At the same time Wei Chang Hong was asking his question, he also saw the two people across from them.

Fu Xing Yun had been coming to Duke Ying's residence to treat Wei Chang Yin's leg every few days, so the people in Duke Ying's household all recognized him. Wei Chang Hong had also seen him a few times, so he didn't feel that he was a stranger when he saw him right now. Wei Chang Hong looked at the woman next to Fu Xing Yun. The woman was wearing a white silk robe with an autumn-color outer robe embroidered with a pattern of flowers and cranes. Standing on the shaft of the carriage, she was beautiful in every aspect. Although she was middle-aged, her elegant bearing and charm still remained.

Wei Chang Hong tightened his grip on the reins and stopped on the roadside.

As Wei Chang Hong was scrutinizing Jiang Miao Lan, Jiang Miao Lan was also looking at him and Wei Luo. Wei Chang Hong was wearing a pale purple robe embroidered with good luck symbols, a brightly colored belt, and black boots. His posture was very straight as he sat on the jujube red horse. His body was tall and thin like a pine tree.

Next to him, Wei Luo was wearing a bright red crepe top and white gauzy skirt. Her hair was arranged in a ling yun hairstyle with a tong tian hair accessory and a pair of flower and leaf hairpins. The four-petal flowers were exceptionally elaborate and beautiful. Wei Luo's majestic style of dress created a feeling of absolute confidence and authority. A very noble and precious aura surrounded her.

Unfortunately, Wei Luo's eyes were cold without the slightest hint of friendly regard. It was so cold that it was painful to look at.

Wei Luo lifted her lips and said to Wei Chang Hong, "It's nothing. The carriage collided with another carriage."

She said to the driver, "Since it's nothing, let's continue going forward."

Wei Chang Hong was staring blankly at first, but he quickly returned to normal. He nodded and said, "There's an alternative path. Although it'll take longer to get to West Street, it'll avoid Great Yin Temple. I'll go in front to lead the way."

Wei Luo nodded her head and agreed. She turned her head and ordered the driver to follow Wei Chang Hong, then she bent down to enter the carriage.

Their behavior was outrageously calm as if the person across from them was an insignificant passerby instead of their mother.

Actually, there wasn't any difference between Jiang Miao Lan and a passerby in their hearts. She had escaped to far away places during the past several years and didn't show slightest bit concern about them. She had never fulfilled the duties of a mother. Even House Wei's fourth madam had done more for them than her. Right now, on what basis should Wei Luo and Wei Chang Hong accept her?

Jiang Miao Lan also understood this point. In addition, when she thought of the words that Wei Luo had said to her, she didn't have to the face to call out to these two siblings. She only blankly stood in front of the carriage.

Fu Xing Yun held her hand and said towards the carriage across from them. "Fourth Miss, Sixth Young Master, please stay for a moment."

Wei Chang Hong rode the horse to their side. He slanted his head to glance at them and asked, "What do you wish to say?"

Fu Xing Yun said, "This humble servant discovered a small problem when I went to treat First Young Master's leg yesterday. Would the two of you be willing to go to Fei Cui with me so we can discuss the matter without rushing?"

Wei Chang Hong looked at him silently. How could he not know what Fu Xing Yun was planning? "Since Doctor Fu discovered the problem yesterday, why didn't you say it then?"

Fu Xing Yin said with a smile, "This humble servant was negligent and forgot to tell First Madam before leaving."

The carriage's curtain opened from inside and Wei Luo's scowling face was revealed. "For a doctor to forget something like this, don't you feel embarrassed to call yourself a brilliant doctor with praiseworthy medical skills? How can your patients endure this? Where's your medical ethics?"

Fu Xing Yun froze for a moment. He hadn't expected that Wei Luo would rebuke him with such an impatient and angry expression. A short while later, he humbly lowered his head and said, "Fourth Miss's lecture was absolutely right."

Although this young girl looked delicate, pampered, and naïve, her words were clever and eloquent. Fu Xing Yun could only feel ashamed after hearing her words.

Wei Luo didn't want to waste energy and time talking to him, so she bluntly asked, "What's wrong with my oldest cousin's leg? Just say your words here."

Fu Xing Yun looked at her, "Since Fourth Miss is speaking so frankly, I won't beat around the bushes. I just wanted to ask Miss and Young Master to go with me to Fei Cui to talk. The words that have to be said, it would be best to clearly explain everything in person." His words had a double meaning. Not only did it include himself, it also alluded to the matter between Wei Luo, Chang Hong, and Jiang Miao Lan.

Wei Luo furrowed her eyebrows.

She didn't immediately reply. Fu Xing Yun and Jiang Miao Lan looked at her as if her next words would determine if they lived or died.

