Chapter Fifty-Nine: Why Did Wang Yunzhi Go to the Xue Family?

The information Honglian had gathered differed somewhat from what Xue Fanzhi had thought. There was nothing unexpected about the young gentleman from the Sun family; he was a relative of Xue Yang’s former wife from the He family. In her previous life, he and his mother had also come to stay at their house for a time. As for Wang Yunzhi, Honglian said, “They say he’s the grandnephew from the old madam’s maiden family, but for some reason, this grandnephew from the Shen family bears the surname Wang and is called Wang Xun. I heard he has come to visit the old madam!”

But then Honglian changed tack: “Mistress, I actually went to inquire further. It seems this young master from the Wang family got into a fight and injured someone. The other party refused to let the matter rest, so he’s come to our house to escape trouble!”

Xue Fanzhi was surprised: Wang Yunzhi was actually a relative of her grandmother? What astonished her even more was that Wang Yunzhi did not simply intend to pay a short visit—he apparently meant to reside in their home for a while!

Something was off. Wang Yunzhi had indeed fought someone, but it was more than a simple brawl; he had attempted to murder Prince Shou. He was not merely hiding from trouble—he was running for his life. After all, no one would suspect that the would-be assassin of Prince Shou had any connection to the Xue family.

But in her previous life, nothing like this had ever happened.

Wang Xun must be an alias for Wang Yunzhi, another detail that hadn’t existed before. This was an unforeseen variable, and she couldn’t tell whether it would bring her fortune or disaster.

Xue Fanzhi pondered for a moment, feeling as if her life had slipped from the bounds of her own control.

No! Wang Yunzhi was a lawless time bomb. The family surely believed he was only involved in a fight, but in reality, he had attempted to murder a royal prince. She could not ignore this; if the authorities discovered Wang Yunzhi’s crime, the whole Xue family would be doomed.

With this thought, she stood up. “I need to see Grandmother!”

Honglian hurried after her, puzzled as to why her mistress was suddenly intent on seeing the old madam. “Didn’t you already visit her this morning?”

Morning and evening visits of respect were customary, and in her previous life, Xue Fanzhi had rarely been able to show her filial piety due to Lady Jin’s interference. In this life, rain or shine, she always made sure to pay her respects. She had indeed gone that morning before breakfast.

Xue Fanzhi shook her head. “This is serious business!”

She tugged at the folds of her skirt and walked out. Honglian, still confused, glanced at Hongxiao. “Mistress seems to have something urgent?”

Hongxiao thought, Why are you asking me? Hah, as if I’d tell you that our mistress kissed someone!

...

At the Ninth Prince’s residence, in the small training yard of the main house’s western garden, spring blossoms fell gently in the breeze. Having just finished a set of sword exercises, Xiao Yi accepted a soft towel from a respectful maid to wipe his sweat, then took a cup of fragrant tea from another maid to rinse his mouth. At that moment, his guard, Xiao Yi, appeared from behind the pear tree.

His skin was dark, making the white pear blossoms look all the more snowy by contrast.

Xiao Yi put down what he was holding and beckoned him over.

The serving maids, understanding his intentions, quietly filed out. Xiao Yi approached. “Master!”

Xiao Yi lowered his eyelids slightly. “Skip the preamble and get to the point.”

Xiao Yi replied, “In that case, one sentence: Wang Yunzhi has gone to the Xue residence to hide from trouble.”

Xiao Yi frowned. “Why is Wang Yunzhi hiding at the Xue residence? What do you mean by that?”

Xiao Yi looked up at the sky.

Xiao Yi was silent.

“Explain yourself!”

Ah, he’s the one who said to skip the details and get straight to the point, yet now he’s dissatisfied. Truly impossible to please.

Xiao Yi asked, “Master, how much detail do you want this time?”

Xiao Yi dealt him a light kick—not hard, but Xiao Yi still pulled a face as if deeply wronged.

Xiao Yi chuckled, “Seems you’re not so easy to discipline—are you looking to swim three laps in the Qinhuai River?!”

“No way!” Xiao Yi refused at once. “I never bathe in the river—the water’s filthy!”

“Then speak, and spare me the nonsense!” Sometimes Xiao Yi truly felt like beating this subordinate senseless—he was just too cheeky.

Xiao Yi thought to himself: What a fickle young man.

He begged for mercy. “I’ll say it, I’ll say it all! But as for why he’s gone to the Xue family, if you don’t know, how could I?”

Xiao Yi was silent.

This rascal—clearly, a beating was in order!