The young maiden’s cheeks were pink and fair, resembling the osmanthus cake she had eaten that morning—soft, glutinous, sweet, and utterly adorable.
He leaned down and gently kissed her delicate cheek (censored and edited).
“Husband…”
“Wanwan is so adorable.”
The maiden hadn’t forgotten her mission. With determination, she struggled free from his cool, large palm.
“Husband, let’s have breakfast first. The food will get cold.”
“Alright.” Wei Chenheng narrowed his eyes, a faint smile curling his lips as he replied.
Before they could begin their meal, a knock came from the doorway.
Her smile instantly faded.
The man remained composed.
His personal attendant’s voice sounded from outside, “Young Master, everything is prepared. We can depart now.”
He responded with a cold hum.
The attendant sensed his master’s displeasure but felt compelled to remind him, “Young Master, Old Madam Wei is also waiting for you.”
“Understood!”
Hearing the murderous tone in Wei Chenheng’s voice, the attendant broke into a cold sweat and hurried away.
“Husband, must you really go?” Ning Wanwan gazed at him with pitiful eyes!
Wei Chenheng sighed, bent down to embrace her, and held her for a long while before reluctantly letting go.
“Once the border conflicts are quelled, I will return. Wait for me obediently at the estate.”
Her heart tightened. Seeing that she couldn’t persuade him, she resolved to find another way.
“Let me see you off.”
He paused but didn’t refuse. “Very well.”
She quickly rose to her feet.
Hand in hand, they walked out of the room like an inseparable young couple.
Outside, carriages, horses, and provisions were ready. The entire Wei family had gathered at the entrance to bid Wei Chenheng farewell as he departed for battle.
Wei Chenheng knelt and bid a tearful goodbye to Old Madam Wei.
Ning Wanwan blended into the crowd but was spotted by her sharp-eyed cousin, Gu Qingyi. Having seen Wei Chenheng leading Ning Wanwan out earlier, their perfect match enraged Gu Qingyi.
Gu Qingyi remarked sourly, “Consort Wan is quite skilled. Only three days in the estate, and you’ve already used some bewitching tricks to enchant my cousin like this.”
Ning Wanwan curved her brows into a smile and pointed delicately at her own face with her slender fingers. “It’s all thanks to my heavenly beauty and exceptionally large chest.”
Gu Qingyi’s face flushed red with anger. She spat out, “I’ve never seen a woman as shameless as you!”
Ning Wanwan curled her lips. “Jealousy has twisted Qingyi’s features beyond recognition, no wonder my husband has no interest in you.”
Gu Qingyi trembled with rage. “Ning Wanwan! You low-class, vulgar seductress!”
Ning Wanwan shot Gu Qingyi a disdainful glance and sneered. “So what? Your cousin adores my ‘low-class’ charm. And you, the noble young miss? Even if you stripped bare and lay on his bed, he wouldn’t spare you a glance.”
Gu Qingyi hadn’t expected Ning Wanwan to be so sharp-tongued beneath her gentle exterior. Originally intending to bully her, Gu Qingyi found herself enraged and speechless.
Gu Qingyi raised her hand, intending to teach Ning Wanwan a lesson.
But Ning Wanwan was quicker. She seized Gu Qingyi’s wrist, shoved it against her own chest, and then collapsed to the ground.
A sharp cry of pain immediately pierced the air.
The crowd, originally immersed in the touching scene of a mother and son parting, turned to look at the source of the voice and saw Ning Wanwan collapsed on the ground, her eyes red and filled with terror as she sobbed softly, “Cousin Qingyi, please don’t hit me anymore. I won’t dare again… Wuwu…”
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
Gu Qingyi, having snapped back to reality, turned pale and pointed angrily at Ning Wanwan, “Don’t you dare frame me! I didn’t push you! You fell on your own.”
“Yes, yes…”
Ning Wanwan wept like a pear blossom bathed in rain, exuding an air of utter devastation and grievance. “It was my own fall, it has nothing to do with Cousin… Cousin didn’t mean to push me… I fell on my own…”
The more she tried to explain, the worse it sounded, and the onlookers seemed to grasp the situation.
One stood haughty and overbearing, the other wept in grievance.
“What exactly is going on?”
A gold-lacquered cane thudded heavily on the ground as Old Madam Wei questioned the two with stern severity.
Gu Qingyi rushed over and clung to Old Madam Wei, also bursting into tears. “Aunt, Consort Wan is slandering me. I didn’t push her—she fell by herself.”
Old Madam Wei glanced at Ning Wanwan, who was still on the ground, and scolded the servants, “Why haven’t you helped Consort Wan up yet?”
Before the servants could assist Ning Wanwan, a man with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a tall, lean stature stepped forward and gently lifted her, asking softly, “Are you alright?”
Tears welled in her pitiful eyes as she replied, “Husband, I’m fine.”
Yet her voice trembled slightly, laced with a thread of fear, making Wei Chenheng’s heart clench. His brows furrowed tightly, and his previously gentle expression instantly turned cold and stern.
“Cousin, I truly didn’t push Consort Wan. She fell on her own. She deliberately provoked me just to frame me!”
“She injured herself like this just to frame you?”
“Yes!”
The man’s expression was icy as he fixed his sharp gaze on her and asked, “What benefit would she gain from framing you?”
“She… I…”
Gu Qingyi was left speechless, unable to form a rebuttal. Indeed, what advantage would Ning Wanwan gain from such a scheme?
Seeing Gu Qingyi’s foolish, dazed expression and how easily she had been silenced with just a few words, Old Madam Wei felt both exasperated and disappointed. She spoke calmly, “Heng’er, Qingyi was raised by me. She is well-educated, kind-hearted, and has never harmed anyone. There must be more to this matter.”
Ning Wanwan quickly added in a small voice, “This humble one admits her fault. It’s all my blame—I fell carelessly. It has nothing to do with the young miss. Please calm your anger, Old Madam!”
Old Madam Wei continued, “Since no harm was done, let’s consider the matter closed. We are all family, after all. The hour has come—you should set off now!”
“Mother is right.”
Wei Chenheng nodded, his large hand enveloping Ning Wanwan’s small one firmly. His voice, deep and pleasant, carried a chilling undertone.
“If Wei Manor cannot tolerate Wanwan, then I have no choice but to take her with me.”
Old Madam Wei’s face changed, and she snapped angrily, “Nonsense!”
Wei Chenheng replied calmly, “My mind is made up. Wanwan, come with me.”
Ning Wanwan was taken aback. “Husband, this goes against propriety.”
Wei Chenheng’s words held a deeper meaning. “Following one’s husband is the highest propriety.”
She looked troubled and asked timidly, “But… I haven’t packed my belongings.”
“Your presence is enough.” He bowed in farewell. “Mother, I am leaving now. Farewell!”
Old Madam Wei: “???”