Great, it's just a lackey, we're saved!

Chapter 37 The Heir of the Duke's Mansion and the Concubine's Daughter of the Marquis'

Upon entering the Marquis's residence, the journey was unimpeded, yet few people were seen.

At this time, the person leading the way had changed from Steward Zhang to the head maidservant of Lady Qiu Fangyun, the wife of the Marquis of Zhenyuan.

Just as they were about to reach the main courtyard, a maid suddenly came looking for them.

They called away the old woman, Li, who had been leading the way, saying that the Lady of Zhenyuan Marquis had something urgent to discuss with them.

Seeing that they were almost at the main courtyard, Ziyu said, "Granny, go ahead. I've been to the Marquis's residence before, I know the way."

Only then did Granny Li leave, relieved.

After everyone left, Ziyu said, "That's strange. Weren't some princes supposed to be visiting the palace? Why is the Zhenyuan Marquis's residence so quiet?"

The two chatted as they strolled leisurely along the path.

However, as she walked, Ziyu frowned.

"Sister Wei, we seem to be lost..."

???

Zhou Wei was speechless. Didn't you say you had been here before?

The Marquis's residence isn't that big, how could anyone get lost here?

You're not terrible with directions, are you?

"Ziyu, do you even know the way to the Marquis's residence?"

Ziyu thought for a moment and nodded firmly: "Of course I recognize them. I remember there were several Bauhinia trees in full bloom along the road to the main courtyard of the Marquis's mansion. How come I didn't see a single one today!"

Zhou Wei clutched her head in pain.

"It's already autumn, where would you find flowering Bauhinia? So you're just using seasonal landmarks to find your way!"

Ziyu scratched her head. "It's okay, Sister Wei. We'll just follow the path and we'll definitely find the main courtyard."

Alright, that's the only way.

However, Zhou Wei vaguely felt that this plot was somewhat familiar. In novels, getting lost is usually the prelude to triggering the plot!

Zhou Wei advised, "Ziyu, speak softly and slow your footsteps."

Ziyu asked in confusion, "Why, Sister Wei? We're not here to steal."

Zhou Wei chuckled. If it could really trigger the plot, it would be much more exciting than being a thief.

"System, check the location of Shen Shuqing, the legitimate daughter of the Divine Physician."

[Current location of Shen Shuqing, the legitimate daughter of a divine physician: Deer Garden]

Deer Park?

What is this place?

"Ziyu, do you know where the Marquis's Deer Garden is?"

Ziyu immediately said, "I know, that was a garden that the Marquis built specifically for his former eldest daughter, Shen Shuya, with waterside pavilions, carved beams and painted pillars."

"I heard that the Marquis invited a renowned garden designer from the South to design the Deer Garden. When the garden was completed, I attended the banquet with the Princess."

"That Deer Garden is so luxurious and beautiful. The Marquis really dotes on Shen Shuya."

Oh, so it's the private garden of Shen Shuya, the fake legitimate daughter.

What was Shen Shuqing doing there?

Just then, Ziyu grabbed Zhou Wei's hand.

"Sister Wei, it seems we've... arrived at the Deer Park."

Zhou Wei looked up and saw the stone carvings in the deer garden. Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly heard a sound not far away.

Zhou Wei immediately pulled Zi Yu along and crept stealthily toward the sound.

"Sister Wei...why are we doing this secretly?"

Zhou Wei tapped Ziyu's head: "Keep your voice down, don't you want to watch the show?"

When the topic of watching a play came up, Ziyu immediately became excited and obediently shut her mouth.

The two hid behind a rockery and could vaguely see two figures not far away.

Ziyu glanced at them and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, it looks like the heir of the Duke of Qi and Shen Shuya."

Zhou Wei squinted and looked closely, and sure enough, she saw a handsome and aloof man sitting in a wheelchair.

He was dressed in black, his hair was loose down his back, and a blanket was covering his legs.

Their conversation was carried over by the wind.

"Your Highness, we are not destined to be together. Let's not meet again in the future, or my elder sister will overthink it."

Shen Shuya's voice was sweet and charming, with a hint of sorrow.

Qi Jingming, the heir of the Duke of Qi, looked up at Shen Shuya with a sorrowful expression.

"Shuya, what does our meeting have to do with Shen Shuqing?"

