"Why are you crying? Who upset the young mistress?" Wei Tingyu blinked, then asked He Weifang.
"No one…" He Weifang longed to pour out all her pain to Wei Tingyu at that moment, but remembering that she shouldn't trouble him, she shook her head with a bitter smile.
"Little liar!" Wei Tingyu, of course, knew what was happening, but he still had to play along. He could only lovingly pull the young mistress into his arms, gently stroking her back and head, while turning to look at Yulu, who stood nearby.
"Yulu, tell me…" Wei Tingyu blinked. "Don't hide anything from me, or else…"
"Marquis, please hear me!" Yulu glanced at her mistress, seeing that she was finally no longer as sad in Wei Tingyu's embrace. She immediately made up her mind, biting her lip as she bowed to Wei Tingyu. "This Liu family is truly too much! Even if my mistress tells me not to, I must tell the Marquis! Afterwards, mistress, you can beat or scold Yulu as you wish…"
"Yulu!" He Weifang's heart lurched, and she quickly tried to stop Yulu from speaking. But seeing her maid's resolute gaze, she knew that when her maid was stubborn, not even ten oxen could pull her back. Looking up again at Wei Tingyu's caring and doting eyes, He Weifang's heart finally softened. Forget it! Perhaps I thought too much just now. Maybe Wei Tingyu really does have a solution after hearing this? After all, having her lord stand up for her made her feel much lighter.
"This Liu family is indeed a den of wolves and dogs!" Wei Tingyu scoffed after hearing He Weifang's words. "So, after careful consideration, you ultimately decided not to tell me, but to resolve this matter yourself, is that right?"
"Yes!" He Weifang seemed afraid of angering Wei Tingyu, glancing at him timidly. Only after seeing that he didn't intend to blame her did she breathe a sigh of relief and nod. "After all, I still wish to personally avenge my mother."
It must be said that He Weifang had thought through all these solutions thoroughly in a short amount of time! However, she had overlooked the most important point: the Liu family often didn't operate by the rules!
"Good!" Wei Tingyu nodded upon hearing this; after all, it was only natural for one to want to exact revenge personally! "However, the Liu family is no easy opponent! They might resort to some extreme, underhanded tactics!"
Of course, Wei Tingyu couldn't let his woman handle these matters of revenge while he merely stood by and watched. So he added, "Therefore, I will also step in to help you! I guarantee you won't be harmed by the Liu family's despicable and dirty tricks!"
"Mm!" He Weifang felt immensely reassured. She immediately leaned her head on Wei Tingyu's shoulder, and they embraced even tighter! Seeing this, Yulu immediately tiptoed out of the room, then closed the door from the outside and stood guard. In her opinion, this was also a form of revenge against the Liu family, an act of retribution for the mistress!
"Princess, please!"
At this moment, in another exquisite courtyard within the Liu residence, Liu Chang's mother was obsequiously leading the way for the Princess. "Princess, this is your room!" Liu's mother pushed open the small door to the room with a fawning smile, then said to the Princess as if presenting a treasure, "All the furnishings in the room were personally arranged by my son! We only wish for the Princess to feel at home!"
Princess Jian slowly entered the room and looked around. However, since her back was to Liu's mother, the latter did not notice the displeasure in her eyes. The room itself was passable, barely acceptable for the Princess. But upon hearing that Liu Chang himself had arranged it, she somehow felt a little uncomfortable. Having just experienced the assassination attempt, Princess Jian's feelings for Liu Chang were already in question. And the current actions of Liu Chang's family almost explicitly screamed, "We want to cling to your power."
"My favorite glazed cup, a single vase, a hand warmer… he still remembers after all this time?" Princess Jian, feeling a slight displeasure, happened to see a few items on the tea table in front of her. She walked over to examine them closely and couldn't help but be stunned. These were indeed things she had once liked, but that was when she was a young girl; she had long since forgotten them. At this moment, a thought suddenly struck Princess Jian: Could it be that Liu Chang's entire mindset remains stuck several years ago, without any progress whatsoever?
However, Liu's mother, standing behind Princess Jian, thought that her son's carefully prepared items had pleased the Princess, and quickly added, "These curtains were also specially chosen by Zi Shu for the Princess!"
"Zi Shu remembers all of the Princess's preferences by heart!"
Yet, people are like this: when immersed in the fantasy of love, everything seems beautiful! But once they realize that the other party's intentions seem less than pure, every action feels calculated! Princess Jian now felt a rift between herself and Liu Chang. Seeing Liu's mother's current eagerness only solidified her suspicion that the Liu family's lavish hospitality had other motives. And Liu Chang actually cooperating with his parents in such an affected manner truly differed greatly from the Zi Shu she remembered!
"Was this also chosen by Zi Shu?" Princess Jian, thinking this, saw a golden jade ruyi (scepter) placed nearby and immediately frowned.
