At this moment, the piece finished. After Yanzhi rose and bowed, she quietly withdrew.
Li Min De suddenly stood up and said, “Third Sister, I forgot my cloak. I need to go get it.”
The cloak was clearly placed in the carriage—how could he have forgotten it? Li Weiyang very much wanted to know what kind of person this Yanzhi was and why she had attracted Li Min De’s attention.
However, in front of those two shrewd individuals, she showed no unusual expression. Instead, she smiled and said, “Go ahead.”
The Ninth Princess jumped up: “I’ll go with you!”
Who knew that in the next moment, she would let out a scream. Li Weiyang said apologetically, “I’m so sorry, Princess. That was careless of me.”
Li Weiyang had actually spilled the teacup in her hand onto the Ninth Princess’s beautiful dress.
The Ninth Princess pouted, her lips jutting out so high an oil bottle could hang from them: “You’re so clumsy!” She obviously hadn’t realized that Li Weiyang deliberately did this because she didn’t want her to go along.
The Ninth Princess was led away to another room to change clothes. Apart from servants, only three people with varying expressions remained in the room.
Tuoba Zhen suddenly laughed aloud: “The three of us seem especially fated.”
Yes, fated—but this was an ill-fated connection. Li Weiyang sneered coldly, turned her head to look toward the river surface, then suddenly asked, “What is that?”
Tuoba Yu followed her gaze: “Oh, that’s Yufeng Pagoda, built on an island in the middle of the river. At night, it’s quite beautiful. If you’re interested, you could visit the island another day.”
Li Weiyang smiled slightly, saying thoughtfully, “This truly is a good place.” In her words, there was faintly another layer of meaning.
Tuoba Zhen’s eyes flickered, seeming slightly shocked, but he said coolly, “What do you mean by that?”
Li Weiyang glanced at him and smiled: “What’s good about this place is its terrain. This river water is formed by the confluence of Linshan River and Amber Lake. If one could excavate a long canal at the lowest point of the watershed, it could connect the Min River and Li River basins, providing both navigation and irrigation convenience. Don’t you think this is a good place?”
Tuoba Zhen’s expression changed dramatically. He didn’t know how Li Weiyang knew this, but it was indeed his original plan. He just hadn’t had time to implement it yet. Once truly implemented, he could completely control all transportation between the two river basins. His financial resources would increase dramatically, far surpassing Tuoba Yu and the others. He just hadn’t thought of a way to obtain this place without alarming others. But he absolutely couldn’t let others beat him to it. After his shock, he immediately said, “If this idea could be realized, why hasn’t it been done in all these centuries? County Princess, don’t be so fanciful. This is nothing but nonsense.”
Li Weiyang smiled slightly: “Whether it’s fanciful or not, Third Prince understands best. In ancient times, there was the famous Xianyuan Weir that divided the Min River into inner and outer rivers, controlling irrigation water volume—to this day it still serves flood control, transportation, and irrigation purposes. As for the giant stone beams spanning Luzhou River East Bridge, they’re even more breathtaking. Since these engineering works that originally seemed impossible to complete with human power already exist, what else is inconceivable!”
Tuoba Zhen’s face had been wearing a smile all along, but now he couldn’t smile anymore.
He suddenly felt cold.
The way Li Weiyang looked at him was as if she knew what he was thinking, even knew his every move. Being looked at with those eyes felt like being frozen in ice.
Tuoba Yu keenly sensed the unusual atmosphere between them and was about to say something when suddenly someone outside said, “The Ninth Princess says her stomach hurts. She ran out through the window!”
That mischievous girl! Not having time to think of anything else, Tuoba Yu quickly stood up and said, “County Princess, please sit for a moment. I’ll go look for her.”
Li Weiyang smiled and said, “Your Highness, the Ninth Princess must have gone to the carriage to find my third brother.”
Tuoba Yu hesitated. He wasn’t worried that Tuoba Zhen would do anything—after all, this wine house was his own territory. Tuoba Zhen wouldn’t have the guts to cause trouble here. However—was it really all right to leave Li Weiyang here? While thinking this through, he quietly instructed the guard outside the door, “Pay close attention to what happens in the room!”
Then Tuoba Yu quickly descended the stairs. For a moment, only Tuoba Zhen and Li Weiyang remained in the room. Li Weiyang stood up—she had no interest in sitting at the same table with such a person.