Shen Shuya frowned, her tone somewhat timid: "My elder sister has a strong personality and cannot tolerate any nonsense... If she finds out that I met with you in private, she will definitely cause me trouble."

“My situation in the manor is not as good as before. Even this deer garden has been given to my elder sister by my father. I just want to live a peaceful life…”

As Shen Shuya spoke, her eyes reddened, and Qi Jingming's expression gradually turned cold.

"As expected of a country girl from Qingzhou, utterly ill-mannered! Before even getting married, she already berates her half-sister and fights with her endlessly."

Qi Jingming gripped the wheelchair handles tightly with his well-defined knuckles, his anger palpable.

Upon seeing this, Ziyu couldn't help but pout.

"Sister Wei, the young master seems... not very bright."

Zhou Wei smiled. Looking at it this way, he really wasn't very smart.

I reckon his brain went downhill when his leg broke down!

He was easily swayed by a woman's few words.

However, Shen Shuya is also quite shrewd; she knows exactly how to manipulate Qi Jingming.

"Shuya, if you are willing, I will tell my mother to cancel my engagement with Shen Shuqing and marry you instead, is that alright?"

As Qi Jingming spoke, he looked expectantly at Shen Shuya.

Shen Shuya, with tears in her eyes, bit her lip and said, "Young Master, please don't make things difficult for me. The Duke's mansion is marrying the legitimate daughter of a Marquis's family, not me, Shen Shuya. I don't want to upset the Young Master and the Duchess because of me."

Qi Jingming sat in his wheelchair and sighed slowly.

Ziyu frowned and said, "This isn't right!"

"What's wrong?" Zhou Wei asked, observing the situation.

"Actually, the Duke of Qi's family doesn't necessarily need the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Zhenyuan's family, and the Duchess's background isn't high either."

"I remember when I accompanied the princess to the palace, the Duchess said in front of the Empress that the Duke's family would choose a wife based on virtue, regardless of social status."

"They even specially asked the Empress to help them choose the noble ladies from various families! So, if Shen Shuya insists, and the young master tells the Duchess of the State about his intentions, this marriage may not be impossible."

"But now, the Shen family's illegitimate daughter, an unmarried girl, is entangled with the heir here. If this were seen by others, it would truly bring shame to the Duke's mansion."

Oh, I see!

Seeing Ziyu frowning, she couldn't understand the behavior of these two people.

Zhou Wei laughed and said, "Of course Shen Shuya doesn't want to marry Qi Jingming! Otherwise, why do you think Shen Shuqing, who disappeared for more than ten years, was suddenly found?"

Ziyu covered her mouth, utterly astonished.

"Sister Wei, are you saying that Shen Shuqing, the eldest daughter of the Shen family, was deliberately brought back by Shen Shuya?"

Zhou Wei nodded: "That's right! Shen Shuya has lofty ambitions. Marrying into the Duke's mansion is a great honor for her. It's the perfect marriage."

"But Prince Qi Jingming became disabled two years ago, which Shen Shuya couldn't accept, so she decided to refuse the marriage."

"However, how could we easily refuse a marriage arranged by the Duke's mansion? That's why we had Shen Shuqing as a scapegoat!"

Upon hearing this bombshell, Ziyu was incredibly excited.

However, she soon realized that something was wrong.

"But Sister Wei, if Shen Shuya rejected the marriage because she disliked the prince's leg ailment, why is she now entangled with him?"

Isn't that obvious?

Anyone with a brain can figure out what's going on!

"Have you forgotten why we came here today?"

Ziyu paused for a moment, then said, "Treat the young master's leg ailment..."

After saying that, she realized what Shen Shuya was planning.

"Oh, so this illegitimate daughter of the Shen family was plotting to be the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!"

"If the Divine Doctor Valley can cure the young master, given his infatuation with her, Shen Shuya can completely snatch this marriage back."

"But if she can't be cured, she won't lose anything!"

As Ziyu spoke, she admired Shen Shuya even more.

As expected of a woman raised in the inner quarters, her methods and cunning are extraordinary.

Zhou Wei was thinking about the original plot, where Prince Qi Jingming's leg was only truly healed a few years after he married Shen Shuqing.

Therefore, Shen Shuya did not waste too much time on a disabled person.

But if...

Before the wedding, Qi Jingming's leg ailment had already healed?

Two women vying for one man, that's going to be quite a show!