Chapter 156: Zhi Wan: Don’t Touch Me
Seeing that Zhi Wan already knew, Lady Wei didn’t hide it from her. "Your cousin is already a grown man," she said with an air of indifference. "Once he marries and has children, I’ll be a grandmother. Whether your uncle has another woman, or even an illegitimate son, I truly don’t care."
Zhi Wan’s heart ached even more to hear this, because she knew her aunt was saying the opposite of what she truly felt.
’How could my aunt not care?’
Her aunt and uncle had always been so deeply in love. For so many years, her uncle had no other woman, not even a concubine in the Duke Mansion. In the Capital, they were renowned as a doting couple.
But now, it had suddenly come to light that her uncle was keeping a mistress, and even had an eight-year-old illegitimate son with her. Worse, they had now moved into the Duke Mansion with brazen impunity. ’How can my aunt possibly bear it? How could she not feel utterly repulsed?’
She hadn’t wanted to believe her uncle would betray her aunt, but the woman and child were now living in the mansion. They were standing right outside Lan Courtyard at this very moment, leaving no room for doubt.
For a moment, Zhi Wan didn’t know what to say to comfort her, so she simply squeezed Lady Wei’s hand tighter.
Lady Wei stroked her niece’s hair and changed the subject. "Did you have a good time in Yangzhou? Did you visit your parents’ graves to pay your respects?"
Zhi Wan nodded. "I did. My cousin personally accompanied me back to Jurong to pay my respects."
"That’s good." A look of relief washed over Lady Wei’s face.
To cheer her aunt up, Zhi Wan recounted many amusing stories from her time in Yangzhou and also told her about Nanny Chen and her family.
Seeing a smile finally return to her aunt’s face, Zhi Wan felt a small measure of relief.
Just then, Nanny Fang, who had been speaking with Yin Liu outside the door, came inside.
Having learned of the hardships Lady Wei had endured and now seeing her gaunt face, Nanny Fang was heartbroken. Her eyes reddened the moment she stepped inside. "My Lady, you’ve suffered so much."
The smile on Lady Wei’s face faded slightly. "Nanny Fang, it’s been hard on you as well."
Nanny Fang wiped her eyes. "It’s no hardship for this old servant." She recalled seeing Aunt Wang and her son standing outside the courtyard when she returned, clearly trying to upset her mistress. Gritting her teeth, she said hatefully, "My Lady, I’ll go deal with that wretched woman right now and give you a bit of satisfaction."
Lady Wei’s expression changed as she called out to stop her. "Nanny Fang, leave it!"
Nanny Fang stopped, confused. "My Lady?"
Lady Wei sighed. "If I wanted to deal with her, it would be a simple matter. But what’s the point? What’s done is done. Can punishing her make it as if this never happened? Just let it be."
Nanny Fang said, her heart aching for her mistress, "How could the Lord... SIGH!"
Hearing this, Zhi Wan couldn’t help but ask, "Could it be that my uncle has his reasons? Did he try to explain himself to you, Aunt?"
Lady Wei froze for a second, then scoffed. "’His reasons’... That’s just an excuse men use. I can’t imagine what kind of ’reason’ would compel him to keep a mistress *and* father an illegitimate son."
"All these years, it seems I was wrong about him."
Hearing the resentment in her voice, Zhi Wan’s brow furrowed slightly.
’It’s not that I want to defend my uncle,’ she thought, ’but I just can’t understand why he would betray my aunt and keep her in the dark for so many years.’
’That Aunt Wang caused such a scene that it reached the Inspectorate, getting my uncle impeached. Old Madam Lu only allowed her into the Duke Mansion to protect the Lu Family’s reputation. Clearly, my uncle doesn’t hold Aunt Wang in high regard either.’
’Perhaps there really is some kind of misunderstanding.’
’I’m worried my aunt was so angry she didn’t even listen to my uncle’s explanation.’
’And from the sounds of it, she really didn’t give him the chance.’
