WSMTATMC C177

Chapter 177

The Li family did not come straight to the Chen residence—they went first to the Marquis’s manor to demand the child.

Yet, to their surprise, the always-gentle Madam Luo did something unprecedented: she refused them entry outright. For the first time in her life, she stood her ground.

At first, Madam Li had thought to have her servants force the door open, but then reconsidered—she was, after all, Li Qing’er’s legitimate grandmother. Why should she, of noble birth, require the consent of a concubine-born woman to see her own kin?

So she turned her carriage around and went directly to the Chen household. She had already investigated the place thoroughly ever since the smallpox incident and knew that Qing’er was being raised by Lin Sui. In her eyes, dealing with a lowly widowed ge’er would be far easier than dealing with Madam Luo.

When she arrived at the Chen residence, she did not even bother to step down from the carriage. She sent in her old servant woman and two attendants to fetch the child—but Lin Sui blocked the doorway, refusing to let them take her.

Infuriated, Madam Li finally descended from her carriage. Pointing a trembling finger at Lin Sui, she shouted, “What sort of thing are you to stand in my way?”

“Please mind your words, Madam,” Lin Sui replied, forcing his voice to remain steady. “I am Qing’er’s adoptive father. The Marquis himself entrusted her to me—naturally, I have the right to protect her!”

Madam Li gave a cold, sharp laugh. “Adoptive father? Hah! And I am her blood grandmother! Even if Li Mu were here himself, he would still have to defer to me. What makes you, a nameless, low-born widow, think you can defy me?”

Lin Sui’s cheeks flushed red, but he had no way to argue against her. All he could do was stand his ground, physically barring the servants from entering.

“Go inside and bring the child out!” Madam Li ordered.

Panic flickered across Lin Sui’s face. “The last time you took her, she caught smallpox within a single day! If not for Master Qingxu’s treatment, she would have died! You will never take her again!”

“Let’s see who dares stop me!”

A sharp voice rang out from the gate—Wang Ying’s.

Hearing it, Lin Sui’s eyes lit with relief. “Sister-in-law!”

Wang Ying strode quickly up to the doorway, his face dark with anger. “Chen Fang! Tianju! Ershun! Where are they? How could you all leave these people to make a scene at my door?”

“Sister-in-law, don’t be angry,” Lin Sui said quickly. “Ershun went to escort Qingyun home, and Fang and Tianju went to the market—they haven’t returned yet.”

Wang Ying turned his glare on Madam Li and her servants. “And who do you think you are? To come here in broad daylight and shout at my door like common bandits?”

“I am here to take my granddaughter home!” Madam Li snapped. “Why are you stopping me?”

“You say she’s your granddaughter, and I’m supposed to take your word for it?” Wang Ying shot back coldly. “We sent her back to the Marquis’s estate yesterday. Go ask there if you dare.”

“We’ve just come from the Marquis’s house!” Madam Li shouted, her face flushing with fury. “The child is here! Don’t you dare lie to me!”

“Then go to the magistrate!” Wang Ying barked. “Have the officials search my home if you wish! But if anyone so much as sets one foot across this threshold, I’ll take a knife to them myself!”

Madam Li faltered at his ferocity. She had heard rumors that this Wang langjun was fierce and headstrong, but she had not expected such deadly resolve. Her son might hold a sixth-rank official post, but the Chens boasted a juren scholar and a prefect of the fourth rank—if things escalated, she might not come out the victor.

She forced herself to sneer. “Fine then! We’ll go to the magistrate. I refuse to believe I can’t reclaim my own blood!”

Wang Ying spat at her feet. “Shameless old witch! You’d even harm a child—retribution will find you yet!”

The insult struck her like a lash. Remembering the grandson who had died just the day before, Madam Li’s face contorted in fury. She shot Wang Ying a venomous glare, eyes glinting with madness, before storming away with her attendants.

