At night, when the people of the Su Mansion learned that Wei Dongling and her party had returned, they happily booked a welcome feast at a restaurant.
Several uncles took turns scolding Wei Dongling from head to toe. There was nothing she could do. It was truly her fault that she had gone so far away without even saying a word. So she could only bow her head and listen meekly.
The newly - arrived Aunt Liu actually said a lot of good things for her and kept protecting Wei Dongling. Although Aunt Liu's behavior was just right and she had done nothing wrong, for some reason, Wei Dongling never had the slightest bit of affection for this charming Aunt Liu.
Later, she learned from A Cheng that once Millionaire Lin had returned to the Su Mansion very late after a busy day. On the way, he happened to come across several hooligans molesting a woman named Liu in the street. Millionaire Lin rescued her. After learning about her miserable life experience, she voluntarily offered to be his concubine as a way to repay his kindness, and that was how she was taken into the Su Mansion. They had privately investigated her background, and it was true that she was a widow from a small family around the capital.
In the middle of the night, Yu Zixi climbed over the wall. He picked up the sound - sleeping Cuihuan and threw her out of the window, then reached out to touch Wei Dongling's face.
Wei Dongling was so frightened that she sat up abruptly. When she saw that it was him, she finally felt relieved. Then she heard Cuihuan cursing as she walked away outside the window. Wei Dongling raised her eyebrows and scolded him, "Breaking into a young girl's boudoir in the middle of the night. If this gets out, what will happen to my and Cuihuan's reputations?"
Yu Zixi pinched her chin with a half - smile and coughed lightly. "My wife's reputation has long been ruined by me." With that, he rummaged in his robe and took out a stack of silver notes.
Wei Dongling's eyes lit up. She grabbed the silver notes and asked in surprise, "Where did you get this money?"
Yu Zixi said happily, "I've told you before. The income from Yunzhu Courtyard and Xiaoxiang Pavilion all belongs to you!"
Wei Dongling hugged the silver notes and laughed from ear to ear.
Yu Zixi hugged her and complained, "Wife, I definitely can't go back to the Yu Mansion. Will you take me in for a few days?"
Wei Dongling was speechless. She more or less knew that it was probably because of the Empress Dowager's imperial edict. Mr. Yu had finally caught Yu Zixi and would surely force him to marry He Yao.
Seeing that she didn't say a word, Yu Zixi smiled faintly. "If not, it's okay for me to become a son - in - law of the Su Mansion! We can have a child earlier. I don't mind taking the child's surname!"
Hearing his nonsense, Wei Dongling was both angry and amused. She got up and said, "I'll go and tidy up a room for you right away."
Yu Zixi was dissatisfied and pretended to be angry. "Cuihuan can sleep in this bed, but I can't?"
Wei Dongling ignored him. She got up, put on her clothes, and dragged Yu Zixi's arm out.
The two walked side by side towards the empty guest room in the North Courtyard. When they passed by the ornamental fishpond, they saw a dark figure in the distance.
Wei Dongling was startled. She flew forward to check. When she looked up and saw that it was Jingzhe, she finally felt relieved. Wei Dongling stepped forward and asked with concern, "Why aren't you sleeping in the middle of the night? Are you not used to living here?"
Jingzhe's injury had mostly healed. He shook his head and replied softly, "I just sensed that someone had come. I chased here, but the figure disappeared."
Wei Dongling was stunned. Someone had sneaked into the Su Mansion in the middle of the night? She glanced at Yu Zixi behind her and asked, "Was the person you saw Young Master Yu?"
Jingzhe looked at Yu Zixi and silently shook his head. "Judging from the figure, that person was different from Young Master Yu."
Not Zixi? Then who could it be? Could it be someone from the Crown Prince?
It seemed that there was a need for someone to stand guard at night in this small courtyard of the Su Mansion.
The next day, County Princess Rong'an, He Yao, came to visit.
