Reborn of the Rightful

Yun Wenfang's words silenced everyone present.

Yun Qiuchen's body convulsed. She opened her mouth but couldn't make a sound—she had been struck quite severely.

The guards exchanged glances. The lead guard glanced at Ren Yaoqi and, seeing her standing quietly without speaking, thought for a moment before gesturing for the servants to drag the attendant's body away first. He then subtly positioned himself and his men in front of Ren Yaoqi, fearing that Yun family's second young master might lash out at bystanders in his rage. As for how the Yun siblings chose to carry on, that was none of his concern—he was a guard, not a steward; his duty was to follow his master's orders.

Yun Wenfang stared at Yun Qiuchen for a long time. Yun Qiuchen's maid wanted to step forward to check on her, but she was too frightened by Yun Wenfang to approach, left anxiously hovering nearby.

Though Ren Yaoqi wished she could simply turn and leave them to their turmoil, she couldn't. She sighed inwardly and instructed the matron behind her, "Go and help escort Eldest Miss Yun back. Send for a physician."

Hearing the voice, Yun Wenfang lifted his head but didn't look over. He seemed lost in thought, or perhaps waiting for something. This time, when the matron and Yun Qiuchen's maid stepped forward to assist her, Yun Wenfang neither moved nor stopped them.

It took the combined efforts of the maids and matrons to help Yun Qiuchen to her feet. Just then, a group of people hurried over. Though the sky had grown somewhat dark, the area around Yunqi Pavilion was brightly lit by wall lanterns, illuminating the surroundings as if it were daytime. Ren Yaoqi recognized the approaching figures as the Princess Consort and First Madam Yun.

From a distance, First Madam Yun caught sight of the scene and hastily excused herself to the Princess Consort before rushing over. At the sight of Yun Qiuchen's pitiful state, she covered her mouth with a gasp: "Chen'er—"

The Princess Consort approached with a furrowed brow, though her expression remained calm. Her gaze swept over the faces of those present before settling on Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi walked over and quietly summarized what had just transpired.

The Princess Consort nodded, motioning for Ren Yaoqi to stand behind her, then turned her attention to Yun Wenfang, who stood watching First Madam Yun's frantic concern.

"Wenfang, go wait for me in the drawing room of Yunqi Pavilion. Everyone else, disperse," the Princess Consort said calmly.

Yun Wenfang glanced at the Princess Consort, shrugged indifferently, and was about to head toward Yunqi Pavilion when First Madam Yun suddenly rushed forward and slapped him hard across the face. With reddened eyes, she cried out, "You wretched creature!"

Today, Yun Qiuchen had been publicly struck with a heavy blow by Yun Wenfang—damaging not only her face but also her dignity, a loss that might never be fully repaired. First Madam Yun had always treasured Yun Qiuchen as a pearl in her palm; how could she bear this?

Yun Wenfang didn't even flinch, silently enduring the slap without expression.

Unable to control her emotions, First Madam Yun pointed at him and scolded, "Look clearly! This is your own sister! Not only did you fail to protect her, but you also humiliated her in public. You heartless wretch, have you lost your mind..."

Yun Wenfang lifted his head and interrupted his mother, asking, "Mother, what do you think I should have done to protect her?"

First Madam Yun was caught off guard by the interruption, momentarily at a loss for words.Yun Wenfang let out a scornful laugh, glanced at Yun Qiuchen who was being supported by her maid, and sneered, "She tricked me into coming here to elope with someone, and I'm supposed to protect her by following her arrangements and going along with her wishes?"

First Madam Yun clearly hadn't expected to hear this from Yun Wenfang and froze on the spot.

The girl who had been secretly watching the commotion for a while and admired Yun Wenfang mustered her courage and asked, "Young Master Yun, who did Eldest Miss Yun ask you to elope with?"

Although no one else spoke, they all stared intently at Yun Wenfang, eager to hear this shocking piece of gossip from him.

Yun Wenfang glanced at her, blinked, and assumed a roguish, unrestrained demeanor. "Hmm, I think her surname was Yan? Unfortunately, she was too ugly—not even as good-looking as you. I didn't take a fancy to her, so I backed out."

The girl blushed instantly from the teasing.

Yun Qiuchen, whose ears had been ringing all along, suddenly looked at Yun Wenfang.

