Although the scenery of the Royal Manor is extremely beautiful, neither Wei Yingzhi nor Shen Huiran had the intention to stay after such a thing happened. Fortunately, the two of them were only able to come with the grace given by Concubine Rui. Concubine Rui didn't bother to ask too many questions, she just gave them a few instructions and asked them to follow Shen Xinyan back to the mansion.
As for the follow-up, it was completely handed over to Wei Chenglin.
On the way back home, Shen Huiran hugged Shen Xinyan tightly, her face full of fear.
Knowing that the second son of the Zhou family broke into the wooden house by mistake, and she was not violated by anyone, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
If she really lost her innocence, she would rather die.
Shen Xinyan patted the back of her hand, silently comforting her.
In the whole incident, the niece is the most innocent, she has never done anything, and she has never even thought about her eldest son as she did in her previous life, but because of her status as a 'cousin', she was eventually involved .
"Auntie, I want to go home, to the uncle's residence." Shen Huiran said softly.
Shen Xinyan lowered her eyes, wrapped her shoulders, and replied in a low voice: "Okay, Auntie will take Hui'er home."
She knew that her niece also more or less guessed the reason for her encounter. After experiencing some dangers, people only want to return to a safe place. The safest thing in this world is their own home.
No matter how good the Duke's Mansion is, it is not her home after all.
He ordered the coachman to turn around and go to Jing'an Bo's mansion. The three people in the car sat close together and said nothing.
"Mother, Cousin Hui probably won't come to our house for a long time." Back at the Duke's Mansion, Wei Yingzhi sighed.
Shen Xinyan patted her on the shoulder: "Okay, let's change clothes first!"
The Eldest Princess is not a stupid person, and Shen Xinyan didn't have the ability to hide it from her, so she told her everything that happened at the Summer Resort.
After hearing this, the eldest princess frowned tightly, she was silent for a long time, and said: "Your natal niece, I think it's pretty good, it's not a bad idea to get closer."
Shen Xinyan was surprised that she would think of this.
In the past, she might have followed suit, but now she has no such thought.
"It's Hui'er's blessing that mother looks up to Hui'er, and it's also her affirmation to her daughter-in-law. But now..." She sighed softly, "Let's take it easy!"
The eldest princess also understood that after such an incident, the girl must have some thoughts in her heart, so she didn't force it, and sighed, just thinking why the eldest grandson's marriage is so unsatisfactory!
Half a month later, the good news came from the Mountain Resort that the princess was pregnant, and a few days later, Yu Jia set off for Beijing.
"My son has an errand, I'm afraid he won't be able to come back for a while." Yu Jia returned to the capital, but he didn't expect that Wei Chenglin didn't come back with him. Shen Xinyan was puzzled, and the guard sent by Wei Chenglin came to report.
Another errand? Shen Xinyan frowned: "Do you know what the errand is? When will you be back?"
"I don't know." The man lowered his head.
Shen Xinyan also had no intention of embarrassing him, and let him leave.
"Not only did Zhimo, who was beside Shi Ziye, not come back, but just now Shi Shu and Ping Yan also left with others. Ma'am, I see Shi Ziye's errands this time seem a bit difficult to handle." Chunliu said softly.
Shen Xinyan has a worried look on her brows, how could she not be clear about this level.
"Mother, Daddy has a letter back." While worrying, Wei Yingzhi happily walked in holding the letter.
Shen Xinyan took it with a smile, read it roughly, folded the letter, and saw her daughter's eyes sparkling, with a sly smile on her face: "Mother, what did Daddy say in the letter?"
"It's a very important thing."
"What's the matter?" Wei Yingzhi asked curiously.
"Your father said that he would return home as soon as possible to prepare for your marriage with Yunfu."
Wei Yingzhi blushed all of a sudden.
Shen Xinyan put her arms around her and laughed straight: "Now Yunfu can finally feel relieved, and there is no need to ask people to ask when the Duke will return to Beijing every now and then."
