Transmigrating into a book to save her best friend, her sickly husband vies for her affections every

"Never mind, it wasn't us who killed them after all."

There's no need to dwell on someone who's dead; it's the living who are harder to deal with. It's okay to just sigh a bit.

"He also said that he had some connections with Xie Fuguang in the North, and that they would wait until they could talk things out and see if he could join their camp to help them."

Being able to get Xie Fuguang's help is not just about receiving the full support of a Duke's mansion.

Ding Xiayu sneered, thinking Ding Ruguo was incredibly naive.

"You're overthinking it. Xie Shuang won't let Xie Fuguang get involved in these things."

"Back then, you offered Xie Fuguang a large sum of money to let us use the official road to transport goods when there were no transport tasks, and Xie Fuguang agreed. But Xie Shuang wouldn't budge, so Xie Fuguang had no choice but to agree."

As she spoke, Ding Xiayu smiled, "Now Xie Shuang is the only one left in the North. Do you want him?"

This statement implies that one's surname is unimportant, and if someone cannot be of use to me, why keep them around?

Ding Ruguo turned to look at her, her gaze subtle. "Xie Shuang cannot be a friend, nor should she be an enemy. Xie Fuguang is dead, but those loyal to Xie Fuguang will still obey his orders."

He still protected Ding Xiayu too well, which made her arrogant and overbearing. This time, she caused heavy losses to the Marquis's mansion by herself, and she will probably be even more arrogant and disdainful of others.

“In recent years, if it weren’t for the Xie family’s overt and covert protection in the North, Zhu Chongsheng’s massacre of the Ning family would not have started so recently.”

Speaking of the massacre, Ding Xiayu was filled with rage, "Damn that dog emperor!"

"I really thank you for not killing him when you got close to him."

Ding Xiayu clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her flesh. "He'll die sooner or later."

But there are others who deserve to die even more.

As the two were talking, Yu took Ange'er out the door with a swift movement. Because of Ding Ruguo's instructions, no one stopped them, but who knows if they will go back on their word?

I ran all the way out of the alley.

Ange'er suddenly stopped, and Weiyu thought he couldn't walk anymore, so she picked him up.

Ange'er kept a straight face and hooked his hand inside his neck.

A whistle and a small sachet.

He touched the small sachet, "These firework signal flares are made with a special process. They won't break if they get wet. As long as they're launched into the sky, all of Teacher's influence in the capital will come to Zhao Song."

Ange'er handed over the decision-making power to Weiyu.

The object that inexplicably exploded in the sky attracted not only the teacher's people, but also the Duke's Mansion and the Marquis's Mansion, who were searching for them.

These men are enough to crush this group.

She didn't even move her jade-like hand.

Anger seemed to have anticipated the outcome. He picked up the whistle and took a deep breath. "As long as Xie You is nearby, he will be able to hear it."

They just said that Xie You has already made his way over.

"no need!"

It was Xie You's voice that rang out in the rain.

He appeared out of nowhere, blood on his shoulder, his hair disheveled and plastered to his face, staring fiercely at Wei Yu, "Who are you?"

The words were squeezed out through his teeth, his eyes darting with suspicion and a hint of murderous intent.

Then he looked at Ange'er and said, "Come here, don't follow her!"

An'ge'er didn't step forward. He knew Xie You's capabilities well; if he really went, Xie You could probably kill Wei Yu in the blink of an eye.

He was extremely stubborn: "My aunt is a good person. If it weren't for my aunt, I would be dead."

Xie You thought he was still too young to understand the dangers of the world, so he went straight up to him and asked, "Wei Yu, who exactly are you? Does the Duke's Mansion know?"

It's a reminder, but also a threat.

“You’re still young, you don’t understand adult matters,” Wei Yu said coldly. “Don’t start running ahead with half a story. If you don’t know much, then keep quiet.”

Xie You is of the same generation as An Ge'er, so everyone treats him like a child and lets him do things according to his own whims.

Firstly, it gives people the impression that he has no bad intentions; secondly, it's to prevent Xie Shuang from causing trouble in the capital.

Yu took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

"Now, take Ange'er and set off for the North immediately."

If Ding Xiayu harbors murderous intent towards An Ge'er, then the capital city is no longer safe for An Ge'er.

Facing a well-trained assassin, the Marquis's mansion had plenty of opportunities.

Therefore, Ange'er was instructed to immediately travel to the north and reach Xie Shuang ahead of everyone else.

That is the only way for Ango to survive.

"Leave? Where to? Xie Yugui has sealed off the capital; he's here to find the three of you." Xie You sneered. "I bet it was you two who tied up this fool, wasn't it?"

He didn't understand what others were saying about Wei Yu being Xie Tinglan's person. Seeing is believing, and Wei Yu seemed to get along better with Ding Xiayu.

