bookcurios Chapter 141 Familiar Strangers
Chapter 141 Familiar Strangers
Ignoring Xiao Yao's provocative and fierce gaze, Yu Wanran simply said a few words to Zheng Peipei.
"Madam, when traveling, simplicity is the best policy."
Their entourage, with its large number of maids and matrons almost exceeding the number of guards, was already conspicuous. Their ostentatious display of wealth would likely attract unnecessary trouble.
Zheng Peipei followed her gaze and looked at Xiao Yao. Before she could speak, Xiao Yao glared at her and spoke first.
"Fake! Are you implying something about me? I was born with a life of wealth and honor. What? You look so poor that you can't even afford a hairpin in your hair, and you're already jealous of others?"
She spends one or two hours every day on her grooming. She strives to ensure that others who see her dare not underestimate her and can only look up to her.
However, Yu Wanran's words struck directly at the most vulnerable and dark part of her heart, almost causing her to fly into a rage and break down.
With the safety of the entire team at stake, Yu Wanran remained cold and did not back down in front of Xiao Yao this time.
"Princess, when you're away from home, you shouldn't flaunt your wealth!"
Xiao Yao's tattered clothes, any one piece of which could feed a poor family. Isn't this deliberately increasing the risk for their bodyguards?
She might not value her own life, but she cares about the safety of most people!
"So you were the one who was scared?"
Xiao Yao sneered and jabbed her finger heavily into her chest.
"What does that have to do with me, the county magistrate? We called you here to protect us! If even a hair on my head is missing, or anything happens to any of my followers, you'll be the one to answer to us with your head!"
Wu Jian and two bodyguards stood at the door, listening to the county princess's outrageous remarks. They had originally intended to come in and pay their respects to the Duchess, but frowned and took a detour.
"who do you think You Are?"
Xiao Yao walked around Yu Wanran, looking her over disdainfully at her plain-colored clothes, and kept tapping her shoulder with her finger.
"You're nothing but a dog of our Duke's mansion, summoned and dismissed at will! You imposter, do you still think you're the Duke's daughter?"
"enough!"
As she listened to the increasingly harsh words, and seeing Yu Wanran's head hanging lower and lower, Zheng Peipei was overwhelmed by guilt and heartache.
Regardless, the girl in front of her was the child she had cherished and loved for sixteen years!
Even if it's her own daughter, she doesn't want to see the other person mistreat the child! Why can't the two of them live in harmony?
Seeing the angry yet hurt look in Xiao Yao's eyes, Zheng Peipei felt a pang of conflict. She swallowed the words of reprimand she wanted to say. Instead, she turned to Yu Wanran and gently comforted her.
"Ranran, don't take it to heart. You've been walking all day and you must be tired. Go back to your tent and rest!"
Yu Wanran lowered her head meekly and said in a low voice, "Madam, please rest early as well."
He took a step and walked out.
Xiao Yao stared hatefully at her back, her gaze burning as if she wanted to burn a hole through it.
Zheng Peipei was exhausted and didn't even bother to give her stubborn daughter any advice. She simply had a group of maids and nannies help the county princess to her private room to rest.
As for the sounds of men and women joking and laughing coming from Xiao Baichen's side, she could only pretend not to hear them.
What a sin!
She considered herself a model of virtue and propriety, so how could she have given birth to such a pair of disappointing children?
Before, at least they had Ranran, who was the pride and face of the Duke's mansion. Now, which of their two children is presentable?
That year, she sensed that the Duke had become noticeably colder and more distant from her. She understood that the Duke resented her. But what could she do?
I knew earlier...
Perhaps I shouldn't have been so harsh in suppressing the concubines back then. Now I'm suffering the consequences, and I deeply regret it.
Yu Wanran stepped out of the tent and found Wei Baifeng standing in front of her.
He had been there for an unknown amount of time, and had overheard countless things. His gaze was extremely complex, and his face was pale. Upon seeing her, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he hesitated and couldn't utter a word.
"Young Master Wei."
Yu Wanran calmly curtsied, then walked away without waiting for the other party's reaction.
There was no love left, so where did the hate come from?
The man in front of her was, at best, a familiar stranger to her.
Wei Baifeng turned back blankly, watching her retreating figure. The light that had just risen in his eyes dimmed little by little as she walked away.
In fact, if we go back to the day she was kicked out of the Duke's mansion, he would probably still make the same choice.
Why can't I bear to part with it?
People like them, raised by their families, understand from the beginning that their entire lives, even their very existence, should be dedicated to making sacrifices for their families at any time.
For people like them, love is a distant and unattainable luxury!
Wei Baifeng turned to face the tent, lowering his eyes slightly. After the turbulent emotions in his heart calmed down, he resolutely strode inside.
Wu Jian waited for Yu Wanran in the distance, wanting to find an opportunity to comfort her. But seeing Yu Wanran walking towards him calmly and nonchalantly, he didn't know how to start the conversation.
It was Yu Wanran who took the initiative to speak and discuss the patrol and night watch arrangements with him. The Duke's mansion had brought quite a few guards, a team of fifty men, commanded by Zhu Boda, the Duke's confidant and head guard.
At this moment, he naturally came over and asked about the two men's defenses.
After discussion, it was decided that the bodyguards and guards would work together, taking turns on night watch. Yu Wanran was mainly responsible for keeping an eye on the women's side to prevent any trouble.
A large group of maids and nannies, as if they were out on a picnic, chattered and complained, making themselves no easier to serve than their masters.
Zhu Boda was so confused by the noise that he decided to pass the hot potato to Yu Wanran!
Yu Wanran wanted to investigate the background of that Granny Fan, and readily agreed.
After the meeting with the two women, she went to the row of small tents set up by the maids and nannies, inspected them one by one, and asked them their names and whereabouts.
Some timid and honest maids were quite cooperative, but it wasn't so smooth when they encountered a few maids or nannies who were favored by their masters.
A maid, with delicate fingers, half-covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, and snorted softly without looking directly at Yu Wanran.
"Does she still think she's the daughter of the Duke's mansion? A fake, just temporarily hired to protect us, how dare she ask about our situation?"
Yu Wanran disdained to waste words on such a sycophantic person and went straight into the tent to find Zheng Peipei, complaining with a face full of grievance.
"Madam, I'm worried about your safety on the journey! I'm afraid that with so many people following you, unnecessary trouble might arise? So I'd like to know about the situation of the many maids and nannies..."
"But they say I'm not qualified to interfere! Madam, is that what you mean?"
If so, she finally has a reason to break off all pretense of civility!
if not……
Cheng Pei-pei was furious!
It's one thing for her own daughter to slap her in the face! But a bunch of servants, knowing she pities her adopted daughter, still dare to embarrass her in public? Does this mean they don't treat her as the mistress of the Duke's mansion?
She suddenly frowned and glanced at her trusted confidante, Granny Ding, beside her.
Ding Mama understood and immediately stepped out of the tent. A moment later, she reported, "Madam, the one who led the humiliation of Miss Yu was Tinghe, a second-class maid under the county princess."