The next day, Qingying disguised herself and came to Lane 12 of West Street.
Coincidentally, as soon as she entered the alley, she saw Ayan and a man walking forward while talking.
She suddenly noticed that Ayan was walking with a limp.
"Yu Yue, when we last saw her, was there something wrong with her leg?"
Yu Yue said, "Last time she walked slowly, but I could see that she was limping a little, which must be a new injury."
"When did our Yu Yue develop such discernment? She can even tell whether a wound is new or old?"
Yu Yue smiled shyly and said softly, "Miss, you don't know, the way you walk is different when there's a new injury on your leg than when there's an old one. Our Second Master's leg injury is an old ailment that has lasted for many years. Although he has a limp, he walks with great ease. But Ayan's unnatural walking posture shows that it's a new injury, and she hasn't gotten used to it yet."
Qingying nodded approvingly, "That's good. I'll give you a hairpin as a reward when we get back tonight."
Yu Yue smiled and reminded her, "Miss, they've already turned the corner and disappeared."
Qingying realized what was happening and quickly followed.
The alley was very narrow; two people could walk side by side with only a little space left, barely enough for a horse to pass through. It was also winding and twisting. By now, the two people had long since disappeared. Fortunately, Qingying had a backup plan.
She took out the address of the Liu family that Xie Jiaoying had found from her sleeve and went there.
It must be said that the Liu family's location was really remote, almost at the end of the alley, in a very small courtyard with three small tiled houses squeezed between two larger courtyards. The walls of the two courtyards were very high, which saved the Liu family the money of building their own walls.
Qingying had only come to scout things out and confirm whether Ayan was indeed Liu Yan. But now she was in a dilemma. She couldn't climb walls or trees, so how could she possibly see what was happening in the courtyard?
Just as she was struggling with this problem, she suddenly heard voices coming from inside, and the voices were getting closer and closer to her.
She quickly pulled Yu Yue to hide behind the wall on the other side of the bend, and then quietly peeked half her head out.
You wouldn't believe it until you see it! The two people walking out of the Liu family's house were none other than Liu Shushu and Chang An!
The two were talking so far apart that it was hard to hear what they were saying. Chang An led out a horse, rode it outside the door, and then Liu Shushu waved goodbye and rode away.
Then Liu Shushu returned to the courtyard and closed the door.
This surprised Qingying, who didn't know when Liu Shushu and Ayan had become so close.
She could tell that Liu Chengfeng genuinely liked Ayan. However, given Madam Pan's personality, it was absolutely impossible for her to accept a woman of such low birth as her daughter-in-law.
She thought to herself: Maybe Liu Chengfeng couldn't handle it alone, so he asked Liu Shushu to come and offer advice.
Blood is thicker than water, and even after more than ten years, they are closer than strangers like her when they reunite.
"Miss, let's go back first. It doesn't seem like the time is right today," Yu Yue whispered behind her.
Qingying was also afraid of alerting the enemy, so she didn't dare to stay too long.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she returned to the General's Mansion, she ran into Liu Shushu, who was also returning to the mansion, at the gate.
The two looked into each other's eyes, silently understanding each other.
From the moment they were born, they were destined not to be best friends, let alone now that there were so many love and hate entanglements between them. Qingying simply stopped pretending and didn't give her a friendly look.
Liu Shushu did the same, only glancing at her before haughtily turning her gaze away and walking into the mansion.
Qingying stepped across the threshold ahead of her, her steps light and graceful.
"Childish." Liu Shushu scoffed dismissively, then walked in the opposite direction after entering the room.
Qingying didn't even glance at her and walked to the other side.
After walking for a while, Yu Yue couldn't help but mutter, "It looks like the second young lady's leg injury will take quite a while to heal."
For some reason, Qingying suddenly had a flash of inspiration, and the image of Ayan walking with a limp flashed through her mind.
What a coincidence! The two sisters-in-law were injured at the same time? And on the same foot no less?
A ridiculous thought flashed through her mind, and she quickly shook her head.
Two days later, Qingying received a wedding invitation from the Lu family and learned that Lu Jingyan intended to marry Wu Miaoqing first, and then welcome Feng Ruilan into the family after the three-day homecoming.
"To marry a wife and take a concubine only three days apart is truly unheard of!"
Tong Xia said, "I heard that Wu Miaoqing was unwilling to marry after Feng Ruilan, and even threatened that if the Lu family dared to take a concubine first, she would break off the engagement. That's why the Lu family had no choice but to resort to this tactic."
Wu Miaoqing's actions were to be expected; that woman was never one to be trifled with.
"Doesn't Lu Jingyan have any objections?"
Tong Xia sneered, "What objections could he possibly have? Wu Dusi has long been dissatisfied with him, but the marriage was arranged long ago. He was afraid of damaging his reputation and having to break off the engagement, so he had no choice but to marry his precious daughter off to him. Wu Dusi is holding a grudge. When Lu Jingyan faces him, he can only be a coward."
Qingying couldn't help but laugh out loud, pinched her cheek, and said, "I'm liking our little Tongxia's mouth more and more now."
"Hehe~" Tong Xia scratched her head shyly.
Yu Yue said, "However, this servant doesn't think that Miss Wu seems to be in love with Young Master Lu."
"It's just an arranged marriage, what does it have to do with liking or disliking each other?" Qingying gently stroked the white deer's fur, gazing absently at the snow-covered landscape outside the window.
After a long silence, he said softly, "Sometimes what we call heartfelt affection is nothing more than this."
...
The eighth day of the first lunar month.
On the day of the wedding at the Duke of Lu's mansion, the mansion was filled with joy. Red silk was hung high, lanterns were lit, and guests came and went, with wine cups being clinked.
After finishing her meal, Qingying prepared to return home. As she came out, she happened to run into Liu Shushu and Wei Huaixu talking to each other by the door.
Qingying knew that Wei Huaixu had come. After all, the fact that His Highness the Crown Prince had graced the wedding banquet with his presence and sent a congratulatory gift made the entire Duke of Lu's mansion proud.
However, it was obvious to everyone that he was only there because of the Wudu Commandery, since they had fought together before.
Qingying desperately wanted to pretend she hadn't seen anything and slip away, but reason told her she couldn't do that. Reluctantly, she stepped forward, forcing a smile and bowing, "This humble woman greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"No need for formalities." Wei Huaixu looked at her with a complicated expression, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
At this moment, Liu Shushu curtsied and said, "This humble woman will take her leave now."
"Hmm." Wei Huaixu nodded.
Liu Shushu left just like that, leaving the two of them standing there looking at each other in bewilderment.
Qingying thought to herself: What kind of situation is this?
He glanced at Liu Shushu's back with a puzzled look out of the corner of his eye, but couldn't help but stop.
This looks...so familiar?
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