Wearing a pink dress and occasionally fanning herself with a fan in a flamboyant manner, Ouyang Yue didn't know what she was feeling at that moment: "If what Father said is true, then Ning Shi..."
Why did she become my nominal mother?
Ouyang Zhide's expression changed slightly, and he sighed, "In the end, it still came to this, Yue'er. You should know that your mother is exceptionally beautiful and highly talented."
She was also very gentle and kind; she was truly a perfect woman whom I cannot describe in words. How could a woman like her not have many suitors? At one point, there was even a man who would…
The rumors circulated that she would be brought into the palace and made a Noble Consort. At that time, the current Noble Consort Sun had not yet entered the palace. If she had, I guarantee she would have been showered with the emperor's favor.
body. "
Ouyang Yue pursed her lips and said, "But in the end, Mother didn't go to the palace."
"Yes, she was definitely not one of those short-sighted, vain women. It's just that I didn't know what had happened at the Leng residence at the time; I only knew that suddenly..."
"My God, it's as if she never existed in this world, she just vanished." A clear look of pain flashed across Ouyang Zhide's face.
Ouyang Yue was slightly taken aback: "Disappeared? How can a person just disappear?"
Ouyang Zhide nodded: "Yes, she went into hiding to avoid the world. At that time, both the Leng family and other families were eager to find her. So many..."
Finding a woman should have been extremely easy for our forces, but in the end, we not only failed to find her, but we also received no trace of her. After two years, finally we...
We can only accept the fact that she has disappeared.
"Then..." Listening to Ouyang Zhide's words, Ouyang Yue felt increasingly confused.
Ouyang Zhide suddenly laughed: "But I was lucky." His smile widened. "That time I returned to the capital to report on my duties, but in the middle of..."
On the way, I encountered a group of bandits chasing a woman. I was young then, and acted impulsively and hot-bloodedly. Without thinking, I ordered my men to rescue the woman, but little did I know…
"It's her, isn't it?"
"Two years, two whole years! She appeared in front of me when I least expected it. Do you know how I felt? It was like a blessing from heaven."
It was as if it were destiny; I longed to hold her in my arms, I longed to marry her immediately. However, she was somewhat injured at the time, so I immediately sent someone to find a doctor to examine her.
I took care of her and escorted her all the way back to the capital. I didn't know what had happened between her and the Leng family, but since she refused to return, I had no choice but to settle her in first.
Actually, I had my own selfish motives at the time. If she returned to the Leng residence, many things would be beyond my control. I actually hoped she would live in my house, and then...
"To live permanently in the General's Mansion."
Ouyang Yue frowned: "But Mother hasn't been staying at the General's Mansion recently." Over the years, no one in this mansion has ever mentioned Leng Yuyan's name, regardless of...
No matter how well Ouyang Zhide kept things secret, it was impossible for Leng Yuyan to have appeared in the General's Mansion, so no one had seen her.
Ouyang Zhide looked at Ouyang Yue and said, "No, she later moved into the General's Mansion and gave birth to you." Ouyang Yue looked at Ouyang Zhide with a very strange expression, and the latter sighed.
He sighed, "At that time, I took her to the Good Words Pavilion."
"Hmm?" Ouyang Yue frowned, looking at Ouyang Zhide with displeasure. It sounded like Ouyang Zhide was keeping a mistress, never giving Leng Yuyan any attention.
The question of titles and honors arose only after a moment's thought: "Father, what's going on?"
“Your mother… when I met her, she was already pregnant. I… didn’t know who that person was; she never said.” Ouyang Zhide’s face showed…
A bitter taste lingered in her mouth, and Ouyang Yue gasped upon hearing this. In this era, premarital pregnancy was considered extremely unethical for a woman; such a woman was seen as a symbol of infidelity and impurity. (Leng Yuyan)
As the legitimate daughter of a powerful family, she couldn't possibly be unaware of this principle. She wouldn't do something like this unless she was madly in love with this man, and this man...
The person in question was simply unable to take responsibility for her, or perhaps she was forced into it.
"Your mother loves you very much, don't overthink it." Ouyang Zhide seemed to see through Ouyang Yue's thoughts and immediately said, but Ouyang Yue, her mind somewhat confused, nodded haphazardly.
Ouyang Zhide said, "I... I wanted to marry her back then, but she said it was too unfair to me, that she couldn't love me, that it would just be using me. She didn't know..."
How I wished she would be selfish and use me; that was my greatest desire. She wanted to give birth to you, but she couldn't let anyone know you were her child, and at that time… I
Knowing that Ning Caiyue was infertile, they brought Yuyan to Shanyu Pavilion and announced to the public that Ning Caiyue was the one who had been pregnant, and that after Yuyan was born, naturally...
