang Shi, while she took a sedan chair and Granny Bai to the outer courtyard to find the old Marquis.

Inside the study, the Marquis and the Second Master were discussing matters. They were both furious about Chen Xuewen sending someone to propose marriage, and they were discussing how to speed up the process of dealing with Chen Xuewen.

A servant came in to report that Mo Lan was requesting an audience. The two men were taken aback and exchanged glances. The old Marquis nodded, signaling for Mo Lan to come in.

Mo Lan entered the study with a light step, a smile on her face. She looked no different from usual, and no one could tell that anything was amiss.

Mo Lan stepped forward to greet him, then stood aside with a smile.

"Girl, why aren't you staying in the inner courtyard? Is something the matter?" The old Marquis asked first when he saw that Mo Lan was not speaking.

"Lanlan has been practicing for a few days and feels she has improved a lot. Tomorrow, I would like to invite you two great-uncles to Lan Courtyard to taste Lanlan's cooking. I wonder if you two great-uncles are available?" Molan explained her purpose with a smile.

The old Marquis stared at Mo Lan for a while, then nodded and said, "Alright, what time tomorrow? Besides us, have you invited anyone else?"

"Besides my two great-uncles, I would also like to invite Brother Mingda and the three young masters of the Xue family. I'll have to trouble my great-uncles with that, as I'm not comfortable going out to invite them. As for others? Lanlan wanted to invite my great-aunt, but she's in charge of the inner courtyard and probably can't spare the time, so I didn't feel comfortable asking." Molan didn't want to invite a bunch of people into Lan Courtyard. She was there to taste the dishes, not to find fault with them.

The old Marquis understood Mo Lan's intentions perfectly well, and nodded, saying, "Alright, then it's just the few of us."

Seeing that the old Marquis had agreed, Mo Lan pondered for a moment before saying, "Then I'll trouble you, Uncle. Uncle, Lan Lan would like to instruct the purchasing manager to prepare all the ingredients needed for tomorrow. Do you know why?"

"Don't worry, I'll have Wang Fu go with you later. Just tell them what you need." The old Marquis understood what Mo Lan meant and immediately agreed.

"Thank you, Grand Uncle. Then Lanlan will not disturb you two any longer and will take her leave." Mo Lan thanked them, bowed, and turned to leave.

"Girl." The old Marquis saw that Mo Lan was about to leave, hesitated for a moment, and then called out to her. But after calling her, he pondered and did not speak.

Mo Lan smiled and stood there, waiting for the old Marquis to speak.

"Have you heard about it all?" The old Marquis was silent for a while before finally asking.