Madam Wu searched the city like a madwoman, but her young lady had vanished into thin air.
From then on, the gentle and virtuous Madam Wu disappeared, replaced by a frantic woman who every day clutched a pillow, murmuring her daughter's name. Anyone who dared touch her pillow would fight her to the death.
Not long after, her body was discovered in a pond in the back courtyard of the Wu residence. By the time she was found, she had been floating on the water for a considerable time. The Wu family announced to the public that she had fallen in by accident, but no one knew the exact cause of her death.
As soon as Madam Wu died, those of them who had been marked by her in name had a difficult time. Before long, they were even driven out. The old woman who had taught him to cook had no children and nowhere to go, so they recognized her as their godmother, rented a dilapidated small courtyard, and managed to make a living.
Having lived together for so long, the godmother came to understand the couple. She took out her life's savings and allowed them to rent a small restaurant not far from the Wu residence to run it themselves.
They were extremely grateful to their godmother. It was their first time doing business, and they knew nothing. To avoid wasting their godmother's money, they worked from dawn till dusk and managed to keep the small restaurant afloat.
A few years later, the young master of the small restaurant was a disappointment, losing a lot of money. To repay his gambling debts, the owner wanted to sell the restaurant. The price was considered fair. The couple used all their savings to buy the restaurant, and from then on, they had a foothold in the city.
In gratitude for Madam Wu's kindness in taking them in years ago, they had always paid attention to the Wu family, intentionally or unintentionally, and wanted to help find her daughter. However, they were just common folk, with good intentions but no power. They only heard that the young master had been having a very difficult time at home. Barely half a year after his mother's death, the master's cousin was officially married.
One could imagine how awkward his position in the household was. It was said that before long, he was sent to study at an external academy. His grades were excellent, and he was often praised by his tutors. It was just that his luck was not good. A few years ago, when he participated in the scholar examination, he had just won first place. Not long after, while traveling, he was trampled by a horse, becoming lame and ruining his future.
In recent years, he had almost never left the house. Today, seeing a familiar face again, she felt a sense of resentment. If her young lady had not been lost, would Madam have died? Would the young master have become this way?
Seeing her expression, Wu Caiwei knew she had a deep connection with her birth parents. After all, she could see relief and resentment in her eyes, yet she couldn't help but feel a sense of closeness.
"What exactly happened? Please, proprietress, tell me." Wu Caiwei's voice pulled her from her memories back to reality.
So the proprietress recounted everything she knew, without embellishment or personal opinion. Judging from the other party's words and attire, she could tell she was no ordinary person. She hoped the young lady would investigate the matter thoroughly. If someone had truly harmed them, she hoped she would avenge them. If everything was indeed an accident, then it would bring her peace of mind.
After hearing her words, Wu Caiwei fell silent. After a while, she said, "All of this should not be a coincidence. Although I was quite young when I was lost, I still remember some things. I was sold to a human trafficker by a maidservant who was by my side."
Upon hearing this, the proprietress couldn't help but shed tears, looking at her expectantly, "You must avenge Madam."
Wu Caiwei nodded firmly. She still had to see her rumored brother and see if his leg could be cured.
Having gained such useful information, Wu Caiwei directly ordered someone to give the couple one thousand taels of silver. The proprietress refused to accept it, no matter what. They had owed so much to Madam Wu's care back then; how could they accept her money now?
"This is a reward I bestow upon you. Perhaps you do not know, but I am already a County Princess, and soon I will become the Prince Consort of Dali. I have returned this time specifically for revenge." After saying this, seeing her stunned expression, and before she could react, she quickly stuffed the bank notes into her hand and left with her entourage. Sudan Novel Network.
Upon returning to the inn, she tidied herself up and, with her County Princess waist token, went to see the Prefect.
The Prefect came from a noble family in the capital and was well-informed. He already knew that the County Princess had arrived in Lizhou, but being from a prominent background, he looked down on her slightly. Since she did not seek him out, he did not need to eagerly request an audience.
Now that she had come to him, he received her warmly, bringing his wife and daughter. They politely had a meal together.
After the meal, the Prefect glanced at his wife, and she immediately understood. She said somewhat tentatively, "It's rare for the County Princess to visit our Lizhou; you must stay for a while longer. We have arranged a courtyard for the County Princess in our residence. Would the County Princess like to see it now? If there are any unsatisfactory points, we can correct them promptly."
When Wu Caiwei heard this, she quickly smiled and said, "There's no need for such trouble. As soon as I arrived in Lizhou, I heard people say that I look very much like the original wife of Mr. Wu, who deals in silk in the city. Perhaps we have a deep connection. It is a pity that she is no longer with us. To make up for this regret, I plan to stay at the Wu family's residence and see the room where Madam Wu once lived, and walk the paths she once walked."
The Prefect and his wife were stunned. This was completely beyond their expectations; they had never imagined she would make such a request.
Seeing that they still had something to say, Wu Caiwei interrupted, "My Lord and Madam, you need not try to persuade me further. My mind is made up. No matter what you say today, you cannot change my mind. I am determined to stay at the Wu family's residence."
When the Prefect heard this, seeing that the matter had come to this point, he felt there was no need to insist further. He quickly instructed the steward to go to the Wu family to inform them, asking them to prepare a courtyard.
The Prefect's wife was relieved. The County Princess's temperament clearly indicated she was not easy to deal with. The further away she was, the less contact there would be, and they would not interfere with each other. If she were to stay in their residence, she would inadvertently have many more responsibilities. If things were handled well, it would be expected, but if even the slightest mistake occurred, it would be her fault.
When Madam Wu and Master Wu received the notification, they were bewildered. They had only heard of County Princesses in plays; they had never seen one in person. Although not true royal blood, she was still conferred by the Emperor. They just didn't know why she insisted on staying with them. They could only accept their fate, prepare a courtyard, and entertain her well.
When Madam Wu and Master Wu saw her that afternoon, they were completely stunned. If it weren't for the broad daylight and the discrepancy in age, they would truly have believed that person had returned.
Especially Madam Wu, who was utterly distraught, her face pale, her body trembling.
Wu Caiwei was very satisfied with the effect of her appearance. As if not noticing their abnormality, she looked around and asked, "Where is the courtyard prepared for me? Lead the way."