A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 168

Chapter 168

In front, Madam Qi arrived.

Old Madam Wen was anxiously waiting for her and hurried over to tell her what had just happened.

Madam Qi was startled. “Don’t worry yet. Are you sure that person said that the Crown Princess wanted to see Wen Yu?”

“Yes! Wen Yu asked twice, and the palace maid said the same thing both times.”

“I’ll go ask.”

Madam Qi turned and went straight to the inner hall.

The Crown Princess, Princess Wu, and a few others were seated in the inner hall. They were all laughing, though it wasn’t clear what they were talking about.

Madam Qi entered and first paid her respects to the princesses. “Crown Princess, Your Highnesses!”

In fact, most of the princesses had known Madam Qi since childhood.

Princess Yun had a good relationship with her and asked with a smile, “Fengying, why are you only arriving now?!”

“Something held me up. Crown Princess, I heard you called for my future daughter-in-law? ” Madam Qi didn’t waste any time and asked directly.

As soon as the Crown Princess saw Madam Qi enter, she remembered the matter with Zhang Jinjin. Why hadn’t she returned yet? What had happened?

Being questioned, she couldn’t help but feel guilty, not knowing how to answer.

The Crown Princess didn’t mind because today, this niece and daughter-in-law had been by her side the whole time and wouldn’t have had any conflict with the Wen girl.

So, she asked with a smile, “What’s wrong? Can’t find your beautiful daughter-in-law?”

Madam Qi saw that the Crown Princess’s expression was normal, while the Crown Princess’s face changed color. It must have been Xue Ying, that bitch, who was behind this!

“Crown Princess, perhaps you could ask the palace maids under your command? This humble official’s wife has urgent matters to attend to and needs to find her!”

The Crown Princess forced a smile. “Madam, please follow me…” She didn’t dare to linger and led Madam Qi out through a side door.

As soon as they were out the door, Madam Qi’s face darkened. “Did you call for Wen Yu?”

“No! I’ll ask my palace maids. Maybe there was a mistake.” The Crown Princess decisively shifted the blame.

“Crown Princess, as a member of the imperial family, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess are both very admirable. On a day like today, what are they doing? And you, you don’t even know what your own palace maids are doing… This humble official’s wife is truly disappointed… This humble official’s wife hopes Wen Yu is alright! Otherwise…” She stared at the Crown Princess.

“What do you mean?” The Crown Princess’s face hardened. She was ready to confront Madam Qi!

“It’s exactly what you think it means!” Madam Qi was not afraid at all.

“Do you know who you’re talking to?” The Crown Princess panicked!

“To you, Xue Ying. Hurry up and help me find someone, and let’s hope she’s alright!” Madam Qi gave her a steady look and left.

The Crown Princess just watched Madam Qi leave, not daring to make a scene or stop her.

Except in front of the Empress, she would restrain herself. She could endure grievances.

She had never been treated like this by anyone else!

She was so angry that she trembled. “What makes you so great?! Just you wait, if that day ever comes, I won’t leave a single member of your family alive…” She muttered to herself as there was no one around.

✿✿✿

Wen Yu, like beans pouring out of a bamboo tube, recounted the entire story of Liu Lanfang without pausing for breath.

Jiang Pinting, stunned for a long while, also shed tears.

The two were silent for a moment.

Jiang Pinting wiped her tears. “Alright, stop crying. You brought Lanzhou here, how did you settle him?”

“I bought a small courtyard. Yan Zhu is there now, the one who used to be Hong Dou by my side. She’s taking care of Lanzhou.”

Jiang Pinting nodded and helped Wen Yu straighten her hair. “Ah Yu, your actions surprised me! I always thought you were indecisive and hung up on things you couldn’t have. But in this matter, from beginning to end, you were brave, decisive, and resourceful. You’ve grown up, good job!”

She had always been criticized by Jiang Pinting, but this time she was finally acknowledged.

Wen Yu was very happy. “I’m different from before! How did you end up here?!”

“Sigh, it’s a long story! Back then, I left Jiangzhou with my grandfather and father, moving from place to place. Later, I went to the capital with my mother and aunt. My grandfather, father, and uncle were always away.

They were busy with disaster relief, water conservancy projects, and couldn’t return to the capital. We were living a good life… Then, half a year ago, out of the blue, I was made the Crown Prince’s Consort.

At that time, only my brother was at home… But even if my grandfather and father were there, I’m afraid there was nothing they could do. Anyway, I entered the Eastern Palace very quickly. Three months later, my grandfather and father returned. The Emperor commended them, promoted them, and gave them more power… That’s how it is!”

