Wei Dongchen coughed, covering his mouth with his fist, and said awkwardly, "Actually, I've been secretly working for the Emperor all these years. My visits to brothels are just to gather intelligence."
Qingying's eyes widened in surprise. "Then my brother..."
"He is just like me."
After receiving an affirmative answer, Qingying felt a mix of emotions.
So, all these years, Liu Chengfeng's frequent trips out weren't for revelry, but for important business. Therefore, everyone misunderstood; their brother's absence from the manor this past year wasn't solely due to visiting Ayan.
"He deserves much credit for the fact that we were able to win this battle so smoothly." As he spoke, Wei Dongchen lowered his head, his tone somewhat sorrowful. "He actually blames me. We had agreed to fight side by side, but I defected to the front line, leaving him alone to face those challenges."
No wonder Liu Chengfeng didn't come to see Wei Dongchen again after he returned to the capital, and he didn't go in or out of the General's Mansion again.
"He must think I'm a traitor, but... I've already missed my chance with you, and I don't want you to look down on me anymore..."
Qingying suddenly remembered the night he came to see her before he left. He asked her, "Do you think a good man must achieve great things?"
It turns out that he made that decision at that time.
Qingying looked at him and said, "I think your brother should be able to understand you. If your brotherhood is broken because of this, then it can only be said that your fate has run its course. I hope you won't blame him."
She initially thought that Liu Chengfeng's concern about this matter seemed petty, but upon reflection, she realized that she was being too detached. From Liu Chengfeng's perspective, he had been betrayed by his good brother and had borne all the blame alone, so it was perfectly normal for him to harbor resentment.
"How could I blame him? I was the one who was wrong."
Do you remember what I said when you asked me that question?
Wei Dongchen nodded. "You said that everyone has their own ambitions. It's not necessary to have particularly great achievements. As long as you take on the responsibilities you should take, have a clear conscience, and live an upright life, you can be considered a good man."
"Yes, so whether you are now or you were before, you are a very good man."
“But you don’t like it.” He scratched his head in distress. “Everyone says I’m a spoiled brat, and you only keep your distance from me. Every time I get close, you avoid me. I’m serious when I try to be nice to you, but you always think it’s a joke.”
"I'm sorry." Qingying looked at him apologetically and said, "Perhaps my unintentional actions or words have hurt you, but I hope you believe that I never meant any harm and never looked down on you."
"Yes, I know."
Wei Dongchen gave her a slight smile, then suddenly changed the subject, "Your situation in the manor is quite difficult right now, isn't it?"
Qingying reacted for a moment, lowered her eyelashes, and said softly, "It's alright."
"Stop pretending, you can't fool me." His gaze swept over her left hand, which was hidden under her sleeve, and then he took out a scroll from the inside of the carriage, handed it to her, and said, "Actually, Chengfeng brought this to me before, hoping that I could help him find Liu Shushu."
Qingying took the scroll, unfurled it, and saw that the woman depicted on it was none other than Liu Shushu, painted with remarkable realism. "This...when did he give it to you?"
"Last year, the one when Liu Chenglin pushed you into the water."
Qingying felt as if she had a fishbone stuck in her throat.
It turned out they had all been searching for Liu Shushu without her knowledge. No wonder the matter of establishing a legitimate heir had been delayed again and again, and no one had stood up for her. They were all waiting for the true legitimate daughter of the Liu family to return. Only she had been kept in the dark, foolishly waiting for a promise that could never be kept.
In fact, her desire to be recognized as the legitimate heir was never about seizing anyone's position; she simply wanted to be acknowledged. As long as Madam Pan registered her under her name, she could have her name written in the family genealogy.
Such a small request is so difficult to fulfill.
Wei Dongchen pressed down her slightly trembling hand, closed the scroll, looked at her, and said, "Second girl, I have never really searched for Liu Shushu for him. On the contrary, I have been trying my best to stop her. But I did not expect that she would happen to save the Crown Prince by such a coincidence."
"I understand." Her mood was inevitably downcast.
"If you're willing, I'd even like to include you in my family's genealogy. I'll dedicate a whole page to you, filling it entirely with your name."
Looking at his serious expression, Qingying couldn't help but smile, then pretended to be disgusted and said, "Who wants to be included in your family tree? I am the Crown Princess appointed by the Emperor."
Wei Dongchen opened her mouth, then closed it again, then smiled and said, "When you become the Crown Princess, won't you still be included in my Wei family's genealogy?"
Qingying was unable to refute.
The carriage stopped at this moment, and the coachman's voice came from outside: "Young Master, Miss Liu, we have arrived at the General's Mansion."
"Alright, I'm home now. Thank you for seeing me off, Your Highness."
"You're welcome. If you need anything in the future, just let me know. We'll always be friends."
"Yes, thank you," Qingying said sincerely.
...
As Qingying stepped into the mansion, she met Liu Chengfeng, who had returned at the same time. She smiled and called out, "Big brother!"
The other person acted as if they couldn't see her, walking straight past her and leaving her with only a cold, receding figure.
Her forced smile froze instantly.
Tong Xia asked, puzzled, "What's wrong with the young master? He's acting like he's taken a gunpowder."
“He saw me get off the prince’s carriage, so he got angry with me as well.”
"Huh? How could that be? Didn't the eldest young master and the young master always have a good relationship?"
She did not answer Tong Xia's question.
Wei Dongchen confessed that they were working undercover, and the fewer people who knew about it, the better.
Qingying pursed her lips, thinking to herself, "My brother is so petty."
She took a few steps forward and, sure enough, encountered Mu Jin, who had clearly been waiting for a long time.
"Third Miss, Madam requests your presence."
"Um."
Her expression remained unchanged, as if she had expected it, which surprised Mu Jin.
As soon as she stepped into Pan's room, the other party coldly told her to kneel down.
Qingying stood frozen in place, not moving. She hadn't expected Madam Pan to be so biased, condemning her before she could even utter a word.
She pursed her lips, her tone indifferent: "I wonder what my daughter did wrong?"
Madam Pan's gaze fell on her tightly wrapped hands, and she clicked her tongue, saying, "You even went so far as to hurt yourself to embarrass your sister, and then walked back to the mansion on foot to ruin her reputation. What a cunning scheme. I never knew you were so scheming."
Qingying frowned as she looked at her. "Is that what Mother thinks?"
"What? Did I say something wrong?"
"Ha~ So Mother thinks I should perform for others alongside the courtesans in front of everyone? Would that damage my reputation or the reputation of the General's Mansion?"
Pan stared at her coldly without saying a word.
She continued, "As for walking back to the mansion, it was indeed intentional on my part. When she left me at Biyuan, did she ever think about how I would get back?"
"Fine, very well, you've grown wings now and dare to talk back to me!" Madam Pan gritted her teeth, looking as if she wanted to tear her apart.
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