TSWRLM -Chapter 255 Wei Lingze Loses His Memory

That night, after Xiao Qinghe had visited, Wei Lingze fell gravely ill and couldn’t get up, and the entire Lingfeng Manor was once again filled with the smell of medicine.

Wei Lingze was suspended from his post again and became embroiled in another scandal about secretly keeping a concubine and having an illegitimate child. Madam Mu continued to stir up trouble outside, and inevitably, the other sons of the Wei family were affected. When a few sisters-in-law met, they couldn’t help but make comments, blaming her as the head matron for failing to teach her son properly, and blaming Wei Lingze, as the eldest son and grandson, for being unable to handle setbacks and being reckless and impatient.

Madam Yun had to care for Wei Lingze while simultaneously managing relations with the other branches of the family, leaving her physically and mentally exhausted.

That day, Wei Lingze had just taken his medicine and fallen asleep when Yun Wantang arrived.

“Sister, how is Ze’er now? These past few days the household has been so busy, and Yan’er caught a cold by accident. I really haven’t had time to come see him.”

Upon meeting, Yun Wantang immediately spoke with concern. Her words were earnest, her face full of worry. She truly seemed sincere, yet Madam Yun did not respond with the same warmth she had shown before.

The Wei family had wide social connections. Madam Yun didn’t need to send anyone to investigate; a casual inquiry revealed that it wasn’t Chun Xi who had been stirring trouble that day. It was Yun Wantang who, in front of the Empress and the others, had first mentioned Xiao Qinghe and Wei Lingze’s supposed discord, and then shifted all the blame onto Chun Xi.

Chun Xi, not wanting to take the blame for being a troublemaker, had revealed Wei Lingze’s supposed secret concubine and illegitimate child in Yunzhou.

Although the story about the concubine and child was entirely fabricated by Chun Xi, Yun Wantang, as the little aunt, had publicly challenged Chun Xi about the couple’s discord in front of so many people, showing not a hint of consideration for Wei Lingze.

Thinking of this, Madam Yun spoke coldly: “Ze’er is an adult now. With so many people in the household watching over him, nothing will happen. You’d better spend more energy taking care of Yan’er.”

Her tone and expression were both cold. Yun Wantang sensed it and asked sharply: “Did something happen? Did someone say something in front of you? Why are you so cold to me, Sister?”

After all, she was her own younger sister. Madam Yun didn’t want to openly fight with Yun Wantang and just wanted to distance herself slowly. She shook her head: “Nothing happened. There’s just been too much going on recently; I’m a bit tired. Don’t overthink it.”

Madam Yun gave Yun Wantang face, but Yun Wantang didn’t take the hint. Instead, she grabbed Madam Yun’s hand and said: “Sister, you’ve always been the best to me. If I can’t even tell whether you’re just tired or unwilling to speak to me, then I’m not worthy of being your sister.”

Yun Wantang was insistent, and her gaze showed hurt.

Madam Yun pressed her lips together, then finally spoke: “During the Winter Hunt, why did you mention Ze’er and He’er’s supposed discord in front of the Empress and all those noble ladies?”

Others wouldn’t know why Xiao Qinghe had suddenly returned to her maternal home, but Yun Wantang certainly did. After all, it was she who had encouraged Madam Yun to administer the medicine.

“He’er went to the Winter Hunt but refused to sit with Ze’er, didn’t even speak to him. Anyone with eyes could see there was trouble between them. I revealed it publicly and even blamed it on Cao Chun Xi, hoping that since He’er had a good relationship with Chun Xi, it would ease Ze’er’s situation somewhat. I never imagined Chun Xi would fabricate such nonsense, falsely claiming that Ze’er had an illegitimate child.”

As soon as Madam Yun asked, Yun Wantang frowned and explained immediately.

Before Madam Yun could speak, Yun Wantang hurried on: “Sister, we are sisters, connected through blood. Ze’er is my nephew. If anyone harms him, it’s understandable, but what benefit would I ever gain from harming him?”

