Chapter 379: 386: Guaranteed Genuine

“Mother.” Brother Xing noticed Su Wenyue’s mood, and softly called out “Mother” again, bringing Su Wenyue back to her senses. Even though she was still worried, she managed to put a joyful smile on her face. Brother Xing was not only clever but also a sensitive child. She didn’t want to overburden him with her concerns.

“Brother Xing can talk now; our Brother Xing can call me Mother.” Su Wenyue lifted Brother Xing up, and Aunt Li and Nanny by her side also congratulated Su Wenyue with faces full of joy.

Su Wenyue explained and reassured Brother Xing with many assurances, and it was only under his reluctant gaze that she eventually left, taking Qi Luo back to Yiyang Prefecture.

Su Wenyue had set out early and rode fast, so when she arrived at Yiyang Prefecture it was just noon. Looking at the mansion she had lived in for several months, which was surrounded by soldiers on guard, Su Wenyue felt a mixed sense of familiarity and strangeness. After all, it had been more than a year since she left.

“Halt, what are your intentions?” The guard soldiers didn’t recognize Su Wenyue and her servant; upon seeing someone approaching, they challenged them. It was partly due to the tense situation recently. Lord Han had been seriously injured, and they were on high alert to prevent ill-intentioned people from exploiting the situation. Moreover, they had seen most people who usually came and went around Lord Han, and these two women looked very unfamiliar, but one of them was indeed very beautiful.

Su Wenyue hadn’t expected to be stopped at her own doorstep and turned to the two stern soldiers, but Qi Luo quickly stepped forward to assert their identity: “This is Lord Han’s wife, Mistress of the Han Mansion. Hearing that the Master was injured, she hurried back immediately. You should clear the way at once!”

The soldiers were taken aback, not expecting that the woman before them could be the Mistress of the Han Mansion. They had been at the Han Mansion for some time and there had been no mention of a mistress. Suddenly hearing about her now seemed a bit abrupt.

“Forgive us, Madam, please wait a moment. I will go in and seek instructions,” said the soldier, who had vaguely heard that the Master was married but was not sure if the woman before him was telling the truth.

Trained in the military camp, the soldiers’ vigilance and competencies could not be matched by ordinary servants. Even though they had a good impression of Su Wenyue and her servant, and somewhat believed their identity, they still did not let them in, instead quickly fetching someone who could resolve the matter.

Making the Mistress wait at the front door like this was improper, and Qi Luo, seeing the soldiers’ intentions, wanted to say something. However, Su Wenyue stopped her. Su Wenyue didn’t blame them; in fact, she appreciated that the soldiers were diligently fulfilling their duties. She quietly stood there waiting, but the person who came out was not the one she had anticipated.

Chen Li, feeling dejected after being rejected by Han Yu, walked out of the Han Mansion and saw two beautiful women standing at the entrance. Her brow furrowed involuntarily, and her gaze carried a hint of malice.

“Who are you?” Chen Li harbored unspeakable feelings for Han Yu and, considering herself the leading woman in this world, thought that an excellent man like Han Yu was meant for her, the ‘heroine.’ In her heart, she already viewed Han Yu as hers, so, naturally, she was displeased to see such attractive women near the Han Mansion.

Su Wenyue saw a man coming out of the Han Mansion. At first, she didn’t pay much attention, but as he came closer, she realized that this supposed man was actually a woman in disguise, which made her feel differently. She wondered about this person’s identity and why she would be here, just as the woman approached them.

Qi Luo was dissatisfied with Chen Li’s questioning tone. No matter their status, even ordinary people deserved better treatment, a sense of politeness that was utterly lacking here. However, it wasn’t surprising, Qi Luo thought, as a woman who would dress as a man and casually appear at someone’s mansion would naturally not have the best upbringing. Who knew where she came from.

“And who might you be, to question us?” Qi Luo retorted sharply, unhesitatingly confronting Chen Li. She hoped in her heart that the Master hadn’t done anything to wrong his wife. It would be a truly grievous ungratefulness if that were the case. The Mistress had spent more than a year hiding away in such a remote place, raising three children without a word of complaint. Now, hearing of the Master’s injury, she had hurried over without proper rest, a clear sign of her concern for the Master.

“Impudent! How dare you create such a scene at the Han Mansion. Do not think you can win Lord Han’s favor just because of your looks. You’re truly shameless, luring a man even here.” Seeing Su Wenyue and her servant’s unfriendly attitudes, Chen Li became even more provoked, automatically projecting her own thoughts onto Su Wenyue, as if she too was vying for Han Yu’s attention. Chen Li didn’t consider that in this strict era, not every woman would be as untraditional as her, disregarding everything in pursuit of a man.

Su Wenyue was amused by anger. Where did this ridiculous woman come from? Was she out of her mind? However, listening to her, Su Wenyue had some understanding. This woman must have taken a liking to Han Yu; otherwise, she wouldn’t speak such words. But what exactly was this woman’s relationship to Han Yu? Since the soldiers let her in, she surely had Han Yu’s permission.

Hearing this, Qi Luo looked at Chen Li with even stranger eyes, her gaze towards the city mixing a tinge of sympathy. This woman must have lost her mind.

“Want to know who I am?” Su Wenyue raised an eyebrow, seeing that the woman was about to burst, and then slowly drawled, “I am Su Wenyue, the Mistress of this Han Mansion. Are you satisfied with this answer?”

“You are Su Wenyue?!” Chen Li’s voice rose sharply. Since she was interested in Han Yu, she had naturally inquired about everything regarding him and knew that he had a wife, who turned out to be the woman in front of her.

“That is correct, guaranteed genuine. As the saying goes, it’s only polite to return a favor. Now, Miss, could you please tell me your identity? I’ve been away for quite some time and don’t recognize the people around my Husband anymore. Are you perhaps one of my Husband’s new subordinates or servants?” Su Wenyue said with a grin, enjoying the increasingly unpleasing expression on Chen Li’s face, deliberately provoking her.

“What nonsense are you talking about? I’m certainly not a servant!” Chen Li’s already unsightly complexion turned utterly dark, and her face twisted as she felt insulted by Su Wenyue. Although from the modern world, proclaiming equality and human rights, she believed herself to be superior, bolstered by the halo of being a transmigrated individual.

“I apologize. I thought that a proper young lady wouldn’t behave in such a manner. Seeing you here made me speculate as such. Please, don’t take it the wrong way,” Su Wenyue said as if realizing she’d said something incorrect. She quickly apologized, yet without a trace of sincerity, simply fueling Chen Li’s irritation.

“You say you are Han Yu’s wife, just like that? I have never seen you before. Who knows where this wild woman sprang from, or if she’s an impostor,” Chen Li, unwilling to back down, started to question Su Wenyue’s identity again, unwilling to believe that this infuriating woman was Han Yu’s wife.