Li Fu and Li Mu had fled from famine and settled in Tong Mu County. As their ancestral home was elsewhere, they couldn't secure much land, and their family had always been poor.
The west room was the best in the Li family's house and had been Li Xiangru's bedroom since childhood.
The original body lived in a small room next to the pigsty. Not only was it smelly, but pig grunts often disturbed her sleep in the middle of the night.
Growing up, the original body's greatest wish was to spend just one night in the west room, even if it meant sharing a bed with Li Xiangru.
Alas, such a thing never happened.
A faint smile remained on Li Yue Shu's lips, but her eyes held a hint of coldness.
She looked at the people before her with sarcasm. "I have already established my own household and have so many children. Even if I returned, could you provide for us?"
Li Fu and Li Mu subconsciously glanced at the more than ten children behind her, and even a woman. Their expressions were strangely unreadable.
However, Li Fu quickly changed his tune. "This child jokes too much. You now own a pharmacy and a restaurant; surely you can provide for a few children!"
"Exactly!" Li Mu nodded repeatedly. "Yue Shu, Mother heard you plan to go to Chongzhou. Isn't it better to stay in Tong Mu County? Your father and I are here!"
Li Yue Shu noticed the exchanged glances between them and said calmly, "The new pharmacy will open in Chongzhou, so I naturally have to go and see it myself."
Li Fu frowned disapprovingly. "How can you, a young lady, go to such a distant place! Just stay at home and keep your mother company."
Li Mu stepped forward, took Li Yue Shu's hand, and said sadly, "Your sister is gone, and you are the only one left with us. Can you bear to abandon your parents?"
Li Yue Shu remained silent, gazing thoughtfully at the two playing the emotional card before her.
It seemed their goal was to make her stay, but what was their reason?
Could it be because Li Xiangru was in Chongzhou, and they feared her sister would be a burden?
Li Yue Shu had a nagging feeling that this couple was hiding a secret, and then there was Li Xiangru's inexplicable visit last time...
Suppressing a whirlwind of thoughts, Li Yue Shu changed the subject. "Since you've come all this way, why not stay for a meal?"
Her words surprised everyone, including Aunt Liu.
They had already packed their luggage; why would she ask them to stay for a meal? Did she truly intend to stay?
Seeing that she was changing the subject and not directly agreeing to stay, Li Fu and Li Mu assumed she wanted to find an opportunity to persuade them to change their minds.
It so happened that they also wanted to continue persuading Li Yue Shu to stay, so they readily agreed.
Chai Yang Xing He, standing in a corner with their luggage, was unsure whether to put it back or in the carriage.
Qin Mo Yuan glanced at the two stunned individuals and calmly uttered four words: "Put it in the carriage."
Upon hearing this, Chai Yang Xing He immediately placed the items in the carriage outside without hesitation.
Li Fu and Li Mu, preoccupied with how to persuade Li Yue Shu, did not notice their actions.
...
During the meal, Li Yue Shu sat between Li Fu and Li Mu, subtly questioning them, hoping to glean some information.
These two, having fled famine from afar in their youth and settled in Tong Mu County, were certainly knowledgeable, though not extensively. Within a few sentences, Li Yue Shu learned that Li Xiangru had sent them.
However, the couple remained tight-lipped about why Li Xiangru had done so, revealing not a single word.
This, however, only solidified Li Yue Shu's suspicion that they were hiding a secret concerning her, a secret that likely harmed Li Xiangru's interests.
Only when matters concerning Li Xiangru were involved did they become so attentive.
No wonder, in the original story, Li Xiangru, in order to secure her position as Empress forever, abandoned even the Zhenbei General's estate, which had wholeheartedly supported her, yet allowed Li Fu and Li Mu to enjoy decades of wealth and prestige.
Seeing that no further information could be extracted, Li Yue Shu lost interest in wasting time with them and intended to send them away after the meal.
But Li Fu and Li Mu had not yet achieved their objective and were naturally unwilling to leave so easily.
Li Mu tightly clutched Li Yue Shu's sleeve, her brows furrowed. "Yue Shu, Mother and Father haven't been attentive to you all these years. We want to compensate you; don't go to Chongzhou."
Li Yue Shu cast a cold glance at the hand holding her sleeve and then calmly pulled her arm away.
Li Mu noticed her action, and a flicker of displeasure crossed her eyes.
The Li Yue Shu of the past had never dared to defy them. How had she become so bold after marrying?
Li Mu's patience was wearing thin. She frowned with displeasure and was about to speak when she heard Li Yue Shu suddenly say, "Since you don't want me to leave, then I won't go to Chongzhou."
Her words shocked everyone. Aunt Liu even tried to dissuade her from being foolish.
But she looked at Li Fu and Li Mu and decided to wait until they left before saying anything else, to avoid further persuasion.
Only Qin Mo Yuan glanced at her from the side, a slight smile playing on his lips, and silently drank his soup.
Of all the dishes on the table today, only the soup was made by A Shu. He had to drink two more bowls. After all, they wouldn't be able to cook while on the road back to Chongzhou, and he wouldn't be able to taste A Shu's cooking for a long time.
Perhaps it was the way he drank his soup, but Li Yue Shu happened to glance over and saw his expression of contentment.
Li Yue Shu: "???"
"Yue Shu, Mother knew you were a good child!" Li Mu's voice instantly brought Li Yue Shu back to reality. "Pack your things later, and your parents will take you home!"
Li Yue Shu gave her a calm glance. "I have already established my own household and have my own home here. I won't be going back with you."
Upon hearing her refusal, Li Fu frowned disapprovingly, insisting that she return with them.
Li Yue Shu naturally would not agree. She offered a few casual excuses: "It's close to the pharmacy and the restaurant here, and I've grown accustomed to life here. If you want to see me, you can visit anytime."
The distance between the two villages was quite far. Unless they walked, Li Fu and Li Mu would have to spend money to rent a carriage.
If these two had no ulterior motives, they would certainly be reluctant to spend money on her.
Moreover, their purpose for coming today was to stop her from leaving. Now that their objective had been achieved, they had no reason to insist on her returning with them.
Indeed, Li Fu and Li Mu hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing.
However, before they left, they still cautioned her with concern: "Then remember to come back and see your parents often."
Li Yue Shu naturally agreed and saw them to the door.
From beginning to end, her expression remained placid.
Qin Mo Yuan had been silently by her side, observing her emotionless face. He reached out and gently stroked her head.
"A Shu, don't be sad. It's their loss to have lost such a good daughter."
Li Yue Shu, lost in thought, was startled by his action. The warmth from his touch on her head seemed to flow directly into her heart.