However, Tuoba Zhen suddenly said, “County Princess, have you heard a story?”
Li Weiyang turned around and raised her eyebrows. Tuoba Zhen poured himself a cup of wine: “In the previous dynasty, there was a very strong-willed ruler who personally led troops to attack the southern border. Unfortunately, he repeatedly failed to conquer it, and the rear reported defeats. Despite countless people urging him to retreat, he refused to relent. He just paced outside the military tent, then left two characters on the ground: ‘chicken ribs.’ Others were all puzzled. Only one clever person, upon hearing this, immediately went back to pack his belongings. When others asked why he was leaving, he said the Emperor had already spoken—chicken ribs mean ‘tasteless to eat, wasteful to discard.’ His Majesty was at the point where retreat had sprouted in his mind but he remained undecided. He would definitely retreat eventually, so preparations should be made early. The others, hearing this and finding it reasonable, all prepared to withdraw. When the Emperor discovered this situation and inquired about it, he was greatly shocked.” At this point, Tuoba Zhen said, “Guess how the Emperor dealt with that clever person?”
Li Weiyang smiled and said, “I don’t know what that ruler would do, but I know that if it were Third Prince in your position, you would definitely kill anyone who could guess your thoughts.”
Tuoba Zhen didn’t blink: “Quite right. When two armies are at war, before the commander has given orders, a clever person presumptuously acts on his own cleverness, affecting military morale and dampening spirits. As the commander, naturally one must kill him to show the masses. Therefore, a person had better not be too clever. Even if she truly is that clever, she shouldn’t display such cleverness before others. If this brings fatal disaster, it would be too unworthy.”
Li Weiyang sneered coldly: “Apologies, but I don’t have time to listen to Your Highness tell stories here.”
However, Tuoba Zhen drank a cup of wine, a cold sharp light flashing in his eyes: “Li Weiyang, I’m not telling a story—this is history that truly happened. And history is a strange thing—after not too many years, it repeats itself. Supposing you were that clever person, do you think I would kill you?”
In that instant, Li Weiyang truly saw the killing intent in Tuoba Zhen’s eyes.
Of course Tuoba Zhen would jump with anxiety, because the plan to open the canal was something he intended to do in the future. But now that the Seventh Prince knew about it early, he definitely couldn’t do it anymore. Li Weiyang knew how great a blow her actions were to Tuoba Zhen, but she did it anyway, and did it right in front of him, precisely to make him furious.
The current Li Weiyang felt very much like pulling a tiger’s whiskers—extremely satisfying. Of course, this was also an extremely dangerous thing. One wrong move and she would be smashed to pieces.
Li Weiyang smiled slightly. In her clear eyes, flames seemed to dance. She suddenly took two steps forward, placing both hands on the table surface, looking at Tuoba Zhen face to face, and said softly, “Third Prince, I advise you not to act rashly. Whether you kill me or harm those around me—you will definitely regret your decision.”
Tuoba Zhen’s voice had almost frozen into an icicle: “Li Weiyang! Do you truly care about nothing?!”
Li Weiyang curved her lips and said, “Wrong. I care about many things, especially my own life. So Third Prince, don’t try to frighten me. I don’t scare easily. If by some carelessness I let slip words that shouldn’t be said, I’m afraid Third Prince would have to accompany this lowly life of mine to the grave!” Having said this, she released her hands, turned, and left.
Tuoba Zhen absolutely couldn’t believe it. He didn’t believe Li Weiyang could actually know so much. He only thought she was threatening him, intimidating him. He even felt Li Weiyang merely had some cleverness to guess his plan regarding this river water. So he didn’t take this threat seriously. Instead, with one swift step, he blocked the doorway, obstructing Li Weiyang’s only exit: “Li Weiyang! Stop right there!”
Tuoba Zhen stared unblinkingly at Li Weiyang, as if wanting to tear her entire person apart, carrying intense resentment. Bai Zhi in the room was instantly stunned. She was far away and couldn’t hear clearly what Miss and Tuoba Zhen had said, but seeing the Third Prince in such a state of lost composure, infinite fear surged in her heart. Meanwhile, Zhao Yue beside her already had her hand on her long sword.
