A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 166

Chapter 166

Wen Yu sat quietly, waiting for Madam Qi to come looking for her.

She pondered to herself: I wonder how that Crown Prince wants to see me, it’s really annoying.

She wanted to keep a low profile and avoid trouble.

But trouble still found her.

The Crown Princess’s name is Xue Ying.

By lineage, she was distantly related to Xu Minghui’s ancestors. After the Xu family’s downfall, they didn’t interact much.

But the two of them looked quite similar.

Both were of the glamorous type.

It’s just that Xue Ying had lived a life of luxury and ease both before and after marriage, so she was more delicate and arrogant!

She had a few close friends who were doing well, one of whom, Zhang Jinjin, was married into the Imperial Son-in-Law’s Residence. Bored, she caught sight of Wen Yu.

Such beauty, and she didn’t recognize her!

She asked around.

But the Wen family was really unknown, and it took a lot of asking before she found out. Oh, so this was Qi Wulang’s fiancée…

Thinking of the dashing figure riding on horseback… standing together with the girl in front of her, how enviable that would be…

Malice suddenly arose in her heart!

This person, or rather the people in her circle, acted on their whims, regardless of the consequences.

And with the Wen family’s lowly status, she wouldn’t hesitate to do whatever she wanted.

She stood up and went to the rear hall.

The Crown Princess was standing next to the Crown Prince’s Consort, talking to someone!

Zhang Shi signaled with her eyes at the door, and the Crown Princess, seeing it, quietly slipped out.

“Your Highness, there’s someone I dislike, help me deal with her, will you?”

“Who’s caught your eye this time?!”

“Will you help or not?!”

“We’ll talk later! What kind of day is it today? If something happens, I won’t have the face to show!”

“Your affairs are becoming more and more successful, why are you becoming so cautious!”

“You don’t understand… several Princesses are here! If something breaks out, my aunt will be furious with me?!”

“I’m not asking for much! Just make her lose face.”

“Who is it?!”

“It’s that obscure Wen family girl.” Seeing that the Crown Princess didn’t react immediately: “Qi family’s Fifth Young Master’s fiancée…”

“Qi Wulang… Did she offend you?” The Crown Princess hesitated. Given Qi Wulang’s background and current situation, provoking him would be troublesome.

“Your Highness, that girl looks like a fox spirit, I find her unpleasant.”

This friend had helped her out of many tough situations. Seeing her persistence, the Crown Princess didn’t think too much: “You’re really troublesome, what do you want me to do?”

“Just have a female official call her to that narrow passageway, I’ll find a way to make her look like a mess!”

The Crown Princess didn’t say more, beckoning a person over, she said to Zhang Shi: “This is what you wanted! Just a bit of teasing, don’t make it a big deal. Lǜ Yì, you listen to her. Be careful, don’t make a scene.”

Zhang Shi smiled and whispered a few words to her maid.

Jīnzi was boasting to someone when the maid went over and said something to him…

His eyes lit up. “Really?!”

“When have I ever lied to you?!”

“Alright, I’m in!”

Prince Yongqing saw him leaving and asked: “Where are you going?”

“Something good, wanna come along!?”

Seeing his impatient and reckless demeanor, Prince Yongqing frowned: “We’re still waiting for someone here, you go and come back quickly.”

“Hurry up…” Jīnzi said with a wicked smile, his words laced with innuendo: “It might not be… that quick!”

✿✿✿

A person who looked like a female official came over and asked softly: “Are you Old Madam Wen and Miss Wen Yu?”

Old Madam Wen and Wen Yu hurriedly stood up, Old Madam Wen said: “We are from the Wen family, this is my eldest granddaughter, Wen Yu.”

The female official smiled, her voice still low, “The Crown Princess wishes to invite Miss Wen Yu over for a chat!”

Old Madam Wen was delighted upon hearing this.

But a thought flashed through Wen Yu’s mind: Trouble has really found me?

She feigned a surprised expression and blurted out: “The Crown Princess wants to see me? Madam, are you sure you haven’t made a mistake?!”

The female official was startled by Wen Yu’s loud voice, who dares to speak so loudly here?

How uncultured!

The female official’s face darkened, and she put on an arrogant air, but her voice remained low, “Did you not understand what I just said?”

“I didn’t understand!” Wen Yu replied earnestly.

✿✿✿

What’s wrong with this girl? Old Madam Wen was worried and was about to speak…

Wen Yu, who had been supporting her, pinched her hard.

