What was most infuriating was that little maid Yulu; she, too, had seen Liu Chang hiding behind the pillar. Yet, she didn't step forward to bow or alert He Weifang. Instead, she merely glared at him provocatively! Good heavens! He Weifang has truly latched onto Wei Tingyu's thigh now! Even her maid is this arrogant?!
"Oh! Isn't that Young Master Liu?" Of course, if Yulu could spot Liu Chang, he certainly couldn't hide from Wei Tingyu's eyes! Wei Tingyu walked straight over, nodded slightly exaggeratedly, and declared loudly, "Why are you hiding here?"
At this, the other women, who hadn't noticed Liu Chang, all turned their heads, especially Princess Jian! When she saw Liu Chang awkwardly emerge from behind the pillar, she instinctively frowned. At this moment, she truly felt a pang of disgust for her former "first love." What kind of man hides behind a pillar to eavesdrop on women talking? And most importantly, this fellow saw everything that just happened here, but he just let his mother kneel there without coming out to plead for her? He's truly a spineless, rotten man! How could I have been so blind as to truly consider him the best gentleman in the world?
Of course, when the Princess's eyes shifted from Liu Chang to Wei Tingyu, they immediately lit up again. After all, everything was subject to comparison! The two now stood together, and the immense disparity in their temperaments immediately became apparent. The only thing that displeased Princess Jian was that this woman, He Weifang, was also by Wei Tingyu's side at this moment.
"Princess! Marquis's Lady! Mother-in-law!" He Weifang's cheeks flushed slightly as she saw everyone's gaze turn to her. She took two steps forward and bowed to each of them.
"Such a major incident occurred at the banquet, and you aren't properly reflecting behind closed doors! You even ran out…" Liu's mother immediately showed a fierce expression upon seeing He Weifang. She instinctively wanted to scold her, but halfway through, she suddenly remembered something and quickly looked at Wei Tingyu. The man frowned slightly, scaring Liu's mother into immediately shutting her mouth.
"Marquis Wei!" Princess Jian blinked, leaning closer to Wei Tingyu and asking, "Why are you with the young mistress again?"
Huh? Why "again"? Everyone present wondered simultaneously. However, they had been seated together at the banquet, and now they were walking side-by-side. It seemed their relationship was truly not ordinary! At this moment, even the maids and servants of the Liu residence guessed as clearly as day! Liu Chang's face, however, instantly turned ashen, because he recalled what had just happened. When he passed by He Weifang's small courtyard, he clearly saw Yulu standing alone by the tightly shut door and windows, but He Weifang was nowhere to be seen. He had only assumed she was resting inside, but now seeing her appear with Wei Tingyu, did this mean… Wei Tingyu was in He Weifang's boudoir at that time? Good heavens! What were those two doing?! Thinking this, Liu Chang felt dizzy and disoriented; there was a ninety percent chance he had been thoroughly cuckolded!
"After the banquet, I discussed the issue of peony cultivation with the young mistress!" Wei Tingyu said nonchalantly. Although he gave a reason, he made no secret of the fact that he had been with He Weifang the whole time.
"You… you were together the whole time?" Princess Jian blinked, a sour feeling of jealousy suddenly welling up in her heart.
"Yes!" He Weifang even nodded proactively. Since everyone already knows, what's there to pretend about?! Upon hearing He Weifang's words, Liu Chang's body swayed, almost losing his balance and falling to the ground. After all, for a man who prided himself on being extraordinary and pretended to be aloof, how could he tolerate his wife's betrayal? Especially now, he found that everyone's eyes were on him, and the meaning in those gazes contained both sympathy and mockery! In other words, everyone knew he had been cuckolded! This, in fact, was the hardest thing for him, as a man, to accept!
"Mudanya! Please, quickly beg Marquis Wei and the Princess to forgive our Liu family's transgressions!" Liu's mother, at this point, also understood. This daughter-in-law had indeed become intimately involved with Wei Tingyu! However, to escape the Princess's punishment, she quickly lowered her pride and pleaded with He Weifang. He Weifang immediately frowned. This old hag is truly shameless! When you and your shameless husband conspired to seize my dowry and used fake medicine to treat my mother, why didn't you consider the Liu family's transgressions? And now you have the nerve to ask me to plead for you? He Weifang simply rolled her eyes at Liu's mother, then turned her face away.
This was the first time Liu's mother had been treated this way by her daughter-in-law, but now that the latter had Wei Tingyu's backing, she dared not show any dissatisfaction, only silently lowered her head.
