"Nanny!"
Xue Wanyi, dressed in casual attire, arrived at the front hall and greeted Nanny Lin with a smile.
Seeing this, Nanny Lin quickly stepped aside. "Young Miss, this is not appropriate."
Before her stood Xue Wanyi, wearing a plain white gown, her delicate face free of makeup, gazing at her with eyes full of laughter.
The more Nanny Lin looked, the more alarmed she became, a vague answer stirring in her heart, on the verge of surfacing.
For some reason, she too felt shaken at this moment.
It was because the Second Young Miss before her resembled Madam so closely—the gentle curve of her brows and eyes seemed almost carved from the same mold as Madam's.
Why had she never noticed this before?
Xue Wanyi walked to the seat of honor and sat down. Zhenzhu had already prepared tea for Nanny Lin.
"The night wind is chilly, and heavy rain is imminent. For Nanny to come at this hour, does Mother have something to convey?"
Nanny Lin remained silent for a moment.
She had come on her own after hearing Qingtan's words.
Madam was still unaware and must not be allowed to know.
This matter could be trivial or grave.
If it was a misunderstanding, that would naturally be for the best.
If not, the Xue family might face consequences as unimaginable as tonight's thunderstorm.
"In the next couple of days, the Imperial Clothing Bureau from the palace will visit the residence to take measurements for the Second Young Miss's attire. Madam instructed this old servant to check if the Young Miss lacks anything."
This was true; Madam had indeed mentioned it during dinner.
However, she had said it would be tomorrow.
Xue Wanyi smiled gracefully. "I am grateful for Mother's concern. I have everything I need here, lacking nothing. Please convey my thanks to Mother on my behalf when you return. Tomorrow during the morning filial greeting, I will personally express my gratitude to Mother."
Whether thanks were necessary or not, Nanny Lin did not dwell on it.
Yet, because of Xue Wanyi's smile, her heart nearly leaped out of her chest.
The way her brows and eyes curved when she smiled was almost identical.
Suddenly, Nanny Lin seemed to understand.
Why no one in the residence had noticed this before.
Back then, the Second Young Miss was always hunched over, her brows perpetually furrowed with worry, afraid to meet the eyes of anyone in the residence. Coupled with her weak presence, it was naturally impossible to see the resemblance.
Now, however, her brows were relaxed, her smile gentle, and every expression and gesture bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to Madam.
Madam Jiang's appearance leaned toward elegance and grace, while Xue Mingfei, true to her name, was radiant and striking—completely different in style.
Now, having realized this, Nanny Lin pictured the Eldest Young Miss's appearance in her mind and felt as though the sky had collapsed.
"Boom—"
Accompanied by a deafening roar, the entire courtyard trembled with a resonant hum.
Soon, dense raindrops, large as beans, began to fall abruptly.
"In that case, this old servant will return to Tinglan Courtyard. The Young Miss should retire early."
Xue Wanyi stood up and escorted her to the corridor in front of the hall.
"Zhenzhu, the rain is too heavy. Escort Nanny back with an umbrella."
Nanny Lin wanted to refuse, but Zhenzhu had already agreed.
"Yes, Young Miss."
Zhenzhu opened an oil-paper umbrella, gripping it firmly with both hands.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Nanny Lin.
"Nanny, let's go."
Nanny Lin turned and bowed to Xue Wanyi.
"This old servant takes her leave."
The two stepped into the rain and hurried away.
In such a torrential downpour, even if one spoke loudly, it would be inaudible just a few steps away.
"Young Miss, this maid is afraid." Feicui trembled slightly, struggling to suppress her instinctive fear.
Xue Wanyi extended her hand, her palm tingling from the impact of the raindrops.
"Silly girl, what is there to fear?"
She chuckled softly, her pupils reflecting a madness that sent shivers down one's spine.
"My marriage has been decided. Unless I die, there is no possibility of it being annulled."
"Feicui…"
Her voice was soft, inexplicably creating a certain resonance with this rainy night.
To Feicui’s ears, it seemed illusory and unreal.
"If I die, this vast Xue family will at the very least face exile."