First Madam Yun trembled with anger. "Shut up! Stop spouting nonsense! Why on earth would your sister ask you to do anything with Yan...?"

Yun Wenfang stood there with his arms crossed, staring coldly at Yun Qiuchen, a strange smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "Because she wants to marry into Yanbei Prince's Mansion like our grandaunt did, but she thinks that someone surnamed Yan has the same intention and is backed by the Empress Dowager, so she’s afraid she can’t compete. That’s why she asked me to help clear the obstacles for her."

Yun Qiuchen struggled to say something, but Yun Wenfang looked at her with a half-smile, his right hand resting on his waist. Yun Qiuchen met his gaze for a long moment, opened her mouth, but in the end, no words came out.

The spot on Yun Wenfang’s waist held a small dagger.

First Madam Yun was so angered by her son’s unrestrained words that she nearly fainted. Pointing at him, she stammered, "You... you..." her face turning pale.

The Princess Consort spoke up at this moment. "Alright, Wenfang, stop deliberately provoking your mother. How old are you, still acting like a child with such nonsense!"

With one sentence, the Princess Consort dismissed Yun Wenfang’s words as nonsensical joking. However, the joke Yun Wenfang had played today was a bit too much. Although no one said anything outwardly, it was hard to tell whether they believed it or not.

Yun Wenfang didn’t say anything more and walked into Yunqi Pavilion without looking back.

From the moment he appeared until he left, he never once glanced in Ren Yaoqi’s direction.

No one saw that as soon as the fearless, unruly, and violent Second Young Master Yun turned around, his eyes reddened. Similarly, no one saw the expression on his face—a mix of despair, ruthlessness, pain, madness, repression... all kinds of emotions.

Yun Qiuchen indeed understood Yun Wenfang well. He was still that scoundrel who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, indifferent to anyone’s feelings and unafraid of hurting anyone. That had never changed. However, the ever-calculating Eldest Miss Yun had ultimately misjudged the human heart.

Not far away, on a tree, a man in black martial attire expressionlessly lowered the crossbow in his hand, then swiftly and lightly jumped down from the tree, landing without a sound.

A large black hand silently reached out from behind him, but before it could touch the martial attired man’s shoulder, the man, as if he had eyes on his back, grabbed it in a reverse grip, twisted the intruder’s arm, and pinned him against the tree trunk.

The sneaking tall, dark-faced man silently gasped in pain, revealing a set of teeth so white they could blind someone.The man in martial attire stared at him expressionlessly for a long moment before saying, "Do you know why you couldn't become a covert guard back in the day?"

The dark-faced man was momentarily stunned by the question, even forgetting his pain as he hurriedly asked, "Why?"

Every man has a scar in his heart that he doesn't want outsiders to touch. His greatest regret in his youth was failing to become a mysterious and awe-inspiring covert guard. Who could understand him?

The martial-attired man looked at the fellow who was gazing at the moon with a melancholic expression and said calmly, "Because your mouth alone could blind the enemy—you're too conspicuous."

The man whose mouth could blind others: "..."

Ignoring him, the martial-attired man packed up his crossbow and turned to leave. The dark-faced man wiped his face and quickly followed. "Hey, hey, Xiao Hua, you really could have done it just now? After all, he's the grandnephew of the Dowager Consort and the Princess Consort's own nephew!"

Xiao Hua nodded expressionlessly. "As long as he uttered a single wrong word."

The dark-faced man stroked his chin. "Tsk, so his life was pretty lucky—he took a stroll right at death's door, huh?"

Xiao Hua remained silent.

The order he had received was to kill without mercy anyone who dared speak recklessly, regardless of who they were.

Earlier, when the servant had tried to drag Ren Yaoqi into the matter, Xiao Hua’s crossbow was about to release its bolt. Unexpectedly, Yun Wenfang had beaten him to it and silenced the servant. The servant had only managed to utter the word "Ren," which those present had indistinctly heard as "person."

Just now, whether it was Yun Qiuchen or Yun Wenfang, if either of them had dared to cast aspersions on Ren Yaoqi, they would have undoubtedly died under Xiao Hua’s crossbow. As a top-tier expert of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion, Xiao Hua had always been a master archer who never missed his mark. Unknowingly, Yun Wenfang had saved Yun Qiuchen’s life and, without realizing it, preserved his own as well.

"Why are you following me?" Xiao Hua looked at Mu Hu with confusion.

