The Marquis didn't send someone; he came himself! Although she had repeatedly assured him that she was only going to reclaim her shops and there would be no danger, the Marquis was still worried! This kind of doting made He Weifang feel a little pressured, but also incredibly sweet!
"Mudanya!" However, before she could tell Yulu that the Marquis was following behind, she suddenly heard a loud shout! Clearly, someone in the crowd was shouting her name! And this voice, He Weifang knew without turning around, belonged to that disgusting father-in-law, Liu Shen. Her face suddenly changed, and she thought, Sure enough, the Marquis was right. This old scoundrel of the Liu family was truly shameless, actually having the audacity to come and intercept her.
However, at this moment, He Weifang felt no fear, knowing that Wei Tingyu was watching her from nearby. So, facing the shouts of her father-in-law, who had long oppressed her, she simply pretended not to hear, pulling Yulu along and continuing forward.
But old Liu Shen was surprisingly nimble. He took a few steps with two young attendants and quickly appeared before He Weifang, blocking her way. The two sides thus stood at the top of the wooden bridge, confronting each other.
He Weifang, who was clearly confident now, was the first to smile. However, she didn't give Liu Shen a grand bow, only a slight nod, and then said, "Father, why have you come?" Of course, everyone present was well aware of the current situation. Especially Mudanya, although she still respectfully called Liu Shen "Father" in her words, her eyes undisguisedly showed disdain and contempt!
Liu Shen was startled, then frowned. After all, although He Weifang had latched onto Marquis Wei's coattails, she was still nominally his daughter-in-law. How could she be so impolite? However, he also knew that the most important thing right now was not to dwell on He Weifang's minor transgression. The more important matter was to stop her and prevent her from ruining today's shop sale.
"I was going to ask you!" Thinking this, Liu Shen put his hands behind his back, adopting an air of pompous seniority, and said, "Why aren't you cultivating yourself properly in the residence? What are you doing here?" He Weifang's contemptuous gaze made Liu Shen feel uncomfortable all over, so his tone was quite stern.
Heh heh! However, He Weifang merely scoffed inwardly upon seeing his demeanor. What time is it now? Who is he putting on this father-in-law act for?
"Mother previously said to let me handle official matters for my husband!" He Weifang's mind stirred, and she immediately said, "I also have two shops among my dowry!" He Weifang spoke while watching Liu Shen's eyes. Indeed, when she mentioned these two shops, his gaze clearly shifted, looking entirely guilty.
"Today, I just thought I'd come and take a look."
"Perhaps I can free up some expenses!"
Seeing his reaction, He Weifang simply gave up any pretense, directly stating that she was there to see these two shops. And Liu Shen was now completely in a dilemma! Because they were currently negotiating the price of the shops! If he allowed He Weifang to go over now, what then? Not only would the impending business be ruined, but if she made a big fuss, the Liu family might even become the laughingstock of the entire Dongdu!
"Your father has already handled this matter; you needn't trouble yourself!" Liu Shen quickly said. Finally, he emphasized with a heavier tone, "Return home!"
However, He Weifang certainly wouldn't return at this point. Her eyes darted, and she immediately found another excuse. "In the future, if the household needs subsidies, these two shops will always be useful!"
"Father, please don't be so polite!" He Weifang finished speaking to herself, ignoring Liu Shen, who stood by, utterly bewildered. She simply turned and tried to continue towards the shops.
But Liu Shen hadn't expected today's He Weifang to completely change from her former respectful and submissive demeanor. Not only did she talk back to him, but she even ignored him standing in front, blocking her, and actually tried to walk away directly! In a moment of panic, he quickly ran two more steps, again blocking He Weifang's path, his face revealing a fierce expression.
"Your father said no means no!"
"If you don't want to come back properly, I'll have someone invite you back!"
Without waiting for He Weifang's reply, Liu Shen waved his large hand. The two young attendants behind him immediately stepped forward, preparing to escort He Weifang away.
At this moment, Yulu suddenly stepped forward, shielding her mistress behind her, and raising her head, she said with a determined expression, "My mistress is going to see her own dowry! What right do you have to stop her?!" Liu Shen knew he was in the wrong, and by now, a crowd had gathered to watch the commotion. His entire face immediately darkened.
"Bold, impudent slave! What right do you have to speak!" He glared at Yulu and scolded. Yulu, being a servant, was immediately intimidated by being reprimanded by her master. However, she still bravely shielded He Weifang, refusing to retreat or yield an inch.
