Splendid Twins

Zhou Ying raised her eyes cautiously, her fingers unconsciously clenched the handkerchief, and she didn't know how to start the conversation for a moment.

After the Duke of Zhenguo sat down, he saw that she looked restrained, and said in a gentle tone:

"Whose son is this? Do you have any achievements?"

Zhou Ying lowered her eyelashes, the man she liked was the most noble gentleman in the world, but unfortunately, Zhou Wan had already got there first. She knew that her status was limited, and the daughter of the second branch of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion was not qualified to be his principal wife. She also could not bear to share a husband with Zhou Wan, and she was unwilling to compete with her for his favor.

She is in her prime age. With the help of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, wouldn't it be better for her to marry a talented young man who has eyes only for her and become his legitimate wife?

Just when the Duke of Zhenguo was getting impatient, Zhou Ying said softly:

"Uncle, please take a look at this first."

He took out the note from his sleeve and handed it to the table. The Duke of Zhenguo glanced at it expressionlessly, and was immediately shocked by the contents of the paper and stood up. His aura suddenly changed, and he became fierce and majestic. He said in a deep voice:

"Where did it come from?"

Zhou Ying took a step back, raised her head and met the Duke of Zhenguo's unusually deep eyes without dodging or avoiding, and spoke slowly:

"It fell from Zhou Wan. No one knows except me."

"she?"

Seeing that the Duke of Zhenguo frowned slightly, Zhou Ying continued:

"It was... that time when my uncle was arguing with her, and I accidentally saw it... Then when she left, I saw this thing slip from her sleeve with my own eyes. After she left, I picked it up. These days, I found some foreign books and translated it from them, and it's like this..."

When the Duke of Zhenguo heard Zhou Ying's confession, he felt a little unhappy, but his face had regained its composure and he said in a serious tone:

"No one really knows?"

"Aying swears that if I leak even a little bit, I will never have peace in my life. Uncle, although I am a girl, I know the importance of things. Only when the Duke's Mansion is good, our family will be good."

The Duke of Zhenguo stared at the note for a long time without saying anything, his eyes were filled with darkness. After thinking for a while, he made up his mind that some people are destined to have no blessings...

"You did a great job. I appreciate your kindness. Go down and have a rest. Remember, just pretend that this never happened."

"Yes, then Aying will go back first."

After everyone left, the Duke of Zhenguo sat down again, tapping his fingers on the table, making a rhythmic sound, staring at the note in deep thought. Not long after, a black-clad secret guard quietly arrived:

"Master."

"Go check Zhou Wan, including Zhou Ying."

"Yes."

A gust of night wind blew by, and the Duke of Zhenguo got up and went to the inner courtyard. The old lady had already gone to bed. When she heard that the Duke was coming, the night watchman came in to help her put on her clothes. The old lady yawned sleepily:

"Just put on your coat."

Outside, the beaded curtains rustled and footsteps came closer and closer. When the Duke of Zhenguo came in, he saw his mother was already waiting there. She raised her hand to wave away the nanny, and only mother and son were left in the room.

"You're here so late, is there something important?"

"It is unfilial of a son to disturb his mother's rest."

"What is this? Tell me."

The Duke of Zhenguo lowered his voice and told the story one by one. The old lady was shocked and her heart was lifted up. She was so angry that her body trembled:

"What a jerk! She should have been dealt with long ago!"

"Mother, don't be angry. We have already checked. If it is true, then we have to show some attitude..."

The old lady heard the deep meaning, and after a while she said slowly:

"This matter is of great importance. We must hurry and get ahead of them."

"Son knows, I just came to tell you."

The mother and son were exactly the same, with coldness in their eyes.

---

At noon on the next day, the carriage belonging to Prince Li's Mansion slowly stopped at the gate of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. Someone had already gone inside to report that Zhou Wan was wearing a plain dress and ordinary jewelry, and she looked a lot lighter.

Such an outfit made the wife of the Duke who came to greet her unable to hold back her tears. Next to her was the newly married Crown Prince's wife. When her sister-in-law came back, she couldn't say anything when her mother-in-law cried, so she could only accompany her.

Prince Li glanced at Zhou Wan calmly and said softly:

"Why is it so plain?"

Did he want the people in the Duke's Mansion to think that he abused her?

"I am feeling lazy and got up late..."

Zhou Wan was hinting that it was because they had been playing too late last night and almost couldn't get up in the morning. Besides, she had her own reasons for dressing like that.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, and Madam Concubine."

The Duke of Zhenguo led his family out to greet them, and Prince Li spoke with royal dignity:

"Please stand up, Duke. My beloved concubine misses her family, so I came here today. Please don't blame me for being so abrupt."

"I am so terrified. Your Highness, please come in."

Prince Li took the first step, and Zhou Wan walked behind him to the side of the Duke's wife, put his arm around hers, and said affectionately:

"Does mother miss Wanwan?"

"Of course I want to. Come on, I'll have someone prepare your favorite food."

"Sister-in-law is well."

Zhou Wan did not forget the Crown Prince's Consort next to her. She was shocked by the hundreds of betrothal gifts. She was also a newlywed, and the bright and happy look on her face was really enviable...

The Crown Princess smiled shyly and said:

"Please take care of me, Madam."

The Duke's wife had something to ask Zhou Wan, so she was a little cold towards her daughter-in-law:

"Go to the old lady first. I have something to say to your sister."

"The daughter-in-law went first."

In front, the Duke of Zhenguo and Prince Li were walking and chatting. From the back, it seemed that the father-in-law and son-in-law were chatting happily, but in fact they were testing each other.

"Prince Zhou is a man of both civil and military talents, a rare talent in North Vietnam."

"Thank you for your highness's appreciation. It is a blessing for me to be able to relieve your majesty's worries."

"I heard that he disappeared for a while when he returned to Beijing. I wonder what happened to him during that time?"

"I have inquired about this matter. It is said that he accidentally lost his way and was trapped in the woods for many days. Thanks to the kindness of the local people, they lent a hand and he was able to return to the capital."

"Really? At a time when the atmosphere between the two countries is tense, Prince Zhou should not be taken advantage of by those with ulterior motives..."

"Your Highness is reminding us that if we are not careful, we will fall into the hunter's trap. I will always urge him on and will never let down your majesty's love for the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion."

"Heh, the prince and the duke have something to talk about. Why don't we go to the study?"

The Duke of Zhenguo hid the sarcasm in his eyes, lowered his head slightly and spoke:

"Please follow me."

When Zhou Wan saw this scene, she curled her lips. She knew that her father no longer cared about her as a daughter!

"How are you doing in the palace?"

The Duke's wife knew that her daughter didn't know how to control her subordinates, and she was often gossiped about in the palace. She was afraid that it would not be easy for her to marry into the palace...

Zhou Wan burst into tears before she could say anything, looking extremely aggrieved, which frightened the Duke's wife so much that she hurriedly coaxed her:

"Wanwan, don't be sad anymore. Tell mother about it."

Zhou Wan sniffed and said in a muffled voice:

"Your Highness is considerate of me, but... it's those cheap maids who pretend to obey and secretly disobey, taking advantage of my young daughter..."

The Duke's wife understood immediately, and immediately patted Zhou Wan's arm and said in a low voice:

"Mother will teach you a few tricks later. The most important thing is that you have to have money and your own people."

"Mother……"

"Let's not talk about it for now, let's go see your grandmother..."