A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 159

Chapter 159

Wen Yu went to the small courtyard to arrange New Year’s plans for Yan Zhu and the others.

When she arrived, she saw that Mu Bo was also there.

Madam Qi and Qi Wu had arranged for him to deliver New Year’s goods.

Wen Yu felt a warmth in her heart. This future mother-in-law was truly amazing!

Previously, she had asked Master Qing to prepare a lot of New Year’s goods. Now, everyone could have an even more abundant New Year.

The people here were all skilled with their hands. They hung up the lanterns they had made themselves, cut out window decorations, and pasted couplets… Some of the calligraphy was bold and unrestrained, while others were delicate and sharp…

They were all filled with auspicious words.

“Did Master Qing write these?” Wen Yu pointed and asked.

Master Qing pointed and said, “The ones in the courtyard are written by me. The ones on the main gate are written by my nephew.”

Wen Yu was surprised. A person who came from that kind of place could have such unrestrained and bold handwriting… She really didn’t know what the background of this uncle and nephew pair was!

“As soon as they were pasted, the neighbors came to ask about them and request some. I knew I should have asked him to write more, and have Li Yuan go out and sell them!”

Wen Yu laughed… “That’s a good idea! We’ll prepare good paper and good ink, sprinkle them with gold. At the end of each year, we’ll give them to our major clients!”

“Girl, just remember, only those who spend five thousand taels or more are considered major clients!”

The two of them envisioned the future, laughing heartily.

Entering the house, they saw Lan Zhou sitting inside, pursing his lips, revealing the two dimples on his face.

Beside him, in a box, were his two turtles, Ping Ping and An An, still lying motionless.

However, one was wearing red and the other was wearing green. It was so funny to look at, it made people want to laugh.

Yan Zhu pulled Wen Yu over to look, laughing for a while before saying, “Xiao Liu’er made these. She also made them for Yuanyuan’s little rabbit and Huan Huan and Xi Xi! Ah Yu, why don’t you take them back with you later?”

“On the third day of the New Year, I’ll take you to the Cui family. You can give it to her yourself then.”

Yan Zhu leaned closer, reluctantly putting her arm around Wen Yu’s shoulder.

This was the first New Year’s Eve that the two of them wouldn’t be spending together.

Wen Yu arranged for Yan Zhu to take Mu Ling, Chen Wenjie, and Lan Zhou back to her uncle’s house for the New Year. Her uncle’s house was small, so they would stay for New Year’s Eve and return on the first day. Then, on the second day, they would go with Wen Yu to visit her uncle’s family again.

On the third day, she would take Yan Zhu to the Cui family.

Mu Ling and Chen Wenjie had become close friends, and when they heard they were going to the Chen family, they pestered their brother to go with them.

Master Qing planned to spend New Year’s Eve and keep vigil with his nephew.

Wen Yu suddenly thought of that person. “I’ve been busy since I came to the capital, and haven’t asked how he’s doing.”

Master Qing said, “Fifth Master Song didn’t allow him to reveal how he escaped. He said that as soon as he came out, he was on the road, with all the carriages and boats arranged. He was disguised as a… female patient, and went straight to the capital without stopping. Fifth Master Song arranged a place for him to stay. We rented a courtyard nearby after we arrived in the capital, and only then did we bring him out.”

“Why don’t we let him live here? It’s more lively with more people, and there’s someone to look after him.”

Master Qing waved his hands repeatedly, “That won’t do! No matter what, he has that kind of background. It would be very inconvenient for you, Miss Zhu Zhu, and the other girls. Although you have a good marriage prospect, you still don’t know what you’ll face after entering the Marquis Residence. We can’t let there be any slightest slip-up.”

Wen Yu nodded. “Then carefully select his food, accommodation, and servants. Supporting such a person is nothing to us. We must be cautious. If we don’t take good care of him and something happens, it will be even more troublesome.”

“Don’t worry! For him, even eating chaff and swallowing vegetables is as sweet as honey now. My nephew is just like my elder brother, exceptionally intelligent. I only briefly mentioned the matters of our shop, and he came up with several good ideas. His identity is uncertain, and his legs and feet are inconvenient, so he doesn’t go out.”

“He spends his days writing, living a leisurely life. After you get married, the shop opens, and everything settles down, he wants to open a music school, take in a few students, and doesn’t want to eat for free.”

“Good, these are all easy to arrange! Let’s have a good New Year first. This year, both Master Qing and Master Yi Bai have escaped from their hardships, so prepare more offerings for their families.”

“It’s so thoughtful of you, Girl, to think of this!” Master Qing nodded gratefully.

Wen Yu gave generous New Year’s money to the gatekeeper’s family, as well as the embroideresses and the young girls.

The newly bought servant girls finally saw what the silver in their hands looked like, and were so happy they didn’t know where to hide it.

Before leaving, Wen Yu called Mu Bo aside and said to him, “When you go to my uncle’s house, if my eldest aunt, Ma Shi, tries to cause trouble, find a way to knock her unconscious.”

Mu Bo didn’t speak, just looked at Wen Yu.

“Why are you looking at me?! Can you do it?! Otherwise, I’ll send La Ba over?”

