Today was her birthday, the day of her coming-of-age ceremony.

Fu Zean’s hand fell away in dismay.

In the midst of so many unexpected events today, he had completely forgotten this fact.

As Zhan Ying stepped out of the Fu residence, her delicate white garment was bathed in the golden sunlight, her lone figure appearing as if it might dissolve under its intensity.

Fu Zean gazed at the girl’s serene profile, feeling a lump in his chest, unable to express his frustration.

Just as he was about to say something, a clamor of carriage bells sounded from the west.

A middle-aged man in a plain robe, with a shiny, smooth hairpin and a trimmed goat beard, jumped out of a carriage and ran towards Zhan Ying.

He stopped a few feet from her, carefully smoothing his sleeves and scrutinizing her with anxious eyes.

He spoke in a pure Luoyang accent, with a slight tremor in his voice. “I’ve heard about the situation in the palace. Miss, don’t be afraid. The Tang family is not without power. I will seek justice for you.”

The last time he had seen the young lady up close was when she was nine years old, during a ceremonial visit to the palace.

Since then, she had grown up, and he had not had the chance to enter the palace again due to avoidance of taboos.

Years later, the man was so moved that he forgot to introduce himself.

He was about to speak up again when Zan Ying, with a trembling voice, approached him and said softly, “Uncle Du, you’re here.”

Uncle Du(Manager Du), hearing the plaintive tone, nearly burst into tears.

He reached out his arm but hesitated to touch her.

Filled with self-reproach, he stamped his feet. “I’m late, Miss. I’m so sorry. Don’t cry, don’t cry.”

Zanying blinked her tearful eyes and shook her head.

Since she was very young, she had stopped crying.

Even in her past life, when she was in excruciating pain from the surgery, she had tears in her heart but couldn’t shed them.

Besides, she shouldn’t let others see her as a laughingstock.

Turning her back to Fu Ze’an, she smiled at Manager Du, whom she had only seen when she was a child, feeling a deep sense of familiarity. “It’s not too late, Uncle Du. Are you here to pick me up?”

Zanying had planned to hire a carriage to find Uncle Du after leaving the Fu residence.

She was unfamiliar with the roads in the capital, but with the reputation of the Tang family business, she should be able to find them.

She hadn’t expected Uncle Du to arrive so quickly.

Uncle Du was taken aback, looking at the perplexed Fu Zean standing nearby.

The banquet at Hualin Garden had just ended, and despite Empress Yu’s repeated instructions, some of the noble ladies couldn’t keep their mouths shut.

The Tang family, with its extensive network in the capital, caught wind of the news, prompting Manager(Uncle) Du to rush over.

He had assumed that with the Crown Prince’s inappropriate behavior, the young lady would be heartbroken and would stay at her family’s home.

But now, it seemed that the Fu family couldn’t even accommodate her.

A wave of sorrow and anger surged within Manager Du.

The Fu young lady was the only bloodline left by the late master.

Though the palace and the Fu family had treated her as precious, it was all just for show.

Manager Du had wanted to get closer to the young lady, hoping to take her out and enjoy life more often.

However, with both sides keeping tight control, and his own background as a merchant, he could only maintain a respectful distance.

He hadn’t expected that they would treat her so poorly, leaving her standing in the hot sun with no sign of blood in her face.

If the master were still alive, how could this happen?

Manager Du was overwhelmed with thoughts but forced himself to calm down and said, “Yes, I’m here to pick up the young lady. Where would you like to go? The residence in Wuyi Alley, the mansion at Qingxi Dai, the estate at Zhongshan, or the villa at Luoxing Gorge? Or if none of these are suitable, we can find a temporary place to stay first, and later choose a location to build a residence. Please give your instructions, and we will comply.”

Zanying knew that her family owned several properties, but they had always been just a vague concept to her.

She had never been to any of the places Uncle Du mentioned.

Over the years, besides wasting her youth and time, she had missed many things.

Fortunately, she still had plenty of time to make up for these gaps.

As for where to go now, she had already decided.

Thanks to Manager Du arriving so timely, it saved her a lot of trouble. “Uncle Du, I want to go to the Western Mountain Palace. Is that okay?”

The Western Mountain Palace, located in the western suburbs of the capital on Lou Xuan Mountain, was originally a palace of the Wu Kingdom’s ruler from the previous dynasty.

