Chapter 102: Deceiving Oneself and Others (Second Update)

At this hour, Wu Tan had naturally gone to sleep.

Outside the courtyard, Wu Qingyu was pounding on the door with loud bangs.

Having learned the truth behind the incident involving Wu Xun and Madam Meng, Wu Tan verbally claimed indifference, but deep down, she was deeply shaken.

After all, the image of her father had been almost flawless in her mind, and now a sudden crack appeared... Her mood was very low; she had been sulking these past couple of days, unwilling to see anyone. That night, she even sent away her two maids, refusing to let them sleep in her room.

Cheng Cheng, worried she might need help and not be heard, slept in the study next door.

She was the first to hear the noise, quickly threw on a robe, and ran to the courtyard. The loud knocking made her heart race wildly; she feared something serious had happened and felt completely at a loss.

Wu Tan was woken from her sleep, grumpy and irritable. She jumped out of bed, closed her eyes, threw on her clothes, and stormed out of the bedroom, yelling, “Knock, knock, knock! What’s all this knocking for? It’s the middle of the night! Don’t you want people to sleep?”

Then she leaned against the doorframe, eyes still shut, pouting in defiance.

Seeing her anger, Cheng Cheng came to her senses, quickly steadied herself, and hurried to open the courtyard door. She was startled to see Wu Qingyu outside. “Second Young Master? What are you doing here...?”

Wasn’t he in Yuanzhou City? Where did he pop up from?

At that moment, Xingzi from the side courtyard also heard the commotion and came out.

Wu Tan, still leaning on the doorframe, nodded drowsily. Wu Qingyu glanced across the courtyard and thought this girl was utterly hopeless and undignified, subtly rolling his eyes.

Though she was his own sister, since it was the middle of the night, he didn’t dare enter Wu Tan’s bedroom casually. Instead, he raised his voice, “Wu Tan, come out. I need to speak with you!”

His tone was sharp, making the two maids feel like they were facing a great threat.

Why would the Second Young Master come barging in at this hour to pick a fight with their young mistress?

Wu Tan heard his voice, thinking it was truly absurd. She struggled to open one eye and, upon seeing him standing outside, immediately felt half her sleep vanish.

“Why is it you? When did you come back?” She wrapped herself tighter in her robe and shuffled out, not in the mood for pleasantries.

She hadn’t seen him even at dinner—did he return overnight?

“I just got home,” Wu Qingyu replied casually, not wanting to chat. “There’s something...”

He hesitated over the matter concerning Lin Yanyao, unsure of all the details. Since it involved the girl’s reputation, he was reluctant to say more.

Wu Tan had never seen him so hesitant and reluctant to speak, which made her take the matter more seriously. She pressed, “What is it?”

Wu Qingyu finally said, “Your cousin, the Lin family one, seems to be in trouble.”

“What did you say?” Wu Tan was shocked, and the last traces of sleep vanished completely.

She stepped forward anxiously, staring at him. “My cousin? You mean cousin Yanyao? What happened to her?”

“She was kidnapped by two scoundrels and taken out of the city. I happened to run into them. She’s fine. On the way, I handed her over to Hu Tianming,” Wu Qingyu explained succinctly. He understood he was an outsider to the Lin family and this was a delicate matter, so he wouldn’t say more. But since his relationship with Wu Tan was strained, coming to her at this late hour to report this felt like a blow to his pride. He muttered stubbornly, “It’s strange—the Lin family lost someone, but instead of coming to me for help, they went straight to the Jingzhao Prefecture... Anyway, I brought the news. I’m going back to sleep. You should tell big brother.”

The Lin family patriarch was stationed elsewhere, the second master had no real power, so if anything serious happened, the Lin family would have no choice but to seek out Wu Qinglin.

Actually, Wu Qinglin and Wu Qingyu lived in the front courtyard; it would have been easier to tell him directly. But since Wu Qingyu didn’t want to appear obsequious to his older brother, he avoided going to him and came to Wu Tan instead.

After finishing, Wu Qingyu turned to leave.

“Big brother has gone out of the capital on official business these past two days!” Wu Tan stomped anxiously.

Wu Qingyu stopped. “Out of the capital?” That explained why the Lin family was desperate enough to seek help from the Jingzhao Prefecture.

“I have to go to the Lin family immediately! Thanks for your help regarding my cousin’s matter!” Wu Tan barely acknowledged him, already instructing her two maids: “Xingzi, go to the stables and have them prepare a carriage. Cheng Cheng, help me with my hair.”

“Yes, Miss!” Xingzi was quick to respond and rushed off.

Wu Tan hurriedly turned to return to her room.

Wu Qingyu pursed his lips, hesitating for a moment before suddenly saying, “It’s so late... I’ll accompany you.”

