A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 164

Chapter 164: Inconceivable

On the fifth day of the New Year, Wen Yu accompanied her uncle to visit Lord Mo’s residence.

Her uncle had mentioned that Lord Mo enjoyed a good drink, so she asked Li Jiang to go to the Song residence and request a few bottles of fine wine.

The people at the Song residence must have received instructions from their master, as they didn’t say anything and simply delivered the wine.

When Wen Yu and Yan Zhu arrived at her uncle’s house, they saw that the whole family was dressed up.

Ma Shi was actually not there!

Wen Yu didn’t ask and busied herself with getting ready to leave.

Aunt Chen, being an honest person, pulled Wen Yu aside and said, “She fell ill again on New Year’s Eve. She’s only just able to get out of bed. Moreover, she had an unpleasant encounter with Lord Mo’s daughter-in-law before… so she won’t be going.”

“It’s better that she doesn’t go! With her absence, Rui Ge’er will be peaceful.”

Ma Shi was in her room, cursing and grumbling, but she didn’t dare to raise her voice.

Two serious illnesses in a row had frightened her. That feeling was truly unbearable.

Am I going to die soon?

No way! Life is good now, I can’t just collapse.

It would be too much to let others benefit from my misfortune!

With her limited understanding, she never thought that Wen Yu was behind her illnesses.

But she still cursed for a long time, “That jinx! I’ve never had a good day since I met her! She’s born to be my nemesis… Just you wait… Ouch… That damn girl, knowing I’m sick, she doesn’t even come to see me, or bring me some bird’s nest to nourish me…”

Lord Mo’s family had prepared a sumptuous feast. Today, there were really no other guests.

Looking at Wen Yu and Yan Zhu in front of him, as well as the increasingly poised Chen Wenjie, Lord Mo felt happy, “There are no outsiders today, just our families! Old woman, bring out the gifts you’ve prepared!”

Madam Mo smiled brightly, “What’s the rush?!”

Wen Yu presented the fine wine, and Lord Mo’s eyes crinkled with delight.

Yan Zhu had brought some needlework, especially the dolls made by Xiao Liu’er. Lord Mo’s daughter was overjoyed.

Madam Mo had previously clashed with Ma Shi and looked down on her greatly, which extended to a coolness towards the entire Chen family.

Today, seeing the three Chen daughters, she felt a sense of fondness. Seeing her youngest daughter’s delight, she let go of the past unpleasantness and became fully engaged.

The Mo family also had a boy about the same age as Chen Wenliang. Seeing the two beautiful older sisters, he blushed crimson even before any interaction.

Chen Wenliang, the little rascal, winked and teased him subtly.

The two teenagers ran off to play together.

When Lord Mo heard that Chen Wensi would be going to handle his eldest sister’s affairs after the fifteenth, he asked a few serious questions.

To his surprise, Chen Wensi was able to answer them all. It seemed he had come prepared.

He nodded in satisfaction and said to Uncle Chen, “Wensi used to be a bit superficial, his thoughts were scattered, and he lacked a clear direction. Listening to him now, he’s much more organized. This trip will not only resolve your eldest daughter’s situation but also help him become more practical and show significant improvement. This is a good idea!”

Uncle Chen also nodded.

“However, the journey is long, be sure to prioritize safety. And remember, your well-being is what matters most. Don’t be too concerned about dowry and property!”

“Yes!” Chen Wensi replied respectfully.

Lord Mo turned to Wen Yu and said with a smile, “I saw your future husband that day! He’s incredibly handsome! Even an old man like me was completely captivated! Yu girl, be careful when you’re out and about! There will be many people vying for his attention! The Qi family is powerful, so they wouldn’t dare to do anything directly. But they could still try to harm you.”

Hearing this, Madam Mo said softly, “Father is right. Among the noble ladies in the capital, there are those with cunning minds and those who resort to crude methods. They act without fear of serious consequences. Moreover, among men… there are also those who are quite despicable. So, younger sister, you really need to be careful.”

Uncle Chen was frightened, “Lord Mo, what should we do?”

“Your wedding is still a few months away. Avoid visiting families you’re not familiar with. Once you marry into the Qi family and your status changes, others will think twice before trying anything.”

Madam Mo added, “Take reliable people with you. Be cautious with food and drink, don’t go to unfamiliar places alone, and don’t accompany people you don’t know well!”

Madam Mo sighed, “I’ve never encountered any of this. Is it really that scary?!”