"Is Father trying to hide something by blocking me like this?" Of course, He Weifang was confident at this moment. In her opinion, with so many people coming and going on this bridge, Liu Shen surely wouldn't disregard the Liu family's face and resort to violence with her! Besides, the Marquis Wei Tingyu was watching from behind! Even if he resorted to violence, she wasn't afraid! At this moment, He Weifang truly understood how reassuring it was for a woman to have a strong pillar of support!
"A woman's gentleness and obedience are the right path!" Liu Shen's face immediately changed when He Weifang questioned him. He then spoke evasively, "Whatever the husband's family says, it is so. What right do you have to question?"
"It's not that Mudanya wants to defy her husband's family!" He Weifang, seeing Liu Shen's thick skin, still unwilling to tell the truth even in this situation, replied exasperatedly, "It concerns my dowry; I have no choice but to go!"
After saying this, He Weifang no longer cared whether Liu Shen was willing or not. In her opinion, it was perfectly justified for her to go and see her dowry shops. She simply took a direct step and prepared to leave.
"Stop the young mistress!" Liu Shen grew anxious at this sight and quickly ordered the two young attendants.
However, at this moment, Yulu suddenly burst forth with immense courage, firmly grabbing the two attendants' clothes and refusing to let go, while shouting loudly, "Mistress, quickly go! I'll stop them here!"
At this moment, Wei Tingyu had moved to the side of the bridge. He had clearly seen Liu Shen's appearance and the confrontation between him and He Weifang and her maid on the bridge. Indeed, just like the plot in the story, it wouldn't be so easy for He Weifang to simply go to her dowry shops and reclaim what rightfully belonged to her! In fact, in this conflict, even her best and closest maid, Yulu, tragically perished! Of course, with Wei Tingyu present now, he naturally wouldn't let He Weifang experience such a huge psychological blow!
However, just as he was about to make a move to teach Liu Shen and the two young attendants a lesson, he unexpectedly found that the situation seemed a little off! Because the subsequent developments differed slightly from what he had seen in the original plot. This old man, Liu Shen, actually saw that his two young attendants were firmly held by Yulu, and he personally rushed forward to try and grab He Weifang!
He Weifang was originally fleeing with her skirt held up, when she turned and saw Liu Shen's large hands reaching for her. Her entire small face immediately turned pale with fright. Nominally, Liu Shen was her father-in-law! The two sides should have maintained a respectful distance in their conversation, but in broad daylight and in front of a large crowd, this old man disregarded etiquette and decency, attempting to personally grab his daughter-in-law.
Terrified, He Weifang didn't notice the steps beneath her feet. She misstepped, and her entire body instantly fell to the left. Since she was tightly against the edge of the wooden bridge at this point, the height of the railing simply couldn't stop her!
"Ah!" He Weifang was startled, but her body was still beyond her control. She actually fell over the railing and plummeted directly towards the river.
"Mistress!" Yulu was also terrified at this sight. Disregarding the hands of the two young attendants, she quickly turned and tried to grab her mistress. However, she naturally lacked the ability to do so, and could only watch, screaming, as her mistress fell towards the river.
Liu Shen was also stunned! He hadn't expected that in his desperation, he reached out to grab He Weifang, and this daughter-in-law actually jumped into the river to avoid his hand! Of course, at this moment, what worried him more was how to clean up this mess afterward. Regardless of whether He Weifang could be rescued from the river, today's street farce would surely spread throughout Dongdu very quickly! A father-in-law forcing his daughter-in-law to jump into a river in broad daylight, in front of a large crowd?! If this news got out, his Liu family would be completely disgraced! They would surely become the laughingstock of everyone in Dongdu!
Of course, Wei Tingyu, who was watching this scene from the riverside, was also stunned. He hadn't expected the plot of this world to develop in this direction. It wasn't Yulu who fell into the river, but He Weifang! And she was even forced into the river by Liu Shen himself! Fortunately, he was one step ahead and had secretly followed. Otherwise, this girl might have taken Yulu's place in the original plot and perished in this river today!
Thinking this, Wei Tingyu saw He Weifang's body suspended in mid-air, falling downwards, and no longer hesitated. He immediately activated his qinggong (lightness skill). At this moment, Wei Tingyu's qinggong was on par with the Green-winged Bat King Wei Yixiao; this distance was covered in just a single breath! He lightly touched the water's surface with his toes, and astonishingly, in full view of everyone, he walked on the water, moving like a dragonfly skimming the surface. He flew to He Weifang's position under the bridge and effortlessly scooped her up in a princess carry!
This scene directly left everyone present dumbfounded! For this display of qinggong was absolutely unique in this world! Under the gaze of everyone whose jaws were about to drop, Wei Tingyu, holding He Weifang horizontally, lightly leapt from the water's surface, and then actually landed directly back on the bridge. The surrounding crowd also involuntarily moved aside, creating an empty space. After all, the skill this master had just displayed was truly extraordinary; no one dared to get too close at this moment!
