Chapter 711: The Return of the Third Young Master

Chapter 711: The Third Young Master Returns

A flood of memories surged violently in Zou Pingping's mind. Covering her mouth, her expression morphed from shock into growing madness.

No wonder... no wonder!

Zou Pingping wanted to laugh hysterically at the heavens!

No wonder Zou Wan Shi had managed to wheedle money out of Zou Mingzhu time and again!

No wonder Zou Pingping had always felt there was something strange about how Yu Mingzhu treated her!

That gilded, highborn young lady was actually her sister!

At this thought, Zou Pingping's face went rigid.

She had once used the secret between Yu Mingzhu and Zou Wan Shi to bluff Yu Mingzhu. At the time, Yu Mingzhu hadn’t batted an eye—clearly, she had known Zou Pingping was bluffing!

And yet, Yu Mingzhu had still revealed to her that she and her eldest brother were planning to meet at White Horse Temple.

Then, eagerly, she'd rushed to White Horse Temple, only to be yanked into the woods by thugs on the temple’s path...

The more Zou Pingping thought about it, the paler her face became.

All of this was way too "convenient"!

So "convenient" that the mere thought of it made her skin crawl!

Her expression cycled between ghostly pale and sickly green. Anxious and neurotic, she chewed her nails to the quick, her emotions shifting wildly.

Finally, her expression fixed into something quietly unhinged.

She thought—if the eldest daughter of the Duke of Xinguo’s household could be her blood sister, then why couldn’t the eldest young madam of the Duke of Xinguo’s household be her?

After all, it was already outrageously impossible!

After all, her parents were already conspiring to pick a "good day" to ship her off to her doom!

If she didn’t lose it now, what else could she do?!

The madness in Zou Pingping’s eyes gradually solidified, finally crystallizing into a chilling smile at the corner of her lips.

......

"Dowager Duchess, trouble's brewing."

Nanny Qingluan hurried over and whispered a few words into the Dowager Duchess of Xin’s ear, causing the Dowager Duchess’s expression to shift slightly.

"How could this be?"

Nanny Qingluan nodded firmly. "The news just came from our informants in the Zou household... Miss Cen personally delivered her back to the Zou family. Given how ruthless that couple is, things could turn deadly. This Third Miss Zou might not make it."

The Dowager Duchess went quiet briefly—she clearly believed this.

But her silence was more about weighing a graver possibility.

Could this truly have been nothing more than just some random mishap?

"Additionally... our spies in the Zou household reckon that Third Miss Zou likely knows that Miss Cen shares her blood."

The Dowager Duchess of Xin frowned slightly.

She had met that Third Miss Zou before—young, timid, and somewhat foolish, her desires so obvious they were plain to see.

If this Third Miss Zou knew she was doomed and had just learned that Yu Mingzhu was her own sister, you had to wonder what she'd do.

As the Dowager Duchess of Xin pondered, a maid pushed aside the curtain and bustled in cheerfully. "Congratulations, Grandmother! The Third Young Master has returned!"

Now this was good news.

The Dowager Duchess's face brightened.

After all, the Third Young Master of the Duke of Xinguo's household, Yu Chongting, had been away studying for years without returning home.

"Where is Chongting?" the Dowager Duchess asked.

"The Third Young Master said he was travel-weary and dusty and wished to change his clothes and bathe in his courtyard before coming to pay his respects to you," the maid replied with a beaming smile.

The Dowager Duchess nodded approvingly. "Good, good!"

The news of Yu Chongting’s return somewhat helped lift the gloom brought by the Zou family’s unpleasant affairs. The Dowager Duchess instructed the maid to steep some chrysanthemum tea.

She still remembered that her third grandson, despite his youth, had the tastes of an old man—he particularly enjoyed chrysanthemum tea.

"Grandmother, there’s one more thing..." The maid wavered, unsure if she should say.

"Speak plainly," the Dowager Duchess said.

The maid lowered her head. "...The Third Young Master did not return alone. He brought a young lady with him, and she is currently with the Duchess."

The maid kept her head bowed, not daring to say more.

The Dowager Duchess paused. It seemed the girl he brought back was not some servant girl he'd picked up on the road—her status must be unusual.

However, the Dowager Duchess wasn't about to meddle too much in her grandson’s choices. She nodded, not reacting with the icy disapproval the Duchess, Jiao Shi, had anticipated by immediately expelling the girl.

Her tone remained gentle. "Since she is a guest brought by Chongting, tell the Duchess to extend proper hospitality."

The maid bowed in acknowledgment and quietly withdrew.

Before long, Yu Chongting, freshly bathed, walked into the main hall straight as a pine.

