“The child is grown now, and a young lady at that. There’s no need to resort to physical force.” Zhao Yurun’s face was full of disapproval.
Yan Zhuxing was also somewhat surprised, never expecting the Duchess to step in and block that slap for her.
Wen Rushuang’s face flushed crimson as she forcefully defended herself.
“I didn’t mean to, I was just so angered by this girl’s words.”
“She’s been dishonest since she was little, and over the years she’s deceived many people. The Marquis and I were both fooled by her obedient appearance.”
Her tone was urgent, fearing that Lieguo Gong Fufu wouldn’t believe her.
“You don’t know how wretched she is—she even dared to slap her elder brother and younger sister. You absolutely must not believe a word she says.”
As soon as her words fell, a mountain-like burly man burst through the door from outside, shoving Wen Rushuang aside and giggling foolishly at Yan Zhuxing.
“Sister, hehe! Hide-and-seek!”
He reached out to take Yan Zhuxing’s hand, trying to pull her outside to play with him.
Yan Zhuxing held his wrist, smiling as she slowed her speech. “I have something to do right now. Let’s play hide-and-seek in a little while, okay?”
Afraid he wouldn’t understand, she repeated emphatically: “In a little while, play, hide-and-seek.”
Yuchi Dun tilted his head, thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. “Okay, in a little while.”
Seeing their son so obedient, Lieguo Gong Fufu both showed expressions of surprise and delight.
Ever since their daughter passed away, their son had never been this well-behaved.
Usually, if his demands weren’t met immediately, he would throw tantrums, crying for half an hour at a time.
Who would have thought that after being refused by Yan Zhuxing, he didn’t even lose his temper.
Wen Rushuang, who had been knocked over to the side, was grinding her teeth in fury.
These people from Guogong Fu truly had no sense of awareness—she had been knocked to the ground, yet no one came to help her up!
In the end, it was her own maid who helped her stand.
Only after she got up did Lieguo Gong Fufu snap back to attention.
Zhao Yurun spoke up: “We’re truly sorry. Dun’er was a bit too impulsive. Were you hurt?”
No matter how dissatisfied she felt inside, Wen Rushuang didn’t dare show it, forcing out a strained smile. “It’s fine. The heir is childlike and innocent, and he didn’t mean it earlier. How could I hold it against him? There’s no need for you to apologize to me.”
She glanced at Yuchi Dun, who was tugging at Yan Zhuxing’s sleeve and grinning foolishly, and a sense of foreboding flashed through her heart.
Trying to steer the conversation back, she added: “By the way, about yesterday’s incident…”
Lieguo Duke interrupted her: “Yesterday’s incident was an accident and has nothing to do with your daughter.”
Wen Rushuang’s hand suddenly clenched, her nails digging into her palm, the pain instantly changing her expression.
Lieguo Duke looked gently at Yan Zhuxing: “Since Dun’er wants you to play with him, girl, please take him outside to play for a while.”
“Yes.” Yan Zhuxing understood they had no intention of holding her accountable, feeling a wave of relief.
Her gamble in coming here had paid off.
Yan Zhuxing looked up and saw the drool trickling from Yuchi Dun’s foolish grin. Without disgust, she took out a handkerchief and wiped it away for him.
Then, smiling at him, she said: “Let’s go, we’ll go play.”
“Okay~ go play~!” Yuchi Dun was so excited he charged straight outside.
Remembering he was still holding Yan Zhuxing, he slowed his pace, waiting for her patiently.
As they stepped over the threshold, he suddenly scooped Yan Zhuxing up by the waist, startling Lieguo Gong Fufu and making their hearts leap into their throats.
After crossing the threshold, he carefully set Yan Zhuxing down.
He even reminded her, “Be careful, little sister.”
His demeanor appeared no different from that of an ordinary older brother caring for his younger sister.
Seeing this scene, the eyes of the Lieguo Gong Fufu grew moist.
If Xi’er were still here, the two siblings would surely be as harmonious as they are now.
Yet Wen Rushuang inwardly lamented, why hadn’t Yuchi Dun gone mad and thrown that girl halfway to her death?
