Wei Shuyao still harbored resentment over yesterday's events, but considering that her grandmother had just instructed that the punishment had been given and that yesterday's matter was over, she could not argue with Wei Shuwan any further. So she had no choice but to swallow her anger for the time being, but she ignored Wei Shuwan's greeting.
However, Wei Shuwan didn't mind. She secretly observed Wei Shuyao and saw that her complexion was rosy and her spirits were high. She figured that she had slept well the night before, and the injury on her head should be fine. With that, she felt at ease.
After keeping a cold face for a while, Meng knew she couldn't be as willful as her daughter, so she finally nodded to let it pass and then pulled Wei Shuyao away.
As they walked, Madam Meng praised Wei Shuyao, saying, "Our Yao'er is truly filial. Even with her injuries, she doesn't forget to come and pay her respects to her grandmother morning and evening."
Wei Shuwan naturally understood who these words were subtly mocking; indeed, she and her mother hadn't come to pay their respects to their grandmother for quite some time.
Actually, back in Wu County, my mother and I never dared to neglect our duties. However, my grandmother was not close to the second branch of the family. She would say that she was old and in poor health and often got up and went to bed at irregular times, telling them not to come every day. In reality, she really disliked them being around her all the time.
How could they compare to the eldest son and his daughter? They were her own daughter-in-law and granddaughter, and she would miss them even if they didn't see them for a day.
I imagine that when the old house in Wu County was gone, my grandmother must have been heartbroken, because she disliked the second branch of the family so much, yet she had no choice but to rely on them for shelter.
Seeing that Wei Shuwan was still staring at the backs of the First Madam and the Fourth Miss, the nanny guessed what she was thinking and quickly said, "Third Miss, please go in. The Old Madam is waiting for you."
"Um."
After entering the house, everything was as Wei Shuwan had expected. Her grandmother gave her another lecture and then advised her to be more harmonious with her fourth sister. Otherwise, both of them were her flesh and blood, and how could her grandmother, as her grandmother, make a judgment?
Wei Shuwan found it amusing, but she respectfully agreed. Finally, the old lady asked again:
"What exactly is your connection with that Young Master Du?"
"Grandmother, I did not recognize him at first, but after I went back and thought about it, I remembered that I had indeed met Young Master Du once when we were boating on the lake."
The old lady looked incredulous and asked, "Only once? What did they say?"
In order to clear his name, Wei Shuwan had no choice but to describe the situation in detail: "At that time, Young Master Du's boat was leaking, and his granddaughter's pleasure boat was the closest. He asked his granddaughter for help, and she allowed him to board the pleasure boat. However, after boarding the boat, Young Master Du stood politely on the deck, while his granddaughter stayed in the cabin and did not speak to him at all."
Upon hearing this, the old lady's expression inexplicably improved. Wei Shuwan could tell that even after yesterday's incident, the old lady hadn't given up on Du Xun and still harbored feelings for him and Wei Shuyao.
However, from now on it will be none of her business, Wei Shuwan thought to herself.
After being questioned by her grandmother, Wei Shuwan handed over the "Admonitions for Women" three more times and then got up to leave. Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from the courtyard. Wei Shuwan and her grandmother looked over in confusion, thinking it was some unruly servant, but unexpectedly it was Meng Shi returning with Wei Shuyao, walking briskly and completely lacking the reserve that women should have.
The old lady frowned, knowing something must have happened, and hurriedly asked, "What happened?"
"Grandmother, just now my mother and I wanted to leave the manor, but as soon as we opened the gate, we saw a lot of people outside. They were pointing at the gate and laughing mockingly. I don't know what they wanted to do!"
After hurriedly finishing her sentence, Wei Shuyao looked at Wei Shuwan and asked in a stiff tone, "Do you know?"
After all, this is the territory of the second wife's family.
Wei Shuwan was rather speechless and retorted, "I was locked up in the meditation room all night yesterday, how would I know what was happening outside?"
"Then let's have a servant go out through the side door and blend in to ask around," the old lady decided.
Wei Shuyao hurriedly made arrangements and soon returned with the answer: "Grandmother, I have found out."
"Who exactly are those people?"
“Yes…” Wei Shuyao seemed a little hesitant to speak. After glancing at Wei Shuwan, the anger from yesterday surged up in her heart again, so she readily said, “I came to see Third Sister!”
The old lady was taken aback: "Looking at Shuwan?"
"Yes, Grandmother, rumors are going around that Third Sister went to Xunfang Tower last night and spent the whole night fooling around with many young men, only returning to the manor during the day. So those who missed it last night have all blocked the door today, hoping to catch a glimpse of the most beautiful woman in Jiangzuo!"
When she said this, Wei Shuyao's tone was somewhat exaggerated, revealing a complete "watching the show" mentality.
"What?!" The old lady slammed her cane on the ground in anger, then frowned and looked at Wei Shuwan, her tone heavy: "Did you sneak out last night?"
“Of course not!” Wei Shuwan said firmly and resolutely.
She naturally knew this was Zhu Gaozhuo's insidious scheme, using a fake Wei Shuwan to ruin her reputation in order to avenge his mother, the Princess Jing, and his sister, Princess Yun'an. If she hadn't happened to witness that scene last night, she probably would have been on the verge of death without even knowing who had done it.
Now that she knows, she can't let others smear her reputation.
“Grandmother, I stayed in the room of reflection until dawn last night, and the door was locked. How could I have gotten out? This is clearly someone deliberately spreading rumors to slander the Wei family.”
"Who would do such a thing..." The old lady naturally believed her words, after all, even though Wei Shuwan was no longer her own granddaughter, she still bore the surname Wei.
The old lady slammed her cane against the bluestone bricks twice and said angrily, "This is simply outrageous!"
The reputation of the Wei family's daughters is intertwined; if one's reputation is ruined, Wei Shuyao will also be unable to attach herself to the Du family!
Madam Meng had been silent for a long time, initially with the same curiosity as her daughter, but seeing how anxious the old lady was, she quickly understood the situation. She became somewhat anxious herself and asked, "Shuwan, have you made enemies with anyone outside?"
“They’re from Prince Jing’s residence,” Wei Shuwan said bluntly.
“The Jing... Jing Prince’s Mansion?” Madam Meng was stunned. This background was far too powerful for a commoner like her to comment on.
The old lady was also slightly taken aback. Her previous desire to seek justice vanished instantly, like a lamp whose oil had been cut off. After a long while, she managed to utter a question: "How can you be so sure it's the Prince Jing's residence?"
Wei Shuwan naturally couldn't admit that she had witnessed Zhu Gaozhuo's actions firsthand. At this moment, Wei Shuyao chimed in in agreement: "It was the Jing Prince's Mansion, it must be the Jing Prince's Mansion! Last time, Princess Yun'an made things difficult for me because my third sister offended her, and I was unfairly targeted!"
She had already experienced Princess Yun'an's ruthlessness last time. That day, Princess Yun'an failed to gain any advantage over Wei Shuwan, and instead made such a fool of herself. It would be strange if she let Wei Shuwan go!
Feeling increasingly wronged and frightened, Wei Shuyao ran to the old lady's side, took her arm, and said worriedly, "Grandmother, what if the Prince Jing's Mansion really wants to punish our Wei family this time? Wouldn't the whole family be implicated by Third Sister?"
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