Because Ye Zhuo was currently in the emperor’s favor.
No one else held such power.
To show contempt for imperial grace, to look down upon the Duke of Zhenguo whom the emperor "favored"…
"What a pity."
Her faint voice carried regret.
It was a pity that Chu Yuan was still alive; otherwise, she truly wanted to see what it would feel like to bring down the Xue family.
"Young lady…" Feicui was almost on the verge of tears from sorrow.
She dared not imagine what would happen after the young lady married into the Duke’s Manor.
Once the dream of countless young women, General Ye had now reached a point where no one dared to marry him, which was enough to prove that place was truly a dragon’s den and tiger’s lair.
Xue Wanyi couldn’t help but chuckle, raising her hand to gently tap Feicui’s forehead.
"For others, it might be an abyss. But for me…"
She shook the rainwater from her palm and turned to walk into the main hall.
"It is a peaceful life for the rest of my days."
**
"Nanny!"
Qingtan saw Nanny Lin and hurried forward.
Nanny Lin supported her and helped her sit down to the side, her entire expression conveying one message:
—Something major has happened; the sky has fallen.
Her expression seemed to have answered everything.
Qingtan leaned on the table to prevent herself from collapsing to the ground as her legs went weak.
"Is it… Concubine Qiu?"
Qingtan’s voice was hoarse as she spoke.
Without waiting for Nanny Lin’s response, Qingtan continued, "What about Madam…"
Nanny Lin finally snapped back to her senses.
Her face pale, she slowly said, "I will handle this. Act as if you know nothing."
Qingtan understood the severity of the matter and quickly nodded. "Rest assured, Nanny."
She was scared out of her wits; how could she refuse?
If this had happened a few days earlier, perhaps it wouldn’t have been so terrifying.
But now, the one in Wangshu Hall was the confirmed future mistress of the Duke’s Manor.
If this matter was not handled properly, the entire Xue family would be finished.
**
"Tch—"
A slender finger held a piece of paper, which touched the candle flame and instantly ignited.
"A peaceful life for the rest of my days?"
Ye Zhuo’s voice carried an indifferent detachment, as if the matter had nothing to do with him. "Only by staying in one’s place can one have a peaceful life for the rest of one’s days."
A middle-aged man stepped forward. He was the steward of the Duke’s Manor, Ye An.
"Young master, does Vice Minister Xue know about this?"
The spy had only uncovered that the two young ladies of the Xue family had been switched by a concubine. As for Xue Chong, there was no movement for now.
Ye Zhuo snorted with a laugh. "Whether he knows or not, the fact remains that his household is poorly managed."
The wheelchair turned, and Ye An pushed him to a hot spring room within the manor.
Steam rose from the hot spring, carrying the scent of medicinal herbs in the misty air.
After helping Ye Zhuo undress and carrying him into the hot spring, an elderly man with a white beard soon entered and began applying acupuncture to his back.
His face was hidden behind a mask, making his expression unreadable, but his gradually heavier breathing could be heard.
The parts of his two legs submerged in the water, as well as the exposed sections, were a purplish-black color, with the veins bulging out, forming dense and intricate, terrifying patterns.
"Uncle An!"
Ye Zhuo’s voice was hoarse. "Secretly cooperate with them to handle the identity matters. If necessary, give them a push."
Ye An accepted the order. "Yes, young master."
From the moment the imperial decree was issued, regardless of whether the young master was willing or not, the second young lady of the Xue family was publicly known as the mistress of the Duke’s Manor.
How the young master viewed her was still unknown, but at the very least, "outsiders" were not allowed to bully her.
Otherwise, it would be a slap in the face of the Duke’s Manor.
The honor forged with the blood of the Ye family for generations could not be trampled upon.
**
The next day, the rain weakened but showed no signs of stopping.
The gloomy sky seemed on the verge of collapse, oppressive enough to stir restlessness in one's heart, making it hard to breathe.
Xue Chong went to attend the court assembly, while Nanny Lin was attending to Madam Jiang as she washed up.
"Speak."
Madam Jiang said, "What is it that has you hesitating to speak?"