She returned to her room, pressing her temples as she carefully recalled the events concerning the Lieguo Duke’s Mansion from her past life.
She vaguely remembered General Huo’s wife mentioning the affairs of the Lieguo Duke’s family.
What she had said was—
They were a pitiful household.
Back then, the Lieguo Duke and the Duchess were deeply in love. Once, when the Duke was missing in action at the border frontier, the Duchess, consumed with worry for his life, neglected their son, Yuchi Dun, causing him to suffer a high fever that left him mentally impaired.
Later, the Duchess gave birth to a daughter named Yuchi Xi.
Unfortunately, that little girl was also ill-fated. From birth, her health was frail. The Guogong Fu spent a fortune on medicine to sustain her until she was thirteen, just on the verge of her coming-of-age ceremony, when she accidentally fell into Hehua Chi and lost her life.
Thinking of this, Yan Zhuxing suddenly understood.
No wonder Yuchi Dun called her “little sister”—perhaps he had mistaken her for Yuchi Xi.
She called Xianchan inside.
“Have you ever seen that young lady from the Lieguo Duke’s Mansion, Yuchi Xi? Do you think I resemble her?”
Xianchan nodded, then after scrutinizing her for a moment, shook her head. “No.”
“Not even the slightest resemblance?” Yan Zhuxing pressed, unwilling to give up.
“None at all,” Xianchan stated firmly.
Yan Zhuxing grew even more perplexed.
Then why did Yuchi Dun mistake her for his sister?
She decided to try a desperate remedy. She had Ban Tang find a dress similar in color to the one she wore when visiting yesterday and asked her to style her hair in the same way, without even changing her jewelry.
She was doing her best to recreate yesterday’s appearance.
Afterward, she dismissed Xianchan, leaving only Ban Tang in the room.
Seeing that only the two of them remained, Ban Tang grew so nervous she barely dared to breathe.
What exactly did the young mistress intend to do?
Yan Zhuxing pulled out a hundred-tael silver note and pressed it into Ban Tang’s hand.
“Young mistress, what is this for?” Ban Tang wore a horrified expression, quickly kneeling and raising the silver note with both hands to return it to Yan Zhuxing, as if she had been handed a hot potato.
“I need you to do something for me. If you succeed, this silver note is yours. After the task is done, once I return from the Guogong Fu, I will give you another hundred-tael silver note,” Yan Zhuxing said calmly, helping her up.
Ban Tang stared at the silver note in her hand, swallowing hard.
Her monthly allowance was only two taels of silver.
Two hundred taels in total was equivalent to more than a decade of her monthly wages.
With this money, her father’s injuries could be treated, and her elder brother could afford to marry.
“My time is limited. Have you made up your mind?” Yan Zhuxing spoke again.
Ban Tang looked at the silver note, gritted her teeth, and decided to take the gamble. “This servant is willing to serve the young mistress!”
Yan Zhuxing quickly wrote a letter with a brush and gestured for Ban Tang to take it.
After whispering a few words into Ban Tang’s ear, Ban Tang’s expression shifted unpredictably.
“Young mistress, please hurry. The people from the Guogong Fu are waiting,” Jihe urged from outside the door.
Yan Zhuxing glanced at Ban Tang and added one final sentence: “If you take my money and fail to do as I say, Mo’er’s fate will be yours.”
Ban Tang’s pupils suddenly contracted, and she bit her lower lip so hard it drew blood.
Mo’er’s death was a nightmare for all the servants in the Dingyuan Marquisate.
Her head separated from her body, she was eventually wrapped in a straw mat and thrown into Luanzang Gang.
Could it be that… that incident was actually related to the young mistress?
She suddenly felt the silver notes in her hand grow uncomfortably warm.
If she failed to handle this properly, would the young mistress have her killed as well?
…
After speaking, Yan Zhuxing pushed the door open and followed Jihe to the reception hall.
Wen Rushuang exchanged a glance with Jihe, who gave a slight nod, confirming that the matter had been handled.
Wearing a loving expression, Wen Rushuang said, “Xing’er, the Duke and Duchess wish to see you. Come with your mother for a visit.”
Yan Zhuxing sneered, “Weren’t you just threatening me with Shuangli’s life earlier? Why pretend to be a loving mother now?”
Wen Rushuang hadn’t expected her to refuse even the pretense of civility. Furious, she snapped, “You wretch. If you want her to live, you’d better think carefully about what to say and what not to say later.”
Yan Zhuxing nodded. “Understood.”
The two of them boarded the carriage one after the other.
Soon, the carriage arrived at Guogong Fu.
The steward politely invited them inside.
His attitude put Wen Rushuang somewhat at ease.
As soon as she saw Lieguo Gong Fufu, Wen Rushuang began apologizing, not giving Yan Zhuxing a chance to speak.
Dabbing her reddened eyes with a handkerchief, she said, “This wretched child actually dared to drug the heir yesterday. She truly deserves to die for such a crime. But there were reasons behind it. After learning she wasn’t of the Marquis’s Mansion’s bloodline, she feared being cast out, which led her to harbor such vile thoughts.”
“She has done wrong and should be left to your discretion. But I can’t bear it in my heart. Though she isn’t my own flesh and blood, I’ve raised her at my knee for over a decade. I beg the Duke and Duchess to give her a chance to reform.”
Her words sounded reasonable, shifting all blame onto Yan Zhuxing while showcasing her own maternal affection.
Those unaware of the truth would likely believe she had truly worn herself out with worry for Yan Zhuxing.
Lieguo Duke and his wife, Zhao Yurun, exchanged a glance before turning their attention to Yan Zhuxing.
Zhao Yurun spoke gently, “Child, do you have anything to say to us?”
Wen Rushuang’s heart sank.
Hadn’t Weining Marquis said he had already communicated with Guogong Fu? Why weren’t they following the agreed plan—punishing Yan Zhuxing directly after her apology—instead of treating Yan Zhuxing with such kindness?
Meeting the gazes of Lieguo Gong Fufu, Yan Zhuxing nodded.
“Yes.”
Wen Rushuang turned her head, shooting Yan Zhuxing a warning look.
But Yan Zhuxing didn’t even glance at her before speaking directly, “I wasn’t the one who drugged the heir yesterday.”
She recounted everything she had experienced from beginning to end.
Of course, she omitted the parts about rescuing Jiuzhi and the attempted murder.
Revealing those would do her more harm than good.
Wen Rushuang, standing nearby, felt her mind go blank.
Not only had Lieguo Gong Fufu not followed the agreed plan, but Yan Zhuxing actually dared to defy her?
Didn’t she fear for that maid’s life?
She raised her hand to strike Yan Zhuxing. “How dare you lie in front of the Duke and Duchess?!”
Unexpectedly, Zhao Yurun, the Duchess, intercepted her hand.