The court remained silent on the Longhu assassination case, but Wang Buming wasted no time filing a public lawsuit against Deqing Marquis. This threw the entire capital into an uproar, like oil splattering in a hot pan!
A marquis accused of favoring a concubine over his wife? Deqing Marquis?
Who could believe such a thing!
And the litigator was Wang Buming?
Who? Never heard of him.
An unknown nobody looking for fame?
And who was the plaintiff?
Ah, it was the eldest brother of the Marquis’ wife!
This revelation shocked everyone. It didn’t seem like a joke anymore.
The Marquis’ wife had been tricked by her brother into returning to her family under the pretense that her mother was ill. Her son and daughter were also taken under the guise that their grandmother missed them.
Deqing Marquis, who had little affection for the two children, waved them off without much thought.
Now, his brother-in-law had sued him. When the Marquis tried to question his wife, he discovered she, along with their children, had already been taken away by the Zhang family.
Clearly, this was premeditated!
The Marquis’ face turned pale. Though others might not know the truth, he certainly did.
Xu Yiniang began to panic but quickly regained her composure and suggested, “Let Hongxiao ask the Crown Prince for help. His Highness will surely assist.”
Deqing Marquis’ eyes lit up. “Yes.”
The Crown Prince had always favored and doted on Hongxiao; he wouldn’t stand idly by.
But Fu Hongxiao knew the truth. Most of her claims about the Crown Prince’s affections were exaggerations to make her father value her more and to secure her brother’s position as shizi.
Still, with disaster looming, Fu Hongxiao feigned confidence. “Father, don’t worry. I’ll go seek His Highness help. Besides, wasn’t the shop originally given to me by Mother willingly? It’s truly disheartening to see her go back on her word now.”
Whether it was given willingly or not no longer mattered.
Xu Yiniang’s eyes darted shrewdly as she quickly added, “Marquis, perhaps I should personally go to the Zhang family to beg for forgiveness. How could I let you bear the brunt of this scandal because of me?”
Marquis Deqing, with a dark expression, growled: “I’m not going! I see she’s grown wings. Fine, fine! Once this matter is over, I’ll draft a divorce letter and send her back to the Zhang family!”
Xu Yiniang’s eyes lit up with a flicker of delight. She exchanged a knowing glance with her daughter; both understood that this might be their true opportunity.
Unlike the joy of the Xu mother-daughter pair, Deqing Marquis Madam was utterly terrified when she realized what had happened.
“Mother, this won’t do! What will happen to Yan Er and Jingshu’s reputations in the future?”
Old Madam Zhang slammed the table fiercely, her anger erupting. “For such a big matter, you dared to hide it from your family? This only encouraged that vile concubine to grow more brazen! Suffering such injustice, why didn’t you tell your mother earlier?”
The Deqing Marquis Madam’s eyes reddened. She had always been timid and indecisive, and now, reprimanded by her mother, tears began to fall. “Father’s passing left Brother with the heavy burden of managing the Zhang family’s affairs. How could I burden him further?”
Madam Zhang clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction. She was deeply displeased with her sister-in-law. But looking at her nephew and niece, she couldn’t help but feel pity. With no words for her sister-in-law, she turned to the children instead.
“Yan Er, Jingshu, what do you two think about this matter?”
Fu Yan remained calm and said indifferently: “I will follow Uncle and Aunt’s guidance.”
If his mother weren’t so weak, his days in the manor wouldn’t have been so difficult. Now that someone was willing to support him, why would he refuse?
Why should a position that rightfully belonged to him be handed over to a concubine’s son?
Madam Zhang smiled approvingly and then turned to Jingshu.
Fu Jingshu, though gentle and serene by nature, revealed a determined gaze this time.
“Uncle and Aunt’s willingness to stand up for us siblings fills me with endless gratitude.”
Madam Zhang shot another glance at her sister-in-law. Look at that—these children are more sensible than you!
Deqing Marquis Madam listened to her children’s words in a daze, sitting there blankly, unable to respond.
Fu Yan turned his head away, unwilling to look at his mother. He feared that if she pleaded with him, he might soften.
Jingshu, too, remained silent. Ever since Fu Hongxiao was conferred as the Crown Prince’s liangdi, her days in the residence had grown increasingly miserable.
Her mother only ever told her to endure, saying everything would get better once she married.
She had endured for so many years. Why should she continue to endure?
She didn’t want to endure anymore.
Old Madam Zhang sighed and addressed her daughter-in-law: “Take the children to explore. Although the Zhang family is no longer what it once was, this estate still has its charms. Poor kids, having a maternal family but rarely being able to visit.”
These words left the Deqing Marquis Madam uncomfortable, her gaze darting about and avoiding her mother’s eyes.
Madam Zhang didn’t want to look at her sister-in-law any longer. Taking each child by the hand, she led them to the back garden, speaking as they walked. “If your grandfather were alive, such things would never have happened.
“And you two children—suffering such great injustices and not trusting your uncle or aunt enough to tell them? How could you bear it?”
Fu Yan responded in a low voice, “It’s not that we didn’t think about it; we just didn’t want to trouble Uncle. I thought that even if they dared to scheme, it wouldn’t be possible for them to act. I am the legitimate heir. If I don’t die, the title of heir will not fall to Fu Qian.”
“You foolish child!” Madam Zhang said, her heart aching.
“They don’t need your life. All it takes is an accident, a serious injury or disability, and that would be enough!”
Fu Yan pressed his lips together. He understood. That’s why, over the years, he rarely left home. Even when going to study, he exercised extreme caution.
Jingshu’s tears began to fall uncontrollably. “Aunt, just last winter, my brother nearly broke his leg.”
“What? What happened?”
“It was on the way to the academy. Snow had just fallen, and the horse slipped,” Fu Yan explained casually.
He made it sound light, but Madam Zhang knew the truth wasn’t so simple.
“You wretched, heartless beasts! Wolves in sheep’s clothing! Your grandfather helped Marquis Deqing many times, and this is how they repay us!” Madam Zhang fumed, her chest heaving with anger.
“Are you okay, Aunt?” Jingshu asked anxiously, gently patting her aunt’s back to soothe her.
Once she calmed down, Madam Zhang said furiously: “Your mother made you endure even this?!”
The siblings remained silent.
Madam Zhang almost suffered a heart attack. She declared firmly: “Your uncle has already decided. Marquis Deqing has disgraced his wife for a concubine, and his title is as good as gone. We will find a way to secure Yan Er’s succession. If that’s not possible, then even if we lose the title, we cannot let Fu Qian’s mother and son benefit!”
Fu Yan had no objections. However, he was curious and asked: “Aunt, how did you learn about this?”
Madam Zhang explained the incident of Fu Hongxiao slandering Duan Wang and angering Duan Mingxi. She sighed: “Miss Duan is decisive and efficient, acting swiftly when necessary. Think about it. Despite her background as the daughter of merchants, she has achieved such great success. Who can match her?”
Although it was Second Master Duan who took the lead in the dragon boat races, the capital whispered that Miss Duan must have been the mastermind.
After all, the greatest beneficiary of the races had been the Duan family and their Internal Weaving and Dyeing Bureau businesses. Additionally, Miss Duan fulfilled her promise to use the profits to benefit the common people.
When she was first acknowledged by the Duan family, many mocked her for being raised by merchants.
But now?
Those same people weren’t even worthy of tying her shoes.
Jingshu looked at her aunt and spoke softly, “Aunt, could I send a message to Miss Duan to meet her? I have some things about Fu Hongxiao I’d like to share.”
