Mrs. Luo embraced Anning: "Fortunately, Anning was alert and noticed sothing was wrong early on. Otherwise, how could I have imagined there were such heartless people? We might never have seen Anqing again."
An Hui was also terrified and kept chanting scriptures, "Heavens bless us; at least we’ve caught the evildoer, so Sister Qing can be safe."
After a while, Anning spoke to An Hui: "My husband said he’ll co over tonight. When he arrives, let him take a look. I haven’t studied for long, and my knowledge is shallow. I can see so things, but not in detail. From what I perceive, you’re not destined only to have daughters; you should have both sons and daughters. Perhaps, Sister, you’ve been sabotaged by soone."
"Really?"
An Hui tightly grasped Anning’s hand: "Sister, you’re not deceiving ."
Anning rolled her eyes at her: "We’re sisters; why would I deceive you? If I lie to you, would you reward with wealth?"
With this, An Hui felt a bit more at ease, but she still thought about the sabotage that led her to give birth to three daughters and thus being disfavored by her in-laws. She ground her teeth with hatred for the person who plotted against her.
It wasn’t just because of her own disfavor; her three daughters also led difficult lives.
Her mother-in-law preferred boys over girls the most. Whenever she saw the daughters, her expression was always disgusted, and she’d scold them daily, making the children live like scared mice avoiding cats.
Thinking of the lives her children led, An Hui nearly burst into tears again.
Mrs. Luo spoke many comforting words to An Hui, and Anqing also cracked a few jokes to lighten the mood. By alti, An Hui’s spirits lifted a little.
After lunch, An Hui rested in Mrs. Luo’s room. The two lay together on one bed, quietly talking until they fell asleep.
Anning couldn’t sleep, so she took a walk alone in the garden.
Later in the afternoon, Xiao Yuan arrived to join Anning for dinner.
When he arrived, Mrs. Luo was teaching An Hui about managing household affairs. Seeing Xiao Yuan, Mrs. Luo smiled and said, "You must be tired outside; co sit, have so water first, and soon we’ll have dinner."
She then instructed Sixi: "Go make a bowl of rose sauce for the son-in-law and bring a few pieces of osmanthus cake."
Sixi agreed and went.
Soon, a fragrant bowl of rose juice was served, along with a green porcelain plate holding a few white pieces of osmanthus cake.
Xiao Yuan was genuinely hungry. After drinking so water and eating a few pieces of cake, he started chatting with Mrs. Luo.
Anning and Anqing ca from the kitchen together. Upon seeing Xiao Yuan, Anning smiled, her eyes filled with joy.
She automatically sat beside Xiao Yuan and softly asked, "Are you tired? Have you been drinking? I sll so alcohol. Later, let Yue Niang make so hangover soup for you."
Xiao Yuan chuckled softly: "Just two cups, it’s nothing."
Anning leaned in closer and ntioned An Hui’s situation to Xiao Yuan: "Take a look at Sister Hui and see what’s going on. Has she been plotted against?"
Xiao Yuan leaned in slightly to look at An Hui.
An Hui was extrely nervous, her face turning pale.
Anning held An Hui’s hand: "Sister Hui, relax, don’t be afraid, it’s alright."
She had An Hui take several deep breaths, finally helping her to relax.
Xiao Yuan observed for a while and furrowed his brows.
"Sister has been victimized by a villain."
"Huh?"
Mrs. Luo curiously asked, "What villain? Is soone trying to harm An Hui?"
Xiao Yuan nodded: "Does the sister’s in-laws have a young woman living with them?"
"How did you know?"
An Hui was quite surprised: "Indeed, my family hosts a young cousin. She’s my husband’s aunt’s daughter. Her parents died young, so she ca to live with us. It’s been nearly ten years now."
"This young cousin is the one harming Sister."
Xiao Yuan said seriously: "The villain Sister is up against is her."
An Hui frowned: "I have no grievances with her. Why would she harm ?"
Anning anxiously said, "Of course there are grievances! She wants to marry your husband, so she wants to harm you. Didn’t you ntion that your husband wants to take a concubine? I suspect he wants to take this young cousin as one."
Xiao Yuan glanced at Anning: "Your guess is accurate. That young cousin indeed has an affair with your husband. To beco his concubine and give him an excuse to take her quickly, she gave you ’girl birth dicine’ when you entered the household."
"What?"
An Hui stood up in shock: "Girl birth dicine? There’s such a thing?"
"In this vast world, there are all kinds of strange things."
Xiao Yuan stated calmly.
Anning laughed: "Such dicine exists; I read about it in so book before. However, over ti, I forgot. If my husband hadn’t ntioned it, I wouldn’t have rembered it."
"No wonder I’ve only given birth to daughters."
An Hui’s face was full of bitterness, with her mouth and heart tasting sour. She was filled with anger and resentnt, utterly abhorring that young cousin.
Xiao Yuan took another look at An Hui: "That young cousin doesn’t just want to be a concubine. She probably covets the position of legitimate wife as well. This ti, she might want to find ways to harm Sister and use the opportunity to advance."
Xiao Yuan sneered: "The Xu Family has so audacious plans. They appear noble, but in reality, they’re hollow inside. Their aim is Sister’s dowry. That young cousin has no money herself and desires the dowry as well. By killing Sister and advancing, Sister’s dowry intended for her daughters wouldn’t be claid by the Xu Family, knowing your uncle won’t demand it for his granddaughters. So, if the Xu family husband marries his beloved and gains Sister’s dowry along with three daughters for family alliances, they’d have quite the advantage."
Luo Anhui was chilled to the bone listening.
Having been married to Xu Jiamao for several years, though not intensely affectionate, there were still feelings. She never thought the Xu family would plot against her.
Having shared a bed for years, and now realizing her partner wanted her life and had such vile intentions, Luo Anhui felt both frightened and disgusted.
"What am I to do?"
Luo Anhui, scared and helpless, fidgeted with her handkerchief, her voice trembling.
"Separate and leave the Xu Family."
Anqing was also infuriated by Xu Jiamao’s behavior and promptly voiced her opinion.
"Quiet!"
Mrs. Luo gave Anqing a stern look.
An Hui hung her head: "Without children, I’d leave the Xu Family to avoid further suffering. However... separating is easy, but if I do, the Xu Family won’t let take the children. Who knows what they’d suffer under Xu’s hands? Even with as their mother, life has been difficult. Without , they might not even live to see adulthood."
That vicious young cousin would never tolerate the children either.
"There’s a solution to that."
Anning smiled slightly: "It depends on whether Sister is willing to risk her reputation."
"Tell more."
Facing this, with her life near an end, An Hui couldn’t be more reckless.
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