Chapter Forty: The Rules of This Era

After Li Yanhe finished speaking, he held Lin Miaomiao and left. Lin Miaomiao, lost in thought, couldn’t help but feel this era was terribly unfair to women.

As she was berating herself, Li Yanhe placed his hand gently on her head and said, “You need not blame yourself. People like Widow Hu are the same wherever they go.”

Lin Miaomiao looked at him, puzzled. Li Yanhe stroked her hair and continued, “When I discovered there was an issue with your accounts, I had already sent someone to investigate and search for evidence.”

That was how Widow Hu was discovered. At first, I assumed a widow stealing was merely to support her household, but I soon realized I was mistaken.

Lin Miaomiao looked up at Li Yanhe, who said, “Widow Hu’s husband was not killed by the Hu people. He was murdered by Widow Hu, in collusion with her lover.”

But at the time, things were too chaotic, and the authorities simply attributed the death to the Hu people. All evidence faded as time passed.

Lin Miaomiao sighed inwardly, thinking how ruthless Widow Hu was—almost reminiscent of Pan Jinlian.

Listening to Li Yanhe, Lin Miaomiao nodded and asked, “What happened afterward? Why didn’t Widow Hu marry her lover?”

Li Yanhe glanced at Lin Miaomiao and replied, “Her lover was only after novelty and didn’t want anyone to know. So he feigned affection and only pretended to care for her.”

Who could have guessed Widow Hu would kill her husband so mercilessly? And her daughter wasn’t even her own.

That child was bought from human traffickers. At the time, Widow Hu was unable to bear children and spent thirty copper coins to purchase her.

Lin Miaomiao was stunned by the drama of it all. Yet, it made sense—girls in ancient times were worth little, and those who bought children did so because they could not have their own.

Then Lin Miaomiao thought of something and asked curiously, “Wait, shouldn’t these matters be private? How do you know all this?”

Li Yanhe answered, “The First Tower Under Heaven specializes in selling information, and it is under my command. I hold all the intelligence in the world in my hands.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Miaomiao suddenly realized Li Yanhe was like the head of a secret agency—the very kind her history teacher once lectured about.

She finally understood: this was the legendary espionage organization.

Li Yanhe sighed and said to Lin Miaomiao, “You’re still too young. You must learn never to harm others, but never be without caution.”

The young girl kneeling earlier was far from simple. Despite her mother, she had survived under her rule for years.

Such a child is remarkable. If you had not signed a contract with her from the start, would you have been sold or kidnapped by her?

Lin Miaomiao was stunned, for she had come from a modern, peaceful, egalitarian world with no concept of class. But this era was different.

She had been reckless like a child, and only by adapting to the rules could she hope to survive.

Hearing Li Yanhe’s words, Lin Miaomiao became quietly forlorn. She said nothing, but her sadness was evident.

Li Yanhe placed his large hand on her head and said, “If one day you do not find your soulmate or decide to marry, I can take you as my wife.”

Lin Miaomiao looked up at him, and Li Yanhe smiled gently, saying, “I will protect you for a lifetime. So don’t worry, leave everything to me—just take good care of yourself.”

Lin Miaomiao felt her heart flutter. Li Yanhe, handsome and attentive, made her feel cherished.

She looked up at him, smiling, and asked, “Is this what it feels like to be cared for?”

Li Yanhe nodded expressionlessly, and Lin Miaomiao said, “With you looking out for me, I feel very safe.”

After that, she sat quietly, eating pastries and critiquing their flavor.

Ancient pastries were delicious, she admitted, and she never doubted the wisdom of the ancients. Yet after eating so many, she craved something new.

So Lin Miaomiao made fresh pastries, unique and unseen before, and as long as the quality was assured, she sold them wholesale.

Her business partnership with Li Zheng was thriving. She didn’t worry about marketing—she simply collected her share.

The weather grew colder as the year drew to a close, and for the first time, Lin Miaomiao saw great swathes of snow falling from the sky.

She gazed up at the snow, feeling a sense of unreality. In modern times, such heavy snowfall was rare—only during overseas travels had she seen such snow.

Never before had she seen snowflakes so large—like goose feathers. It was a sight she’d only witnessed abroad.

Li Yanhe watched her standing in the snow, walked over, and gently touched her hair. Lin Miaomiao looked up at him.

She watched the snowflakes drifting from the sky, then slipped her hand into his. Together, they stood in the courtyard, watching the snow.

Widow Hu’s daughter had no name, so Lin Miaomiao decided to call her “Ruoyu.”

Following Li Yanhe’s advice, she had Ruoyu sign a contract of servitude, but when Lin Miaomiao presented it, she told Ruoyu, Lanzhi, Cui Liu, and Dan, “This contract lasts only ten years. If you earn enough silver within those ten years, I will return the rest of your contract.”

“If you serve well and loyally, I’ll return your deed of sale and even offer you a job.”

“If you have new prospects or wish to leave, I won’t stop you.”

The servants were deeply moved by her kindness—few would ever meet such a gracious mistress in their lifetime.

To have such a master was a blessing, and all knelt to thank Lin Miaomiao.

As the year-end approached, Li Yanhe grew busier—leaving early and returning late—and Lin Miaomiao could see his fatigue.

This was Lin Miaomiao’s first New Year in the Great Yong dynasty. She rose early, chopped meat for Anqi, then diced scallions.

Though she preferred vegetarian dumplings, Li Yanhe and the two boys enjoyed theirs with meat.

The two wolf children had begun to grow, and watching their changes, Lin Miaomiao recalled modern studies on wolf children.

Reports stated that mammals rarely adopt human children unless both are nursing. If the child is still suckling and the animal detects no foreign scent, it treats the child as its own.

These boys were lucky—not perishing in the forest but embraced by the wolf pack.

They were mischievous yet clever, learning quickly from Dan. Now, Lin Langluan and Lin Langze had mastered the art of tattling.

The palace was now festively decorated, lanterns and banners everywhere, as the New Year approached. In the palace, Noble Consort Yuan Chuxia looked toward the frontier and sighed.

The Emperor held Li Yanhe’s memorial, his expression unchanged, but it was clear Emperor Yongchang was displeased—this was no good news.

Winter was as usual: no large-scale wars, but the Hu people would certainly harass the borderlands.

Saintly Prince Xuan, Li Yanhe, had decided to implement the tunnel warfare plan, hoping for its full execution.

When Li Yanhe returned that day, his cloak was covered in snow. Lin Miaomiao was startled and hurried to brush the snow off him.

Li Yanhe sighed heavily toward the pass. The border people were cheerful, preparing for the New Year, while the soldiers at Da’an Pass had readied their weapons.

The Third Prince, Li Tai’an, looked at the assembled soldiers and sighed, gazing toward the Hu people. “Cousin, it seems this winter won’t be peaceful.”

Xiao Ge Xu glanced at the main tent—Saintly Prince Xuan was not back, but the soldiers at Da’an Pass were already on high alert, and Yuan Sihan had appeared at the training grounds.

Li Tai’an said to Xiao Ge Xu, “We should withdraw as well.”

Xiao Ge Xu remained silent. As the saying goes, a general’s success is built on countless bones. With the situation at Da’an Pass unclear, the prince would not stay.

That morning, Lin Miaomiao and Lanzhi made dumplings all day. When Li Yanhe prepared to leave, Lin Miaomiao handed him a food box.

He looked at her and she said, “Tonight is New Year’s Eve, but you have to go. I made dumplings—if you’re hungry, just reheat them in hot water.”

Li Yanhe found it amusing but took the food box and told Anqi, “Take good care of her.”