After Li Yu ascended the throne, he ordered the Western Mountain Palace to be renovated and gifted it to Empress Wei.

That year, Empress Wei had formed a sworn sisterhood with Tang Su, and Tang Su had funded the renovation of the palace as a gift for her sister.

In return, after the renovation, Empress Wei granted half of the palace to Tang Su, so now the Western Mountain Palace was shared between the Wei and Tang families.

“Not appropriate,” Fu Ze’an, who had been unable to interject earlier, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. “A-Ying, you’re making things worse.”

It was already outrageous that she had publicly announced the broken engagement.

If she then left the Fu family and moved to a palace in the mountains…

What would others think of the Fu family, and how would they discuss the Eastern Palace?

Zanying lowered her lashes.

Didn’t he understand? What she wanted was to make a big scene.

“What’s inappropriate?” Manager Du retorted, “If this place won’t keep her, do they really think our young lady has nowhere to go? If she says she wants to go somewhere, then she goes. It’s perfectly appropriate.”

Uncle Du, with a heavy heart, carefully led Zhan Ying to the carriage.

Upon seeing the light carriage meant for speed, he regretted not considering her comfort.

Zan Ying made no complaints, but recalled something and lifted the curtain, saying, “Uncle Du, there’s one more thing I need your help with. Can everything in Ruiyuan be moved?”

Uncle Du was taken aback but quickly understood that she was deeply hurt.

He replied firmly, “Yes.”

He then considered her needs and suggested, “As for the items from the East, they can be temporarily stored in the Longle Bridge Lane residence where you previously stayed. Would that be acceptable?”

Zhan Ying agreed, her delicate fingers gripping the curtain as she added, “In my parents’ room, there’s a screen with the Yuan An sleeping snow painting. Please ensure it’s handled with care and not damaged.”

Uncle Du assured her with a smile that everything would be taken care of.

Zan Ying blushed slightly at his kindness.

It had been a long time since they last met, and here she was, giving orders and seeming distrustful.

She felt a bit awkward but pressed on with another request, “If the plants and trees in the garden need to be transplanted, can they all be moved as well?”

These plants were planted by her parents, and she did not want them to suffer in the Fu residence’s environment.

Every time Uncle Du heard her ask “Is it possible?” his heart ached.

He recalled how her father, in his adventurous days, was so confident and fearless, commanding respect from everyone.

It pained him to see the young lady now so cautious and humble, seemingly bearing invisible grievances.

“Of course,” he said earnestly. “Whatever you need, it will be done. Not a single leaf or blade of grass will be left behind.”

As their conversation continued, Fu Zean, who had always been composed, looked like he was seeing the world for the first time. “How dare you? Ruiyuan is part of the Fu estate. To tear down and move things, what would people think of the Fu family’s reputation?”

Zan Ying pretended not to hear.

She gave Uncle Du a grateful smile and lowered the curtain.

Manager Du, feeling reassured, turned to Fu Zean with a stern expression. “You seem to have forgotten something. The deed to Ruiyuan is still in the Tang family’s name. Miss Zan Ying is its sole owner. If she wants it, no one has a say in the matter.”

He then issued instructions to his assistants: some were to stay outside the Fu residence, others to gather a team from the East Market to assist with the move, one to fetch a spacious and fragrant carriage from the west gate, and another to call his wife to help manage Zan Ying’s affairs.

With everything arranged, Manager Du boarded the carriage, telling Zan Ying to make herself comfortable before giving a sharp signal to the horses and departing.

“Let’s go,” he said firmly. “We need to have everything moved to Ruiyuan before sunset. If anyone tries to stop us, I don’t mind taking the deed to the county magistrate’s office.”

Back in the main hall, Fu Zean found Fu Zhuangxue being comforted by the old lady, who was wiping her tears and offering reassurances.

Seeing him, Old Madam Fu sighed deeply, her expression dark. “Our family is unfortunate to have such a disobedient and unfilial member. An’er, you’re too soft-hearted. There’s no need to persuade her further. If she wants to sever ties with the Fu family, let her. When she’s left without support and has no place to return, she will come crawling back to apologize.”

Fu Zean stood there, his gaze somber, and did not respond.

“Brother, what’s wrong?” Fu Zhuangxue asked anxiously, noticing his unusual demeanor and feeling a sense of unease.