Chapter 122

Chapter 122: Father and Son Meet As for Caiyue, she took the money that Wang Hechun's Wife had sent, but all she said were some harmless, noncommittal words. Later, she went to find the Eldest Young Madam. "This servant doesn't care for the stinking money from Wutong Yuan. Mama Wang was fishing for information all through her talk today, asking whether you had any lover in Suzhou. I understood at once—she's trying to smear your reputation!" Cui Lingrong told Caiyue to keep the money. "Since she gave it to you, take it. Money isn't stinking or not—only whether one's conscience is clear." Caiyue said she didn't want it. Nanny Qiu smiled and said, "If you don't want it, are you going to toss it into the gutter? You're quite a spirited girl." "Fine, then I'll treat everyone to extra dishes. Keeping this money would keep me up at night anyway." Caiyue handed the money to Nanny Qiu and asked her to go to the main kitchen and say that Qiushuang Zhai wanted extra dishes today. Nanny Qiu tried to persuade her a few times, but Caiyue was firm, so she had to go to the main kitchen to give the order. That evening at dinner, even the rough-serving maids in the courtyard got to eat big chunks of meat. When word spread that it was Caiyue's money that paid for it, their praise of Caiyue reached Wang Hechun's Wife's ears, and only then did she realize she had been played by Caiyue. Chen De's Wife seized the opportunity to step on Wang Hechun's Wife in front of County Princess Rongjia. "This old servant isn't trying to stir up trouble, but you spent your silver, and in return, everyone at Qiushuang Zhai got to eat big meat. The Eldest Young Madam must be laughing behind your back." "Do you think I need you to tell me that? Don't I know it?" County Princess Rongjia shot her a glare. "Go fetch Wang Hechun's Wife!" Before long, Chen De's Wife brought the woman over. County Princess Rongjia tore into her without mercy. "Didn't you say Caiyue had no cunning and you could get her to talk in no time? Well now, she took your money and treated the whole Qiushuang Zhai to big meat. You're something, really something. Are you conspiring with outsiders to swindle my money?" Wang Hechun's Wife quickly shook her head. "County Princess, please see clearly—this servant was deceived by that sly little wretch Caiyue!" Even now, she still couldn't figure out where she had slipped up, how she had failed to see that Caiyue was a wolf in sheep's clothing. "Being deceived is one thing, but you've made me a laughingstock to Cui Lingrong. What a talent you have!" County Princess Rongjia looked at Wang Hechun's Wife with disappointment. "From now on, just mind your own duties. I don't need you meddling in matters close to me." Wang Hechun's Wife's heart sank. The County Princess no longer wished to favor her—she had lost to Chen De's Wife. But no matter how she wept and begged, the County Princess refused to give her another chance. She had worked so hard to serve at Wutong Yuan, and now, because of Caiyue, she had lost the County Princess's trust. Wang Hechun's Wife found an opportunity to block Caiyue's path. "Why did you harm me?" "What is Mama Wang saying? How have I harmed you?" Caiyue pretended not to understand. Wang Hechun's Wife said, "Stop pretending. You took what I gave you, but behind my back you told the Eldest Young Madam everything. Caiyue, oh Caiyue, I never imagined you were such a scheming person!" "Mama Wang's words are unfair. I'm a person of Qiushuang Zhai, so naturally my affairs should be reported to the Eldest Young Madam. I thought you gave me things because we got along well, so I told you everything about my life from childhood to now—isn't that good enough?" Caiyue paused, then added with emphasis, "Oh, I see now—were you trying to buy me off and turn me into your spy?" Her voice grew louder, startling Wang Hechun's Wife into frantically looking around. Caiyue snorted. "I'm the one who misjudged you. I thought you were a good person, but it turns out you had ulterior motives. Mama Wang, I advise you to behave yourself, or one day when lightning strikes you, you won't even know what you did to deserve it!" After cursing her out, Caiyue felt immensely satisfied. On her way back, she could barely hold in her laughter. The moment she stepped into Qiushuang Zhai, she eagerly pulled Nanny Qiu and Caixia aside and said, "You should have seen her face—black as coal, like she wanted to eat me alive!" Nanny Qiu said, "I heard the County