Wei Mingzhen looked at her with slight surprise. “Miss Zhou, this is improper.”
Zhou Ruolan said, “I only need a moment of your time. I have something important to discuss with Third Master Wei.”
Wei Mingzhen was about to refuse.
“It’s about Jiang Rufei.”
The refusal caught in his throat. Wei Mingzhen pressed his lips together, hesitated for a moment, then walked a few steps away.
Zhou Ruolan quickly followed, glancing around before lowering her voice. “This matter shouldn’t concern me, but I can’t bear to see Third Master Wei being deceived.”
Wei Mingzhen frowned. “Speak directly if you have something to say.”
“Does Third Master Wei know that Jiang Rufei is having an affair with Zhaoning Wang?” Zhou Ruolan deliberately emphasized the last two words.
Wei Mingzhen immediately frowned deeper. “Miss Zhou, watch your words.”
“You don’t believe me?” Zhou Ruolan said urgently. “I saw it with my own eyes! The two of them were meeting secretly in the garden before the banquet began!”
Wei Mingzhen’s face instantly darkened like stormy waters.
“Miss Zhou,” he interrupted coldly, “making baseless accusations that tarnish someone’s reputation carries consequences.”
Zhou Ruolan paled. “Everything I said is true! Jiang Rufei, she—”
“Enough!” Wei Mingzhen’s anger surged as he said coldly, “I’m already aware that Second Miss Jiang is acquainted with Zhaoning Wang. It’s definitely not the improper relationship you’re suggesting.”
Although he had seen Jiang Rufei with Pei Jing several times, it had always been in public view—far from the scandalous affair Zhou Ruolan described. Besides, no one would be foolish enough to have secret rendezvous in the imperial palace.
“You knew?” Zhou Ruolan said incredulously. “Since you know, you should understand their relationship is definitely not merely acquaintances.”
“This matter is already known to me,” Wei Mingzhen said gravely. “Moreover, it’s none of your concern. I must ask Miss Zhou to guard her tongue and not casually tarnish others’ reputations.”
Zhou Ruolan stood stunned.
How was this completely different from what she had imagined?
Her original plan was to tell Wei Mingzhen—as Jiang Rufei’s fiancé, he surely wouldn’t swallow the humiliation of being cuckolded.
Then it would become a conflict between Dingyuan Marquis Manor and Zhao Ning Prince Manor. Jiang Rufei would be disgraced, while she reaped the benefits.
Even if Dingyuan Marquis Manor didn’t openly confront Zhaoning Wang due to his power and influence, they still wouldn’t tolerate Jiang Rufei.
But why hadn’t either scenario materialized?
Wei Mingzhen knew yet remained so restrained—was he afraid of Pei Jing, or did he love Jiang Rufei so desperately that he would even tolerate being cuckolded?
Zhou Ruolan clenched the handkerchief in her hand resentfully, a flash of venom in her eyes. “Since Young Master Wei can endure even this, then I’ve spoken out of turn.”
She turned to leave.
“Wait!”
A flicker of hope reignited in Zhou Ruolan’s heart, only to hear Wei Mingzhen say coldly, “Do you know the consequences if these reckless words spread?”
Cold sweat instantly soaked through Zhou Ruolan’s back. “Y-yes, I know.”
Pei Jing might kill her, and Dingyuan Marquis Manor wouldn’t let her off easily either.
Wei Mingzhen nodded and walked past her toward the carriage.
Though he appeared calm, his heart was anything but tranquil.
Jiang Rufei was his fiancée. If there were matters to address, they should be handled by him—it wasn’t some outsider’s place to interfere and sow discord.
He didn’t want to speculate maliciously about Jiang Rufei, but he had indeed seen her interacting with Pei Jing several times. He had considered directly breaking off the engagement, but feared he might be overthinking and ruin her future—a woman who had her engagement broken could only marry beneath her station later. Thus, he had delayed making a final decision.