Wu Tan paused, then stopped in her tracks and looked back at him. “Aren’t you tired?”

It took five or six days of fast riding to return from Yuanzhou City. The bloodshot veins in his eyes showed he hadn’t rested well at all.

Wu Qingyu, though prickly and sharp-tongued by nature, had no major conflicts with Wu Tan. They often bickered but bore no grudges.

True to form, he found it embarrassing to appear so eager and blurted out, “I haven’t been back to the capital for a month. Can’t I go out for a bit?”

Knowing his usual stubbornness, Wu Tan was too busy to argue. “Wait for me a moment. I’ll come out as soon as I’m dressed.”

Without another word, she briskly returned indoors, dressed as quickly as possible, and had Cheng Cheng tie her hair into the simplest bun. She didn’t bother with any accessories and rushed out directly.

At the stables, Xingzi hurried the staff, and the preparations were swift.

The siblings hurried to the main gate just as the coachman was driving the carriage out through the side gate.

Wu Tan turned to Cheng Cheng: “Xingzi can come with me. You stay and guard the courtyard. If I don’t return tonight and grandmother asks in the morning, just say I went to the Lin family—keep it vague, use your discretion.”

The details of the Lin family’s affair were still unclear; it was better if fewer people knew.

If the matriarch found out Wu Tan had rushed out at night, she would surely question it deeply.

“Yes, I understand!” Cheng Cheng promised.

Wu Tan then stepped into the carriage.

Wu Qingyu’s eyes flickered slightly. He ordered the gatekeeper’s young servant, “Don’t tell anyone I’m back yet.”

“Yes, sir!” Although puzzled, the servant could only agree.

Wu Qingyu stepped down and was about to mount his horse when Wu Tan poked her head out of the carriage. “Ride with me!”

Wu Tan felt a little embarrassed having him accompany her on her uncle’s family matter.

This time, Wu Qingyu didn’t refuse. After a moment’s hesitation, he silently got into the carriage.

The gatekeeper’s servant was stunned—had the Second Young Master lost his mind or been possessed by a ghost? Not only did he unusually travel with the Second Miss, but he also calmly got into the same carriage.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the Jiang residence.

After Lin Xiucheng’s second visit and the information he revealed, Jiang Weixian hesitated, deciding to put aside thoughts of apologizing and reconciling with the Lin family for the time being. Instead, he sent trusted aides to gather information.

Upon hearing that Lin Yanyao had been kidnapped by bandits in broad daylight, Jiang was struck like a thunderbolt and immediately sent more people to stake out near the Lin mansion to obtain the latest and most accurate news.

The kidnapping had occurred amidst a disturbance, witnessed by many, and the news spread rapidly that afternoon.

Later, reports from Jiang’s men at the Lin residence said that the Lin family had appealed to Hu Tianming for help in finding her.

At this point, Jiang Weixian had completely given up hope of salvaging the marriage alliance with the Lin family and instead grew anxious.

Lin Yanyao’s predicament was a clear blow to her reputation; a proper match would be impossible now. Under these circumstances, the Lin family might insist on pushing the daughter onto them.

If it were another family, the Lin family’s direct rejection would be understandable, but since the two families were related by kinship, though understandable, it would still feel like a stab in the back.

All afternoon, Jiang Weixian remained in his study, agonizing over how to find a win-win solution.

Just now, an attendant who had been staking out near the Lin residence came back with news: Lin Yanyao had been found.

Jiang Lishi, who had upset Jiang Weixian that morning, had been by his side all afternoon and evening, unable to leave.

Jiang Pingzhi was in a similar state; the three of them hadn’t slept yet.

“Found her?” Jiang Weixian asked impatiently, rising and pacing around the desk.

In truth—

He wished Lin Yanyao had died in the incident; that would have been simpler for the Jiang family.

Jiang Pingzhi couldn’t sit still either and hurried over.

Originally, he had only wanted to ruin Lin Yanyao’s reputation publicly to force Jiang Weixian to break the engagement. Who could have expected the two men he hired to kidnap her would instead abduct her out of the city... Now that things had escalated, his thoughts aligned with Jiang Weixian’s—

Why hadn’t Lin Yanyao died outside? Her return complicated everything!

He wasn’t worried about the two hired desperados, because to avoid implicating himself, he had hired them through two intermediaries. Even if caught, it was unlikely they could trace it back to him.

“The Jingzhao Prefect personally returned her to the Lin family,” the attendant reported. “I didn’t dare get too close, but from a distance, she seemed unharmed, able to move freely, got off the carriage on her own, and entered the residence.”

Jiang Weixian sighed deeply, his expression troubled. After a long silence, he waved the attendant off: “You may leave now.”

* * *

After the door closed, Jiang Weixian felt a knot of frustration in his chest that wouldn’t dissipate. Irritated, he said, “If I’d known this accident would happen, I should have agreed to breaking the engagement when they came this morning.”

