The husband I snatched halfway through his life is strange.

The commotion reached the ears of someone who had arrived outside the window at some unknown time.

Yu Tingwan listened to the entire process.

Through the small hole she poked with her finger, she took in the expressions of everyone in the room who looked as if they had lost their parents.

"Old lady!"

The servant cried out in alarm.

Madam Cao was so devastated that she fainted.

In an instant, the hall was in complete chaos.

"Go, quickly go and fetch a doctor."

It was noisy and bustling.

Yu Tingwan heard Wei Zhao's soft sigh beside her ear.

When he speaks normally, his voice is deep and cold; when he handles serious matters, he exudes an air of pressure and solemnity; occasionally, when he feigns weakness, he carries a faint sense of death.

But things are clearly different now.

The breath exploded in Yu Tingwan's ear, and when it brushed against her neck, it became even more alluring.

This was different from the hoarse, alluring voice he uttered when he led her to the final peak of passion at night.

But it still felt like a feather gently tickling her heart. Yu Tingwan shrank her neck and raised her hand to rub her ears.

Someone poked my cheek.

Wei Zhao looked at her, concerned: "Why is your face so hot?"

I've thought of something exciting.

It is possible that he will not recognize it after listening to it tonight.

"I……"

I wanted to say it was too hot.

But she didn't believe it even as she said it.

Yu Tingwan came up with a series of reasons.

There's no excuse you can give.

"Maybe...he's sick?"

His tone was uncertain.

Her complexion was rosy and she was in excellent health. How could Wei Zhao believe her nonsense?
The man fell into deep thought.

But his reaction displeased Yu Tingwan.

Yu Tingwan: Why aren't you saying anything? Aren't you in a hurry?

Wei Zhao had no choice but to grant her wish.

"Wow, that's amazing, cursing yourself."

Stared at by death.

Wei Zhao changed his tune: "You're not sick."

Yu Tingwan was confused: "Why are you questioning what I said?"

Can't you just give her a way out?

Wei Zhao changed his tune again: "Then you have it."

It doesn't sit well with me.

That's weird too.

Yu Tingwan asked in bewilderment, "Why did my husband say I was sick?"

Between a cold laugh and trying to reason with her, Wei Zhao chose to sigh softly: "Sigh."

Yu Tingwan suddenly felt a little guilty.

Wei Zhao: "It's all a trap."

He asked, "Where do you want me to jump to?"

Knowing she was in the wrong, Yu Tingwan silently lowered her head.

But one can imagine why Wei Zhao sighed the first time.

Yu Tingwan pursed her lips, then pursed them again.

She is sad.

Yu Tingwan's eyebrows drooped, her expression full of bitterness and resentment: "Sigh."

There is no other reason.

Wei's army has its eyes on Cao's treasury.

I thought the Cao family was all crooked, and that they could just loot all the gold and silver. But then, out of the bad luck, a good bamboo shoot appeared, and half of the wealth was given to the Shu family's daughter.

It's not a good time to take action now.

But this trip can't be in vain.

Although the Cao family was not as well-established as the Duke of Shunguo's mansion, it was still a family with a history of over a hundred years, and the layout of the mansion was rigorous and well-organized.

Wei Zhao leisurely led Yu Tingwan on a stroll through the garden, as if it were his own home.

At first, Yu Tingwan was afraid of being caught by the Cao family's servants who were passing by, so she would look around every few steps.

But soon...

If Wei Zhao isn't afraid, why should she be?
Figure this out.

He quickly became arrogant while walking.

Well, neither of them really has any manners.

Yu Tingwan put her hands behind her back, not forgetting to give her comments.

"This cobblestone path is nice,"

"The artificial hill in front isn't big enough; there's no waterfall."

Wei Zhao didn't react. She started judging people again.

"That Uncle Cao is a true gentleman."

That was a noble title; other families would fight tooth and nail for it and still not get it, but he just gave it up without hesitation.

"Without destruction, there can be no construction; in this way, no one can restrain him anymore."

Yu Tingwan: "You've made me think more highly of you."

However, it must be admitted that no matter how much money the Cao family receives, the retribution they suffer and the harm inflicted on the Shu family woman cannot be erased.

