“I am honored by the Duke’s favor and should not decline, but I feel this matter is somewhat inappropriate.”
Hearing this, the Lieguo Duke was somewhat surprised; he had thought Yan Zhuxing would agree.
He felt a bit regretful and couldn’t help saying, “Would you like to think it over for a few more days?”
Yan Zhuxing shook her head.
“The heir mistaking me for his sister was just an accident. Once we find the cause, perhaps we can address it accordingly.”
She was not unique or irreplaceable.
If one day Yuchi Dun mistook someone else as his sister, how would she find her place in the Guogong Fu?
Just as when Yan Mingyue returned home, she had no standing left in the Marquis’s Mansion.
Relying on others, they may leave; relying on mountains, they may crumble.
Now, she only trusted herself.
The Lieguo Duke also shook his head: “There are maids in the mansion around the same age as Xi’er, but Dun’er has never mistaken anyone else for his sister. You are the only one.”
Yan Zhuxing suggested, “What if we try dressing them in similar clothes?”
The Lieguo Duke agreed.
He found several maids in the mansion who were similar in height and age to Yan Zhuxing, had them change into Yuchi Xi’s old clothes, and styled their hair the same way. Then he called Yuchi Dun over.
Unexpectedly, Yuchi Dun ignored everyone else and went straight to Yan Zhuxing.
He spoke pitifully, “Sister! Why didn’t you come find me!”
The Lieguo Duke and Yan Zhuxing exchanged glances, both somewhat surprised.
The Lieguo Duke thought for a moment and pointed to another maid, saying, “Dun’er, you’ve mistaken the person. That one is your sister.”
Yuchi Dun squinted his eyes to examine the maid, looking back and forth between her and Yan Zhuxing.
In the end, he firmly tugged on Yan Zhuxing’s sleeve: “Father is lying. This is my sister.”
After several attempts, even when Yan Zhuxing changed her clothes, Yuchi Dun still insisted it was her.
After a few rounds, Yan Zhuxing had a suspicion in her heart.
After dismissing the maids, Yan Zhuxing carefully spoke up: “Recently, I have been nourishing my health and drink a large bowl of medicinal tonic every day. I heard that Miss Yuchi used to do the same. Could it be that the medicinal scent on me makes the heir feel familiar?”
The Lieguo Duke showed a look of sudden realization.
“That makes sense.”
He had his daughter late in life, and her constitution was weaker than that of ordinary girls, so she drank tonics year-round, always carrying a faint medicinal scent.
And the young girl before him was the same.
Yan Zhuxing reminded him, “If that’s the case, please be extra cautious, Duke, to prevent others from exploiting this to harm the heir. That would be unfortunate.”
Hearing this, the Lieguo Duke felt a chill.
Yes, what if someone disguised themselves as his daughter, causing Dun’er to mistake them and commit a grave error? That would be terrible.
“Thank you for the reminder, young lady.” The Lieguo Duke couldn’t help breaking into a cold sweat at the thought of such a scenario.
He looked at Yan Zhuxing with increasing satisfaction.
Such a clever and kind-hearted young lady—it was truly a pity she couldn’t become his daughter-in-law.
After some thought, he couldn’t help saying, “Although you don’t want to be my daughter-in-law, Dun’er likes you so much as a sister. How about you consider becoming my daughter? From then on, you could rightfully call Dun’er ‘brother.’ Would you be willing?”
Yan Zhuxing was taken aback, thinking this proposal wasn’t bad at all.
Becoming the adopted daughter of the Lieguo Gong Fufu was much better than becoming a daughter-in-law.
On the day of the adoption banquet, those rumors about her drugging and seducing Yuchi Dun would be debunked on their own.
Yan Zhuxing curled the corners of her lips and performed a standard military salute by bending her knee toward him. “I would wake up laughing from dreams if I could be your daughter. Of course, I am willing a thousand times over.”
Hearing this, Lieguo Duke laughed heartily and patted her shoulder.
