Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Helan Mingyue didn't detect anything amiss but found the young maid somewhat unfamiliar. She then realized it might be because she hadn't been back to the Duke's residence for too long.

However, the young maid's actions still seemed unusual to her.

Out of the corner of her eye, Helan Mingyue saw Yu Qizhi shake her head at her.

"Your Highness, please drink it while it's still warm; it will lose its efficacy if it cools down," the young maid said softly when Helan Mingyue hesitated.

Helan Mingyue's expression changed slightly. She set down the bowl and was about to speak when Yu Qizhi suddenly knocked it over.

The spill was executed skillfully; most of the liquid spilled onto the floor, with only a small portion staining the hem of Helan Mingyue's dress.

Yu Qizhi quickly apologized, and Helan Mingyue held her hand, providing an excuse for her: "Madam Yu, are you feeling unwell?"

Yu Qizhi paused briefly before nodding. "I suddenly felt dizzy just now and didn't mean to waste your medicine and soil your dress, Your Highness."

"Madam Yu is our guest, and health comes first. I'll take you to rest."

Helan Mingyue then instructed the young maid:

"Please have someone prepare another bowl. I'll drink it later."

The young maid did not suspect anything and left to carry out the order.

Helan Mingyue took Yu Qizhi to rest in the inner courtyard of the Duke's residence and called for her personal physician.

The physician examined the hem of Helan Mingyue's dress that had been stained by the medicine and sniffed it.

"It's a sterility drug," the physician concluded, and everyone in the room fell silent.

The person who administered the drug had such malicious intent.

No one expected that someone could infiltrate the Duke's residence to this extent.

Helan Mingyue summoned her trusted aide.

"Conduct a discreet investigation," she instructed. "Don't even tell Min Min."

The aide acknowledged the order and left.

"My father insisted on making the banquet grand, and now the residence is full of people. It's become a sieve."

Even though she had suspicions earlier, she could only send her trusted maid to watch the preparation of the medicine, which might have alerted the perpetrator.

If it weren't for Yu Qizhi accidentally spilling the medicine on Helan Mingyue's dress, allowing the physician to identify it...

The sterility drug sent chills down Helan Mingyue's spine.

The consequences were severe.

If she couldn't bear children again, the position of Crown Princess might be at risk, and the Crown Prince would likely take another wife.

This would put both the Duke's residence and the Eastern Palace in a precarious situation. Many people wished for the Crown Prince to be destabilized, and any uncertainty could affect his position.

With so many potential motives, Helan Mingyue could only suppress her thoughts and pretend everything was fine as she ordered a thorough investigation.

Helan Mingyue's hands were cold as she held Yu Qizhi's, revealing her true state of mind, far from calm.

Not knowing the situation within the Duke's residence, Yu Qizhi tried to comfort the Crown Princess.

"Dear cousin-in-law, you've saved my life." Helan Mingyue had just given birth, and if she had taken that potent drug, her health would have suffered greatly. Thus, she truly appreciated Yu Qizhi.

"How did you realize there was something wrong with the medicine?" Helan Mingyue asked.

Yu Qizhi paused, not wanting to reveal that she recognized it due to her frequent consumption of contraceptive herbs. Instead, she claimed that the young maid's behavior seemed unnatural.

"Thankfully you were here," Helan Mingyue still felt uneasy.

She continued, "Since we used the excuse that you were unwell, let's maintain the act. Would you stay overnight in the residence? I'll explain to Commander Pei."

"You can stay in my quarters; everyone in the inner courtyard is trustworthy."

Seeing Helan Mingyue's insistence, Yu Qizhi agreed.

...

The next day was the official full moon banquet, and the Duke's residence was filled with guests.

The Emperor granted the Crown Prince and Pei Jing a day off, and they would arrive after morning court.

Other relatives and friends of the Duke's residence also came to congratulate them.

"Push harder! If Jin Heng sees me like this, he'll laugh at me!"

A young girl in a wheelchair was stuck halfway down the path, and despite the maid's efforts, the chair wouldn't budge.

Yu Qizhi saw this scene as soon as she stepped out of the courtyard.

"Forget it," the girl, with lively features, was sweating from frustration. "Go get my crutches; I'll walk myself. Hurry!"

Yu Qizhi recalled that Crown Princess Helan Mingyue had a younger sister.

Their mother passed away when the sister was very young, leading Helan Mingyue to dote on her. The lively girl must be the younger sister, "Min Min."

"What are you looking at?" Helan Min suddenly noticed Yu Qizhi.

She saw that Yu Qizhi was young and beautiful, dressed not like a servant, and had just come out from the inner courtyard. Instinctively, she assumed that Yu Qizhi must be her useless cousin's new concubine.

"Are you going to help me or what?"

Yu Qizhi smiled.

"It seems this part is stuck." She stepped forward to examine Helan Min's wheelchair.

Helan Min originally disliked her cousin and, by extension, wanted to make things difficult for Yu Qizhi as well.

But Yu Qizhi actually walked over and personally squatted down to help with the wheelchair's wheel.

The sight of Yu Qizhi's focused expression and the faint scent of her hair wafting to Helan Min's nose left her momentarily stunned, unsure how to react.

