Looking forward to the spring breeze

Chapter 31

Du Juan blushed slightly, then stepped forward to tuck the blanket around You Tong and said softly, "Miss, you were very ill and had been in bed for several days. The doctor said you might not make it through. Fortunately, you have woken up."

You Tong, confused, frowned and asked, "Weren't you in Qiantang? How come—wait, where am I?" She vaguely remembered fainting by the roadside, but couldn't recall what happened afterward. She remembered being dragged back by Young Master Wu after fainting that day; would she be so unlucky this time?

“This is an inn,” Dujuan replied. “Master took us to the capital, but we unexpectedly encountered you, Miss, on the way. Everyone was terrified. When you fell into the water, we all thought you had drowned, but we never expected you to still be there. Master was so shocked that he couldn’t speak for a long time.”

"Master?" You Tong nearly choked. It was truly the worst possible outcome. She had finally managed to leave the Yu family, hoping never to see Master Yu again, but unexpectedly, she had run into him again. Thinking of her mother's tragic early death, a surge of anger rose in You Tong's heart. She wanted nothing more than to rush out and find Old Man Yu to give him a good scolding and vent her anger.

"Where is he?" You Tong asked with a stern face.

Du Juan was bewildered by her sudden change in expression and momentarily stunned, unsure how to react. Back in Qiantang, You Tong was renowned for her gentleness and understanding. In Qiantang, everyone praised the eldest daughter of the Yu family for her refined manners, gentle nature, and exceptional politeness. She was always kind and gentle, even to the maids and servants in the mansion, never raising her voice. Now, seeing such a cold glint in her eyes, Du Juan naturally felt uncomfortable.

After a long pause, Dujuan remembered the question Youtong had asked her earlier and hurriedly replied, "Master went out just now and probably won't be back until tonight. May I inform him when he returns?"

You Tong answered coldly, then asked, "Why is he coming to the capital instead of staying in Qiantang?"

Du Juan's face showed a hint of unease. After hesitating for a while, she carefully examined You Tong's expression before cautiously replying, "I heard that the Second Miss didn't die either. She was sent to the capital by the Master. A few days ago, I don't know what happened, but the Second Miss suddenly disappeared. That's why the Master came here specifically to find out the news."

As expected, it was all for his precious second daughter. You Tong couldn't help but sneer inwardly, and a chill unconsciously crept onto her face.

Chapter 64 A Big Argument (Part 1)

Seeing that Youtong's expression was off, Dujuan felt a little uneasy, wondering if she had said something wrong that displeased Youtong. Just as she was thinking, she suddenly heard Youtong whisper and instruct, "While my father is away, you can do me a favor. Go to General Xu's mansion and inform them that I'm here, and ask them to come and pick me up."

Du Juan asked in surprise, "Miss, what is General Xu's Mansion? Do you know it?"

You Tong didn't feel comfortable explaining to her, so she just shook her head and said, "Don't worry about it, just listen to me."

Du Juan responded and was about to leave when she suddenly turned back, blushing, and asked, "Miss, where is General Xu's mansion?"

You Tong patiently told her the location of the Xu residence, but Du Juan became more and more confused as she listened. Finally, she clapped her hands and realized the key issue: "Miss, we are not in the capital now, but in Huifeng Town."

You Tong was stunned, and then she was truly in a dilemma. Although Huifeng Town was not far from the capital, it would only take about half a day by fast horse, but how could Du Juan, a girl who was unfamiliar with the place, avoid Master Yu and go to the Xu residence to report the news? If Xu Wei did not get news of her, he might be tricked by that young Marquis Wu.

And then there's Master Yu. The truth about her faking her death to force Yu Wan away is still unknown; how could Master Yu easily forgive her? Thinking of this, You Tong felt a surge of hatred. If she weren't so weak, she probably would have smashed something to vent her anger.

You Tong wasn't afraid of Master Yu, not because of the Grand Princess or the Xu family's influence, but because Yu Wan was currently in Xu Wei's hands. With Xu Wei's ability to hide people, no one could find her. As long as Master Yu still wanted to take his precious second daughter back to Qiantang, he would have to treat her with utmost respect.

So, You Tong simply stopped thinking about it, drank the medicine, and lay down to rest. She slept for several hours, and when she woke up, it was already dark outside.

Du Juan had been attending to You Tong by the bedside. When she saw You Tong open her eyes, she quickly came forward and asked softly, "Miss, you're awake. Are you feeling any better? Are you hungry? Would you like some porridge?"