Wei Ciying was still waiting by the carriage. When she saw Wei Mingzhen, she asked, “What did Zhou Ruolan want to discuss with you about sister-in-law?”
“Nothing important.”
“If it’s nothing, why do you look so grim?”
Wei Mingzhen softened his tone. “Just baseless gossip.”
Hearing this, Wei Ciying understood immediately.
She said, “This is exactly why I don’t like getting close to those young ladies. They have nothing better to do all day but gossip behind people’s backs. Third Brother, you mustn’t believe them lightly.”
…
Yao Shi had stayed up so late specifically to ask about the palace banquet. She had instructed servants to wait at the main gate and send Jiang Fei to her Fusui Court immediately upon return.
But after waiting left and right with no sign of her, she later heard from a servant that the Second Young Miss had gone straight to her courtyard upon returning and would come tomorrow.
Having waited all this time only to be told “tomorrow,” Yao Shi instantly flew into a rage.
“Husband, look at this child,” Yao Shi said furiously.
Jiang Bingshi smiled placatingly. “Ah, tomorrow is fine. There’s no hurry anyway, and it’s so late now. Let’s rest, let’s rest.”
Yao Shi couldn’t stand his mild temperament—he always said everything was fine.
When she married him, she thought his gentle nature would make for a harmonious marriage, but she hadn’t realized he’d be this passive, never competing with the second and third branches.
If not for her own shrewdness, who knows how badly their main branch would have been bullied.
As she helped him remove his outer robe, Yao Shi complained, “Look at her—has she ever respected me as her mother? She goes to the palace once and suddenly thinks she’s someone important.”
“Let it go, it’s not a big deal.”
The more Yao Shi thought about it, the angrier she became. After putting away the clothes, she turned around. “I want to see what exactly that girl is so busy with.”
Jiang Bingshi quickly tried to dissuade her. “Aiyo, Madam, it’s so late…”
“Late? What do you mean late!” Yao Shi shook off his hand. “As her mother, am I not even allowed to see her?”
Unable to persuade her and too lazy to try further—he never wanted to deal with household matters anyway—Jiang Bingshi took off his shoes and went straight to bed.
Yao Shi stormed into Jiang Fei’s west side courtyard with her personal matron.
Just as they entered the courtyard, the lights in the room suddenly went out.
Fuming, Yao Shi pointed at the door. “What is the meaning of this?”
Jiu Tao came out, carrying a water basin, and bowed. “Madam, the Young Miss has already retired for the night.”
Yao Shi sneered. “Of all times to sleep, she chooses the moment I arrive.”
“She retired early,” Jiu Tao corrected. “She went to bed right after returning. I was just tidying up inside.”
Yao Shi glanced at the water basin she was holding, then at Yun Xiang standing under the eaves, and said, “Come with me.”
Yun Xiang followed Yao Shi out of the courtyard.
“Did the Second Young Miss go to bed as soon as she returned?” Yao Shi asked.
Yun Xiang was a longtime servant of the household who had served Jiang Rufei for many years. In the past, she would have told the truth honestly—Jiang Rufei would be scolded, and then Yun Xiang would comfort her, making Jiang Rufei even more obedient to her.
But things were different now. Although she remained by Jiang Rufei’s side, she was no longer trusted, and an unfavored maid had a hard life.
Yun Xiang promptly replied, “Madam, the Young Miss said she was tired as soon as she returned and went straight to bed. The palace rules must have been exhausting.”
Yao Shi’s expression eased slightly. She glanced back at the courtyard, still displeased, and left.
After Yao Shi departed, Yun Xiang hurried to the door to claim credit. “Young Miss, I told Madam you were already asleep, and she left.”
There was no sound from inside the room. Just as Yun Xiang was about to knock, the door was pulled open from within.
Jiu Tao wore a deeply worried expression and said, “Still not speaking, and won’t say what exactly happened in the palace.”