Old Madam Wen “…”

It hurt.

But it also made her suspicious: Could something be wrong?

“…” The female official’s eyes turned cold, this woman was not playing by the usual rules.

“If you didn’t understand, I’ll say it again, the Crown Princess requests your presence!”

“But…” Wen Yu still pretended not to understand: “The Crown Princess is of noble status, and I am not acquainted with her. I am just a humble woman from an ordinary background. Today, with so many distinguished guests present, why would the Crown Princess want to speak to me alone?! Madam, are you sure you have the right person?!”

The people around them all looked over. Some even subtly moved closer…

“Miss Wen, it seems you truly don’t understand etiquette!” The female official was angry.

But Wen Yu didn’t care: “To be honest, Madam, this is my first time entering the imperial palace. The Wen family is of humble origins, we not only don’t know, but we also rarely encounter such etiquette on a daily basis. When you said it, I was confused. Please don’t blame me! Madam, are you saying that the Crown Princess wants to meet both my grandmother and me?”

This time, everyone around them heard.

The female official was truly angry now: “Since you don’t understand, just listen to what I say: Miss Wen, you alone, come with me!”

She forcefully made a “please” gesture.

Old Madam Wen knew something was wrong, her face paled. Although she usually dared to be arrogant, she didn’t have the guts to do so here!

The people around them also sensed something amiss. But no one dared to speak up. Those who had slowly moved closer now slowly backed away…

Two maidservants exchanged glances, and one of them slipped out.

Now that things were out in the open, Wen Yu couldn’t refuse: “Làbā, come with me!”

The female official wanted to stop Làbā, but then she thought, on our territory, can’t we deal with a mere maid? We can’t keep arguing here.

So, Wen Yu, with Làbā, followed the female official out, turning left and then left again, heading towards the back.

The Crown Prince was at the front, accompanying the Crown Prince’s Consort in receiving guests.

Qi Wu hadn’t arrived yet, he had already sent someone to inquire.

At this moment, Shuān’er, the delicate-looking young eunuch by his side, came over and whispered a few words.

The Crown Prince’s smile remained unchanged, but anger and hatred surged in his heart: That damned woman, what is she up to again!

“Investigate the reason. As for that Wen girl, test her limits first, just don’t let anything serious happen. I’ll be there soon…”

Wen Yu and Làbā followed behind the female official.

It was impossible not to be nervous, but her expression remained calm.

Làbā supported her and whispered: “Miss, you don’t have to worry too much. With me here, and with the Crown Prince watching, nothing will happen to you at his residence.”

Wen Yu nodded.

They walked a little further, and there was no one around.

There was a door ahead, and the female official was about to lead her out.

But Wen Yu stopped walking, “Madam, we’re about to leave the courtyard. I don’t understand imperial etiquette, but even when visiting ordinary people’s homes, one wouldn’t wander into their backyards. Are you making fun of me?!”

“Making fun of you?!” The female official turned around, her demeanor haughty.

“Isn’t that so? With so many guests here, who would dare to walk out of this door?!”

“This official is leading you, just follow me!”

“That’s not how it works! What if you made a mistake, wouldn’t I be implicated… ah, it’s not even a mistake! Trespassing in the Eastern Palace, that’s… a serious crime, right?! With the New Year approaching, what kind of crime, I can’t even bring myself to say it!”

“You!” The female official was furious.

Exiting that door led to a small corridor, turning left and right twice would bring them to a long, narrow passageway, usually deserted…

Zhang Shi was hiding on the other side of the corridor.

And Jīnzi was lurking inside the passageway.

Zhang Shi heard them reach the door but didn’t come in, instead, they were talking non-stop. Anxious, she blamed the female official for being incompetent.

She had two eunuchs and palace maids hidden beside her, and she gave them a signal.

The group walked over and stood next to the female official…

The female official looked at Wen Yu and Làbā with a sneer.

Làbā didn’t want to expose her identity, but now she had no choice. So, she let go of Wen Yu’s hand and was about to step forward…

But at that moment, two young palace maids suddenly appeared, walking from the front towards the back.

They were a little surprised to see so many people here.

Not wanting to get involved, they continued walking towards the back.

One of them glanced at Wen Yu curiously as she passed…

She stopped abruptly, blinked, and looked carefully…

Then, she hesitantly said: “Is that, Miss Wen?”