Once they were gone, Wang Ying pulled Lin Sui inside. “Be careful these days,” he warned. “Judging by her face, she won’t let this go so easily.”

Lin Sui could only sigh heavily.

That evening, Madam Li (Wang Ying’s mil) asked, “I heard shouting at the gate earlier—who was it?”

Wang Ying replied, “The Li family came again to take Qing’er.”

At that, the little girl froze, setting down her chopsticks and clinging tightly to Lin Sui’s arm.

“Don’t be afraid,” Wang Ying said gently. “Your father already sent them away. No one will take you.”

Qing’er gestured with her hands, indicating that the Li family were bad people, that she didn’t want to go back.

Madam Li’s expression darkened. “That family truly has no conscience. Qing’er never wronged them—why must they torment a child so?”

“They want the Marquis’s inheritance,” Wang Ying said grimly. “To get it, they have to take the child first. Otherwise, how could they lay claim to his estate?”

Realizing his words might frighten her, he glanced at Qing’er—but thankfully, she was too young to understand.

“Sui’er,” he continued, “don’t come to the shop these days. It’s quiet anyway. Stay home and keep an eye on Qing’er. If the Li family shows up again, send Ershun to fetch General Zheng from the barracks.”

“Understood.”

For seven or eight days, the Li family made no further moves. Wang Ying began to believe they had given up after their public humiliation.

Seeing that the weather was clear, he decided it was time to make up for the spring outing they had missed earlier. If they waited until the summer heat, it would be far too uncomfortable.

When he mentioned it over dinner, the children cheered and clapped, while Lin Sui, though still uneasy, didn’t have the heart to refuse and nodded in agreement.

Wang Ying spent the evening gathering fresh fruit from the Spirit Field and asked Madam Chen to boil some eggs and make a batch of thin noodles for the next day’s picnic.

The following morning, Yuanbao was up even before him, tugging at his sleeve excitedly. “Father! Get up! We’ll be late!”

Wang Ying feigned sleep, keeping his eyes shut.

Yuanbao fidgeted impatiently, scratching his head, then leaned down and shouted into his ear, “Father, wake up!”

Wang Ying groaned theatrically. “Oww…”

“You promised we’d go on a picnic today!”

Laughing, Wang Ying pinched the boy’s nose. “Cheeky rascal—you never get up this early on school days!”

Yuanbao blushed, grinning, and hurried to wash and change.

Qing’er, ever the thoughtful one, had already dressed herself in the clothes chosen the night before. She washed up quietly and sat waiting on the stool for Lin Sui to rise.

Lin Sui, however, was trapped in another nightmare—searching frantically for Qing’er, sweat pouring down his face. He woke with a start, gasping for breath. Seeing the familiar bed curtains, he exhaled in relief. Just a dream.

Reaching out beside him and finding the bed empty, panic surged anew. “Qing’er?!”

At once, the little girl came running in, grasping his hand.

“You’re up so early?” he asked, his voice softening.

She tugged at her dress and held up a small bamboo basket.

“Eager to go out and play?”

She nodded vigorously.

Lin Sui chuckled. “Alright, Father’s getting up now.”

Once everyone was ready and breakfast finished, they called for Madam Li, and the group climbed into the carriage. Old Chen drove them out of the city toward the countryside.

Outside the city walls ran a broad moat, and beside it stretched a wide meadow where families often came to picnic and relax.

Wang Ying’s goal was not just leisure—he wanted to ease everyone’s nerves, especially Lin Sui’s. Since the Marquis’s death and the Li family’s harassment, the young man had grown thinner by the day.

His mother still missed Chen Qingyan dearly, and though Wang Ying could not tell her the truth about his exam success, he hoped at least to lighten her heart.

The carriage rolled through clear skies and drifting white clouds. Along the way, they passed other families with children, all smiling beneath the golden sun.

At the riverbank, Wang Ying found a shaded spot and spread a mat he had prepared. He secured its corners with small stakes, and the children kicked off their shoes, laughing as they played.