Li Weiyang stared at him coldly. For some reason, her kind of gaze made Tuoba Zhen momentarily have difficulty breathing.
Tuoba Zhen gritted his teeth: “Without my permission, you dare leave?!”
Li Weiyang smiled slightly and extended her slender fingers to brush away the bit of wine stain on Tuoba Zhen’s chest: “Third Prince, you go your sunny path, I’ll cross my single-plank bridge. Remember to stay far away from me. Don’t follow me around all day like a lapdog. I detest you—from the first time I saw you. Remember that!” Having said this, she seemed to pat Tuoba Zhen’s shoulder very gently, then dashingly went around him, discarding him like a foul rag.
Tuoba Zhen was left standing there. A cold wind blew past. He only felt cold from head to toe. Just then, he had clearly seen bone-deep coldness in Li Weiyang’s eyes. That kind of aura didn’t seem to belong to a living person. It was as if… she were a vengeful ghost that climbed up from the eighteenth level of hell to claim his life!
Passing through a doorway, Li Weiyang didn’t go downstairs. Instead, she suddenly pushed open the door of the adjacent private room and smiled: “Seventh Prince, how does eavesdropping feel?”
The person who should have gone to find the Ninth Princess was sitting at leisure with a smile on his face showing no guilt, raising his cup: “County Princess, such courage!”
Li Weiyang sneered coldly and turned her head: “Zhao Yue, watch outside. Any idle persons who enter—kill without question!”
“Yes.” Zhao Yue and Bai Zhi withdrew together.
Only Li Weiyang and Tuoba Yu remained in the room.
Tuoba Yu raised his eyebrows and smiled: “What, the County Princess guessed early on that I was next door?”
Li Weiyang sneered once: “If the Princess was lost, naturally guards would search for her. Since you knew Tuoba Zhen had ill intentions, naturally you wouldn’t allow me to be alone with him, isn’t that right?”
Tuoba Yu smiled: “The County Princess still understands me quite well.”
“Unfortunately, I still misjudged you!” Li Weiyang said coldly. “I thought that after that last incident, even if we couldn’t trust each other completely, we were at least allies. Yet you’re doing such sneaky underhanded things!”
Tuoba Yu’s cool face flushed slightly. He had to admit he still couldn’t completely trust Li Weiyang, so he could only say, “I didn’t mean that.”
Li Weiyang suppressed the anger in her heart. Actually, Tuoba Yu had complete reason not to trust her. One must know that the struggle between princes was treacherous. If Li Weiyang were a supporter of Tuoba Zhen, deliberately appearing to lean toward Tuoba Yu, and then using that last incident to curry favor and gain trust—that wasn’t impossible! Having been mortal enemies for a lifetime, Li Weiyang knew that Tuoba Yu wasn’t someone who trusted easily.
Therefore, she moderated her displeasure and said in a deep voice, “I know gaining Your Highness’s trust isn’t that simple. So I’ve prepared many things to gain Your Highness’s trust as proof.”
“For instance?” Tuoba Yu suddenly became interested in everything she said.
“The Third Prince’s surface shows fraternal love toward his brothers and respect toward the Emperor. Actually, his ambition has existed for a long time. Not only has he long colluded with court officials, he even associates with martial artists from the jianghu. Especially in his residence, he has gathered many capable and extraordinary people. Among them, the most formidable are called the Four Generals, Three Sages, and Two Women. The Four Generals are Li Jing, Mu Yang, Zhou Heng, and Lu Lu. These four are proficient in military strategy. Especially Li Jing—thirteen years ago, under the name Li Ming, in the campaign against the southern border, he consecutively killed five hundred and six people. The army called him ‘Heaven’s Divine Dragon.’ He once commanded thousands of troops and horses with mighty authority. But eight years ago, he was expelled from the military camp for delaying important military matters while drunk. Later, Tuoba Zhen helped him forge his ancestral origin and identity to participate in the military examinations. He successfully entered the Ministry of War and currently serves as Military Advisor. Mu Yang appears to be a weak scholar, holding an idle position in the Censorate, helping His Majesty draft documents and sing praises. But this person, at age sixteen under the name Mu Yicheng, joined the Canal Gang and became Deputy Gang Leader. Zhou Heng was originally from a prominent family, but during the previous Emperor’s time, his entire family was framed—one hundred and nine people all had their heads cut off. He had just been born at the time and escaped this disaster. Later he grew up in the wilderness, eating wolf hearts raw and keeping company with tigers. Later he was subdued by Tuoba Zhen, who found ways to forge his identity and send him into the Imperial Guards. Now he’s already achieved the position of Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards’ Northern Division. Lu Lu is a street ruffian, yet he has extraordinary networking abilities—extensive connections, plus ruthlessness and skill at flattery. He’s now been arranged in the Secret Intelligence Camp, specifically handling assassinations.”
