Chapter 63: Nothing Beats a Stolen Kiss! He Weifang's Heart Returns!

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"Oh! Really?" The Princess Jian, too, cherished flowers. After all, in her past, broken marriage, the only solace she found was in the flora of her courtyard. Upon hearing that the Liu Manor boasted such blooms, so beautiful that even Marquis Jining would slumber amongst them, reluctant to leave, a surge of curiosity stirred within her.

"Yet, even with a garden full of flowers, only one truly catches this Marquis's eye!" Wei Tingyu chuckled, observing Princess Jian's intrigued expression. He then continued, his gaze lingering.

This time, He Weifang truly understood! She was the one and only flower he cherished! As everyone else drifted into the manor, trailing behind Marquis Jining and Princess Jian, she remained rooted to the spot, lost in a daze. After all, Wei Tingyu's actions had been utterly audacious! It was as if he had declared his affections for her openly, in front of everyone. Of course, the true depth of their emotions remained a secret between the two of them. Oh, no! That wasn't entirely true! Wei Tingyu's three wives and concubines also knew!

But to utter such words in the presence of her in-laws and honored guests—it stirred a strange sensation within He Weifang's heart. Could it be… excitement?

"Mistress!" Only when Yulu approached to gently remind her did He Weifang snap back to reality. By then, only she and her maid remained at the entrance. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her skirts and followed them inside.

"Princess! Please!"

"Mind the steps!"

"This setting! These flowers! All specially prepared for you and the Marquis!"

"Princess! Look over there, there are several extremely rare varieties!"

Liu Shen trailed alongside the Princess, his head bowed, humbly presenting his meticulously arranged courtyard. As Princess Jian surveyed the scene, she nodded in satisfaction. The myriad blooms in the courtyard were indeed cultivated splendidly, easily on par with the royal garden's annex.

"Excellent!" Princess Jian was delighted by the flowers, nodding contentedly. "I never imagined there would be so many rare varieties here, some seldom seen even in the capital! Lord Liu, you truly have a discerning eye!"

At the Princess's praise, Liu Shen immediately grew overconfident, blurting out, "This humble official's daughter-in-law is skilled at cultivating peonies! She can nurture even the most exotic varieties!"

"Which bloom does the Princess fancy? You may take it home and enjoy it to your heart's content!"

The moment Liu Shen uttered those words, He Weifang's face, standing behind him, paled. Yulu, even more agitated, openly frowned and whispered, "Those are the Mistress's dowry!"

Princess Jian turned to glance at the visibly anxious He Weifang, and an idea immediately formed in her mind.

"Today, I had hoped to adorn my hair with fresh flowers, yet the official inn was rather simple, and I couldn't find a suitable bloom."

"These peonies in the garden, however, are quite pleasing to the eye!"

Princess Jian finished speaking and pointed directly at the largest peony before them.

"This one? Very well!" Liu Shen quickly reached out to pluck it for the Princess.

"Wait!" However, at that moment, He Weifang could no longer hold back. She uttered a soft cry and, lifting her skirts, hurried forward. Yet, she instinctively positioned herself beside Wei Tingyu, then bowed slightly to Princess Jian, saying, "Your Highness's favor is indeed a blessing for these peonies!"

"However, these peonies are part of the dowry gifted by my esteemed father and mother!"

"Even if Dan Niang is foolish, she would not dare to be unfilial!"

"I humbly request Your Highness's compassion!"

He Weifang's words were sincere, and she covertly glanced at Wei Tingyu, hoping he would step forward to support her.

"Princess! It's just a flower! Let it be!" Even without He Weifang's subtle plea, Wei Tingyu would have intervened. He certainly wouldn't wish to see his woman suffer such a slight. However, his words left everyone present stunned! Liu Chang had intended to say a few words, to dissuade the Princess from plucking He Weifang's flower, but he was preempted. The others wore expressions of utter bewilderment, for no one had expected Marquis Jining to suddenly speak up for the Liu family's young mistress.

"The Princess is a daughter of the Heavenly House; what rare treasures has she not seen?" Wei Tingyu chuckled, gazing at the bewildered crowd. "Let these treasures remain with the young mistress!"

Wei Tingyu spoke with a polite smile, but his tone was resolute and brooked no argument. Everyone present understood the implicit meaning in his words: it seemed that if Princess Jian insisted on plucking He Weifang's peony, Wei Tingyu might even risk falling out with the Princess over it!

Princess Jian's brows furrowed slightly, then she recalled her father, Prince Ning. The aging Emperor's health was failing, and her father was assisting the Crown Prince in governing the realm. The noble families of the capital were paramount to her father's network. To quarrel with Marquis Jining over a mere flower would surely displease her father! At this moment, Princess Jian's heart was entirely set on being with Liu Chang, and naturally, she sought to please her father. Her eyes darted, and she immediately weighed the pros and cons, then nodded. "Since Marquis Jining cherishes beauty, I shall not take what is dear to another."