He knelt properly and kowtowed three times before the Dowager Duchess, completing the full ceremonial bow. "This unfilial grandson of yours has not returned home for years, making you worry and miss me. How is your health, Grandmother?"

His words nearly brought tears to the Dowager Duchess’s eyes.

"My good child, your grandmother is perfectly well," she said with tears in her eyes, waving him closer.

Jiao Shi trailed after him, her eyes red from recent tears.

"Has Third Brother returned?"

Yu Mingzhu’s excited voice called from outside the curtain.

She had been out and, upon hearing of her third brother’s return, rushed back to the Duke of Xinguo's household.

The maid responsible for announcements stood by for the Dowager Duchess’s word before allowing Yu Mingzhu to enter.

The Dowager Duchess's smile dimmed a little. "Let her in."

The maid went to do as told.

Yu Mingzhu soon appeared in the room. She called out "Third Brother" and quickly stepped forward, approaching Yu Chongting, but tears soon fell from her eyes.

She was clearly overwhelmed.

Yu Chongting looked at Yu Mingzhu with a smile. "After being away for so many years, Zhu Zhu has grown into a fine young lady. I've brought you a gift as well—I’ll give it to you later."

Yu Mingzhu choked back a sob. "Even though Third Brother was away, you never missed sending gifts for my birthdays or festivals. I understand how much you care for me."

Madam Jiao was deeply moved.

With her two older sons not doing well and having gone through so much, their treatment of Zhu Zhu was far from what it used to be.

At least Third Son still cherished Yu Mingzhu as always.

Yu Chongting smiled but then suddenly addressed the Dowager Duchess of Xin. "By the way, Grandmother, I've decided to remain in the capital this time to focus on my studies instead of traveling abroad, in preparation for next year’s imperial examinations."

This was welcome news indeed. The Dowager Duchess nodded repeatedly. "Good, good."

Madam Jiao was so overcome she nearly wept again.

Ming Zhu was delighted. She stepped forward and tugged at Yu Chongting’s sleeve. "Third Brother, you can't imagine how Mother worried about you all these years. So many times, she would gaze southward and would start crying, fearing you weren’t eating well or keeping warm. Now that you’re staying in the capital, you can spend more time by her side and show your filial devotion."

These words moved Madam Jiao even more.

Her precious Zhu Zhu always thought of her first...

Yu Chongting’s gaze softened, and he nodded. "Set your heart at ease, Mother. From now on, I’ll spend more time with you. Qiyi too will join me in serving you dutifully."

"...Qiyi?"

Ming Zhu stiffened slightly.

Madam Jiao's face went rigid.

Yu Chongting’s eyes grew even gentler. He turned to the Dowager Duchess and bowed deeply again. "Grandmother, I haven’t yet told you—this time, I’ve brought a young lady back with me. I mean to make her my wife."

Yu Chongting spoke calmly, but his words sent shockwaves through the room!

Jiao Shi felt dizzy and had to steady herself by gripping her maid’s arm.

That her son had brought home some girl of unknown background was one thing, but declaring outright that he wanted to marry her—that was outrageous!

And right now, apart from knowing the girl’s name was Sun Qiyi and that she was modest in appearance, she knew absolutely nothing else about her!

What was her family background? What was her character? She knew nothing!

Yet her son was already announcing his intention to marry her!

No wonder Madam Jiao felt like she couldn't breathe!

Ming Zhu's face was equally frozen.

After a moment, she forced a stiff smile. "Third Brother, you’ve only just returned, and suddenly you bring this up—this is... most unexpected."

Yu Chongting’s expression grew even more tender. "Qiyi is a wonderful girl. I would never wrong her."

Outwardly, Ming Zhu's expression was calm, but her tightly clenched hands hidden in her sleeves still gave away her true feelings.

How can this happen again!

Someone is here to share her affection!

However, the old madam of the Marquis of Xing’s household reacted more mildly than Lady Jiao and Mingzhu, even smiling.

"A girl who can make our Chongting say such things must be truly remarkable," the old madam teased. "I remember when Chongting was young, he would always say he wouldn’t marry and would spend his life traveling."

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Chongting’s face.

But he still insisted, "That’s because Qi Yi is really wonderful. Grandmother, Qi Yi is outside right now. Would you like to meet her?"

The old madam nodded, about to agree, but Lady Jiao couldn’t help but interject, "Wait a moment!"

All eyes in the room turned to her.

Lady Jiao clutched her handkerchief, forcing a smile. "...Chongting has just returned, and Miss Sun needs some rest. Meeting her mother-in-law so suddenly wouldn’t be proper, would it?"

