Chapter 10: What Will You Do?

Chapter 10: What Will You Do?

Xiaoyu Chen felt that his seventeen years of life had never been as rough and difficult as now. As the heir to the marquis, he hadn’t shouldered his responsibilities, and as a man, he couldn't protect the woman he loved.

"Mother," Xiaoyu Chen turned around, his movements hindered by the pain in his leg. He looked at Tang Shuyi with a pleading gaze, "You’ve sent Qin Meimei to the Xishan villa, which is fine, but could you perhaps take better care of her? She's never suffered hardship since she was born."

Looking at Xiaoyu Chen’s somewhat immature face, Tang Shuyi sighed inwardly. This foster son's feelings for Liu Bichen were truly sincere. If Liu Bichen felt the same about him, she wouldn’t stand in their way. But it was clear that this foolish son's love was misplaced.

"Hasn't our house already given her enough care?" Tang Shuyi's voice softened, "I told you before, relationships between people can be based on emotion or interest. Tell me, is your relationship with Liu Bichen based on emotion or interest?"

"Naturally, it's based on emotion," Xiaoyu Chen replied without hesitation.

"Good," Tang Shuyi looked at him and said, "Since it’s based on emotion, let's not talk too much about interest. In time, we'll see just how much emotion Liu Bichen has for you."

"But..."

"What is it?" Tang Shuyi interrupted him, "Are you not confident in her feelings for you?"

Xiaoyu Chen clenched his fist and said in a low voice, "No."

"Then let's give it a try," Tang Shuyi said decisively, "Starting now, you will not give Liu Bichen any additional aid. In half a year, if her feelings for you haven’t changed, I will agree to let her enter our house."

"Really?" Xiaoyu Chen was overjoyed, his eyes shining with the brightest light they had held in days.

Tang Shuyi was momentarily dazzled by his gleaming gaze, then looked away and said, "I never speak falsely. But, if Liu Bichen’s heart changes within half a year, what will you do?"

"I…" The thought of Liu Bichen changing her heart caused Xiaoyu Chen immense pain, but he still gritted his teeth and said, "If she changes her heart, I will naturally let her go."

"Good!" Tang Shuyi walked up to him, patted his shoulder heartily, and declared, "My son is decisive!"

Ah, the folly of youth!

Tang Shuyi walked towards the door, then turned back to add, "You're in charge of expelling people tonight. Ask Zhao, the housekeeper, for assistance."

"Do I also need to send a letter to Grandfather Anmu?" Xiaoyu Chen’s voice trembled with excitement. His parents had always pushed him to study and never entrusted him with any responsibilities. Now, even being assigned a minor task excited him immensely.

Seeing the eagerness in his eyes and brows, Tang Shuyi realized her son did have some redeeming qualities. At the very least, he wanted to change for the better. With an approving look, she said, "Of course, you go and speak with your grandfather."

Hearing this, Xiaoyu Chen felt a bit deflated, knowing that his secret rescue of Qin Meimei couldn’t be kept from his grandfather, who would undoubtedly scold him.

Tang Shuyi didn't care about that; she took Cuizhu and Cuiyun back to Shi'an Garden. One must bear the consequences of one's sins.

As the commotion died down, Xiaoyu Chen’s knee began to hurt again, and Changfeng hurriedly let him lean on him. Seeing this, Housekeeper Zhao asked, “Young master, should I arrange a carriage for you, or will you walk back?”

Housekeeper Zhao’s tone carried a hint of disdain, belittling the young for not being able to bear even a little pain.

How could a young man withstand such direct provocation? Clenching his teeth, Xiaoyu Chen grunted, “I’ll walk back.”

Housekeeper Zhao grinned, “I knew the young master has the backbone of a marquis.”

Xiaoyu Chen grunted again, “Prepare the carriage for me; I’m going to the Duke Tang's residence shortly.”

“Right away, young master,” said Housekeeper Zhao, bowing to Xiaoyu Chen before turning to arrange the carriage. He thought to himself that children needed to suffer a bit to grow up; the Marchioness had always spoiled her two sons too much.

Supported by Changfeng, Xiaoyu Chen limped back to his Qingfeng Pavilion. Once in his bedroom, he rolled up his pant legs, revealing knees bruised purple against his pale skin, a terrifying sight.

Changfeng hurried to get medicine while Changming muttered softly, “Why are you so stubborn? The lady wasn’t even watching you in the ancestral hall.”

“Shut up,” Xiaoyu Chen scolded coldly.

Changming pursed his lips and said nothing. Changfeng brought the medicine and applied it to the two bruised knees. Xiaoyu Chen grimaced in pain but didn’t forget to ask Changfeng, “Tell me the truth, what's the situation at the Xishan villa?”

