The crushing pressure on his hand tightened, and Zhuang Yuchi heard his bones crackle. Unable to bear the pain, he fell to his knees, his body twisting in agony. His hand was firmly clamped in Wei Tingyu's grip, and he couldn't pull it away.
Zhuang Hanyan felt a rush of satisfaction. She couldn't imagine the pain he was going through, but she knew it was well-deserved.
"Quick! Stop the Fourth Young Master!" A frantic voice rang out from the covered walkway. Zhou Ruyin and her maids and servants rushed back.
What a coincidence! Wei Tingyu and Zhuang Hanyan exchanged a knowing glance. They both realized that Zhou Ruyin had been watching from behind the bushes. Her plan was to use her son to teach Zhuang Hanyan a lesson, hoping to drive her away. She figured her son, as the family's only male heir, would be punished but not too severely.
But Zhou Ruyin didn't expect Wei Tingyu to show up. She stayed hidden, but when she saw her foolish son dare to raise a fist at the Duke, she rushed out in a panic. She was afraid his hand would be crushed if she waited any longer.
She ran to Wei Tingyu. "My good-for-nothing son has offended the Duke. He deserves to die!" she pleaded. "But he has learned his lesson. Please, have mercy and forgive him! I will make sure he never does such a disrespectful thing again!"
Wei Tingyu ignored her. Who was she to beg for mercy? He tightened his grip, and Zhuang Yuchi screamed in agony.
Zhou Ruyin was heartbroken. She looked at Madam Wei, but the old woman avoided her gaze. Zhou Ruyin was at a loss. Her schemes had been shattered by Wei Tingyu's sheer power. She had no choice but to turn to Zhuang Hanyan.
Wei Tingyu had come to protect her. And he was punishing her son for her. Zhou Ruyin was filled with resentment, but her son's hand was more important than her pride. "Hanyan!" she said, smiling falsely. "I apologize for your brother's behavior! Please, talk to the Duke and ask him to let your brother go!"
Zhuang Hanyan's face remained impassive as Zhou Ruyin bowed to her. Only when Zhou Ruyin knelt did Zhuang Hanyan feign a look of shock. "Aunt, what are you doing? I am just a country girl from Danzhou. How could I possibly have the influence to persuade the Duke?"
"Hanyan, don't joke!" Zhou Ruyin said, grabbing her hand. "We all saw it! The Duke clearly has feelings for you!"
Zhou Ruyin's words caused everyone to look at Wei Tingyu. Even Zhuang Hanyan looked at him with a mix of anticipation, shyness, and a touch of something else.
Wei Tingyu knew this was going to be a long game. But he enjoyed the chase. It was like a challenging, romantic game. "I was merely doing what was right," he said with a smile. "Please, don't get the wrong idea."
He tightened his grip on Zhuang Yuchi's hand, and another bloodcurdling scream filled the air.
Everyone rolled their eyes. The Duke was a master of falsehoods. He was a powerful nobleman, and it would be a simple matter for him to marry her. He didn't need to woo her. He could just send a betrothal gift, and her family would be more than happy to give her away.
"Duke..." Zhou Ruyin was on the verge of tears. She knew he wouldn't listen to her, so she turned back to Zhuang Hanyan. "Hanyan! Please, speak to the Duke! Your brother is the only male heir to our family!"
Zhuang Hanyan pursed her lips. She had to protect her father's only son for the time being. If he was crippled, her relationship with her family would be ruined, and her revenge would be impossible.
"Duke!" she said, walking to Wei Tingyu. "I am grateful for your kindness, but my brother has been punished. Please, let him go."
Wei Tingyu knew her concerns. He knew the whole family was guilty of something, but he couldn't reveal their secrets. She had to uncover the truth on her own. He released Zhuang Yuchi's hand.
Zhuang Yuchi screamed and fainted. "Yuchi!" Zhou Ruyin cried, rushing to her son. She pinched his philtrum and pulled at his ears until he woke up.
"Mother..." he whimpered.
Zhou Ruyin comforted him and then turned to Zhuang Hanyan, her eyes filled with reverence. She realized that Zhuang Hanyan's word was the only one that mattered to the Duke. She knelt before her. "It is my fault that Yuchi is so spoiled," she said remorsefully. "When your father returns, I will report everything and ask him to punish me according to the family rules."
Wei Tingyu was impressed. Zhou Ruyin was a master manipulator. She was able to feign remorse even after her plot was exposed.
"Aunt, please get up," Zhuang Hanyan said, helping her up. "How long have you been in the Zhuang family?"
Zhou Ruyin's eyes narrowed. This was a probing question. It was a crucial part of the Barefoot Ghost incident. Her position in the family and the timeline of her arrival would reveal her role in the affair.
"It has been a long time," Zhou Ruyin said, realizing she couldn't lie. "Your father married me before he married your mother."
"Then you should know the personalities of everyone here," Zhuang Hanyan said, her voice dropping. "But your actions today... are like someone who just arrived."
Everyone was stunned. Zhuang Hanyan had seen through Zhou Ruyin's entire plan: the delayed wages, her tardiness, and her feigned panic.
Madam Wei was also furious. She realized that if Wei Tingyu hadn't been there, Zhuang Hanyan would have fallen into the freezing pond. She was already weak from her illness. A plunge into the cold water could have been fatal.
"It's my fault for not taking better care of you," Zhou Ruyin said, her face a mask of false remorse. "You have suffered."
Wei Tingyu was in awe. Zhou Ruyin's shamelessness was a sight to behold. She was a true master of palace intrigue.
"Let's go back and rest," Madam Wei said, grabbing Zhou Ruyin's arm. "The Duke came to see Hanyan. Let's leave them alone to talk."
Madam Wei was desperate to set them up.
"What?" Zhuang Yuchi, who had been listening, asked. "Grandmother, you're going to leave an outsider here with her at night?" Even his simple mind knew that this was improper. In their house, only his father and himself were allowed in the back garden after dark.