Later, He Le'an only knew that Xū Xié was originally the undercover dark guard of King Yue of Guiyang, who was placed as a mole in Fengzhou City. Only two people in this world knew about it - the master and servant. Since paper can't wrap fire forever, the fewer people who know about this identity, the better. From now on, he didn't plan to tell anyone except his parents. He wanted the King of Guiyang's identity to die thoroughly, so that she could marry him with a clear conscience.

  He Le'an snuggled into her quilt, thinking and thinking, and suddenly burst out laughing. She would be the mistress of the Rich and Noble Tavern from now on! Haha, who would have thought that after a lifetime of turmoil and hiding, she would still meet a man willing to pair up with her? He had given up his supreme honor for her; how could she remain unmoved? Her fondness had already overflowed from her heart.

  After a few days, there was a rumor that the King of Yue had quietly left Fengzhou City and returned to the southern border to guard. During this time, He Le'an went to the Xū estate every day to cook, firstly to confirm her cooking skills, secondly to create an excuse for the young master of Xū to marry her, so as not to arouse suspicion, especially from Xue Shi-zi and Xue Hui-yu who knew the King of Yue's temperament.

  He Le'an occasionally mentioned Xiǎo Zhǔ with He Lǎotàitai and Xue Huìyǔ. Whenever this happened, Xue Huìyǔ would casually mention the virtues of Yuèjùn Wáng who was "currently in the southern border". At the end of September, her third uncle returned with her sixteen-year-old cousin He Le Xiān and eleven-year-old cousin He Le Yuán, accompanied by a woman who appeared to be around twenty-eight or nine years old and had a pleasant appearance.

  "He San Shu introduced her to He Lao Tai Tai: 'Mother, this is the daughter-in-law I told you about.'"

  The old lady glanced at her and nodded slightly, saying "good" in a neither hot nor cold tone. She signaled to the maid beside her to hand over the gift to Xiangniang, which was an ordinary green jade bangle.

  Because of Old Lady He's repeated reminders, He Le'an intentionally observed this future Third Aunt and saw that although she could tell the bangle was ordinary, she still happily accepted it. Although she looked a bit nervous, she calmly expressed her gratitude with a polite gesture.

  After a few words, Mrs. He told them to go and rest first, as they were tired from traveling by boat and carriage. She herself was not in a hurry to ask about He Le'an's situation at the moment, and instead let the spirited He Le'yan take He Le'an out.

  In the small courtyard pavilion, He Le Ying handed a beautifully crafted wooden box, about the size of a medical kit, to He Le An, smiling sweetly: "It's a little gift that my brother and I picked out for Sixth Sister along the way. Thank you, Sixth Sister, for making so many delicious dishes for us last time you came to visit us. We've been thinking about it ever since. Now that we're back in Fengzhou City, we can finally play together again."

  He Le'an chatted with her for a while and asked some questions about Huan Niang.

  He Le Yan didn't show much enthusiasm towards her future stepmother, nor did she have any particular dislike. When talking about it, she simply said that as long as her father was happy, then that was good enough. She also mentioned that in the future, she would eventually get married and leave home, so accompanying her father would be the responsibility of her stepmother, and as a daughter, she wouldn't interfere too much.

  "Sister, don't worry, I'm not that easy to bully. Besides, our three branches don't have any titles to fight over. Father is just a provincial governor in Fengzhou City, it's not an inherited position. Even if we have younger brothers in the future, they will still have to rely on themselves to make their own way and won't be able to shake my and brother's status."

  He Le'an was relieved that she thought so openly.

  **

  That night, He Le'an quietly returned to the mansion through the back door. As he passed by a secluded garden, he heard faint whispers and couldn't help but stop in his tracks to listen carefully, then crept closer to the source of the sound with even lighter steps.

  Only by the fake mountain beside the flower cluster, there were two figures in a low voice dispute. Although they couldn't see their appearance, but from the sound, it was recognizable that the man was her cousin He Le Xuan, and the woman was...Yi Niang. At this moment, she said helplessly: "I've already made it clear to you, we are not possible, so don't put your thoughts on me anymore."

  He Le Xuan sneered, "You're the one who set up a chastity monument after becoming someone's concubine, aren't you? Don't forget that it was you who seduced me that night. I went through great trouble to 'rescue' you from Gui Miao Miao's place, and yet you dare to dream of becoming my stepmother? You don't even think about where your own dirty past came from. If you're willing to be my concubine, I can let you stay in the Hou Mansion's side courtyard. But if you insist on becoming my father's legitimate wife..."

