Shen Wei continued to stare at Li Yueshu with resentful eyes, but the latter was lost in recalling the original plot of the book, completely unaware.
It was Shen Tingyi who noticed, but she dismissed it as her imagination.
How could her wise, mighty, proud, and cold father ever show such a shrew-like expression when he didn't need to pretend to be foolish!
Shen Tingyi quickly shook the thought from her mind and quietly enjoyed the delicacies.
...
After the banquet ended, Li Yueshu was still preoccupied with the matter.
Even if this Wei Lianshui and Madam Wei were coincidentally named and looked alike, why did Ling'er resemble Wei Zimao?
She had a feeling that this was no coincidence.
Li Yueshu decided to get to the bottom of it and planned to stay a few extra days under the guise of checking on Wei Zimao.
But before she could speak, Wei Tonghao preempted her, "Madam Shen, could you stay a few more days? I am still worried about Zimao's condition. If you stay longer, we can discuss the consultation fee!"
Li Yueshu instinctively glanced at Wei Zimao. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded, "Alright, then I will trouble City Lord Wei for these few days."
Shen Wei noticed her glance at Wei Zimao, and his brows unconsciously furrowed, a hint of ferocity, even he himself didn't notice, appearing in his eyes.
...
Having decided to stay, Li Yueshu returned to her courtyard and unpacked her luggage that had already been put away.
Perhaps it was because her thoughts had made progress, or perhaps the aura around him was too obvious, but she finally noticed Shen Wei's emotions.
Seeing Shen Wei's brows almost knitted together, Li Yueshu asked with a bewildered expression, "What's wrong?"
Shen Wei looked up at her, his tightly pressed thin lips pulled down slightly, as if he were holding back a grievance.
Seeing this, Li Yueshu put down what she was doing and quickly pulled him to sit down, her voice as gentle as possible, "What happened?"
Shen Wei had a limited intellect and lived each day more joyfully than A Yu. She had never seen him like this before.
Meeting the undisguised concern in her eyes, Shen Wei's feigned grievance seemed to seep into his heart. "A Shu, do you like that Wei Zimao?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent.
In the silence, Shen Wei suddenly realized what he had said, and a hint of redness spread across his cheeks.
"Pfft—" Li Yueshu burst out laughing, her eyes curving like the moon.
She reached out and gently patted Shen Wei's head, "Do you know what it means to like someone?"
Shen Wei's gaze flickered, he didn't reply, nor did he pull away from her hand.
He himself hadn't realized that he had unconsciously grown accustomed to her intimacy.
Seeing that he didn't reply, Li Yueshu thought for a moment, guessing that he might be feeling wronged because she had been focusing on the Wei family's affairs recently and had neglected him, like a child.
With this thought, Li Yueshu patted his head again, like coaxing A Yu, and said softly, "Don't worry, I don't like that Wei Zimao at all. I like you the most."
Even though she knew she was coaxing him, Shen Wei's heart couldn't help but skip a beat, and the tips of his ears turned a rosy pink, like peach blossoms.
Li Yueshu noticed his ears and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Was he shy?
He actually understood shyness!
Li Yueshu suddenly became interested and was about to tease him further when a light laugh suddenly interrupted them.
The two turned around and saw a woman in splendid attire standing at the doorway. It was Wei Lianshui, who had returned to the Wei family not long ago.
Li Yueshu withdrew her hand from Shen Wei's head, her face adorned with a polite and distant smile, "Why has Miss Wei come?"
Wei Lianshui walked in with a slight smile, "I heard Madam Shen saved my brother, so I've come to thank Madam Shen."
As she spoke, she walked directly over and bowed gracefully to Li Yueshu, her every move exuding the elegance of a well-bred lady, "Thank you, Madam Shen, for saving my brother."
Li Yueshu glanced at her and her attendants behind her, who were empty-handed. A faint smile touched her lips, and she stepped forward to help her up, "Miss Wei, there's no need for such formality. I am a doctor, and after I cure Young Master Wei, the City Lord will naturally pay me the consultation fee."
Wei Lianshui stood up with her, her smile appearing very amiable, "Actually, I came today to ask Madam Shen about my brother's condition."
Upon hearing this, Li Yueshu turned and asked Shen Tingyi to take Shen Wei inside, while she accompanied Wei Lianshui in conversation, "Miss Wei, don't worry. Although Young Master Wei's body has been eroded by poison for many years, the person who poisoned him dared not administer too much for fear of being discovered. Therefore, the fundamental parts have not been harmed. He will be able to recover within half a year."
Wei Lianshui seemed relieved, "That's good."
Li Yueshu observed her expression and suddenly asked, "I heard Miss Wei was missing for several years. Where have you been all these years?"
Wei Lianshui froze and looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Li Yueshu wore a kind smile, "I mean no offense. It's just that Miss Wei looks somewhat familiar. Have we met before?"
Wei Lianshui paused, seemed to think for a moment, and then shook her head, "I don't think we have. Madam Shen is from Tongmu County, and the place I stayed before was in another direction, quite far from both Tongmu County and Hongning City."
Her demeanor was so natural that Li Yueshu couldn't tell if she was telling the truth or not.
She looked directly at the person before her, her gaze inscrutable, "Is that so?"
Wei Lianshui's heart skipped a beat, and she felt somewhat hesitant to meet Li Yueshu's eyes.
But she didn't look away, instead sighing softly, "It was my fault for misjudging people. I thought I had met true love and eloped against my father's wishes. In the end, after all the money I brought from home was spent, he revealed his true colors and would often scold and hit me."
As she spoke, Wei Lianshui's eyes welled up with tears, "If my father hadn't recognized the jewelry I pawned, I don't know how much longer I would have suffered."
Her tears streamed down her cheeks, making her appear incredibly pitiful. Anyone hearing this would surely sympathize with her plight.
Li Yueshu also sighed and gently patted her back, "Miss Wei, all that is in the past. City Lord Wei will surely compensate you for the hardships you've endured."
Wei Lianshui looked at her with gratitude, "Thank you, Madam Shen. You are truly a good person."
Li Yueshu smiled faintly and accepted the compliment.
She withdrew her hand from Wei Lianshui's back. With a flick of her wrist, she gathered a few strands of hair from her fingertips into her space.
She already had Wei Zimao's DNA sample in her space, so a paternity test would not be difficult.
Wei Lianshui didn't notice anything at all and was happily chatting with Li Yueshu, as if she had found a soulmate.
Unbeknownst to her, Li Yueshu conducted a paternity test on her and Wei Zimao's samples in her space that very night.
No one knew about this matter. After receiving the results, Li Yueshu didn't tell anyone. She even remained calm and collected while chatting with Wei Lianshui every time she inquired about Wei Zimao's condition.
Until one day, the steward of the City Lord's mansion personally came to the courtyard, stating that Wei Tonghao had invited her to the front hall for a discussion.