Wei Qingyan did not accept the banknote. She left the damaged Du family carriage for Dong Cang to handle and, taking A Lu and Xiaoxiao with her, boarded the carriage from Rongwangfu.
She had known Dong Cang for many years. He was steady and reliable in his work—able to swiftly cut the reins of the mad horse to prevent the Rongwangfu carriage from being dragged into trouble, and quick to kill the mad horse when necessary.
Yet he had only acted when the mad horse was already charging toward them.
The Gongdeyin was still on Shi Yu, and Wei Qingyan had no reason to refuse this opportunity that had come knocking at her door.
Her gaze fell upon A Lu, who stood hesitantly outside the carriage, unwilling to step forward.
How dare A Lu share a carriage with Prince Rong? He wavered, wondering if he should sit on the carriage shaft with Jing Zhe instead. Meeting Wei Qingyan’s insistent gaze, he gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and entered the spacious carriage.
For some reason, he felt that the young lady’s presence was even more imposing than that of the Marquis.
Wei Qingyan remained quiet, observing the situation, while Shi Yu felt guilty. The carriage remained silent throughout the journey.
It was only when they arrived at Anyuan Houfu and Wei Qingyan rose to alight that Shi Yu finally spoke. “I must thank you, Miss, for saving my life at the hot springs the other day. Another day, I will pay a visit to express my gratitude properly.”
He had not recognized her earlier and had mistaken her for someone sent by the palace.
Wei Qingyan raised an eyebrow slightly, a faint smile curling at the corner of her lips. “As the Buddha said, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. Your Highness need only refrain from repaying kindness with enmity.”
Shi Yu smiled helplessly. “There will be no next time.”
Since she did not explicitly state that she had seen through Dong Cang’s trick, he pretended she was only referring to the incident at the hot springs where he had pushed her into the water.
Wei Qingyan’s gaze swept over Shi Yu’s slightly swollen lips. She lowered her eyes, nodded in thanks, and alighted from the carriage with Xiaoxiao in her arms.
Shi Yu would seek her out again. This little act of his was certainly not just about escorting her back to the mansion.
Watching Wei Qingyan and the other two enter the gates of the Houfu, Jing Zhe hastily handed the reins to the coachman and slipped into the carriage. In a low voice, he said, “Your Highness, you finally had a chance to spend time together. Why didn’t you speak more with General Wei?”
Shi Yu did not explain that saying more would only lead to more mistakes. Instead, he instructed, “You and Dong Cang must remember—she is now Miss Chang.”
“Why?” Jing Zhe’s mouth moved faster than his mind.
A shadow crossed Shi Yu’s eyes. “Being General Wei was too hard.”
Hearing this, Jing Zhe’s expression also turned solemn. “Your Highness, rest assured. Jing Zhe will remember.”
General Wei had borne heavy burdens since childhood. At twelve, she followed Old General Wei into battle; at fifteen, she took command of the hundred-thousand-strong Huguojun, winning over veteran generals and navigating the treacherous court politics. The hardships she endured were beyond words.
In the end, she died so tragically. If not for His Highness abandoning the army and rushing ahead, General Wei’s remains might not have been preserved. And to think, all of this was borne by a woman.
Even he, a royal guard, felt heartache remembering that scene.
Perhaps it was better not to be that thankless general, Jing Zhe thought to himself. Then he heard Shi Yu add, “Do not play such tricks again in the future.”
From His Highness’s words, did General Wei see through it?
Well, General Wei had been clever since childhood.
Fearing that Dong Cang might be punished, Jing Zhe couldn’t help but explain on his behalf. “Your Highness, you’ve never pursued a lady before. This was Dong Cang’s first time—he lacked experience. Please spare him this once.”
Shi Yu closed his eyes to rest, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Seeing this, Jing Zhe felt reassured and quietly retreated from the carriage.
Meanwhile, as soon as Wei Qingyan entered the mansion, she saw Lü Liu hurrying over with several maidservants.
Upon seeing her, Lü Liu immediately said, “Old Madam has awakened. She wants you to go to her.”
Wei Qingyan’s eyes flickered. “When did she wake up?”
“I don’t know,” Lü Liu said. “You’d better hurry. When Old Madam woke up and heard that you had beaten the young mistress, she flew into a terrible rage.”
She also said that this Miss Chang was not their young mistress at all and wanted to drive her out.
And to think she had tried to curry favor with her earlier. What good did it do for the Marquis to acknowledge her? In this household, Old Madam held the highest authority. With filial piety weighing upon him, even the Marquis had to obey Old Madam.