People's hearts can change, and loyalty can be faked.

Before Wei Yu could speak, An Ge'er said first, "No, I'll explain on the way. Now take me to the North to find my teacher."

Yu will not harm him.

If he harbored even the slightest such filthy thoughts about jade, he wouldn't live long.

She paused again, looked up at the person in the rain, and asked, "Auntie, is there anything you want me to tell the teacher?"

Yu shook his head.

No, Xie Shuang will make a decision once he sees An Ge'er and hears his account of what happened today.

"Okay, if the teacher asks, I'll say no." Ange'er was still too naive and didn't understand the intricacies of the situation. He just grabbed Xie You's hand and said, "Let's go, Brother You."

Xie You held An Ge'er's hand tightly, staring intently at Wei Yu.

He was contemplating whether he should end it all.

He killed Yu.

What about what my uncle instructed?

Uncle Fu Guang taught him that one must have one's own judgment when facing external matters.

If you find some of the words unpleasant to hear, just ignore them. As long as the final result is good, then nothing else matters.

Wei Yu saw through his thoughts at a glance. "If I really wanted to harm An Ge'er, do you think you could go to him? Hurry up and leave, don't let your uncle regret it later."

She knew exactly what to say to get people to listen.

Xie You's words stung and made me feel very uncomfortable.

Xie Shuang will remain immersed in Xie Fuguang's death until the very end.

If Ange'er's death is truly as Yu said, it will make his uncle regret it. He can't afford to gamble on something like this.

His murderous intent slowly dissipated, followed by Xie Shuang's words of advice resounding in his mind.

“Wei Yu, you’ll die if you go back now. Why don’t you come with me to the North?” Xie You said. “My uncle told me when I came to the capital that if you couldn’t survive in the capital, he would take you away.”

He did not come alone; Xie Shuang had prepared elite troops for him along the way, so that he would have people to use.

"I won't die, I'll live a good life."

"Then we'll meet again if fate allows." Xie You picked up An'ge'er and said no more.

Ange'er clung to Xie You, "Auntie, tell my mother I'll be back for the New Year!"

That's all. Now that there's no one left in the inner quarters of the Marquis's mansion, there won't be anyone who would make Mother feel dangerous in the short term.

After watching the person leave, Wei Yu leaned against the wall and took several deep breaths. Looking in the direction they came from, she hesitated for a long time before finally mustering her courage and walking back.

There's no point in running away.

Chapter 151

Fifteen years have passed, and she still has to face these things.

When she reached the entrance, guards were already waiting for her, holding umbrellas for her and leading her inside.

Ding Xiayu was already waiting for her under the eaves. When she saw her approach, she asked, "Do you want me to tell you what you should do, or are you going to do it your own thing?"

Wei Yu's gaze was frank. "What do you want me to do?"

Ding Xiayu glanced at her and felt sorry for Weiyu. "Let's go inside and talk." She then instructed the maid beside her to prepare hot water and clean clothes.

Yu could understand; it was for her to ask for.

She followed Ding Xiayu inside and heard her ask herself, "Do you know who you are?"

"I know." Wei Yu looked at her and said, slowly and deliberately, "Wife."

In the north, the young lady or mistress of a household is called "Niangzi" (娘子).

Her calling her "wife" was a tribute to the last surviving member of the Ning family, the true "Ning Weiyu".

He was also her former master.

In the face of the emergency, in order to preserve their last bloodline, the Xie family sent away the first and second-class maids who had grown up with the Ning family's youngest daughter to different directions to distract the enemy.

All the chosen children were dressed in the clothes of the Ning family's youngest daughter to distract the pursuers and ensure that the real Ning family's youngest daughter could reach a safe place to settle down.

In other words, they were all scapegoats.

As for her, because she was the maid who played best with the Ning family girl, she was handed over to the people sent by the Xie family.

Thus, he managed to survive.

The moment she was rescued, she realized that the Xie family wanted to protect the Ning family bloodline. Over the years, facing the pitying and sorrowful gazes of Old Madam Xie, Xie Zhiyi, and Jiang Yunchang, she dared not tell them her true identity.

She kept hiding it, feeling anxious inside, yet still had to act obediently on the surface. Every day was torture. The more the Xie family treated her well because she was a daughter of the Ning family, the more panicked she became.

She even secretly wondered if all the members of the Ning family had died over the years.

So, does that mean she can live with the Xie family for the rest of her life under this identity?

Ultimately, I was overthinking things.

It's not that it's not coming; it's that it's always on its way.

Now, the dream has been shattered.

Her identity was shattered.

From beginning to end, she was just a maid, nothing more.

