Tricked

"Wukong understands. Don't worry, Master!"

Jiang Yourning: ???

Lin Xiangyin: ...

This turn of events caught Jiang Wanrong completely off guard.

But her younger sister's reasoning wasn't wrong.

This novice monk had a distinguished identity. If the Jiang Family earned his gratitude by raising him, that would indeed be a good thing for them.

The Jiang Family had vast holdings. Whatever else might be said, they could certainly afford to raise a child.

And so.

While Lin Xiangyin and Jiang Yourning were still bewildered, Jiang Wanrong addressed the abbot with a gentle smile:

"Rest assured, Abbot. We'll raise this child well and make sure he becomes a pillar of society."

"Young benefactor, you are most kind."

The abbot smiled at Jiang Wanrong.

Yet inwardly, he couldn't help thinking, I only hope you won't regret it in a few days and send this child back.

Never mind making him a pillar of society. As long as he doesn't grow any more crooked and has food to eat, that's enough.

The words had already left their mouths.

And the flattering crown had already been placed on their heads.

On the way back.

Jiang Yourning stared at the little brat inside the carriage, and the two of them sat eyeing each other.

"You little punk, give you a pole and you'll climb right up it. Were you planning to trick me all along?"

"You're joking, Sixth Sister. Plenty of ladies said they liked me before, but they were all lying to a child. They never actually intended to take me home.

"Only you, Sixth Sister, are beautiful and kind enough to truly like me and be willing to kidnap me home."

Little Wukong changed how he addressed her at lightning speed, his smile the very picture of innocence.

Jiang Yourning understood now.

She couldn't resist reaching out and vigorously squishing little Wukong.

"So that's how it is."

[Well, damn! This little bastard cast his net everywhere to get adopted, and in the end, I was the only one who took the bait???]

[I got played?]

[Why couldn't I keep my big mouth shut? Why did I have to say I'd kidnap him home? What a monumental humiliation! Aaaah!!!]

Jiang Yourning squished little Wukong for a long time.

This time, the little fellow's face turned red, but he didn't utter a single word.

"Why aren't you saying men and women should keep their distance and I can't just pinch your face today?"

Jiang Yourning grew tired and finally withdrew her hands.

"Yesterday, you were a benefactor, and I was a little monk. Now you're my big sister, and I'm your little brother.

"It's only natural for a big sister to pinch her little brother's cheeks."

Little Wukong grinned, looking utterly sweet and obedient.

Someone had finally agreed to adopt him, and little Wukong was determined not to give them any chance to send him back.

His master and senior brothers on the mountain were all wonderful. They had sent him off with such fanfare so he could leave without any worries. He had to do them proud and live well out in the world.

"You little bastard, you've got quite the sweet tongue. But we're not done settling accounts over that trap you set for me."

Jiang Yourning slumped against one side of the carriage.

Little Wukong kept smiling obediently as he continued:

"Sixth Sister is beautiful and kind. One look tells me you'd never bully me. How about I shell sunflower seeds for you?"

"Sure. Get shelling, then."

In the carriage behind them.

After hearing Jiang Yourning's frantic complaints, Jiang Wanrong didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

She had thought her younger sister had laid all that groundwork because she wanted to bring him home and raise him. It turned out she had dug herself into a hole for the sake of a moment's glib satisfaction.

Still, after spending these past days with her younger sister, she had come to understand her a little.

If her sister didn't like that novice monk, then with her temperament, he would never have had the chance to board the carriage.

"Rong'er, you've only been home a few days, and now we're bringing another child back. You've been put through so much."

As Lin Xiangyin held Jiang Wanrong's hand and said this, her words were already mostly heartfelt.

The two girls had gotten along happily these past days, and that made her very happy.

Along with that happiness, she gradually began to feel that there had been something wrong with her earlier thinking.

Her daughter must have suffered plenty during all those years after being switched away. She ought to cherish her properly.

"Mother, I don't feel wronged."

Jiang Wanrong spoke softly, warmth filling her heart.

Whether one person treated another sincerely was something that could actually be felt.

Jiang Wanrong could feel her parents' love for her slowly growing.

Deep down, she understood the change in their attitudes.

Affection grew from spending time together. She hadn't lived beside her parents for over ten years, so some distance upon her return was inevitable.

But now, they really were slowly becoming more and more like a family.

"Rong'er, shall I take you and your younger sister shopping this afternoon?"

"Whatever you say, Mother."

Jiang Wanrong leaned against Lin Xiangyin, a gentle smile in her eyes.

When Jiang Yourning woke from her nap, she found the carriage quiet.

She looked up. A plate on the little table before her was piled high with shelled sunflower seeds, while another box was filled with their shells.

Little Wukong sat cross-legged against the carriage wall, dozing, his head bobbing again and again as though he were fishing.

"The little brat really is obedient. I told him to shell sunflower seeds, and he actually shelled every last one."

Jiang Yourning's heart softened, and she couldn't help smiling.

She grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and tossed them into her mouth.

She had to admit, sunflower seeds tasted better wolfed down by the mouthful.

When they returned to the Jiang Residence, Jiang Yourning had barely stepped out of the carriage before Chun Tao, who had spent the entire journey feasting on gossip with Xia He, hurried over.

"My lady, want to hear something entertaining?"

"Yeah, go on."

"Remember that Screaming Chicken? I heard she's been disfigured. The pimples on her face have started bursting and oozing pus, and they stink, too."

Chun Tao sounded positively delighted.

The duchess had dared call her young lady a pheasant that day. Now retribution had finally caught up with her.

"Mm, not a bad story. Any follow-up?"

Jiang Yourning nodded lightly.

[What kind soul poisoned her? They actually pulled off something this satisfying.]

"There is! To find doctors to treat Screaming Chicken, I heard the duchess sold off several profitable shops she'd kept as her last reserves.

"She spent plenty of money, but the more treatment Screaming Chicken received, the worse she got.

"The duchess cried and made a fuss until Duke Zhen submitted a petition to His Majesty, begging him to send an imperial physician to examine Screaming Chicken. But even the imperial physician couldn't do anything.

"In a fit of frantic rage, the duchess called the imperial physician a quack and demanded that Duke Zhen petition His Majesty to send another one.

"Duke Zhen was so furious that he slapped the duchess, and the two started fighting.

"His face was scratched all over. He took leave today and didn't dare attend court."

Chun Tao's voice wasn't quiet.

After stepping out of her carriage, Lin Xiangyin heard Chun Tao's words, and her gossip radar instantly sprang to life.

"Chun Tao, come here and tell your mistress what you just said again, without leaving out a single detail."

"Oh, of course."

Beside them, the kind soul Jiang Wanrong couldn't help smiling.

The poison actually only looked serious. Even without the antidote, once the sores began oozing, the toxins would drain away within seven days at most, and she would recover naturally.

But if they recklessly used other medicines, Jiang Wanrong couldn't guarantee whether any marks would remain after the toxins cleared.