Chapter 64 An Embarrassing Return

Wei Xinyong had told Wei Changying everything he had to say. Since they weren’t having a harmonious conversation from the beginning, and both of them were not willing to continue the talk, Wei Xinyong said directly, “I’ll let Hunu convoy you…. Don’t worry about your journey. I can assure you that you will safely arrive in the city. However, after you return, it’s hard to say how your future goes.”

He said with a sneer and touched his throat unconsciously.

Wei Changying knew what he meant. He did it not because he had a sore throat, but in order to remind Wei Changying that she had just grabbed him by his neck, which had violated the rules that men and women should not touch each other. What’s worse, she had touched a man who was neither her family member nor her husband.

After being caught up by the assassins, they were saved by the bandits on the Fengqi mountain who were serving for Wei Xinyong. But the bandits then asked Wei Changfeng to follow them, and he was allowed to bring only one servant with him.

In order to protect his sister, Wei Changfeng agreed without hesitation. However, he was still young anyway. As what his sister considered, Wei Changfeng thought nothing good would happen if he followed the bandits, so he agreed anxiously with Wei Changying’s request of talking to him privately….

Wei Changying then knocked out her brother behind a tree and changed her robe with Wei Changfeng’s. It was raining, so they were both wearing a bamboo hat which had covered their faces. Also, it was quite dark in the woods, and Wei Changying was as high as Wei Changfeng, so she could pretend to be Wei Changfeng and go with the bandits with Wei Qing. But when she did these, she knew that her reputation was doomed.

If she were dead because of this, she could gain a reputation for sacrificing for her brother…. But if she were not, as an unmarried lady, she went into a bandits’ place only with her cousin Wei Qing’s accompany and stayed in a room with three men for a long time….

No matter which point, her reputation would be worse if what she did today was spread out. Even the Wei Family would be affected…. Therefore, the best ending for her was to be dead.

Although she knew that her sacrifice was uncalled-for, she didn’t regret replacing her brother with herself.

No matter what happened, Wei Changfeng had to be safe. She did it not only for her brother or for the eldest branch’s sake, but also for the whole branch of Wei Huan’s. Wei Changying was raised by her parents and was doted by her grandparents since her childhood, so she had to do something in order to revitalize Wei Huan’s branch.

She did it out of the same reason why Madam Song helped the Song Family without telling Old Madam Song. After all, Wei Changying was the lineal descendant of Ruiyu Hall.

Wei Xinyong had reminded her what her situation would be after she went home. The First Miss of the Wei Family, who was going to get married a few months later, met a group of assassins after seeing her cousin’s off, replaced her brother with herself, and left with a crowd of men in the woods…. Who knew what would happen next?

Although Jiang Zheng and Wei Changfeng wouldn’t tell anyone that Wei Changying had accepted a strange invitation, when Wei Xinyong’s people arrived, not all the assassins were killed. Some of them had escaped with the help of the dense woods….

Since such a serious case had happened in Ruiyu Hall, the four gates of Fengzhou, as well as this forest, must have been strictly guarded.

It was impossible to covert Wei Changfeng and Jiang Zheng’s return, and Wei Changfeng was still wearing Wei Changying’s robe…. What’s worse, if the people in Duke Jingping’s mansion knew about this….

Wei Changxian had been widowed for two years, and she had been preparing for this assassination two years ago. But she failed in killing Wei Changfeng, which had also given Wei Huan an opportunity to take control of Biwu. Since Duke Jingping’s royal heir had failed on the verge of success, how would he let go of Wei Changying?

There was no doubt that since Wei Zhengya had failed in murdering Wei Changfeng, she would feel better if she could force Wei Huan’s only lineal granddaughter to death and interfere with the marriage between the Wei Family and the Shen Family.

It wouldn’t be too difficult for him to spread out the news that Wei Changying had pretended to be Wei Changfeng and accepted an invitation. As the rumors spread, the story would become: the First Miss of the Wei Family had gone with a crowd of men in the woods and went back home as if nothing had happened…. She was neither dead nor sent back by force. Instead, she went home by herself—how would the Wei Family cultivate such a shameless lady?

