Chapter 57: Speechless! Forced by His Wives and Concubines to Steal Another Man's Wife!

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Before the main gates of the Liu Manor, Wei Tingyu, having just alighted from his carriage, immediately spotted Liu Shen bowing deeply towards him, flanked by a retinue of his household servants.

"We respectfully welcome His Lordship, the Marquis of Jining, gracing our humble abode! This subordinate and my entire family feel immensely honored!" Liu Shen, in particular, bellowed this greeting the moment Wei Tingyu stepped down from the carriage.

The volume of that shout was considerable; it was likely that all the neighboring households heard it crystal clear! But then again, a Marquis from the Imperial Capital visiting his home so late in the evening—what did that signify? Did it not clearly indicate that his, Liu Shen's, family still possessed connections in the capital? Such a prime opportunity for ostentatious display, this fellow Liu Shen would naturally not let it pass!

Wei Tingyu, affecting an air of noble dignity, gave a slight nod to Liu Shen and his wife standing beside him. Then, his gaze swept over the assembled group, and he noticed that He Weifang's nominal husband, Liu Chang, was currently standing by the entrance, a flicker of disdain in his eyes as he regarded Wei Tingyu.

But this was hardly surprising. This fellow's mind was filled with pretentious notions of his own lofty purity; he likely considered a profligate son like Wei Tingyu, who had merely inherited his ancestral title, to be beneath his notice. It mattered little, however. Wei Tingyu's purpose in coming here was for Liu Chang's wife, He Weifang, not for Liu Chang himself! He couldn't be bothered with what this man thought of him, as long as he refrained from putting on airs in his presence, Wei Tingyu had no interest in causing him trouble. Of course, a cuckold's green hat was definitely something he intended to bestow upon him!

At this thought, Wei Tingyu paid no further heed to these individuals. Instead, he turned and, one by one, assisted Dou Zhao, Miao Ansu, and Zhao Zhangru as they alighted from the carriage.

And the members of the Liu household, witnessing this scene, were all individually struck dumb with astonishment.

Firstly, these three female companions the Marquis had brought were, without exception, beauties of the highest caliber! Particularly now, adorned in the most fashionable attire and makeup of the Eastern Capital, their noble and elegant temperaments were accentuated to an incomparable degree. Especially Dou Zhao! Although the elaborateness of her dress and adornment was not vastly different from that of Miao Ansu and Zhao Zhangru, her commanding aura as the principal wife, the mistress of the household, was undeniably evident.

"Lord Liu, pray do not find it amusing! Wherever this Marquis goes, I simply must bring these three, my wife and concubines, from my household. Otherwise, I just don't feel quite right!" Wei Tingyu declared as he led the three ladies through the main gates, simultaneously addressing Liu Shen and his principal wife who were following beside them.

"How could we possibly? How could we?" Liu Shen, his mind entirely consumed with currying favor with this Marquis from the Imperial Capital, immediately shook his head vigorously upon hearing this. "His Lordship is truly a man of profound affection!"

"Furthermore! For your esteemed personage to journey so far from the capital for leisure and sightseeing..."

"If you did not have one... nay, a few intimate companions to attend to your needs, His Lordship would hardly be able to enjoy himself properly!"

Liu Shen delivered a barrage of flattery, then swiftly gestured with his eyes for his wife to pick up the thread.

"Indeed! Indeed!" Liu Shen's principal wife chimed in, nodding repeatedly, while shifting the focus of her praise onto Dou Zhao and the other two ladies. "His Lordship's Madam, one can tell at a glance, hails from a most distinguished and noble family!"

"Her aura... it truly makes all of us women here in the Eastern Capital feel utterly inadequate in comparison!"

"And even His Lordship's concubines, they too are beauties of the highest order!"

"If I may be so bold, looking across the entire Eastern Capital, one would be hard-pressed to find a fourth lady of such exquisite beauty!"

Hearing this relentless barrage of sycophancy, Dou Zhao and her two companions couldn't help but cover their mouths to stifle their laughter. One had to admit, this Elder Sister Mudan's parents-in-law, whatever other talents they might lack, were absolute masters of flattery! However, to claim that there were no other beauties in the Eastern Capital comparable to the three of them? That was patently untrue! Setting aside distant examples, wasn't Elder Sister Mudan, the daughter-in-law of their very own Liu Manor, one such paragon?!

It must be known that Dou Zhao, Miao Ansu, and Zhao Zhangru had been utterly captivated by He Weifang's beauty and aura from the very first glance. Now, they could only feel that this Liu couple were like blind fools, incapable of recognizing the precious gem right under their noses.

