Yun Wenfang wore a smug, punchable grin. "I just made sure everyone who needed to know learned about the 'good deeds' of Miss Wu!"
Even with his excellent self-restraint, Yun Wenting was left speechless with anger after hearing this.
Yun Wenfang remained utterly indifferent. Suddenly, Yun Wenting thought of something. "You did this on purpose? You want to go to Jiajing Pass but were afraid the family wouldn't agree, so you deliberately stirred up this mess to make it impossible to handle?"
Yun Wenfang gave a roguish smile. "Don't lump me in with you scheming lot." Yet, he didn't deny Yun Wenting's words.
Yun Wenting was considering whether to use his old trick—knocking this little troublemaker, who thrived on chaos, unconscious and dragging him back for family discipline—when he saw a sedan chair emerge from the direction of Moon Embracing Pavilion. Following beside it were Granny Duan and Hongying, the head maid serving Xiao Jinglin.
Seeing the sedan chair, Yun Wenting initially thought Xiao Jinglin was going out. But upon second thought, he realized that wasn't likely. Xiao Jinglin couldn't even stand riding in a carriage, let alone a sedan chair.
A moment later, Ren Yaohua hurried out from Moon Embracing Pavilion as well. Yun Wenfang had earlier seen Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoyin enter Moon Embracing Pavilion together, but now only Ren Yaohua emerged. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow thoughtfully, recalling the sister Wu Yiyu had mentioned who betrayed Ren Yaoqi.
Yun Wenfang glanced once more toward Moon Embracing Pavilion, thinking it seemed he wouldn't get to see her today. He felt a pang of regret, wondering if he'd have a chance to see her before leaving Yunyang City.
With this in mind, Yun Wenfang stepped forward, slung an arm around Yun Wenting's neck, and flashed an infuriatingly smug grin. "Weren't you looking for me? Let's go." It wouldn't do to get caught by the Wu family now.
Yun Wenting was exasperated. "Go where? You're coming back with me to obediently play the groom?"
Yun Wenfang shrugged indifferently. "Even if you arrange a marriage for me now, wouldn't the wedding still be two or three years away?"
As for whether he'd actually marry in two or three years, that would be his decision. This was precisely why he wanted to go to Jiajing Pass. Staying with the Yun Family in Yunyang City meant he couldn't even decide whom he wanted to marry.
His day of confinement hadn't been entirely wasted. At the very least, he'd realized that if a head-on confrontation didn't work, he could try a more roundabout tactic.
Soon after, the incident at Autumn Swan Courtyard spread rapidly. The circulating story was that Miss Wu had peculiar tastes and a penchant for sapphic relationships. Not only had she bound her own maid to the bed for indecent play in broad daylight, but she had also audaciously set her sights on the Jiang Family's Eighth Miss. She had her maid trick Miss Jiang into coming to Autumn Swan Courtyard, and just as she was about to commit an improper act, they were accidentally discovered.
To make matters worse, Wu Yiyu's maid, on her way to fetch Jiang Yuan Niang, had crossed paths with several maids and matrons from unknown households.
News also reached Old Princess Consort's Snow-Cutting Pavilion. The maid who had fled Autumn Swan Courtyard earlier to fetch help, seeing such a major scandal erupt, spilled everything about Yun Wenfang's involvement as well. Upon hearing this, Old Princess Consort and Xiao Wei immediately understood that Wu Yiyu had been framed by Yun Wenfang. Old Princess Consort nearly fainted on the spot, and Xiao Wei trembled with rage.Xiao Wei summoned people to go to the Yun Family to capture Yun Wenfang and vent her anger. The mother and daughter were about to hastily rush to Autumn Swan Courtyard when, just after stepping out of Snow-Cutting Pavilion, they saw Wu Yiyu returning with a murderous expression on her face.
By this time, Yun Wenfang and Yun Wenting had already left the hot spring villa through a side gate. Yun Wenfang even had the leisure to order a Yun Family attendant waiting outside, "Follow the person in the sedan chair that just came out from inside. Find out where they go."
After Yun Wenting brought Yun Wenfang out of the hot spring villa, they did not return to the Yun Family's villa near Sun-Moon Spring. Instead, the two directly took a carriage back to Yunyang City, leaving the mess in the hot spring villa for the women to sort out.
Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin remained in Moon Embracing Pavilion without going out. Upon learning that chaos had erupted outside, they closed their doors even tighter, shutting out the world beyond.
Old Princess Consort was truly furious this time. She sent people to the Yun Family to demand the person, but Yun Wenfang had already disappeared without a trace. The Yun Family's attitude was extremely polite, repeatedly assuring that as soon as Yun Wenfang returned, they would have him come pay respects to Old Princess Consort. What was even more infuriating was that Old Princess Consort and Xiao Wei dared not reveal Yun Wenfang's scheme against Xiao Jinglin to the outside world, fearing it would ruin Wu Yiyu's chastity. They had no choice but to swallow their anger, like having a tooth knocked out and forced to gulp down the blood.
In the end, Old Princess Consort and Xiao Wei were so enraged that they had Princess Consort summoned.
Old Princess Consort unleashed a torrent of anger at Princess Consort. If not for the quick reflexes of Princess Consort's maid, Old Princess Consort would have thrown the hot tea along with the teacup right into Princess Consort's face.
