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After all, Kangning's status had changed. Upon returning, she could directly sign the concubine's contract with her mother, Lady Li, and the
After all, Kangning's status had changed. Upon returning, she could directly sign the concubine's contract with her mother, Lady Li, and then immediately return to the Marquis's estate with Wei Tingyu! So, Kangning was quite serious about her future duties in the Marquis's estate! After all, she had always been the type to refuse to admit defeat! Even among her future sisters in the Marquis's inner courtyard, she wouldn't allow herself to be inferior. While she was excellent at burning incense and preparing tea, serving a man by dressing him was entirely new to her! It was truly her first time ever!
However, upon hearing Kangning's words, before Wei Tingyu could speak, Second Lady Fuhui smiled helplessly. Third Sister's current appearance was so similar to how she herself had been! Were they both afraid of displeasing their husband by not serving him well enough? But it was clear that Kangning didn't yet understand their Marquis; he would never lose his temper over such trifles with his wives and concubines! It was precisely because of the Marquis's generosity and broad-mindedness that the women in the estate became stricter in their own demands for serving him! Of course, this strictness was only in terms of their professional skills; their mindsets, on the other hand, became increasingly relaxed. After all, the Marquis put no pressure on them; they simply wanted to improve on their own!
"Second Sister, what are you laughing at?" Third Lady Kangning saw her Second Sister actually laugh, and truly thought she had done something wrong. She quickly scrutinized the area where she had just adjusted Wei Tingyu's sleeve, finding nothing amiss?!
"It's not your fault!" However, Fuhui had now understood Wei Tingyu's thoughts and immediately said to Third Sister, "The Marquis is thinking that the household now has one more person! His responsibilities are even heavier!" As her words fell, Kangning's small face instantly flushed crimson. This "new person" was clearly referring to herself, wasn't it? But despite her shyness, her heart was overflowing with sweetness!
Wei Tingyu, on the other hand, looked at Fuhui with surprise and delight. She was indeed his beloved little Fuhui! She truly understood her husband's heart! He had to admit, when it came to providing emotional support, Fuhui was indeed the most outstanding among the women in his household!
"Alright!" Fuhui finished fastening Wei Tingyu's belt, then stood up and circled him, carefully examining him from head to toe. After all, she and Third Sister had served Wei Tingyu tonight. If he returned to the estate with anything amiss, the sisters in the household would surely mock them! There was one last jade pendant yet to be hung on Wei Tingyu's belt. She picked it up from the table but didn't attach it herself. Instead, she carefully handed it to Third Sister Kangning. Kangning paused, because this jade pendant was something Wei Tingyu always carried with him. She basically saw him wearing it every time they met. Now, Second Sister handing it to her clearly meant she was to complete the final step. Thinking this, Kangning didn't decline. She took the jade pendant from Fuhui's hand with a smile, then gently knelt beside Wei Tingyu and fastened the jade pendant to his waist.
Wei Tingyu watched Kangning's small hands busy themselves. Only when she was done did he gently take her soft hand and help her up. This was the legendary "raising the tray to eyebrow level" – a traditional gesture of respect! When a woman's respect for her husband reaches its peak, this is generally how it manifests! Of course, after the two women finished, they still had their own things to pack, especially Kangning. She still had a dress stained with her own crimson "plum blossoms" that she needed to carefully put away.
With everything ready, the sky was already faintly showing the first light of dawn. This night was finally coming to an end. As the two women followed Wei Tingyu out of the room and into the courtyard, they were immediately startled by the bloody scene before them!
"Ah!" The two women almost simultaneously shrieked, then quickly pressed themselves against Wei Tingyu. Third Lady Kangning was slightly better; she just clutched Wei Tingyu's arm tightly, unwilling to let go, her small face filled with terror. Her body even trembled slightly, which Wei Tingyu clearly felt. Second Lady Fuhui, with her usually gentle disposition, was even more frightened. She directly burrowed into Wei Tingyu's embrace, closing her eyes and pressing her face tightly against his chest, not daring to open them. It was as if by not opening her eyes to witness all this, what she had just seen would merely be a nightmare!
"There, there! It's alright!" Wei Tingyu's heart ached seeing the Li sisters trembling in fear beside him. But then again, they probably hadn't even dared to watch pigs or sheep being slaughtered since childhood. Now, with these bandits sprawled across the courtyard, some with their guts spilled, heads bashed in, and blood splattered, their horrific deaths surely terrified them.
"Marquis!" At this moment, Third Lady Kangning slowly recovered under Wei Tingyu's soothing. She cautiously raised her eyes again to glance at a bandit's corpse lying not far away—it was the one who had been guarding them earlier. Of course, Kangning didn't recognize him, as her eyes had been covered at the time. This guy's skull was gone, revealing white brain matter and blood splattered everywhere. But with just one glance, she was scared enough to close her eyes again, asking, "These bandits… why are they in such a gruesome state?!"