Lin Sui unpacked the food—freshly washed fruit, ready to eat.

Madam Li laughed as she fed the children, her face glowing with joy. The open air did wonders for the spirits.

Seeing them so happy, Wang Ying motioned for Lin Sui to walk with him along the riverbank. He wasn’t good with comforting words; sometimes, a quiet stroll spoke louder.

As they stepped over smooth stones, Lin Sui said, “I’ve been thinking—when things settle down, I’ll hire a tutor for Qing’er. She can’t speak, but she can still learn to read and write. That way, she’ll be able to communicate with people.”

In noble households, langfuzi tutors were often hired to teach the women and ge’ers to read.

Wang Ying nodded. “Good idea. She’s of age to begin her studies. Once she can write, she can express herself through words—and reading will keep her mind busy.”

Lin Sui smiled faintly. “I think so too. She’s bright; she’ll learn quickly.”

They paused to gaze at the rippling water. “When she grows up,” Lin Sui murmured, “I’ll find her a good husband here in the prefectural city. Only then will I feel at peace.”

Wang Ying turned to look at him. In that moment, the young man beside him no longer seemed fragile or hesitant, but a true father—steady, selfless, and strong.

“Help! Someone help! They’re kidnapping a child!”

The shout split the air. Both men froze for an instant, then ran back at full speed.

By the time they reached the camp, Madam Li (the elder) was clutching Yuanbao, frantic.

“Where’s Qing’er?!” Wang Ying demanded.

“Two masked men snatched her just now!” she cried. “Old Chen chased after them!”

Wang Ying’s blood ran cold. It had to be the Li family. He didn’t waste a second—he told Madam Li to take Yuanbao back to the carriage while he and Lin Sui leapt aboard.

They urged the horses hard, thundering down the road.

Halfway along, they met Old Chen, panting and disheveled. “Well?” Wang Ying shouted.

“I—I couldn’t catch them!” the old man gasped. “They were too fast!”

“Then keep driving! We might still catch up!”

Old Chen seized the reins again, whipping the horses forward. Wang Ying and Lin Sui sat grim-faced in the carriage.

“It’s my fault,” Wang Ying muttered bitterly. “I should’ve known better than to bring everyone out.”

“How could it be your fault?” Lin Sui said, his voice shaking. “The Li family’s been plotting this for days. You can guard against thieves for a time—but not forever.”

Words were useless now. The only thing that mattered was getting Qing’er back.

Old Chen drove the carriage at breakneck speed, but they found no trace of the kidnappers. Clearly, this had been premeditated—there were accomplices waiting nearby.

Once back in the city, Wang Ying sent Madam Li and Yuanbao home while he and Lin Sui raced to the military barracks to find General Zheng. Reporting to the magistrate would be futile—this required strength, not paperwork.

When they reached the camp, Wang Ying quickly relayed what had happened.

General Zheng Guang said nothing at first. He turned sharply and called for two men.

“Lin-gongzi,” he said gravely, “these two were left behind by the Marquis before his departure. If word of his death spread, their duty was to protect you and Miss Qing’er. From now on, they’ll stay by your side.”

The two men knelt in salute. Lin Sui hastily pulled them up. “Please, no need for ceremony—just find Qing’er quickly!”

They clasped their fists and mounted their horses without another word, galloping off into the night.

Wang Ying frowned. “Where are they going?”

General Zheng explained, “They are no ordinary soldiers. They are death-sworn—men bound to the Marquis by life and death. They obey no one but him and those he entrusted. With them on the move, Miss Qing’er will be found soon enough.”

“And if she’s not? What if the Li family harms her?” Lin Sui’s voice broke.

“Do not worry,” Zheng Guang said firmly. “If they dare harm a single hair on her head, the death-sworn will not leave a single Li standing.”

Footnotes

1. Langfuzi (郎夫子) – A private tutor hired to teach reading and writing to women or ge’ers in aristocratic households.