However, Liu Shen and his wife, seeing Dou Zhao and her companions actually laugh, mistakenly believed their flattery had hit the mark. They immediately redoubled their efforts, lavishing them with even more extravagant praise.

"I heard en route that the young master of the Liu family has also married a well-educated and courteous wife, have I not?" Dou Zhao interjected at this point, directly addressing Liu Shen's wife beside her. Simultaneously, she glanced around, confirming that He Weifang was nowhere to be seen, which only deepened her suspicion! After all, since distinguished guests had arrived, and even the head of the household, his principal wife, and their eldest son had come out to offer greetings, there was no conceivable reason for a daughter-in-law to be so high and mighty as to be exempt from receiving guests. The only plausible explanation was that the Liu family deliberately did not wish for this daughter-in-law to make an appearance!

"Aiya! The wife my worthless son married, how could she possibly compare to the esteemed Madams of the Marquis's Manor!" Liu Shen hastily interjected, an expression of acute embarrassment spreading across his face. "Our daughter-in-law, she is merely of merchant stock from this Eastern Capital, reeking of the vulgar stench of copper coins. She is truly unpresentable, quite unfit to be seen by such distinguished guests!"

The moment these words left his mouth, the complexions of Dou Zhao and her two companions changed instantly. Of merchant origin means to reek of the stench of copper? Who exactly are you insulting with that remark?

"Lord Liu!" Wei Tingyu, naturally, could not tolerate this either. Looking at Liu Shen beside him, he said, "These three, my wife and concubines, are also of merchant origin. Do you, perchance, detect any 'stench of copper' emanating from them?"

"Ah?" Liu Shen was dumbfounded, a wave of acute embarrassment washing over him. Beads of sweat immediately broke out on his face. His entire barrage of flattery had been aimed at establishing a connection with this Marquis of Jining from the Imperial Capital! If nothing else, having such a Marquis as an acquaintance in the capital would provide him with a conduit for future gift-giving, and perhaps, just perhaps, he could even implore him to use his influence to arrange for his own reinstatement to a post in the capital.

"His Lordship's three consorts... they too are noble personages! How could that plain and clumsy woman from our household possibly compare?" Seeing her husband drenched in sweat and at a loss for words, Liu Shen's wife hastily stepped forward, offering a fawning smile and another dose of flattery. "Furthermore! As the proverb says, 'to emerge from the mud yet remain unstained,' one can tell at a glance that His Lordship's family members are even more courteous and chaste than ladies from conventionally distinguished backgrounds! They are truly the paragons for all women like us to emulate!"

Well, I never! You've managed to monopolize every angle of this conversation, haven't you! You've said all the pretty words and all the ugly ones yourself, is that it?

Dou Zhao and her companions now had a clear understanding of what sort of character Mudan's parents-in-law possessed. They could no longer be bothered to waste any more words on them and instead turned their attention to Liu Chang, who had remained standing silently by the doorway all this time.

This man... he heard his own parents malign his wife in such a manner, yet he just stood there without uttering a single word? What a despicable, trashy scoundrel!

Just look at our Lord Marquis! A moment ago, when Liu Shen slandered his daughter-in-law and, by extension, inadvertently insulted the three of us, His Lordship immediately stepped forward to defend our honor! He even frightened that fellow Liu Shen so thoroughly that he's now drenched in sweat, his face a mask of embarrassment, too cowed to even speak. How utterly gratifying!

Considering all this, perhaps it would be better to simply find a way for the Lord Marquis to take Elder Sister Mudan into his own manor as well! This thought suddenly, inexplicably, flashed through Dou Zhao's mind, and the notion itself startled her. She found herself somewhat bewildered by her own thoughts. Had she developed an addiction to finding concubines for her Lord Marquis? Was she now even considering married women?

...

"This Liu family is simply too outrageous, bullying people to such an extent!" In the guest courtyard arranged by the Liu family, Zhao Zhangru paced back and forth, her face flushed with anger. Although the Liu family's courtyard style was indeed quite elegant, their hearts were so utterly vile that it made even the room itself feel somewhat tainted to her.

"Sigh!" Miao Ansu, at this moment, was also frowning deeply, leaning dejectedly against a table as she murmured to herself, "It seems Elder Sister Mudan's future days will not be easy. Although our visit this time was intended to lend her some support, I fear it will not have a significant long-term effect!"

"Indeed," Dou Zhao, who was currently massaging Wei Tingyu's shoulders, chimed in after hearing Miao Ansu's words. "I, too, was too simplistic in my earlier thinking! I simply did not anticipate that such utterly shameless individuals could exist in this world!"