As Changfeng applied the medicine, he said, “The food and living conditions naturally can't compare to before, but she definitely won’t starve or freeze, nor will she be overworked.”

“Exactly,” Changming chimed in, “Just endure it for half a year; think of it as a... a test for you and Miss Liu.”

Changfeng added, “Miss Liu and you have been childhood friends, your affection spanning many years; why fear this small test?”

Changming agreed, “Right, right.”

Xiaoyu Chen pursed his lips, “I know, I’m just worried about her.”

He was naturally full of confidence in their relationship.

Changfeng and Changming exchanged glances, both thinking their young master was overly confident.

“Oh, and,” Changming said, “Miss Wu, the second daughter, has fallen into the water and remains unconscious; shouldn’t you pay a visit?”

It was only then that Xiao Yuchen remembered he had a fiancée. He had no impression of Miss Wu Er, let alone any affection. He simply said, "Mother will probably send someone to visit her."

Changming and Changfeng exchanged another look, sighing for Miss Wu Er.

After applying medicine and changing his clothes, Xiao Yuchen went to the Duke Tang's residence with Changming and Changfeng.

At Shi'an Garden, Tang Shuyi was instructing Cuizhu: "When you get to the Wu's, just convey my regards to Miss Wu Er and that will suffice. You don't have to do anything else."

"Shouldn't I inquire about Miss Wu Er's condition?" Cuizhu felt that her mistress was unusually indifferent towards Miss Wu Er.

Tang Shuyi replied, "Just deliver the gifts, extend the greetings, and then come back."

Talking more leads to more mistakes. If my guess is correct, Wu Jingyun must have been reborn and is now plotting how to expose Xiao Yuchen for harboring the daughter of a criminal.

"Alright." Although Cuizhu didn't understand why her mistress suddenly changed her attitude towards Miss Wu Er, she obediently took the gifts and went to the Wu's residence.

The Wu's residence wasn't far from the marquis’s mansion; a short carriage ride of less than a quarter of an hour sufficed. The Wu family was a scholarly family, even the gate tower was elegantly constructed. Cuizhu announced her affiliation with the marquis’s mansion at the door, and soon a smiling maid around forty years old approached.

Cuizhu had seen this maid before; she was one of Madam Wu's attendants.

"Our Miss woke up last night, and our madam cried tears of joy for a good while. Miss is the apple of our madam's eye…"

On the way, the maid praised Wu Jingyun extensively, but Cuizhu realized none of it was actually flattering. She couldn't help but feel sympathy for Miss Wu Er; living under a stepmother must be tough.

After walking for a while, they finally reached Wu Jingyun's courtyard, which was quite secluded.

The maid smiled and said to Cuizhu, "Initially, our madam arranged the best courtyard for Miss, but she prefers quietness and chose this place herself."

As a servant girl, Cuizhu naturally couldn't comment, so she just smiled, followed the maid into the courtyard, and then lifted the curtain to enter the room.

Wu Jingyun was leaning against the head of the bed, her complexion pale. Despite this, she didn't seem overly frail.

She was a dignified and graceful beauty.

Cuizhu bowed to her and then said with a smile, "My mistress heard of your fall into the water and was very worried. She wanted to visit you personally, but she was tied up with affairs at the mansion."

Wu Jingyun, leaning against the headboard, recognized Cuizhu, the chief maid of the marquis's wife. They had interacted quite a bit in her previous life. She smiled and said, "I'm not in any serious trouble now. Please tell your mistress not to worry about me."

Cuizhu remembered Tang Shuyi's instructions and didn't linger long at the Wu's residence. After exchanging a few more words with Wu Jingyun, she took her leave. Watching her leave, Wu Jingyun's expression turned somewhat melancholic. During the lifetime of the previous marquis’s wife, those were the best times she had at the marquis's residence.

Despite Xiao Yuchen's affection for Liu Biqin, the Marchioness's disapproval weighed heavily on him, suppressing their relationship. However, it wasn't long before the Marchioness fell ill and passed away.

For a time, Wu Jingyun even suspected that the Marchioness's death was orchestrated by Liu Biqin. After all, Liu stood to gain the most from her demise. But these were mere speculations, without evidence to substantiate them.

However, if Liu Biqin truly was responsible for the Marchioness's death in a previous life, by preventing her entry into the Marquis's household this time around, Wu Jingyun felt she was potentially saving the Marchioness's life.

Wu Jingyun's thoughts returned to the present as she contemplated whom to inform about Xiao Yuchen harboring the daughter of a convicted traitor. Should she approach the Empress's family or the Minister of Revenue, Qi Liangsheng?