A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 102

Chapter 102

That night, Old Madam Wen was tired and sleepy, but she couldn’t fall asleep.

The next morning, she excused everyone from paying their respects and sat by the window, lost in thought.

Someone came in to announce: “Old Madam, Madam Zhang is here!”

She hadn’t recovered yet, so she was stunned for a moment before she quickly said: “Quickly, please invite her in!”

Madam Zhang entered: “I came early in the morning without prior notice. I feel bad for disturbing you so soon after you just got home.”

“Why are you still being so polite with me? You’re welcome to come anytime!”

The two of them laughed and chatted for a bit.

Madam Zhang subtly steered the conversation, and seeing that Old Madam Wen didn’t mention anything about the Qi family, she felt a little relieved.

Her sister-in-law had taken Zhang Moqing to Zanquan Mountain Estate. Zhang Moqing’s marriage to the Qi family’s Fourth Young Master had been settled, so her sister-in-law quickly sent word home.

Zhang Moqing even sent a short letter, simply saying: Madam Qi has a very good impression of Wen Yu.

This surprised her greatly.

Although she felt that Madam Qi wanting Wen Yu as her legitimate daughter-in-law was a bit unreliable, who could say for sure?

Everyone in her own family, from top to bottom, loved Ah Yu!

Originally, she wanted to wait until Zhang Jiangqing’s official position was confirmed before proposing marriage, so that both families would have face.

But if they went back and forth like this, they might miss out on a good marriage!

Upon hearing the news, Zhang Jiangqing became anxious and urged her to go to the Wen family immediately.

The two families had a close relationship, so she didn’t beat around the bush and said directly: “Actually, I came here for a reason. Originally, I just wanted to wait for a suitable opportunity to mention it to you. But now I’m worried that we might miss out. So…just between the two of us, please don’t take offense if I’m being too straightforward!”

Old Madam Wen’s expression froze. Why was she speaking in this tone again? Could it be that she also came for Wen Yu?

She nervously swallowed, “We’re close, just tell me.”

“I want to ask for your Wen Yu as a wife for my Jiangqing!”

“Ah!” Old Madam Wen couldn’t help but cry out. Although this wasn’t beyond her expectations, but happening all at once, she felt overwhelmed.

Madam Zhang looked at Old Madam Wen’s expression, feeling a bit strange, but she continued: “Originally, his father was trying to secure an official position for Jiangqing. He doesn’t have an official title, and having a position would make it more presentable when proposing marriage, but it will take some time. Wen Yu is older, and so outstanding! As the saying goes, ‘A good daughter attracts many suitors,’ so I wanted to let you know first.”

“This…” Old Madam Wen’s original intention was to marry Wen Yu into the Zhang family.

The Wen and Zhang families had always had a good relationship, and it would be most appropriate to use Wen Yu to maintain it. Moreover, that boy Jiangqing had a good temperament, was down-to-earth and hardworking, it wouldn’t be a disgrace to Wen Yu.

But…

Compared to the conditions offered by Song Shang…it wouldn’t be interesting at all!

“What’s wrong?!” Madam Zhang’s heart skipped a beat.

Old Madam Wen looked troubled: “Oh, this is so difficult…” It was hard for her to refuse directly, but she had to: “The thing is…Wen Yu’s matter, maybe, has already been settled.”

“Ah? Could it be the Qi family?” Madam Zhang blurted out.

“…No.” How did she even know about that? This was troublesome. “It’s not the Qi family, it was decided by her grandfather.” She decisively shifted the blame!

“How come I haven’t heard of this?!”

“It was just a few days ago, when Feng Ge’er got married, he came back and mentioned it. We even had an argument about it…Sigh, you know a thing or two about my family’s matters.”

“This is so unexpected…” Madam Zhang was usually very composed, but at this moment, disappointment and sadness were written all over her face.

Her own silly boy was still waiting for news outside.

Thinking that such a good daughter-in-law was gone, she became anxious: “Which family is it? Has the engagement been finalized?”

“That old man said he would decide. It hasn’t been finalized yet. Sigh, you know, I really like Jiangqing! If he could become my grandson-in-law, I’d be overjoyed. But my husband…”

“Oh dear, I don’t know what to say at the moment.” Madam Zhang murmured, how much of a blow would this be to her son when he heard about it?!

“I’m truly sorry.”

“It’s alright…I should have decided earlier.”

“Sigh, it’s just a coincidence. Sigh, my family’s matters…How about this, I’ll go ask him again.”

When things had come to this point, what else was there to ask?

Madam Zhang forced a smile: “I was presumptuous, coming directly to ask without any prior notice. Please don’t blame me, later…Well then, you must be tired after just coming back, please rest first, I’ll go back now.”

