Chapter 501: She is Too Scheming

Chapter 501: She is Too Scheming

"Helian Lin is investigating your identity, my lady..."

Zhe Jing's tone faltered slightly.

Su Youyue understood why he hesitated.

If Helian Lin really were Xie Yuan, why would he need to investigate who she is?

Su Youyue lowered her gaze and, after a moment, gave a slight smile. "It's alright, continue."

"Many factions have heard the news of your encounter with Helian Lin in Maple Garden that day and have launched further investigations into your identity, my lady. If this continues, they will eventually find the Shen family," Zhe Jing said.

He knew that his lady now covered her face when going out, but the issue was Qingluo.

Many envoys had gone to Dongrong, not just Prince Bei and Tuoba Xiao. Those who were interested in you back then would naturally remember Qingluo.

If someone recognized her, it would be troublesome.

Before Su Youyue could think of this, Zhe Jing took the initiative to say, "My lady, should I help disguise Qingluo a little, so the people of the Shen family won't notice, but those former Dongrong envoys might recognize her as familiar?"

Hearing this, Su Youyue nodded. "Alright, go and tell Qingluo yourself. I'll leave this matter to you. Thank you for your hard work."

Zhe Jing bowed, a hint of joy in his eyes. "It is my honor to serve you, my lady. I do not find it hard."

"Qingluo will be back soon. You can go then."

Su Youyue was pleased to facilitate more interactions between Qingluo and Zhe Jing.

Since Qingluo couldn't speak much Dongrong language, she rarely left Wutong Courtyard, and the Shen family paid little attention to her. Even if Zhe Jing altered her appearance further, it was unlikely anyone would notice.

Thinking of this, Su Youyue closed her eyes slightly to rest.

Ever since she got pregnant, her appetite had grown, and she had been feeling more tired than usual.

Just talking at the Shen family's gate had already drained her, let alone dealing with that fool, Shen Yuanyang.

Soon after, Qingluo and Jin'er returned, and Zhe Ying quickly hid behind the screen.

Both girls were visibly upset.

"Miss, those kitchen servants are treating us unfairly again!"

"Miss, they now know you might hit them, so they're avoiding us. No one responds to me, and if I try to take anything, they grab it back."

The two spoke rapidly, one in Great Shen language and the other in Dongrong language, but fortunately, Su Youyue could understand both.

"It's alright. If we take their things, I'm afraid they might poison them," Su Youyue said with a small yawn. "From now on, all the meals in Wutong Courtyard will be arranged by us. Ah Ying can handle buying groceries."

After saying this, she briefly repeated it to Jin'er.

After thinking about it, the two maids felt less angry and more relieved.

Those who disliked Miss Su might not poison the food, but they could still add something harmful.

It was better for them to prepare every meal on their own.

Once they understood each other, they immediately started discussing what to make for dinner.

Once they left, Zhe Jing stepped out from behind the screen. "My lady, should I go ahead and arrange the ingredients for Wutong Garden?"

"Go ahead," Su Youyue said with a smile.

She knew that if Zhe Jing went shopping, he would buy not only what she liked but also what Jin Er enjoyed. And she was perfectly fine with that.

The sky was gradually darkening.

In the Holy City, the streets were as bustling as ever, lit up by countless lamps.

At the Ding'an Houfu, as soon as Meng Zhiyi returned to the estate, her anger boiled over. Seeing a tray covered with cloth on the table, she didn’t think twice before she was about to throw it to the ground in a fit of rage. But before she could, the Lady of Ding'an rushed in from outside and grabbed it. "Zhiyi! What are you doing!"

Tears spilled over uncontrollably from Meng Zhiyi's eyes as she saw her mother. "Mother, that village girl from the Shen family humiliated me today. She actually called me a toad and said I was shamelessly relying on others!"

"What?" Lady Ding'an was shocked, and then furious. "How dare she insult my daughter like that!"

Meng Zhiyi's personal maid quickly recounted the events of the day, and the more Lady Ding'an listened, the deeper her frown became.

"Mother, so many people heard her call me a toad. I have no face to show in public now!" Meng Zhiyi, feeling more and more humiliated, burst into tears.

Lady Ding'an put the tray down and helped her daughter sit. "My foolish girl, all these years I've spoiled and indulged you, but you've never seen the tricks those lowly people use. You've been wronged by that cunning girl."

Meng Zhiyi, with tear-filled eyes, only half understood.

Lady Ding'an continued, "That girl may seem straightforward, but every word she speaks is laced with hidden agendas. Think about it—now, to outsiders, she doesn’t look like someone trying to snatch the marriage; instead, she appears to be returning to the estate with dignity. Isn't she being portrayed as someone pitiful, mistreated by the entire Shen family? And you, aren't you seen as spoiled, and the Shen family as harsh?"

"All of this is because she's so cunning, knowing how to play the crowd! Even if the Shen family has wronged her in many ways, filial piety is above all. How dare she publicly defy Master Shen and Madam Fang, tarnishing the reputation of the entire family!"

"She's clearly a lowly and unfilial creature!"

The more Meng Zhiyi listened, the more she felt it was true.

She hadn't realized before that the lowly girl could be so scheming. Today, she had truly suffered a big loss.

"Moreover, she has now pushed the marriage issue back to us, putting us in a difficult position. To outsiders, it seems like we, the Houfu of Ding'an, are going back on our word over a small misunderstanding."

Lady Ding'an sneered.

"If we continue to call off the engagement, it will confirm that our Houfu goes back on our word. But if we don't, your brother's plans will have to change."

"With just a few words, she has put our Houfu in a dilemma. What a schemer!"

At first, Meng Zhiyi thought Shen Nan was just hateful, but now she found her terrifying.

Such a cunning girl, how could she ever be a match for her?

"Mother, how can a country bumpkin be so scheming?" Meng Zhiyi couldn't understand.

At this point, Lady Ding'an was also puzzled.

A girl raised in the countryside, only sixteen years old, how could she be so clever, using minimal effort to achieve her goals and still manage to escape unscathed?

No, it's not that she escaped unscathed.

For now, she may seem unscathed, but the Shen family won't let her off easily in the future.

Doesn't she have any fear?

Lady Ding'an couldn't decide if the girl was clever or foolish.

It’s not impossible for a woman to make it on her own in Dongrong. Dongrong has a history of allowing women to establish their own households. But such a woman would need to be far more capable than the average man.

She would need to have either strength or wealth, or both.

At the very least, women in Dongrong can serve as military or medical officers. The Great Shen now has two female civil officers.

None of these qualities seem likely for a girl raised in the countryside.

Lady Ding'an, who hadn’t met Su Youyue, couldn’t fathom where her confidence came from.

So she tried to reassure her daughter, "Don’t worry, Zhiyi. The Shen family won’t let her off easily for this. I’ll make sure to give her a piece of my mind for you later. For now, come see your new clothes—I’ve already had someone make them for you."

Meng Zhiyi suddenly realized that the item she almost threw was her new dress. Her eyes sparkled. "Mom, if I wear this new dress, do you think Helian Lin will finally agree to marry me?"