A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 106

Chapter 106

Old Master Wen returned to the front and, without delay, immediately sent someone to deliver the news.

As a result, after a short while, the matchmaker arrived at the door!

“…” Old Master Wen was taken aback.

Wen Feng, on the other hand, was running back and forth, afraid that this good nephew-in-law would fly away. He could already imagine how impressive it would be to be by his nephew-in-law’s side in the future.

Wouldn’t he be able to walk unhindered in the capital’s social circles?

The reason for this swiftness was that Qi Si hadn’t returned to the mountain villa at all, but had stayed in the area. He was well-versed in practical matters, and within a short time, he had arranged everything respectably and comprehensively.

The matchmaker said with a smile that the master’s family was in a hurry to return to the capital after finishing their business. So the procedures were both solemn and swift!

At this point, the more they fussed, the more they would lose face, so Old Madam Wen could only respond with a cheerful countenance.

She generously rewarded the matchmaker, readily exchanged the horoscopes, and began to proceed with the next steps.

✿✿✿

Wu Shi only received some good news after she returned.

It turned out that the matter she had been arranging for a long time had finally come to fruition: The widow, on her way to inspect her property, was provoked by others and beaten up, with several cuts on her face.

At that time, Wu Shi had just gone to the Qi family, so no one suspected her.

Wen Feng was in no mood to deal with someone whose face was ruined, and he didn’t bother looking for her.

This matter was handled beautifully!

She had just recovered from the hurt she suffered at the Qi family, and then she heard that Old Master Wen had returned and had decided on Wen Yu’s marriage.

Moreover, Wen Yu was going to marry Qi Wulang!

When Wen Jiao heard this, she immediately flew into a rage and jumped up to go find Old Madam Wen.

But Wu Shi knew that Old Madam Wen must be even more unhappy! It was not the time to provoke her.

The bruises on her own body hadn’t faded yet!

She managed to restrain Wen Jiao and went to see Old Madam Wen. Just as she was about to speak, Old Madam Wen, holding a teacup, gave her a sharp look.

Wu Shi was startled again. She was truly afraid of her mother-in-law, lest the teacup be thrown at her again…

Old Madam Wen was already in a bad mood, and seeing her made her even more displeased: “Useless thing!”

She coldly criticized her a few times, implying that she should behave herself recently and not do anything stupid!

Wu Shi couldn’t fathom Old Madam Wen’s thoughts from her expression, so she had to return, coax and threaten Wen Jiao, and persuade her for a long time before Wen Jiao finally calmed down resentfully.

Wen Yu returned to her courtyard, and Xiao Ji Niang came to report.

“Miss Yan Zhu’s courtyard has been rented, very close to ours. A two-entry courtyard with more than ten rooms, both the house and the courtyard are quite tidy. Miss Yan Zhu was quite happy when she saw the kitchen. But she said she was reluctant to be separated from you…”

“Haha, let her make some soups, and I’ll find time to go and have some.”

“Miss Yan Zhu insisted on going out to buy things, wanting to cook for you! Master Sun found two of his nieces to come and live with her first. I will also go over to stay at night. In a few days, we can buy a few more maids and older women, and it will be fine.”

“Don’t let her go out, if she wants anything, you guys go and buy it! As for buying people, wait until I have time to handle it! Tell Master Sun, please ask his nieces to take care of her for now. It can be quite troublesome for a young woman to live alone.”

“Yes. Also, Miss, the letter that Master Qing entrusted you to deliver, my husband went to deliver it. Um…” Xiao Ji Niang hesitated.

“Speak!”

“Miss, that place is called Yafeng Pavilion, it’s the largest… male courtesan house in Jinling. It’s that kind of place… They said the silver and the letter were for a qin master with a disabled leg.”

Oh?

“That master wore a veil, so I don’t know what he looks like!”

“Why so mysterious…”

“Miss, you have to be careful about this matter. If others find out, it will be terrible! Especially since you’re going to marry into the Qi family, countless eyes are watching, you can’t be careless at all.”

“Mm. Did he reply?”

“Yes, there’s a reply. I took the letter and went to Rainbow Phoenix Pavilion, but I couldn’t see Master Qing, and I couldn’t ask too many questions. The letter is here…”

“Alright, give it to me first. I still have to try on clothes, I’ll find an opportunity to give it to her.”

Xiao Ji Niang then reported on the accounts and silver that her husband had handed over.

Wen Yu felt that Xiao Ji and his family were really easy to work with!

The two were talking in the room, and the atmosphere in the small courtyard was much more tense than before.

Firstly, the kitchen staff came several times, asking what snacks the young lady wanted to eat, and what soup she wanted to drink in the evening, being very attentive!

Then, when Xiangshu’s mother heard the news, she almost bit off her molars in regret. She wanted to send her daughter back, but the deed of sale had been taken away, how could she return? She lingered at the entrance of the courtyard, hoping to bump into the young lady, say a few words, win her sympathy, and send her daughter back.

Qing He had never met Fifth Young Master Qi, and didn’t know what kind of person the Qi family was, but Xiao Ji was there.

Before the news of the engagement was announced, Xiao Ji was tight-lipped and didn’t say anything.

But once the news spread, the entire Wen family rejoiced, and Xiao Ji’s pride was as if it was she who was getting engaged!

Thinking that she would be a first-class maid in a marquis’s household in the future, perhaps she could even visit the imperial palace! It was as if she had ascended to heaven, and she began to look down on the other maids.

She repeatedly described how outstanding the young master was, and how foolish everyone else was when they saw him.

Qing He, listening to her, began to have her own thoughts.