But intimidated by Wei Qingyan’s ferocity when she struck, Lü Liu dared not speak too harshly.
Wei Qingyan paid no mind to Lü Liu’s petty thoughts. She handed the still-unconscious Xiaoxiao to A Lu. “Keep her safe.”
She motioned for Lü Liu to lead the way and strode toward Old Madam’s courtyard.
From outside, she saw that the dark aura had faded considerably compared to before. She hadn’t expected Lady Fang to be so benevolent.
Du Xueyi now knew the truth, and Xiaoxiao had been treated well. As a result, most of her Guiyuan had dissipated. With the Yuanli weakened, Du Laofuren, who had been plagued by the Guiyuan, would gradually recover.
“Where did this wild girl come from, daring to impersonate a daughter of our Du family?” As soon as Wei Qingyan stepped into the room, a teacup was hurled at her.
Du Laofuren glared at her furiously.
When she woke, there was no one attending by her bedside. Only after calling for servants outside did she learn that all those who usually served her had been beaten by Du Xueyi to the point they couldn’t get up.
And she couldn’t even get a reason out of anyone, only knowing that an impostor had arrived at the manor and that this impostor had struck Yu’er.
This was utter chaos.
How could she not be furious?
Old Madam’s throw lacked strength. Wei Qingyan leisurely sidestepped it and walked calmly to stand before Old Madam’s bed. “On what grounds do you conclude I am not a member of the Du family?”
“You are not,” Old Madam stated with certainty.
So sure?
Wei Qingyan’s eyes darkened slightly, a thought stirring within her. “I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. Your granddaughter has indeed returned.”
“What do you mean?” Du Laofuren’s face twitched.
“What I mean, Old Madam, you should know perfectly well. They say the Old Madam of Anyuan Houfu is the most charitable of all.”
Wei Qingyan leaned close to her ear and whispered a sentence.
“Who would have thought that in private, she is a venomous-hearted woman who sold her own granddaughter to a brothel.”
Wei Qingyan’s words made every hair on Du Laofuren’s body stand on end, her face paling dramatically. “Don’t you dare spout such nonsense! You are not my granddaughter at all.”
That girl had entered a brothel at the age of three. Tempered in such an environment, how could she possibly possess the sharp, cold, and unyielding presence of the person before her?
Besides, she had seen a portrait of her a few years ago—a sickly, short-lived appearance. She might have died long ago.
But how could this person know about what happened back then? Du Laofuren carefully reviewed their conversation in her mind and was struck with alarm. In a moment of carelessness, she had been tricked into revealing something.
What a clever woman. Fortunately, she hadn’t admitted to anything.
At the same time, she breathed a sigh of relief. This woman was not an insider who knew the truth.
Du Laofuren composed herself and scrutinized Wei Qingyan from head to toe. Although her bearing was decent, she could tell at a glance that this woman before her was definitely not a refined young lady raised in a noble family.
She seemed more like someone who roamed the jianghu.
Implying she was that girl to stay in the manor—she must be coveting the wealth and glory of the Houfu, wanting a respectable identity.
Thinking this, Du Laofuren assumed an authoritative, elder’s demeanor. “Very well. Since you claim to be a child of our Du family, you should know to respect your elders and honor the old.
You injured Yu’er, incited Xueyi to act foolishly, and threw the manor into chaos. Once these matters spread, think of the damage they will do to the Houfu’s reputation. If the Houfu suffers, what good will it do you?
Now, quickly return the servants from my courtyard and summon a physician to the manor…”
Yu’er needed treatment, and having just woken up, she also required a physician.
First, keep the person stable. As long as she recovers her health, with the pressure of filial piety, Xueyi won’t be able to escape her grasp. By then, there will be plenty of ways to punish this imposter.
Du Laofuren had a good plan, but Wei Qingyan was too annoyed to listen to her incessant chatter and knocked her unconscious with a chop of the hand.
Du Xueyi had found his sister in a brothel back then.
As soon as Du Laofuren saw her, without even a hint of suspicion, she concluded that she wasn’t the real Du family young lady.
Coupled with what she had done to Lady Fang, Wei Qingyan decided to test her.
Now that the result was clear, it was best to leave the person for Du Xueyi to deal with.
However, the Du family was already lacking in descendants. The Du family young lady was Du Laofuren’s only granddaughter. If she harmed Lady Fang for wealth, why did she harm the Du family young lady?