A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 162

Chapter 162: Strange and Wonderful Events

The Cui family also had a small martial arts training ground.

There were many people here, more lively than the inner quarters, and eight degrees higher in excitement.

Waves of cheers and laughter almost lifted the roof.

Qi Wu’s maternal grandfather, Commander Cui, sat in the main seat, laughing from time to time, watching the young men below.

These people were his grandsons, his grandsons’ cousins, sons and grandsons of friends and relatives, and the friends they brought along.

There were actually over a hundred of them!

Some were practicing archery, some throwing flying knives, some playing polo, and some boasting.

When disagreements arose, they would settle it with their fists. A bunch of people would gather around and cheer.

Qi Xiao arrived and sat to the side, feeling extremely awkward.

Because he discovered that although Qi Wu still didn’t talk much here, he was obviously much happier than at home.

Several cousins, and a bunch of people he didn’t know, were all following behind him. He didn’t know what they were doing, but they would burst into laughter every now and then.

While he, on the other hand, was sitting with a group of old men…

It was truly embarrassing. He shuffled to his feet and pretended to instruct the children on archery.

Old Man Cui saw this and sighed inwardly.

Over the years, in order to ease the relationship between him and his mother, the Cui family had tried many methods.

They had advised, persuaded, scolded, and coaxed. Sometimes it got better, sometimes it got worse.

A few days ago, his daughter finally said that she had come to her senses, would no longer waste her efforts, and had let go.

From now on, whoever treated her well, she would treat them well!

Although the family felt it was not appropriate, they had no better solution.

Therefore, when Qi Xiao came back this time, still with his same stubborn demeanor, no one coaxed him anymore.

Old Man Cui also found it strange: with his constantly changing expression, how could he be a general?

He was truly an eyesore. If it weren’t for his daughter, he would have kicked him out long ago!

Qi Xiao had only been there for a while when a cousin came to pull him: “Eldest Cousin, come quickly, come quickly, let’s form a team and play against Qi Wu!”

Qi Xiao’s awkwardness flared up again: “I don’t know how to play polo, when I’m on a horse, it’s for fighting! This kind of amusement…”

Before he could finish, the other person scoffed: “Forget it if you’re not coming, stop pretending!” He ran off and shouted, “We’re still one man short, who’s coming, who’s coming? Someone good! We must beat Qi Wu and his team to a pulp!”

“I’m coming!”

“I’m coming!” Several voices shouted, and then they quickly formed a team and started playing.

Qi Xiao felt that he had been abandoned again…

In the inner quarters, Bao’er was crying loudly, and Xu Shi couldn’t console her.

Because Bao’er saw Yan Zhu and Yuanyuan take out the two turtles and dress them up.

One was pink, the other green. It was simply unbearable to look at…

Yuanyuan giggled. Even Princess Huiyi, who came over to watch, was laughing uncontrollably.

Bao’er also wanted to go, but Xu Shi wouldn’t let her. So, she started crying.

It was so loud that everyone was looking…

Xu Shi couldn’t bear the embarrassment and slapped her.

Eldest Madam Cui’s face darkened. “What kind of behavior is this!”

Madam Qi was also anxious and immediately ordered the maids to drag Xu Shi out.

Xu Shi was shocked, her face flushed purple with shame.

The Cui family’s maids, many of them skilled in martial arts, dragged her out, her feet barely touching the ground.

As she passed by Wen Yu, she noticed Wen Yu had a “sympathetic smile” on her face…

Xu Shi almost died of shame.

Eldest Madam Cui was still not satisfied and sent someone to the front to call Qi Xiao over and give him a scolding!

This was the first time Eldest Aunt had lost her temper with Qi Xiao. Qi Xiao was so frightened that he didn’t dare to say a word.

Madam Qi told the couple to go back, she would take Bao’er back herself!

Qi Xiao left dejectedly, Xu Shi sobbing, they left.

But Bao’er, carefree, stopped crying and played happily with Yuanyuan. She especially liked “Sister Zhuzhu.”

Yuanyuan taught her: “You should call her Aunt Zhuzhu!”

Bao’er refused and even fought with Yuanyuan over the various dolls made by Xiao Liu’er… The two little girls bickered noisily.

The adults’ heads were aching…

✿✿✿

Madam Qi, after sending the couple away, felt unprecedentedly relaxed and happy.

She had someone send some of the snacks brought by Yan Zhu to her father’s side.