Li Weiyang smiled as she enumerated them one by one. Tuoba Yu took a deep breath. He placed both hands behind his back, then after a moment moved them to his sides, then folded them into his sleeves. Because—those matters, even he didn’t know about.
Some things, apart from Tuoba Zhen himself, no one else in the world could possibly know.
Yet Li Weiyang knew them clearly. And she was still continuing: “The Three Sages are Gao Cheng, Jing Neng, and Sun Song. Gao Cheng excels at strategy and currently serves as an advisor in the Crown Prince’s residence. Jing Neng excels at imperial statecraft and currently serves as Junior Preceptor to the Crown Prince. Sun Song’s three-inch silver tongue dares to be first in the world. Currently, he appears to be merely a profligate playboy, but at critical moments, his silver tongue can persuade all subjects under heaven for his master, achieving great merit. As for those Two Women—one has already become His Majesty’s new favorite, and one… is currently in the Fifth Prince’s residence…”
Tuoba Yu stood up, his expression beyond mere shock: “Do you know what you’re saying?”
Li Weiyang smiled: “I know you don’t believe Tuoba Zhen has such power. But over these years, he’s borrowed the Crown Prince’s financial resources and the Empress’s authority, plus Noble Consort Wu’s background, all while working for himself. Speaking of which, his acting skills are too good—that mother and son pair of the Empress were actually deceived by him for so many years.”
Tuoba Yu had a strong premonition in his heart. He knew that everything she said was true, because these things absolutely couldn’t be fabricated from thin air. But he also felt she was exaggerating somewhat. Every prince had a group of followers, all had secret agents planted in others’ residences. Tuoba Zhen’s people—he didn’t believe they could be that formidable.
Li Weiyang knew he wouldn’t believe it, wouldn’t understand how terrifying this group of people was. She said slowly, “These people are merely the tip of the iceberg. Those he can buy off, he buys. Those he can’t buy, he persuades. Those he can neither buy nor persuade, he kills. I know every prince has his own power and secret agents—those can all be bought with money. But human hearts can’t be measured with money. I dare say no one has his kind of patience and perseverance. Because not everyone loves money. If you encounter someone who doesn’t love money, can you like him spend seven days and seven nights without sleep, personally traveling ten thousand li to search for someone’s beloved object and send it to them? Can you, to recruit one person, sweep the graves of relatives they can’t visit every year on Qingming? Can you call those jianghu martial artists brothers and share life and death with them? To achieve his goal, he can disregard everything, fear nothing. Seventh Prince, these things—you still can’t do them. This is because your birth was too good. Without you giving orders, waves of people rush forward to help you. But can they be loyal to you unto death? Therefore, in this regard, you can’t compare with him—neither you, the Crown Prince, nor the Fifth Prince.”
Tuoba Yu only felt a trace of coldness shoot up from his spine. He had originally only thought Tuoba Zhen gradually developed ambitions while helping the Crown Prince. Who knew he had premeditated early on, merely using the Crown Prince and Empress as chess pieces. No wonder, no wonder he could act so filially before the Empress, so obedient toward the Crown Prince. Turns out he was a wolf that couldn’t be tamed.
Tuoba Yu sat quietly for a while before saying, “I believe you. But I want to know—how many people know about this matter?”
Li Weiyang smiled slightly and said, “Apart from the Third Prince who just angrily stormed out, only you and I remain.”
Some of these people hadn’t yet played their proper roles, but at critical moments, many currently insignificant figures would become key to Tuoba Zhen’s seizure of power.
Tuoba Yu took a long breath and said, “Will you tell anyone else?”
Li Weiyang understood what he meant by this question, so she shook her head: “No fourth person will know of this matter.”