"Zi Shu's father felt that his chosen items were refined but lacked extravagance, so he personally added a few items…" Liu's mother, hearing this, thought that this ornament, personally brought by her husband, had found favor with the Princess, and quickly spoke up to claim credit.
"Remove it!" However, before she could finish, Princess Jian waved her sleeve, cutting her off. All these actions reaffirmed to the Princess that her intuition was correct: the Liu family's current reception of her was not due to her past acquaintance with Liu Chang in their youth, but because of her father, Prince Ning's, power. Princess Jian, who had originally come to see Liu Chang with pure affection, was now exceedingly agitated, for she was absolutely certain that she had been completely used!
The maid by Princess Jian's side, who had followed her for years, immediately knew her mistress was displeased upon seeing her expression. With a roll of her eyes, she spoke to Liu's mother, "Madam Liu! Although the jade pillow on the couch is valuable, it is too cold and hard! The Princess usually uses a medicinal pillow!"
"The brocade quilt on the couch is also too thin!"
"The Princess's skin is delicate as jade; only an extremely soft couch can allow her to sleep!"
Hearing the Princess's personal maid rattle off a string of faults, Liu's mother was immediately terrified. She quickly turned and bowed to Princess Jian, apologizing profusely.
"Princess! Zi Shu does not understand ladies' chambers' necessities, and this humble wife presumed to make decisions, never imagining such a mistake! I beg the Princess's forgiveness!"
"This humble wife will immediately have it changed!" Seeing Liu's mother's terrified demeanor, and Princess Jian showing no reaction, her personal maid immediately understood and angrily reprimanded Liu's mother again.
"Although Dongdu is in late spring, the chill has not yet dissipated!"
"The window screens in this room are too thick, blocking out all the sunlight!"
"The Princess, being of noble birth, is already exhausted from her journey, and was further startled at the flower banquet."
"How can she live in such a cold and gloomy room!"
Liu's mother now understood that Princess Jian, who had remained silent, was simply dissatisfied with everything in the room. Frightened, she quickly knelt down to beg for mercy.
"Princess, please forgive this humble wife's oversight!"
"My son has specially prepared a jasmine pearl soup to relieve fatigue and calm the mind for you."
"Please, Princess, move to the small hall to drink it!"
"In a moment, this humble wife will help you find a better room!"
Seeing Liu's mother's humble and timid demeanor, Princess Jian felt even more disdain! Previously, she had harbored a few fantasies about her first love, Liu Chang, but now, this last bit of beauty had been completely eroded by his calculating parents! Just by observing Liu Shen and his wife's character, one could tell what Liu Chang was made of deep down!
"There's no need to trouble Madam with arrangements!" Princess Jian pursed her lips, casting a contemptuous glance at Liu's mother, who was still kneeling on the ground. "I know the regulations of a fifth-rank official's residence."
"Madam, just move me to the courtyard next to Marquis Jining's!"
"I heard he chose a secluded courtyard; I happen to like peace and quiet too!"
After speaking, Princess Jian no longer bothered with Liu's mother and simply picked up the hand warmer.
"Yes, yes, yes, this humble wife will go and arrange it immediately!" Liu's mother nodded repeatedly; after all, the Princess had personally spoken, and she dared not disobey.
"Hasn't the Princess's wing already been prepared? What's all this commotion?" Liu Chang returned to the manor after seeing off the guests, only to see a crowd of servants and junior attendants carrying large and small packages. He stopped one of the maids and asked.
"Replying to Young Master, the Princess was not satisfied with the courtyard prepared beforehand and requested to be moved to another!" The maid, of course, dared not deceive Liu Chang and told him the truth directly.
"Not satisfied?" Liu Chang frowned at this; it was an outcome he hadn't anticipated at all. However, seeing the direction in which everyone was moving the items, Liu Chang already knew which courtyard the Princess had chosen! The back of the entire central courtyard had three quiet small courtyards lined up side-by-side. The leftmost one was where his estranged wife, He Weifang, resided. The middle one had been temporarily arranged for the quiet Marquis Gu to house his wives and concubines. That left only the empty courtyard on the far right!
Could the Princess have really moved there? At this, Liu Chang recalled the admiring and grateful, even somewhat infatuated, gaze Princess Jian had given Wei Tingyu after the assassination attempt at the banquet, which made him feel utterly uncomfortable. Did the Princess specifically want to move there just to live next door to Wei Tingyu? If so, do I still have a chance? Thinking this, Liu Chang felt a bad premonition and quickly followed them to the small courtyard.
As he passed He Weifang's courtyard, he saw from afar that the maid, Yulu, was standing alone by the door of the house, while the main room of the small courtyard had its doors and windows tightly shut, with no sign of He Weifang. Liu Chang frowned, finding it somewhat strange, and instinctively wanted to go in and see what was happening. But as he took a step, he remembered that there was a more important matter at hand: clinging to the Princess's coattails! As for what was happening in He Weifang's courtyard, he had no time to concern himself with it now! Thinking this, Liu Chang cast another puzzled glance in Yulu's direction, then pursed his lips and continued directly towards the new courtyard chosen by the Princess.