To most ears, her words seemed innocent enough. The Princess's "cherishing beauty" simply implied an unwillingness to see a beautiful flower plucked. And "taking what is dear to another" merely meant not snatching He Weifang's beloved peony.

However, to some, those words carried a different meaning altogether! Especially to He Weifang. Hearing the Princess's words, her heart first leaped in surprise, then her cheeks flushed. From her perspective, Wei Tingyu stepping forward to support her was indeed an act of "cherishing beauty"! And as for the Princess's "taking what is dear to another," was she referring to the flower, or the person?

"Princess! This humble wife shall escort you to the Water Jade Pavilion to rest!" He Weifang's mother-in-law quickly scurried over, guiding Princess Jian to another area. Seeing that there was no more spectacle to behold, the others also followed. Of course, Wei Tingyu's three wives and concubines—Dou Zhao, Miao Ansu, and Zhao Zhangru—were also among the noblewomen. At this moment, their status was second only to Princess Jian's, and they too were naturally showered with flattery.

Soon, the courtyard began to thin out, with only a few stragglers remaining at the very end. Yet, neither He Weifang nor Wei Tingyu had moved. Yulu, standing by He Weifang's side, immediately understood the unspoken cue. Once everyone else had departed, she took a few steps forward and stood guard at the courtyard entrance, keeping watch for the pair.

"I thought the Marquis had left the Liu Manor last night!" He Weifang's pent-up resentment finally broke free as she addressed Wei Tingyu.

"How could I?" Wei Tingyu was surprised to see He Weifang in such a state after just one night apart. He chuckled, stepped forward, and gently took her jade hand. He Weifang frowned, instinctively wanting to pull her hand away. But after a failed attempt, she simply gave up. After all, her entire being belonged to him, so what was one hand? If he wished to toy with it, then let him.

"The Marquis has three charming wives and concubines in his chambers… how could he possibly spare a thought for anyone else?" However, letting him hold her hand was one thing; whether or not to voice her complaints was another.

"Is the Young Mistress… jealous?" Wei Tingyu observed He Weifang's tightly drawn expression, a clear sign that she was annoyed and didn't want to talk. He asked, knowing the answer.

"Who's jealous?" He Weifang pouted, but a sweet sensation blossomed in her heart. Wei Tingyu was gently tickling her palm with his finger. The sensation sent shivers down her spine! This was the Liu Manor, and she was the young mistress! Such intimacy with Marquis Jining… if anyone saw them, it would be disastrous! But somehow, He Weifang found herself incredibly exhilarated! Perhaps this was a common human failing? Sneaking around was simply more thrilling than being open about it!

"I merely wonder why the Marquis isn't with his three wives and concubines, but instead lingers in the courtyard to speak with this humble woman?" Women were always like this—saying one thing, meaning another! A thousand delights in their hearts, yet on their lips, they feigned indifference.

"I am merely fulfilling my promise!" Wei Tingyu chuckled at He Weifang's little act. Then, with a pull of his right arm, he drew her into his embrace. They stood there, bodies pressed together, locked in a face-to-face embrace.

"What promise?" He Weifang was utterly mortified. Just a stolen hand-holding here had already turned her face crimson! Now, he had directly embraced her. If anyone saw them, there would be no room for explanation!

"That day at the Ancestral Celestial Master's Temple…"

"I promised the Young Mistress that if you provided sufficient incense, I would help you escape the fiery pit of the Liu family!"

"Does the Young Mistress recall what I meant by 'incense' that day?"

Wei Tingyu smiled, gazing at He Weifang, and asked.

"The incense spoken of that day…" He Weifang paused, then remembered. That day, he had played the scoundrel, asking for a fragrant kiss as incense money. She had been furious then, even threatening him with a bamboo basket. But now, it seemed, the incense had indeed been given to him! And not just a fragrant kiss; her purity, guarded for so many years, had been bestowed upon this very man! So, now that he had received such precious incense money, it was only right that he fulfill his promise!

"Then, since the Marquis has received the incense money, when will you rescue me from this fiery pit?" After the recent incident, He Weifang wished to spend not another second in the Liu residence! Now, seeing that Wei Tingyu genuinely intended to help her leave the Liu Manor, she immediately asked, her voice laced with urgency.

"That… cannot be rushed!" However, Wei Tingyu merely smiled faintly and said, "Obtaining a letter of divorce from the Liu family is not so simple, but the Young Mistress may rest assured, I shall find a way!"

"Then I thank the Marquis…" As they spoke, embraced, the emotions in their gazes were almost palpable, their breaths growing heavier.

"Don't thank me yet!" Wei Tingyu chuckled, winking at He Weifang. "However, before the matter is settled… the Young Mistress's incense must not cease! It must be offered daily!"