Mu Bo simply didn’t understand why he had to do this, but it wasn’t like he couldn’t.

He took after Qi Wu, a man of few words, and nodded in agreement.

Wen Yu instructed, “Remember, use a method that she won’t even know what happened afterwards.”

Last time, Ma Shi was dizzy and vomited for three days. She didn’t even have the strength to cause trouble…

✿✿✿

On New Year’s Eve, the Wen family set up a large table of dishes.

The kitchen had been handed over to Wu Shi.

She had been managing the household for many years, and this time she was particularly attentive…

Yuan Shi was also good at managing the household, but her focus wasn’t on the kitchen.

Therefore, the difference was obvious. This New Year’s Eve dinner was a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate, especially suited to the Wen family’s taste!

It had been a while since they had tasted the flavors of their hometown. Old Madam Wen, her two sons, and her grandson all ate with relish.

Wen Yu smiled and said, “Our hometown food is still the most satisfying! Look at Grandmother, Father, and Second Uncle, their happiness is written all over their faces. Second Aunt, you’ve worked hard!”

✿✿✿

Although Wu Shi still harbored resentment towards Wen Yu, she also knew that Wen Yu was different now.

Recently, Wen Jiao had also been frequently visiting Wen Yu’s room. Wu Shi had no choice but to smile brightly. “I found a shop that sells a lot of ingredients from our hometown. It’s just not as fresh as back home.”

Old Madam Wen nodded. “That’s very good!”

Yuan Shi looked at her husband, who had indeed eaten a lot and was frequently raising his glass with Wen Feng.

She didn’t know if it was her husband who had changed, or if she had changed. Her heart gradually grew cold.

It was as if it couldn’t be warmed.

Besides, he didn’t even try to warm it!

Her heart was indifferent. She only ate symbolically, not joining in their fun.

Perhaps mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law were natural enemies. Seeing Yuan Shi’s aloof and indifferent demeanor, Old Madam Wen became increasingly unaccustomed to it.

She actually felt that Yuan Shi was even worse than Wu Shi!

✿✿✿

Unlike the joyous atmosphere in other families…

Qin Lianyue was sick.

She was already weak and prone to melancholy. After arriving in the capital, there were many things she wasn’t used to. Coupled with the stimulation from Qi Wu and Wen Yu…

She couldn’t contact Qi Wu no matter what, and the news she received about him was so explosive!

The day before yesterday, she was wearing thin clothes, playing the guqin and reminiscing about the past.

She cried while playing, as if she had encountered a heartless man… Finally, she developed a fever, was bedridden, and couldn’t get up.

It wasn’t that Du Liu hadn’t tried to persuade her, but her daughter, though seemingly delicate, was extremely willful.

Now that she was sick, and it was New Year’s Eve, everything was closed. This worried Du Liu greatly!

She knew that her daughter was bold, and was afraid that she would try to contact Qi Wu. So she told A Qin, A Qi, and everyone around them that if anyone dared to pass messages to the girl…

“Beat them to death immediately! I don’t care if it’s New Year’s or not.”

Sure enough, Qin Lianyue tried to send letters.

However, all these letters ended up in Du Liu’s hands.

When she opened them and read them, she was frightened to death. If these letters fell into the hands of others in the Qi family, into Cui Fengying’s hands, what would happen?!

How could such a smart girl be so foolish now?!

She burned the letters one by one, pacing back and forth in the room.

This mother and daughter had the most difficult New Year.

✿✿✿

Wei Shi sat alone in her room, with the lights off.

She had drunk a lot of wine, recalling the past New Year celebrations at the Song family…

To please his mother, Song Shang always came up with a lot of new things every year.

She looked down on her mother-in-law and was unhappy with her husband making such a fuss, so she would subtly dampen the mood.

She thought her mother-in-law and Song Shang wouldn’t notice. And to be honest, back then, she didn’t care if they noticed.

In fact, she wanted them to know she was unhappy!

But now, as other families celebrated happily, and she sat alone, the word “regret” flashed through her mind.

No, I don’t regret it.

Because that wasn’t the life I wanted.

✿✿✿

On New Year’s Eve at the Qi family, several sons and grandsons were chatting and laughing with Tan Shi…

But Qi Wu was accompanying his mother… Qi Si came over, but Madam Qi didn’t want to make things difficult for him, so she sent him to accompany Concubine Liu.

Concubine Liu was dissatisfied with the marriage arrangement with the Zhang family and always complained to Qi Si.

But Qi Si was very decisive, and she didn’t have a chance to voice her grievances.

Today, seeing him come over, she started talking about it again.

In the end, they had a very unpleasant argument. Qi Si didn’t have a very good temper either, so he stormed off back to his room, leaving Concubine Liu to cry.

“You have things to do tomorrow, go back and rest,” Madam Qi said to Qi Wu.

“I’ll stay with you, Mother.”

Madam Qi patted Qi Wu’s hand. Thankfully… she had him.

Who would have thought that Qi Wu would say, “Mother, this is your last lonely New Year’s Eve. Next year, even if I’m not around, Wen Yu will be here to accompany you.”

Oh my, my silly son! He can say such sweet words now! Indeed, after getting engaged, he has become gentler!

She held his hand, her face full of smiles, incredibly excited.