  "What if I insist on being your father's legitimate wife!" Yanniang said coldly, "Don't forget whose child is in my belly. At most, we'll just separate and the city of Fengzhou isn't your family's old home, is it? I'll make the whole city see the joke that is the He family!"

  Until they left, He Le'an didn't dare make a single sound, afraid that someone would turn around and discover her presence. She hid in the dark for half a moment, making sure there was no one else who would suddenly appear, before she walked back.

  In her previous life, she didn't follow her grandmother back to Fengzhou City, so she wasn't familiar with the city's affairs. However, one year when she was at a dead end, it happened that He Le Xuan and his sister, who were returning to the capital, rescued her, deceiving the officials who were chasing her, hiding her in their small mansion, giving her silver and money, and helping her plan her escape from the capital. Never did she expect that this life, upon returning to Fengzhou City, she would inadvertently fall into the unbearable situation of being a third wife.

  The reputation of the Hou Mansion, He San Shu's official career, and He Le Xuan's future cannot be ruined by a scourge like Ruan Niang. Moreover, it is absolutely impossible to allow Ruan Niang to marry into another household, whether as a legitimate wife or a concubine, for she will only become more and more extortionate and blackmailing. But if the whole story were to be told to Old Lady He, I'm afraid it would be too much for her old heart to bear...

  He Le'an changed into her night clothes, got under the covers and fell asleep while thinking about all the things she needed to take care of. In her dream, she was a ruthless assassin with a sharp blade piercing people's hearts, but then she became the one being pierced, suffering a miserable fate. She woke up with a start, no longer sleepy, and thought of a certain person who brought her salvation, a bright red figure that gradually dispelled the chill within her. Without hesitation, she got out of bed and went outside.

  She pushed open the familiar wooden door, but suddenly felt a little timid, her feet unable to move forward, and she could only lean against the door, slowly sitting down on the steps. When did he become so important in her heart? Wanting to see him, it's okay to come again tomorrow, what is the point of being so abrupt at this time?

  "An er." Her muttering in her heart had just fallen, and a faint whispering call that was close to a whisper rose up, like an auditory hallucination.

  He Lian couldn't believe her eyes as she looked up to see a figure in ivory white lightly jumping down from the eaves, standing right in front of her. He reached out his hand to touch her head, furrowed his brow and said, "Had a nightmare?" Without a doubt, he squatted down and gently pulled her into his arms.

  A warm and solid hug, easily cured the stubborn disease that she couldn't get rid of in her heart. The icy chill in her heart all melted away. He Lian An sniffled his slightly sour nose and said, "Hmm, I dreamed that I killed people, many, many people."

  "That's what they get."

  "Later, someone else killed me."

  "Tell me who it is and I'll help you take revenge."

  He Lian was amused by his serious expression, "The demons and monsters in your dreams."

  She leaned against his shoulder, gazing at the moonlit night and said softly: "But what do you like about me? I may not be what you think I am. I'm a kind little nun with a heart full of schemes, calculations, and plans, a very terrible woman."

  "You have a good sense of calculation and planning, which is perfect for being my wife and the mistress of this large household." He said, "I like you, not just because of your kindness."

  "I just feel that you, this little girl, are truly grown from my heart, how your eyes, ears, mouth, nose, smile, look of surprise, look of fear, tears, and even the way you cook, all make me so delighted. I want to hide you in the palm of my hand, and when I have some free time, take you out to play with, if only you could always bring a smile to my face."

  He gently stroked her back with a slow and deliberate movement, "I probably like you more than you think."

  No one knew that after she left the palace, he looked for her for a long time, went to Xiangguo Temple to ask about her, and was told by Xiangguo Temple that she hadn't returned. He almost turned Xiangguo Temple upside down. The Empty Master said they still had unfinished karma, and all he needed to do was wait patiently.

  For the past two years, he has been reading the page she left behind that said 'goodbye', his heart feeling as if it had been pierced by countless arrows, empty and hollow, aching unbearably. And now that they've met again, this person still wants to avoid him like a snake or a plague, and even says she's going to marry someone else, which almost made him strangle her to death.

  He Lian's anxious heart and worried thoughts were completely comforted, "Hmm."

  She raised her chin with a hint of evil intent, her smile dangerously saying: "I said so much, and you just responded with a single 'uh'?"

  He Le'an gazed at his own dazed reflection in the other's fiery eyes, thought for a moment, smiled slightly, and leaned in to kiss him.