"Never mind, never mind! I was originally just trying to kindly help the Liu residence get rid of these unreliable servants!" Princess Jian suddenly spoke. "Since Marquis Wei has already pardoned you, I won't cause any more trouble!" At this moment, she couldn't drive He Weifang away, so she could only seize the opportunity to do Wei Tingyu a favor.
"Then this Marquis will thank the Princess for her understanding on behalf of the young mistress!" Wei Tingyu chuckled directly upon hearing this, then said. You thank me on behalf of the young mistress? Princess Jian was startled, then understood that Wei Tingyu's words were clearly telling her that He Weifang was already his, and she should not try to touch her again.
"Alright! I'm tired!" Princess Jian's mind was also in a whirl at this moment. She simply didn't understand how Wei Tingyu had gotten involved with He Weifang, so she simply waved her hand and said, "I want to rest. Everyone, please return!"
"Yes! This humble wife takes her leave!" Liu's mother immediately exhaled a long breath of relief, then quickly pulled her son Liu Chang and bowed before leaving. However, as Liu Chang was being dragged away by his mother, he kept looking back at them, especially at Wei Tingyu, his gaze filled with resentment and hatred. After all, the other party was no longer pretending, clearly telling him that He Weifang was already his woman. But the problem was that he and He Weifang were still nominally husband and wife! How could Liu Chang tolerate this? He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails almost dug into his flesh!
"Is Marquis Wei resting?" As dusk fell, the Princess lay on her bed, enjoying the fanning of her maid while looking at the maid who had just returned from scouting for information outside.
"Yes!" The maid nodded and replied softly, "The small gate to Marquis Wei's courtyard is closed! It seems he has extinguished his lamps and is resting! But…"
"But what?" The Princess frowned, seeing her maid hesitating, as if she didn't know whether to speak some words. After all, this was a loyal maid who had been with her for many years, and she also understood her temperament and thoughts very well. She would certainly not be putting on an act without reason. Anything that made her hesitate must be very important information, but she didn't know how to articulate it. However, the more she hesitated, the more curious Princess Jian became.
"Regarding the young mistress of the Liu residence…" The maid frowned, then leaned forward and whispered cautiously into the Princess's ear, "There are some developments!"
"He Weifang? What developments?" Princess Jian immediately became alert. What other tricks could this woman be up to?
"Her courtyard seems to have been tightly shut, as if no one is there!" the maid said.
"No one in He Weifang's courtyard? Then where did she go?" Princess Jian's eyes widened. In such a large Liu residence, where else could she go if she wasn't sleeping in her own courtyard at night? Could it be… Princess Jian thought of a possibility, but found it somewhat unbelievable! After all, this was her husband's family! Would He Weifang, a young mistress, be so bold and blatant?
"It is said that in the evening, the Marquis's three wives and concubines invited the young mistress of the Liu residence to drink in their courtyard, and then she never returned to her own courtyard!"
"Now the Marquis's small courtyard is closed, so He Weifang should still be there and hasn't left!"
"So…" The maid stopped speaking here, for seeing Princess Jian's eyes widening further and further, she knew the Princess understood her meaning. Good heavens! You are truly too bold! She herself knew this, but could the entire Liu residence not know? Certainly not! So this He Weifang had completely fallen out with her husband's family?! And now completely relied on clinging to Wei Tingyu's coattails!
"How could such a gentleman as Marquis Wei be taken in by this He Weifang?!" Princess Jian thought, her delicate brows furrowing again.
"What right does she have?" The more she thought, the angrier she became, even her breathing became a little rapid! I am a dignified Princess, and my father Prince Ning wields immense power, so why doesn't this Marquis try to curry favor with me? Instead, He Weifang, a married woman, and a lowly merchant's daughter at that, has caught your eye? With such angry and incomprehensible thoughts, Princess Jian actually suffered from insomnia all night… Of course, besides Princess Jian, Liu Chang also suffered from insomnia; he had also received the same news from his servants. His own wife was currently in the small courtyard with her lover, perfectly content, while he, the husband, lived alone in this cold wing! At this moment, he finally understood what kind of life He Weifang had lived for the past year!
A ray of morning sunlight streamed through the half-open window, waking He Weifang from her deep sleep. However, as soon as she opened her eyes, her small face immediately flushed red! For at this moment, she was lying in Wei Tingyu's broad chest, but a fair, jade-like leg was draped over her waist. He Weifang turned her head and saw that Miao Ansu, that little girl, was sleeping soundly, embracing her from behind. Dou Zhao and Zhao Zhangru, the other two women, were sleeping on the Marquis's other side. She recalled how they had drunk and celebrated late into the night, and finally, under the teasing of the three women, she had reluctantly stayed… The thought of that absurd night made He Weifang's face burn and her heart pound! Especially this current scene, it was a good thing the bed was large enough, otherwise, it would have collapsed long ago!
