A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 154

Chapter 154

Soon, news of the Qi family’s Fifth Young Master spread.

No one in the capital knew him, so everyone started inquiring about him.

The atmosphere became lively, uncontrollably so.

The Empress heard about it and hurriedly summoned Madam Qi, “The person they’re talking about, is it your Fifth Young Master?”

“Replying to Your Majesty, it sounds like it’s Xiao Wu.”

“Such an outstanding individual, how come this Palace is unaware?”

“Your Majesty, Xiao Wu has been studying away from home. After returning, he went out to gain experience. He also accompanied this subject back to her hometown and hasn’t spent much time in the capital.”

“Is that so… You go and see where he is, bring him over for this Palace to have a look! Oh, have you arranged his marriage yet?!”

“Yes, when this subject went to Heavenly Dragon Temple, I took a liking to a young lady and arranged it.”

“Has that young lady come?”

“She probably hasn’t. After all, she’s a young lady who’s engaged, it’s not appropriate for her to travel around.” After Madam Qi finished speaking, she couldn’t help but feel guilty: She had traveled around, just not to this place…

“What a pity!” It was unclear what the Empress found a pity.

Outside, Tan Shi was surrounded by people, all asking about the Qi family’s Fifth Young Master… Yu Lang…

Xu Minghui couldn’t keep up appearances because many people were asking her too. Feeling impatient, she was pulled to a corner. It was the relative from her maternal family who had entrusted her to “handle the matter”…

“If it didn’t work out, why didn’t you say anything?!”

“What’s there to say, I didn’t agree to you at that time! I only said I’d help you look. Marriage is decided by parents, who can disobey? What’s there to say!”

Tan Shi was smiling. She was at ease and handled the situation with proficiency, “Stop asking! Our Wu Lang is already engaged!”

There was a chorus of sighs from the surrounding crowd…

“It was arranged by the eldest daughter-in-law when she went back to her hometown. I haven’t even seen the girl! Completely in the dark! I can’t even describe her!”

“Oh, Old Madam, for such a big matter, even if you don’t decide, you should at least have a look, right?!”

“You little thing! I don’t like to hear such talk. Whose marriage isn’t decided by their parents! No matter who they choose, when they ask me, I just nod and say yes. Since it’s like this, what does it matter if I have a look or not? Regardless of their background, or if there’s anyone better. As long as the children are happy, that’s all that matters!”

As a result, someone whispered, “What kind of girl is there that we don’t have in the capital? Why search for one outside?”

“I heard that when Xu Minghui married in, Madam Qi was unhappy and has been cold to her ever since!”

“Hmph, with Cui Fengying’s temperament, who would she submit to! Just let her find one herself, otherwise…”

“Old Madam Qi gets along with everyone. It’s just her…”

Gossip spread.

Old Madam Wen and Yuan Shi also received the news sensitively. The two looked at each other… and then looked away.

The hall wasn’t as solemn as before, filled with gossip, and some people gathered around the Wen family.

Old Madam Wen was excited…

And Yuan Shi… originally, she could control a lot. But now… things were in chaos.

What to do?!

“Is Old Madam’s Wen family the one that’s marrying into the Qi family?” Someone finally asked.

“Wen Huan, is the Wen Eldest Daughter they’re talking about your elder sister?” Someone approached Wen Huan.

Wen Jiao’s previous restraint disappeared. Seeing Wen Huan’s slow reaction, she proactively struck up a conversation with the person, “It’s my eldest sister. Wen Huan is my second elder sister, I’m the third!”

“I remember Wen Huan being the eldest daughter…”

Yuan Shi saw that the situation was beyond her control, and a brilliant idea struck her… Since it’s come to this, why not take advantage of it?

She pulled Wen Huan and said just a few words, “This is an opportunity, don’t miss it!”

So, Yuan Shi’s smile became elegant and sincere, “The one you’re talking about… is my eldest daughter… I’ve always been accompanying my husband at his post, this marriage was arranged by my mother! Mother loves Wen Yu the most!”

Old Madam Wen, surrounded by attention, felt immensely satisfied and spoke with a benevolent face, “My son, at the age of twenty, was personally appointed as a successful candidate in the imperial examination by the Emperor. For so many years, to repay the Emperor’s grace, he’s been traveling around. He hasn’t been able to care much for this eldest daughter. It was I who raised her.

Although she’s also quite pretty, what pleases me the most is: she’s extremely filial! Although the family doesn’t need it, she’s done a lot of needlework for me.

She remembers every single person in the family. For New Year’s, festivals, birthdays, and such, she always sends her regards…

She’s skilled and clever, making snacks, embroidering, painting, she excels at everything! Yet she’s also modest and steady, truly a good and capable child!

As expected, a good child has good fortune. Such an outstanding person like Fifth Young Master Qi is her blessing!

But it also must be said, she deserves it!”

Heh! Old Madam Wen’s strong personality surfaced. If she wanted to climb higher, she couldn’t appear too humble.

The Qi family has a high social standing! My son became a successful candidate at twenty, our family is well-off, we’re not bad either! Fifth Young Master Qi is handsome and capable. My granddaughter is also beautiful and talented.

