A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 101

Chapter 101

Old Madam Wen sat there, steadying herself.

“…Last time I heard from your mother, you were still seeking an official position, that’s really good! If you truly can’t continue with Wei Shi…handle it properly, and I won’t stop you.

If you have an official position, you can absolutely find another respectable family. We’ll be going to the capital in a few months, leave this matter to me.”

Song Shang gently shook his head, “I’m thinking long term about the Song family’s affairs. I’ve also been managing the Wen family’s properties very well. For so many years, step by step, I’ve never made a mistake. But no one can be perfect…Grandaunt, please just grant me this slightly absurd wish!”

Old Madam Wen became suspicious, “You and that Wen Yu girl, are you two…” Have you already done something improper?

She wasn’t someone who hadn’t experienced such things, didn’t Wen Qian create a huge mess like this? He didn’t even tell her beforehand. In the end, he thought it was flawless, but she was the one who helped clean up the mess!

Please don’t cause any more trouble…

“Grandaunt, don’t you understand your own granddaughter? I respect Ah Yu too much to ever put her in a situation of infidelity or impurity!”

Old Madam Wen blushed a little, “Sigh, recent matters…”

There have been too many! Even Madam Qi has taken a fancy to her, wanting her as a daughter-in-law for her own son!

That’s Qi Wu, even after living for several decades, she’d never seen such a handsome man! Not to mention his family background, wealth, and abilities.

“Let’s not talk about those things…” Old Madam Wen looked at Song Shang’s demeanor, he was holding the lifeline of the Wen family’s properties, this was no trifling matter!

“Before her father went to the capital, his intention was the Zhang family. There have been many matters these days, and some unexpected events in between, so we haven’t had time to discuss it. In the next few days, I’ll finalize this matter. Then, she’ll marry into the Zhang family, and we’ll go to the capital. It’s settled…” Old Madam Wen decided resolutely.

“Grandaunt…” Song Shang pleaded with a look of despair.

“I won’t hide it from you! You managing the Wen family’s properties is extremely important to the Wen family. Think about it: me, Wen Yu’s grandfather, and her father, could we possibly be at ease mixing personal feelings into this?”

Song Shang said, “Then I’d be a son-in-law of the Wen family, half a son, wouldn’t that make the relationship with the Wen family even closer?”

That would also have to be with Wen Yu’s consent, without her obstructing it! Old Madam Wen felt anxious, directly refusing, “No. This matter, you don’t need to mention it again!”

“Grandaunt, to show my sincerity, I’ll offer two hundred thousand taels as a betrothal gift!”

This statement completely stunned Old Madam Wen…

Two hundred thousand taels of silver?

“Are you crazy! You’re truly crazy…” Despite her words, her heart was filled with wild joy.

The room fell silent. She stared blankly at Song Wu, unable to believe it was true.

“Ah Shang, this is no joking matter!!” She added another sentence, just in case she had misunderstood. But after saying it, she felt it wasn’t appropriate, and added another sentence, “Are you asking the Wen family to sell their daughter?”

“How could you think that? I just want to show my sincerity!”

In truth, he felt very apprehensive, if Ah Yu found out, who knew how angry she would be.

But if he didn’t take drastic measures, she would fly away.

“…But you, why are you doing this?” Even Old Madam Wen, a composed and calculating person, couldn’t maintain her composure at this moment.

In casual conversations, she had heard that the renowned Huang Yingying by the Qinhuai River had a redemption price of fifty thousand taels, that was already considered an astronomical price!

And Song Wu was offering two hundred thousand right off the bat.

Of course…although she couldn’t calculate her own granddaughter like that. But why was he paying such a price?

She couldn’t help but doubt the authenticity and motive behind this matter.

“I know Yu girl is beautiful, but you’ve been out in the world, what kind of women haven’t you seen? I heard you…” Old Madam Wen spoke incoherently.

“Old Madam, they are just…those women. But Ah Yu, is Wen Yu.”

Song Shang’s face darkened, although his approach was somewhat despicable, Old Madam Wen’s attitude also angered him.

“I know, I know…” Old Madam Wen’s face flushed red, in her haste, she had compared her granddaughter to “those women.”

