A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 119

Chapter 119

I thought that when Qi Wu returned, he would stay for a few more days before leaving.

But unexpectedly, after he went back from Wen Yu’s place, he asked Madam Qi to prepare for his departure immediately.

Madam Qi sent letters to Old Madam Wen and Wen Yu.

She specifically instructed Wen Yu not to worry about the shop, and that they could discuss it slowly when she arrived in the capital.

Wen Yu had to ask Xiao Ji’s father to get ready as well, but she originally wanted Li Jiang to go with her. Now it seems that the work here is not finished yet.

It just so happened that when Yan Zhu was learning from Master Qing, she embroidered a handkerchief with a tortoise and hare race on it. Wen Yu sent someone to deliver it to Yuanyuan as a farewell gift.

Thinking about it, she laughed. She hadn’t touched needlework for several months. She was getting married in a year, and she had to prepare her dowry!

It’s just that she doesn’t have time now, and her heart has become restless.

✿✿✿

The Qi family departed. Song Shang came to the Wen residence and told Old Madam that he had finalized his divorce.

Since things had come to this, Old Madam Wen could only say, “That’s good. What did your mother say about the next marriage?”

Song Shang couldn’t help but grin, “Recently, my mother has been so happy she can’t stop smiling. She’s been looking at potential brides all day! When I’m not at home, she has people looking for me every day, and I have nowhere to hide! Now that I’m at your place, please don’t keep asking me about it!”

“Not keep asking? That’s impossible! I’m the same as your mother. This time, we need to find someone who is well-mannered, respectful, good to your mother, gentle to you, and fertile!”

“Stop, stop, stop… My dear aunt! By the end of the year, I estimate that my official position will also be confirmed. In that case, it will be easier to find someone, and it will also save those not-so-good families from thinking that we are desperate!”

When he said this, Old Madam Wen nodded, “That’s true! However, first let the people around you give birth to two sons! Otherwise, how can your mother and I feel at ease? The Song family… their eyes are burning with anticipation!”

“Haha, when you go to the capital, I will also be going around the same time. This time, I will bring my mother with me. If she gets used to it, she can stay there.”

“What about the matters here?”

“Don’t worry! Everything is arranged!”

“Hmm, that’s good.”

“Aunt, I want to find Ah Yu, I have something to tell her.”

“You… what do you want to see her for?” Old Madam looked at him vigilantly.

“She asked me to do something for her, and I’m going to give her a reply.”

“What did she ask you to do?” Old Madam Wen was a bit uneasy. Knowing his feelings, it wasn’t appropriate for him to meet Wen Yu again.

“Don’t worry! There really is something. We’ll just talk for a few words at the Peony Pavilion.”

Old Madam Wen called Nurse Song, “Go and call Eldest Miss to the Peony Pavilion.” She then turned to Song Shang, “Just a few words!”

“Yes, yes, yes, just a few words.”

✿✿✿

Wen Yu arrived at the Peony Pavilion. Song Shang was already sitting there, his face gloomy.

Nurse Song knew that Old Madam meant for her to stay and keep an eye on them, so she wasn’t planning to leave. But when Song Shang glanced at her coldly, she was startled! He was always smiling and never serious, but she didn’t expect that when he pulled a long face, it would make her back tighten. She quickly moved away.

Wen Yu, however, said cheerfully, “Fifth Brother is here?!”

“Do you know about the matter Master Qing wants to handle?”

“Yes, I asked her to find Fifth Brother.”

“Nonsense!” Song Shang slapped the stone table. “What kind of person is that? If you get involved with such a person, what will happen to your reputation?”

“I’m not getting involved with him!” Wen Yu said nonchalantly. “I just wanted to ask Fifth Brother to get him out, and then Master Qing will find a place to settle him!” Wen Yu didn’t think it was a big deal.

“What is your brain made of? Are you a fool?”

Wen Yu shook her head, “Not a fool!”

“You!” Song Shang was furious. How could she be so stubborn? “Do you know who that is?”

“Yes, Master Qing told me. It’s her… elder brother’s only son!”

“Hmph, she didn’t tell the truth! That’s the most famous… courtesan in Jinling: Master Yi Bai! In that kind of place, to be called ‘Master’… Do you think it’s simple?” Song Shang said with disdain.

“His skills in music and Go are divine! When playing Go with him, no matter what your status is, if you ask him to let you win, it’s absolutely impossible! If you want to listen to his music, you can throw as much silver as you want, but it depends on his mood! Hmph! He’s awfully pretentious!” Song Shang snorted.

“Fifth Brother, why are you so angry? Is it because you wanted to listen to his music, but he… wasn’t in a good mood?!” Wen Yu blinked her innocent big eyes.

“As if I wouldn’t be able to hear it? You! What nonsense… why are you asking about this?” Song Shang’s face darkened.

Wen Yu, however, chuckled mischievously.

“You really don’t act like a proper young lady!” Song Shang pointed at her nose and scolded, “If the Qi family knew, they definitely wouldn’t let you in their door!”

“Fifth Brother~~ Master Qing, we have big plans for him! So, we need to help her resolve her worries!”

We?

She said “we”…

Song Shang’s anger subsided a bit.

“What do you mean by ‘we’? Are you giving me shares?”

“Of course! Cousin is providing the silver and the connections, wouldn’t it be embarrassing not to give you shares?”

How much or how little is another matter… hehe.

“What connections? Hmph! You’re scheming against me…”

“Hehe, Cousin, just get this done!”

“It can’t be done!”

✿✿✿

Wen Yu looked at him, puffed up with anger.

