Zhao Qianxue hadn’t expected her to dare follow along. “Why are you trailing us?”
Shen Mingxiu raised his brows slightly, a trace of unconscious pride flickering in his eyes. Normally, Ye Qingyu carried herself with the dignity of a young lady, and her admiration for him was subtle. But today, perhaps provoked by Zhao Qianxue, she seemed unusually forward.
With a look of gentle understanding, Shen Mingxiu asked, “Does Miss Ye seek me for something?”
“Your Highness misunderstands. I am merely traveling the same way as you.”
Shen Mingxiu’s expression showed he didn’t believe her at all.
On the side, Zhao Qianxue ground her teeth in hatred. She sneered, “Where is Miss Ye headed? Why don’t I guide you?”
“No need, Miss Zhao. I’m going to the same place as you. Don’t mind me—I’ll just follow behind.”
Zhao Qianxue nearly slapped Ye Qingyu’s calm face. “Miss Ye, how amusing. Of all the roads, why must you take this one? I’m escorting the Fourth Prince to the men’s banquet. What business do you have there?”
Her voice was full of anger. Looking at Ye Qingyu’s composed demeanor, she cursed her shamelessness inwardly.
Ye Qingyu pressed her lips into a faint smile, ignoring Zhao Qianxue’s fury. “Naturally, I too am going to the men’s banquet. What, am I forbidden to walk the road to the Minister’s residence? Is this how the Minister’s household treats its guests, Miss Zhao?”
In her previous life, though she had become Shen Mingxiu’s principal wife, Zhao Qianxue had also become his concubine and constantly schemed against her. Her first child had been lost because of her. Perhaps the Zhao family bore responsibility for the tragedy that befell the Duke’s household as well.
At that thought, Ye Qingyu’s eyes grew frosty.
It was the first time Zhao Qianxue had been rebuked so sharply. Ye Qingyu had always been weak and easy to bully—why was she suddenly so sharp-tongued today? She was about to lash out, but catching Shen Mingxiu’s gaze from the corner of her eye, she swallowed her anger. “You! Miss Ye, you exaggerate. Of course, you may walk this road. I only feared you might lose your way.”
Ye Qingyu, just you wait!
Shen Mingxiu, meanwhile, was surprised. After some time apart, Ye Qingyu had grown far more formidable. Seeing her so shamelessly determined to accompany him, a trace of delight flickered in his eyes. It seemed his schemes were close to bearing fruit.
When they arrived at the men’s banquet, Shen Mingxiu smiled warmly at Zhao Qianxue. “Many thanks, Miss Zhao, for guiding the way.”
He cast a glance at Ye Qingyu, as if to say: I’ve arrived, now you two should leave.
But Ye Qingyu didn’t even look at him. She walked straight past.
Shen Mingxiu: ?
Zhao Qianxue: ??
What was Ye Qingyu trying to do?
From afar, Ye Qingyu had already spotted her third cousin, Gu Huaizhi, among the guests. She approached slowly, ignoring the astonishment of the other two. Her presence stirred a commotion in the side hall. Gu Huaizhi looked over and, upon seeing her, quickly rose to his feet.
“Qingqing, why are you here?” His gaze flicked toward Shen Mingxiu, and he immediately understood the reason for Ye Qingyu’s appearance. His expression darkened.
“Third Cousin, I need to speak with you.”
“Alright.” Gu Huaizhi assumed she was using him as an excuse to see Shen Mingxiu. He followed Ye Qingyu out of the side hall to a quiet place where no one else was around.
Gu Huaizhi sighed helplessly. “Alright, you’ve seen who you wanted to see. Let me take you back.”
Ye Qingyu gave a faint, amused smile. “Cousin, I truly came to find you. There’s something important I must tell you.”
Gu Huaizhi nodded indulgently, as if humoring her. “Alright, alright, speak. Your cousin is listening.” He assumed she was simply too shy to admit her real reason.
Ye Qingyu didn’t bother to argue. She said directly, “At the banquet later, you must not touch a single drop of wine.”
In her previous life, she hadn’t known exactly how her cousin had been drugged. She only heard later from her third aunt that after a few cups of wine, he grew drowsy and unaware. He was then tricked into Zhao Qianmei’s room. When he awoke, he was already surrounded by people inside her chambers.
Because of this scheme, her cousin not only lost his bright future but also ruined his good marriage prospects.
After marrying, he never once visited Zhao Qianmei’s room. But Zhao Qianmei, unwilling to remain lonely, secretly met with her lover. When her cousin discovered them, they broke his leg. Later, because of his crippled condition, he drowned in a pond.
“Oh? Why?” Gu Huaizhi noticed his little cousin’s serious expression—it didn’t look like she was making excuses.
Ye Qingyu didn’t hide it. “Someone wants to harm you.”
Gu Huaizhi’s expression changed. He was about to sit for the imperial examinations, and there were plenty of people who couldn’t stand the Duke’s household. Naturally, many would want to sabotage him. But how did his little cousin know someone was plotting against him?
His face grew solemn, but he didn’t press further. “I understand. I’ll be careful.”
Having warned him, Ye Qingyu prepared to leave.
Gu Huaizhi reminded her, “You must also be careful yourself.”
Ye Qingyu nodded and departed, accompanied by Mo Shu and Mo Hua—two maids assigned by the Duke to protect her, both skilled in martial arts. Today, she had deliberately brought the two maids with her.
“Mo Shu, go keep an eye on Zhao Qianmei.”
“Yes.”
“Miss, since the young master already knows, he’ll naturally be on guard. That person shouldn’t be able to succeed.”
Ye Qingyu rubbed her brow. “I’m only worried they might have a backup plan.”
She still felt uneasy. The image of her third cousin in her previous life—withered and broken—was too haunting. She absolutely would not allow even the slightest mishap to befall him this time.
Seeing her mistress deep in thought, Mo Hua couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity. She didn’t know if what Ye Qingyu said was true, but watching such a young girl desperately trying to protect her family, she understood why everyone in the Duke’s household cherished her so dearly.
By the time Ye Qingyu returned to the women’s banquet, the feast had already begun.
After the meal, Madam Zhao instructed Zhao Qianxue to take the young ladies for a stroll in the garden.
Madam Zhao smiled. “You girls go enjoy yourselves. No need to sit with us old folks. Qianxue, make sure to entertain the ladies well.”
The young ladies from various families gathered in small groups and followed Zhao Qianxue toward the garden.
Only then did Ye Qingya find the chance to approach Ye Qingyu. “What were you doing just now, following the Fourth Prince?”
Ye Qingyu explained, “I went to find Third Cousin.”
“You think I believe that?” Ye Qingya rolled her eyes in exasperation.
Choosing her words carefully, Ye Qingya tried to persuade her. “I’m serious… that Fourth Prince is not a good man.”
Previously, the two had quarreled over this very matter and hadn’t spoken for quite some time. Now that their relationship had finally eased a little, Ye Qingya didn’t want to strain it again. But she truly couldn’t bear to see Ye Qingyu deceived by the Fourth Prince.