Since she was playing the part of a fainting victim, Zhuang Hanyan couldn't wake up. She sighed inwardly and let Wei Tingyu hold her. It wasn't the first time he had taken advantage of her in this way.
"Where's Hanyan?" Zhuang Shixiang entered and immediately went to the unconscious Zhuang Hanyan in Wei Tingyu's arms. He took a lantern, held it up to her face, and nodded in recognition. "It's Hanyan! It's really Hanyan!" This was his first time home in two days, and his first time seeing his daughter in person.
"And this is..." Zhuang Shixiang looked at Wei Tingyu, feigning ignorance. Wei Tingyu was annoyed. Zhuang Shixiang had to know who he was. This was just another act.
"Sir! This is the Duke of Wei!" Zhou Ruyin seized the opportunity. "It's thanks to the Duke that Hanyan was saved! The entire Zhuang family owes him a debt of gratitude..."
Zhuang Shixiang, pretending to be surprised and honored, quickly adjusted his clothes and bowed respectfully. "It's an honor to meet you, Duke! Please forgive me for not being here to greet you. The Zhuang family will forever be grateful for your kindness!" He bowed deeply, his hands over his head, an act of extreme respect that surprised everyone.
Wei Tingyu knew what he was doing. Zhuang Shixiang was trying to put the Duke in his debt, and the only way to repay such a debt was to offer his daughter in marriage. This reassured Wei Tingyu that Zhuang Hanyan would not be kicked out of the manor.
"The Third Miss angered the mistress," Nanny Chen said, bowing to Zhuang Shixiang. "The mistress ordered us to kick her out of the house!" Nanny Chen only followed Ruan Xiwen's orders.
"Nonsense!" Zhuang Shixiang was furious. "How can you kick her out when she's in such a state?" He leaned over Zhuang Hanyan. "Hanyan! Hanyan! It's your father! You've suffered so much..."
A father would normally take his daughter from a stranger's arms, but Zhuang Shixiang had no intention of doing so. He wanted everyone to see his daughter with the Duke, hoping to seal the marriage.
"Father..." Zhuang Hanyan slowly opened her eyes and feebly uttered the word.
"Good, good," Zhuang Shixiang nodded and looked at Ruan Xiwen, who was sitting silently in her wheelchair. "Xiwen! Hanyan has been away for so long. Now that we are finally reunited, why must you do this?"
Wei Tingyu knew this was a facade. If Zhuang Shixiang truly cared for her, he wouldn't have left her in Danzhou for seventeen years.
"My husband has been a Hanlin Academy official for years," Ruan Xiwen said with a cold laugh. "You're not known for your deep knowledge, but for your photographic memory. How could you forget?"
Zhuang Shixiang was confused. "What did I forget?"
"You forgot..." Ruan Xiwen's voice became sinister. "She's not a daughter of the Zhuang family! She's the reincarnation of a bare-footed ghost! She killed her grandfather and her uncle and aunt! She's been home for only a day and has already caused your son to lose his marriage! She also attracted an assassin! Master Duan was right! Her fate conflicts with ours! If she stays here, there will be nothing but disaster!"
Ruan Xiwen's words and demeanor made everyone shiver.
"That's all old news," Zhuang Shixiang said, glancing at Wei Tingyu. He was worried about the Duke's reaction. He knew the truth about the "bare-footed ghost" curse. He was the one who had framed his newborn daughter for his father's death. But now that Wei Tingyu was interested in Zhuang Hanyan, he couldn't let Ruan Xiwen ruin everything.
"That's not true! Don't bring it up again!" he said to his wife.
"Oh?" Ruan Xiwen pressed on. "Then why did the Han's family break off the engagement? You were at their house all night, but you couldn't change their minds, could you?"
Zhuang Shixiang sighed, frustrated with his wife's lack of foresight. The Han family's marriage was important, but the Duke's interest in Zhuang Hanyan was more so. The Duke's family was a powerful, long-standing noble house. Marrying into their family would be an entrance into the world of aristocracy.
"Father, you're back!" Zhuang Yushan ran to him, pulling Zhou Ruyin with her. "The mistress beat me and Mother!"
"Sir, don't be angry," Zhou Ruyin said, pretending to console him. "Yushan and I broke the rules and deserved to be punished. The mistress did nothing wrong."
"Xiwen..." Zhuang Shixiang said, looking at the two of them with a pained expression.
"If you're so worried, you should be the one to go to the ancestral hall and be punished!" Ruan Xiwen said, determined to get rid of Zhuang Hanyan. "What are you waiting for? Take her away!"
Zhuang Shixiang yelled at the servants to stop. "Hanyan is our daughter! She has suffered for years! I tried to bring her back every year, but you stopped me! Now that she's finally home, how can we kick her out? I am the head of this family. Please, for my sake, don't make it difficult for her."
Zhuang Shixiang was a master manipulator. He shifted the blame to his wife, but Wei Tingyu knew better. He was holding Zhuang Hanyan and could see through his lies. If Zhuang Shixiang had really wanted her back, he would have made it happen.
Zhuang Hanyan, still pretending to be weak, shed tears of gratitude. She believed her father. Wei Tingyu decided not to expose him just yet. She needed to discover the truth on her own.
"You're right," Ruan Xiwen said, her mind shifting gears. "It's my fault that you suffered in Danzhou. You must hate me, don't you?"
Wei Tingyu sighed. His future mother-in-law was truly a piece of work. She was trying to drive Zhuang Hanyan away by making her feel guilty.
"I didn't suffer in Danzhou, and I don't hate you," Zhuang Hanyan said, looking at her mother. "I came back because I missed you..." She was a great actress.
"Miss me?" Ruan Xiwen's face softened. "We have never met. How could you miss me?"
"I heard that my mother was a graceful and virtuous noble lady, with great beauty and talent," Zhuang Hanyan said. "I've always wanted to be reunited with you and be protected by you."
"A noble lady?" Ruan Xiwen's eyes went wild. "My family was wiped out! I can't even protect myself!" She started to yell. "If I hadn't given birth to you, the bare-footed ghost, I wouldn't be crippled! You brought me so much harm, and you still have the audacity to ask for my protection?"
"Xiwen!" Zhuang Shixiang said, trying to stop her.
"Shut up!" Ruan Xiwen screamed. She looked like a madwoman, her eyes bloodshot. "The Zhuang family looks kind, but they are all man-eating ghosts! I should burn this whole place down! I'll see you all in hell!"
The servants froze. Zhuang Shixiang was in shock. This was the first time he had seen his wife like this. Wei Tingyu frowned. He couldn't let this continue. He had to stop her before his future wife had to deal with the death of her mother. He pointed a finger at Ruan Xiwen, releasing a surge of internal energy.
Ruan Xiwen, who was yelling a moment ago, suddenly went still. Her expression of rage faded, and she slumped back into her wheelchair, unconscious.
"What... What was that?" Zhuang Shixiang asked, blinking. He didn't know much about martial arts, but he knew that the Duke's gesture and his wife's sudden unconsciousness were connected.