Tang Leyi had observed Tang Xinyi for several days and found no trace of disguise.
If she wasn't hiding it well, then it could only be that someone else had replaced her.
She hadn't thought of this before, but now that she had encountered such a situation herself, she felt it was highly possible. She just didn't know when the famous young lady had replaced her illegitimate sister.
If her illegitimate sister disappeared, would the person who had always suppressed her no longer appear?
Thinking this, she looked at Tang Xinyi, who was walking beside her. With just a gentle push, she would fall into the lake. Girls were delicate; falling into the water now, and then being exposed to the cold wind after being rescued...
Tang Leyi's hand instinctively reached out, but remembering Tang Xinyi's envious and affectionate gaze when she looked at her, she withdrew her hand.
She couldn't do it. Although she was not close to this illegitimate sister, she was still a blood relative. Her hands could not be stained with the blood of a family member.
"Eldest sister, what are you thinking about? Why are you walking so slowly?" Tang Jingyi, who was walking ahead, saw that Tang Leyi had not kept up and ran back.
"No, nothing. Mother must be waiting impatiently. Let's hurry over." Tang Leyi came back to her senses and thought her previous idea was truly terrifying. Fortunately, she hadn't acted.
If she had taken action against that person, it would have been different, but to take action against her ignorant illegitimate sister would be her sin.
"Third sister, you should hurry too. Mother said she would tailor winter clothes for us and wanted us to pick some fabric we liked. Mother will take us to a banquet this winter."
"Mm," Tang Xinyi nodded vigorously.
Tang Leyi looked at her and suddenly found this illegitimate sister quite likable.
In the blink of an eye, the first snow fell, and the Marquis of Huaiyin's mansion sent two cartloads of charcoal to the manor.
Lin Yan also sent back a cart of vegetables from the greenhouse to the Marquis of Huaiyin's residence. This winter, because there were many people on the manor, Lin Yan had them start preserving dried and pickled vegetables from autumn to eat during the winter.
In the two years Lin Yan had lived on the manor, she had already made it very suitable for living.
Even if the Marquis of Huaiyin's mansion didn't send charcoal, she wouldn't lack it. Since her maternal uncle had thought of her and sent her charcoal, she happily accepted it.
For more than two years, every time something was sent from their side, Lin Yan would send a reply, with prices varying, but all were practical items. When the manor's fruits ripened, she would also send some to the Marquis's mansion.
Lin Yan sat on the heated brick bed by the window. Many rooms on the manor had heated brick beds installed. Lin Yan's health was not good, and she had been staying on the heated bed since winter.
"Host, the supporting female character has arrived," the system's voice sounded in Lin Yan's mind.
Lin Yan's hand, which was holding a teacup, paused. She then placed the teacup on the table.
"She's already here?" So the main female character and the supporting female character were now gathered. This was truly cause for celebration.
"Yes, but the main female character seems to have realized that the supporting female character is not the original person, and is likely to take action against her."
"System, I remember I can use points to exchange plot for others, right?"
Lin Yan's sudden question caused the system to pause.
"Yes, Host. You want to..."
"Among the three outsiders, only this one doesn't know the future plot. It seems a bit unfair. So, what do you think if I send her a copy of the plot?"
It seemed a bit unfair for the transmigration character to be pitted against someone who knew the plot.
The reborn character had such great malice towards her. If she didn't prepare in advance, wouldn't she be eliminated easily?
It would be more interesting if this play were performed by two people.
"Then, Host, do you want the plot before the main female character's rebirth, or after her rebirth?"
"Of course, before rebirth. Just transmit the plot where the transmigration female character was the protagonist to her, making her believe she transmigrated into a book."
"Okay, Host. Arranging it now!"
"How many points will it cost?"
"It requires 2000 points. Because it's about conveying the plot to a key character, the required points are relatively high, but these points are just a drop in the bucket for you, Host!"
2000 points were just a drop in the bucket for her? She remembered that in her first world, she only got 200 points.
However, considering her points had reached eight figures, 2000 was indeed not much.
"2000 points have been deducted from the Host. The plot you purchased will be transmitted into the target's mind tonight."
"Excellent, this is how the show becomes interesting."
However, it was said that three women could put on a show. Currently, the Marchioness couldn't participate. It seemed they needed to find one more person to join to make this play even more entertaining!
The system sensed its Host's mischievousness, but it didn't take it to heart. As long as its Host didn't target it, it wouldn't matter. It just needed to lie flat and level up.
It was just that the Host had been saving points and used too little in the mall, only buying some basic books. If she could buy more, that would be great.
Having a Host who loved to learn and research made the system both love and hate it. If the Host saved points so quickly, would she separate from it soon?
If the Host spent more points, wouldn't she be able to complete her wish more slowly?
It needed to take a good look at what the system mall had to recommend to its Host. Women all had the desire to buy. Once they started, the Host would definitely keep buying.
As for saving points to complete the wish, weren't they splitting it fifty-fifty? Mr. Liang, as a man, would surely be willing to contribute more for the woman he loved.
Moreover, this was to save him, so he should naturally contribute more!
The system felt its idea was genius. It seemed that after being with its Host for so long, its intelligence had also improved significantly.
Lin Yan ignored the system's little thoughts. After finishing this matter, she picked up the teacup she had put down, drank the tea, and then continued to review the account books sent from the shop.
This year, the manor had many more children, and expenses for food, clothing, housing, and transportation were all necessary. She was planning to find a new livelihood for them. Letting them eat and live for free all the time might make some children uneasy.
"Giving a measure of rice fosters kindness, but a bushel fosters enmity." If these children were kept this way indefinitely, it might eventually breed resentment.
It was better to find something for them to do, let them earn rewards through labor, so they could feel more at ease. At the same time, it could also reveal their true nature and allow for selection.
Not every child was worthy of being cultivated as a confidant. These children came from the marketplace, and kindness was sometimes not that important to them. If they were used without proper vetting, it might lead to disaster.