That evening, when Xiao Yun returned home, Wang Qingyao excitedly recounted the day's events to him.
What happened to Wei Yu was something Wang Qingyao alone could not have accomplished, even with Zhenzhu's help.
The person who mimicked Wei Yu's voice was none other than Lu Xiong, the exceptionally skilled mimic who had once been used by Wei Yu to sow discord between Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun.
After Xiao Yun had sent him back to his hometown, he had secretly kept tabs on Lu Xiong's whereabouts. Once Wei Yu no longer sought him out, he was brought to Duanjing.
His unique talent could prove immensely useful at critical junctures.
He was truly a talented individual.
In a secluded courtyard of the Prince Rong's mansion, Lu Xiong was hidden beneath the bed.
Even if Wei Qing had burst in at that moment, she would not have discovered his presence.
Moreover, Wei Qing had been misled by Wang Qingyao and was under the watchful eyes of many. For Wei Yu's reputation, she dared not push open the door.
Even if Wei Yu later realized what had happened, Wei Qing would likely not believe her.
Seeing her happy, Xiao Yun's spirits also lifted.
"This is just the beginning. Wei Yu, who thought herself unparalleled in cleverness, will now reap what she has sown. Didn't she frame Mu Jin County Princess in the same way back then? Did she think we could only endure her attacks?"
When he spoke of Wei Yu, his tone turned chilling.
During the banquet at Prince Wu's mansion, Wei Yu, in an effort to help the Crown Prince escape an unhelpful marriage to Mu Jin County Princess, had orchestrated a scheme involving Mu Jin and her maid.
It was thanks to Wang Qingyao that Wei Yu's plan failed that time.
This time, Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun retaliated in kind, settling old scores and new, allowing her to experience the taste of being implicated with her maid, with irrefutable auditory evidence leaving her speechless.
Wang Qingyao, being astute, asked, "Will this matter be spread further?"
"Of course. After all this effort, why wouldn't we let more people know? The Wei family is probably devising countermeasures right now. I suspect that soon, people from the Wei family will be visiting the female guests at Prince Rong's mansion today."
"Asking us not to speak of it?"
Xiao Yun nodded. "When someone from the Wei family comes, just go along with it. It's not like you have to spread the word, and it's not a lie."
Wang Qingyao giggled and nestled into his embrace. After a moment of affectionate closeness, Xiao Yun added, "By the way, in a couple of days, Prince Dingnan will be returning to Nanzhou."
Wang Qingyao exclaimed in surprise, "So soon?"
During Prince Dingnan's stay in Duanjing, he had been relatively low-key after the initial few days, almost as if he didn't exist.
He had also made excuses to avoid participating in banquets and other court events, preferring to remain out of sight.
His original purpose was to discuss Feng Jiangduo's marriage, and now that the engagement was off, he naturally had no reason to stay any longer.
"He's leaving Feng Jiangbo, the youngest brother of Princess Nange, in Duanjing to look after Princess Nange."
Feng Jiangbo was only thirteen or fourteen years old, still a child himself. How could he look after Feng Jiangduo?
Did Feng Jiangduo need his care?
Wang Qingyao's expression became doubtful.
Xiao Yun smiled and flicked her forehead. "Silly. It's actually to monitor Princess Nange, to prevent her from interacting with Xiao Mo."
"Why didn't Prince Dingnan simply take Duoduo back to Nanzhou?"
Naturally, Feng Jiangduo was unwilling to return.
Prince Dingnan, unable to persuade her, had no choice but to let her remain in Duanjing. However, he worried about her lingering feelings for Xiao Mo (which had never truly ended), so he left Feng Jiangbo behind.
Feng Jiangbo was young, and in critical moments, he could throw tantrums and cause a scene.
Prince Dingnan had already informed the palace, and the Emperor would certainly host a farewell banquet for him, scheduled for the day after tomorrow.
However, Xiao Yun and Wang Qingyao were not invited.
They were forbidden from entering the palace without a summons.
This suited Prince Dingnan's intentions perfectly.
Prince Dingnan likely wished to avoid seeing anyone from the Xiao family.
Speaking of which, Wang Qingyao recalled the Emperor's true motive for barring Xiao Yun from the palace.
She stroked her chin, pondering, "Do you think that because the Emperor has been keeping you out of the palace, Shunfeng might go mad and sneak out to kill you?"
"Even if he wanted to, he couldn't! He's not an ordinary person; he's a trusted eunuch by the Emperor's side. Everyone watches him when he leaves the palace!"
"What if he sneaks out while he's transformed?"
Xiao Yun blinked, wrapping his arms around Wang Qingyao's slender waist. "I've discovered you have a great talent for mischief."
Wang Qingyao giggled.
Currently, they didn't know how often Shunfeng transformed or how long the transformations lasted, so they could only take precautions.
Wang Qingyao went to the desk and, from memory, drew a sketch of the elderly Shunfeng.
