The Female Lead Decides to Act Wickedly

Chapter 678: Chapter 271 My Mother-in-law is a Loyal Servant (Part 15)_3

He requested to stay in Capital City to study and take the imperial examination. Becoming a court official, he came to know and befriend the Eight Prince, and became closely acquainted with the scions of Power in the city.

Later, Marquis Pingnan and Mrs. Zhang had another son.

Due to the years of separation, the affection of Marquis Pingnan and his wife for their eldest son gradually faded, and instead, they doted on the young legitimate second son.

Next, the female lead made her debut, as Feng Yanting defied his parents’ opposition and pleaded with Emperor Chengtai to grant a marriage, thus he married the female lead, who came from the common people.

Of course, this part marks the beginning of the main story.

The subsequent plot was a struggle between brothers, fathers and sons, mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, and officials and sovereigns.

There were house fights, schemes for power, betrayals, and passionate struggles.

A variety of classic scenes were unfolded in succession, rendering the ancient farming story brilliantly diverse.

Yet, no matter what the later plot entails, at present, Feng Yanting’s greatest suffering was about to end.

With Feng Yanting’s acknowledgment of his ancestors and return to his family, Wei Yuanniang’s identity became awkward.

Though the child-switching incident was not her fault, she had usurped another’s nest, clearly a lowly servant’s child, yet she enjoyed the wealth of the Marquis Mansion; she was the original sin!

Feng Yanting was generous and did not hold a grudge against Wei Yuanniang, allowing her to continue residing in the Marquis Mansion.

However, in the original script, Wei Yuanniang had been disfigured, and throughout her growth, Mrs. Zhang did not cherish her, nor did anyone around her treat her genuinely.

Her heart had already become twisted.

Knowing the truth, she couldn’t stand the huge disparity in her identity, nor could she tolerate certain ”facts”—neither her birth mother nor her foster mother loved her.

She was merely a tool, a pitiful person used to shield the true nobles from disaster.

Wei Yuanniang didn’t know how to vent her inner resentment and thus behaved outrageously, eventually being dealt with by the female lead herself.

Of course, since it was her own doing, the female lead was forced to deal with her, left without a choice.

But did Wei Yuanniang truly deserve to die?

She was clearly the most innocent and pitiable person.

He Tiantian, thinking of the storyline to come, silently counted the time, feeling that her plan needed to be accelerated.

”Aunt, using your method, I have indeed cultivated the Eighteen Scholars!”

As He Tiantian was contemplating Wei Yuanniang, the young girl came running excitedly.

She grabbed He Tiantian’s hand, lowered her voice, and said with excitement, ”Truly, the Eighteen Scholars, the colors, the patterns—they’re exactly like the ones in the legends!”

”Really? Yuanniang, you are truly amazing!”

He Tiantian praised her generously, ”Where are the flowers? Are they in the village?”

”Yes, they’re in the village, I haven’t told anyone else, just you, Aunt!”

Yuanniang’s little face turned red, the scar on her face had faded to the point of invisibility.

Moreover, due to careful nurturing and maintenance, her skin was exceptionally smooth and delicate. Paired with her refined features, she was a true beauty.

The key was that she did not possess a gloomy, insecure temperament. Although she had transformed from a noble daughter of the Marquis Mansion into a redeemed Sin Slave, her demeanor remained noble, elegant, gentle, and clever. She was clearly a woman who was loved and well brought-up!

”Good, tomorrow you’ll come with me to Qingyun Temple. I’ve embroidered a portrait for the temple master, it’s already finished, and I need to deliver it!”

He Tiantian brushed Yuanniang’s little face as she spoke softly.

”Qingyun Temple? Temple Master Hua Yang?”

Upon hearing this, Wei Yuanniang’s excited face flushed.

Having spent a few years in Capital City, and due to ”Gu Xiuniang’s” connections, she had dealings with those noblewomen.

Thus, Wei Yuanniang had heard many stories about the high society of Capital City.

For instance, the Qingyun Temple Master, although a Taoist priestess, was a respected person.

Originally, she was an Imperial Dowager in the palace, who had once fostered the current emperor.

Yet now, since the emperor had his own birth mother, the Imperial Dowager’s presence in the Imperial Palace was somewhat awkward.

The Imperial Dowager, being broad-minded, did not wish to cause trouble for Emperor Chengtai and had no children or desire for power, so she took the initiative to become a Taoist.

The Saint, both grateful for the Dowager’s past kindness and admiring her loving and yielding nature, built her Qingyun Temple and arranged for a large number of guards and palace maids to serve her.

The Imperial Dowager enjoyed a carefree life in Qingyun Temple, spending her days appreciating flowers, sipping tea, and being entertained with opera and acrobatics when she was free.

Sometimes, when Emperor Chengtai felt troubled or stifled, he would come to the temple to talk with the dowager.

Although she never interfered with politics or swayed Emperor Chengtai’s thoughts, her occasional remarks could still have unexpected effects.

Therefore, the powerful figures of Capital City held the Qingyun Temple Master, who bore the Taoist name Hua Yang, in high esteem.

Some people, noting the Dowager’s solitude, attempted to send their younger family members to serve her.

If the girls were favored by the Dowager, she would keep them in the temple.

Such girls, regardless of their previous status, would have their value elevated after spending time with the Dowager, often marrying well.

Thus, the families of noble ladies with awkward backgrounds or who had undergone family misfortunes would try their best to send them to Qingyun Temple.

Wei Yuanniang had heard that several of her cousins from the second and third branches of the family had mothers with such intentions.

Unfortunately, the Dowager’s standards were very high, and her interests ever-changing, making it difficult for anyone to grasp her preferences.

Over a decade had passed, and only a handful of girls had caught the Dowager’s eye and been allowed to stay in Qingyun Temple.

Now her ”Aunt,” Gu Xiuniang, told her she could take her to Qingyun Temple!

One could imagine how surprised and excited Wei Yuanniang felt inside...