Even if Wei Changying committed suicide after she went home, some radical person would regard her death as a shame of the Wei Family.

Wei Qing also knew what Wei Changying was into after she replaced Wei Changfeng, but he had the same thought as Wei Changying that such people, whose background was unknown, were not reliable. Although the bandits had saved them from the assassins, who knew what they were planning? If they took Wei Changfeng away as a hostage, what could the Ruiyu Hall do?

The reason why he accompanied Wei Changying was not only that those bandits had allowed “Wei Changfeng” to take one person with him, but also that he was ready to fight against them with Wei Changying to death.

On their way to the valley, both Wei Changying and Wei Qing were ready to die there. But who knew that Wei Xinyong was an acquaintance of Duke Changshan’s? Also, he needed Duke Changshan’s support, so even if he didn’t like Wei Changying, he didn’t intend to hurt them.

Although they were safe, what about Wei Changying’s reputation?

Having heard Wei Xinyong’s malicious reminding, Wei Qing held his knife tightly with anger. However, Wei Changying had responded quickly. As soon as Wei Xinyong finished his words, Wei Changying sarcastically replied, “We are different. After all, Zhiben Hall is a collateral branch of the Wei Family, how can you compare it with Ruiyu Hall? What’s more, your father is a son of the concubine, and he was dead! I am the lineal daughter of the clan in Ruiyu Hall, and the elders dote on me since I was born! Even if I am disgraced and was rejected by the Shen Family…, the elders won’t abandon me. They will make plans for my future. No matter what happens, I will not become a person like you, living on by betraying Zhiben Hall. So what’s the significance of laughing at me?”

Her words were so cruel that Wei Xinyong’s face turned sullen immediately!

Wei Xinyong and Wei Changying, who were nominally in the relationship of uncle and niece, stared at each other. After a while, Wei Xinyong stood up as he sneered and said, “Very well. I’m afraid you won’t know how terrible rumors are until things happen!”

It was an unpleasant conversation, and Wei Xinyong had finished his task, so they separated in no time.

In Fengzhou city. At Ruiyu Hall.

After Wei Changfeng and Wei Changying came back respectively, the tensive atmosphere in the mansion was relieved.

However….

It was just relieved.

The grandchildren of the Wei Family were attacked in the woods 20 Li from the city…. Not only the guards were all killed or wounded, but even Wei Gaochuan was injured by two arrows! Fortunately, Wei Gaochuan was under the horse belly after he fell off the horse, which had hidden him nicely. Also, Jiang Zheng had drawn the assassins’ attention and fought against them until the reinforcements arrived. However, Jiang Zheng was also badly injured.

What was worse, their lineal grandson and granddaughter were both forced to run into the woods beside the road. Fortunately, they had eventually escaped after several twists and turns.

No matter how low-key Wei Huan was, he would definitely investigate the whole case!

Therefore, when Wei Changying came back, Wei Huan was not at the Ruiyu Hall, but at Duke Jingping’s mansion…. He was busy questioning them why did Biwu slack in his duties.

In the Ruiyu Hall, Old Madam Song was crying as she looked at her granddaughter, whose clothes were dirty and in a mess. She held Wei Changying’s hand tightly and didn’t let go until Doctor Ji said for the fifth time that Wei Changying was fine except for some scratches caused by the branches. Old Madam Song then said in a low voice, “Well then, you can all leave now.”

“Yes,” the people answered obediently. Since such a big case had happened in Ruiyu Hall, they knew what they should do. Except for Chen Ruping and Wei Qing, all the people left quietly.

After they left, Old Madam Song looked at Wei Qing, who had been kneeling since he entered. She said, “You’ve done a good job.”

Wei Qing said carefully, “As your subordinate, I….”

“Nominally, you are Changfeng’s guard. However, you are also a member of the Wei Family. After all, I have to call your grandfather my third uncle. Therefore, you needn’t call yourself a subordinate when no other people are at the scene because we are a family!” said Old Madam Song. Although she looked exhausted, her tone was calm. She then said, “I’ve heard that your response in this attack was almost as quick as Jiang Zheng! What’s more, you have tried to protect Changfeng and Changying…, and you even accompanied Changfeng to accept the bandits’ invitation. I won’t treat you shabbily since you have made such great contributions!”

