Chapter 6: The Original Host’s Consciousness – The Tearful History of Meng Huan’s Birth Father

The next day, Meng Huan had to meet his relatives reluctantly. It was said that both parents would come, but this time only Meng Huan’s mother came, while his father didn’t.

His mother sighed with a worried expression, “Your sister fell ill again. Your father stayed up all night taking care of her. Seeing how tired he was, I didn’t let him come.”

Meng Huan sat there, not daring to speak, afraid of saying something wrong. However, his mother’s attention was clearly not on him. Even after arriving at the Wen residence, her mind was still on her youngest daughter at home.

“This is what your Xiao Die asked me to bring. He said these are some things you usually use. And this bracelet, it seems to be part of his dowry. When he heard you were fine, he entrusted me to bring it.”

As Meng’s mother spoke, she pointed to a bundle beside her, then took out a silver bracelet from her sleeve.

She held it in her hand, seeing Meng Huan looking somewhat dazed, she had to say, “Hurry, hold out your hand.”

Meng Huan hadn’t figured out the relationship between his father and Xiao Die. He hadn’t left the Wen residence for half a month, and the servants usually gossiped behind his back. He only knew he was in a matriarchal society, but knew little else.

Weren’t father and die the same person?

Seeing him not extending his hand, his mother pushed the bracelet into his hand, while briefly glancing at Meng Huan’s palm, which was as smooth as jade, just as she had guessed before coming.

The chastity sand for men is usually placed on the marriage line of the palm. To know if he was still pure, one only needed to look at the palm.

A hint of joy could be seen on her face as she sighed with relief, “At first, when Lady Wen’s guards came to our door, I thought they must have made a mistake. I didn’t expect my son to be so accomplished as to catch Lady Wen’s eye.”

Meng’s mother referred to “Lady Wen” with great respect. While Meng Huan couldn’t figure out the earlier relationship with his father, he now understood that his mother was quite pleased about his involvement with Wen Zhaoyin.

Just imagine gender-swapping the situation: in ancient times, if an unmarried young lady went missing for half a month and was found in the house of a powerful person, one could guess the twists and turns involved. As a mother, Meng’s mother showed no worry at all, and instead of being concerned for her young daughter, she was happy about climbing the social ladder.

Meng Huan secretly thought, if his mother knew that the “Lady Wen” she kept mentioning had once called her “mother-in-law”, wouldn’t she be elated?

Unaware that her son’s soul had been replaced and that he was inwardly criticizing her, Meng’s mother pretended to reproach him, “You too, since you entered the Wen residence, why didn’t you send someone to inform us at home? Do you know how worried your mother was?”

Meng Huan didn’t want to talk to her anymore. He couldn’t pretend to discuss family matters with a stranger. If she had been genuinely caring towards the original host, he might have been willing to listen. But his mother’s words were so fake, and it seemed she hadn’t treated the original host well in the past, so there was no need to continue the conversation.

“We’ve met now, I think that’s enough for today.” He stood up, not even wanting to call her mother.

“Huan’er…” Seeing him about to leave, his mother quickly called out, but his steps didn’t slow at all.

She racked her brains, remembering that this unfavored son had a nickname, given by her concubine. She heard he quite liked that nickname. What was it called again?

“Ling, Lingyi!”

Meng Huan found this name very unfamiliar, yet he instinctively turned his head when called. It felt like a conditioned reflex of this body…

He hadn’t encountered this situation before and was somewhat uncertain. Just as he was about to ask his mother who Lingyi was and why it attracted him so much, Wen Zhaoyin walked in from outside.

As soon as she entered, the atmosphere of the entire room changed. At least Meng Huan could feel that his mother was now very nervous.

“Lingyi, is this Huan Huan’s nickname?”

“Ah, yes, yes, it’s the name given by his Xiao Die. It’s not worthy of refined company. If Lady Wen finds it unpleasant to the ear, please forget it after hearing it.”

Meng’s mother was somewhat nervous, quickly spitting out a long string of words, unsure whether to stand or sit.

Wen Zhaoyin had seen such situations many times before. Her expression unchanged, she sat down in the main seat and gestured for Pei Lan to help Meng’s mother sit down again.

She picked up her tea cup and, half-drinking, half-not, said, “I actually think the two characters ‘Lingyi’ are very well chosen. Huan Huan’s birth father must be a very learned man, right?”

Father, Xiao Die, birth father…

Meng Huan stood there, feeling like he had just solved a system of equations.

His mother’s body became even more rigid, “Ah, ah, is that so? Lingyi’s birth father indeed quite enjoyed reading.”

She remembered that years ago, the court reformed to allow men to participate in the imperial examinations, but the rule was abolished after a few years. Those men had even sworn to remain unmarried and caused some trouble.

Then the government office issued an order that the troublemaking men must marry within three months, or they and their parents would be imprisoned.

At that time, seeing that Lingyi’s birth father had a dignified appearance, and not minding that he had exposed himself too much to books, she married him, considering it as saving him from trouble.

It was quite novel at first, but later that man, as a concubine, often criticized her shortcomings and didn’t know how to be coy or submissive. Shortly after giving birth to Meng Huan, she neglected him.

If talking about being learned, she was just a merchant doing small business, and her primary husband was also from a similar background. Meng Huan’s father indeed ranked first in this aspect.

Wen Zhaoyin didn’t continue on this topic. She raised her tea cup, took a small sip, and said, “Please, have some tea.”

Meng’s mother obediently hurried to take a sip. She was indeed thirsty from nervousness. After drinking, she finally stated the purpose of her visit.

“Lady, Lady Wen, Lingyi’s sister has a congenital deficiency. She’s been keeping it under control with medication, but recently her condition has worsened. I’m just a small merchant, I don’t have the means to buy the rare medicine the doctor mentioned…”

“I beg you, for Lingyi’s sake, please save his sister!”

She claimed to come to see her son, but in reality, she was using her son’s name to ask his wife-master for help, not caring if it would affect their relationship.

Wen Zhaoyin smiled, her gaze falling on Meng Huan’s face, feeling that compared to his birth family, her place had more humanity.

“Is she also a daughter of Meng Huan’s birth father?” If it was his full sister, she would definitely help. If not from the same father… whether to help or not would depend on the specific situation.

Meng’s mother hesitated, the smile on her face becoming a bit stiff, “Even if they don’t share the same father, Lingyi used to care a lot for his sister.”

Seeing Wen Zhaoyin looking at him, Meng Huan knew she was asking for his opinion. If he spoke up to help, she probably wouldn’t refuse.

But he didn’t want to help. Subjectively, he didn’t want to, and the instincts of the original host’s body were also resisting. He could feel a sadness that didn’t belong to him swirling around.

He stepped forward, “Your daughter’s illness isn’t something new. If I hadn’t entered the Wen family, who else would you have gone to for help?”