Huangfu Yun Kun paid it no mind. Not only him, but the original owner also felt no affection for their biological parents, even resenting them for abandoning them in the capital and neglecting them.
What amused him and also made him speechless was that recently, many unfamiliar women had been causing a scene outside the Qin Prince’s mansion. What was more frustrating was that both their actions and speech mimicked Wu Caiwei's past behavior, making their intentions obvious.
Wu Caiwei teased him, "You're quite the charmer, aren't you? Why don't you go see who's the prettiest?"
"Stop teasing me. You know me too well. If it hadn't been you causing a ruckus outside back then, how could I have agreed?" Huangfu Yun Kun looked at her dotingly, knowing he wasn't angry and joking with her in good spirits.
Every day, the entrance to the Qin Prince's mansion was like a grand opera. Many women came, glaring at each other. None of them were easy to deal with. If not for fearing a bad impression on the crowd, they would have seriously fought. Naturally, there were many onlookers.
This time, the gates of the Qin Prince's mansion remained shut from beginning to end. Those women were filled with remorse. If they had known the Qin Prince's heir was fine, no matter what they said, they would have found that shrew and confronted her. Then, perhaps, they would be the leading lady in the Qin Prince's mansion now.
No one knew how the Emperor would judge the Qin Prince, but the Qin Prince's heir's life was saved. Even if the Emperor revoked his princely title later, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse. Following him would definitely be the right choice.
Those who were well-informed already knew that the Qin Prince's heir had agreed to let that Zhou Shaoqiu in not because of her prior commotion at the Qin Prince's mansion. After she entered, the Qin Prince's heir's entire demeanor changed. Those women had put too much faith in storytellers, their eyes blinded, thinking that by clinging to the Qin Prince's heir, they could smoothly enter the Qin Prince's mansion. How naive they were. Did they think it was just any place? It was, after all, a royal residence.
Even the Emperor, upon hearing about it, couldn't help but laugh. Did they think anyone could just waltz into the Qin Prince's mansion? In reality, even though he had agreed to Huangfu Yun Kun's request, he had secretly investigated Zhou Shaoqiu. Had there been the slightest impropriety, she would have met a swift and terrible end.
This investigation yielded astonishing results. It turned out she was the daughter of *that person*. For a man from a humble background to reach the position of a third-rank official was a testament to his true talent. It was a pity that during his struggle for the throne, no matter how many good words he spoke, that person refused to participate, which left him with a lingering resentment.
That person probably knew his feelings and dared not let his son enter officialdom, acting with caution and prudence. Unfortunately, even the most meticulous plans can have flaws. The Emperor finally found a handle, causing him to lose his official post. Knowing he had offended the Emperor and could no longer survive in the capital, he took his son and daughter back to his hometown, thinking that with the mountains high and the Emperor far away, perhaps the Emperor would forget about them if they didn't appear before him.
Unfortunately, they had underestimated the Emperor's pettiness. Even after they returned, with a slight hint from the Emperor, someone immediately targeted them.
Seeing her experience, he couldn't help but sigh. Marrying into a merchant family was indeed a compromise for her. The Kong family was also ungrateful. He would have to be cautious when using them in the future. Originally, the marriage between the Kong family and the Zhou family was eagerly sought by the Kong family. After all, the Zhou family was the rising star then, while the Kong family lagged behind. For so many years, the Zhou family had helped the Kong family countless times. Who would have thought that as soon as the Zhou family fell into trouble, the Kong family would immediately turn their backs on them?
Although he disliked the Zhou family, he also disliked the Kong family's actions. At that time, he had adopted an attitude of observation, wanting to see if this woman was truly worthy of Yun Kun's affection. Unexpectedly, the result surpassed his expectations. Did they think he didn't know that her shadow was present in everything Huangfu Yun Kun did? Rumor had it that her martial arts were formidable and her medical skills exceptional. It made him want to see what she looked like, whether she had three heads and six arms.
Huangfu Yun Kun entered the palace again. It was possible that the Qin Prince's mansion would no longer be habitable. Wu Caiwei slipped out of the mansion and walked the streets, looking for businesses that were doing well.
As she walked, she suddenly felt a strong gaze. Turning around, she saw Feng Yi, whom she hadn't seen in a long time. He was dressed in black, his face pale, looking at her with a wounded expression.
"Are you injured? Why didn't you find a doctor?" Wu Caiwei avoided his gaze and asked with some concern.
"No time. I rode at full speed to see you. I didn't expect you to be married again." Anyone could hear the disappointment in his words. In this era, unmarried or divorced women would let down their hair to signify they were not married, while married women would tie their hair up. Wu Caiwei's hair was now styled in a beautiful bun at the back, adorned with two hairpins, making her look gentle and playful.
"It just so happened that I met someone I like, so I got married." Wu Caiwei smiled at him, not understanding why he was so heartbroken. She knew he had special feelings for her, but at best, it was only good impression. In a lifetime, one could have many good impressions of people, but only one or two would end up in marriage.
"Where do I fall short compared to him? Am I not as rich? Or not as powerful?" Feng Yi insisted on looking at her, wanting to find an answer to put his heart at ease.
"Neither. My heart is very small, and it can only hold one person. Before I met him, he had already occupied my heart." This time, Wu Caiwei looked at him with sincere eyes. Feng Yi's gaze suddenly dimmed. He knew she was telling the truth. What was missed was missed.
Wu Caiwei couldn't bear to watch his dejected look. She pulled him to a secluded spot, applied a simple poultice to his wound, and then brought him back to the Qin Prince's mansion to bandage it carefully.
"You're already such a grown person, yet you always get so badly injured whenever I see you. Last time, it almost cost you your life, and it's the same this time. I don't know who your opponent is, but they poisoned you so fiercely. If I had been a moment later, I wouldn't have been able to save you."
Feng Yi remained silent. After hesitating for a long time, he slowly began to recount, "I once had a warm home. When I was little, my father would lift me high, letting me sit on his shoulders. My mother would always gently call me home for dinner. Back then, I was carefree..."
As he spoke, his gaze inadvertently drifted into the distance. If only he could return to his childhood, when his parents were alive, and he was still a child.
Alas, fate is unpredictable. When his father went out, he offended a powerful figure and was beaten to death. His mother fell ill after hearing the news and, despite her reluctance to leave him, eventually passed away. His supposedly upright uncle moved into their home openly, simply because Feng Yi's house was more spacious than his.
He protested many times, but no one listened to him. Powerless and with little influence, he could only watch as the couple occupied his mother's and father's rooms. He cried for a long time that day because it was where he had grown up, filled with so many beautiful memories, which had now vanished, replaced by other people's belongings.