Seeing that this playboy young master in front of her didn't seem to be joking, Wei Dongling was secretly shocked. This man was by no means as absurd as he appeared. He was more like a man who had everything under control and was well - versed in the art of intrigue, about to draw in his net.
But why would he help her? Was he a friend or a foe?
"You're willing to help me? Why?" Wei Dongling calmly withdrew her hand and stared intently at him with her beautiful eyes.
Yu Zixi lowered his eyes and smiled softly. "You're my unmarried wife. Even though you've beaten and scolded me, as your husband - to - be, I can't haggle with you, a woman, now can I?"
"Just because of that?" Wei Dongling raised her eyebrows, hardly believing it.
Yu Zixi's beautiful eyes were filled with a casual smile. "I just think that compared with those boring official ladies, you're quite interesting. It wouldn't be so bad for you to be my principal wife." After being beaten last night, he had spent the whole night investigating the background of this prospective fiancée.
Seeing Wei Dongling bow her head in silence, Yu Zixi added seriously, "Of course, there are conditions for this young master to help you."
Just as she thought!
Wei Dongling coldly asked, "What are the conditions?"
Yu Zixi said unhurriedly, "After I marry you, you must not dismiss my concubines, nor interfere with my amorous affairs."
These concubines were probably what he meant by the "beauties". Wei Dongling rolled her eyes.
Yu Zixi continued, "Don't worry. I'll ensure your position as the principal wife remains unshaken. But when I'm having my fun, you have to cover for me."
Wei Dongling's face darkened. So what he meant was that she had to guard the door while he visited brothels? She mentally scoffed!
The carriage made several detours through the streets and finally stopped at the back gate of the General's Mansion.
"If you need help, come to the Yu Mansion to find me." Yu Zixi took Wei Dongling's hand and stuffed a beautiful jade pendant into her palm.
Seeing that the jade pendant was of excellent quality and obviously very valuable, Wei Dongling was a bit dazed. Before she could decline, Yu Zixi had already shooed her out of the carriage and left without even saying goodbye.
Wei Dongling absent - mindedly put away the jade pendant, got up, and entered the back gate, heading straight for Uncle Qi's study.
"Young master, why did you give such a precious jade pendant to that girl?" The coachman looked up puzzledly. Was it really necessary to be so generous just to court a girl?
Yu Zixi lay in the carriage, smiling with his eyes bent, and answered irrelevantly, "The missing piece is slowly coming to light."
"What?" The coachman was even more confused.
"Never mind. Let's go to the Fragrant Night Pavilion."
The coachman was shocked again. The young master had been beaten so badly last night, and yet he still wanted to visit the brothel today. If the old master found out, he would probably fly into a rage.
In the study, Uncle Qi was burying his head in writing a family letter when Wei Dongling rushed in and knelt down in front of him without saying a word. Before he could say anything, she hurriedly asked:
"Uncle, I want to ask you. Did my father, Wei Jiang, know anyone from the former Prime Minister Su's Mansion?"
Uncle Qi was taken aback. He stopped his writing, got up to close the door, then pulled her up and whispered in reply, "Dongling, did you hear something outside? How could your father possibly know anyone from the former Prime Minister Su's Mansion?"
Prime Minister Su had been accused of being a traitor more than a decade ago. Once the most trusted courtier of the emperor, his whole family had been imprisoned overnight and were to be executed on a chosen day.
It had been a huge shock to the court at that time.
Wei Dongling said worriedly, "There was a storyteller in Lin's Teahouse. He was talking about how Lord Zhao, the emperor's uncle, had executed the remaining members of Prime Minister Su's clan, including Wei Jiang. My father... he can't be that traitor Wei Jiang they were talking about, can he?"
"Absolutely not! Don't talk nonsense!" Uncle Qi glared at Wei Dongling and got up to pour tea.
Wei Dongling said anxiously, "Then why did my father leave me here with you and hasn't come to see me for eight years?"
Uncle Qi sighed and pushed the teacup in his hand towards Wei Dongling. "Your father told you long ago that he was going to the borderlands to find your eldest uncle. Once he found him, he would come back for you."
"He hasn't found him in eight years? What if he never finds him? Will my father just abandon me?" Wei Dongling didn't take the teacup. She looked up at Uncle Qi with tears welling in her eyes and choked out, "Uncle, tell me the truth. Did my father leave any instructions on how to arrange for me if he never came back?"
Uncle Qi looked embarrassed. Finally, unable to bear it, he sighed and said, "He did leave instructions. When you reached the age for marriage, I was to arrange a good match for you. It didn't matter if the family was rich or not, as long as they treated you well. I never thought something like last night would happen." Thinking about Wei Dongling having to marry such a person, Uncle Qi felt very uncomfortable.
Hearing this, Wei Dongling's emotions welled up. Tears streamed down her face as she choked out word by word, "When I reached the age for marriage... Did my father already plan not to come back for me that year?"
Seeing the usually strong - willed Wei Dongling crying so bitterly, Uncle Qi comforted her, "Dongling, the borderlands are vast and the climate is extremely harsh. It's normal for separated relatives not to be found for several years. But your father has always doted on you since you were a child. No matter where he is, he must be eager to come back for you."
But what if he couldn't come back?
Wei Dongling stopped sobbing and asked again, "Uncle, have you ever heard of the Ghost Seven Sect?"
"The Ghost Seven Sect?" Uncle Qi looked embarrassed. "I heard of this martial arts sect many years ago. The disciples of this sect were tortured from a young age, and their light - body skills far exceeded those of ordinary people. But this sect disbanded decades ago. Dongling, who did you hear this from?"
Wei Dongling lowered her head, and her tears fell even harder. "I saw my father shuttle between the tree crowns with my own eyes. His light - body skills were so good that no one in the world could match them."
"No, your father is definitely not a traitor." Uncle Qi was very certain. After being silent for a long time, he said earnestly, "Dongling, never mention what you've guessed to others, or you may bring disaster to yourself. You might even implicate the General's Mansion."
Wei Dongling's mind went blank. She walked back in a daze.
In the middle of the night, half - asleep and half - awake, she heard a woman sobbing softly, "My father can't be a traitor."
The original owner had never waited for her father and had even received the bad news that she was the daughter of a traitor. How heart - broken she must have been!
Wei Dongling felt a pang in her heart. She gently patted her chest and promised, "Don't worry. I'll help you find out the truth and won't let your father suffer an unjust accusation."
She slept very restlessly that night.
Early the next morning, Wei Dongling went to the post station to send a family letter to General Qi, who was far away at the border. On her way back, she saw a large crowd of girls gathered at the entrance of Pengcheng Restaurant, completely surrounding the largest restaurant in the capital.
It was still early, and the restaurant hadn't officially opened for business. What were these girls doing here? Were they waiting for the restaurant to open for a feast?
Just as Wei Dongling was surprised, she heard several girls chattering and discussing.
"Is it true? Really, did Prince Shangguan Yun come here so early in the morning?"
"Of course! Miss Li saw it with her own eyes. Prince Yun's carriage is still parked over there!"