Wei Dongling let out a dumbfounded laugh.
Yu Zixi fished out two Peppa Pig sachets from his robe. He held Wei Dongling's hands and examined them carefully. Looking at her lovingly, he said, "Dongling, I've received your heartfelt gift. I'm really happy, but at the same time, I feel sorry for you. You don't have to do things you don't like or aren't good at for me. Did you prick your hands?"
A warm feeling welled up in Wei Dongling's heart. Pretending to be pitiful, she said, "There's a really deep needle - prick mark. It hurts when it touches water. It's only getting better today."
Yu Zixi gently held her hands and kissed them tenderly. He murmured, "It's my fault. Dongling, when I think about you traveling all the way to Hanzhong to find me, I feel so heart - ache. I was so stubborn and made you cry all night."
Wei Dongling thought of all the people who died on the battlefield in Hanzhong. A pang of sadness hit her. She asked, "Zixi, so many people have sacrificed for what you and your master have been planning. Do you think it's worth it? Even if you've always been brooding over the Xue Family Army's rebellion back then, now that they've ended up like this, is this really what you want to see?"
Yu Zixi sighed but didn't answer.
Wei Dongling continued, "Zixi, I just want to live a good life with you. I don't want to be scared all the time."
Yu Zixi kissed her forehead softly and nodded, saying okay.
That night, the two whispered to each other and fell asleep in each other's arms.
Wei Dongling slept until Jingzhe knocked on the door. She didn't know when Yu Zixi had left last night. Half of the bed was cold.
Hearing Wei Dongling's muffled response from inside the room, Jingzhe whispered, "Miss Cuihuan didn't come back all night last night. Brother Long asked me to come and ask you."
Wei Dongling sat up and thought for a long time before she remembered what Yu Zixi had told her last night. Their master, He Jingyao, was so angry about his daughter's humiliation that he severely punished several people. Yu Zixi and Tian Qi were hanged and beaten badly, which really broke Grandma Yu's heart. As a result, Cuihuan was recalled and sent to the Xiaoxiang Courtyard to wait for orders.
Luo Xunlong was extremely anxious when he heard this. No wonder Cuihuan didn't come to chat with him last night. It turned out she had no choice but to go to the brothel. Even though the brothel was opened by Young Master Yu, it was still a big problem for a good girl to go to such a place. How could she clear her name in the future?
Wei Dongling comforted him, "After all, Cuihuan was brought up by Master He. It's reasonable for her master to call her back. Uncle Luo, don't worry. Cuihuan is a good girl. She was still discussing with me yesterday that she wanted to wait for her master to calm down and then talk to him about your marriage."
Luo Xunlong, who was waiting outside the door, was both surprised and delighted. He quickly asked, "Are you serious?"
Wei Dongling rolled her eyes and said, "When have I ever lied to you?"
Luo Xunlong beamed with joy and said, "I have nothing else to ask. You can go back to sleep. I'll go to the shop to work!" With that, he walked out of the door with a spring in his step.
After breakfast, Wei Dongling went to the stable in the backyard to give Xiaohong a good bath. After playing with it for a while, she took Jingzhe to General Qi's mansion.
When Second Master Qi heard that Wei Dongling was coming to visit, he was overjoyed. He rushed over, took her by the arm, and led her in to drink tea and have snacks. They chatted about family matters for a long time. Wei Dongling presented a gift box. Inside was a golden longevity peach she had carefully selected yesterday. It was as big as an egg yolk and shone brightly in the box.
Second Master Qi happily took it and couldn't stop smiling.
Jingzhe waited quietly outside the door. She looked around the yard carefully but didn't see Lvkou.
Two banquets were set up in the main hall. Soon, General Qi, with grey hair at his temples, came over. Second Master Qi pulled Wei Dongling forward to introduce her. Wei Dongling quickly curtsied respectfully. General Qi nodded and smiled at her, politely exchanging greetings.
Qi Jinxuan also came over surrounded by a group of servants. She saluted General Qi and Second Master Qi, and then politely nodded at Wei Dongling. Supported by Hongxiu, she took her seat at the banquet.
General Qi and Second Master Qi also took their seats one after another.
Wei Dongling sat at another table with Second Master Qi's family members. Next to her was Second Master Qi's wife, Mrs. Wu, and on the right was Second Master Qi's only daughter, Qi Jinlan.
"How have you been lately, Dongling? You seem to have lost some weight," Mrs. Wu said as she took Wei Dongling's hand and chatted warmly with her. She kept putting food on Wei Dongling's plate.
Wei Dongling smiled back and said, "Thank you, aunt, for your concern. I'm fine. How have you and Sister Jinlan been recently?"
Mrs. Wu nodded repeatedly and said, "We're all fine! The two pieces of excellent fabric you sent during the Mid - Autumn Festival last year. Jinlan and I each made two sets of clothes. Jinlan, what are you waiting for? Say hello to your cousin!" Mrs. Wu nudged Qi Jinlan with her elbow.
"Hello, cousin," Qi Jinlan said timidly as she glanced at Wei Dongling. Then she lowered her head and ate without saying much.
Seeing her daughter's cold attitude, Mrs. Wu said awkwardly, "This child is not talkative. Dongling, don't take it to heart."
Wei Dongling smiled and replied, "Cousin Jinlan has a very good personality. That's how a young lady should be."
Hearing this, Qi Jinlan looked up at Wei Dongling. Seeing her smiling at her, Qi Jinlan quickly lowered her head. She had been extremely nervous, thinking that after Wei Dongling found out that it was she who had pushed her off the cliff back then, she would spread the news and tell her father and Second Master Qi. But Wei Dongling didn't tell anyone, which really puzzled her.
A servant brought in bird's nest soup. Each female family member got a bowl. The maid serving the bird's nest soup whispered to everyone, "This is the bird's nest soup specially ordered by Miss Qi for everyone." Then she served the bird's nest soup from the maids behind her to the female family members at the table one by one.
When the serving maid handed the bird's nest soup to Wei Dongling, she quietly tapped Wei Dongling's finger.
Wei Dongling didn't think much of it. She was quite familiar with everyone in the general's mansion before. She placed the bird's nest soup on the table. When she lifted the lid of the bowl, she was shocked to see a paper scroll in the bowl.
Wei Dongling's heart skipped a beat. She quietly fished out the paper scroll with her finger, closed the lid of the bowl calmly, and looked up at the yard.
In a corner of the yard, Jingzhe, who should have been in her sight, suddenly disappeared!
Wei Dongling felt a bit uneasy. Did Jingzhe secretly go to look for Lvkou? She put her hand under the square table and quietly unrolled the paper scroll. There were two elegant characters on it: "Leave quickly!"
Wei Dongling was shocked. Who was warning her secretly?
Without hesitation, she crumpled the paper scroll into a ball and stuffed it into her sleeve. She stood up and said to Mrs. Wu with an apologetic smile, "Aunt, I'll go to the toilet first."
Mrs. Wu nodded. Wei Dongling had only taken a few steps when Qi Jinxuan at the main table suddenly looked over and called out, "Dongling, where are you going?"
Wei Dongling forced a smile and looked back. "I'll be away for a while. I'll be back soon after going to the toilet. I drank too much tea just now."
Qi Jinxuan glanced at the unopened bird's nest soup bowl on Wei Dongling's seat and said softly with a smile, "I thought you hadn't been back to the mansion for a long time, so I specially made this bird's nest soup for you. Go quickly and come back quickly. The bird's nest soup will taste bad when it gets cold."