Yun Wenfang smiled with a thoroughly punchable expression: “I just made sure all the people who should know were informed about Miss Wu’s ‘good deeds’!”
After hearing this, even Yun Wenting’s excellent upbringing couldn’t prevent him from being rendered speechless with anger.
Yun Wenfang still maintained his air of not caring about anything. Yun Wenting suddenly thought of something: “You did this on purpose? You wanted to go to Jiajing Pass but were afraid the family wouldn’t agree, so you deliberately made things so irreparable?”
Yun Wenfang smiled roguishly: “Don’t make me sound as calculating as all of you.” But he didn’t deny Yun Wenting’s words.
Yun Wenting was considering whether to use the same old trick—step forward and knock out this troublemaker who feared chaos less than anything and carry him back for family punishment—when he saw a sedan chair being carried out from the direction of Embracing Moon Pavilion, with Nanny Duan and Hongying, a senior maid beside Xiao Jinglin, following alongside.
Yun Wenting looked at the sedan chair, thinking it was Xiao Jinglin going out, but after consideration, he felt it wasn’t—Xiao Jinglin couldn’t even be bothered to sit in carriages, let alone sedan chairs.
After another moment, Ren Yaohua also hurriedly emerged from the Embracing Moon Pavilion. Yun Wenfang had previously seen Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoyin enter Embracing Moon Pavilion together, but now only Ren Yaohua came out alone. Yun Wenfang couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow thoughtfully, remembering Wu Yiyu’s mention of the sister who would betray Ren Yaoqi.
Yun Wenfang glanced once more toward Embracing Moon Pavilion, thinking he wouldn’t see her today after all. He felt somewhat regretful, wondering if he could see her once before leaving Yunyang City.
With these thoughts, Yun Wenfang stepped forward and put his arm around Yun Wenting’s neck, his smile extremely irritating: “Didn’t you come looking for me? Let’s go.” It wouldn’t be good to be caught by the Wu family now.
Yun Wenting was quite helpless and said irritably, “Go where! You want me to take you back to be a docile groom?”
Yun Wenfang said unconcernedly: “Even if you arrange someone for me now, wouldn’t the wedding still have to wait two or three years?”
As for what would happen in two or three years, whether he married or not would be his own business. This was why he wanted to go to Jiajing Pass—staying with the Yun family, staying in Yunyang City, he couldn’t even decide who he wanted to marry.
After being confined for a day, Yun Wenfang had gained some insight. At least he realized that if confrontation wouldn’t work, he could try roundabout tactics.
The incident at Autumn Swan Courtyard soon spread at incredible speed, but the version that circulated was that Miss Wu had peculiar preferences and enjoyed the company of women. Not only had she bound her maid to a bed for her pleasure in broad daylight, but she had even been bold enough to set her sights on Miss Jiang Eight from the Jiang family, having her maid deceive Miss Jiang Eight to Autumn Swan Courtyard. Just as she was about to commit impropriety, she was caught in the act.
Moreover, when Wu Yiyu’s maid went to fetch Jiang Yuanniang, she encountered several maids and women from unknown households along the way.
Snow-Cutting Pavilion, where Old Princess Consort resided, also received the news. The maid who had previously fled from Autumn Swan Courtyard to fetch help, seeing that such a major incident had occurred, spilled everything about Yun Wenfang’s involvement. Upon hearing this, Old Princess Consort and Xiao Wei immediately understood that Wu Yiyu had been set up by Yun Wenfang. Old Princess Consort nearly fainted, and Xiao Wei trembled with rage.
Xiao Wei summoned people to go to the Yun family to capture Yun Wenfang for revenge. The mother and daughter were about to hurry to Autumn Swan Courtyard when they saw Wu Yiyu returning with a murderous expression just as they stepped out of Snow-Cutting Pavilion.
By this time, Yun Wenfang and Yun Wenting had already left the hot spring manor through a side gate. Yun Wenfang even had the leisure to instruct a Yun family attendant waiting outside: “Follow that sedan chair that just came out and see where it goes.”
After bringing Yun Wenfang out of the hot spring manor, Yun Wenting didn’t return to the Yun family’s villa near Sun-Moon Spring. The two directly took a carriage back to Yunyang City, leaving the mess at the hot spring manor for the women to sort out.
Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin had remained in Embracing Moon Pavilion throughout, and upon learning that chaos had erupted outside, they shut their doors even tighter and paid no attention to the outside world.
This time, Old Princess Consort was truly furious and sent people to the Yun family to demand Yun Wenfang. But Yun Wenfang had already vanished without a trace. The Yun family maintained an excellent attitude, repeatedly assuring that as soon as Yun Wenfang returned, they would have him pay respects to Old Princess Consort. Even more infuriating was that Old Princess Consort and Xiao Wei didn’t dare reveal Yun Wenfang’s scheme against Xiao Jinglin to outsiders, fearing it would ruin Wu Yiyu’s chastity. They could only knock out their teeth and swallow the blood.
Finally, Old Princess Consort and Xiao Wei, unable to contain their anger, summoned Princess Consort.
Old Princess Consort unleashed her fury on Princess Consort. If not for the quick reflexes of Princess Consort’s maid, Old Princess Consort would have splashed the hot tea and teacup directly onto Princess Consort’s face.