Wei Yingzhi was so ashamed that she didn't dare to raise her head, and said like a gnat, "It's just that he does all these stupid things..."
Shen Xinyan hugged her and smiled for a while.
Since Wei Junhang wrote in a letter saying that she would return to Beijing as soon as possible, she had to make preparations for her engagement first. Taking advantage of this day's free time, she went to the warehouse in person and began to organize the dowry for her daughter.
Accumulated over the years, the dowry that she and Wei Junhang prepared for Wei Yingzhi was already quite considerable, plus the part given by the Eldest Princess, it would not be an exaggeration to say that it was ten miles of red makeup.
"Ma'am, look, how does this phoenix jade pendant smell?" Chunliu suddenly exclaimed, and quickly walked towards her with a brocade box, opened the brocade box and handed it in front of her.
Shen Xinyan took it and took a look, and recognized that it was the engagement token she had given to Princess Changning back then. Princess Changning had entrusted Wei Chenglin to hand it back to herself. She felt a little uncomfortable looking at it, so she put it in the warehouse and locked it up.
She took out the jade pendant, sniffed it carefully, and found that there was indeed a faint scent, which was like sweet-scented osmanthus, but when she smelled it carefully, it felt like orchids, and when she smelled it again, it was like something else The smell of flowers.
"It's so strange, it has been stored in the storeroom for so long, how could Ruirui's jade pendant produce such a fragrance." Chunliu was puzzled.
Shen Xinyan was silent for a moment, then put the jade pendant back into the brocade box: "Find a doctor to take a closer look to see if there is something wrong with the fragrance."
Chunliu took it and went to ask the doctor to have a look.
"I've consulted several doctors, but none of them can see why."
Is that so
Shen Xinyan stared at the phoenix jade pendant on the square table, feeling uneasy for some reason.
"Not long ago, I heard that Princess Changning returned to Beijing, is there such a thing?" She asked suddenly.
"It's true. The princess came back at the end of last month. It is said that she is already in good health. The concubine misses her daughter very much. She is no longer worried about leaving her alone on the mountain, so she took her back." Chunliu replied. .
"The Princess is the jade pendant returned by Brother Tuolin when he left Beijing. It has been recuperating on the mountain for the past few years, and now he is in good health. And the jade pendant she returned back then has been placed in the warehouse and has never been touched..." Shen Xinyan caressed the jade pendant on her wrist, thoughtfully.
"Ma'am, what do you mean... Could it be that you suspect that the princess's illness back then was related to this jade pendant?" Chunliu was shocked.
"I just feel a little uneasy in my heart, and I faintly have such a guess, if it really is the jade pendant's problem..." Shen Xinyan dared not think about it.
If it really is the problem of the jade pendant, the good marriage that year was plotted against, but I don't know if it was a mistake in my own mansion or in Prince Ning's mansion.
But no matter what, Princess Changning suffered such a crime in vain.
"But I remember clearly that when the jade pendant was handed over, it didn't have such a strange smell. If it had, how could I not have discovered it, after all, I kept it all the time." Chunliu bit her lips lightly, Try to remember.
Shen Xinyan sighed: "Put it away first, and ask the imperial doctor to take a look at it some other day."
After ordering Chunliu to put away the brocade box, and seeing that it was almost time, she went to pay her respects to the Eldest Princess.
Going around the floor-to-ceiling screen, I just saw Xu Momo who was beside the Eldest Princess come out.
"Is the dinner good for mother?" She asked with a smile.
"Received the letter from the Duke, His Highness is in a great mood. He has used half a bowl of porridge more than before, and he is talking to the Fourth Young Master right now! Please come in quickly, Madam." Mother Xu replied with a smile.
Shen Xinyan walked past her, and just took a few steps when she suddenly felt her wrist was grabbed by Madam Xu.
"Wait a minute, ma'am!"
