Chapter 495: You Dare to Compete with My Second Brother?

Chapter 495: Kid, You Dare Steal Someone from My Second Brother?

On the way, Yu Chongen ran into the Dowager Duchess of Xinguo Commandery out for a stroll and had to patiently accompany his grandmother for a while before finally excusing himself. By the time he went to look for Wei Shuangyan, she was long gone.

Yu Chongen could only return to his courtyard in frustration.

Yu Mingzhu was still there and came forward with concern. "Second Brother, did you manage to clear things up with Second Miss Wei?"

Her eyes shone with concern, as if she were genuinely worried.

Seeing her like this, Yu Chongen felt even more guilty. "Mingzhu, that's just her personality. Don't take it to heart. You should go rest now."

Yu Mingzhu hesitated briefly and glanced at Yu Chongen’s chest. "...Second Brother, that jade pendant..."

Only then did Yu Chongen realize that the pendant Wei Shuangyan had snatched from Yu Mingzhu’s waist earlier was now gripped in his hand.

Yu Chongen froze.

Yu Mingzhu, playing the understanding role, blamed herself. "...Second Brother, this is all my fault. I didn’t know this was the pendant Second Miss Wei gave you. Otherwise, I would never have taken it."

"Don’t be silly," Yu Chongen immediately replied. "It’s just a pendant. We’re siblings—what’s mine is yours."

Just as a hint of triumph flashed in Yu Mingzhu’s eyes, she heard Yu Chongen try to reason with her, "Mingzhu, I didn’t realize Yanyan cared so much about this pendant. I have plenty of others in my treasury—you can pick any of them. But this one... let’s forget about it."

Yu Mingzhu’s smile stiffened.

She bit her lip and gave a faint, disappointed smile. "Second Brother, don’t worry. I understand, I really do. Second Miss Wei is your future sister-in-law—how could Mingzhu ever compare..." she added pointedly.

With that, Yu Mingzhu hurried away, ignoring Yu Chongen’s frantic apologies behind her.

That evening, Jiao Shi came to see Yu Chongen and immediately tapped his forehead. "What did you do to upset your sister this time?"

Yu Chongen looked regretful but didn’t know how to explain it to Jiao Shi.

Though Jiao Shi didn’t say it outright, she wasn’t thrilled about Wei Shuangyan.

After all, Wei Shuangyan’s fate was said to doom her husband and his entire family.

Even though the Daoist priest claimed that building a pagoda with offerings until she turned twenty would lift the curse... who could say for sure? What if it didn’t work?

Still, Wei Shuangyan’s family was a commandery prince’s family, and even though Wei Shuangyan hadn’t yet been given the title of county lady, Jiao Shi couldn’t openly object.

But she certainly wasn’t as enthusiastic about the match as the commandery prince’s family.

So, no matter how foolish Yu Chongen was, he wouldn’t tell Jiao Shi this had anything to do with Wei Shuangyan. He simply admitted to upsetting Yu Mingzhu and promised to accompany Jiao Shi and Yu Mingzhu to a remote mountain villa for hot springs in a few days.

Only then did Jiao Shi drop the subject.

...

The fact that Xingxing and Daxisipo had saved the Jiping Commandery Prince made the Princess Consort of Jiping allow Xingxing to enter the commandery prince’s household. Wei Zihang was so overjoyed that he walked on air for two days straight, even grinning like a fool when visiting the Ying Prince’s residence.

Crown Prince Wei Shiqing was also at the Ying Prince’s residence and couldn’t help but point at Wei Zihang’s idiotic grin. "...What’s wrong with this kid? Did he secretly find a thousand taels of silver?"

Wei Zihang just grinned foolishly. "You don’t get it, Your Highness."

The Ying Prince’s heir, who was in on the secret, glanced at Wei Zihang and chuckled. "Your Highness, just a couple of days ago, Uncle Jiping went hunting in the mountains and fell off a cliff. Luckily, he was saved by the Lady of Blessed Peace and another old woman..."

The moment Wei Shiqing heard "Lady of Blessed Peace," he perked up. "Really?"

Wei Zihang nodded eagerly, "Right? Didn’t I just say? The title bestowed by His Majesty is truly auspicious! The Lady of Blessed Peace really lives up to her name—she’s got endless good luck! Just think, in those deep mountains, so cold and dangerous, my father even broke his bones. If not for encountering the Lady of Blessed Peace, things could’ve gone really bad!"

Everyone was amazed as they tallied up all these incidents, and concluded that the Lady of Blessed Peace was one heck of a remarkable girl.

Wei Zihang, still grinning like an idiot, blurted out in the moment: "My mother said that since we're still young now, once the Lady of Blessed Peace grows another year older, we’ll send a marriage proposal to the General of the Western Garrison’s household."

The Yingwang heir widened his eyes.

...What?

Wei Shiqing narrowed his eyes with warning.

Hmm?

You dare compete with my second brother for her?

Wei Zihang, just a clueless teenager, didn’t notice the change in the Crown Prince’s expression. He kept daydreaming out loud, "...Once Xingxing comes of age, I’ll marry her and bring her home."

Wei Shiqing gave an icy chuckle.

The Yingwang heir broke out in a cold sweat, blinking like crazy as he tried to signal Wei Zihang.

Zihang, man, Zihang... Don’t say I didn’t try to save you. How can you be so dense as to not see His Highness turning red with anger?

Perhaps the heir’s silent prayers worked, as Wei Zihang slowly realized that the Crown Prince’s expression seemed... not quite right.

Still confused, Wei Zihang asked, "...Your Highness?"

Had he said something wrong?

Wei Shiqing took a deep breath but couldn’t hold back his anger. He snapped, "How old is the Lady of Blessed Peace? Have you no shame, entertaining such thoughts about her?"

"Ah? Ah?..." Wei Zihang was dumbfounded.

Wait, hold on—

The Yingwang heir jumped in, pressing Wei Zihang’s head down into a bow toward Wei Shiqing. "You fool! A girl like the Lady of Blessed Peace—not only is she still too young now, but when the time comes, the Emperor will probably pick her husband himself!... What nonsense are you spouting? What were you thinking?"

Wei Zihang, still confused, slowly realized. "Ah... Is that so?"

He hurriedly bowed deeply to Wei Shiqing. "My bad."

Wei Shiqing glared coldly at him. "Today, it’s just us brothers here, so we can let your big mouth slide. But if you dare speak like this outside, messing with the Lady’s rep, I will hold you accountable!"

Wei Zihang quickly admitted his fault. "Your Highness is right. I was too carried away! Rest assured, from now on, I will be cautious with my words and actions, and never mess with the Lady’s rep."

That was more like it.

Wei Shiqing, still stern, gave Wei Zihang a final warning before storming off in a huff.

The Yingwang heir patted Wei Zihang’s shoulder. "Remember this—don’t you dare get so fresh about the Lady of Blessed Peace again."

Wei Zihang had truly learned his lesson, nodding like a scolded puppy. "Brothers, I’ve taken your words to heart. I truly won’t dare again."

The Yingwang heir sighed and patted his shoulder once more, changing the subject. "...Speaking of which, Qing’an has been bugging us about hitting the hot springs. When you return, ask your second sister and fourth sister—since they’re young ladies, perhaps they’d like to join us for a trip to the mountains."

Wei Zihang agreed readily.

After seeing Yu Yongliu off to the examination hall, Xingxing spent two days at home accompanying Bai Xiaofeng and Su Rouer to the temple to offer incense and prayers. Then, she packed her bags, planning to stay in the mountains with Daxisipo for a while.