Only after hearing this did Tuoba Yu breathe a sigh of relief. He didn’t know how Li Weiyang knew all this, but everyone had their own secrets. As long as what she said was true, how did she know it? What did it matter? Most importantly, she couldn’t tell these bargaining chips to others.
Then he still couldn’t help sighing: “Apart from this wine house, I have eighteen other places for gathering information. Over these years, the materials in my possession are countless and detailed. Yet judging from what you’ve said, out of the seventy volumes in my archives regarding Tuoba Zhen, at most two volumes are reliable. The other volumes are all false leads deliberately planted by Tuoba Zhen. This person’s scheming is truly too terrifying.”
Li Weiyang smiled slightly. In terms of insight and judgment alone, Tuoba Yu wouldn’t necessarily lose to anyone. But in terms of patience in collecting information and meticulousness in arranging matters, he couldn’t compare to Tuoba Zhen. This wasn’t strange. Ordinary people wouldn’t look highly upon a prince who posed no threat, including Tuoba Yu. He had spent too much effort on others, completely overlooking Tuoba Zhen. But Tuoba Zhen was the opposite—he refused to let any detail slip. No matter how careful Tuoba Yu was, Duke Luo’s residence was a large established household. There were always traces to follow.
“In this world, there are always people who make you careless, because they’re too cunning and vicious, always hiding like venomous snakes in dark places, biting you when you’re not paying attention. But as long as you grasp their vital point, there’s nothing to fear.”
Tuoba Yu said, “I know all these people, but I only treated them as insignificant characters. Some I even considered good friends worth cultivating. I made a great mistake. Thanks to your reminder, I’ll remember this favor. Should you need anything in the future, I’ll give my all.” His expression was clear and bright, as if speaking of some trivial matter.
But Li Weiyang, looking at those compelling eyes, knew what an important promise this was. She was silent for a moment, then smiled slightly: “Thank you.”
“What you said to Third Brother today,” the sharp light in his eyes gradually softened as he spoke slowly, “wasn’t to provoke him, but to gain my trust.”
Li Weiyang only smiled, neither confirming nor denying. After a long while, when she looked at him again, she discovered he was gazing at her serenely, the depths of his eyes seeming to hide a trace of soft light.
At some point, his interest in her had transformed into a strange kind of affection. Tuoba Yu looked deeply at her and sighed: “You…” He wanted to say more when the corner of his eye caught sight of rain falling outside. He stopped and said, “Let me see you to your carriage.”
When they left, the weather had been fine. Now it was pouring rain. Pedestrians on the street who had been viewing lanterns hurried to take shelter. Li Weiyang stood at the wine house entrance. Bai Zhi said, “Miss, there’s rain gear in the carriage. This servant will fetch it.”
“There’s some here.” In Tuoba Yu’s hand was an umbrella he’d just ordered someone to bring out.
Bai Zhi immediately moved to take it. Tuoba Yu smiled and avoided her: “Let me.”
Rainwater from the umbrella slid down his cheeks. Tuoba Yu lowered his head, his voice mixing with the falling rain and drifting into Li Weiyang’s ears: “After the County Princess returns, you may sleep peacefully.”
His profile in the rain appeared especially refined and handsome. Li Weiyang smiled and said, “I hope so.”
Li Min De was waiting in front of the carriage. He’d been out for a full hour yet hadn’t returned. Li Weiyang didn’t ask him a single question and simply boarded the carriage.
Tuoba Yu smiled and nodded to Li Min De. Min De showed a cold smile, then quickly boarded the carriage.
The carriage traveled toward the Li residence. Through the carriage curtain, Li Weiyang saw that tall figure still standing in the rain, not holding an umbrella for some reason, seeming to gaze toward the carriage’s direction, lost in thought.
Li Weiyang paused, then lowered the curtain. Behind her, Li Min De said, “Third Sister—”
Li Weiyang turned to look at him: “What is it?”
“Aren’t you going to ask where I went just now?”
Li Weiyang raised her hand to gently brush away the thin layer of rainwater on his shoulder: “To see that Yanzhi?”
Li Min De was suddenly struck speechless, unable to say a word.
Li Weiyang smiled and said, “You didn’t eat anything at the banquet earlier. I had people bring some food and wine onto the carriage. Bai Zhi.”
