Chapter Seven: The Assassination That Day

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Weishao Qianyu glanced at Dong Nuan, then turned her head away. She could not bring herself to forgive Feng Jinye so easily and had no intention of returning to the Prince of War’s manor for the time being.

“Miss, Qingxia has been taken back to the Prince of War’s manor. Why don’t we leak some news and let the Prince’s shadow guards find you?” Dong Nuan, ever perceptive to others’ thoughts, could always voice what Weishao Qianyu was thinking in a single sentence.

Weishao Qianyu felt a pang of frustration. It had always been this way—Dong Nuan would side with Feng Jinye, helping him to placate her.

“Dong, perhaps you should return to the shadow guard camp at the Prince of War’s manor,” Weishao Qianyu said, opening her eyes and removing her veil. She picked up a soup dumpling and bit into it with determination.

Dong Nuan trembled, as if she were the dumpling being bitten, and pleaded, “Miss, the prince doesn’t even remember me. How could I go back? If he did remember, I’d have even less reason to return! I’m not speaking up for him, I truly think it would be best if you went back to the manor!”

Weishao Qianyu settled down at Wanlai Xue. She knew Feng Jinye would surely come looking for her—for she was the one who had tried to assassinate him, and he would not let her slip away so easily.

Weishao Qianyu bore grudges deeply. She wasn’t someone who could be appeased with a sweet date after a slap; why would she let Feng Jinye find her so easily?

But at this moment, Feng Jinye wasn’t the only one searching for her.

Did they really think anyone could become the Princess of War? When Feng Jinye lost his temper, he could be deadly! The only reason he hadn’t killed Lu Yanran outright was likely out of regard for the Duke’s household.

Lu Yanran had been confined to Qinglan Courtyard for two days, and Lady Lu was growing desperate. In her distress, she scoured the city for Weishao Qianyu.

Perhaps letting Lu Yanran enter the Prince of War’s manor had been a mistake from the beginning, yet Lady Lu had only compounded her errors.

With her narrow perspective, Lady Lu had thought Weishao Qianyu—disfigured, orphaned, alone, and dependent on the Duke’s family—would be easy to control.

But she forgot that what caught Feng Jinye’s eye about Weishao Qianyu was that she was herself, and nothing else.

Lady Lu, muddled and at her wit’s end, realized that as a mere woman, she could only seek out Weishao Qianyu. Without her, she wouldn’t even be able to see her own daughter.

Outside the Prince of War’s manor, a maid from the Duke’s household came again to deliver a letter. Chu Jiu, growing impatient, had already refused Lady Lu’s messengers four times in just two days, thinking the woman must be mad.

Chu Jiu had no desire to mention the Princess of War in front of their prince and risk his displeasure, so she rejected all of Lady Lu’s letters.

If Lady Lu insisted on courting trouble, let her suffer for a while.

Lady Lu was truly anxious. She wanted nothing more than to see her daughter, but her letters never made it past the gate of the Prince of War’s manor. The household had no mistress in charge—apart from the still-uncertain Weishao Qianyu and Lu Yanran, Feng Jinye did not even have a concubine.

Lady Lu secretly regretted offending Weishao Qianyu, but she was unwilling to accept that her own legitimate daughter had to make way for an outsider. After all the hardships her daughter had suffered over the years, Lady Lu wanted to give her everything.

When Weishao Qianyu heard that Lady Lu had sent four letters to the Prince of War’s manor in two days, she understood that Lady Lu had lost all reason for her daughter’s sake. Yet, in her heart, Weishao Qianyu felt a twinge of envy for Lu Yanran—at least someone’s mother would go to such lengths for her.

With a sigh, Weishao Qianyu instructed Xue Chun to reserve an upper room at Mingkeju, the tea house across the way.

On the third day, she donned her original scarlet gown—striking and hard to miss—strolled through the north of the city, and then went to Mingkeju for tea, simply waiting for Lady Lu or Feng Jinye to come find her.