“Good, I like your temperament. I will discuss with my wife and choose an auspicious day to formally adopt you as my daughter.”
…
Inside the room.
Wen Rushuang felt as if sitting on pins and needles, her heart restless and uneasy.
The Lady of Duke Lieguo kept chatting with her about trivial matters, never mentioning the incident of Yan Zhuxing drugging anyone. She couldn’t figure out what they truly meant, and even the tea she drank seemed tasteless.
Having waited so long without seeing Yan Zhuxing punished, she stood up and spoke when she saw Lieguo Duke leading Yan Zhuxing in. “It’s getting late. I should take this girl back to the mansion.”
“Alright. Then tomorrow I will send someone to bring you to the mansion.” Lieguo Duke turned and instructed Yan Zhuxing.
Yan Zhuxing nodded.
She had previously agreed to Lieguo Duke to come to the mansion every day to accompany Yuchi Dun for an hour.
Watching their expressions, Wen Rushuang was filled with confusion.
Lieguo Duke’s attitude was not right.
“What about the matter of the heir being drugged…” she couldn’t help but ask.
Lieguo Duke waved his hand. “It was all a misunderstanding. Let it go. We will not pursue it further.”
Wen Rushuang stood frozen in place.
She never expected that the stage had been set, but someone had refused to perform.
Yet, she dared not say more to Lieguo Duke and forced a smile. “Xing’er, hurry up and thank them. If not for the Duke’s magnanimity, you might have ended up in prison.”
“Thank you, Duke. Thank you, Duchess.” Yan Zhuxing expressed her gratitude sincerely.
“No need for formalities. We are about to become family soon anyway.” Lieguo Duke waved his hand and laughed heartily.
“Family?” Wen Rushuang exclaimed, her voice rising in shock.
“Yes, Dun’er gets along well with her, and my wife and I intend to adopt her as our daughter.” Lieguo Duke announced his decision and, right in front of Wen Rushuang, gave Yan Zhuxing a jade pendant symbolizing the identity of Lieguo Duke’s Mansion.
Wen Rushuang felt as if struck by lightning.
She had wanted to use this matter to crush Yan Zhuxing completely. Who would have thought that Yan Zhuxing would win the favor of Lieguo Gong Fufu?
Everything had gone against her plan.
How should she interact with Yan Zhuxing from now on?
As she walked out of Guogong Fu, Wen Rushuang was still in a daze.
Once inside the carriage, she couldn’t help but ask, “What trick did you use to coax the Duke into adopting you as his daughter?”
“The Duke sympathizes with me for having a father who doesn’t care and a mother who doesn’t love me,” Yan Zhuxing replied expressionlessly.
“You…” Wen Rushuang was left speechless by her retort.
Given their current hostile relationship, how could Yan Zhuxing possibly tell her the truth?
She resentfully closed her mouth.
Yan Zhuxing lifted the carriage curtain to glance outside, wondering if Ban Tang had accomplished what she had asked her to do.
The carriage moved steadily toward the Marquis’s Mansion.
Suddenly, screams erupted on the street, mixed with the barking of dogs.
“Help—”
Frowning, Wen Rushuang lifted half of the carriage curtain to see what was happening.
A disheveled woman in a goose-yellow gown was running frantically ahead, chased relentlessly by a large yellow dog. Both the woman and the dog were charging straight toward their carriage.
Wen Rushuang’s face turned pale with fright.
The coachman’s hands gripping the reins bulged with veins as he roared, “Move aside! Get out of the way!”
But it was already too late.
The horse, startled, reared up on its hind legs.
Amidst the horse’s frantic neighing, the carriage lurched violently to the right.
Wen Rushuang’s head slammed hard against the carved wooden wall of the carriage. As her world spun, she heard the sharp crack of a wooden axle snapping.
The carriage curtain was torn away entirely, and she felt a pair of hands shove her from behind.
In an instant, she was flung out like a kite with a severed string, tumbling onto the cold, hard cobblestones.