Xiao Zhuzi, carrying the intelligence report he had just handed over, came to see Zhao Shu. "Princess, the girl that the Wei family sent to be the Fourth Prince's consort has been chosen."
Zhao Shu snapped out of her daze, took the intelligence report from his hand, and glanced at it. The girl's name, her father and brothers were all listed clearly, and it was emphasized that she had no enmity or grudge against Wei Tingsi. If they met on a normal day, they could still speak to each other amicably.
She thought about it. The Wei family was a large clan with a complex and chaotic power structure. Even if Huo Baichuan's reforms were a great success, they couldn't be allowed to decline. Life would find a way out. Having limitations was one kind of development, while having no limitations was another.
Those with families have a powerful backer and can rely on them for support, while those without families face many inconveniences in doing things. In the long run, it is not appropriate for Wei Tingsi to abandon the Wei family, but rather to subdue them.
"Although she is born out of wedlock, she is still his younger sister. Send someone to deliver a message: if she is unwilling, I can help her; but if she insists on becoming a prince's consort, then let fate decide." Generally, children born out of wedlock worry about one thing from a young age: what if they are taken as concubines in the future, or what if they marry a son born out of wedlock? So, if there is a sudden opportunity to become a prince's consort, and one tries hard, she might become the empress, ruling the country and receiving the homage of noblewomen. How glorious and prestigious! Most people really can't resist this temptation.
"Yes, this servant will take care of it immediately."
After stepping down, he discussed the matter and realized that everyone had been sent out and no one could visit the Wei family for the time being. He was the most free at the moment. He thought that if the princess married Marshal Wei in the future, the Wei family would still be a problem. He might as well go and investigate now so that he could clear obstacles for the princess in the future.
As for those women who were betrothed by Emperor Mingde, Xiao Zhuzi didn't even consider them worthy of his attention. How could those wildflowers compare to their princess? They weren't even fit to carry her shoes. If Marshal Wei were to marry them, wouldn't he be unjustly killed?
After making the decision, he acted quickly. He first went to the tailor shop that Wei Tingsi had told Zhao Shu about, and was told the name of a servant who could take him into the Wei family. In the middle of the night, he successfully entered the Wei family.
As he crept into the inner quarters, the servant who had led him in whispered, "The Fifth Miss's boudoir is just ahead, Steward Zhu, let's go."
Xiao Zhu Zi looked solemn as he followed the servant inside. Suddenly, a scream of "Ah!" made the two of them tremble and retreat instantly, hiding in a secluded spot, not daring to breathe.
The scream caused all the lights in the vicinity to turn on, and the maids and servants rushed out and gathered towards the boudoir, "Miss, Miss, what's wrong, Miss?"
"Ah!" Another scream rang out, slightly different from the previous one. The previous screams were filled with terror and panic, while this one was filled with despair and hatred.
"What's going on?" Suddenly, a majestic voice came from the side. From Xiao Zhu Zi's perspective, he could just see that the speaker was actually Wei Zhong Shi.
Her face was frosty, her gaze icy. She asked a question, and the noisy sounds stopped instantly. A maidservant timidly came over to report, "Madam, young lady, young lady has cut her wrists."
"What happened? Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on her?" Madam Wei Zhong looked for the person responsible first, instead of checking on the Wei family's illegitimate daughter who had cut her wrists.
Before the old woman could reply, Wei Yunshu followed her in. Her hair was disheveled, and the maid behind her was chasing after her to comb it. She walked very fast, and the maid couldn't keep up. "Mother, what happened?"
She seemed flustered, and as she asked the question, she burst into the room, exclaiming as soon as she stepped inside, "Ah! There's a man here?"
"Oh dear, my good girl, please keep your voice down, your reputation is important."
"Guards, lock everyone in the courtyard! Where are they? Bring them here!" Madam Wei Zhong was furious, her face turning ashen. Her maids and servants began to close the courtyard gates and then gathered everyone in front of her.
Several strong old women brought over a man who had been tied up. "Madam, he was the Fifth Miss's coachman. He committed suicide out of fear of punishment."
These words were utterly scathing, yet Madam Wei Zhong did not rebuke him. Instead, she pinched her nose, looking disgusted, but had no choice but to glance at him a few times. "Throw him into the mass grave and feed him to the wild dogs. How dare he defile our master! His family has also been dealt with."
"Yes, Madam." The confidant quickly went to carry out the task, and Xiao Zhuzi didn't dare to move again, continuing to read.
As soon as Wei Zhongshi entered the house, the sound of things being smashed came from inside, followed by a woman's muffled voice, as if her mouth had been gagged and she couldn't speak.
“If you don’t want to marry into the Fourth Prince’s household, you can just tell your mother. Why demean yourself like this? The Fourth Prince is handsome and dignified, much better than that coachman. Stop crying. All you do all day is cry and cry. If crying could solve the problem, I wouldn’t be worrying so much about you. Someone, take Fifth Miss to the family temple.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhu muttered to himself, "What a vicious woman with a sharp tongue and a cruel heart! Fifth Sister cut her wrists, yet she still wants to send her to the family temple, without ever once mentioning calling for a doctor."
"Madam, shouldn't we call a doctor to come and take a look?" someone asked, voicing his concerns.
"Shut up! Doesn't Madam feel sorry for Fifth Miss? But if we call a doctor and word gets out, how will Fifth Miss face people in the future? How will the other young ladies in the manor face people?" Someone scolded the maid who asked the question.
Xiao Zhu Zi couldn't find any words to refute this. After such an incident, whether the Fifth Sister was set up or did it willingly, her life was over.
No one spoke a word of justice for the fifth girl. Several strong old women grabbed her and dragged her out of the courtyard. As they left, drops of blood still dripped from their hands onto the ground. Her face was ashen, and she wept silently in despair.
"Clean up the yard, everyone disperse." Madam Wei Zhong yawned, took Wei Yunshu's hand, and the mother and daughter walked past Xiao Zhuzi.
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