They hadn't seen each other for more than a month. As soon as she came, He Yao warmly grabbed Wei Dongling's hands and cried sadly, "Sister Dongling, I've discussed with my mother several times. I wanted to mention to the Empress Dowager that I hope to call off the engagement with Brother Zixi. But my mother was furious and firmly refused. She said that the Empress Dowager, who is of a thousand - year - old body, issued an imperial edict. How could it be treated like a joke and taken back just like that? Now, Brother Zixi returned to the Yu Mansion and left in a hurry. He avoids seeing me and ignores me. I really have no other way..."
Wei Dongling looked at He Yao's delicate makeup and sneered secretly in her heart. She had just said something casually back then, and now He Yao really wanted to go back on her word. Was she using the Empress Dowager to pressure me?
Seeing that Wei Dongling's expression was uncertain, He Yao remembered the last time when Wei Dongling had shown her ferocious side and almost drowned her in the bathtub. He Yao tried hard to squeeze out two tears and pleaded, "Sister Dongling, otherwise, you can discuss with Brother Zixi. It's okay for me to be a maid or a concubine!"
Yu Zixi, who was drinking Tieguanyin in the side hall, almost choked on his tea when he heard He Yao's words.
Wei Dongling pretended to sigh. "Zixi said a few days ago that he wanted to become a son - in - law of our Su Mansion. I didn't agree."
Hearing her showing off, He Yao immediately changed her expression and said anxiously, "How can this be?"
"Really?" Wei Dongling glanced at He Yao.
He Yao was so frightened by her look that her face turned pale instantly. With a shiver, she immediately changed her tune. "It's not impossible. As long as you two are happy! I'll also be willing to serve the two of you." Her words were obviously insincere and extremely hypocritical.
It meant that if Yu Zixi really became a son - in - law of the Su Mansion, she wouldn't give up either. She would stick to them and be a maid or a concubine?
Wei Dongling was too lazy to deal with her. She claimed that she was busy and saw the guest off. He Yao kept turning back and instructing her that if she saw Zixi, she must let him come to see her.
In the afternoon, Pin Hao from the Prince's Mansion came. He claimed that his family's Young Master Yun hadn't returned to the mansion last night, and today he had gone straight to Lanshan Temple to become a monk.
Wei Dongling was shocked. The Prince's Mansion only had him as a son, and he had been named the heir apparent early. If he became a monk, what would the Prince and the Princess do?
So, Wei Dongling and Yu Zixi got on the carriage and rushed straight to Lanshan Temple.
From afar, they saw a woman standing outside the door of the meditation room where Shangguan Yun was staying. When they got closer, they were surprised to find that it was Qi Jinxuan!
When Wei Dongling walked closer and met Qi Jinxuan's eyes, there was no way to avoid her. Looking at Qi Jinxuan, whose figure had obviously become much rounder, she hardly recognized her.
Wei Dongling bowed slightly and was about to turn around and knock on the door when she heard Qi Jinxuan call her. "Dongling, I have something to tell you."
Wei Dongling was stunned. Looking at the familiar face in front of her, she felt a thousand emotions in her heart.
Qi Jinxuan took Wei Dongling to another meditation room and sat down. The maid, Lvkou, came to serve them tea.
Lvkou's face had become much thinner. Had she not eaten well or rested well recently? Wei Dongling was a little worried. Last time, Lvkou had been accidentally poisoned by the poisonous bird's nest that was originally meant for her. Wei Dongling had always been worried that Lvkou might have some after - effects, and she had always felt secretly guilty. Unfortunately, she hadn't had the chance to make up for it.
Seeing that Wei Dongling had been staring at Lvkou, Qi Jinxuan didn't exchange pleasantries. She got straight to the point. "I know that the heir apparent has feelings for you. For you, he loves but can't have you. Even if the Emperor's edict comes down, he would rather resist the edict and become a monk than marry me."