A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 133

Chapter 133: No Other Way

In the morning, Wen Yu woke up from her room and still felt the chill of the north.

Her courtyard, not located with the other girls, should have been specially arranged later. It was not far from the side gate, which was very convenient for entering and exiting in the future.

The room was quite tastefully furnished with thick curtains on the windows and doors, paintings on the walls, and carpets on the floor.

There were also blooming narcissus on the windowsill.

Everything needed was provided.

And she hadn’t felt cold last night until she went to bed.

It’s just that the space was really small, even though Yan Zhu had taken away a lot of things, the chests and cages were almost piled up to the bed.

Moreover, Xiao Ji and Laba still had to set up their beds in the outer room to sleep every day.

The old woman who brought her in had also explained that the capital city was different from their hometown, and the rooms of the other girls were basically like this.

Wen Yu didn’t mind this. It had been less than a year since her marriage, and she had a lot to do…she was afraid she would always have to run outside.

As soon as she got up, an old woman came over to deliver hot water and explained the household affairs to Xiao Ji and the others. It could be seen that Yuan Shi managed the household very carefully.

This morning, everyone went to the back hall for breakfast. Wu Shi arrived early and was busy with the old women inside and out.

Old Madam Wen slept early and woke up early. She was already dressed and was talking to Wen Qian, “You don’t have to stay at home, and don’t always ask for leave! We can talk more when you come back tonight!”

“Don’t worry! I have already made arrangements. I will accompany you today. After breakfast, I will accompany you to go shopping on the street.”

“Don’t bother! I’ve been jolted all the way here! I need to rest well!”

“Hehe, then I will accompany you to talk!”

Old Madam Wen agreed.

Yuan Shi personally arranged the breakfast and came into the room, “Mother, today’s breakfast is a northern style. You can try it first to see if you like it. The cook you brought with you, fearing that you wouldn’t eat well, also made noodles…”

“No need to be so particular! So many people came at once, try to keep it simple. Once everyone is settled, we can adjust!”

Li Shi came in with several younger sisters. When Old Madam Wen saw that everyone was wearing thick cloaks and had to take them off when they entered the room, plus the maids, she said, “Oh my, on ordinary days, we would really be in this room. My small side room can’t accommodate so many people!”

Yuan Shi smiled and said, “The girls’ rooms are not big either. They can read, write, and do needlework here on ordinary days. Mother can guide them here if she’s happy, and go back to her room if she’s tired. It’s all very convenient.”

Old Madam Wen thought this was pretty good.

At this time, Wen Yu came in and greeted everyone. Breakfast was brought up.

Wen Huan peeked at her. She wasn’t as aggressive as the last time they met, but rather calm and leisurely, not even looking at her directly…

“Where is Lao Er?” Old Madam Wen looked around and saw that Wen Feng was not there. The younger grandsons were all present…

“Mother, Second Master went out early in the morning to have breakfast outside!” Wu Shi replied and carefully looked at the breakfast.

Yuan Shi slowly and gently told Old Madam Wen about the capital city in winter, how there were few vegetables and they were not fresh, and fish and shrimp were also rare.

“However, Mother, the mutton in the capital city is very delicious, not comparable to what we have in our hometown. It’s very warm to eat mutton hot pot in winter.”

After breakfast, Old Madam Wen asked everyone to go back and continue unpacking.

Only Wen Qian was left for a heart-to-heart talk with his mother.

Wen Qian talked about his official matters. Old Madam Wen was relieved after hearing it, “I know you are capable. It hasn’t been long! It’s not easy to be like this!”

Old Madam Wen also talked about family matters.

Inevitably, she talked about Wen Yu.

Old Madam Wen smiled wryly and said, “Did Lao Er tell you yesterday?”

“He mentioned it a bit, Mother. I really didn’t expect…”

“There are more things you didn’t expect. Did he tell you about Song Shang?!”

“He did. He divorced Wei Shi. Isn’t this a bit absurd?”

“Did he tell you that Song Shang wants to marry Wen Yu?”

“Ah?! There’s such a thing!” Maybe Wen Feng didn’t take Song Shang’s matter too seriously. When he talked to his elder brother yesterday, he actually missed this point.

“Er Di didn’t say?!”

“Sigh… Madam Qi from Zanquan Mountain Estate personally proposed the marriage. I didn’t expect it before. I was only thinking about what we had agreed on before and didn’t think it through for a moment, so I actually rejected it on the spot!” Old Madam Wen shook her head. She also had such foolish moments.

“Madam Qi felt that I had humiliated her and was very unhappy… It was really embarrassing. If it were me, I would be unhappy too. When I returned home, Song Shang was waiting at home and told me that he wanted to divorce Wei Shi and marry Wen Yu. Of course I didn’t agree. As a result, he directly said that he would give the Wen family two hundred thousand taels of silver as a betrothal gift!”

“Is this true?! This bastard… what is he thinking?!” Wen Qian simply couldn’t describe his mood.

“He talked and talked, and I was tempted and agreed to consider it. As a result, he had just left when Madam Zhang came to the door to ask for Wen Yu for Jiang Qing.”

Thinking of the chaos at that time, Old Madam Wen also had a headache, “I also rejected it…”

“Mother, you are so muddle-headed!” Wen Qian blurted out.