These senior maids would accompany the young lady when she got married. In the future, they might even be taken as concubines by the young master… Among the current maids serving the young lady, Hong Xing’er was out of favor, Xiao Ji was too ugly, and Xiangshu had left… Besides her, there was no one else.

No, there was still Yan Zhu… She couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.

The young lady treated Yan Zhu so well, perhaps she had plans to use her as an advantage after marriage…

However, she wouldn’t take this step easily. After all, which mistress would want a concubine like Yan Zhu by her side? Wouldn’t that be asking for trouble?

Qing He’s thoughts jumped from one thing to another, her heart restless. But she also became more proactive, managing the work at hand with even greater care and precision.

As for Hong Xing’er, she was dumbfounded. Now, what should she do?

…

This matter, in just a short while, spread throughout Jiangzhou.

Madam Zhang immediately received the news, and the awkwardness she had felt earlier faded.

How could her own son compare to Fifth Young Master Qi? If Wen Yu were her own daughter, she would have made the same choice! The Wen family wasn’t considered to be acting improperly…

✿✿✿

So, she went to Zhang Jiangqing’s room.

Zhang Jiangqing’s several brothers had been accompanying him.

When he learned that his mother’s proposal had been rejected, he could only be described as dejected.

He hadn’t eaten or drunk anything all day, and hadn’t slept all night.

His brothers took turns trying to persuade him, but he remained silent.

Seeing his mother come in, he stood up and said, “Mother!” His mood was low.

Madam Zhang told him the news…

Zhang Jiangqing remained silent for a long time before saying, “Mother, Fifth Young Master Qi is very outstanding and a good match for Ah Yu. Son, I understand now. I will bless her! Son will also do well. ”

Madam Zhang was very moved, “Jiangqing, you are also outstanding! You will have your own good marriage.”

“Mother, there’s no rush for that now! Son’s heart has not yet recovered, to discuss marriage at this time would be unfair to others. Son wants to focus on doing things well and make a name for himself!”

“Good son! Mother will listen to you.”

✿✿✿

At night, Yan Zhu was not there, and Wen Yu slept alone.

She had already lain down when she suddenly heard a tapping sound from the back window, as if someone was throwing pebbles at it.

Her heart skipped a beat, thinking it might be that person, so she got up, wrapped herself tightly in a cloak, and then opened the window.

It was indeed him!

In the night, Qi Wu was still wearing black tight-fitting clothes and a black cloak, which made his face seem even paler.

He stood there straight, so handsome that Wen Yu couldn’t describe it.

Seeing her open the window, Qi Wu waited for a while, but Wen Yu didn’t speak for a long time.

He didn’t bother with pleasantries, and with a light leap, he entered the room.

His expression was quite calm, as if the two of them were meeting in broad daylight, rather than him sneaking into her boudoir under the cover of night.

There was also none of the shyness that should be present between two people who were about to be engaged.

Instead, he went straight to the point: “The matter you asked me to handle is progressing very smoothly. I’m a bit anxious, can you give me what you have first?”

“…” He didn’t try to conceal his purpose at all. In the dead of night, in her boudoir, there was no way to argue with him, so she could only whisper, “Wait a moment!”

She took out the package from the bottom drawer of the dressing table and whispered, “There’s another letter inside, but it involves Mrs. Hu’s private matters, so it’s not convenient for me to give it to you. The woman who poisoned her is a relative of Mr. Hu, married to one of his guards named Mu Qi. Most of these things were investigated by Mu Qi. The person you’re looking for might be him. He… should be quite formidable, you need to be careful.”

Her gentle and rational tone made Qi Wu feel a strange sensation in his heart, a mixture of sweetness and sourness, which he found quite pleasant.

Finally, he only hummed in acknowledgment: “I’ll go back and take a closer look. If there are no questions, I’ll go directly. Mother will come here after receiving the news to continue handling… our matter. The usual household matters are all handled by Fourth Brother, he’s booked the Yuexuan Inn in the east of the city, you can go there to find him if you need anything.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Qi Wu looked at her silently for a long time before saying again, “Are you… alright?” He had also been startled for a while when he heard about what had happened from Fourth Brother.

“Huh? Oh, are you talking about the carriage overturning? I’m fine.”

“I don’t have many people with me, how about asking Fourth Brother to assign someone to you?”

“I don’t need it for now, I can handle it.”

“Do you know who it was?”

“Probably…”

He was a little worried, feeling that leaving like this was inappropriate, but he didn’t know what to do for a while, and hesitated…

“Don’t worry, I’m fine for now. At worst, I’ll go and stay at my grandfather’s place in the Plum Garden…”

“Then… I’ll be going.”

“Okay.”

He gave her one last look, said, “Take care!” and jumped out of the window.

Wen Yu closed the window. This was the husband she was going to marry… Huh, the two of them discussed things calmly, their tone even, not awkward or shy, how was this like old friends!?

Suddenly she heard a creak from the courtyard, she held her breath, trying to hear who it was…

She only heard footsteps, someone came to her window, probably saw the candlelight inside, hesitated for a moment, and then went back.

Wen Yu didn’t open the window to look, so she didn’t know it was Hong Xing’er. She hadn’t slept yet either, and vaguely heard sounds outside… so she came out to check.

✿✿✿

The next day, Madam Zhang sent her personal mama to the Wen family to offer congratulations.

The mama was all smiles, representing that her mistress harbored no ill will.

Fortunately, they hadn’t offended her too much… Old Madam Wen’s mood improved a little.

Zhang Jiangqing was a very good person, a warm man.

Qi Wu was a straightforward man.