The light was strong, and Wei Zhao's already noble and delicate features were enhanced by a layer of shimmering light.

Wei Zhao spoke in a calm tone.

“I have met Imperial Censor Shu a few times.”

"He only has two daughters. The elder one married far away long ago, leaving only this younger daughter by his side. For the sake of his younger daughter, he must leave the capital, this place of trouble, and go somewhere where no one knows him and his daughter, so that he can start over. I'm afraid... he will resign from his official post."

Although it was someone else's business, Yu Tingwan still felt a pang of sadness.

"fair enough."

It's good to the Shu family girl.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Time passed quickly, and the day to go to Changdu Temple arrived.

Yu Tingwan was ready.

She brought food, clothes, and Wei Zhao.

Originally, she planned to go to the stream in the suburban village when the weather got warmer. But these past few days, Yu Tingwan has been frequently dreaming about falling into the water in her past life.

She remembered nothing else but the agony of being on the verge of death, the chill that seeped into her very bones, the water enveloping her body and dragging her violently into the abyss. Her lungs were empty of air, yet she forced mouthful after mouthful of cold water to fill her mouth.

Every time she woke up, Yu Tingwan felt somewhat dazed.

Perhaps it was to help her overcome her fear. Wei Zhao got ahead of schedule in teaching her how to swim.

Shen Zhiyi was also ready.

Apply exquisite makeup.

She changed into a newly tailored dress, and as she walked, the skirt swayed gently, and the belt at her waist accentuated her slender figure.

The Shen family's carriage was parked outside the city gate, waiting for Yu Tingwan to join them.

Then the voices of people entering the city could be heard.

"Changdu Temple was already very popular, but now the foot of the mountain is packed with people. They're all going there for that Taoist priest. I just met a stranger asking for directions; he said he wanted to get his fortune told."

Someone asked, "Is that Taoist priest really that miraculous?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhiyi immediately perked up her ears to listen.

“It’s divine, how could it not be divine? The Wang family has a young wife who hasn’t conceived in eight years. She’s been praying to her grandfather and ancestors. Yesterday, she met that Taoist priest and spent ten taels of silver to buy a talisman.”

Seeing that many people were looking over, the aunt who was speaking urged her to continue, saying that she was no longer in a hurry to go into the city, and said with great pride and excitement.

"And sure enough, less than five days after returning home, she went to the doctor and found out she was two months pregnant."

Someone in the crowd laughed: "She was already pregnant, what does it have to do with that Taoist priest?"

The aunt said mysteriously, "The strange thing is that before that young woman saw the Taoist priest, she consulted two doctors. If she was pregnant, why would she go to the Taoist priest?"

The crowd fell silent for a moment.

Shen Zhiyi thought so!

That Taoist priest is very skilled!
Even if she doesn't have any luck with men, maybe spending some money to have a Taoist priest perform a ritual will bring her some.

She waited and waited, but Xiao Huaiyan appeared instead.

Just as she was thinking how coincidental it was, Xiao Huaiyan walked towards her.

The man, sitting on his horse, looked quite spirited and raised his chin at her.

"My sister-in-law had an unexpected emergency and can't make it."

Shen Zhiyi frowned slightly.

While feeling regretful, she also understood that Yu Tingwan, as the new bride of the Wei family, was too busy to leave and there was nothing she could do.

Xiao Huaiyan: "Fellow inmate."

"I heard from your wife that you want to have your fortune told?"

Shen Zhiyi: "I already told you, don't call me that."

Hearing the words "fellow inmate" reminded her of the hardships she endured in prison.

Xiao Huaiyan understood.

"Zhiyi?"

Shen Zhiyi's brow twitched.

She suddenly looked at him.

This is a term of endearment used only by close friends or family, and it is clearly inappropriate for Xiao Huaiyan to use it.

Xiao Huaiyan's Adam's apple bobbed as he stared at her intently.

"Yiyi?"

I've said it a thousand times in my heart, but when I actually say it out loud, it sounds awkward.

Shen Zhiyi: ? ? ?

She was just about to ask if he'd lost his mind.

Xiao Huaiyan: "Isn't that inappropriate?"

He's despicable.

It seems difficult.

"After all, our friendship isn't that deep yet."

(End of this chapter)