Lady Lu arrived first, still wearing the look of a wronged woman. Upon seeing Weishao Qianyu, she nearly burst into tears. “Qianyu, please, save Yanran!”

Weishao Qianyu simply lowered her head and sipped her tea, ignoring Lady Lu’s performance, and spoke bluntly, “Aunt, this is the Prince of War’s affair. It’s not something I can interfere with.”

“You were there that day, Aunt. It was the prince himself who said he would marry the legitimate daughter of the Lu family. The meaning was clear—he would marry Yanran. Qianyu is the only daughter of the Weishao family; she would never be a concubine to anyone! Aunt, you should leave.” Her meaning was unmistakable: you made your bed, now lie in it.

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With every word, Weishao Qianyu made it clear—if she was not the Princess of War, she would not belong to the Prince’s household in any capacity. Their affairs had nothing to do with her.

Her refusal to be anyone’s concubine left Lady Lu unable to raise her head. Lu Yanran was also the only daughter of the Lu family, and yet she was willing to use her cousin to enter the manor as a concubine.

Lady Lu relented. After days of turmoil, she was exhausted and said, “What are you saying, Qianyu? Of course you are the legitimate daughter of the Lu family. On our family register, you’re listed as the eldest legitimate daughter. Naturally, you are the Princess of War!”

She invoked the title, hoping to arouse Weishao Qianyu’s guilt towards Lu Yanran.

“Aunt, have you forgotten? Three years ago, I was the one who took you and Uncle to find Yanran.” Weishao Qianyu did not wish to dwell on the past, but she wanted it known that she was not someone who would endure everything without complaint—she could not be taken advantage of just because she was kind.

Weishao Qianyu was not without resentment or memory of past wrongs; she simply chose not to hold them against the Lu family: “Aunt, do you remember what Yanran has done to me?”

Lady Lu was instantly lost for words—she had forgotten.

Lu Yanran had poisoned Weishao Qianyu at a poetry gathering;

Four years ago, at the Mid-Autumn Festival, she had shot a poisoned dart at Weishao Qianyu from behind;

Three years ago, at her own wedding to Lin Yichu, she had once again tried to assassinate Weishao Qianyu.

At that time, Weishao Qianyu was in Yuetian and was Feng Jinye’s cherished treasure. A single word from her would have meant Lu Yanran’s destruction, but upon learning that Yanran was Lu Qin’s daughter, she had chosen to let her go.

Weishao Qianyu possessed a rare grace—she could take up a burden and set it down. Lady Lu knew few could match her.

“I know, Aunt. You resent that I took the place of the legitimate eldest daughter. But have you ever considered—if I were not the daughter, what would change for Yanran?” Her words struck like a bolt of clarity.

Weishao Qianyu observed Lady Lu’s heavily powdered face, unable to mask her exhaustion. A trace of pity softened her tone. “Aunt, you know well that your only leverage is the affection I hold for the Lu family. But, Aunt, even feelings cannot withstand endless erosion.”

Some people, when you don’t hold grudges, think you are easy to bully. Weishao Qianyu had always ignored Lady Lu and Lu Yanran’s provocations, but that did not mean she would tolerate anyone coveting her husband.

Lady Lu was stunned for a moment. Weishao Qianyu’s tone grew gentle.

“Aunt, I want to ask—where did the antidote come from?” Weishao Qianyu suspected the medicine was no ordinary thing, but she was in no hurry.

Lady Lu was more forthright now and answered directly: “Someone brought it specifically. The Lu family’s physician examined it—it can cure the poison on your face!”

Who would deliver such a remedy?

Half a year ago, when Weishao Qianyu knew she was to marry into the Prince of War’s household, she had deliberately disfigured herself to prevent anyone in Yuetian from discovering her true identity and causing trouble. Yet the residual poison from her wounds in the capital of Xiyan had never fully healed. She had thought the scars would eventually be cured, but they persisted.