Yulu, standing guard at the door, also saw Liu Chang approaching from afar, and her face turned pale with fright. After all, her mistress was currently inside the house with the Marquis! Although she didn't know how far they had progressed, the scene was certainly too stimulating! Fortunately, Liu Chang suddenly turned around and left when he was at the courtyard gate, which made the young maid breathe a heavy sigh of relief, her heart narrowly avoiding leaping out of her throat.
Are the Marquis and mistress finished? Yulu's curious mind began to wonder again. She even leaned against the door, pressing her ear to the crack, trying to hear the sounds from inside. However, her hearing was not very keen. She frowned and listened for a long time but heard nothing.
"Marquis…" At this moment, within the room, the storm had passed. He Weifang lay dreamily on Wei Tingyu's chest, allowing his large hand to gently embrace her fragrant shoulder. Her lips murmured his name, as if only this could make her feel safe. At the same time, her long, straight, black hair fanned out over Wei Tingyu's shoulders, and this ticklish sensation brought him immense pleasure.
"Only today did this concubine truly know what it means to be a woman!" He Weifang blinked, then looked up at Wei Tingyu's profile. His firm, chiseled features made her heart flutter, and she couldn't help but pour out her feelings.
"If you follow me from now on, you will only become happier each day!" Wei Tingyu smiled faintly, then lowered his head and gently stroked He Weifang's dark, beautiful hair. The texture was truly exceptional! However, regarding her statement that she only truly understood what it meant to be a woman today, Wei Tingyu believed she wasn't exaggerating to please him! Although this wasn't their first intimate encounter, last time, He Weifang had only reluctantly succumbed. Unlike today's willing process, He Weifang had truly given herself wholeheartedly in deep affection.
"But I wonder if Lady Dou and the two elder sisters will accept me?" However, He Weifang thought of another very important matter. Although she now knew that the three women, Dou Zhao, had good personalities and also quite liked her. But now, she had secretly gotten together with the Marquis again behind their backs. Anyone would be angry if they knew about this!
"Don't worry!" However, Wei Tingyu casually patted He Weifang's delicate back, soothing her nervous emotions, and said, "They were begging me to rescue you from the Liu family's fiery pit before!"
"Ah?" He Weifang was stunned. Such a thing happened? But thinking of the three women's enthusiastic attitude towards her at the flower banquet just now, she felt that the Marquis was probably telling the truth. Although she didn't understand why, she was absolutely touched!
"Zhao'er also lost her mother at a young age and came from a merchant background. Many people also said she married above her station when she married into the Marquis's residence!" However, Wei Tingyu, seeing the somewhat puzzled look in He Weifang's eyes, directly explained, "Fortunately, she pulled through! So she empathizes with your situation!"
"So that's how it is!" He Weifang immediately showed a relieved expression. No wonder Dou Zhao had been particularly affectionate towards her before; she must have seen her past self in her.
"But Lady Dou's fate is better than mine!" He Weifang sighed softly, even as she was moved. "She could marry the Marquis directly! She didn't have to suffer such torment and abuse from her in-laws like me!"
"That's why they wanted me to save you from the fiery pit!" Wei Tingyu chuckled, then gently kissed He Weifang's smooth forehead. He cupped her slightly flushed little face and said, "After the matters here are concluded, you'll return to the capital with me. I guarantee you won't suffer any more!"
"Mm!" He Weifang, for the first time in her life, found her anchor! Hearing Wei Tingyu's assurance, she completely relaxed and nodded heavily. She even happily hugged Wei Tingyu's face and kissed him several times.
"I know that Lady Dou and the two elder sisters are very kind to me!" Of course, He Weifang also wanted to express her sincerity to reassure Wei Tingyu, so she quickly said, "After I enter the residence, I will definitely get along well with Lady Dou and the two elder sisters, and I will never make things difficult for the Marquis!"
"You are older than Susu and Zhangru, so why call them elder sisters?" Wei Tingyu nodded in satisfaction upon hearing He Weifang's pledge, but then he asked with interest.
"The one who enters first is considered senior!" He Weifang blinked, looking at Wei Tingyu with a serious expression. "So, even though I am the oldest, I will be the youngest concubine in the residence! Naturally, I will call them elder sisters!"
"Who said you're a concubine?" However, Wei Tingyu chuckled, looking at He Weifang. "After this matter is concluded, I will formally welcome you into the household with the rites of an equal wife!"
"Equal wife?" He Weifang was startled, her eyes widening. She simply couldn't believe what she had just heard! Originally, being able to escape the Liu family's fiery pit and marry into the Marquis's residence was already the happiest thing for her! Although becoming a concubine left her somewhat unwilling, she had accepted this status in her heart, thinking that life had its gains and losses, and not everything could go as she wished! Yet, just when He Weifang had convinced herself, Wei Tingyu gave her a grand surprise!