She called Bai Zhi’s name. Bai Zhi immediately understood and took out dishes one by one from the rosewood food box. Li Weiyang glanced at Li Min De’s pale complexion: “It’s raining tonight—a bit cold. Why didn’t you put on a cloak when going out? Never mind, drink some osmanthus wine—it dispels cold.”
Li Min De was stunned. Li Weiyang looked at him. This youth possessed clearly defined facial features, his appearance blending the softness possessed only by devastating beauties with masculine firmness—two extremely discordant feelings that were very pleasing to the eye and perfectly displayed on his face. Her gaze carried amusement: “Still not coming over?!”
Li Min De came over but held his chopsticks without moving.
“What are you thinking about?” She flicked her finger. Li Min De’s forehead hurt as he covered it with a soft cry.
“Spacing out again… looks like you’re deliberately opposing me!”
“I didn’t—” He suddenly opened his mouth wanting to explain.
Li Weiyang suddenly smiled. Though the smile was fleeting, it still left him dumbfounded.
“Don’t say things like ‘sorry I can’t tell you the truth.’ Though I really dislike mysteriousness…” She sighed. “In any case, you only need to know one thing—I absolutely won’t blame you, even if you never tell me the truth…”
Li Min De’s pupils unconsciously contracted slightly. A light of emotion flashed through the depths of his eyes, but then was shrouded by melancholy.
Li Weiyang saw the expression in his eyes clearly. She involuntarily discovered that her heart unexpectedly surged with heartache at that moment. But simultaneously, she also felt strangeness. She couldn’t help feeling dejected. Had this youth who wholeheartedly depended on her finally gradually grown up? The feeling he gave her now was truly increasingly difficult to fathom.
However, in the next moment, Li Min De suddenly rested his head on her shoulder.
“What’s wrong?” Li Weiyang was surprised.
Li Min De said nothing, resting his head on her shoulder and nuzzling. His eyes felt sour, tears welling up. Thinking that he would ultimately have to leave her, his heart actually clenched with pain.
“Since you say you’ve grown up, naturally you’ll have secrets. I’m not asking you—you should be happy. This shows I trust you.” Li Weiyang pulled him up, stuffed the chopsticks back in his hands, and even personally picked up a piece of sweet and sour sea bass and put it in his mouth. “Eat.”
The osmanthus wine wasn’t very strong and was sweetly fragrant. Li Weiyang liked it very much. Earlier at the banquet with outsiders present, she couldn’t drink much. Now together with Li Min De, she poured a cup and savored it carefully. Drinking this osmanthus wine made her feel warm throughout her body.
Li Weiyang looked at the lingering rain threads outside the window. Thinking of Tuoba Zhen’s humiliated and angry appearance earlier, she couldn’t help sneering coldly and raised her wine cup to drain it in one gulp.
Li Min De stopped and turned to look at her.
“Third Sister?” He had never seen her drink before, especially not with such an expression at such a time.
Li Weiyang was startled, then reacted and smiled: “I won’t get drunk. Don’t worry—just one small cup.”
Li Min De glanced at her cup: “But you’ve already had three cups?”
Li Min De took the cup from her hand and was about to set it down when she quickly snatched her own cup back and drained it again in one gulp.
“Third Sister?!”
“Mm?” Li Weiyang smiled. A strand of black hair curled past her crystalline translucent face. In the candlelight of the carriage, her eyes were like misty waves, gentle and light, her expression carrying a trace of helplessness. “How did you become so talkative—such a nag!”
Li Min De hastily lowered his head, seeing her snow-white fingertips holding the wine cup. The wine color was crystalline like crushed jade, yet still brightly piercing his eyes.
Li Weiyang seemed to have gotten drunk, softly collapsing onto the seat, happening to lean against him.
The rich fragrance of osmanthus mixed with the fresh scent from her body, permeating the carriage with a strange aroma that tickled from his nostrils all the way to his limbs, to the bottom of his heart.
He suddenly very much wanted to keep relying on each other like this. But a voice in his mind constantly reminded him—don’t covet, don’t sink into this warmth… your existence will implicate her, even bring her countless dangers. This isn’t where you should stay. The price of completely losing her is more than you can bear.
Li Min De lowered his head. Before him was also a cup of osmanthus wine. But he suddenly reached out and took the glass cup Li Weiyang had just used, downing it in one gulp. Yet for some reason, the taste was completely different from what he’d drunk before.