Princess scolded her. She lost the County Princess's trust, so she took her anger out on you." Caiyue laughed playfully. "Serves her right. She thought I was easy to push around, but little did she know I was just putting on an act!" Just as she finished speaking, she spotted Er Shun arriving. Caiyue and the others all looked over and asked what was the matter. Er Shun said it was nothing much. "Just some business at the cloth shop. Is the Eldest Young Madam in?" Nanny Qiu said the Eldest Young Madam was taking her afternoon nap. "I'll go in and check—she's probably about to wake." When Nanny Qiu entered the room, the Eldest Young Madam was already up. "You're awake—why didn't you call us?" "I heard you all chatting happily, so I got up on my own." Cui Lingrong told Er Shun to come in. Er Shun glanced around, and Nanny Qiu immediately understood, telling Caixia to pour Er Shun a cup of chrysanthemum tea. Only then did Er Shun speak. "Eldest Young Madam, Young Master Yu sent word. He said the people they encountered on the road weren't bandits—they were assassins." Hearing the word "assassins," Cui Lingrong furrowed her brows tightly. "Who wants his life?" Er Shun shook his head. "Young Master Yu didn't say. He was afraid you'd worry, so he sent someone ahead to let you know, but to act as if you don't know anything. He's met up with General Xie and will return to Bianjing together with him." Hearing that Xie Yunting was traveling with him, Cui Lingrong immediately breathed a sigh of relief. She had worried for so many days, and finally hearing news of her brother put her somewhat at ease. But who could it be? Was it County Princess Rongjia again? Cui Lingrong thought it was highly likely. The previous few times, it had been County Princess Rongjia who made the moves, trying to harm Zeyu, but each time she had managed to evade detection. This time, she had actually sent assassins to pursue and kill him. Thinking of how her younger brother had nearly died in a foreign land, Cui Lingrong couldn't help but take a deep breath. "I've heard about this matter. You two should pretend you know nothing." After Er Shun left, Cui Lingrong asked, "Nanny Qiu, do you think it was County Princess Rongjia?" Nanny Qiu said it was possible. "Otherwise, this old servant cannot guess who else it could be." "I think so too." "Fortunately, Young Master Yu is blessed and was able to encounter General Xie. With General Xie traveling alongside him, you need not worry." "Yes." Cui Lingrong still furrowed her brows tightly, though. Her younger brother had escaped death by a hair's breadth—she wondered if he had been injured. At this moment, Cui Zeyu had changed into soldiers' clothing and was mixed in with Xie Yunting's ranks, just entering through the eastern city gate of Bianjing. Xie Yunting rode on horseback, with Cui Zeyu following closely on his right. "Once we're in Bianjing, you'll have to endure some hardship for a while, eating and sleeping with my brothers here. They're rough men, but if there's anything that doesn't suit you, just say so directly." Xie Yunting tilted his head to look over. Having been away from home for so long, his stubble was dark against his skin, and his smile was roguish and mischievous. "Once we find the one who wants to kill you, I'll tie him up and bring him before you. If he's a man, I'll castrate him!" Cui Zeyu was amused into laughter. "Then Lord Qian will surely be so scared he'll piss his pants." In their view, Qian Jin was the most likely suspect. Xie Yunting snorted. "I want to see him piss his pants. If he dares to send assassins, is he afraid I'll castrate him?" As the two spoke, the common folk around them all looked over. Those who recognized Xie Yunting, upon learning that he was returning in triumph from suppressing bandits, all cheered for him. Meanwhile, the Duke of Dingguo, sitting in the teahouse, had just cast his gaze over when his eyes landed directly on Cui Zeyu. At that moment, Cui Zeyu seemed to sense something and looked up toward the teahouse. Their eyes met, and both pairs of eyes went from disbelief to shock. Then the Duke of Dingguo rubbed his eyes, confirming that his vision was not failing him with age. His heart pounded wildly in his chest. This was the first time he had seen someone who bore such a striking resemblance to his son in his youth. Was it the same person? The Duke of Dingguo rushed down from the teahouse, chasing after Xie Yunting's procession, eager to verify with his own words.