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“What are you talking about!” Old Madam Wen was unhappy.

“…It’s my fault. But, Mother, you rejected the Qi family. Although the way you did it was inappropriate, we didn’t know the details of the Qi family, so it’s not too much. But the Zhang family is different! Since Madam Zhang came personally, you should have agreed to the Zhang family!”

“Humph… You still don’t know how important Song Shang is to the Wen family? Not to mention that sum of money!” Old Madam Wen was unconvinced.

“But what about our reputation! What is our relationship with the Zhang family? There’s such a good young man like Zhang Jiangqing, you didn’t agree, but you promised her to Song Shang who hasn’t even divorced yet! What about the reputation of our Wen family?!”

Old Madam Wen blushed a little when her son said this, “I was thinking… anyway, we are going to leave there!”

“But it’s our hometown after all! Besides, Magistrate Zhang is obviously being suppressed. What if he makes a comeback one day, how will we deal with it? How many years of good relationship have we maintained, how could you do this?”

“Alright, alright!” Old Madam Wen didn’t want to be blamed by her son, “Let’s not talk about the past. Later, I don’t know how, but your father found out about it and came back making a fuss! He insisted on making the decision and gave Wen Yu to the Qi family… I don’t know what the Qi family is doing. It is said that they are worthy of a princess! Even if Wen Yu is more beautiful, but you don’t know what that Fifth Young Master Qi looks like?!”

“Is he really that good looking!?” Wen Qian asked.

“Hehe, I’ve never seen such a handsome man in my life!”

“Is there something going on here?!” Wen Qian began to speculate.

“There must be something! But what, I don’t know. I also went to the Qi family’s Zanquan Mountain Estate, it’s such a big place! They have a lot of properties just in their hometown! Not to mention their power in the capital…”

“Then… what should we do?”

“What else can we do? There’s no other way. Sigh! This Wen Yu! She’s really assertive! I’m not someone who can be easily manipulated, but with her, I don’t know how, but one way or another, it’s become this situation.”

She originally just didn’t want to control Wen Yu, she could do whatever she wanted. But she didn’t expect that letting go and then wanting to take back would hurt her.

Wen Qian remained silent.

“If it were another family, with such a marriage, wouldn’t they be overjoyed?! But Madam Qi personally proposed, and I actually rejected it! Hehehehehe…” Old Madam Wen smiled wryly, “If I were her, I would think: how could this person not accept the offer?!”

“Mother…” Wen Qian felt a little embarrassed.

“Let it be! This girl… you know she brought Liu Lanzhou here, right?”

“Hmm…”

“Hehe, not only did she bring him here, she also extorted a sum of money from his eldest uncle! Wen Yu also showed off her sisterly affection with Lanfang to me! As if implying that her own family is heartless…” She was really angry!

“Mother, it’s my son who made things difficult for you.” Wen Qian said in a low voice.

“Sigh… I hope there won’t be any other problems.”

“Mother… the matter from back then… was it dealt with cleanly?” He asked a little nervously.

“You still don’t trust how I do things?” Old Madam Wen was unhappy.

“Of course I trust you! But we just need to be extra careful now. Wen Yu’s temperament and behavior are sharp! If something goes wrong…”

“Don’t worry! I’m fine here! Your side, Yuan Shi… Humph! Son! You don’t want to hear me mention this! But you didn’t expect it, right? The mistakes made many years ago have come back to haunt us.”

“And, you could have clearly used this to climb higher, but now you are worried about whether it’s a cliff… This marriage, other families would be fighting for it, but your mother made people say I didn’t want it! How much have you done for her, Yuan Xijun, in your life?! I’m so old, I have to follow…”

Wen Qian had no words to refute this.

The two were lost in thought when a maid outside said, “Eldest Miss, Old Madam and Eldest Master are talking in the room!”

“I have something to tell Grandmother and Father.”

“Then please wait a moment while I go and report.”

Old Madam Wen and Wen Qian looked at each other, “Let her in!”

Wen Yu came in with a smile, followed by maids carrying two things.

“Grandmother, look, I have prepared a thin silk blanket for you. You can wear it or cover your legs. Look, it’s light and warm. It’s cold in the capital, you can use it anytime!” She shook it, and the large, colorful blanket was draped over Old Madam Wen, who immediately felt warm.

“And this is for Father, the same thing, just in a darker shade. You can take it to your office and put it on when you’re cold. After all, you’re almost forty, it’s time to start taking care of yourself!”

Since it was handed to him, Wen Qian took it and felt the warmth as soon as he touched it. It was also quite light…

Old Madam Wen said angrily, “This thing is not cheap! Save your money! Look at your sable fur… eh, this is not the one from yesterday!”

Wen Yu took it off as soon as she entered the door and put it on the chair next to her.

“Hehe, I bought several! But I bought them at a good price, they weren’t expensive.”

Wen Qian wanted to lecture her a few words, but he felt embarrassed to do so since he had accepted her gift… Moreover, would interfering with her property make her suspect that he still had designs on it?

“Grandmother, Father, I came here because I have something to say.”

Old Madam Wen looked at her son and smiled, see?! Here we go again!