After pondering a moment, she asked, “When did the medicine arrive at the Duke’s residence?”

Lady Lu replied honestly, “On the night of your wedding. A man dressed in black brought it to the door.”

A man in black?

Could it be her cousin, Lu Liyuan, who had found the antidote? But he would not have sent it by a stranger.

Could it have been Huangfu Chen? Aside from him and Lu Liyuan, she could think of no one else.

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“Aunt, you should go back. As for Yanran, I will think of a way,” Weishao Qianyu said softly.

Lady Lu could not understand why Weishao Qianyu would not return to the Prince of War’s manor. Before leaving, she couldn’t help but ask, “You’re not going back?”

Weishao Qianyu gave no answer. Lady Lu understood she had her own plans and left without another word.

Not long after Lady Lu’s departure, Feng Jinye arrived. Weishao Qianyu was having tea on the second floor of Mingkeju, seated precisely where Feng Jinye usually sat.

As soon as he appeared, she looked up and cast him a languid glance. Still angered by his recent intentions to “demote his wife to concubine,” she said with barely restrained ire, “What business does the Prince of War have here?”

Feng Jinye, somewhat embarrassed in the bustling tea house, replied, “Come back to the manor with me. We’ll speak there.”

“Why should I go back with you, Prince? Are you planning to abduct a common girl?” Weishao Qianyu’s voice was loud, and with a mischievous smile, she drew curious glances from the surrounding patrons. Behind her veil, her cheeks flushed, as she waited to see Feng Jinye’s reaction.

“You…” Feng Jinye was indeed infuriated, but noticing her sly expression, he realized she was provoking him on purpose.

He curbed his temper, having noticed how easily his emotions could be swayed by her. Not wishing to argue further, he asked coldly, “What do you want?”

In her manner and words, Weishao Qianyu was very much like Feng Jinye himself. The way she said “What do you want?” was reminiscent of the question she had posed to Lu Yanran on their wedding night, which had ruined her mood.

Feeling disgruntled, Weishao Qianyu put down her teacup and said icily, “There is nothing between us, Prince. Please leave.”

Seeing her anger, Feng Jinye felt a strange unease—he couldn’t fathom why she was so upset.

Weishao Qianyu lost her taste for tea, stood, and headed upstairs to her room. Feng Jinye, almost involuntarily, followed her. Yet as soon as he reached her door, she turned and slammed it shut in his face.

He stood there, stunned, not even sure why he had followed her. He wanted to leave, but found himself unable to move.

Inside, Weishao Qianyu exhaled deeply. Feng Jinye had never spoken to her in this way before—she found it unsettling. She’d expected him to leave, not to follow her.

She pressed her ear to the door, listening. When she heard no footsteps leaving, her heart eased a little. Remembering that Huangfu Chen and Feng Qingxuan were missing, and suspecting someone might be targeting Feng Jinye, she decided to let bygones be bygones and opened the door.

Feng Jinye looked uneasy—he was, after all, standing outside her room, which was improper. Suddenly, he recalled the night he’d gone to her chambers. He’d accused her of shamelessness, but in truth, he was always the one approaching her.

Awkwardly, he said, “I have something to say to you.”

Knowing it was inappropriate to talk at the doorway, Weishao Qianyu led him back to the tea room on the second floor and sat down. “Speak.”

“Were you the assassin who tried to kill me a year ago?” Feng Jinye asked, scrutinizing her.

She was wearing the same scarlet dress and veil she’d worn when she returned home—her hair, once cascading down her back, was now coiled high, making her look almost identical to the red-clad assassin of that night.

“Yes,” Weishao Qianyu replied without hesitation. There was nothing to hide, though she didn’t know how to explain her motive for the attempt on his life.

Feng Jinye had long suspected her, so her answer did not surprise him. He simply asked, “Why did you try to kill me?”