The old madam’s expression cooled. "What you’re saying, Elder Daughter-in-Law, is that meeting a junior is a matter of propriety?"

Chongting paused.

He looked at the old madam, then at his mother.

He remembered that before he left on his travels, his grandmother and his mother had a good relationship. His grandmother would sometimes affectionately call his mother by her nickname, A Tong.

Not like now, with the cold and distant "Elder Daughter-in-Law."

It seems that while he was away, many things have happened in the household...

Yu Chongting thought to himself and bowed slightly, "Grandmother and Mother, please rest assured. Qi Yi is an excellent young lady; she will never offend you... Grandmother, she is the one I have decided to spend my life with. If there is anything improper, I beg for your forgiveness."

With Yu Chongting speaking so earnestly, it was clear that Lady Jiao could no longer prevent the old madam of the Marquis of Xingguo from meeting Sun Qi Yi.

Lady Jiao's face turned pale, and she bit her lower lip slightly.

The old madam of the Marquis of Xingguo smiled even more warmly, "Good child, go and invite Miss Sun over."

Yu Chongting responded happily and turned to leave to fetch Miss Sun Qi Yi.

As soon as Yu Chongting left, Lady Jiao, clutching her handkerchief in anxiety, could not help but speak up, "Mother, do you really intend... to let Chongting marry a woman of unknown background?"

The old madam of the Marquis of Xingguo's expression remained calm, "I haven't even met her yet, and you're already calling her of unknown background. Is it because you simply dislike Miss Sun, or because Chongting didn't choose one of the noble ladies you picked for him, which you don't like?"

Lady Jiao's face grew even paler.

She clutched her handkerchief tightly but ultimately remained silent.

Soon, Yu Chongting returned with a young lady.

Clearly, this was the Miss Sun Qi Yi he had mentioned earlier.

The girl was delicate and refined, her features, though not particularly stunning individually, combined to form a pleasing visage.

And the more one looked at her, the more appealing she became.

Her gaze was clear and steady, and she greeted the old madam of the Marquis of Xingguo with neither arrogance nor humility, "I pay my respects to the old madam."

The old madam of the Marquis of Xingguo observed her calmly and found that Sun Qi Yi was quite to her liking.

"Miss Sun, is it?" The Dowager Duchess of Xin smiled and gestured for her to sit, cutting straight to the chase. "Just now, Chongting told us he would marry no one but you, which really caught us off guard."

A faint blush appeared on Sun Qiyi's face, yet she remained composed and graceful as she replied, "Chongting has been completely devoted to me."

Jiao Shi couldn't hold back, exclaiming, "This is absolute nonsense! Marriage has always been arranged by parents' arrangements and proper matchmakers. Who ever heard of such—"

Yu Chongting snapped, "Mother!"

Jiao Shi was silenced, her resentment growing deeper.

This was her beloved son, who hadn’t returned home for years!

Now, the moment he was back, he defied her—for some stranger—and even interrupted her!

Yu Mingzhu spoke softly, "Third Brother, Mother is just worried sick. After all, we know nothing about this Miss Sun. For you to come back out of nowhere with this bombshell, naturally, Mother finds it hard to accept. You should try to understand her feelings."

Her words were beyond reproach. Yu Chongting took them in, while Jiao Shi looked at her daughter with grateful tears.

Her son was a complete disappointment!

At least her daughter was a comfort!

Sun Qiyi glanced at Yu Mingzhu and smiled at her.

But Yu Mingzhu’s expression chilled, convinced this Sun woman was trying to get under her skin.

Yu Chongting stood and declared, "Grandmother, Mother, Qiyi is from the Jiangnan region. Her ancestors once served in the imperial medical bureau of the previous dynasty. Later, when war broke out, her forebears left the palace to become itinerant doctors, journeying across the land. Her family has practiced medicine for generations—perfectly respectable, not some nobody."

Jiao Shi took a deep breath.

"Practiced medicine for generations"—was that supposed to make them respectable?!

It sounded like some down-and-out family!

If boasting about ancestors serving as imperial physicians was all they had, it only proved there was no one else worth mentioning in their lineage!

Jiao Shi’s expression grew increasingly unpleasant.

Meanwhile, the Dowager Duchess of Xin responded with interest, "Oh? Miss Sun knows medicine? You must compare notes with Xingxing sometime."

At these words, Yu Mingzhu’s face nearly darkened uncontrollably.

Yu Chongting chuckled, "Grandmother, who is Xingxing?"

The Dowager Duchess’s expression softened further. "You’ll meet her when she visits in a couple of days. Xingxing is a wonderful young girl. Without her help in regulating my health these past two years, I would have been done for by now."