Of course, being the first to wake up, she was also embarrassed to wake the others, so she cautiously supported herself, trying to get up. With that one movement, the others around her slowly began to wake up.
Outside the main gate of the Liu residence, the Princess's carriage procession was ready. "Has Marquis Jining not come out yet?" Princess Jian sat inside her carriage, slightly lifting a small corner of the curtain. She looked towards the main gate of the Liu residence while softly asking the maid beside her.
"Replying to the Princess!" The maid nodded and replied softly, "Just now, this servant sent someone to Marquis Jining's small courtyard again. The courtyard gate is still tightly shut. It seems the Marquis hasn't gotten up yet!"
"What time is it already! He's still not up?" Princess Jian's delicate brows furrowed, and she felt a surge of displeasure. Perhaps He Weifang stayed overnight in Marquis Jining's small courtyard, and played with his wives and concubines, forgetting the time, so they slept too late?
"Did you or did you not disclose my plans to visit the city outskirts today to the servants in Marquis Jining's residence?" Princess Jian, feeling annoyed, frowned again as she looked at the maid.
"Princess! I personally told the servants there! Could it be that they didn't convey this message to the Marquis?" The maid was terrified upon seeing the Princess's expression. If the Princess got angry and took it out on her, it would be terrible.
"Did you not follow up with that servant afterwards?" Princess Jian's face immediately showed anger! Good heavens! No wonder Marquis Wei didn't come out to accompany me on my outing; perhaps he didn't even know about it!
"Princess, spare my life! This servant will certainly be more careful in the future!" The maid, seeing Princess Jian's expression, immediately knew something was amiss and quickly knelt down and began kowtowing.
"In the future?" Princess Jian was in a fit of pique at the moment. Seeing the servant begging for mercy, she showed no mercy. She directly waved her small hand and pointed at her, saying, "Guards! Drag her away and give her ten strikes on the palms! Teach her a lesson!" Thinking this, Princess Jian immediately suppressed her anger, pursed her lips, and ordered.
"Thank you, Princess, for your mercy!" The maid was so relieved that she almost cried tears and snot! Just a few strikes on the palms, it wouldn't kill her! She knew this was the lightest punishment she had ever seen since following the Princess for so long!
"Oh, right, Princess! Although Marquis Jining hasn't come, the Master and Madam of the Liu family and Young Master Liu have also prepared carriages and wish to accompany the Princess on your outing!" At this moment, another maid came forward and quietly reported to Princess Jian.
"Annoying clingers! So bothersome!" Princess Jian was startled upon hearing this, then glanced at the end of her procession. Indeed, the Liu family's carriages were now following at the tail, and she immediately muttered a displeased complaint! At this moment, all she wanted was to spend more time with Wei Tingyu, and Liu Chang now seemed somewhat of an eyesore! As for Liu Chang's parents, Princess Jian found them even more disgusting. Although they were an official family, Liu Shen and his wife's expressions were even more cynical and harsh than the merchants she had always disliked! Your daughter-in-law, He Weifang, stayed overnight in Wei Tingyu's courtyard last night! I refuse to believe that your entire family is completely unaware of this! Yet, this morning, instead of seeking out Wei Tingyu, you are eagerly following behind me? Your scheming is so blatant it's almost slapping me in the face! So, for the sake of wealth and glory, you are willing to abandon even your officially married daughter-in-law! What a repulsive family of three! Of course, Wei Tingyu himself was not a good person either! Enticing someone else's married woman, yet showing no courtesy to a noble Princess like herself, clearly shows he's not very intelligent! Did he really not understand that if he could gain her favor, with her father Prince Ning's support, his Marquisate might even be upgraded to a Duke's residence?
"Forget it, I won't wait for Marquis Wei!" After internally complaining, Princess Jian directly lowered the curtain, then sat alone in the carriage, fuming.
In the main room of Wei Tingyu's small courtyard, he stood casually, enjoying the privilege of having four women simultaneously helping him dress and wash.
"Marquis!" Dou Zhao's small face had just been playfully kissed by Wei Tingyu. However, she was long accustomed to it; at this moment, there wasn't even a hint of blush on her face. She merely gave him a chiding glance and then asked, "Princess Jian is going for an outing in the suburbs this morning. Are you really not going to accompany her?"
As Dou Zhao finished speaking, He Weifang's small hand, which was kneeling in front of Wei Tingyu to tie his belt, trembled slightly. She still felt some apprehension towards Princess Jian, for if Wei Tingyu hadn't been her backing yesterday, she might really have been given forty strokes of the rod by Princess Jian! With her frail body, she might only be half-dead by now!