Chapter Twenty-Five: The Duke's Visit

Feng Jinye believed that Weishao Qianyu was unaware that, for all these years, the War Prince was actually Huangfu Chen. “What if I told you that the one who wishes to marry you is Huangfu Chen?” he said.

Weishao Qianyu silently regretted mentioning Huangfu Chen, but she did not want him to always stand between her and Feng Jinye in his heart. She sighed inwardly, raised her eyes to meet his gaze, and answered firmly, “If it’s Huangfu Chen, I will not marry!”

Those four simple words spoke her heart’s truth: If it’s not you, I will not marry.

Feng Jinye’s heart trembled. But imperial marriage decrees were not something one could refuse so easily. He was surprised by her innocence, so like a young girl, but the next moment, her words changed his view entirely.

“I’ll run away from the wedding, defy the decree, take my father with me, I could even destroy my own face and return to the Duke’s manor as Lady Lu. Besides, I could even go back—” Weishao Qianyu abruptly stopped, unwilling to mention ‘Xiao Yu Mountain Villa’ and remind him of the day she had tried to assassinate him.

Feng Jinye was shocked. When the Emperor bestowed the marriage upon him, he too had tried to refuse, but he worried about the consequences of defying the imperial edict and the Duke’s family’s reputation, so he reluctantly agreed. He never imagined Weishao Qianyu would dare to dream so boldly. He forced a smile, “Then why didn’t you escape when the Emperor decreed a marriage between you and me?”

“That’s because it was you!” she said without the slightest pretense, her eyes filled with gentle laughter. Having spoken, she gazed quietly at Feng Jinye, awaiting his response.

He seemed not to have heard her clearly, a little dazed, staring at her—her eyes shone like bright stars, brimming with joy...

A couple of fake coughs from Chujiu brought Feng Jinye back to reality, and his expression immediately darkened.

Chujiu knew his appearance was untimely, but as they were almost at the gate of the War Prince’s manor, he had no choice but to report: “Princess, there’s news from outside—the Duke’s carriage is heading here. The Duke is your grandfather; does Princess wish to greet him outside? I came to report.”

He finished speaking and vanished before Weishao Qianyu could reply.

She paused thoughtfully, quickly understanding why the Duke had arrived without notice. She laughed, “No wonder I’m so clever—it must run in the family!”

Turning, she picked up Feng Jinye’s cloak and draped it over him, then tied a butterfly knot at his chest, standing on tiptoe.

Her actions soothed Feng Jinye’s heart. Yesterday she had untied his cloak, today she tied it back on—he could not help but smile.

Seeing him unmoved, Weishao Qianyu grabbed his hand to lead him outside, murmuring, “You need to put away your princely airs; that’s my grandfather. If he tries to salute you, you must support him—you cannot allow him to bow to you, understand?”

Feng Jinye stared in surprise at her slender, cool hand on his wrist, and stopped in his tracks.

Weishao Qianyu frowned as he halted again.

But Feng Jinye gently pulled her hand from his wrist and placed her palm in his own, holding it, unwilling to let her suffer the cold.

The warmth in her palm made her smile knowingly; Feng Jinye was still the same as before, little had changed.

He regretted, inwardly, letting her drag him from the study without even a hand warmer.

When they reached the gates of the War Prince’s manor, the Duke had just stepped down from his carriage. Weishao Qianyu hurried forward to support him, softly calling, “Grandfather.”

Outside, the Duke was her grandfather, and she was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Lu family.

Without prompting her, Feng Jinye did not prevent the Duke from saluting, but instead, he was the first to bow, echoing, “Grandfather.”

Weishao Qianyu was moved, unable to help but praise Feng Jinye’s cooperation.

Weishao Qianyu wanted to help her grandfather off the carriage, but though his temples were frosted with age, his steps remained steady, and he needed no help. He laughed, “Your little nephew kept pestering this old man to see his aunt, so I had no choice but to bring him here!”

No sooner had the Duke finished speaking than a child, not yet three years old, emerged from another carriage and ran over, calling, “Aunt!”

The child was none other than Lin Rui, the son of Lu Yanran.

“Rui’er is here too!” Weishao Qianyu bent to pick him up, pinching his cheeks with a smile.

“It’s cold outside, let’s go inside!” she said cheerfully.

She noticed the common folk nearby watching them; the War Prince’s manor was in the less prosperous west of the city, surrounded mainly by ordinary people. The Duke’s grand arrival was sure to draw attention.

She understood well the Duke’s thoughtful arrangement.

The entire Duke’s household came: the Duke, Lu Qin, Lady Lu, Lu Yanran, and Lin Rui—all except Lu Liyuan, who was guarding the border. It was a true family affair.

With this public display, rumors would soon collapse of their own accord. The Duke’s manor had two legitimate daughters, each married; outsiders had confused them, but now it was clear—no problem at all. Lin Rui’s cry of “Aunt” was the perfect evidence.

They all gathered in the main courtyard of Listening Wind Pavilion. Weishao Qianyu, using her usual coquettish tone, complained to the Duke, “Why did you come without telling me, Grandfather?”