A short while later, a smooth voice traveled out from inside the carriage. "Since it's like that, then please lead the way."

Zhao Jie was sitting across from Wei Luo. He was wearing a red robe with a twin lion pattern. The collar of his robe was embroidered with a flowering lotus vine pattern. There was a jade accessory attached to his belt. He was lazily leaning against the carriage's wall. His expression was lax and his phoenix eyes were slightly closed. When a request was said from his mouth, it was as if other people weren't allowed to have a say in the matter. Zhao Jie slowly opened his eyes. His unfathomable dark eyes stared at Fu Xing Yun, then he looked at Jiang Miao Lan before saying, "Doctor Fu is right. Some things must be clearly said."

Jiang Miao Lan only knew that Wei Luo had married a prince and this prince was nine years older than Wei Luo. From the current sight, it was probably this person. Jiang Miao Lan didn't know anything about the relationship between Wei Luo and Zhao Jie. She only knew that the public's perception of Zhao Jie wasn't good, so she had been very concerned for Wei Luo.

Fu Xing Yun cupped his hands to greet Zhao Jie, then he ordered the driver to lead the way.

Wei Luo put down the carriage's curtain and asked Zhao Jie, "Why did you agree to his request?"

Zhao Jie leaned forward, took hold of the hand at her side, and smoothly brought Wei Luo into his arms. He buried his face in the nook between her neck and shoulder, breathed in her lovely scent, and said, "This prince wants to resolve the issue that heavily weighs on your mind."

Wei Luo froze for a moment and became silent.

She had forgotten. Zhao Jie knew about Jiang Miao Lan. Zhao Jie had been with her when Jiang Miao Lan and Fu Xing Yun had appeared at the inn next to Xiu Chun last time.

At that time, Jiang Miao Lan had rushed out in the rain and said to her, "Sweetie, I'm your mother." Zhao Jie had probably also heard her words. At that time, her heart didn't feel angry. She only thought that her words were laughable. She found it ridiculous that Jiang Miao Lan had the courage to call herself "mother."

Wei Luo held Zhao Jie's hand as her slender white jade-like fingers traced the lines on his palm. "Big brother, I don't need a mother anymore." Her words were very calm. There wasn't anger or resentment as she said, "I have you, Chang Hong, daddy, and fourth aunt...I don't need her."

Zhao Jie closed his hand around her small hand and separated her fingers so that their fingers were intertwined. "Then clearly tell her your feelings. Ah Luo, running away isn't a solution. You can only let go of this matter by talking things though. Since you married me, I don't want you to worry about other things." Then, Zhao Jie lightly tapped her forehead with his fingers, "Your little melon brain can only think about your husband."

Wei Luo caught his hand and said, "So, this was your motive. I was wondering why you were so proactive."

Zhao Jie chuckled and didn't refute her words.

~

They soon arrived at Fei Cui. Fu Xing Yun arranged a private room and led the group of people to the second floor. After sitting down inside the private room, Wei Luo's first words were to Fu Xing Yun, "Doctor Fu, you said there was something wrong with my oldest cousin's leg. What's the problem?"

Wei Chang Yin was her oldest cousin and was inextricably linked with Liang Yu Rong. She had to be concerned about this issue.

Fu Xing Yun poured cups of tai ping hou kui tea (a famous type of green tea from Tai Ping County) for everyone. He sheepishly laughed and said, "It's not a serious matter. As your esteemed older cousin's muscles heal, he'll definitely feel itchiness and soreness. He just needs to endure this until it passes."

It was just this? Wei Luo looked at him and truly felt as if she had been cheated.

But, since she had already come here, she would do as Zhao Jie had said. She and Chang Hong would only be able to let go of this matter if they openly discussed and understood exactly what had happened back then.

Wei Luo considered for a moment, then she said to Jiang Miao Lan. "I want to know what happened back then." She paused for a moment, then she added, "after you gave birth to me and Chang Hong."

Jiang Miao Lan didn't except that Wei Luo would take the initiate to speak with her. Her hand that was holding the blue-glazed porcelain cup trembled for a moment.

In the time it would take to finish a round of tea, Jiang Miao Lan finished narrating what had happened back then. There weren't any changes on Wei Luo and Chang Hong's faces. Their faces were as calm as tranquil waters without even the slight trace of a ripple. It was if she had thrown a stone into a bottomless pond. After the initial sound of the stone hitting the water, there weren't any traces of the stone left.

Wei Luo slightly closed her eyes and emptily asked, "Then, why did you come back now?"

Jiang Miao Lan said, "Wu Rong's emperor became ill on the way to Da Liang. He happened to meet Xing Yun and me. Xing Yun treated Wu Rong's emperor's illness on the way to the capital... I didn't expect to see the two of you so soon."