Seeing the two leave, the Lieguo Duke also followed, leaving his wife and Wen Rushuang to talk.
He needed to sound out Yan Zhuxing.
Yan Zhuxing accompanied Yuchi Dun in a game of hide-and-seek.
From the moment she was reborn, she had been on guard against others, fearing that one wrong step would plunge her into an abyss.
Only now did she finally have a moment to catch her breath.
Yuchi Dun was simple-minded, only wanting her to play games with him.
If he saw her sneeze, he would take off his own cloak and drape it over her. When there was delicious food, he would urge her, “Little sister, eat quickly.”
His joys and sorrows were straightforward, easily seen through at a glance.
Being with him was very relaxing.
When it was Yuchi Dun’s turn to hide, Yan Zhuxing was stopped by the Lieguo Duke.
“Girl, could you spare a few words with this old man?”
Yan Zhuxing hesitated slightly. “The heir is still waiting for me to find him.”
The Lieguo Duke laughed heartily. “Don’t worry, I’ve already had a servant lead him to hide in the wardrobe. He’ll probably forget about it in a little while.”
Hearing this, Yan Zhuxing couldn’t help but curve her lips into a smile and nodded. “Alright.”
She vaguely guessed what the Lieguo Duke wanted to say, but she didn’t ask outright, instead quietly waiting for him to speak.
The Lieguo Duke watched her quietly for a moment, then sighed with emotion. “Ever since Xi’er passed away, Dun’er hasn’t been this obedient in a long time. It’s rare for Dun’er to meet someone he likes so much. Girl, would you be willing to marry into the Lieguo Duke’s Mansion and become the heir’s wife?”
Even though Yan Zhuxing had mentally prepared herself, hearing these words still gave her quite a shock.
Yuchi Dun could almost be old enough to be her father; marrying him as the heir’s wife seemed utterly absurd.
Seeing her expression change drastically, the Lieguo Duke hurriedly explained. “It’s not about you performing marital duties. It’s merely borrowing the title for convenience, to take care of Dun’er’s daily life. In a couple of years, you can choose a child you like from the Yuchi clan to adopt, so he can support you and Dun’er in your old age and handle your funeral arrangements.”
“I know this sounds somewhat presumptuous. But I am old and don’t know how much longer I can accompany Dun’er. And since Dun’er likes you so much, I thought of this method. If you are unwilling, let’s pretend I never mentioned it.”
After hearing his words, the shock in Yan Zhuxing’s eyes gradually faded as she focused on carefully considering the implications.
This was a direction she had never contemplated.
Since her rebirth, her mind had been filled with thoughts of revenge.
She had thought that after wiping out the entire Dingyuan Marquisate family, she would join the army at the border frontier, seek refuge with General Huo, and once she had made a name for herself, she could search for her own blood relatives.
But the Lieguo Duke had offered her a shortcut.
If she became the Lieguo Duchess, she might find her family more quickly, and taking revenge on the Dingyuan Marquis’s family would also be easier.
Seeing that she seemed somewhat tempted, the Lieguo Duke pressed his advantage. “I’ve noticed that the Dingyuan Marquis’s family doesn’t treat you very well, so why stay there? You probably don’t know what people outside are saying about you now.”
He told Yan Zhuxing all those rumors circulating among the common folk.
Though neither said it outright, both understood clearly in their hearts that this matter must have been spread by someone from the Dingyuan Marquisate.
Yan Zhuxing lowered her head in contemplation.
The Lieguo Duke continued, “Although the Marquess of Dingyuan’s Wife claims you are not her flesh and blood, she is still nominally your mother. Next May, you will have your coming-of-age ceremony. If she then uses marriage to control you, marrying you off to some lowly scoundrel, what will you do?”
“Why not marry into the Lieguo Duke’s Mansion? My wife and I will treat you as our own daughter. Whatever you desire, as long as we can provide it, we will give it to you.”
His words were sincere, each sentence considering Yan Zhuxing’s perspective, truly thoughtful.
He could not think of any reason Yan Zhuxing might have to refuse.
After carefully pondering for quite some time, Yan Zhuxing made her decision.