Wei Qing heard Old Madam Song had said “accompanied Changfeng to accept the bandits’ invitation,” and he immediately understood what she meant. He replied, “Thanks to the fifth young master’s wisdom, we managed to come back from the valley. I dare not claim credit for myself.”

Old Madam Song nodded and pulled herself together. She then said some encouraging words to Wei Qing and allowed him to go home and have a rest. After Wei Qing had left, Old Madam Song turned to Wei Changying and sighed as she said, “Thank goodness. You have come back without an accident…. You….” Old Madam Song pulsed and continued, “Take a bath and change your clothes in Xianshuang Court first. Well, Changfeng lives there now, you can tell others that you want to visit your sister first, and change your robe with Changfeng…. As to other things, we’ll talk about it after you have a good rest.”

Wei Changying was not reconciled to be laughed by Wei Xinyong, so she had refuted him without hesitation when he reminded her of the troubles that she would face after returning to Fengzhou. However, on her way back, she was still anxious. Now that she heard Old Madam Song said that Wei Changfeng was living in Xianshuang Court, she was a bit surprised and was moved into tears….

Obviously, the elders’ arrangement was out of the consideration of Wei Changying’s reputation, if she could return alive.

Now that Wei Changfeng was living in Xianshuang Court, and Old Madam Song had praised Wei Qing for accompanying “Wei Changfeng,” the elders’ intention was to confuse the time order that they had returned, so as to cover the truth that Wei Changying had accepted the bandits’ invitation instead of Wei Changfeng.

Although she had an argument with Wei Xinyong when she met him in the valley, nothing serious had happened, and she was still innocent. But according to the standard of chastity in the distinguished families, a noble lady like her should avoid letting other men see her appearance, let alone following with a crowd of men….

If this case was spread out, even if the Shen Family didn’t cancel their engagement, the Wei Family couldn’t let Wei Changying marry into the Shen Family.

As for Wei Changying, the best ending for her was to become a nun in a temple and do nothing for the rest of her life. Although the elders could feel pity for her and let someone else replace her identity in order to let Wei Changying marry somebody else secretly, she couldn’t use the nominal of the First Miss in the Wei Family and contact with the Wei Family overtly as well.

But now, Wei Huan and Old Madam Song were ready for seeing their granddaughter return alive, so they had asked their grandson to pretend to be Wei Changying and rest in her court. Now that their granddaughter had come back, she could change Wei Changfeng’s robe with hers by visiting him in the name of “visiting his sister.” By doing this, they could avoid Wei Changying from being required by the family to become a nun!

Having noticed her granddaughter’s emotions, Old Madam Song sipped her mouth and said, “At home, we elders can arrange anything for you. Good girl, there’s nothing to be worried…. No one can bully you here!”

Wei Changying believed in her grandparents’ methods. She sighed in relief and looked at her grandmother with gratitude as she said, “Ok!”

Old Madam Song had prepared beforehand. She let Chen Ruping accompany Wei Changying back to Xianshuang Court, and no one was in the courts and corridors on their way. There was no doubt that it was Old Madam Song who had ordered the people to go away. Although people would suspect, they had no evidence. After all, Wei Changying could not be defamed easily.

After going back to Xianshuang Court, they found that the court which used to be lively was quiet with its windows and doors closed. They also noticed a smell of medicine.

Wei Changying frowned and thought, “It doesn’t smell like a spirit-quieting decoction. Was Changfeng injured after that day? At that time, I have watched Uncle Jiang take him away, and it was not far from the city. Based on Uncle Jiang’s skills, he shouldn’t let Changfeng get injured…. Or did Old Madam Song make such smell deliberately to prove that ‘Wei Changying’ is resting?”

While Wei Changying was thinking, Chen Ruping had knocked on the door of the court. The door was opened from the inside, but the girl dressing as a maidservant looked unfamiliar. She was neither a maidservant in Xianshuang Court nor a maidservant in Liuhua Yard. Wei Changying was stunned as she saw the girl.