In the days that followed, Meng Anzhi haunted Shi Chong like a ghost.
Shi Chong tried taking detours, running fast, and having the manor's guards protect him closely... but nothing worked.
She was like a demon, appearing before him at unpredictable times, always following the same pattern: the familiar scent, silver needles, pills, and notes.
Shi Chong went from initial rage to later fear. He cursed her, he begged her, but it was no use. Meng Anzhi always looked at him with a smile, and then continued to give him acupuncture and medicine.
After nearly half a month of this going on, Shi Chong couldn't take it anymore and shamelessly asked someone to find Lu Chi.
According to his investigation, Lu Chi has a deep connection with the Meng Household, and as long as Lu Chi is willing to intercede on his behalf, Meng Anzhi will definitely let him go.
But Lu Chi immediately asked for a thousand taels of silver, which was exactly the reward the emperor had given him for his service, not a penny less. Shi Chong was unwilling to give it, but he was too afraid of Meng Anzhi, so he had no choice but to grit his teeth and agree.
As expected, once the silver was delivered to the Lu Residence, Meng Anzhi disappeared without a trace. Only then did Shi Chong dare to secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
Meng Anzhi looks harmless, but she's actually a madwoman, which has made him afraid of women now.
Lu Chi handed the thousand taels of silver notes he had received intact to Meng Anzhi, saying, "I don't know much about Shi Chong. I've only heard that he's a ruthless character. I never expected that he would fall into your hands."
Meng Anzhi put away the silver notes and said with a faint smile, "I was merely giving him a taste of his own medicine. It's a pity he compromised too quickly; I still have quite a few new drugs waiting to be tested..."
She sighed softly, "What a pity..."
On June 19th, Meng Anzhi came of age.
Jin Shanyao up early, took out the red dress she had prepared beforehand, and personally combed her hair.
Qing He stood aside, watching Jin Shanyao her hair up, and thought to herself: You finally got it right, I've almost plucked all my hair out.
After combing her hair and inserting the Jin Shanyao took a step back, looked at it, and nodded in satisfaction.
Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, Meng Anzhi glanced around and said, "Auntie... your hair looks so beautiful in this updo."
Jin Shanyao and said, "Of course... I'm very skillful with my hands!"
Upon hearing this, Qing He felt a sudden pain on her scalp for some reason.
"Today is a big day... Come on, let's go with your aunt to offer incense to your parents," Jin Shanyao, pulling Meng Anzhi along to the ancestral hall.
Inside the ancestral hall.
Meng Anzhi lit three incense sticks and bowed to the ancestral tablets, "Father, Mother, today is your coming-of-age ceremony... I'll bring you noodles later."
She had just finished her prayers when a wooden box suddenly appeared before her eyes. It was the box used to store the house deeds, land deeds, and indentures.
Meng Anzhi looked up in surprise, "Auntie???"
Jin Shanyao and said, " Anzhi... from today onwards you have grown up. From now on, Anzhi Hall will depend entirely on you."
Meng Anzhi couldn't help but laugh, "Auntie, what are you doing... being so serious, I don't know how to respond."
"Just catch it with your hand."
Jin Shanyao spoke, she stuffed all of the Anzhi Hall's belongings into her hands, "This world has always been harsh on women. Anci an official in the court, so I'm not worried about him being bullied."
As a young woman, it's safer for you to have money to rely on. I only hope that these things can protect you and ensure your peace of mind for the rest of your life.
Meng Anzhi felt as if she were soaking in warm water, feeling cozy and comfortable. "My aunt can protect me for a lifetime; why do I need this money?"
" Anzhi is growing up, and she must learn to face the storms of life on her own." Jin Shanyao stroked her little face. " Anzhi should be like Xiao Huzi, having her own ideas and the courage to overturn the world."
Meng Anzhi couldn't help but laugh when she recalled Xiao Huzi's wailing expression after being beaten.
Her coming-of-age ceremony was simple, just a meal with her family, but it was also very grand because her aunt had entrusted the entire family to her.