The child is Ning Caiyue's.
Ouyang Yue's expression changed slightly. How could Ning Shi agree to this? She now understood why Ning Shi occasionally showed her such hatred. Her husband loved another woman.
The man, in the end, still had to raise this woman's child, which must have filled Ning with intense resentment.
Ouyang Zhide said indifferently, "Back then, I spoke according to Yu Yan's idea. Although the idea was a bit absurd, we had no other choice at the time."
Furthermore, Ning Shi is completely infertile. Humph, the Ning family never mentioned this before, deceiving me to this extent. Now I'm directly delivering the child to her, covering up her shortcoming.
"This is showing her respect." At this point, Ouyang Zhide's eyes flashed with a sinister light. Ouyang Yue hadn't considered this aspect; if this were true, then the Ning family would have...
She was tricked into marriage. You have to understand, in this era, a woman's greatest asset was her ability to bear children. Even if a woman like Ning had a good family background, if outsiders knew she couldn't have children, who would believe it?
He wouldn't marry her. From Ouyang Zhide's perspective, Ning Shi and the Ning family were deceiving him together. There's no way he would like Ning Shi.
"We didn't force Ning Caiyue at the time. When I said that, she agreed with great enthusiasm. She was also the one who managed everything inside and outside Shanyu Pavilion back then."
I remember she and Yuyan were very close back then, and I do feel I owe her something in this matter, so…” Ouyang Zhide didn’t elaborate on the topic, but Ouyang…
The moon could understand, "Later, the swift gave birth to you. You were incredibly beautiful and adorable from birth, and your eyes were as lovely as crescent moons when you smiled."
The character was given by the swift.
Ouyang Yue's heart skipped a beat, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up, but the next moment her face darkened: "How did my mother die?"
Ouyang Zhide's face stiffened, a flash of pain crossing his features. He lowered his head slightly and said, "Actually, if anyone's to blame for what happened to Yue'er, it's me. Besides, your mother said she didn't want you to seek revenge."
"You...just forget about it."
Forget? How could she forget? She had just learned that her birth mother was someone else, but immediately learned that she was no longer alive. Moreover, from Ouyang Zhide's words, it seemed...
There were also some hidden things. Based on her understanding of Ning Shi, Ning Shi was by no means a kind person. She had a possessive desire for Ouyang Zhide. Could she really get along peacefully with her mother and be quite open-minded?
Heart? Compared to the current Ning family, Ouyang Yue truly couldn't imagine it. However, seeing Ouyang Zhide's current state, she didn't want to say anything more. Besides, her mother had said not to seek revenge.
She did believe him to some extent. According to Ouyang Zhide, Leng Yuyan was a very kind and unassuming person. However, now that she knew about this, she would definitely not let it go so easily.
She had already said that. But looking at Ouyang Zhide, she said, "Then... my biological father..."
Ouyang Yue looked at Ouyang Zhide cautiously. Before this, she had never thought that Ouyang Zhide might not be her biological father, because he had been so good to her, so good that...
He even disregarded the feelings of his own child, showering her with such affection. Ouyang Zhide was arguably the first person to give her warmth after her rebirth, a fact that Ouyang Yue cherished deeply.
And she was very grateful to him. However, having come this far, Ouyang Yue also had to ask her about her biological father.
Ouyang Zhide sighed, "Yue'er, it's not that your father... it's not that I don't want to tell you, but your mother never told me before she died, so I really don't know."
Ouyang Yue reached out and gently grasped Ouyang Zhide's hand: "Father, no matter who my biological father is, you are my father, and I will never forget that. I'm just afraid you..."
"You dislike me?"
Ouyang Zhide's eyes flickered, and he reached out to pull Ouyang Yue tightly into his arms: "You silly child, how could my love for you all these years be fake? Although sometimes..."
The thought of you reminds me of swifts, but I've never regretted my decision. You have no idea how much joy you've brought me. Sometimes, thinking of you at the border...
When you came home, how could I not feel sad? At that time, what I thought about most was your mischievous yet adorable appearance.
Ouyang Yue pursed her lips slightly, wrinkling her nose in dissatisfaction: "So, in Father's heart, I'm just someone who likes to cause trouble? Look, all I can recall are embarrassing myself."
"It's true, really."
Ouyang Zhide couldn't help but burst into laughter, but after a while, he looked at Ouyang Yue and said, "Yue'er, your mother is tight-lipped about your father, which means he..."
You are truly extraordinary, which is why I've never wanted to tell you the truth all these years. I've always considered you my own daughter, and I felt that telling you or not making any difference made it impossible.