Mu Hu scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly. "Heh, heh, well... I just wanted to ask... where, where has Nan Xing gone?"

Mu Hu glanced at him. "I don’t know."

"Hey, hey, wasn’t she your subordinate before? How could you not know?"

Xiao Hua thought expressionlessly to himself: You know it was before too! Weren’t you fond of Hongying before! What does Nan Xing’s whereabouts have to do with you!

Mu Hu sighed, looking up at the stars in the sky with melancholy. "I finally figured it out, but now she’s gone."

Xiao Hua glanced at him and couldn’t help asking, "You figured it out?"

Mu Hu nodded tragically. "A few days ago, when the pain kept me from eating or sleeping, I realized that not every kind of pain is something you can willingly endure. Only when she’s the one beating me do I accept the pain willingly."

"Were you injured a few days ago?" Xiao Hua examined Mu Hu.

Mu Hu shook his head, somewhat embarrassed. "No, it was hemorrhoids..."

Xiao Hua: "..."

"Hey, hey, don’t leave! You still haven’t told me where my wife is!"

No one on the other side was aware of this interlude.

The Princess Consort had Yun Qiuchen escorted back, and the crowd of onlookers dispersed. She then told Ren Yaoqi to return as well. She and the Yun Family’s First Madam entered Yunqi Pavilion.

Ren Yaoqi crouched down and patted Silly Girl, who had been lying quietly nearby without moving, and couldn’t help but sigh.

Granny Duan soon arrived with others and took Silly Girl away.Ren Yaoqi returned to Moon Embracing Pavilion with her maids and elderly servants. Xiao Jinglin soon came back as well. Ren Yaoqi inquired about Consort Dowager Yun's condition, and Xiao Jinglin said she was already feeling better, attributing it to having greedily drunk two extra bowls of iced tea in the afternoon.

Ren Yaoqi then recounted the events of the evening to Xiao Jinglin.

After listening, Xiao Jinglin fell silent for a long moment. Instead of mentioning the conflict between the Yun siblings, she said, "Although the guards at the outer gates of the hot spring villa aren't as strict as those in the inner court, it's not easy for just anyone to sneak in. I suspect Yun Wenfang might have entered by following the carriage of the physician treating my grandmother."

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi frowned. She and Xiao Jinglin exchanged a glance but said nothing.

After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Jinglin shook her head. "Although my grandmother's temperament is somewhat aloof, she isn't the type to be muddle-headed. No matter how fond she is of Yun Qiuchen, she wouldn't help her do something like this. It's possible she was also manipulated. This matter needs to be thoroughly investigated. If someone dares to scheme against even my grandmother..."

Ren Yaoqi knew that today's incident was most likely targeted at her, but she truly couldn't intervene in handling it. Besides, this was only Xiao Jinglin's speculation, with no concrete evidence.

Xiao Jinglin remarked, "Yun Wenfang is rather unfathomable."

Ren Yaoqi sighed. She, too, found Yun Wenfang difficult to read. But regardless of Yun Wenfang's intentions in acting as he did today, he had ultimately helped her.

Xiao Jinglin was aware of the connection between Yun Wenfang and Ren Yaoqi. Seeing Ren Yaoqi remain silent, she didn't bring it up again. However, after Ren Yaoqi had retired for the night, Xiao Jinglin went to find Xiao Jingxi.

When Xiao Jinglin arrived, she happened to see Xiao Hua emerging from Orchid Pavilion. Standing at the entrance, she noticed the lamp in Xiao Jingxi's room was still lit, and his silhouette was cast on the window paper, his head slightly lowered as if he were reading or doing something else.

Originally there to see Xiao Jingxi, Xiao Jinglin paused upon seeing Xiao Hua and gestured to him. Xiao Hua silently followed her out of the courtyard gate.

"Were you just reporting on the matter of the Yun siblings?"

Xiao Hua lowered his head. "Yes, Commandery Princess."

Xiao Jinglin thought for a moment. "What's the situation?"

"Shortly after Eldest Miss Yun was escorted back to her courtyard, her maid came to report to the Princess Consort that Eldest Miss Yun's ear had developed some issues."

Xiao Jinglin was taken aback. "What issues?"

Xiao Hua replied expressionlessly, "She can't hear with her left ear."