Princess Consort maintained excellent composure. Glancing at the tea stains on her maid’s clothes and the shattered teacup on the floor, she didn’t even furrow her brow. Lowering her head, she said gently, “I’ve already sent people to find Yun Wenfang. Once we locate him, I’ll send him over for your judgment. If he truly did such foolish things, naturally, you may deal with him as you see fit. The Yun family won’t protect him this time. However, the urgent matter now is to suppress those unreliable rumors outside, lest people make something out of nothing and make the situation even more unmanageable, which wouldn’t be good for Yiyu.”
Xiao Wei, too angry to care about her noble lady image, cursed: “You speak better than you sing! If you and the Yun family weren’t secretly protecting that little beast, could he have fled so quickly that our people can’t find him anywhere? I’d be a fool to believe you’d obediently deliver him to us for punishment. What ‘first family of Yanbei,’ what ‘noble family grace’—you only produce shameless scoundrels!”
When Xiao Wei was still unmarried, she had been overshadowed by Princess Consort, who was then Miss Yun of the Yun family. Moreover, because her mother, despite being a princess, couldn’t match the favor that Consort Yun from the Yun family received from the old prince, she found the Yun family even more distasteful. This was also why she and Princess Consort had never gotten along.
Princess Consort frowned slightly.
Xiao Wei turned to Old Princess Consort: “Mother, quickly send someone to call back the prince and have him order the Yun family surrounded! I don’t believe they’ll dare not hand over the person then.” She glanced at Princess Consort. “Even if the prince didn’t come from your womb, you’re still his legitimate mother, I’m his blood sister, and Yu’er is his blood nephew. He can’t ignore this!”
Old Princess Consort looked toward Princess Consort: “Where is the prince?”
Princess Consort lowered her head and replied: “Recently, there were reports of unusual movements from the Liao people in the north, so the prince went to Wuzhou.”
Xiao Wei said, “Who leads the garrison army? Have him come. With the prince absent, someone must be left to guard Yunyang City. Have them seal the four city gates—I don’t believe that little beast Yun Wenfang can sprout wings and fly away!”
Princess Consort said calmly, “I’m afraid I’m powerless to help. I only manage the inner palace affairs and cannot interfere in military and political matters.”
Old Princess Consort slammed the table angrily: “Then call someone who can make decisions to see me!”
Xiao Wei chimed in: “I heard that when the prince is absent, Xiao Jingxi always helps handle Yanbei’s military and political affairs.”
Old Princess Consort said: “The prince really… isn’t Xiao Heng his brother? Jingyue is grown now, too—there are plenty of people who can help share the burden! Jingxi is unwell and should be recuperating properly in the mansion instead of meddling in idle matters! You’d be better off thinking of ways to get Jingxi to have an heir.”
Upon hearing this, Princess Consort suddenly looked up at Old Princess Consort. After a moment, she slowly curtsied and said flatly: “I’m feeling somewhat unwell, so I’ll withdraw first. If we find Yun Wenfang, I’ll have him brought over. If you want to contact the prince, I’ll send someone to Wuzhou immediately.”
After saying this, Princess Consort turned and left with her people.
Old Princess Consort stood stunned for a long while before pointing at the doorway with trembling fingers and asking Xiao Wei incredulously: “She’s giving me attitude! How dare she! How dare she!”
Xiao Wei sneered: “Her son is sickly anyway—can’t people even mention it! Mother, don’t bother with them. Just have the garrison commander summoned directly. If he won’t come, have his whole family brought over!”
Old Princess Consort still had some reservations, but Xiao Wei said: “Mother, what are you afraid of them for? Your backing in Yanbei isn’t any one of them—you don’t need to live by anyone’s expression. Your backing sits on the golden throne in the southern capital. As long as the emperor surnamed Li sits in the south, even if Yanbei’s sky is poked full of holes, you’ll still be Yanbei’s Old Princess Consort. Who would dare touch you?”
Just then, someone came to report that the eldest and second young masters of the Yun family had been seen returning to Yunyang City.
Old Princess Consort was furious and had someone summon the garrison commander.
But the garrison commander had already received instructions before Old Princess Consort sent anyone. No matter how the people Old Princess Consort sent threatened or enticed, he simply refused to leave his post, using the rigid excuse: “Entering the inner quarters violates propriety. Please forgive this general for being unable to comply!”
When asked to order the city sealed and people arrested, he said: “Please present written orders bearing the prince’s seal! Otherwise, please forgive this general for being unable to comply!”
The messenger threatened that the Old Princess Consort had already sent people to bring his family to the mansion.
The garrison commander looked blankly confused for a moment: “This general’s parents are deceased, and I have not yet taken a wife.”
Then, under the messenger’s twisted expression, he suddenly seemed to understand, his dark face reddening as he said awkwardly: “If Old Princess Consort wishes to arrange some young lady as a wife for this general, please forgive this general for being unable to comply! This general already has someone in his heart.”
The messenger nearly coughed up blood.
When Old Princess Consort received the report from her messenger, she flew into another rage.
Xiao Wei said: “Mother, I warned you long ago that you can’t let them have their way in everything. Look now—you can’t even command a gate guard. If second brother had been made Yanbei Prince back then, we mother and daughter wouldn’t be bullied to this extent!”
Old Princess Consort said angrily, “Then have Xiao Heng come! If I can’t command them, can’t I command my concubine-born son?”
Xiao Heng was born to Concubine Su and had been raised under the Old Princess Consort’s knee since childhood.
When Old Princess Consort asked Xiao Heng to find Yun Wenfang, Xiao Heng readily agreed.