"The incense will certainly not cease." He Weifang was momentarily stunned. She understood what Wei Tingyu meant. Blushing profusely, she still managed to say, "It merely depends on whether the Marquis has time to collect it…"

Good heavens! What a temptress! Wei Tingyu gazed at the alluring eyes and provocative words of the beauty in his arms and couldn't resist. He lowered his head and sealed her vermillion lips with his own. He hadn't expected He Weifang to be so bold in her character! But then again, women were all the same. Once they tasted the various flavors of love, they became like addicts, unable to easily forsake it. Especially women of this era, who gave their first to him! No matter how demure or proper she appeared, she could no longer feign it in his presence!

"Mmph…" With her lips sealed, He Weifang simply closed her eyes, allowing Wei Tingyu to have his way.

In the distance, Yulu, secretly keeping watch, witnessed the scene. Her entire face flushed with shyness. Of course, she didn't find anything wrong with her mistress's actions. After all, Yulu had witnessed He Weifang's struggles in the Liu Manor firsthand over the past year, feeling every bit of her mistress's anguish. Now, for her mistress to find a truly loving husband, it was a blessing beyond measure!

Approximately half an hour later, He Weifang, having straightened her attire, hurried with Yulu toward the gathering crowd. Wei Tingyu, finding it inconvenient to remain with them, had already departed.

"Yulu! Just now…" After ensuring, one hundred percent, that there were no visible flaws on her, He Weifang let out a heavy sigh of relief, then, with a blushing face, spoke to Yulu.

"Mistress! You needn't say a word! Yulu understands!" However, Yulu cut He Weifang off before she could finish, saying, "This matter will be buried deep within Yulu's belly! I wouldn't breathe a word of it to anyone, even if it cost me my life!"

He Weifang nodded. Indeed, this was her maid, who had grown up with her since childhood, a bond like that of a cherished sister. Some things were simply understood without needing to be said.

When the two arrived at the Water Jade Pavilion where everyone was gathered, they saw Liu Chang and Princess Jian standing together in the distance, while her in-laws busied themselves currying favor.

"Look at the master's wife, with that fawning expression, yet she used to mock the mistress for being vulgar!" Yulu pouted, looking at He Weifang's mother-in-law's back. "Are they any better?"

"They've always been like this; it's not as if you've just learned it!" However, He Weifang had lost all interest in the Liu family's affairs. Her mind was consumed with how to escape this den of wolves. She nonchalantly blended into the crowd, admiring the surrounding scenery as she spoke.

"The Princess is gazing at Young Master Liu with such affection! She must still cherish their old feelings and deliberately sought to trouble the Mistress!" Yulu, observing the two talking and laughing across the way, again felt a surge of indignation.

"It matters not!" He Weifang was genuinely unconcerned now. She had never harbored any affection for Liu Chang. And now, her heart was entirely given to Wei Tingyu. She chuckled, "If they wish to rekindle their old flame, they will surely not tolerate my presence!"

"If he takes the initiative to divorce me, then the Liu family will have broken the contract first!"

"What reason would I have to refuse?"

"This might even be a good opportunity for me!"

Yulu blinked at He Weifang's words, then slapped her forehead. "That's right! The mistress is truly clever!" This Young Master Liu was no good man to begin with. Now, with Marquis Jining doting on her mistress so dearly, if she were to divorce, she could perfectly well enter the Marquis Jining's residence and enjoy a life of bliss!

Thinking this, Yulu turned her gaze to another gathering of people in the courtyard: Wei Tingyu and his three wives and concubines. Many officials from the Eastern Capital who still harbored hopes of returning to the capital surrounded him, openly fawning. And the wives of these officials clustered around Dou Zhao and the other two, lavishing them with compliments and flattery.

Compared to their own side, where the door was cold and ignored, He Weifang felt a slight discomfort. After all, when a woman dressed up so beautifully, who didn't wish to hear a few compliments from others? Moreover, many of these officials' families had brought their unmarried daughters, introducing them one by one to Wei Tingyu. He Weifang naturally understood their intentions. However, seeing that Dou Zhao and the other two, who were standing beside him, showed no signs of jealousy, she certainly couldn't rush in and cause a scene. Of course, Wei Tingyu himself barely spared a glance for these common beauties, which brought a small sense of triumph to He Weifang's heart. Thinking of their intimate moments in the deserted courtyard just now, it was clear that Wei Tingyu wasn't someone who desired every woman he saw! From a certain perspective, didn't it mean that she was exceptional enough to attract this man's affections?! A small sweetness bloomed in He Weifang's heart at the thought.

"Esteemed guests! The banquet is prepared, please take your seats!" At that moment, a black-clad steward of the Liu Manor approached, bowing to everyone present.