“It’s true. I’ve met this Master Yi Bai a few times. He always wears a white veil, so I don’t know what he looks like. But his eyes… upon seeing them, one word comes to mind: ‘Rippling’…”

Oh my, what’s with his expression? Could he have a penchant for men?!

So curious, but I don’t dare ask… Wen Yu’s heart itched with curiosity…

“His leg was crippled because he refused to entertain a guest… and jumped from a building. In that kind of place, he dared to do such a thing. If it were anyone else, do you know how miserably they would have died?! They would have been skinned alive!” Song Shang explained.

“But he… hehe, he made Boss Du yield, treated his leg, and let him have his way. Of course, over the years, those from south to north who like to pretend to be refined have thrown a lot of silver at him… It’s just that he’s getting old in these past two years! Otherwise, he wouldn’t even be allowed to leave his room. But wanting to get him out, that’s definitely not going to happen.”

“Others can’t do it, but can’t you, Fifth Brother?! If Boss Du doesn’t agree, then you can just buy the whole establishment!” Wen Yu said imperiously.

Song Shang rubbed his temples… It’s a good thing I didn’t marry her, otherwise, I might really be angered to death!

✿✿✿

Only after Madam Qi and her group left did news of Qi Wu’s engagement reach the Qin residence.

“What?!” Du Liu was startled. She stood up excitedly, her mouth agape and her eyes wide.

“He’s engaged to the Wen family? Cui Fengying actually arranged a marriage in Jiangzhou?”

“Yes.”

“The Wen family?” Du Liu blinked rapidly. “The Wen family, is that the one with… Wen… Wen Huan?” Although she wasn’t familiar with them, she had met them two years ago. The girl was quite good-looking…

The sourness in her heart rose to her mouth. “I heard that the Wen family is very wealthy, and Lord Wen has been promoted to an official position in the capital. Tsk… It’s not a big deal, right?! The difference in their family status is too great! Cui Fengying is really messing around…”

“Madam, I heard it’s the daughter of Lord Wen’s first wife…”

“Ah?!” Du Liu desperately tried to remember. “Which one? Lord Wen had a first wife? So the current one is his second wife?”

“I suppose so!”

“What does she look like? Why don’t I have any impression of her at all? I know all the outstanding girls within a few hundred miles. But not this one… What’s her name?”

“Wen Yu.”

“Cui Fengying is truly crazy, what kind of girl did she find!”

While Du Liu felt uncomfortable with the idea of Qi Wu finding a good match, finding someone so unknown made her feel strangely empty.

Qi Wu had studied at the Qin residence for several years, and she had treated him like her own son-in-law, taking care of his food, clothing, shelter, and studies. She had been more attentive to him than her own son.

Although the Duke’s residence was more attractive than the Qi family, it couldn’t be said that Qi Wu was a bad match.

When the Wang family came to propose marriage, the family had immediately agreed. But she had truly agonized over it for several days.

She couldn’t eat or sleep, feeling heartbroken, always thinking that if only she had another daughter!

“Mother…” Qin Lianyue rushed in, her eyes red, her whole body like a willow branch in the rain, seemingly about to collapse.

Du Liu quickly said, “Lian’er! You all go out first!”

She first sent everyone out of the room.

Qin Lianyue walked to the bedside, her legs weak. She sat down and tears streamed down her face.

“You heard?”

“Mother, he’s already engaged so quickly!” Qin Lianyue said resentfully.

“Sigh, your aunt is crazy!” Du Liu said, also resentful.

Thinking that her jade-like cousin was already engaged to someone else, Qin Lianyue felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife.

Even though she had betrayed him, had he really let go so easily?

“Mother, I want to write to Cousin! I want to ask him…” Qin Lianyue said excitedly.

“No! You can’t do that!” Du Liu was startled.

“Wuu… Mother…” Qin Lianyue looked as aggrieved as if she had been wronged by a heartless man.

“My good daughter! You can’t do these things now. If word gets out, the Jiang family will be furious!”

Qin Lianyue was immersed in her own thoughts. “Has Cousin really changed his heart? Wuu…”

“No! My good daughter, don’t cry. Your cousin won’t change his heart.”

She helped her daughter up and wiped her tears. “Mother told you last time, this matter, eight out of ten times, was decided by your aunt forcefully.”

Qin Lianyue looked at her mother expectantly.

“She’s in such a hurry because she’s afraid that Qi Wu’s marriage will fall into the hands of the Marchioness! That old woman is not a simple person! If Qi Wu wasn’t so outstanding, I wouldn’t be willing to marry you off to him.

Back then, Cui Fengying… how arrogant she was… She could even talk and laugh in front of the former Empress. But look at the kind of life she leads in the Qi family? You’re like a delicate flower, how could Mother bear to see you mistreated by that old woman?”

“So, Aunt is using Cousin? Cousin, he’s really pitiful!” Although Qin Lianyue had a better future, she had grown up with Qi Wu and felt sorry for him.

Although mother and daughter sighed on the surface, they felt a bit relieved inside.

“Daughter, your fate is so good! You’ll have nothing to do with Qi Wu from now on. In a few months, Mother will send you to the capital! Your good days are about to begin. When the time comes, don’t forget to help your father and brother!”

“I know, Mother! Mother, please inquire. If there’s a chance, I’d like to meet this Miss Wen!” Qin Lianyue said coldly.

“Why see her?!”

“I just want to see what she has that makes her worthy of this marriage!” If I don’t belittle her, I’ll be so angry!

I’m going to fix my computer, the other chapter might be late.