By the end, Yun Wantang’s eyes were slightly red, seemingly hurt by Madam Yun’s doubt.

Seeing this, Madam Yun’s heart softened a little.

Indeed, Wantang was Ze’er’s biological aunt. Ze’er had managed to be reinstated largely because Aunt Tang had mentioned Xuanyuan Lang at the Chongyang Palace banquet. She had no reason to harm him.

Madam Yun pressed her lips together in silence. Yun Wantang, sensing her softening, hurried on: “Sister, I believe Ze’er was set up by Cao Chun Xi. Although I haven’t been able to see him these past few days, I’ve been thinking about how to help him. I’ve even hired Chun Xi’s eldest sister-in-law to serve as a wet nurse at the Grand Tutor’s mansion, so she can publicly testify that Chun Xi deliberately framed Ze’er.”

Yun Wantang not only provided a reasonable explanation but also took action to help Wei Lingze escape his predicament. Madam Yun could no longer hold back and softened her tone: “Wantang, your intentions are good, but there’s no need for testimony.”

“Why? Could it be that Ze’er really secretly kept a concubine and an illegitimate child? Sister, why never tell me before?”

Yun Wantang raised her voice. Bitter taste crept into Madam Yun’s mouth.

Even though Yun Wantang was her own sister, she couldn’t reveal that Wei Lingze had been framed because he still harbored feelings for Cao Chun Xi and had even arranged her abduction to secretly keep her.

After all, the woman he would have called “aunt” was the wife of a third-rank minister. Kidnapping her was far more serious than having a concubine or illegitimate child.

“Before, no one knew if Ze’er could even stand again. The Xiao family postponed the wedding, so I did secretly gather some women into the household, hoping to secure an heir for Ze’er.”

Madam Yun spoke with difficulty. Yun Wantang immediately asked: “But didn’t you say none of these women caught Ze’er’s eye? He didn’t touch them, right?”

“Ze’er indeed didn’t like them, but one woman succeeded because she wanted status through her child.”

“And even if she succeeded, she came from a lowly background. Her child wouldn’t qualify for the Wei family genealogy. You arranged for them to be dealt with, so why admit it? Ze’er has been suspended; he cannot lose the Xiao family’s support. His child can only be He’er’s.”

Yun Wantang spoke without hesitation, thinking entirely from Wei Lingze’s perspective.

Madam Yun rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on: “Madam Mu in Yunzhou has already found many witnesses and evidence. The Xiao family also sent people to verify. At this point, refusing to admit it will only bring more embarrassment to the Wei family.”

With Cao Chun Xi’s abduction in play, they couldn’t deny it.

“Sister…”

Yun Wantang wanted to persuade further, but Madam Yun’s tone hardened: “Enough. This matter was the Wei family’s fault. Now that it has happened, we cannot compound it with more mistakes.”

Madam Yun’s attitude was firm. Yun Wantang could not argue further and could only ask: “Now that the Xiao family is adamant, have you decided how to help Ze’er win back He’er?”

This question made Madam Yun’s headache worse: “Three years ago, the Xiao family wanted to cancel the engagement. It was He’er who insisted on keeping it until now. If He’er still had feelings for Ze’er, even the Xiao family’s strong stance could have been reversed. But the difficulty now is that He’er has given up completely.”

With no solution in sight, Yun Wantang curled her lips: “Sister, I have a plan that might reconcile the two.”

Two days later, Wei Lingze scaled the wall into the Xiao residence.

When Xiao Qinghe arrived, he was pinned to the ground by the household guards. Seeing her, Wei Lingze immediately lifted his head and grinned with youthful energy: “I just wanted to see He’er one last time before leaving for the expedition. Didn’t expect to be caught.”

Xiao Qinghe furrowed her brows.

Expedition? Wei Lingze… has lost his memory?