Hearing the three women's discussion, Wei Tingyu slowly opened his eyes, which had been lightly closed in enjoyment of the massage. It couldn't be helped; although his three consorts had traveled extensively, their understanding of the depths of human wickedness was clearly still insufficient. However, the sheer depravity of this Liu family was exceptional, even among the numerous "great female lead" television dramas he had watched in his past life! It was no wonder they hadn't anticipated it; the baseness of the human heart, it seemed, knew no bounds!

"This won't do! I have a feeling that if Elder Sister Mudan remains with the Liu family, she will be harmed, perhaps even killed, by them sooner or later!" At this moment, Dou Zhao's "great female lead" intuition came into full play. She even forgot about her task of massaging Wei Tingyu's shoulders, sitting bolt upright with an agitated expression as she declared, "We absolutely must find a way to rescue Elder Sister Mudan from this den of tigers and wolves!"

"But how do we rescue her?" Miao Ansu blinked. "Shall we hold a knife to Elder Sister Mudan's husband's throat and compel him to grant her a divorce?"

Miao Ansu had merely been venting her frustration, feeling there was no viable solution, but Zhao Zhangru, upon hearing this, took it as a serious suggestion.

"That's an excellent idea!" Zhao Zhangru slammed her hand on the table with a loud bang and shot to her feet. "I'll go right now! If anyone from the Liu family dares to stand in my way, I'll beat them until their head swells up like a pig's!"

"Aiya, that won't do!" Miao Ansu had never imagined her exasperated remark would be taken so literally by Zhao Zhangru. She hastily reached out and grabbed her arm, then looked anxiously at Dou Zhao. "Sister Zhao, quickly stop her! She's about to cause a great deal of trouble for the Lord Marquis!"

Upon hearing the words "cause trouble for the Lord Marquis," Zhao Zhangru deflated on her own, even before Dou Zhao could speak. That's right! she thought. That method, while sounding immensely satisfying at first, would undoubtedly bring tremendous trouble upon the Lord Marquis. That is something I absolutely cannot accept.

Seeing Zhao Zhangru voluntarily return to her seat without needing any prompting, Dou Zhao also breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, while this elder cousin of hers was indeed impulsive, her reason usually managed to gain the upper hand.

"The only viable solution is to make the Liu family willingly allow Elder Sister Mudan to leave!" Dou Zhao frowned thoughtfully before speaking. Her gaze then slowly shifted to Wei Tingyu's face. After studying him for several seconds, she continued in a measured tone, "I wonder... if the Lord Marquis were to... take a fancy to their family's daughter-in-law, would they, in their eagerness to curry favor with His Lordship, voluntarily offer her up?"

"That's it!" Zhao Zhangru and Miao Ansu exclaimed, slapping their thighs in unison. Without another word, they gathered around Dou Zhao and began to eagerly discuss the details.

"Considering the Liu family's behavior just now, they already despise this daughter-in-law. If they could exchange her for an opportunity to return to the capital, they would most certainly be willing!"

"That way, we'd have a bargaining chip! And if the Lord Marquis could proactively establish some... emotional connection with Elder Sister Mudan first, our chances of success would be even higher!"

"Excellent, excellent! The Lord Marquis's martial prowess is so formidable; he could move about this Liu Manor with impunity, and no one would ever detect him!"

"In my opinion, why don't we have the Lord Marquis visit Elder Sister Mudan's courtyard tonight and... cook the raw rice into cooked rice? Perhaps if Elder Sister Mudan experiences His Lordship's... virtues, she too will be willing to return with us to the Marquis's Manor!"

...Listening to the three women chattering excitedly beside him, Wei Tingyu felt his forehead practically fill with dark lines. What in the world is all this? he thought. One had to admit, the plan these three had concocted was remarkably... straightforward! But then again, their minds were currently entirely consumed with the idea of rescuing He Weifang from her sea of suffering. Had they, in their zeal, even decided to "sacrifice" their own husband? Speaking of which, Wei Tingyu mused with genuine bewilderment, do these three women actually love me, or not?

...

As night fell, a shadowy figure darted from the courtyard, leaping onto the roof of a pavilion. With a few more light, agile bounds, it arrived upon the rooftop of the small, secluded courtyard where He Weifang resided alone. Needless to ask, this shadowy figure was, of course, Wei Tingyu! And, astonishingly, he had been practically coerced into coming here by the three consorts in his own chambers! Who would believe such a tale if it were told?! Yet, this was precisely what had befallen Wei Tingyu!