"Nurse?" Shen Xinyan was surprised, wondering why she held her so recklessly, but found that the other person's expression seemed to be a little wrong.
"The fragrance on Madam's body seems to be a little different, but I don't know where it came from?"
Shen Xinyan looked at her in surprise, her mind moved, and she suddenly remembered that she had heard the Eldest Princess mention in the chat that Mother Xu was a good incense maker.
"It's from a jade pendant that hasn't been used for a long time." She tentatively replied.
"Madam, can you let me see that jade pendant?" Mother Xu asked.
"Of course, Chunliu, go and get the jade pendant quickly." Shen Xinyan had no reason to refuse, and hurriedly ordered Chunliu behind her.
Entering the room, I saw Wei Chengqi sitting at the bottom, listening to the Eldest Princess seriously.
"... Although your mother's opinion is important, what is more important is your own opinion. If you want to, you can go to the Imperial College to continue your studies, but you don't need to take the imperial examination, but it is always good to read more books. Even if you are Master Hou's Yunfu has never left behind his homework in the Imperial College." The Eldest Princess said earnestly.
"The grandson understands what the grandmother said, but, just...the grandson still wants to find a job." Wei Chengqi still insisted with hesitation on his face.
There was a bit of disappointment in the eldest princess' eyes.
You obviously don't like being an official at all, and you just want to concentrate on learning, but because your mother disagrees, you dare not even insist on it
That's all, children and grandchildren have their own blessings, and she can't take care of that much anymore.
"Since you insist, then grandma will grant your wish!"
The grandfather and grandson also saw Shen Xinyan walking in at this time, and after a few salutes, Wei Chengqi left.
"Is there any news about Brother Lin?" The eldest princess asked her about her eldest grandson, who had not received any news from her so far.
"I haven't received any news yet." Shen Xinyan shook her head.
The eldest princess sighed, and said worriedly: "I only found out yesterday that Brother Lin took away all the people left to him by his grandfather. What kind of errand did you say he was doing? And for?"
Shen Xinyan's heart skipped a beat, and even her expression changed.
"Why don't I ask Yunfu to find out tomorrow?"
"I've already asked, and I don't know about Yunfu." The Eldest Princess looked even more worried.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were relatively silent for a while.
After Shen Xinyan left, Nanny Xu, who had been waiting outside, came in, holding the brocade box in her hand that contained the keepsake to Prince Ning's Mansion.
"Your Highness, I have something to report. I'm afraid that Princess Changning's illness was man-made!"
Funing Courtyard.
"Grandma Xu took the jade pendant away?" After returning to the house, Shen Xinyan learned about it from Chunliu. .
"If Ma'am feels it's not suitable, I'll go back and get it back."
"No need, just take it away. Madam Xu can take it away. I think there is a clue. In the end, I'm afraid my mother will decide the matter. It's better, it will save me trouble." Shen Xin Yan shook Shaking her head, she stopped her who wanted to go out.
***
Wei Chenglin came back half a month later, and he came back with him, as well as the ashes of the guard Pingyan. As for those bodyguards such as Zhimo and Shishu who came back alive, they also had large and small wounds on their bodies.
Naturally, Wei Chenglin was no exception.
Looking at the long knife wound on the eldest grandson's abdomen, the eldest princess couldn't lift it up in one breath, and immediately fainted.
Suddenly, there was chaos in the room.
After everything returned to calm, Princess Dachang took Wei Chenglin's hand and burst into tears.
"God has no eyes, God has no eyes!"
Shen Xinyan tightly clutched the handkerchief in her hand, so far she couldn't recover from what the imperial physician said just now.
"... the injury of the son... I'm afraid it will be difficult for the heirs in the future." As soon as the words fell, the eldest princess who had just woken up fainted again, but even Shen Xinyan's legs gave way and she almost fell to the ground.
Is it difficult for offspring
The gray-haired old doctor was full of sympathy. It would be a pity if such an outstanding man could not have offspring.