Old Madam Wen tried to persuade her to stay for a bit, but Madam Zhang still left.

Seeing her hurriedly leave after escorting her to the door, Old Madam Wen’s heart churned violently. Now, had she offended the Zhang family as well?

What should she do…

✿✿✿

Fortunately, she had shifted all the blame onto the “dead old man.”

But at this moment, she didn’t know that the “dead old man” was grinning from ear to ear, rushing towards them with all his might.

Beside him, there was a youth of extraordinary beauty.

✿✿✿

After a sleepless night, Wen Yu woke up early, feeling that she couldn’t just wait passively.

Fortunately, the Qi family’s carriage was still left for her.

Old Madam Wen ignored her, and Wu Shi was busy with something, so Wen Yu easily left the house.

Wen Yu told Li Jiang an address, it was Song Shang’s villa in this area.

Arriving at the gate, Li Jiang directly asked to see Song Shang, and after a short while, Song Shang came running out.

“Ah Yu…Cousin, why, why are you here?!” Yesterday, he was scared away, and later beat himself up a few times, laughing bitterly for a long while.

Wen Yu got off the carriage, ignoring him, and went straight inside.

Song Shang cautiously followed behind, watching her expression, and quickly ordered people to serve tea, dismissing them all.

Wen Yu looked at him, “Cousin, how much silver did it cost you to buy me?!”

Song Shang was pouring tea for her, and upon hearing these words, he clanged the teacup. He put down the teapot with a wry smile, “Ah Yu, don’t be like this…”

“What’s so embarrassing about it?! You have silver! How impressive! You can buy anything! If I had it, I would throw the silver at your head and redeem myself!” She cried out weakly, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.

“Ah Yu…”

“Hehe, Grandmother must be happy, right? She wanted to get rid of me, but she didn’t expect to sell me for a high price! Turning trash into treasure, she must be ecstatic!”

“You’re saying that the danger on the mountain road was orchestrated by your grandmother? How is that possible?!” Song Shang was shocked.

“Why is it impossible? How important am I?! It’s said that you, Song Shang, are smart, capable, and ruthless, but you still had to pay a high price! I’m so important, how could I not be an eyesore to someone in the Wen family?”

“Ah Yu, I know Old Madam has neglected you because of your father, but to say that she would try to kill you…it shouldn’t be.”

“Shouldn’t be? There are many people who hate me! Including the one you brought me!”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Hmph!” Wen Yu ignored him. Without evidence, it was pointless to say anything.

“But if that’s really the case…Ah Yu, shouldn’t you leave the Wen family even more?” Song Shang said.

“Leave? You mean sell myself!” Wen Yu was merciless at this moment, “I heard that you were competing with someone for Miss Yingying, bidding up to thirty thousand, but you didn’t win. I don’t think you really couldn’t win, you just thought it wasn’t worth it anymore, right? Although Wen Yu isn’t ugly, the price you offered is too flattering!”

“Wen Yu!” Song Wu became serious. “You can’t talk about me like that! Yingying is someone from my private property, they were just setting a trap to raise the price. For me, it was business. You can’t think of me like that!”

“It’s the same…”

“Ah Yu…” Song Wu pleaded, “First of all, I want to apologize to you. I’m sorry! It’s all my fault! I haven’t divorced Wei Shi yet, and I haven’t discussed it with you, but I went to your grandmother. That’s because…I was worried that Madam Qi had her eye on you. In my situation, if I didn’t show sincerity, how could the Wen family agree?”

“Then do you know? Madam Qi did have her eye on me, but Grandmother refused!”

“Ah?! Really? But she…” Why?!

“So, do you know what my situation is in the Wen family? And you’re joining forces to bully me?!” She sobbed with tears and snot.

“No, no, no! Ah Yu, I told you before, in this world, only my mother and you are the ones I cherish the most!”

“It’s all because of you…Sob, but have you ever considered, am I willing??”

“Ah Yu, I will really be very, very good to you!” Song Shang was panicking, usually he was quite eloquent, but now he didn’t know what to say.

“I promise, I will treat you well for the rest of my life. There will be no one else by my side. And, and the official position I’m seeking is almost within reach. If you follow me, you won’t be a commoner or a merchant’s wife. You will also have an imperial title!”

“I don’t care about that!” Wen Yu said sincerely, “Although I have no say in my own marriage, the Wen family marrying me off is mostly for their own benefit. My future husband might not treat me well, he might take concubines. But these are things I can bear.

But what I cannot bear is that you, Cousin, paid a high price to buy me!”