Now it was all ruined!

Jiang Lishi, having learned from past mistakes and fearing his anger, lowered her head silently.

Jiang Pingzhi sighed, wearing a pained and conflicted expression. “No one expected this to happen, but Father, even if it shouldn’t have, it has. What shall we do now?”

In this situation, Jiang Weixian was undoubtedly the first to refuse to marry Lin Yanyao into the family, though the situation had spiraled beyond initial plans, at least the goal was achieved, and Jiang Pingzhi could barely comfort himself with that.

Anyway—

Now that Jiang Weixian would handle everything and had the full backing of the Ping State Duke’s household, he feared nothing!

Jiang Weixian glared at him angrily. “What else can we do? Are we supposed to marry a dishonored bride into the Jiang family?”

He then shot a fierce glare at Jiang Lishi and ordered, “You caused this mess. Tomorrow, go to the Lin family and break off the engagement.”

They had already fallen out with the Lin family today; to make matters worse by breaking the engagement now—wouldn’t the Lin family eat her alive? Jiang Lishi was startled and finally unable to remain silent. She hurriedly looked up at him. “Master!”

“Make sure this is done cleanly by tomorrow,” Jiang Weixian said. “If you can’t handle it, you won’t set foot in the Jiang family again!” He refused to personally do such a cruel thing and gave no room for objection. With a warning glare, he opened the door and strode out.

“Master!” Jiang Lishi hurried after him, calling out, her voice breaking.

Jiang Weixian didn’t look back and left the courtyard.

Jiang Lishi’s heart sank. Knowing she couldn’t win against Jiang Weixian, she glanced at Jiang Pingzhi.

Before she could speak, Jiang Pingzhi frowned and said, “Mother, you saw how my uncle came this morning, almost wanting to kill me. Now my cousin’s in trouble, and you want me to go...”

Though Jiang Lishi didn’t want to take the blame, she felt sorry for her son. Since Jiang Pingzhi refused to show his face at the Lin residence anymore, she gave a perfunctory reply and left.

Meanwhile, Jiang Weixian left the main courtyard and went to Consort Guan.

After washing his feet, Consort Guan had already learned the entire story about Lin Yanyao.

She helped Jiang Weixian to bed, massaged his shoulders, and gently said with a hint of meaning, “Master, don’t fret over this. I know you didn’t want to ruin relations between the two families. Breaking the engagement was last resort. If there’s blame, it’s on Miss Lin’s bad luck. You defended her so much this morning, refusing to let the Second Young Master break the engagement. Yet, she got into trouble at such a critical moment... Who told her to wander around? Why wasn’t she staying home? Why did she come to the north side of the city? The Lin patriarch is laughable, too—I heard he even came to our manor to vent his anger, looking for his daughter. If you didn’t know better, you’d think we harmed his daughter. They say the Lin family is cultured and honorable, but when it comes to scheming, they’re ruthless!”

Consort Guan was a clever and tactful woman. Hearing Lin Xiucheng’s harsh words during his second visit and noting Jiang Pingzhi’s strange behavior, she put two and two together.

It was amusing. Jiang Lishi was foolish, but Jiang Weixian never suspected such a coincidence?

At first, Jiang Weixian was wholly focused on resolving the Lin marriage, his mind in turmoil, unable to think of anything else. Now, with Consort Guan’s obvious hint, his heart raced, and he suddenly sat upright.

Indeed! How coincidental that Lin Yanyao got into trouble at this exact moment? And why would a young girl be roaming the north side of the city?

Lin Xiucheng had said they used despicable means to break the engagement?

Jiang Weixian was suspicious and unsettled.

His first suspicion fell on Jiang Lishi but was dismissed instantly. She lacked the brains and means for such a scheme and was unlikely to harm her own niece.

Then—

Could it be Pingzhi?

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Jiang Weixian forced himself to reject it!

Not because he trusted his son’s character, but because—

Now there was no turning back! If Lin Yanyao’s misfortune was linked to Jiang Pingzhi, and the Lin family went into a rage and retaliated, the entire Jiang family’s reputation would be ruined!

Right! This was not Pingzhi’s doing! It had nothing to do with his son or their family!

So Jiang Weixian wasn’t denying suspicion; rather, he was willing to deceive himself and stubbornly deny involvement!

––––– Side note –––––

After writing for so long, I’m a bit dizzy. Though it’s a bit late, I still want to say: Happy Queen’s Day to all my dear readers~

P.S.: Don’t feel down. The cousin’s matter is just a rough patch. Though the situation looks bleak, the higher the demon, the stronger the Tao. This predicament will be turned around by some formidable characters. Starting tomorrow, there will be a major reversal that will slap those scoundrels in the face!

This book is first published here—please do not repost!