“Wow, Grandpa Jiang and Uncle Jiang are so capable! Are their positions very high? Pinting, you must have been unwilling to become a Consort, right?!”

“Of course I was unwilling!”

The Crown Prince listened to the story of the Liu siblings with great interest, secretly admiring this woman for her resourcefulness…

Then he heard Jiang Pinting expressing her disdain for being his Consort.

He raised his eyebrows, feeling very angry.

“I also heard that the Crown Prince has a… difficult personality…” Wen Yu said.

✿✿✿

The Crown Prince cursed silently: Who have you been listening to spout nonsense?!

“Let’s not talk about this for now. How did you end up here?” Jiang Pinting asked.

“My father was also promoted! He’s come to the capital! The whole family is here.” Wen Yu said with a flat tone.

“It’s good that Old Madam Wen and Madam Yuan were willing to bring you!”

“What do you mean? I had an arranged marriage in Jiangzhou, they had to bring me!”

“You’re engaged?! To whom?”

“Qi Wulang?!”

“Who’s that?!” Consort Jiang asked.

“…You don’t even know him?!”

“Why should I know him?!”

“Oh my, he’s the hottest topic in the capital lately!” Wen Yu couldn’t explain what her attitude should be. “Otherwise, would I have encountered this today?!”

“Right, forget about what happened earlier. Tell me everything from the beginning!”

The Crown Prince thought to himself, how come this Consort Jiang seems to be able to control Wen Yu so well?

Wen Yu had already gathered her emotions and was about to speak.

“Oh, let me interrupt for a moment…” Consort Jiang looked Wen Yu up and down. “I have to say… you’re truly beautiful!”

“Right!” Wen Yu rubbed her face against Jiang Pinting’s shoulder.

“Stop rubbing! You’re getting powder all over my clothes!”

She was being disliked again!

“Your Highness, Laba, who is with Miss Wen, is here!” A maid reported from outside the door.

“Let her in!”

Laba entered and wanted to whisper to Wen Yu.

Wen Yu said, “Just say it, she’s not an outsider!”

Consort Jiang sat steadily, appearing unfazed by praise or criticism.

“Miss, it should be Zhang Shi from the Imperial Son-in-Law’s Residence…”

Wen Yu had Laba gather information. Her fellow disciples were nearby and quickly informed her.

After hearing this, Consort Jiang and Wen Yu looked at each other, both speechless. This was the Eastern Palace!

Even if the imperial family was ruthless, wouldn’t they at least maintain a facade of politeness while hiding their daggers?

“Where is Zhang Shi?!” Wen Yu wondered.

“She initially hid in the inner courtyard, but when things got chaotic, she hid on the other side of the passageway!”

“Then you do this…” Wen Yu gave Laba a few instructions.

Laba agreed and left.

Consort Jiang looked at her with even more surprise. “You’ve really changed! People say you can tell a person’s character by the age of three. I thought you… how have you become like a different person?!”

Wen Yu chuckled and recounted the past events as briefly as possible.

Consort Jiang sighed. “So you’ve had much more experience than I have. My mother and aunt are both in average health. My brothers are busy with their studies and exams. I manage the household and live a secluded life, never interacting with strangers. So, when the title of Consort fell upon me, the whole family was stunned…”

“So, what are your thoughts?”

“I’m already here, what else can I do? Didn’t you see what just happened? The Crown Prince is noble and refined, who would have thought that his inner court would be this chaotic.”

“What about the Crown Princess?”

“The Crown Princess has to take care of the Crown Prince. I heard she often goes to the front study. The Crown Princess has been with her since she was little. The Crown Princess doesn’t care what outrageous things she does… The previous Consort was harmed while she was pregnant!”

“Ah?! What about you?” Wen Yu was shocked.

“Don’t worry, I’m not that easy to bully! Besides, I’m not interested in the position or children. It’s been half a year since I entered the palace, and I haven’t even consummated the marriage with the Crown Prince. I spend my days writing, life is quite peaceful!”

“Hmm, that’s good! Don’t rush to consummate the marriage! Maybe there will be some changes in the future!”

The Crown Prince thought to himself: What changes could there be? Waiting for me to die so she can remarry?

Bah!

These two women are still unmarried girls! How can they talk about whether they’ve consummated the marriage or not?!

They’re both shameless!

Oh my god, if they join forces, Qi Wu and I will be in trouble!

He left, feeling inexplicably flustered and resentful.