He Weifang had already closed her eyes in fright when she almost fell into the water, so when she felt someone embrace her, her mind was still confused. Why didn't I feel the cold river water? Instead, a warm embrace protected me? When she opened her eyes, she saw Wei Tingyu holding her horizontally and leaping upwards. This roller-coaster-like experience was, at present, only experienced by her among all women in this world. This was the feeling of flying! He Weifang's small face flushed slightly in Wei Tingyu's embrace, and looking at his jade fox mask, her heart was filled with excitement! This is my gentleman! At the critical moment, he descended from the sky like a legendary hero, carrying her with him across the cold river, and landing back on the bridge! Such a scene, which even storybooks wouldn't dare to write, actually happened to her?!
At this moment, He Weifang was extremely grateful to the Celestial Master for his elder's help! The day she first met Wei Tingyu at the Celestial Master's temple, she had felt very indignant! She thought, Why didn't the Celestial Master send down some divine punishment to properly punish this scoundrel?! Now she understood that it was indeed the Celestial Master who had prepared this perfect marriage for her!
"Mistress!" At this moment, Yulu, worried about He Weifang, was the first to react. She quickly screamed and ran to stand before the two. He Weifang was awakened from her fantasy by Yulu's soft call. She then saw a dense crowd surrounding them, and she herself was held horizontally in Wei Tingyu's arms, standing in the most conspicuous position on the bridge. Her cheeks immediately flushed.
"Mar… Young Master!" However, since Wei Tingyu was wearing a jade fox mask, she knew he didn't want to reveal his identity at this moment, so she forced herself to swallow the word "Marquis" and changed it to "Young Master."
"Please put this humble woman down! I am safe now!" As she said this, He Weifang's face couldn't help but redden a few more shades. Although she knew this was the gentleman her heart longed for, others didn't! A married young woman, openly embracing a young nobleman in broad daylight, would surely be a subject of gossip! However, He Weifang didn't care much about her reputation at this moment, especially her identity as the Liu residence's daughter-in-law, which was utterly irrelevant! Let them laugh at those shameless people from the Liu family! Anyway, she would be returning to the capital with the Marquis soon, and these damn rumors wouldn't reach her ears!
"Why is Lady so careless?" Wei Tingyu chuckled upon hearing He Weifang call him "Young Master" and pretend not to know him. Sure enough, this girl understands me! As he gently put her down, he smiled and said, "If I hadn't happened to pass by and lend a hand, Lady would probably be a drowned rat by now!"
"Thank you, Young Master, for saving my life!" He Weifang, hearing Wei Tingyu's words, immediately gave him a cautious bow and thanked him.
"Thank you, Young Master, for saving my mistress!" At this moment, Yulu, while thanking Wei Tingyu, actually stepped in front of He Weifang, physically separating the two of them. Wei Tingyu and He Weifang were both startled, but then they quickly realized. Because Yulu didn't know that the person wearing the jade fox mask was Wei Tingyu!
"Yulu! This is too rude!" He Weifang couldn't explicitly tell Yulu, only whispering to her.
"Mistress! Don't let someone save you once and then you become so enamored!" Yulu turned her head and desperately winked at He Weifang, while whispering, "Since this young master saved your life, we just need to give him some money to repay him. Don't get too close!"
"What if the Marquis finds out?" At this moment, Yulu's mind was filled with the beautiful future of her mistress being welcomed into the Marquis's residence as an equal wife after escaping the fiery pit of the Liu residence. Naturally, she was extremely wary of this suddenly appearing jade fox young master! Getting too close to an outsider, if the Marquis misunderstood and no longer wanted her mistress, that would be terrible!
"Alright! You're the only one loyal to the Marquis!" He Weifang, of course, knew Yulu's thoughts. She immediately let out a small laugh, then gave her a subtle eye-roll. At this moment, she yearned to throw herself into Wei Tingyu's embrace and share a tender moment with her gentleman! Especially now that he had saved her life again, she felt she couldn't repay him even in ten lifetimes! Thinking of these things, He Weifang was even more eager to dedicate her entire being to Wei Tingyu! Otherwise, she simply wouldn't know how to express her gratitude and adoration! But precisely because this form of repayment was currently impossible, she desperately suppressed the impulse in her heart, and her entire small face turned slightly red from holding it in. Yulu, not understanding why, saw her mistress's face turn red and thought she had also developed feelings for this jade fox young master. She immediately grew anxious. She quickly pulled He Weifang and ran a few steps to the side, trying to physically distance them. Seeing Yulu's actions, Wei Tingyu and He Weifang could only exchange a helpless glance!