Lady Wei clearly didn’t want to discuss the matter further. She instructed Zhi Wan, "Remember to go and pay your respects to Old Madam Lu in a little while."
"Alright," Zhi Wan agreed.
As she left Lan Courtyard, she was surprised to see Aunt Wang and her son still standing by the entrance.
She paid them no mind and walked straight past.
But just as she passed, Aunt Wang suddenly called out to her. "You must be the Miss?"
Zhi Wan stopped and shot her a cool glance. "What is it?"
Leading her son by the hand, Aunt Wang stepped forward nervously. "Since entering the mansion, I’ve often heard the servants say that the Lady dotes on you most of all. I was hoping... could you please put in a few good words for me with her?"
"Haven’t you already achieved your goal? Why do you insist on hovering around my aunt?" Zhi Wan replied sarcastically.
’My aunt already said she doesn’t want to see her, yet this woman won’t give up. Standing here at the courtyard gate... she’s clearly trying to provoke her.’
’My aunt is a woman of high status and doesn’t want to stoop to this lowly concubine’s level, but this woman is really pushing her luck.’
Aunt Wang gave a bitter smile. "If it weren’t for Xuan, I would gladly spend the rest of my life in hiding and never appear before the Lady to be an eyesore. But Xuan is innocent, and he deserves to be formally acknowledged by his clan."
"Formally acknowledged? Aunt Wang, you have some nerve. Now, the entire Capital City—even the Emperor—knows that my uncle kept a mistress and has an illegitimate son," Zhi Wan said coldly.
"I’m not an illegitimate son! I’m my father’s son!" Lu Xuan, who had been silent until now, suddenly lunged forward and shoved Zhi Wan fiercely.
Caught off guard, Zhi Wan stumbled back, nearly falling over.
"Miss, are you alright? Xuan doesn’t know any better, please forgive him." Aunt Wang jumped, rushing forward to steady her.
Zhi Wan shoved her hand away. "Don’t touch me."
Aunt Wang awkwardly withdrew her hand and said to her son, "Hurry up and apologize to the Miss!"
Lu Xuan shot Zhi Wan a contemptuous look. "She’s just some distant relative freeloading at the Lu Family home, not a real lady of the house. Why should I have to apologize to her?"
Aunt Wang’s expression grew awkward. "Miss, I’m so sorry. Xuan is still young and doesn’t know how to watch his words. These past few days... he’s overheard some idle gossip, which is why... which is why he has this misunderstanding about you."
Zhi Wan shot the mother and son a cold glance.
’The implication in Aunt Wang’s words is clear: Lu Xuan is only acting this way because of servants’ gossip, and as an orphan living on the Lu Family’s charity, I have no right to criticize either of them.’
"You’re right, Aunt Wang. I have no right to criticize you. But what about your precious son shoving me? What’s your explanation for that?"
"Xuan is just a child. Besides, I already apologized to you," Aunt Wang said lamely.
"And I don’t accept your apology," Zhi Wan said, and with a swift movement, shoved Lu Xuan back.
Lu Xuan was sent sprawling onto his bottom and immediately burst into tears with a loud "WAAAH!"
"You—how could you lay a hand on him?" Aunt Wang shrieked, utterly flustered.
"I only know one rule: whoever starts it is trash! He pushed me first!" Zhi Wan retorted coldly.
"So you do have a father who sired you, but none to raise you!" Aunt Wang spat out in a fit of rage.
"And I suppose having a father who sired you and taught you is what led you to this point today!" Zhi Wan shot back sarcastically.
"You..." A venomous look flashed in Aunt Wang’s eyes. She had just uttered a single word when she suddenly glimpsed a man approaching in the distance. Her demeanor changed in an instant. Wiping at her eyes, she knelt and hugged her son, bursting into sobs. "It’s all my fault! I’m the one who insisted on bringing you into this Duke Mansion! It’s bad enough being bullied by the servants, but now we have to suffer this humiliation... It’s all my fault my fate is so bitter..."