"I was in a hurry to save you last night!" Wei Tingyu said, gently patting Kangning's back with his right hand. "In my haste, I might have been a bit heavy-handed!"
"Then… they're all dead?" Second Lady Fuhui, still trembling in Wei Tingyu's embrace, didn't even dare open her eyes. She just nervously asked.
"Of course!" Wei Tingyu almost laughed. This girl was asking obvious questions in her fright. But seeing their trembling forms, Wei Tingyu could only sigh and say, "When I came to save you last night, they were already doomed to die!"
"You two ladies needn't panic! They are merely bags of skin and bones!"
"And this matter is not your fault, ladies, because from the moment they set their sights on you last night, this outcome was already determined!"
"I merely acted on behalf of Heaven!"
Wei Tingyu bundled all these matters onto himself in just a few sentences! Of course, in the end, Heaven had to take some of the blame! And Fuhui and Kangning, hearing Wei Tingyu's reply, quickly calmed their nervous hearts. At the same time, they also felt Wei Tingyu's regard for them! The more gruesome the bandits' fates now, didn't it just show how concerned the Marquis was for them?
Of course, Wei Tingyu didn't intentionally make this place look like a living hell. Because last night was actually his first time personally killing people, and his hands were not accustomed to the force, making it difficult to control the extent of the damage. Thinking back now, he had killed them with satisfaction last night, which was why the scene was indeed a bit too horrifying! But it was dark last night, and he hadn't carefully examined the scene. Now, as dawn gradually broke, the two women naturally panicked upon seeing this bloody, hellish sight. Ultimately, it was his own lack of thorough consideration!
"The Marquis is right!" However, Third Lady Kangning was bolder. After hearing Wei Tingyu's words, she actually opened her eyes and looked at the corpses strewn across the courtyard. Although there was still some timidity in her gaze, she was clearly much braver than before. At least now, she dared to face the bandits' bodies directly!
"These villains dared to rob good women in the capital!"
"And who knows how many daughters of good families suffered before!"
"If the Marquis hadn't eliminated them, who knows how many more people they would have harmed in the future!"
"Now, the Marquis is merely acting on behalf of Heaven; their fate was always meant to be this way!"
After Kangning said these words with conviction, it was as if her own heart was somewhat comforted. She looked up at Wei Tingyu, paused for two seconds, then actually stood on tiptoe and gave him a resounding kiss on the cheek!
Kangning's words were naturally heard completely by Fuhui. At this moment, she recalled her own panic and helplessness from last night. If the Marquis hadn't arrived in time to rescue her, she might have lost her purity and even her life by now! It would have been impossible to see her mother and sisters again! Thinking about what would have happened if that had truly occurred, how sad her mother and sisters would have been?! Considering this, these bandits had shown no regard for the lives of others! So, Wei Tingyu taking their lives meant that even in the underworld, these bandits had no right to complain!
"Third Sister is right!" Realizing this, Fuhui also looked up at Wei Tingyu and said, "The Marquis acted on behalf of Heaven to rid the capital's daughters of such a menace! He is a true great hero!"
A great hero? Wei Tingyu immediately laughed. This title, usually only appearing in storybooks or novels heard by young girls, had actually been forced upon him by the two Li sisters?! Besides, a hero wasn't what Wei Tingyu aimed to be! Only when his wings were fully grown would a tycoon be his ultimate goal!
However, seeing that while the two women were still somewhat afraid of the corpses, they were much better than before, Wei Tingyu put his arms around their waists and walked straight out of the courtyard. The carriage that these ruffians had used to abduct Fuhui and Kangning had been taken deep into the woods to be disposed of, fearing it would be traced. The horse that pulled the carriage, however, had been ridden back and was now tied outside the courtyard. Since they had this mode of transport, Wei Tingyu naturally wouldn't let his two ladies walk. After all, the mountain path was rugged, and he was worried about their delicate jade feet swelling!
He helped the two women onto the horse's back one by one. Then, Wei Tingyu leaped lightly onto the horse himself, embracing the two women from behind and simultaneously taking hold of the reins at the front. Because Wei Tingyu now possessed peerless lightness skills, his body was as light as a feather when he used them. So, even with three people, it was no different for the horse than carrying two young women. Furthermore, Fuhui and Kangning were inherently slender; together, they didn't weigh as much as a single armored soldier. Therefore, the horse merely snorted in what seemed like annoyance, then made no more sound!
"Time to go home!" Wei Tingyu chuckled, saying cheerfully as he gently nudged the horse's flanks. As the horse slowly moved forward, Fuhui and Kangning, in Wei Tingyu's embrace, exchanged smiles, then began to admire the surrounding scenery… But seeing the deep, ancient forest, the two women felt another wave of lingering fear! They hadn't expected to be abducted by these ruffians to such a place! If the Marquis hadn't followed, they would truly have been beyond help!