Ding Xiayu smiled. "The name Weiyu is quite nice, I like it very much, it's a pity I can't use it myself, but I'm happy to give it to you, you can use it well for the rest of your life."

As she spoke, she looked Yu Xiao'er up and down again, "You didn't just recognize me now, did you?"

She recognized Wei Yu the moment she saw her, but she wasn't sure, so she kept testing her.

Yu didn't hide anything, and gave a mocking smile, "No, I was just unsure. I didn't expect my wife to admit it herself."

Ding Xiayu remembered something, "First of all, I never intended to hurt the Xie family. Xie Tinglan was purely an accident, and she's also a stupid woman who only loves men and wants nothing else."

"What, you can't speak ill of Xie Tinglan, or is it that in your heart, she is your master?"

"If the Duke's mansion knew your true identity, how do you think they would treat you? And how would they treat me?"

She pursed her lips for Yu.

She knew better than anyone that the Duke's Mansion had always sought to help and protect the orphans of the Ning family.

"My parents are the ones who have been kind to the Duke's mansion, not you. The one who has been kind to your parents is me, the one who bought you. Ever since you came with me, you haven't suffered a single day of loss, have you?"

She doesn't remember things from her childhood clearly, and some she even intentionally forgot. But these days she's been tempted to remember quite a few things.

She couldn't quite remember what Ding Xiayu looked like when she was little. The only thing she could remember was Ding Xiayu holding her hand, leading her through the streets and alleys, breaking off half of her delicious food and giving it to her, sharing her pretty dresses with her...

She also vividly remembers the things that happened as she grew up, all thanks to the kindness of the Xie family.

"Yes, without my wife, I could not have lived such a life of luxury in the Xie family."

Ding Xiayu sat down, gesturing with her chin to signal her not to stand, "Do you like my identity?"

He remained silent for the sake of jade.

Ding Xiayu chuckled, "If you like it, you can have it for now. But suddenly another orphan of the Ning family appears, which makes it harder for the Duke's mansion to trust you. The Xie family trusts you, and I trust you too. Are you still loyal to me?"

Yu remained silent.

"I know you're conflicted right now. Xie Yugui still doesn't know who I am, and I suppose you're partly to blame. You seem to be in a lot of pain?"

Yu remained silent.

“If you don’t want to stay here, I’ll arrange for you to return to the North.” Ding Xiayu poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to Weiyu. “I still have a little bit of goodwill towards you. After all, we are friends.”

The words "master" and "servant" were not even used.

"Go change your clothes first."

Seeing that she didn't seem afraid, Wei Yu asked, "Xie You has left. What are your plans?"

"What are our plans?" Ding Xiayu said with a smile. "Let's go change our clothes first."

After taking a hot bath and changing her clothes, Wei Yu refused the maid's offer to dry her hair and instead sat by the window with a dry towel.

Ding Xiayu is no longer the Ning family lady she knew fifteen years ago.

Right now, all she can think about is revenge.

Keeping her around was definitely not because Ding Xiayu was kind-hearted.

Rather, she is very useful.

What do you mean by temporarily letting her continue to wear the hat of Ning family orphan?

They just want to use her as a smokescreen.

She was being held hostage by this, and she was afraid that if the Xie family found out, they would become completely subservient to Ding Xiayu.

However, Ding Xiayu was wrong about this.

She always knew that secrets couldn't stay hidden forever, and sooner or later the Duke's mansion would find out who she was.

The later she arrives, the more uncomfortable she will feel.

This poses no threat to her.

If we make it clear, Xie Zhiyi and Jiang Yunchang, being compassionate, will still take pity on her and spare her life.

But she and Xie Yugui could only part ways in this lifetime.

To put it bluntly, she just couldn't bear to part with Xie Yugui.

I'm so reluctant to part with it.

Xie Yugui truly still doesn't know her identity.

I simply like her completely as a person.

She missed it, perhaps for the rest of her life—

No.

They had already missed their chance; Xie Yugui had become the young master, and the two had already parted ways.

Fifteen years of wealth and fifteen years of being cherished are enough for her to savor in the future.

The movement in Yu's hand stopped.

She has one more thing to do.

She needed to find out whether Ding Xiayu would be detrimental to the Duke's Mansion.

The Duke's Mansion would not rebel against the court, so on this point, they are not on the same side as Ding Xiayu.

A person blinded by hatred cannot be a friend; then he is an enemy, and an enemy must die a horrible death.

She didn't understand the past grievances between the Zhang and Ning families, and Ding Ruguo and Ding Xiayu wouldn't talk nonsense about such things.

My thoughts became a jumbled mess.

There's just one point that Yu is very clear about.

For Ding Xiayu, she still had some value.

Therefore, she could also use this value to set a trap for Ding Xiayu.