But so many things have happened recently, so many people want to harm you, and Rui Yuhuan is even more likely to have connections with Miao territory. There are many things I can no longer hide from you. You know more...
"Some things might avoid some trouble. But Yue'er, can you promise your father to spare Rou'er? After all, she's my daughter too."
Even within the General's Mansion, Ouyang Zhide couldn't be completely impartial; for example, he favored Ouyang Yue, and his treatment of Ouyang Rou and others was questionable. He wasn't stupid.
Moreover, he was very wise; how could he not see the hostility so many people in the manor harbored towards Ouyang Yue? Therefore, at crucial moments, he would step in to help Ouyang Yue.
Ouyang Rou was, after all, his biological daughter. Even if he didn't particularly like her, this blood relation meant Ouyang Zhide couldn't treat her the same way he treated others. The death of Ouyang Hua...
At that moment, he was truly angry, and he felt the same way about Ouyang Rou. Besides, Ouyang Rou was practically ruined in her current state; he had even prepared to raise her for the rest of his life.
The plan for the mansion was settled. Fortunately, Ouyang Yue and Aunt Liu got along very well, and she also liked Ouyang Tong very much, which made Ouyang Zhide very gratified.
Ouyang Yue raised an eyebrow, looking at Ouyang Zhide, her heart set on something. Even though she had let Ouyang Rou go back then, it was because of Ouyang Zhide, and now she knew...
After learning about her past, she was extremely grateful to Ouyang Zhide; even if he hadn't said anything, she would have done the same. But…
"Father, don't worry. She is, after all, my second sister. We don't really have much of a grudge. It's just... if my second sister refuses to let me go, I'll have a hard time dealing with her then."
"Keep your distance." Ouyang Zhide sighed, but then smiled and said, "I'm relieved to hear you say that. I'll find a chance to talk to her."
"Alright, that's enough. I'm going back now." Ouyang Zhide said, patting Ouyang Yue's shoulder lightly before turning and leaving. Ouyang Yue, however, remained silent.
Noticing his changed expression and slightly unsteady steps, Ouyang Zhide had been putting on a brave face. He truly loved Leng Yuyan; otherwise, why would he have acted so cruelly towards a woman like her?
Ouyang Zhide treated Leng Yuyan's illegitimate child as his own, a feat that was truly remarkable. However, recounting the events of that year would likely reopen old wounds for him.
Alright.
Ouyang Yue sighed, her heart filled with indescribable complex emotions. Firstly, there was Ouyang Zhide; secondly, the fact that Leng Yuyan was already gone before they could acknowledge each other; and thirdly, her biological father...
Who exactly was it? It seems this matter has been lost to history with Leng Yuyan's death. However…
Ouyang Yue narrowed her eyes, but she wasn't powerless to do anything now. At least she knew that her birth mother's death was probably not so simple, and her first suspect was...
Xiang, that is, Ning Shi, she will never let this matter go so easily.
Leng Mansion, Wenxuan Pavilion Study.
At this moment, a man dressed in a white robe was writing and drawing something with great effort. With a flick of his long arm, the tip of his brush seemed to shimmer with a crystalline luster in the air, his brushstrokes flowing like dragons.
His posture was elegant, and with just a few strokes, his basic outline was already visible. A slight curve played at the corners of his lips, and his peach-blossom eyes were subtly upturned, radiating a deep smile. Beside him…
A servant dressed in light blue stood there, staring wide-eyed at Leng Caiwen as he watched the drawing gradually taking shape on the paper on the table. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Young Master!"
Your drawing skills have become even more superb.
Leng Caiwen was not given the title of the foremost of the Three Talented Scholars of the Great Zhou Dynasty; he possessed genuine talent and learning. For example, the woman in this painting was sketched by Leng Caiwen in just a few strokes.
He drew a picture, and then Leng Caiwen began to meticulously depict the woman's appearance, expression, posture, and figure, stroke by stroke. He even paid close attention to the smallest fold in her clothing.
He took it very seriously, but Leng Caiwen seemed not to have heard what the attendant had just said, his expression remaining unchanged. The attendant, however, was unconcerned, because the young master was focused on painting...
He often entered a state of deep contemplation, but he could clearly sense that the young master was particularly focused on this painting. He would close his mouth and quietly observe it, occasionally glancing at it.
His face showed an expression of amazement, his eyes wide open.
It took Leng Caiwen more than a minute to finish the painting, finally placing a dot of vermilion on the woman's lips before putting down his brush. After applying that dot of vermilion, the attendant felt that the painting...
The woman was even more exquisite; even the fallen peach blossoms on her face were depicted in the same way.