You Tong nodded, and Du Juan quickly went out to fetch some white porridge. You Tong drank most of a bowl, and her stomach felt much better. After that, she took her medicine and perked up to talk to Du Juan for a while. Just as she was about to fall asleep again, heavy footsteps suddenly came from outside the door. You Tong's heart skipped a beat, and her mind suddenly became clear.

"Knock knock—" Two knocks on the door. Du Juan quickly got up to open the door. You Tong glanced up and saw that it was Master Yu walking into the room with a sullen face.

You Tong glanced at him only once before turning her face away, not even bothering to greet him. Seeing this, Master Yu's face immediately darkened with anger, and he sternly questioned, "You're really becoming more and more unruly as you grow older! You don't even greet your own father? Is this what you call family upbringing?"

You Tong gave a cold laugh, ignored him, and whispered to Du Juan, "You can go down now. There's no need to serve here for the time being."

Dujuan was worried about whether to go forward or retreat when she heard Youtong's words. She immediately agreed, bowed and retreated out the door. Before leaving, she made sure to close the door carefully.

After she had walked away, You Tong glanced at Master Yu and sneered, "Master Yu, you're exaggerating. You never treated me as your daughter in the first place, so why are you putting on airs as a father now? It's utterly ridiculous."

Back in Qiantang, You Tong had at most been indifferent to him; when had she ever said such hurtful things to him? Master Yu was immediately trembling with rage, shouting, "What are you saying? It's all your mother's fault for raising you into this wretched state, so ignorant of the difference between elders and juniors—"

"Master Yu, please watch your mouth!" Upon hearing him mention her mother, You Tong inexplicably became furious. Ignoring her aches and pains, she sat up abruptly, glaring fiercely at Master Yu, and roared, "Who do you think you are? What right do you have to talk about my mother? You used all sorts of despicable means to force her into your household. If you had treated her well, that would have been one thing, but ask yourself honestly, how have you treated her these past ten or twenty years? Why was my mother so depressed? Why did she die so young? It was all because of you. You drove my mother to her death."

Master Yu was shocked and furious that she knew about his past proposal to Cui Shi, and even more surprised that You Tong would bluntly accuse him of causing Cui Shi's death. He was so angry that he couldn't even speak.

You Tong remained calm and continued to curse, "I know what you're thinking. You just suspect I'm a bastard, right? If you think I'm not your daughter, why didn't you just drown me when I was born? That way I wouldn't have had to see your disgusting faces all these years."

Master Yu was so angry that his eyes widened, he was breathing heavily, the veins on his forehead were bulging, and he raised his hand high. With a "smack," he slapped You Tong hard across the face.

You Tong's health hadn't improved to begin with, so she couldn't withstand such a beating. Her face swelled up instantly, and blood was seeping from the corner of her mouth. She was slapped so hard that she fell to her side on the bed, her face burning, and her head felt so heavy that she felt like she was about to faint.

But how could she show weakness in front of Master Yu? She spat out a mouthful of blood, then slowly raised her face and sneered, "That's all you're good for, hitting women. How about it? After holding it in for so many years, you finally let it all out. Doesn't that feel especially satisfying? But while you're satisfied, I'm not. Since you dared to hit me, you have to bear the consequences. You are my father, after all. I won't do anything disrespectful. But Master Yu, don't forget that you have a precious second daughter who is missing. You've been searching for her for so long, why didn't you think to ask me about it?"

Master Yu regretted slapping her as soon as he did so. Over the years, although he favored Yu Wan and suspected You Tong's true parentage, she was still someone he had raised for over a decade. If You Tong's words hadn't been so harsh, he wouldn't have acted so impulsively. But just as he was regretting it, he heard You Tong smugly talking about Yu Wan. Master Yu's anger flared up again, and he roared, "You...you unfilial daughter! That's your own sister!"

"What a joke!" You Tong laughed loudly, laughing until her whole body ached and tears almost streamed down her face. She clutched her stomach, leaning against the bed, speechless for a long time. When she finally stopped laughing, she wiped her eyes, a ridiculous expression on her face, and shook her head, saying, "Master Yu, when did you become so naive? Sisters? Me and Yu Wan? You really believe all those acts we put on in front of you all those years ago? Ever since my mother passed away, my aunt and I have been locked in a life-or-death struggle. If I hadn't been so vigilant and ruthless, we'd probably be nothing but bones by now. You really think there's any sisterly bond between us?"