"Grandmother..." Wei Chenglin curled the corners of his lips bitterly, "It's fate, my grandson dare not complain, but fortunately there is brother Xiang. It's just that I failed my grandfather's careful teaching for many years."
The eldest princess wiped away her tears, only pulled him and called out 'God is not fair'.
The most outstanding eldest son of the previous generation is gone, and the greatest hope of the younger generation has ended up like this...
Fang Shi outside the door heard everything clearly, and his body trembled slightly with excitement.
Is it difficult for offspring? That's really an eye opener!
Sitting in a position that doesn't belong to him, how could it end well!
Without an heir, why should he sit on the throne of the son of the world? Without Wei Chenglin in the second room, do we still have to rely on that milk baby Wei Chengxiang? It can be seen that God still cares for her.
"Mother, don't be like this. Mrs. Wang can't be cured well. Let's invite a few more imperial physicians to treat him. With a worried expression, he walked up to the eldest princess and persuaded her softly.
"You want to spread the word so that everyone in the capital knows, don't you?! In the past, I only thought of you as a good person. I never thought that you were harboring evil intentions, framing Brother Lin and failing to kill his wife. This would also give him the reputation of being childless. That’s what you want, isn’t it?” Who would have thought that the Eldest Princess would suddenly go into a fit, pointing at her nose and cursing angrily.
Mrs. Fang was so scolded that she almost stopped breathing, fell to her knees with a 'plop', and cried, "I am wronged, my daughter-in-law is so wronged!"
Shen Xinyan was taken aback, and then she winked at Chunliu.
Chun Liu comprehended, and quietly retreated out, and ordered no one to come near, and then stood guard outside the courtyard gate from a distance.
"Bah, do you think I'm such an idiot? What did you do secretly back then? Why did Princess Changning get seriously ill for no reason? Then how could Miss Xie have the courage to elope with someone when she's fine? For one thing, do you want me to throw the evidence directly on Brother Qi's face, so that he can see what kind of vicious person his mother is!" The princess's eyes spewed fire, and she slapped Fang's face. Spit up and scold mercilessly.
Over the past few days, one thing after another has been found out, which has dealt her a heavy blow. Now that her most important grandson has an accident, it is like the last straw that broke the camel's back, and she completely collapsed.
"The family is unfortunate, there is such a poisonous woman, and it was because of my lack of eyesight that caused the current situation!" The eldest princess burst into tears, extremely indignant.
Shen Xinyan stared at Fang in disbelief, watching the blood on her face fade away little by little, but she still insisted on desperately calling for grievances.
"Mother was wronged, mother was wronged, all of this has nothing to do with the daughter-in-law!"
"So, you were the one who caused the princess's life to be almost lost?" Wei Chenglin's face was livid, trying to suppress the anger in his heart, his fists were clenched tightly, as if he would rush out in the next moment, and slammed heavily on that hypocritical face. Smash it down.
Princess Changning is his first fiancée. If she hadn't suddenly fallen ill, he would have married her long ago.
He may not have taken the initiative towards Changning County, but the woman who won the praise of his grandmother, mother, and even his sister, and missed him, will always leave a trace in his heart. It has nothing to do with the relationship between men and women, but it is indelible. of.
However, the woman was almost killed, but it was his aunt who had always respected him!
Fang shook his head desperately.
She can't admit it, she can't admit it, she can't let Brother Qi know, she can't let Brother Qi know...
However, when she saw Wei Chengqi standing at the door with a white face, she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
"Grandmother, what grandma said is true, right? Mother, you, you really almost harmed the princess back then? And you used tricks to make Miss Xie's family run away?" Wei Chengqi's face was pale, his body was not She kept trembling, but still walked towards Fang Shi step by step, staring closely at her eyes.
Even though Fang quibbled in every possible way, she couldn't say a word to her son's eyes full of pain, and just covered her mouth and kept shaking her head.