It turned out that after Yun Qiuchen was slapped, she initially only felt a roaring in her left ear. However, after being helped back to rest for a while, the roaring stopped, but she could no longer hear any sound from that ear. At the time, the Princess Consort was speaking with the Yun mother and son in Yunqi Pavilion. Upon hearing this news, First Madam fainted on the spot.

Xiao Jinglin raised an eyebrow. "Did Yun Wenfang strike that hard?"

Xiao Hua stated factually, "Second Young Master Yun's slap carried internal force, enough to break an adult man's rib. Eldest Miss Yun only lost two molars and went deaf in her left ear." The implication was that Xiao Hua considered Eldest Miss Yun fortunate; otherwise, if her neck had been broken, she would have lost her life.

"What did the physician say? Can it be cured?"Xiao Hua thought for a moment: "The few physicians who came along are all temporarily at a loss, and the Princess Consort has already sent for other doctors. Afterward, Consort Dowager Yun had Eldest Miss Yun and Madam Yun sent back to the city."

Xiao Jinglin fell silent for a moment: "Didn’t you investigate how Yun Wenfang got in?"

Xiao Hua glanced at Xiao Jinglin and repeated expressionlessly: "Afterward, Consort Dowager Yun had Eldest Miss Yun and Madam Yun sent back to the city."

Xiao Jinglin said nothing more; she understood.

Her grandmother’s intention was clearly to shield Yun Qiuchen and prevent anyone from investigating further.

"No wonder she went to such lengths to invite my grandmother back—she was afraid that if things were exposed, there would be no one to plead for her. Quite a clever plan." It was just a pity that Yun Qiuchen had overestimated herself. She thought she could control Yun Wenfang, but instead, she was devoured by her own scheme.

"With my grandmother shielding her like this, I actually feel somewhat grateful to Yun Wenfang," Xiao Jinglin murmured softly.

Before, she had thought Yun Wenfang was too harsh on his own sister, but now she felt not an ounce of sympathy. Truly, evil people are best dealt with by other evil people—otherwise, they would have suffered this loss for nothing today.

Xiao Hua stood expressionlessly to the side, pretending not to have heard anything, but inwardly he was silently grumbling: If it weren’t for Yun Wenfang’s slap, even if Eldest Miss Yun had the Jade Emperor himself protecting her, they’d only be collecting her corpse.

"What about Yun Wenfang? How does your master plan to deal with him?" Xiao Jinglin asked curiously.

Xiao Hua replied straightforwardly: "Second Young Master Yun left on his own. The master didn’t say to stop him, so I didn’t."

Xiao Jinglin was surprised by this, her expression even more impassive than Xiao Hua’s: "You... didn’t mishear, did you?" Is your master really that magnanimous? That slap he gave Yun Wenfang earlier was only survivable because Second Young Master Yun was tough and resilient.

Xiao Hua was quite displeased by this obvious questioning of his master’s character and his own professional competence, but he was naturally incapable of expressing emotions. He simply defended his master: "The young master is kind-hearted."

Xiao Jinglin glanced at Xiao Hua and rolled her eyes inwardly: "Has your master never shed blood?"

Xiao Hua replied earnestly: "If you don’t count those who brought it upon themselves... then no." If Yun Wenfang had sought death today, he would have been dead long ago.

Xiao Jinglin: "..."

This conversation could no longer continue.

Xiao Jinglin knew that Xiao Jingxi must have instructed Xiao Hua to answer all her questions, otherwise these people wouldn’t be so forthcoming. Having asked enough, she had no intention of seeking out Xiao Jingxi again and turned to leave.

After bowing respectfully to see her off, Xiao Hua thought for a moment and returned to the Orchid Pavilion.

Xiao Jingxi’s room was filled with the scent of medicine. He was holding a bowl of cold, dark, murky medicinal brew and using it to water a potted plant.

Xiao Hua was used to such scenes. His young master had refused to take medicine properly since childhood. When no one was watching, he would secretly use it to water plants. This habit hadn’t changed in over a decade, and now he was about to marry—tsk.

Xiao Jingxi set down the bowl in his hand: "She’s gone back?"

"Yes, young master. The Commandery Princess has returned," Xiao Hua replied stiffly.

Xiao Jingxi nodded and wiped his hands with a towel."The Commandery Princess asks how you intend to deal with Second Young Master Yun." This was also the reason Xiao Hua had returned to find Xiao Jingxi. As the young master's most trusted confidant, he needed to determine whether certain individuals were already courting death, currently seeking it, or would do so in the future.