Seeing Master Yu's disbelief, You Tong remained calm and said indifferently, "The eldest daughter of the Yu family drowned in Qiantang Lake long ago. I am living a very good life now and did not want to mention the past. But since you don't believe me, Master Yu, I have to tell you. Of course, you can choose not to believe me, whether I am joking or wronging them, it has nothing to do with me. You have never considered me your daughter, so naturally I will not acknowledge you as my father now."

After speaking, she recounted how Yu Wan and her daughter had plotted against and framed Cui after her death, how she drugged Cui as her marriage to Xu Wei drew near, and how she had instigated the gardener to sneak into Cui's boudoir to catch them in the act. Master Yu kept saying he didn't believe her, but You Tong spoke with such certainty, even detailing the timing of the events clearly, that he had no choice but to believe her.

You Tong had talked too much and her body couldn't hold on any longer. She had no more energy to argue with Master Yu, so she leaned to the side and fell onto the bed, falling into a deep sleep. Master Yu was in a daze for a long time before he finally woke up. He wanted to ask You Tong a few more questions, but when he looked down, he found that she was already fast asleep.

With her eyes closed beneath her thick, long eyebrows, You Tong now appeared completely devoid of her previous fierceness. Her features and overall appearance were identical to Cui's, just like the fleeting glimpse he had taken of her by Qinghe Lake twenty years ago. A white dress, a gentle smile—twenty years had passed in the blink of an eye…

Youtong slept through the night, and when she woke up the next morning, her stomach was growling with hunger. Dujuan, however, only offered her some porridge, saying that her stomach couldn't take it for long. Helpless, Youtong drank a bowl of porridge in a few gulps, and her spirits gradually improved. She casually asked about Master Yu's whereabouts.

Du Juan replied softly, "Master's long-term illness relapsed last night, and he is still resting in bed. The doctor came to see him this morning and said he needs to rest well."

You Tong said "Oh" and lowered her head without saying anything more.

She was in good health, and although she had suffered so much these past few days, she was gradually recovering after a few days of recuperation. However, she was still worried about Xu Wei. He must have been searching frantically for her after she had been missing for so many days... Thinking of this, You Tong couldn't sit still any longer and turned to Du Juan, saying, "Help me to the master's room. I have something to say to him."

Du Juan hesitated for a moment, then said tentatively, "Miss, perhaps I should go and inform Master Yu first." Yesterday, You Tong and Master Yu had a fierce argument, which could be clearly heard even in the corridor. It seemed that Master Yu's sudden relapse of his old illness was related to this. Du Juan could no longer see You Tong as the gentle and kind young lady she once was; a sense of fear had already taken root in her heart.

You Tong remained silent. Seeing this, Du Juan quickly lowered her head and retreated. A moment later, she returned, looking troubled, and said, "Master is asleep right now, perhaps—"

"Go find someone for me," You Tong looked down at herself and saw a bracelet on her wrist, which was a gift from Madam Xu when the two families were engaged. She took it off with a heavy heart and handed it to Du Juan, saying, "Pawn this to get some money, and then help me find a capable person to send a message to the Xu family in the capital."

Du Juan could easily see the value of the bracelet, but dared not reach out to take it. She said in a low voice, "Miss, if you need silver, I have some here. How could I let you pawn it?" After saying that, she got up and took a bundle from the cabinet by the wall. She rummaged through it and found a small cloth bag. She opened it layer by layer and found several small gold ingots and some loose silver inside.

You Tong knew that this must be her savings over the years, and she was slightly moved. She nodded and said, "Okay, lend me some first, and I'll pay you back when I get back."

Du Juan smiled and said, "Miss, please don't be so polite with me. I'm overjoyed to be of any help to you."

You Tong smiled and didn't say anything more, only instructing her on how to find the person, how much to pay upfront, and how much to pay after delivering the message. Du Juan listened carefully, noted everything down, and then withdrew.

65. Framed

Around noon, Dujuan returned to report that everything had been taken care of, and Youtong finally breathed a sigh of relief. After that, she could only wait patiently. According to normal circumstances, the messenger here would probably be a little slow, but he should arrive by tomorrow. The Xu family should also receive the news soon. If nothing unexpected happens, she could go home tomorrow night.

Go home! The thought of this word suddenly filled Youtong with a rare sense of peace. She had a home now. Her home was in the Xu family mansion, in the place where Xu Wei was. No matter where she went or how long it took, he would always be waiting for her to come home.