His visit had three purposes: to dispel rumors about the Lu family’s daughter and the War Princess; secondly, because yesterday Weishao Qianyu and Feng Jinye had quarreled fiercely at the Duke’s manor; and thirdly, today was Weishao Qianyu’s birthday.

“Today is your birthday; of course your grandfather had to come see you!” he said kindly, holding her hand.

“Well, then did you bring me a birthday gift?” she asked, unabashed.

“This gift is more than enough—I brought the whole family to help clear away all the rumors outside!” he laughed.

Publicly, Weishao Qianyu and Lu Yanran were twin sisters, their birthdays the same. Today’s celebration would not be grand; she simply kept her family for an evening meal.

“Thank you, Grandfather!” she said. “You must stay for dinner tonight—I’ll make arrangements.”

“Yes, it looks like you two are getting along now!” The Duke had not missed Feng Jinye holding her hand as they entered. He spoke sternly, “Qianyu, your grandfather must say this: how can you lose your temper so easily? It was fine at home, but elsewhere, where would that leave Jinye’s dignity?”

She nearly burst out laughing, but replied, “Grandfather’s guidance is correct!”

She thought, “Grandfather, if you keep bringing up old quarrels, my prince’s pride will suffer!”

Feng Jinye sat quietly sipping tea. It was embarrassing to have yesterday’s fight mentioned—if word spread, the next rumor in the capital would be “The War Prince fears his wife.”

Weishao Qianyu made sure to protect his dignity. She got up to change his teacup, saying, “Grandfather loves to joke. My prince is generous and indulges me, never holding grudges.”

The Duke laughed heartily, then turned to Feng Jinye, “Qianyu’s temperament—I truly don’t know how you manage her!”

Feng Jinye was unsure how to respond, but after a moment said, “For her birthday today, I cooked longevity noodles.”

Weishao Qianyu paused, surprised—he had cooked the noodles himself!

Hearing that the War Prince had made noodles for his granddaughter, the Duke laughed again. It seemed all his worries about the young couple were unfounded.

The Lu family planned to stay for dinner. Before the meal, Feng Jinye and the Duke played chess, with Lu Qin watching.

Qingxia played with Lin Rui in the courtyard, while Weishao Qianyu drank tea and chatted with Lady Lu and Lu Yanran.

Lu Yanran had changed much; today, Weishao Qianyu noticed Lin Rui was not close to his mother, but more attached to his grandfather—a generational bond, growing stronger with each generation.

Lady Lu regarded Weishao Qianyu differently now. The recent rumors—and earlier troubles—had been managed thanks to her. If not, Lu Yanran would have been drowned in scorn upon leaving home.

Though the latest incident targeted the War Princess, it dragged the Duke’s manor into the fray; had it been Lu Yanran, she would not have managed so well.

Lu Yanran recalled how, at the poetry gathering, Weishao Qianyu had scolded her—she had only thought of the Princess’s glory, never the burdens behind it.

Lady Lu admired Weishao Qianyu’s skill in handling affairs. If Lu Yanran had stayed in the prince’s manor as a concubine, the family’s reputation would have been ruined. She shuddered to think—the eldest son, Lu Liyuan, was not yet engaged!

Weishao Qianyu did not know how Lady Lu and Lu Yanran viewed her; she simply drank her tea, unwilling to invest effort in relationships that tired her.

Yet she couldn’t help glancing at Lu Yanran from time to time, making her uneasy.

Weishao Qianyu wondered if Lu Yanran had known about the poison at the poetry gathering, when she had tried to harm the original host.

Suddenly, Weishao Qianyu asked, “How is Aunt?”

Lu Yanran was startled, answering woodenly, “She’s well.”

Weishao Qianyu, searching for words, asked again, “Did Aunt not return to the capital with you?”

Lu Yanran answered every question, sounding like a bullied wife: “No.”

Finding conversation tiring, Weishao Qianyu asked directly, “I wish to ask you, cousin, about the matter of poisoning at the poetry gathering years ago.”

“Weishao Qianyu, you—” Lu Yanran, hearing the topic, assumed Weishao Qianyu was reopening old wounds and dropped her meek demeanor, calling her by name.

Weishao Qianyu understood: clearly, kindness was useless with Lu Yanran—only the authority of the War Princess brought a reaction.

“Rest assured, cousin, I will not pursue your actions then. I only want you to recall—did you see anyone suspicious at the time?” Weishao Qianyu softened her tone.

When she had arrived, she woke up in the midst of the poetry gathering, surrounded by strangers, knowing no one—she could only seek clues from Lu Yanran.

Lu Yanran calmed a little and thought hard. “I don’t recall anyone suspicious. The most suspicious person was you, always hiding behind a curtain.”

“Was Luo Yanqing present at the poetry gathering?” Weishao Qianyu deliberately guided her thoughts.

Lu Yanran paused. She remembered Luo Yanqing vividly, but did not find her suspicious. “Yes, she was there—she even bumped into me!”

Such coincidence? Could Luo Yanqing truly be connected to the events twelve years ago?