Madam Mo had risen from humble beginnings alongside her husband, so she had limited experience with the affairs of high society.

However, her daughter-in-law was part of the capital’s social circles and had a gossipy best friend, so she knew about most of the happenings.

“It’s better to be safe than sorry!”

“Then, Can’er…” Madam Mo became worried and called her daughter-in-law, “Go over there and share some stories with the girls!”

Madam Mo also enjoyed a good gossip, so she led the girls to the side with a smug expression.

It wasn’t just Yan Zhu who was shocked; even Wen Yu found many of the stories they heard inconceivable…

……

✿✿✿

Upon returning home, Wen Yu called for Laba.

“Fifth Young Master wasn’t clear. What kind of banquet is it at the Eastern Palace on the sixth?”

“I’m not sure about that. Should I inquire?”

“If you ask, wouldn’t that person… know?”

“……Yes.”

“Then forget it!”

“What does Miss want to know?”

“After hearing some stories from Madam Mo today, I’m feeling a bit uneasy. Why does the Crown Prince want to see me?”

Laba knew this! “The Crown Prince holds Fifth Young Master Qi in high regard. He probably wants to see if you’re worthy of him!”

“……” Wen Yu thought to herself: He’s not my mother-in-law, what right does he have to judge my worthiness?

What if I’m not worthy?

My mother-in-law approves!

“What about the Crown Prince and Crown Princess?” Wen Yu didn’t dare to speak disrespectfully when mentioning them.

“The Crown Prince took a blow for the Emperor in his early years. His health is somewhat frail. The Emperor cares for him deeply. The Crown Princess is very capable. The Crown Prince… we all fear him.”

“You’re afraid?!?” Wen Yu had long noticed Laba’s reckless nature.

“Truly afraid! I’m not lying. The Crown Princess…” Laba curled her lip.

“I haven’t interacted with her, but I’ve heard, you know, that she’s not easy to get along with. I’ve also heard that she’s done many wrong things, all uncovered by my boss. But what exactly, I haven’t found out.”

Wen Yu looked at her, speechless. Are you guys allowed to pry into such matters?

But, if she didn’t pry, how would I know anything?

“Laba, you haven’t had a break for the New Year. Later, I’ll give you some silver, treat your fellow disciples to a proper New Year celebration.”

“Really?? That would be wonderful! We’re very poor, you know. Sometimes we have monthly wages, sometimes we don’t. It’s only after coming to Miss that I’ve saved some silver. But I lent it to my senior brother last time.”

“Your senior brother borrowed silver from you?”

“He found his family and needed it.”

“I haven’t asked you before, Laba, what about your family?!”

“I’m an orphan, raised by my master.”

“Oh… You must handle a lot of silver in your line of work, how come you’re still struggling?”

“We handle a lot of silver, but we don’t dare to keep it. Like that time on the boat…” Oops, she almost revealed the incident with the two men. “I found some silver on the boat and turned it all in. If I hadn’t, and it was discovered later, it would be big trouble!”

“That’s alright. If you don’t want to take silver back, you can think about what your fellow disciples need and buy things for them directly! They can’t confiscate those, right? I’ll give you more silver, book a restaurant for you all to eat and drink…”

“Miss, you’re too kind! Thank you on behalf of my fellow disciples!” Laba’s eyes crinkled with delight. She was truly carefree.

“You mentioned earlier that the Crown Prince doesn’t hold the Crown Princess accountable?”

“The Crown Prince was very angry, but the Crown Princess protected her.”

“But, if they really wanted to pursue it, would the Crown Princess side with her niece from her maternal family instead of her son?”

“That’s unclear. However, the Crown Prince doesn’t want the Crown Prince to know about these matters. So, it’s probably not something they can openly address!”

“I understand.”

“Miss, what Madam Mo said is true. I’ve heard and seen such things. You do need to be careful! Like going to the Eastern Palace, it’s vast, with many buildings, ponds, and narrow passages. The guards there are no pushovers. If the Crown Princess or Crown Prince’s Consort wanted to do something, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to help much. So, be careful with your food and drink…”

“You make it sound like a dragon’s den! Will Fifth Young Master Qi be there?”

“He will be. If Madam Qi goes, you’ll be safe by her side!”

“Oh? Is Madam Qi that formidable?”

“Yes! I heard that in her younger years, Madam Qi even got into physical altercations! Besides, Madam Qi has her father and brothers, all very powerful! Who would dare to provoke her?”

“Indeed, no one would dare…”