After having a bowl of meat porridge at noon, Youtong seemed to have gained some strength. Dujuan also brought news from Master Yu, saying that he had woken up and would like Youtong to come over to talk later. However, Youtong didn't want to see him at this moment, saying that she wanted to take a nap and refused to go over.

She dozed off for a while, then suddenly heard rustling sounds at the door. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Dujuan walking to the bedside with a troubled look on her face and whispering, "Miss, Master is here."

You Tong frowned, touched her still slightly swollen left cheek, bit her lip, and waited for a while. Old Master Yu at the door looked like he was about to explode when You Tong slowly sat up and said impatiently, "Please invite him in."

Du Juan finally breathed a sigh of relief, quickly turned around and invited Master Yu into the house, then excused herself to pour tea and left. Once only the father and daughter were left in the room, You Tong glanced at Master Yu indifferently and asked casually, "What brings you here, Master Yu?"

Master Yu's face turned pale, and a hint of embarrassment flashed in his eyes. He looked at You Tong's bright eyes with displeasure, wanting to question her, but he held back in the end. He let out a long breath, suppressed his anger, and said in a low voice, "Where did you hide Wan'er?"

You Tong had already anticipated that he would come to see her about this matter, and couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. She turned her head to look at him and shook her head, "Master Yu, do you think I would so obediently hand over Yu Wan to you?"

"What do you want?" Master Yu's voice suddenly rose.

You Tong couldn't help but laugh again, shaking her head as she laughed, saying, "Master Yu, you really are getting more and more impatient with age. Where have all those schemes from your youth gone? Have you really become more and more like a child? Speaking of which, Yu Wan really doesn't resemble your daughter at all—" You Tong deliberately paused, glancing at him sideways. Seeing Master Yu's brows furrow, she sneered inwardly, "Her facial features don't resemble the Yu family in the slightest, and her temperament—I'm not saying this to be mean, but Auntie is quite clever, how did she give birth to such a cunning and stupid daughter, whom I've completely fooled. Are you so sure, sir, that she's really your child?"

Master Yu's face turned ashen with anger, and he roared, "Don't talk nonsense! How can you say such things so casually?"

You Tong laughed, "Master Yu, you're really unfair. Why do you only suspect me? You get all worked up whenever Yu Wan is mentioned. Isn't it because my mother was forced into marriage by you? Haven't you been suspicious of my identity all these years? To be honest, it's not just you, even I have my doubts. Who would want to be the eldest daughter of the Yu family if they could be a princess? So I even went to Prince Zhuang's mansion to ask. It's a pity, it turns out she's not—"

As she spoke, she secretly observed Master Yu's expression. When she mentioned going to Prince Zhuang's mansion, Master Yu's face turned deathly pale. But when she denied it, Master Yu seemed to be suddenly shocked by something, and he remained motionless, his eyes wide open.

You Tong had already guessed his thoughts, and seeing his expression now, she couldn't help but sneer inwardly. She couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire and continued, "Why did Master Yu's face suddenly turn so pale? Could it be that he has suffered some kind of fright?"

Master Yu suddenly looked up at her. Beneath her thick, long eyebrows were a pair of bright, dark eyes. Although her face was still slightly pale, her eyes were piercing and sparkling. Her half-smiling expression and the faint sarcasm at the corner of her mouth gradually intertwined with the image of Madam Cui in his mind.

"Why are you looking at me like that, Master Yu? What, do you think I look like your daughter now?" You Tong raised an eyebrow at him, deliberately speaking sarcastically, "Well, all those schemes and tricks in her head, all that wickedness in her belly, she learned them all from you. You must be quite pleased with yourself now. At least the Yu family has someone like you, which is better than that troublemaking fool, Yu Wan. No wonder I said she doesn't look like your daughter. Go ask around in Qiantang City, who would think she's your daughter? Speaking of which, Auntie is quite capable—"

You Tong sighed deliberately, her light voice tightening around Master Yu's heart like a rope. "She lived in a brothel for several years back then. It's truly remarkable that she managed to maintain her purity in such a place. Ah, my mother was too foolish. Everyone, whether from wealthy families or brothels, knows those things. If she really had something going on with another man, it would have been over in a bottle of chicken blood. Yet she was wrongly accused for so many years. Look how clever that concubine is. Oh dear—"

You Tong suddenly covered her mouth as if she had just remembered something, and smiled embarrassedly, saying, "Master Yu, please don't misunderstand. I didn't say that my aunt brought a bottle of chicken blood into the door."

