Chapter 134: The Past

Leng Qing Yu had rarely traveled far in her life.

The only significant journey she ever made was shortly after her marriage, accompanying the Marquis on an official trip to Tian Chang Prefecture.

What was initially supposed to be a two-month trip ended up extending to six months due to complications in the Marquis’s assignment. Leng Qing Yu even had to write home to mobilize the extensive network of the Leng family for assistance. Finally, the matter was resolved, but by then, Leng Qing Yu was about to give birth.

The Marquis hoped they could return to the capital before the birth. Although Leng Qing Yu wasn’t in favor of rushing, she agreed to his plan.

However, while passing through a remote village in Yun Tong County, Leng Qing Yu suddenly went into labor. The Marquis had no choice but to seek help from a nearby farm house.

By a twist of fate, that day saw a fierce storm, making it difficult to call for a midwife. Fortunately, the family they sought shelter with the Ye family, had already arranged for a midwife, as the lady of the house was also in labor.

The twin birth was fraught with danger, but thanks to the midwife’s expertise, both mother and children survived.

Lady Leng was deeply grateful.

She rewarded the midwife and the Ye family with a generous sum of silver on the spot.

During the few days of recovery, as Leng Qing Yu was unable to breastfeed, the lady of the Ye family even nursed the twins.

Though Leng Qing Yu had paid handsomely, she believed in repaying kindness. She was also particularly fond of the Ye family’s youngest daughter.

After returning to the capital, Leng Qing Yu wrote to the manager of a business in Tian Chang Prefecture, instructing him to find Ye Da Cheng and help him start a business.

For Leng Qing Yu, it was a small favor. She didn’t expect Ye Da Cheng to be quite capable, he leveraged this opportunity to amass wealth and even earned the title of Yuan Wai.

Their relationship should have ended there.

The Ye family had secured a prosperous life, and Lady Leng had repaid her debt of gratitude.

However, Ye Da Cheng, fearing the loss of her support, often wrote letters to the capital.

In these letters, he frequently mentioned his daughter.

Knowing that Leng Qing Yu liked the child, he deliberately updated her about the girl’s life. When Lady Leng responded to his inquiries, Ye Da Cheng would use her letters as leverage to gain benefits from the shop.

The shopkeepers, unaware of the true nature of their relationship but noting the frequent correspondence, assumed that Ye Da Cheng had an extraordinary connection to the Leng family.

Since the initial support had been offered proactively by the Leng family, the shopkeepers dared not offend Ye Da Cheng. They offered him goods at the lowest prices each time he came.

For the Leng family, a few losses in their massive fabric business were negligible.

Over time, this became a habit, and Ye Da Cheng reaped substantial benefits.

While Ye Da Cheng and his wife profited from exploiting Ye Xin Ran, they knew the child’s true identity must remain hidden.

If Leng Qing Yu ever discovered the truth, everything they had built would crumble.

So, they dared neither to let Ye Xin Ran die nor allow her to live well.

They tormented and mistreated her, hoping she would become an insignificant and down trodden figure. This way, even if Lady Leng saw her again, she wouldn’t recognize her true identity.

Lady Leng, however, remained oblivious to all this.

She was now determined to visit the girl her sister had mentioned and take the opportunity to meet the Ye family’s daughter.

With Chang Qing also in the area, this trip could double as a leisurely retreat.

She believed the Marquis would agree to her outing. But to her surprise, during dinner, when she brought it up, the Marquis refused without hesitation.

“Qing Yu, it’s my fault. I’ve always promised to take you out, but I’ve been too busy with work. Your health is so delicate, how can I let you go to Yun Tong County alone?”

The Marquis’s face was filled with concern.

Understanding that his objections stemmed from care, Lady Leng smiled and explained, “I won’t be going alone. The steward and Chun Hua and Qiu Yue will accompany me. We won’t rush and will rest at inns along the way. Once we arrive, I’ll stay at Qing Xin’s house. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“You make it sound so simple. If you leave, I won’t even be able to sleep at night.”

The Marquis seemed genuinely concerned, to the point of losing his appetite.

“But I really want to go,” Leng Qing Yu said softly, trying to negotiate. “Qing Xin mentioned there’s a miraculous doctor in the area whose medical skills are exceptional. It would be a good opportunity for me to get a checkup.”

“You!” The Marquis affectionately patted her hand. “Alright, how about this, wait for me a few more days. Once I finish the tasks at hand, I’ll go with you.”

“Isn’t Chang Qing staying at Qing Shan Academy? I can also take the opportunity to check on him.”

Leng Qing Yu shook her head. “If we both leave, won’t the manor be left with only Zhi Yi? She’s still young, it’s unreasonable to leave our daughter alone at home.”

“Then we’ll take Zhi Yi with us,” the Marquis said decisively. “She’s never been to Yun Tong County, it might be good for her to see the place.”

“Alright then,” Leng Qing Yu agreed reluctantly.

For so many years, her health had steadily declined, and she often felt like a burden to the Marquis.

But the Marquis had always been devoted to her. Even after all these years, he hadn’t taken a single concubine or kept any companions.

Leng Qing Yu often felt indebted to him, so she usually deferred to his wishes in other matters.

“In the meantime, I’ll have Zhi Yi spend the next couple of days familiarizing herself with the cloth shop’s operations,” Leng Qing Yu said. “That child is smart, she takes after you.”

“How could she take after me? She’s far more like you,” the Marquis replied with a smile, offering words of praise as he accompanied her to bed early.

Leng Qing Yu, worn out from her weak constitution, quickly fell asleep.

The Marquis, however, found it hard to rest.

In his mind, he calculated: five days. He needed five more days.

Zhu Que had already been on the road for two days. With his speed, he should reach Yun Tong County by tomorrow.

The Ye family had five days left, more than enough time for Zhu Que to deal with them.

If he delayed their departure for a little longer, by the time they arrived in Yun Tong County, everything would be resolved. Even Leng Qing Yu wanted to investigate, there would be nothing left to uncover.

As for this so-called miraculous doctor, the Marquis didn’t believe it for a second.

His wife’s illness had lingered for over a decade. How could a doctor in some small county possibly cure it?

But even knowing it was futile, this trip was unavoidable.

He couldn’t afford to leave the impression that he was neglecting his wife’s health or unwilling to take her to see a doctor.

Their marriage had to remain the ideal model in the capital, the stuff of admiration and praise.

Even if Leng Qing Yu were no longer around in the future, he would still be seen as the perfect husband, the most dutiful son-in-law the Leng family had ever had.

At the very least, better than Wei Jing Zhi.

In the darkness, the Marquis smirked.

Wei Jing Zhi, in a show of devotion to Leng Qing Xin, had actually resigned his official post to become a teacher in some insignificant county like Yun Tong.

Did he think such a gesture would be enough to out shine him?

How laughable. From the moment Wei Jing Zhi left the capital, his defeat had been sealed.