Xiao Jingxi sat back down on the couch by the west window, his fingers lightly tapping on the low table, as if pondering something.

"When is Yun Wenfang’s marriage to Miss Meng scheduled?" Xiao Jingxi suddenly asked.

Xiao Hua was taken aback.

Tong Xi, who had been standing silently nearby, immediately replied, "Young Master, it is set for this October." Tong Xi was more familiar with such matters than Xiao Hua.

Xiao Jingxi nodded with a slight smile. "Prepare a generous gift for me when the time comes."

Tong Xi bowed his head in acknowledgment.

Xiao Hua waited a while longer, but seeing that Xiao Jingxi had no further instructions for him, he quietly withdrew.

Once the room was empty, Tong Xi couldn’t help but ask, "Young Master, are you really letting Second Young Master Yun off just like that?"

Due to his background from Xianwang Residence, Tong Xi held a special affection for Ren Yaoqi and deeply resented Yun Wenfang, who had repeatedly provoked her.

Although Yun Wenfang had not harmed Ren Yaoqi today, Tong Xi did not believe that he had infiltrated the hot spring villa in black attire merely to stroll through the gardens. Yun Wenfang had simply not found the opportunity to act.

Given his young master’s temperament, he shouldn’t have let Yun Wenfang off so easily.

Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi didn’t even lift his eyes, replying calmly, "I never intended to do anything to him. He is the one at odds with himself."

In Xiao Jingxi’s mind, Yun Wenfang was not even worthy of being his opponent.

However, his decision not to pursue Yun Wenfang today was actually out of consideration for Ren Yaoqi’s feelings.

Regardless of Yun Wenfang’s purpose in coming to the hot spring villa, he had ultimately protected Ren Yaoqi in the end. Xiao Jingxi knew that Ren Yaoqi was a person who distinguished clearly between gratitude and resentment and disliked owing favors. If he were to take action against Yun Wenfang today, it would appear petty in Ren Yaoqi’s eyes. The wise and formidable Second Young Master Xiao would never allow himself to make such a mistake in front of the one he loved—boosting another’s prestige while diminishing his own.

As for Yun Wenfang… even if Xiao Jingxi didn’t deal with him, his own temperament would ensure he suffered enough. Xiao Jingxi no longer deemed it worth his effort to intervene.

So, don’t mistake Second Young Master Xiao for being momentarily kind-hearted or overly merciful. He was the type who couldn’t be bothered to dig a pit for others.

After leaving the hot spring villa, Yun Wenfang did not return to the Yun Family. Yun Wenting only found him late at night, by which time Yun Wenfang was half-drunk in a shabby tavern outside the city. The tavern’s owner and staff were nowhere to be seen, leaving only empty wine jars of various sizes around him.

Yun Wenting watched him for a long time before walking over and taking the wine jar from his hand. He sniffed it—naturally, there was no fine wine in such a place.

The drunken Yun Wenfang seemed less arrogant and domineering than usual, his dazed expression somewhat resembling that of a child. He offered no resistance when Yun Wenting took the wine jar away.

"You’ve never outgrown the habit of running away after causing trouble," Yun Wenting said calmly.

These words seemed to jolt Yun Wenfang awake. Slowly regaining his senses, it took him a while to focus on the person beside him. He then scoffed, though it was unclear whether he was fully sober. "Causing trouble… I didn’t get the chance…"

"What exactly were you planning to do?" Yun Wenting’s tone betrayed no emotion.Yun Wenfang curved the corner of his mouth, as if deliberately trying to provoke Yun Wenting: "I originally wanted to snatch the woman I liked and elope to avoid the marriage, but I couldn't find her. Instead, I almost got used by Yun Qiuchen. Does the young master need to send a fool holding a bundle of silver to keep watch for him just to snatch a woman?"

His words were clear and logical, not at all like someone who was drunk.

After listening, Yun Wenting did not get angry but simply asked, "Was it Qiuchen who helped you get into the hot spring villa?"

I’ll try to make up for the missed updates during these two days off, but tomorrow is the last day of the month. After doing the math, it seems I won’t be able to finish making up for all of them this month... 〒_〒

I’ll continue making up for them during the May Day holiday...

(How wonderful it would be if I could update four or five times every day... gazing at the sky...)