Master Yu's face was deathly pale, his eyes flickering as if he were lost in thought. You Tong, however, did not bring up the matter again, but simply smiled and said, "I have already sent a letter to the capital, and someone will come to pick me up tomorrow. I will have my husband prepare a generous gift for you, Master Yu, to thank you for your careful care these past few days. As for Miss Yu the Second, as long as she is smart, I will naturally not make things difficult for her."

After saying that, she deliberately sighed and complained, "Master Yu, you don't know how difficult life is in the capital. There are rumors and gossips all day long. Even though I'm married, I still have to be careful. The second young lady has a foul mouth, and I can't let her out and ruin my plans. I can manage on my own, but my husband can't afford to lose face like that."

Mr. Yu trembled slightly, slowly raised his head to look at her, and after a long while asked, "You're married?"

“That’s right,” You Tong said with a smile, “My husband, Master Yu, also knows him; he’s the eldest son of the Xu family.”

"Xu Wei?" Master Yu naturally remembered that You Tong's engagement to the Xu family had caused a sensation in Qiantang. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes as he asked in astonishment, "Did he recognize you?"

You Tong said, "What Master Yu is saying is wrong. If he didn't recognize me, why would he marry me?"

Upon hearing this, a complex expression flashed in Mr. Yu's eyes. He gave You Tong a deep look, then silently got up and left.

You Tong had said almost everything she needed to say. Seeing him leave, she didn't call out to him, only giving him a complicated look, a smug smile playing on her lips. Given Master Yu's suspicious nature, with her instigation, even if Yu Wan was taken back, her life wouldn't be easy. And that concubine—You Tong clenched her fist tightly. She'd been smug for so many years; let's see how long she can remain so smug. And Master Yu… You Tong smiled coldly; this matter wasn't over yet.

The next day at noon, You Tong had just finished lunch and lay down when she heard a commotion outside. After a series of crackling sounds, someone shouted, "Who are you? What do you want?"

But there was no reply. The hurried footsteps grew louder as they approached. Hearing the sound, Youtong suddenly felt a surge of tension. Ignoring the heaviness in her body, she abruptly threw off the covers, rushing towards the door without even putting on her shoes. Before she reached the door, it was kicked open, and the figure she had longed for appeared before her. Youtong's eyes stung, and before tears could fall, she was embraced tightly.

"Xu—" You Tong opened her mouth, only to find her throat choked so badly that she couldn't make a sound. She had no strength left in her body and could only lean limply against him. Xu Wei's mind was also blank, but his heart suddenly filled with joy. The anxiety that had been hanging over him for so many days finally settled down, and he felt like he had come back to life.

The two nestled together, completely oblivious to their surroundings. Dujuan and Master Yu, having already arrived upon hearing the commotion, were momentarily embarrassed to see the two embracing so tightly. Dujuan, quick-witted, immediately closed the door and quietly slipped away. Master Yu, not wanting to interrupt them, simply told Dujuan to keep an eye on things and report back as needed.

The two embraced for a while, almost breathless, before loosening their grip slightly. Xu Wei carried her in his arms, took a few steps back to sit on the bed, and carefully examined her from head to toe with his dark eyes. His face immediately paled, and deep pity and heartache flashed in his eyes. His hands trembled as he ran his fingers over her wounds. He couldn't even finish his sentence, his eyes were red, and he struggled to hold back his tears.

"Youtong, who hurt you like this?" Xu Wei gritted his teeth, suppressing the immense hatred in his heart, and asked her softly in a low voice.

You Tong had been holding on these past few days, never showing any weakness in front of others, but now she couldn't hold on any longer. She buried her head in Xu Wei's arms, tears streaming down her face, and cried, "I...I'm so afraid I'll never see you again." She didn't say how she got hurt, she just wanted to have a good cry.

Xu Wei had never seen her cry so sorrowfully before. His heart ached, and he didn't know how to comfort her. He could only hold You Tong tightly, gently stroking her back and softly saying, "It's alright, I'm here with you, it's alright."

After Youtong finally finished crying, her eyes were swollen like half of a peach. Xu Wei carefully wiped away her tears while examining her injuries. He frowned and quickly noticed the injury on her face. A sharp look flashed in his eyes as he asked, "Who hit you on the face?" Youtong's left cheek was still slightly red and swollen. If you looked closely, you could even see finger marks. This was definitely not an injury from ten days ago; it was clearly a recent beating.