Seeing this, Chunliu, who was chasing after Wei Chengqi to stop him, backed out in a panic, and this time personally found two strong women to guard the gate of the courtyard, resolutely not letting anyone in.
If those words in the house are spread, I'm afraid there will be a long time to come, and there will be no peace in the mansion.
"It's not me, brother Qi, it's not me..." Except for saying this sentence back and forth, Fang couldn't say anything else.
She was scared, really scared, she had never been so scared like this moment, afraid to see the disappointment on her son's face, it was disappointment to her mother.
Her son has always been well-behaved and filial, and has never disobeyed her wishes, and she never thought that one day she would see her disappointment on his face.
"Grandmother, I want to see the evidence, can I?" Wei Chengqi ignored her and walked towards the princess.
The Eldest Princess didn't expect him to appear suddenly, and the timing of his appearance was still so perfect, so she was in a very complicated mood for a while.
She has always loved and loved the only blood left by the eldest son. Although her temper is a bit weak, her heart is soft and her mind is clear.
Just now that 'smash the evidence on Brother Qi's face' is just an angry statement, she never thought of putting those filthy things in front of him, breaking the beauty of his biological mother and family in his heart.
She opened her mouth and was about to refuse, when Fang rushed over, knelt on the ground and begged loudly: "Mother, I was wrong, I was wrong, I really know I was wrong..."
Those tearful eyes were full of prayers, begging her to save the last bit of dignity for her as a mother.
Because Fang knew very well that if the Eldest Princess made a move, it would definitely not only find these two things, but also other things she did.
Wei Chengqi swayed, his lips trembled slightly, and he opened his mouth to say something, but his throat seemed to be blocked by something, and he couldn't utter a word.
"From now on, you will recuperate in Jingde Hall with peace of mind. Except for the two maids who are serving you, no one is allowed to come in and out at will!" After a long time, the Eldest Princess took a deep breath, stared at the room where she could no longer cry. Fang, who is a little respectable, said every word clearly.
Fang fell to the ground, unable to say anything except crying.
Recovering from illness, how can she have any illness to support, mother, she completely despises herself! Maybe after a while, she will die of illness without a sound.
Wei Chengqi knelt down in front of the eldest princess with a 'plop', and said in a hoarse voice: "Grandmother, my grandson is not filial, and my grandson has the guts to ask grandma to preside over it, and separate the eldest house from the second house."
Fang's crying stopped, she stared at her son with wide eyes, she couldn't believe that such words came from her son who was always well-behaved and filial.
"Brother Qi, what nonsense are you talking about, the elders are here, how can you, a junior, raise the family!" Shen Xinyan stopped.
Even Wei Chenglin looked at him disapprovingly: "Fourth brother, don't say that again."
On the contrary, the Eldest Princess looked at him without blinking: "You insist on this?"
"The grandson is unfilial!" Wei Chengqi lowered his head, but his tone was extremely firm.
"You're crazy! You want to be stabbed in the back, don't you?!" Fang rushed over angrily to cover his mouth, and stopped him from saying such rebellious words.
If the family is separated, the eldest room will be completely out of touch with the title, so why did she do so many things? Obviously now Wei Chenglin can't have any heirs, Wei Chengxiang is still young, and the title of title is already one step closer to the head of the house.
"Please grandma!" Wei Chengqi avoided her, and his voice became a little louder.
"Okay, since you insist on this, then I will fulfill you. I will divide all the property among you clearly, but people still have to live in the same place. I just wait for the day when I close my eyes and kick my legs. Move away if you like!" The eldest princess waved her hand feebly, and her whole body instantly aged a lot.
Shen Xinyan quickly stepped forward to support her.
The eldest princess gently pushed her hand away: "Go back and get the account books and keys, and divide this family up while I'm still breathing!"
"Mother!"
"grandmother!"
Everyone immediately knelt on the ground.