With Xu Shi gone, she could speak freely: “Try these snacks, this girl called Zhuzhu is truly skilled and ingenious. Look at these snacks, how beautifully made they are? We’re planning to open a restaurant, along with a snack shop…”

Everyone looked at them, “So beautiful?”

Among those present, there was a Madam Yuan. She actually owned a snack shop, in a prime location, with decent business. Hearing about the snacks, her heart stirred, and she was the first to grab a small plate and fill it with several pieces.

She didn’t care about the looks others were giving her.

She took them to the side, carefully examined them for a long time, then approached Yan Zhu.

“Are you Miss Yan Zhu?”

Yan Zhu was having fun, hearing someone talking to her, she replied, “I am Yan Zhu. And you are…”

“I am the eldest daughter-in-law of General Yuan’s residence. Looking at these snacks…”

Yan Zhu had been playing with the children, so she hadn’t paid attention to this woman before. Now, as the woman approached to speak, she took a closer look…

How could this woman be so beautiful?

And, very familiar… Who did she resemble?!

For a moment, she actually forgot what she wanted to ask.

“What about the snacks?” Yan Zhu asked curiously.

“Oh! I mean, these snacks are quite beautiful. Did you make them according to a recipe?”

“Some are made according to recipes, and some I came up with myself.”

“You can even come up with your own? Then this…” She pointed at one of them…

Wen Yu was talking to someone when she saw a young woman approaching Yan Zhu.

She was about to go over to hear what they were saying when Yuanyuan suddenly shouted, “Sister Zhuzhu, don’t get distracted!”

“Sister Zhuzhu, don’t get distracted!” Bao’er echoed.

“You should call her Aunt Zhuzhu!” Yuanyuan corrected.

The woman was a little embarrassed and stopped asking. Instead, she sat to the side and began to study the snacks carefully.

Wen Yu was a little unhappy. How many snacks could Yan Zhu bring? They had even sent a portion to the front.

This woman, regardless of whether others had eaten or not, had taken several pieces at once… It seemed rather impolite.

Normally, guests wouldn’t behave like this.

Somehow, she felt uneasy, so she went to ask Madam Qi.

Madam Qi had also seen it and was equally unhappy. She pulled Wen Yu aside.

“This person, her background is a bit strange. To make a long story short, she is the eldest daughter-in-law of General Yuan, originally from the Wen family. Old Madam Wen is Liu Shi. This Madam Yuan’s mother is Liu Shi’s niece from her maternal family. And, she remarried into the Wen family after divorcing her previous husband. This woman was also brought over, her surname changed, and her name is Wen Xianggui.”

“That’s complicated.” Wen Yu had to listen carefully to understand.

“It gets even more complicated. It’s said that back then, Madam Wen favored her younger son and disliked her elder son. The elder son ran away from home for several years. Later, the younger son died of smallpox. Then, before the elder son was found, Madam Wen married the divorced Xiao Liu Shi to him in his place. She even had the girl she brought with her change her surname and join the family register!”

“This… This is all so messy!”

“Indeed! Later, the eldest son of the Wen family was found and brought back by a clan member from another province, but he was seriously ill.”

Wen Yu listened with great interest, so incredible? It was like something out of a storybook!

County Princess Huiyi, seeing them talking so mysteriously, also came over to listen to the gossip.

“He recovered from his illness, but he also forgot many things, and for many years he wouldn’t talk about what he had experienced. He refused to acknowledge this wife. No matter how Madam Wen made a fuss, he wouldn’t compromise! Later, by chance, he showed his face in front of the Emperor, and you know what, he turned out to be quite capable.”

“He’s now in the Ministry of Revenue, managing a lot of affairs! He’s doing very well. Since he’s become successful, his cowardly father finally dared to argue a few words with his wife. It was not easy for Wen Xianggui to grow up and get married.”

“Many people looked down on her background and also looked down on Liu Shi and her daughter-in-law. They originally had high aspirations, but in the end, they had no choice but to marry the eldest son of the Yuan family. The eldest son of the Yuan family is ugly…”

County Princess Huiyi interjected: “Don’t forget, that Old Madam Wen treats her like her own granddaughter! She gave her a generous dowry and even gave her the big shop on West Street. She runs a snack shop, so she’s paying attention! Look…”

They saw Madam Yuan breaking open all the snacks, examining them inside and out, and even tasting them.

In the end, she took out her handkerchief and wrapped them all up…