As for the bodies of the bandits, Wei Tingyu thought for a moment and then disregarded them. Who knew how long it would be before this hidden dilapidated house was discovered by others? By then, the authorities would simply come to collect the bodies. In the end, they'd probably conclude it was a bandit shootout and close the case. It certainly wouldn't lead back to him, Wei Tingyu!
This time, of course, there was none of the urgency of their journey there. As they returned to the capital, the city gates just opened. The sky had brightened considerably, and the streets inside the city were bustling with people who had risen early for business. And the people of Dongshi Street once again witnessed an extraordinary sight! Because Wei Tingyu had previously made a high-profile visit to Sifuzhai, these merchants and neighbors recognized the Marquis of Jining. And it was impossible for them not to recognize Fuhui and Kangning, the two daughters of the Li family. So, when the three appeared together on horseback on Dongshi Street, the previously noisy street instantly quieted down.
"What's going on? How are the Marquis and the two Li daughters…"
"Don't you know? Rumor has it that the Li family's eldest and second daughters have already entered the Marquis's estate as cherished concubines!"
"What? I thought that was just a rumor! Now it seems it must be true!"
"Lady Li is truly blessed! With two concubines in the Marquis's estate, who would dare mess with her on Dongshi Street anymore?"
"No, wait! Aren't the two beauties the Marquis is embracing the Li family's Second Lady and Third Lady?"
"Yes, yes, yes! There was another rumor before that all five Li family daughters were promised to the Marquis! I thought it was fake before! But now it seems…"
"Is there even a question? Look, the Marquis isn't even trying to hide it; he's clearly announcing it to all of Dongshi Street!"
"Then, this early morning, are they… coming from the Marquis's estate?"
"Who cares where they went last night? This matter is definitely beyond doubt now!"
"Oh my! My son was still thinking about the Li family's Fourth Lady, wanting me to propose! Now it seems there's no hope! I'll save myself the trouble and effort!"
"You're certainly not the only one thinking that, old man! But is it that easy to be related by marriage to the Marquis's estate?"
"Lady Li truly has good fortune, with five daughters…"
Hearing these whispers and discussions from the neighbors, Fuhui and Kangning both blushed with shyness. However, in the Marquis's embrace, they also somewhat enjoyed being watched and even envied by everyone. After all, the Marquis's actions now were tantamount to announcing it to the world, which was especially significant for Third Lady Kangning! It also completely warded off any potential "flies" that might have gathered around the Li family. Even the boldest commoners wouldn't dare compete with the Marquis of Jining for women!
Meanwhile, Sifuzhai was unusually closed for business! In the back room where Lady Li and the others resided, several women with dark circles under their eyes were in a chaotic state! Eldest Lady Shouhua had received her mother's message last night. Anxiously, she explained the situation to Dou Zhao, then returned to her family home with a few Gold Shadow Guards. So, she was also here now.
The playful and somewhat ill-tempered Fourth Lady Haode and Fifth Lady Leshan, the two younger sisters, were kneeling in the center of the room, their faces streaked with tears like weeping pear blossoms, biting their lips and sobbing. Their hands were held high, and their palms were now swollen and red from being beaten! Their mother, Lady Li, holding a feather duster, stood before the two girls, spanking their palms one by one, while angrily scolding them.
"It's bad enough that your two sisters came back! If they don't come back… I'll pretend I never gave birth to the two of you!"
Of course, Lady Li's expression showed that her heart ached terribly at this moment. The tear stains from her earlier crying were still clearly visible on her face! It was important to note that when Lady Li heard the news last night that the carriage Fuhui and Kangning were in had been abducted by bandits, she had fainted directly! After a frantic rescue effort, she finally came to! After that, she silently wept for two hours. Only when there was still no news of the two girls by the third watch did she anxiously send someone to notify her eldest daughter, Shouhua, who was still at the Marquis's estate, while severely reprimanding her two young daughters who had caused such a big disaster. After all, if it hadn't been for their disobedience last night, insisting on defying their sisters' advice and recklessly running off to watch shadow puppet shows and snake charmers, the Gold Shadow Guards by Fuhui and Kangning's side wouldn't have all been sent to protect these two young girls. And those bandits naturally wouldn't have succeeded!
"Mother! I was wrong!" Fourth Lady Haode and Fifth Lady Leshan were also extremely remorseful at this moment. Haode, especially, knelt and crawled two steps forward, embracing Lady Li's legs, crying and shouting, "I'll never be playful again! Mother!" Fifth Lady Leshan also cried softly with her head down, repeatedly saying that if her two sisters didn't return, she would give her life for them!