CHAPTER 159: CHAPTER 159: ILLUSION OR REALITY (5)_1

Back home, Li Wanying bustled about with Auntie Zhang, preparing dinner. A tender smile graced her face; she was no longer the woman who had been weeping so loudly earlier. Shangguan Rou also dutifully helped with the cooking, while Old Madam Shangguan sat chatting with Auntie Zhang. Auntie Zhang always kept a careful distance of three feet whenever Li Wanying was present. Since Shangguan You wasn’t home, Auntie Zhang didn’t need to be overly busy. The family chatted and laughed, and the atmosphere was quite pleasant.

The men were naturally in the study; downstairs, the women were busy preparing dinner.

As soon as Shangguan You returned, Shangguan Rou affectionately latched onto her arm, calling out "Sister! Sister!" repeatedly. Li Wanying, playing the part of an even more virtuous stepmother, also called out "Youyou, Youyou," demonstrating for Shangguan Hao how much she supposedly doted on her stepdaughter.

"Sister, you and Brother Qing went shopping and didn’t even call me! I want to go with you too. Next time you go anywhere, please remember to ask me along. It would be good for us sisters to look out for each other," Shangguan Rou’s sweet voice piped up.

Hearing this, Old Madam Shangguan nodded to herself in approval. This granddaughter of mine certainly is sensible.

"Sister, Auntie Li said you were going to the restroom, and I was afraid you wouldn’t have time. Besides, how would I know if you even like shopping? After being out all day, I’m going up to take a bath. Don’t call me for dinner; Brother Qing and I already ate."

Shangguan You pried Shangguan Rou’s hand off, one finger at a time, ignoring how Shangguan Rou’s gentle expression froze, then turned ashen with fury.

"Youyou, someone delivered many things today; they’ve all been placed in your room," Li Wanying said warmly, the very picture of a loving mother.

"I know. I’m going up first," Shangguan You replied.

"Sister, let me join you; I want to stay here too," Shangguan Rou pleaded, once again clinging to Shangguan You.

"Sister Rou, our house has no spare rooms, as Second Uncle and Grandfather are both staying here. There aren’t any extra rooms. Since your home is so close, you should go back," Shangguan Qing said coolly.

"Sister, I can sleep with you! It’s been so long since we slept in the same bed. We used to sleep together when we were little."

"Sister, that was when we were children. I’m grown up now. Auntie Li, Sister, you both know I’m not used to sharing a room, so I’m truly sorry, Sister, Auntie Li. Besides, tonight I want to have a long talk with Daddy, so..." Shangguan You chuckled lightly and then went upstairs, leaving the mother and daughter grinding their teeth below.

Trying to stay here and eavesdrop? That’s just a dream. I won’t be foolish enough to give them that chance.

"Grandmother, look at Sister—how can she treat me like this? I’m her sister! How could she..." Shangguan Rou ran into Old Madam Shangguan’s embrace, her voice tinged with grievance.

"Alright, we all live in the same courtyard. Staying here is no different from staying at your own home. Rou is the most obedient girl, so don’t be sad. At tomorrow night’s banquet, our Rou must be the prettiest one there. No more crying now." Old Madam Shangguan patted her back, softly consoling her.

"Yes, Mother is right. Rou, don’t be upset. Your father is rarely home. Let’s go prepare his favorite dishes," Li Wanying chimed in.

That night, neither Shangguan Hao nor his father, Shangguan Zhi, came down for dinner. Li Wanying’s painstakingly prepared dishes were mostly ignored. Even Shangguan Yu only had a few bites before leaving.

With a table full of dishes and the men not eating, the women naturally had little appetite. Li Wanying wanted to stay, but Shangguan Hao wouldn’t even glance at her, much less agree to see her, leaving her with no excuse to linger.

Old Madam Shangguan also wanted to stay and talk more with her son. However, after a few words from Shangguan Zhi, she obediently took the mother-daughter pair, who had tried every conceivable way to stay, back to their own home.

The following day was the last before the New Year holiday, with a banquet scheduled for the evening. All affairs had to be settled on this day. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable New Year, this day was invariably the busiest, as everything had to be wrapped up.

Shangguan Zhi, Shangguan Yu and his wife, and Li Wanying were all exceedingly busy. They would each head out early the next morning to handle their respective affairs. Before Li Wanying went to sleep, she instructed Shangguan Rou to stick to Shangguan You the entire next day, no matter what it took.

That night, everyone retired early, awaiting the coming day. Shangguan Hao was particularly downcast, brooding alone in his room. Shangguan You had wanted to chat with him, hoping to learn something, but seeing his deeply furrowed brow, she quietly excused herself.

This iron-willed military man seemed to transform upon returning home, changing from a resolute soldier into a brooding man.

Back in her room, she slipped into her spiritual space and retrieved the eavesdropping spells she had placed earlier. They yielded nothing useful—only Shangguan Zhi arguing against Shangguan Hao divorcing at this time, urging him to wait another two years.

The latter part of their conversation was hushed, likely because they feared Shangguan Rou and her mother might be eavesdropping, so Shangguan You couldn’t clearly discern what the three men were saying. Inside her spiritual space, Shangguan You resumed her cultivation and medicinal refinement. She considered seeking out Zhuge Feng but then recalled the man who had suddenly appeared that night.

Zhuge Feng is my subordinate, but he has his own freedom. I can’t meddle in all his affairs. I have to allow him some liberty to pursue his own tasks. Besides, Zhuge Feng isn’t as simple as I first imagined.

All I want now is to quickly increase my Spiritual Energy. I desperately want to reach level 3 as soon as possible. Drowsily, Shangguan You leaned against a lotus leaf, absorbing Spiritual Energy as she drifted off to sleep.

It was the first time she had fallen asleep in her spiritual space.

In her dream, she found herself in a luxurious banquet hall. Officials from various regions, young talents, and beautifully dressed, fragrant women mingled. She saw Shen Cheng, Wanqian, and many other familiar faces: Lin Wenjie, Third Young Master Ye, Brother Qing, Daddy, and Eldest Uncle. She also saw Lan Xuan and Han Yachu, and spotted Feng Shao’an and his sister.

The atmosphere was jovial, with people continuously chatting and greeting each other. Suddenly, several thunderous explosions ripped through the hall, plunging it into chaos. She saw the people she knew, one after another, falling into pools of blood.