“Ah Shang, this matter, I, I can’t give you an answer right now.” She said with difficulty. She needed to think this through carefully, to have reached her current position, being bold was important. But caution was equally crucial.

“I need to think it over carefully, and discuss it with her father…you should go back and think it over too. Two hundred thousand, even for the Song family, is no small sum! How can you afford it?”

If the Song family found out, wouldn’t they make a fuss at her house, wouldn’t they create trouble all the way to the capital?

“Don’t worry, this is my private savings. No one else will know!”

✿✿✿

Heavens, how did he have so much money?

“…Ah Shang, it wasn’t easy for you to achieve what you have today!” She didn’t even know what to say.

“Two hundred thousand is indeed a lot, but for Ah Yu, I don’t even bat an eye. If you entrust her to me, I’ll be half a son to the Wen family. In the future, I’ll definitely become even closer to the Wen family.”

It would be wonderful if it could be like this! But Wen Yu was a huge variable…

Just based on his spineless demeanor, if Wen Yu married him, would she still listen to whatever he said?

If Wen Yu found out, she could clearly marry that handsome man from the Marquis Household.

But I took the money and promised her to a merchant family.

Wouldn’t she hate me?!

If she instigated Song Shang to turn against me…the losses would outweigh the gains.

However, this was two hundred thousand!

On second thought: what if he turned against me?

As long as Wen Qian’s official career went smoothly, there would be many ways to earn money, this part wouldn’t be as important as before. Furthermore, with official authority suppressing them, what could they possibly do?

Therefore, she finally revealed a smile. “You child…you’ve stirred my mind into a complete mess. To be honest, in this world, apart from Wen Qian, you’re the one I care for the most! Even Feng Ge’er can’t compare. Although I, Old Madam Wen, love money, I love even more your straightforward attitude. Forget it…children and grandchildren are all debts, I’ll just accept it!”

Song Shang was overjoyed, “Thank you, Grandaunt, for granting my wish!”

“But! This matter, don’t speak of it to anyone for now. It wouldn’t be good for your reputation, nor for the Wen family’s.”

“Understood, understood!” Song Shang was so happy he scratched his head and ears.

His behavior angered Old Madam Wen once again.

✿✿✿

Wen Yu returned to her room, feeling restless.

The shadows of her past life kept flashing before her eyes. It seemed he truly had “unrelenting intentions.”

If he offered that condition again, Grandmother would definitely agree.

Qi Wu, hurry up!

While she was lost in thought, Xiangshu’s mother brought her to Wen Yu, kneeling before her.

Xiangshu’s cheek and ear were injured, her arm wasn’t broken, but it was red and swollen, the pain made it impossible for her to lift it.

“Miss, Xiangshu’s injuries are quite severe this time, she won’t be able to serve you for a while. I’m afraid of delaying your matters, so…would you like to find someone to replace her? Once she recovers…”

Xiangshu was in great pain, her eyes were swollen from crying.

Wen Yu said, “Xiangshu is the most seriously injured, she has suffered. Go back and recuperate properly. She’s not young anymore, this is her contract of service, I’ll give it to you, find her a suitable marriage when the time comes.”

Xiangshu and her mother were overjoyed, they couldn’t stay in this house any longer.

“Also, these thirty taels of silver are for her to nourish her body. And these two bolts of fine fabric, along with a pair of gold earrings and a gold hairpin, consider them my contribution to her dowry!”

“Oh my, Miss, this, what is the meaning of this? She hasn’t served you for long!”

“Such a major incident happened, I feel bad about it! No need to say more, take her and leave.”

Xiangshu’s mother was overjoyed, she took her daughter and kowtowed, then left.

After sending them away, Wen Yu couldn’t sit still in her room and walked out.

Just as she approached Grandmother’s main courtyard, she happened to encounter Song Shang. He walked with light and hurried steps, a genuine smile on his face.

Song Shang also saw Wen Yu. She stood there, her figure cold and aloof, her gaze piercing. That feeling…it made him feel extremely afraid. He opened his mouth, unable to speak…after a moment of hesitation, he turned and fled in a panic.

“…” Oh no!