Zhao Yue guarded outside the carriage. Inside, Bai Zhi concentrated on adjusting the lamp wick. Actually, a strange feeling surged in her heart. Third Young Master seemed different from before. Originally he was a clever and intelligent youth who didn’t lack innocence. But now when he didn’t speak, she didn’t even dare chat with him. She always felt that the dominance and nobility gradually revealed in his bones was something he didn’t have before. Floating at his brows and eyes was a faint trace of indifference and coldness that only adults would have. Could Third Madam’s death really have such a great impact on him?
“Min De?” Li Weiyang seemed truly drunk, tilting her head as if not recognizing him, calling out once while her hand had already come up to pinch his cheeks.
“Ah!”
“Smile! I like seeing you smile!” She reverted to her fierce appearance.
Looking at his flushed cheeks and spring-water-like eyes, Li Weiyang couldn’t help pinching hard with her fingers.
“Third Sister, you’re really drunk!” Simply—like a different person! Li Min De was speechless, his face pinched into a bun shape.
Li Weiyang murmured, “Wine can forget worries and dispel sorrows. Min De, you should also drink some. Otherwise, being so old-fashioned at such a young age—growing up is truly scary!”
She only felt the entire world was swaying. Struggling to open her eyes and look, she saw Li Min De’s face was completely red like a tomato. She released her hands, shifted her body, and found a more comfortable angle on the seat to sleep.
Li Min De looked at her sleeping face and suddenly smiled, saying softly, “This is good too. As long as you’re happy, anything is fine.”
Tonight, he felt Li Weiyang’s mood was especially bad. Though he didn’t know why, if he could make her smile, he’d do anything willingly.
The next morning, Li Weiyang was summoned to Hexiang Courtyard by the Old Madam.
No one could have everything go smoothly at all times. Even though Li Weiyang calculated everything with ease, there were still countless troublesome matters finding their way to her. When she saw the Madam forcing herself despite illness to sit in the hall, Li Weiyang smiled very obediently: “Mother is also here. Is your health better?”
The Madam smiled: “After taking the physician’s medicine, I still don’t feel better. Sigh, my constitution has always been weak—this is unavoidable.”
Li Weiyang found it rather strange instead. The Madam had never been willing to show weakness before others. Why would she run out with such a sallow face?
In fact, yesterday evening, Duchess Jiang had sent someone to invite Li Xiaoran over for a chat. Originally, a mother-in-law inviting her son-in-law over was perfectly natural. At that time, with the Duchess’s influence, Li Changle could return. Unfortunately, Li Xiaoran actually refused outright using the excuse of being busy with affairs. This left the Duchess helpless. She couldn’t very well have her old bones run eagerly to the Li residence to plead—that would be too undignified. This matter made the Madam realize that Li Xiaoran was no longer the man who was one step lower than the Jiang family ten years ago. Perhaps even earlier, resentment toward the Jiang family had already been buried in his heart, now gradually erupting.
This being the case, she had to think of another method. Therefore, even though she could barely walk, she still forced herself to come.
“Now with so many matters in the residence, my heart is troubled. Though I’ve taken much medicine, it’s all to no avail,” the Madam came straight to the point, discussing her illness with the Old Madam. “I’m afraid I’ll need long-term recuperation…”
Hearing this, Second Madam immediately perked up: “If Elder Sister-in-law can’t manage household affairs, younger sister-in-law could share the burden for you…”
Second Madam wanted household management authority. The Madam’s expression didn’t change. She said calmly, “For now that’s unnecessary. In any case, I still have capable people under me. It’s just that matters of filial piety toward the Old Madam here—I’ll still need younger sister-in-law to manage everything…”
Second Madam’s expression turned unpleasant. Not wanting to hand over authority was one thing, but expecting her to take on all the burden of serving her mother-in-law—the Madam truly knew how to play tricks.
The Old Madam fingered her prayer beads as if hearing nothing.
The Madam also thought to ask Li Weiyang, “Was the lantern festival enjoyable yesterday?”
“Naturally it was enjoyable. Unfortunately Mother’s health wasn’t good so you couldn’t come along.” Li Weiyang’s smile was very calm.