With a "click," the wheelchair beneath her began to move again.

"It's fixed," Yu Qizhi said. "Just a mechanism got stuck."

"Oh."

Helan Min's cousin wasn't very smart, and the beautiful concubines he favored were equally arrogant and foolish. Never before had there been someone as gentle, beautiful, and helpful as Yu Qizhi, who also had such nimble hands.

Helan Min felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment at her earlier rudeness.

"Are you my cousin's new concubine? What's your name?" Helan Min thought her cousin's taste had finally improved.

"Min Min, mind your manners."

Helan Mingyue had just come out from the inner courtyard and heard her sister's question.

"This is the Crown Princess of Changning Marquis Mansion, our esteemed guest. Apologize quickly," Helan Mingyue introduced Yu Qizhi.

Only then did Helan Min realize her mistake, and her face turned completely red.

Usually mischievous and domineering, Helan Min always respected her sister. From her wheelchair, she bowed to Yu Qizhi and apologized, looking rather comical and playful.

"Don't take Min Min's words to heart, Ao Ying." After spending the night together, Helan Mingyue had grown closer to Yu Qizhi.

Yu Qizhi laughed and said to Helan Min, "Later, I'll draw a design for a wheelchair that should be much lighter and easier to push than this one."

"That would be a great help," Helan Mingyue said with a smile, linking arms with Yu Qizhi and walking away. "With bone injuries needing a hundred days to heal, Min Min will need it for some time. We'll have it made soon."

"Jin Heng won't be coming today, so stay put and rest easy." She turned back to remind Helan Min.

Helan Min and Jin Heng had been rivals since childhood. Hearing that the Jin family had returned to the Imperial City, she was more excited than anyone else. In recent days, she had been practicing horseback riding, hoping to redeem herself in front of Jin Heng, only to break her leg instead.

Upon hearing this, Helan Min felt a bit dejected but also realized that without an imperial summons, the Jin family wouldn't dare show up in the Imperial City to avoid suspicion.

...

In the front courtyard of the marquis mansion, guests had gathered, chatting and socializing with those they knew.

From a distance, Helan Mingyue and Yu Qizhi spotted Pei Jing. He had arrived even earlier than the Crown Prince.

Several aristocratic young masters surrounded Pei Jing, their faces filled with flattery and deference, clearly treating him as the center of their conversation.

Spring sunlight fell on Pei Jing's face, highlighting his usual air of pride and calmness.

The refined elegance of a noble family combined naturally with the decisiveness of a military general in him, setting him apart from other noble young masters with his sharp and handsome appearance.

Pei Jing seemed slightly impatient but didn't show it overtly, merely responding casually as if accustomed to such occasions and others' advances.

His gaze inadvertently caught sight of Yu Qizhi and the others emerging from the inner courtyard.

Pei Jing nodded at Helan Mingyue from afar, then focused his attention on Yu Qizhi.

Seeing this, Helan Mingyue smiled at Yu Qizhi and tactfully walked away.

Yu Qizhi approached Pei Jing.

When Helan Mingyue had brought Yu Qizhi earlier, the guests had been speculating about her identity, wondering which beautiful lady had caught the Crown Princess's favor.

Seeing Pei Jing's single glance and Yu Qizhi's immediate response, they understood: she must be Pei Jing's newlywed wife.

They had heard that the commander's wife came from humble origins, and the Crown Princess likely befriended her solely because of Pei Jing.

Pei Jing was handsome and had a promising future. Moreover, the strict family rules of Changning Marquis Mansion, prohibiting the keeping of concubines before marriage, already set him apart from other young masters entangled with maidservants.

His only rumored romantic involvement was with the eldest daughter of the Jiang family.

Not to mention the Fourth Prince's previous intention to marry his beloved foster sister to him; among the noble ladies present, many had once harbored feelings for Pei Jing.

Curiosity led them to scrutinize Yu Qizhi closely.

Someone immediately noticed something and whispered to her companion with a suggestive look:

"Look, doesn't Pei Jing's new wife resemble Jiang Luoyi somewhat?"

Thinking her voice was low enough, she didn't realize that everyone around had heard. Curiosity piqued, they restrained themselves due to their status, but their gazes lingered.

For a moment, everyone had different thoughts.

The murmurs reached Jiang Luoyi's ears.

A subtle joy rose within her, but she maintained a composed facade, pretending not to hear. Her eyes, however, couldn't help but glance toward Pei Jing and Yu Qizhi.

She saw Yu Qizhi walking towards Pei Jing, and though she couldn't hear their conversation, she observed their interaction.

Pei Jing noticed the dirt on Yu Qizhi's palm, and he frowned slightly as if displeased. Then, he naturally reached out to wipe it clean for her.

This must be how a married couple interacts...

Such simple gestures revealed an incredibly intimate relationship between Pei Jing and Yu Qizhi.

To Jiang Luoyi, this scene was painfully glaring.

Although she knew deep down that Yu Qizhi was merely her substitute, Jiang Luoyi couldn't help but clench her fists.

Why should it be Yu Qizhi by Pei Jing's side?