Wei Luo sneered. She didn't show any mercy as she asked, "Did you really expect to not see us? Chang Hong and I live in Duke Ying's household. Since you came to the capital, how could it be possible that you wouldn't meet us?"

Jiang Miao was speechless.

Wei Luo finished drinking the tea and lowered her eyes as she asked Chang Hong, "I finished asking the things that I wanted. Chang Hong, is there something that you want to ask?"

Wei Chang Hong said, "No."

As a result, Wei Luo stood up and said to Jiang Miao Lan, "Let the past be the past. Since you abandoned us, we'll act as if we don't have you as a mother. You should also pretend that you had never given birth to us. Neither of us owes anything to the other. Don't appear in front of us again."

Jiang Miao Lan's pupils dilated. She hurriedly stood up and grabbed Wei Luo's hand, "Sweetie, I know I wronged you. Back then, my actions were wrong. I'm not requesting for your forgiveness..." Then, she swallowed and said, "Could you please not draw a line between us so quickly? I want to make things up to you. It's entirely my fault. I..."

"Not only were you wrong, you're also very stupid." Wei Luo coldly took her hand back and ruthlessly said, "Back then, Du-shi and third aunt had worked together to deceive you. You easily believed everything they said. You only thought about leaving everything behind. Did you think about me and Chang Hong?"

Wei Luo asked her, "What's the use in compensating us now? Where were you when Du-shi almost sold me off into slavery? Where were you when third aunt almost killed me by poison? Where were you when someone pushed Chang Hong into a lake?"

Jiang Miao Lan's face turned pale. Her lips trembled, "What..."

Wei Luo paused. Soon after, her large eyes curved into a faint smile and she said in a sweet tone, "For me and Chang Hong to be able to live until now, it has nothing to do with you. You want to compensate us, but it's already too late. I don't want a mother like you. Chang Hong doesn't want you either. Since you were able to heartlessly abandon us back then, then you don't need to insincerely return to us now. From now on, we'll act as if we had never seen you. Don't bother us again."

Wei Luo's words were a tremendous shock to Jiang Miao Lan. Jiang Miao Lan staggered, "Sweetie, I'm sorry..."

"No need for apologies." Wei Luo had said everything that she wanted to say. There was no reason for her to continue staying here. "Don't cry either. I won't feel sorry for you."

Wei Luo leaned over, pulled Zhao Jie's hand, and started to lead him out of the private room. When she reached the entrance, she suddenly stopped, turned around, and said, "But there is something I should thank you for. Thank you for giving birth to Chang Hong and me. This is probably the best thing that you've done."

Then, she pushed open the door and left the private room.

Wei Chang Hong didn't linger either. He left the room shortly after Wei Luo.

Jiang Miao Lan held her face and cried until she almost lost her voice.

--------

Wei Luo and Zhao Jie didn't immediately return home. Instead, they went to another street to buy spices and dried herbs at Xiang Man.

It would be winter soon and there would be an unpleasant odor from burning charcoal inside in winter. They could only use the smell of spices and dried herbs to conceal this odor. Other than masking the smell of charcoal, the spices could also be used to scent clothing.

Standing inside the store, Wei Luo selected ling ling xiang (similar to basil), nard, Indian sandalwood, agarwood, fennel, and a mixture of borneol and musk. She bought two hundred fifty grams of each item. She was still lost in her thoughts when the shopkeeper finished wrapping up the items for her.

The shopkeeper called out, "Madam?"

Wei Luo didn't respond.

Zhao Jie accepted the bundle for her. He paid the shopkeeper and led her out of the spice store.

"Ah Luo, pay attention." Zhao Jie stopped at the entrance. One hand was holding the spices and the other hand was pinching her face.

Wei Luo blinked. She held her face and took a step back, "Ouch."

Zhao Jie smiled, "Since everything has been clearly said, why are you still absent-minded?"

Wei Luo considered for a moment, then she shook her head and said, "I'm just thinking about something."

Zhao Jie naturally didn't believe her. "Oh, what are you thinking about?"

Wei Luo was silent for a while before she said, "If I have children in the future and big brother makes another woman pregnant, would I abandon my children, or suffer in silence?"

Zhao Jie asked, "Then, have you thought of an answer?"

Wei Luo looked at him and suddenly brightly smiled, "I won't abandon my children or suffer in silence. I'll retaliate against big brother and that other woman, then I'll leave with my children."

Zhao Jie quietly looked at her, then he brought her into his arms and said into her ear, "Silly girl, something like that would never happen."

****************************

(T/N: Below is a picture of tong tian hair accessory with a flower hairpin on each side.)