The Madam couldn’t help sighing: “Yes. In previous years during the lantern festival, I would always take you sisters to see the lanterns. Your elder sister loved lotus lanterns most. When she saw them, she couldn’t bear to put them down. Though there were exquisite things made by craftsmen at home, she particularly preferred those made by a household under West Bridge. Truly childlike…”
She glanced at the Old Madam. The other didn’t even lift her eyelids.
The Madam immediately felt somewhat isolated. At some point, in this household, when she spoke, no one even paid attention anymore. Or perhaps they were deliberately ignoring her.
These past few months, Li Weiyang’s prominence in the Li residence had been very strong. The Madam, hiding in her room, couldn’t find peace. Every time she heard about which family had invited the County Princess to a banquet, she’d be so angry she’d nearly die. In just three short months, the strain had produced several white hairs at her temples, making her appear increasingly aged.
The Madam also took out a Buddhist sutra from her sleeve and opened it for the Old Madam to see: “That child is foolish. Hearing that blood sutras are pious, she actually pricked her finger to copy an entire Lotus Sutra for the Old Madam…”
The Old Madam didn’t even look. Having risen early today, her eyelids kept closing. She involuntarily interrupted: “What exactly did you come here for today…”
The Madam’s face turned white. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Old Madam, Changle wrote saying she has already repented. She begs you to show mercy and let her return. My health isn’t good either—I need someone by my side to attend to me. Can you bear to see me so sickly without even someone to serve medicine at my bedside?” As she spoke, she lowered her head to wipe tears.
Li Weiyang watched the Madam’s performance and sneered coldly. In Furui Courtyard, there were at least twenty or thirty maids. How could the Madam lack people to serve tea and water? Wasn’t this just an excuse to bring Li Changle back?
The Old Madam frowned: “We sent her there to reflect. She’s only been there three months and already can’t sit still?”
The Madam pleaded earnestly: “She’s been pampered and indulged since childhood. How could she have suffered such hardship? Old Madam, in your benevolence, let her return. It would be good to have someone more to attend to me.”
Second Madam said coldly, “What words are these, Elder Sister-in-law? You don’t have only one daughter. Third Miss, Fourth Miss, Fifth Miss—couldn’t they all care for you? You keep saying you treat concubine-born daughters as your own. Since you need someone to attend your illness, why not have them come? Why must it be the eldest daughter?”
Second Madam always enjoyed undermining the Madam. Raising this suggestion wasn’t strange.
The Madam forced a smile: “I’m afraid it would wrong these children.”
Fourth Concubine quickly said, “Not wronged at all. Being able to fulfill filial duties in Madam’s room is their proper duty.” As she spoke, she glanced at Li Weiyang. “It’s just I don’t know about the County Princess—”
Of course Li Weiyang wouldn’t refuse. Going to the Madam’s room to sit for a while each day would at minimum reduce the other’s lifespan by ten years. Moreover, this wasn’t something she could refuse. A concubine-born daughter fulfilling filial duties while her legitimate mother was ill—there was nothing unreasonable about it, though it was rather sudden…
A trace of something flashed quickly through the Madam’s eyes. Her mouth moved as if to refuse, but ultimately she said, “What does the Old Madam think?”
Such a reasonable request—naturally the Old Madam would also agree. So she nodded and waved her hand as if shooing flies: “Fine, fine. Let it be so.”
On the way back, Li Weiyang appeared very silent. Returning to her own courtyard, she took a book to the rocking chair to read.
Seeing she had something on her mind, Bai Zhi didn’t dare go far, just holding an embroidery frame to keep her company nearby.
For a long while, Li Weiyang didn’t say a word. The book pages hadn’t turned even once.
An hour later, she suddenly put down the book. “Bai Zhi,” her tone rarely showed hesitation.
“Why would the Madam agree to let me enter her room to attend her illness?” Li Weiyang seemed to be talking to herself, yet also seemed to be speaking to Bai Zhi. Her fingers unconsciously traced the book pages, curling them bit by bit, then slowly releasing them. This showed her mind was also rapidly turning.
“The Madam probably isn’t willing. She doesn’t like seeing Miss. That day when Miss went to see her, this servant heard she smashed quite a few things afterward.” Bai Zhi said quietly.
Li Weiyang responded with a sound, then fell silent again. If the Madam wanted to eliminate her, she needn’t go to such great lengths. If not that, what scheme was she plotting?