"Remember this face well," she told Xiao Yun. "Don't let him get close to you."
***
Meanwhile, at the Wei family, after Wei Yu's absurd and embarrassing ordeal, Wei Qing immediately brought her back to the Wei residence to seek help.
Wei Qing, blushing, recounted the events.
Grand Tutor Wei's brow furrowed, and he cast a displeased glance at Wei Yu, his gaze so icy it could freeze a person on the spot.
Wei Yu flinched fearfully and weakly explained, "Grandfather, I didn't. It was Wang Qingyao who framed me."
Wei Qing immediately retorted, "Why would she frame you? I heard it with my own ears; how could it be false?"
Grand Tutor Wei did not immediately concern himself with the truth of the matter. He immediately summoned Wei Qing and Wei Yu's mother, instructing them to prepare generous gifts and visit the female guests at Prince Rong's mansion that day.
The two ladies were unaware of what had happened, and Grand Tutor Wei did not explain in detail. He only ordered them to keep their mouths shut and not to spread rumors.
As for how to subtly warn and plead, that was entirely up to the two ladies' abilities.
After the two ladies departed, Grand Tutor Wei finally had the time to discuss the truth of the matter with Wei Qing and Wei Yu.
If Wang Qingyao were to frame Wei Yu, Grand Tutor Wei believed she had the motive.
But how had she accomplished it?
Wei Qing claimed she had heard it with her own ears.
Wei Yu hastily explained, "Grandfather, do you remember our former coachman, Lu Xiong? He was ostensibly my wet nurse's cousin, but in reality, he was a remarkable individual I found."
"He is skilled in mimicry and can imitate all sorts of voices so perfectly that even the original speaker couldn't tell the difference. Wang Qingyao must have found someone like him this time!"
Grand Tutor Wei looked at her expressionlessly. "Where is Lu Xiong?"
Wei Yu's expression turned embarrassed. "He's disappeared."
"Disappeared?" Grand Tutor Wei's voice rose. "What have you done?"
Wei Yu glanced at Wei Qing beside her. To Wei Qing, she had always appeared as a pure, kind, and somewhat spoiled sister. She instinctively wanted to maintain this persona.
However, Grand Tutor Wei did not ask Wei Qing to leave.
Wei Yu bit her lip and quietly confessed everything she had done.
Using Lu Xiong's mimicry skills to slander Feng Jiangduo and Xiao Yun, to sow discord between Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun, and between Feng Jiangduo and Xiao Mo, and to harm Wang Qingyao's pregnancy.
Colluding with Yun Zhu to ruin Feng Jiangduo's reputation and create prejudice against her in the mind of Consort Dowager Fang.
The more Wei Qing listened, the more astonished she became, staring at Wei Yu with her mouth half-open.
Was her sister truly like this?
Seeing Wei Qing's expression, Wei Yu felt a pang in her heart and blurted out the deeds unrelated to Lu Xiong.
"In Huayang Palace, the incident of the stolen jade was also my deliberate framing of Wang Qingyao."
"The matter of Princess Jinyang of the Xia Kingdom and Prince Qi was also my design. I had originally agreed with her to help her marry Prince Ding'an, but something went wrong."
"And Wang Qingyao's premature labor was also at my command to the Fifth Princess."
"Furthermore, Wei Yun's marriage to Prince Ding'an as a concubine was also orchestrated by me."
Wei Qing was shocked and involuntarily took a step back.
"Why did you do all this?" she asked.
Wei Yu glanced at Grand Tutor Wei. He nodded slightly, and she continued, "At first, it was because she displeased me. Later, it was because she hindered our Wei family and obstructed the Crown Prince's succession. Sister, you are a member of the Wei family. I tell you the truth: Wang Qingyao is our Wei family's public enemy. She must die!"
Wei Qing was rendered speechless.
Wei Yu looked at her, thinking: Sister, you still don't know how Prince Rong broke his leg, do you? You still don't know that I personally strangled Wei Yun, do you? If you knew, would you still recognize me as your sister?
Wei Qing looked at Grand Tutor Wei blankly. "Grandfather..."
Grand Tutor Wei stood with his hands behind his back, his dark brocade robe making him appear even more sinister.
"Qing'er, you are the eldest legitimate granddaughter of the Wei family. You have a responsibility to protect the future and the centuries-old honor of our family."
Wei Qing repeatedly shook her head. "You, you..."
She suddenly realized that Grand Tutor Wei had tacitly, and even encouraged, all of Wei Yu's actions.
She cried out, "How did the Princess of Ding'an hinder the Crown Prince's succession? She is merely a woman; what can she do?"
Regarding the matter of the Emperor's eldest son, Wei Yu was not very clear.
She had simply believed what Grand Tutor Wei said.
Upon hearing Wei Qing's questioning, Grand Tutor Wei said coldly, "You do not need to know what she has done. You only need to remember that Wang Qingyao must die!"