The Female Lead Decides to Act Wickedly

Chapter 681: Chapter 272 My Mother-in-law is a Loyal Servant (Part 16)_3

Second Young Master Wei and Third Young Master Wei, such male members of Marquis Pingnan’s Mansion, were even intended to be pardoned by Emperor Chengtai and given important duties.

Wei Yuanniang, being just a girl, and moreover a twelve-year-old one, would be even less likely to be held tightly by the court or Emperor Chengtai.

Temple Master Hua Yang narrowed her eyes slightly, her well-maintained, delicate, and fair fingers gently tapping on the tabletop.

Knock, knock-knock—

With each soft sound, Temple Master Hua Yang’s mind raced.

She sorted through her thoughts and clearly weighed the pros and cons.

In the end, she felt, it was feasible to keep Wei Yuanniang at the Taoist temple.

If luck was a little more on her side, she might even be able to invest early in the destined resurgence of Marquis Pingnan’s Mansion!

”Oh my, I really do like this child, Yuanniang!”

Temple Master Hua Yang opened her eyes, revealing a joyful expression.

When saying this, she wasn’t entirely putting on an act.

Wei Yuanniang was beautiful, and her speech and demeanor were highly proper; not to mention, she was skilled in tending to flowers and plants. Setting aside certain benefits, Temple Master Hua Yang genuinely liked such a good-looking, well-educated young girl.

After all, it wasn’t so difficult a matter—merely having the legitimate eldest daughter of Marquis Pingnan refine herself by her side. Temple Master Hua Yang was more than happy to help.

”Yuanniang, if you don’t find this Taoist temple too remote and lonely, would you like to stay with me for some time?” asked Temple Master Hua Yang with a smile.

Wei Yuanniang’s eyes suddenly brightened, and her little face was filled with joy.

However, Wei Yuanniang knew her place very well and did not hasten to agree. Instead, she instinctively turned her head to look at He Tiantian.

He Tiantian nodded slightly, her eyes full of encouragement.

Only then did Wei Yuanniang relax, stand up, and bow respectfully, ”I am willing, only hoping the temple master does not disdain my dullness!”

”Haha, someone who could nurture the Eighteen Scholars and is so knowledgeable and reasonable—where would there be any dullness?” Temple Master Hua Yang was very happy and formally decided to keep Wei Yuanniang at the Taoist temple.

He Tiantian handed over the embroidery, and before leaving, she gave Wei Yuanniang many earnest reminders.

Wei Yuanniang felt touched, but even more, she felt reluctant, ”Aunt, I... I can’t bear to leave you!”

”Good child, your aunt can’t bear to leave you either. However, staying at the temple and serving the temple master well is also good for you.”

He Tiantian stroked Wei Yuanniang’s hair, speaking softly, ”Temple Master Hua Yang is a wise and loving elder. You don’t need to learn too much; if you can learn a little of her ways of interacting with the world, you will benefit for a lifetime!”

What was key was the improvement of her status.

Moreover, Emperor Chengtai would visit Temple Master Hua Yang from time to time.

And the skills He Tiantian had previously taught Wei Yuanniang, if displayed to Emperor Chengtai, might earn Wei Yuanniang rewards.

As long as Wei Yuanniang had her own titles, even if her true identity was exposed in the future, she wouldn’t easily be trampled underfoot by others.

She could even live a more prosperous and honorable life than the daughters of Marquis Mansion!

”I understand, and I will serve well and study hard!”

Wei Yuanniang certainly knew the benefits of staying at Qingyun Temple; thus, she was all the more grateful for her aunt’s hard-wrought plans for her.

In her heart, her aunt was not her birth mother but better than a birth mother.

Sometimes, seeing Mrs. Zhang’s indifferent demeanor, and then personally feeling her aunt’s meticulous care, Wei Yuanniang even had some ”utterly unfilial” thoughts: ”If only my aunt were my birth mother!”

He Tiantian had no idea about the thoughts in Wei Yuanniang’s mind, but she could sense that the darkness surrounding Wei Yuanniang’s Divine Soul was gradually dissipating.

Now, Wei Yuanniang’s Divine Soul was very peaceful, and her surroundings also emitted a warm, gentle white glow.

Instead, it was the male lead, Feng Yanting, who wasn’t falling into darkness, but the color of his Divine Soul was no longer immaculate white and mixed with other colors.

Because of Mrs. Zhang, Feng Yanting was increasingly unwilling to go home.

He began frequenting the streets and came into contact with a group of common folk from the lower classes.

Thanks to Feng Yanting’s ”down-to-earth” nature, he met the female lead ahead of time— a girl from a poor background who was proud, strong, and kind.

Feng Yanting hit it off with the female lead upon their first meeting, but since they were still young, it wasn’t about love.

They just felt an affinity for each other and couldn’t help but want to get closer.

Without almost any need for ”no fight no acquaintance” clichés, they became good friends.

Feng Yanting began to confide his worries to the female lead, which naturally included his complaints and resentments against Mrs. Zhang, Nanny Zhao, and others.

The female lead, like a Flower Solving People, not only patiently comforted Feng Yanting but also tried to help him adjust his attitude and encouraged him to study hard.

Having shared secrets, their relationship grew even closer.

Feng Yanting even remembered the female lead’s comfort clearly, feeling that she was a bright light in his life.

This laid a deep foreshadowing for the strong affection between the male and female leads in the future and made their mutual trust and reliance even more natural...