You Tong didn't hide anything from him and told him the whole story of her argument with Master Yu. Xu Wei remained silent with a sullen face, but he didn't hear anything clearly. He only remembered that Master Yu had hit You Tong. He already had no good feelings towards that so-called father-in-law, and now he was even more angry.

66. Revenge

Xu Wei carefully examined You Tong's wounds. There were about a dozen cuts all over her body, mostly on her arms and back, with a few on her thighs. Although the wounds weren't deep, and they had already started to scab over, they still looked quite gruesome. As Xu Wei looked at her, the tears he had been holding back finally fell, but not wanting You Tong to see, he kept his face away while applying the medicine.

Seeing him shed tears, You Tong felt very sad herself, and could only smile and comfort him, "It's all alright, it will get better in a few days. I'm just afraid that it will leave a scar in the future, and Brother Xu won't like it."

Xu Wei immediately covered her mouth and replied seriously, "Don't think nonsense. Do you think I'm that kind of person? Speaking of wounds, I have even more on my body. You didn't despise me, so how could I betray you? Don't worry, I will make you pay for all those wounds on your body."

Upon hearing this, You Tong's expression shifted slightly. She lowered her eyes and asked softly, "Have you found out who did it?"

Xu Wei glanced at her uneasily, worried that she might not be able to handle it, but after thinking for a moment, he honestly replied, "It's Bai Ling. She was originally sent to a villa outside the city by Shen San, but later the villa was robbed by bandits from Jigongzhai, and she was taken to the mountain and married to the chief of the mountain stronghold."

Although You Tong had expected it to be her, she still couldn't bear to hear it now and felt like crying. But she smiled helplessly and shook her head, saying, "These past few days I've been thinking about what I did wrong to her that made her want to kill me. If I hadn't stopped her from marrying Master Tong as a concubine, would all of this have happened?"

"Don't overthink it," Xu Wei gently patted her head and comforted her softly, "I haven't touched her yet. I'll just wait until I find you before destroying Chicken Village. Then I'll bring her back, and you can just ask her directly."

You Tong shook her head and smiled bitterly, "I'm afraid I won't be able to say a word to her. She's been with me for so many years. Although I wouldn't call her a sister, I've never wronged her. But looking back, I feel somewhat responsible for her ending up like this. When I saw her with Shen San, I assumed she had betrayed me. In a moment of impulse, I inevitably used some means to ruin her relationship with Shen San. I think that's why she hates me so much."

Seeing her gloomy face, Xu Wei was afraid she was getting stuck on her thoughts and making herself miserable, so he quickly said, "Don't overthink it. Even if you don't do anything, Bai Ling still won't be able to enter the Shen family. A prestigious family like the Shen family is very particular about even taking a concubine. Bai Ling's status is what it is, and coupled with her own improper behavior, she has repeatedly caused trouble and made a scene throughout the city. She just wants to force Shen San to take her as a concubine. Although the elders of the Shen family haven't said anything, they know what's going on. How could they allow her to enter the family? Why do you think Shen San later sent her out of the city? It must have been an order from either the Shen family patriarch or the eldest son."

You Tong knew he was right, but Bai Ling had been with her for so many years, and to end things like this, she couldn't accept it. Xu Wei understood her feelings and advised, "Bai Ling's current state isn't your fault. If anyone bears the greatest responsibility, it's Shen San. He was the one who tricked people into sneaking into the estate, he was the one who deceived Bai Ling and won her heart, she was the one who brought her to the capital, and he was the one who sent her away, causing her to fall into the hands of bandits. It's just that Bai Ling was blinded by her feelings and didn't want to see Shen San as an enemy, so she blamed you instead. In truth, she's the one who's truly pathetic and laughable." She knew perfectly well that no one else was responsible for her tragedy, but she refused to admit it and deliberately shifted all the blame onto You Tong, as if only in this way could she find relief.

The mention of Bai Ling weighed heavily on both of them. Xu Wei, not wanting You Tong to be further distressed, quickly changed the subject. You Tong, however, recalled the matter of the young Marquis of the Wu family and asked if he had approached the Xu family. Xu Wei, however, evaded the question, refusing to give a direct answer. You Tong, sensing something amiss, grew even heavier-hearted and asked softly, "What did he do?"