Meng Anzhi- of-age ceremony and the gesture of Jin Shanyao represent half the accomplishment of her mission; now all that remains is for Meng Anci to reach adulthood.
The book says that a man's coming of age is between fifteen and twenty years old.
Shopkeeper Wang says that boys should get married and start families after the age of sixteen, and girls after the age of fourteen. Which rule should we follow?
Jin Shanyao pondered for four or five days but couldn't come up with a solution... so she simply put it out of her mind. Now that she no longer had to worry about her two children, she had plenty of time to squander.
That day, she swaggered out of the city. As she approached, she saw a crowd of people gathered at the city gate. Jin Shanyao looked around and then squatted down next to the old beggar.
"Hey... what's going on?" Jin Shanyao his head and gestured towards the city gate.
The old beggar scratched his waist, looked at his blackened fingernails, and blew on them... " The Silla envoy paid homage..."
Jin Shanyao her head and said, "Wasn't it supposed to be a tribute mission every five years? It hasn't been that long since the last one, why is it back again?"
The old beggar glanced at the city gate and sneered, "You're obviously from out of town. Last time, the Silla envoys suffered a great humiliation in Qingzhou Prefecture... and now, five years later, you can't wait to send your invitation."
His Majesty isn't stupid; he deliberately suppressed it for three years to make him feel frustrated...
Jin Shanyao thoughtfully. At this moment, the Silla envoy's convoy had already entered the city gate and was heading towards the embassy.
Inside the carriage, Jin Xiaoji exclaimed excitedly, "Young Prince... this anger has been stuck in my chest for eight years, a full eight years... we can finally avenge ourselves!"
You Tuo chuckled, " Su Wenqian has been transferred to the Ministry of Revenue, and that woman's child has become the top scholar again. This time, I'm going to teach them a lesson in front of the Emperor of the Sheng Dynasty..."
Jin Xiaoji clenched his fist. "Young Prince, why am I so impatient?"
"Don't worry, isn't that woman talkative? This time I'll find two mute people to keep her company, let's see how she can keep babbling on."
Jin Xiaoji chuckled, "The young prince is truly farsighted. As soon as he returned to Silla, he started searching the entire country for eloquent people and had them train hard in various skills. This time, we're sure to outdo the Sheng Dynasty."
The carriage rumbled forward, Jin Shanyao twitched her ears, having overheard the entire conversation. She knew Su Wenqian; who was that talkative woman?
It happened eight years ago, and I really can't remember it right now. Jin Shanyao squatted down next to the old beggar until the carriage was far away before she stood up.
He took out a tael of silver and tossed it to the old beggar, then walked out of the city with his hands behind his back. As he passed the city guards, he didn't forget to greet them, " Tu Geng, it's you on duty again..."
Tu Geng, his face dark, turned his head away, refusing to look at her, cursing inwardly, "You're the one with the Tu Geng, your whole family is called Tu Geng, I'm Tu Geng."
Jin Shanyao ignored her without getting annoyed, and walked briskly up the mountain. She had now become one with the vegetation on the mountain, and liked to chat about plant topics whenever she had the chance.
No sooner had she stepped into the tree pit than a blade of grass approached, its leaves gently Jin Shanyao against her feet, and said in a fawning voice, "Grandmother... your tree roots are so beautiful, could you lift them a little more so I can see them?"
With Jin Shanyao gently lifted her foot, and the little grass instantly pulled half of itself out from under her foot, clutching its roots and crying out in pain inside...
Land God, Land Goddess, where did this tyrant come from? It almost stomped on it to death.
The other plants trembled in fear at the sight, secretly hugging their roots and shrinking into the soil. After the Jin Shanyao stood still, the surrounding tree canopies quietly moved aside, revealing a large patch of sunlight shining on it.
Jin Shanyao smiled contentedly, "It's still so comfortable being with you all. How wonderful it would be if I could stand in this tree pit every day."
Upon hearing this, the surrounding plants rustled in fright... Who would want to stand next to a powerful figure who could wipe them out at any moment?
That's not like an old man hanging himself because he doesn't want to live anymore.