Wen Huan understood her mother’s meaning. She spoke softly and gently about Wen Yu, “I haven’t seen what Fifth Young Master Qi looks like. But my elder sister, she’s really beautiful!”

“More beautiful than you?!” Someone asked.

Wen Huan hated it in her heart, but she smiled, “Of course! You’ll see when you meet her. And her talent surpasses mine as well! We sisters have different focuses. Elder Sister’s paintings are truly amazing. I was the first to come to the capital, and I personally arranged Elder Sister’s courtyard. She loves it very much.” She presented an image of deep sisterly affection.

She praised Wen Yu and subtly elevated herself at the same time.

Wen Jiao was stunned. She, how did she change?

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After a while, someone from inside was sent by the Empress to invite the Wen family in.

Yuan Shi and Old Madam Wen looked at each other again! Their excitement was indescribable! Old Madam Wen looked at the few of them and only instructed Wen Jiao, “Follow along and bow, speak less!”

Wen Jiao was too nervous and swallowed repeatedly.

Seeing her anxiety, Old Madam Wen pretended to pull her, secretly pinching her, “Just follow your Second Sister.”

Wen Huan was also nervous! She hadn’t even seen a princess before, and now she was going to see the Empress. Happiness had come too suddenly, she wasn’t prepared.

But thinking of what her mother had said, yes, this was an opportunity! I have to seize it…

The family went in and kowtowed to greet the Empress and the other consorts.

The Empress was in a good mood at the moment, watching them as if they were monkeys.

A group of consorts and princesses were also observing them.

No matter how they pretended, how calm they tried to be, they were clearly nervous.

However, this was natural. The Empress didn’t find fault with it: With her status, it would be strange if they weren’t nervous!

“The Wen family, right?! That…” The female official beside the Empress whispered a reminder, “Wen Yu didn’t come?”

Old Madam Wen’s voice trembled, “Replying to Your Majesty, Wen Yu didn’t come today.”

“Oh.” In fact, the Empress had just summoned them in for the amusement, she didn’t really intend to say anything to them.

“What are the names of these two young ladies?!”

“This is this subject’s second granddaughter, Wen Huan. This is the one ranked third, called Wen Jiao.”

“Hmm. The surname Wen is indeed easy to use for names! If their surname was Zhang, called Zhang Yu, Zhang Huan, or something, the meaning would be much worse!” It was unclear what the Empress wanted to express.

Everyone present laughed.

But Consort Xiang was extremely unhappy. Her surname was Zhang! It’s just that no one had mentioned it for many years.

One’s surname is their foundation, how can they choose it based on how nice it sounds?

She didn’t know how she became Empress!

Tan Shi was also present. She smiled as she observed the Wen family. The four of them, their attire and jewelry were all good! Moreover, there was no sense of incongruity, it wasn’t that they had deliberately dressed up for entering the palace. This meant their family background was decent.

She watched Old Madam Wen stretch out her hand to introduce her family members… That hand, one could see it was soft and delicate.

She couldn’t help but withdraw her own hand into her sleeve.

Madam Qi said to the Wen family, “Your Majesty, this subject hasn’t met Madam Wen yet!”

“Is that so?! This is interesting then, even relatives have to be introduced by this Palace! Madam Wen, this is your husband’s grandmother and mother!”

Yuan Shi bowed steadily, “Old Madam Qi, Madam Qi!”

Tan Shi smiled, “We’ll soon be family, we should be closer in the future.”

Old Madam Wen felt that Old Madam Qi was very approachable and had a very good impression of her.

The Empress noticed Princess Wu smiling at Old Madam Wen and asked, “Princess Wu also knows them?”

“Your Majesty, this subject met the Wen family at the Heavenly Dragon Temple Dharma Assembly.”

“Is Wen Yu pretty?”

“Replying to Your Majesty, Miss Wen Yu is indeed very beautiful. And, she’s tall. Wen Huan is also not short.”

The Empress nodded, “Indeed not short!”

Indeed, Wen Huan’s height was considered tall among the young ladies present, and she had a good figure.

When Yuan Shi and Wen Huan heard this, so this was Princess Wu…

Wen Huan wore a sweet smile and curtsied, “Your Majesty, this subject hasn’t grown much in the past six months! It seems I’ll only be this tall.”

The Empress, seeing Wen Huan so sweet, took a liking to her, “That’s enough, don’t grow anymore. Otherwise, if you stand among the other young ladies, a camel in a flock of sheep, it wouldn’t be interesting!”

Everyone laughed again.

Princess Wu, seeing Wen Huan so well-behaved and her smile so sweet, couldn’t help but recall the He family’s daughter: small stature, small nose, small eyes, small mouth… and so prim and proper…

Although Wen Huan’s appearance and temperament were inferior to Wen Yu’s, her sweetness surpassed her by a bit.

During the New Year, I’ll also invite the Wen family over and let my son have a look. If he’s satisfied, we’ll quickly settle it, and avoid any further mishaps…

Yes, that’s the plan!

Princess Wu didn’t know that there were quite a few people outside who wanted to invite the Wen family over.

There were also quite a few people who had taken a liking to Wen Huan. Even for Wen Jiao, some were willing to settle for second best…

The Emperor’s birthday celebration became the most beneficial event for the Wen family.