Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 257 - 93: The Widow Wang Yue

Prefect Jiang walked into the inner courtyard under the cover of night; the candles were still burning brightly. Ever since Yu had taken ill, he visited her daily.

The maid guarding the gate saw Prefect Jiang and announced to the inside, "Master is here!" Then she lifted the curtain, waiting for Prefect Jiang to enter.

"Is Madam feeling better today?" Prefect Jiang looked at Yu on the bed, somewhat at a loss for words.

"Much better, Master!" Mrs. Xi felt something was unusual about Master today, and she was a bit uneasy.

"You all step out; I have something to discuss with Madam!"

Mrs. Xi glanced at Yu, feeling a bit awkward, then looked toward Yu, "Madam?"

Yu raised her eyes and looked at Prefect Jiang, "You may leave now!"

Mrs. Xi and a few maids retreated, but before long, a quarrel erupted inside the room, and Mrs. Xi even heard Yu’s sharp voice.

"What? Are you still thinking about that little wench? I knew it; after all these years, you still can’t let her go."

"I have told you, the past is past; now I only want one answer from you, and you even want to conceal this from me?" Prefect Jiang’s voice vibrated, suppressing his anger.

"Jiang Mingyuan, what do you take me for? I am the legitimate daughter of the Minister’s family, married down to you, and you treat me like this? She is the bright moon in your heart, the red mole in your mind; then what am I? My father must have been blind to have chosen you."

Prefect Jiang only felt that words were many and useless; hadn’t he been patient enough with her over the years? Yu caused him to have no descendants yet, but he had never uttered a complaint. Which man doesn’t have three wives and four concubines? But only Yu lacked the tolerance.

Back then, he had said he only wanted Mu Jin and wouldn’t take in any other woman, but Yu wouldn’t believe it. Such a jealous wife had long committed the Seven Outs. He recalled his mother’s suggestion; initially, he didn’t want to take action, but now Yu became increasingly deranged, almost unlike a normal person. Never mind! Going to the Buddhist Hall for peace of mind might be good!

Mrs. Xi told the waiting maids to disperse; the quarrel between Master and Madam was so fierce, it scared her.

Prefect Jiang left the main room, waved his sleeve, and stormed out.

Gu Chengyu and Sun Xian had arrived at the inn; he recounted his affairs at Prefect Jiang’s place and mentioned he might attend school in the prefecture.

"Ah? Chengyu! Does this mean we will be separated?" Ye Zhiqiu seldom gathered his two friends, feeling reluctant about Gu Chengyu going to the prefecture.

"Chengyu going to study in the prefecture is a good thing, such opportunities others can only dream of achieving. Chengyu, you must cherish this!" Sun Xian felt a bit jealous, but such things are rare and hard to come by, and his brother-in-law getting this opportunity was not easy, also benefiting from the Holy Decree.

"I know!" Gu Chengyu responded verbally, but in his heart, he wondered if he could secure two more places by contacting Vice Magistrate Wang. Of course, this couldn’t be forced, and one must act within their means. Once he returned, he would write to Manager Niu at the restaurant, to see if there was any way.

"Young Master! Shall we leave now? If we go back earlier, we might catch the good news!" Ming Yan packed while speaking to Gu Chengyu.

"Indeed! The Old Master and Madam are delighted about Young Master winning the Little San Yuan! Besides, Young Master Sun has also passed; it’s truly joyous for everyone." Ming Mo entered the room, returning from Shangling Village.

"Young Master!"

"Didn’t I tell you not to come back? We should just hire a carriage to return!" In fact, driving a carriage is laborious work, especially when the journey is long.

Ming Mo felt warmth in his heart, as Young Master was considerate to them, the servants, "The Old Master and Madam were worried, so I thought staying in the village was pointless and came to pick you up instead!" As servants, they couldn’t be afraid of hardship; being comfortable today could mean being replaced another day.

"Then let’s call Senior Brother Sun and Brother Ye, and get ready to set off!" One carriage wouldn’t be spacious enough, so they would indeed need to hire an additional one.

Gu Chengyu looked at the village ahead, where cooking smoke was rising, feeling particularly serene.

"Young Master, we’re almost home." Ming Yan and Ming Mo took turns driving the carriage, while Gu Chengyu sat inside, lifted the curtain, and gazed at the distant scenery. No matter how many times he traveled this road, he never tired of the scenery along the way.

The carriage trotted towards the village, nearing the big banyan tree at the village entrance, and Gu Chengyu heard a commotion under the tree.

"So, it seems our village has produced a Scholar Master, right?" A woman under the tree spoke excitedly.

"Indeed, a Scholar at just eight years old!" Gu Chengyu recognized the voice; it was Aunt Wang.

"Oh? Look, isn’t that the Gu Family’s carriage?"

"Oh my! It surely is! That’s the Scholar Master returning, isn’t it?"

Gu Chengyu felt a bit speechless upon hearing ’Master’; his status was high, the title of ’Young Master’ didn’t fit him, but he had only been ’Fifth Master’ for a couple of months, and now he was suddenly elevated to ’Master’.

He lifted the curtain and smiled at the women, then called over those whom he recognized one by one.

"Oh my! It really is the Scholar Master returning! Scholar, I’m your family’s third aunt’s aunt; do you recognize me? I held you when you were little!" A stout woman pushed Aunt Wang aside and ran toward Gu Chengyu’s carriage, shouting.

Gu Chengyu felt bewildered; although the third aunt was part of the Gu clan, there had been little contact with the Gu Family, and the next generation was distantly related; how would he know her aunt? Besides, he remembered the third aunt was not married into the village; where did this aunt come from? Also, he didn’t recall ever being held by this woman when he was young.

Aunt Wang squeezed past the woman, "Don’t listen to her nonsense, Xiao Bao; quickly head home! Your dad and mom are waiting for you!"

Gu Chengyu smiled gratefully at Aunt Wang; she always appeared just in time. He thanked Aunt Wang and signaled Ming Mo to drive the carriage forward.

As they passed by the big banyan tree, he unexpectedly saw Wang Yue.

Seeing Wang Yue reminded him of her husband, Yang Laosan. Yang Laosan was truly unlucky; two years ago, during a corvee, Yang’s family couldn’t gather enough silver, so Yang went with the government officer, and many others from the village left as well. When the service ended, everyone returned except Yang.

It turned out Yang was killed by a falling large stone from above; two villagers were also injured, but their injuries weren’t severe, resting at home for two months and they recovered.

Yet the village incident happened only to Yang, and Wang Yue was scolded by her mother-in-law as a jinx and driven out.

Helpless, the village set up a thatched hut for Wang Yue, living with her son. Her presence in the village became rare, as she was a widow, people avoided her as unlucky. Furthermore, widows attract gossip, so to avoid suspicion, Wang Yue couldn’t frequently move around in the village, and life was tough for mother and son.

However, when Gu Chengyu passed by her, he noticed Wang Yue still maintained a rosy complexion and wore decent clothes without patches. Also considering the grove behind the village, he realized something.