Princess Consort, with her excellent composure, glanced at the tea stains on her maid's clothes and the shattered teacup on the floor without even a twitch of her brow. She lowered her head and spoke gently, "I have already sent people to look for Yun Wenfang. Once he is found, he will be brought here for you to interrogate. If he truly committed such a foolish act, naturally he will be handed over for your judgment. The Yun Family will not shield him this time. However, the most urgent matter now is to suppress the unfounded rumors spreading outside, lest people seize on fragments of truth and make the situation even more uncontrollable, which would not be good for Yiyu."
Xiao Wei, enraged beyond caring for her image as a noble lady, cursed, "You speak more beautifully than a singer! If not for you and the Yun Family secretly protecting that little beast, how could he have escaped so quickly, leaving the people we sent out unable to find him no matter how hard they searched? It would be laughable if I believed you would obediently hand him over for punishment. What 'First Family of Yanbei,' what 'exemplary noble conduct'—all they produce are shameless, worthless scoundrels!"
Back when Xiao Wei was still unmarried, she had always been overshadowed by the then Yun Family Eldest Miss, now Princess Consort. Moreover, because her mother, despite being a princess, was less favored by the old prince compared to the Yun-born Consort Yun, she had always held a grudge against the Yun Family. Consequently, she had never gotten along with Princess Consort.
Princess Consort frowned slightly.
Xiao Wei turned to Old Princess Consort and said, "Mother, quickly send someone to summon the Prince back. Have him order the Yun Family to be surrounded! I refuse to believe the Yun Family would still dare not hand him over then." She glanced at Princess Consort. "Even if the Prince wasn't born from your womb, you are still his legal mother. I am his blood sister, and Yu'er is his blood niece. He cannot ignore this!"
Old Princess Consort looked at Princess Consort. "Where is the Prince?"
Princess Consort lowered her head and replied, "Recently, there were reports of unusual movements by the Liao people in the north. The Prince has gone to Wuzhou."Xiao Wei said, "Who is the commander of the garrison army? Have him come here. Even if the Prince is away, there must be someone left in charge of Yunyang City. Have them seal the four city gates—I refuse to believe that little beast Yun Wenfang can sprout wings and fly away!"
The Princess Consort replied calmly, "I regret that I am powerless in this matter. I only oversee the internal affairs of the Prince's residence and have no authority over military or administrative matters."
The Old Princess Consort slammed the table in anger. "Then summon someone who can make decisions to see me!"
Xiao Wei chimed in, "I heard that while the Prince is away, military and administrative affairs in Yanbei are usually handled by Xiao Jingxi."
The Old Princess Consort remarked, "The Prince truly is unreasonable. Isn’t Xiao Heng his brother? Jingyue is also grown now—there are plenty of people who can share the burden! Jingxi’s health is poor; instead of resting properly in the residence, why meddle in such matters? You’d be better off finding a way to ensure Jingxi leaves an heir."
Upon hearing this, the Princess Consort abruptly looked up at the Old Princess Consort. After a moment, she slowly curtsied and said indifferently, "I am feeling unwell and will take my leave now. If Yun Wenfang is found, I will have him brought over. If you wish to contact the Prince, I will send someone to deliver a message to Wuzhou immediately."
With that, the Princess Consort turned and left with her attendants.
The Old Princess Consort was stunned for a long while before she pointed a trembling finger at the door and asked Xiao Wei in disbelief, "She’s giving me attitude! How dare she! How dare she!"
Xiao Wei sneered, "Her son is a sickly weakling to begin with—why can’t it be said? Mother, don’t bother with them. Just send someone to summon the garrison commander. If he refuses to come, have his entire family brought over!"
The Old Princess Consort still had some reservations, but Xiao Wei insisted, "Mother, why fear them? Your backing in Yanbei isn’t any of them—you don’t need to live under anyone’s shadow. Your support sits on the golden throne in the southern capital. As long as the emperor in the south bears the surname Li, even if you tear a hole in the sky of Yanbei, you will still be the Old Princess Consort of Yanbei. Who would dare touch you?"
Just then, a subordinate came to report that someone had seen the eldest and second young masters of the Yun Family returning to Yunyang City.
Furious, the Old Princess Consort indeed sent someone to summon the garrison commander.
Unexpectedly, before her messenger arrived, the garrison commander had already received orders. No matter how the messenger threatened or coaxed him, he firmly refused to leave his post, stating, "Entering the inner residence is against regulations. I regret that I cannot obey this command!"
When asked to order the city sealed and the person apprehended, he replied, "Please present a written order bearing the Prince’s seal! Otherwise, I regret that I cannot obey this command!"
The messenger threatened that the Old Princess Consort had already sent for his family to be brought to the residence.
The garrison commander looked bewildered for a moment. "My parents have passed away, and I am not yet married."
Then, as the messenger’s expression twisted, he suddenly seemed to understand. Blushing deeply on his dark, charcoal-like face, he said awkwardly, "If the Old Princess Consort intends to arrange a marriage for me, I regret that I cannot obey this command! My heart already belongs to someone."
The messenger nearly vomited blood.
When the Old Princess Consort received the report from her messenger, she flew into another rage.
Xiao Wei said, "Mother, I warned you long ago not to let them have their way in everything. Now look—you can’t even command a mere city guard. If Second Brother had become the Prince of Yanbei back then, we mother and daughter wouldn’t have been bullied to this extent!"The Old Princess Consort said angrily, "Then have Xiao Heng come here! If I can't command them, can't I even command my own concubine-born son?"
Xiao Heng was born to Concubine Su and was raised under the care of the Old Princess Consort since childhood.
The Old Princess Consort asked Xiao Heng to find Yun Wenfang, and Xiao Heng readily agreed.
Weekend bonus update~ Seeking pink votes~ ^^~.
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