But then again, it was understandable. He Weifang's background and her current predicament were remarkably similar to those of his own three consorts. Thus, they could empathize deeply with her current suffering. Therefore, even if it meant compelling their own husband to personally take action, they were determined to rescue this "elder sister," whom they had met but once, from her fiery torment!

How did the saying go in the "original plot"? This was the righteousness and camaraderie between women!

Although Wei Tingyu did not fully comprehend it, he was nonetheless profoundly struck by it!

And just as Wei Tingyu landed softly upon the rooftop of the small courtyard, he saw below, in the elegantly appointed yard, the beautiful young matron, He Weifang. She was seated alone at a stone table, tending to the flowers in a pot by the flickering light of a candle.

It seemed that floristry was indeed He Weifang's passion, her very lifeblood! During this past year in the Liu Manor, only moments such as these could likely bring her a measure of peace and contentment.

"Young Mistress! It's time to apply your ointment!" At the same time, He Weifang's personal maid, Yulu, approached carefully, carrying a tray.

"Very well," He Weifang nodded, setting down her gardening tools. She then proactively lifted the hem of her skirt, revealing a pair of legs as fair and flawless as fine jade. The sight was enough to nearly make Wei Tingyu drool. The only blemish was the two angry, swollen red patches on her knees, which were jarringly conspicuous.

"They've swollen up again!" Yulu, seeing the injuries on her mistress's knees, couldn't prevent her own eyes from reddening. She sighed deeply. "The principal madam of this household is truly ruthless! To make you kneel for such an extended period without even permitting the use of a cushion!"

"It's nothing serious," He Weifang replied, though she was clearly enduring the pain with great fortitude. As if to distract Yulu from worrying, she began to speak of the day's events.

"Did you know? Today, when I went to offer flowers at the Hall of the Patriarch Heavenly Master, I seized the opportunity to make a few wishes!"

"I wished that Liu Chang would find himself without toilet paper when he needs it! And that his hair would fall out whenever he combs it! I wonder if the Patriarch Heavenly Master will actually grant them!"

As she said this, He Weifang suddenly paused, a flicker of reminiscence in her eyes. A faint blush then crept up her cheeks. It was evident that this young woman was recalling the peculiar events that had transpired in the Hall of the Patriarch Heavenly Master earlier that day! And naturally, the image of Wei Tingyu, that audacious libertine, once again surfaced in her thoughts...

Yulu, however, her heart and eyes entirely consumed with pity for her mistress's injuries, failed to notice the blush on He Weifang's cheeks or the subtle, almost imperceptible hint of amorous sentiment that flickered in her eyes. She continued her own tirade: "That Liu Chang is truly detestable! Young Mistress, you are forced by the main madam to raise funds for him, yet not only does he show no gratitude, he even curses you! If he were truly so high-minded and pure, he should return all the money our He family has contributed to the upkeep of this household!"

"Liu Chang simply detests this transactional marriage too profoundly!"

"It was clearly the honor and disgrace of the Liu clan that forced him to submit, and it was the rigid barriers of social standing that separated him from the County Princess!"

"But what about him? He fails to comprehend these realities and instead directs all his fury, resentment, and bitterness upon me!"

"It is evident that this man is narrow-minded and melancholic in disposition, utterly unworthy of entrusting one's life to!"

"Therefore, it is best that we each live our own separate lives, coexisting peacefully!"

He Weifang possessed a sharp, worldly clarity, and with these words, she accurately dissected Liu Chang's inner motivations. Yulu, listening, couldn't help but nod in agreement, finding her mistress's analysis to be entirely logical.

...

The two women chatted for a while longer, after which He Weifang bid Yulu to return and rest. Although nominally master and servant, the actual affection between them was not much different from that of true blood-sisters.

And He Weifang, having cleared the table, once again swept her gaze around her small courtyard. The words she had spoken earlier were to comfort Yulu, but simultaneously, they were also to comfort herself. Yet, was she truly resigned to spending her entire life confined within such a small, restrictive world? But even if she was unwilling, what recourse did she have?

He Weifang sighed silently in her heart and prepared to turn and enter her room to sleep. After all, life had to go on.

However, just as she turned and took the first step onto the veranda, she froze in place. For her remarkably sensitive little nose had once again detected that peculiar, strange fragrance!

And this was a scent she could absolutely not misidentify! It was precisely the aroma that had emanated from that libertine in the Hall of the Patriarch Heavenly Master earlier that evening!

That man... he actually followed me all the way to this manor? He Weifang was momentarily stunned. Then, an indescribable, complex emotion began to stir within her heart.