A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 136

Chapter 136

Qi Youyi walked towards his own courtyard, his brow furrowed. That Cui Shi!

He had never liked her.

Now, he hated her even more!

If it weren’t for her marrying him, would Xiu Yun be a concubine?

He thought resentfully, reaching the courtyard gate. A servant girl greeted him with a smile. Upon inquiring, he found that Cui Shi hadn’t returned yet!

Thinking of the courtyard next door, his heart stirred.

Turning his head, he saw a woman standing there. A sudden gust of wind blew at her cloak.

It swayed gently, ethereal like a celestial being.

His footsteps quickened uncontrollably, as if afraid that she would vanish with the wind if he was a step too late.

Seeing him approach, the woman smiled gently and bowed slightly: “Laoye!” Her voice was androgynous…

To be honest, when this woman stood there quietly, she truly resembled a banished immortal.

But when actually speaking with her… that feeling would disappear by half.

The reason, it should be said, was a lack of depth…

But even this remaining half was enough to excite Qi Youyi.

“Xiu Yun…”

His voice trembled. “Why are you standing here? Be careful of the wind!”

“I knew you were back, so I came to greet you! I thought you wouldn’t be here until tomorrow!”

“Thinking of you, I whipped the horse until it hurt…” Facing her, words of love flowed effortlessly from his lips.

Xiu Yun pursed her lips and smiled. The flowerless garden seemed to overflow with fragrance…

Qi Youyi gazed at her, mesmerized.

Ordinary people couldn’t guess her age. She didn’t appear young, but definitely not old!

Her hair, black and smooth, if let down, would be like thick ink, heavily cascading down to her calves… It always gave Qi Youyi a feeling of entanglement.

Her two long, slightly thick eyebrows, each strand distinct. Sparse and long eyelashes.

Her eyes, like deep pools, like blue waves, like an ancient well, had captured the young Qi Youyi, never to let him escape.

She had a cold and indifferent appearance, which made her current gentle and obedient demeanor seem somewhat incongruous.

However, in Qi Youyi’s eyes, there was never a time when she wasn’t pleasing.

“It’s because your business went smoothly that you returned early, yet you tease me…” Xiu Yun said, lowering her head.

“I’m not lying. I brought you back some good things. I’ll have them sent over later!”

“It’s good that you returned safely, Qieshen has everything!”

“I like to see you dressed beautifully!”

“En…”

“Where are our son and Xiao Mao?”

The son referred to was Qi Hua.

Xiao Mao was their daughter, Qi Xiangbao, thirteen years old this year.

“Our son thought you wouldn’t be back until tomorrow, he went to the suburbs a few days ago for some business, and said he’ll be back tonight! Wang Shi’s mother has been slightly unwell recently, and her father is away, so she went back to take care of them. As for Xiao Mao’er, she’ll be here soon, knowing you’re back.”

“I brought back good things for Xiao Mao’er too!”

“You’ve given her enough good things already!”

“She’s my only daughter, I can never give her enough!”

The two chatted as they walked, entering a small courtyard.

It was neat and elegant, and the interior decorations were equally exquisite.

“Is everything alright here?” He was always worried that Cui Shi would bully Xiu Yun.

“Everything is fine.”

“Tell me the truth, Cui Shi hasn’t given you any trouble, has she?”

“Don’t worry, these years, Furen rarely even sees me. I usually just go over in the morning and pay my respects at the courtyard gate. The servants don’t make things difficult for me either.”

This was originally a good thing. Which concubine in any household had this kind of treatment? But hearing this, Qi Youyi felt extremely sad: “Xiu Yun…”

“You don’t have to be like this. With Laofuren around, my daily needs are all taken care of. Waiting for you to return in this small courtyard, I feel very at ease!”

“When I’m away, the one I miss the most is you. You know about Lao Si and Lao Wu’s marriages, right?”

“I heard about it. Ye, what you don’t understand is, in this life, it’s mainly the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law who live together. Which woman doesn’t want her son to be on her side? Who wouldn’t want to choose a daughter-in-law they like? Furen was very angry about Dalang’s marriage. Not to mention, our Erlang…”

“Dalang and his wife are living a good life! This time when I was away, Dalang even bought her jewelry! For a man to do this, it proves that he cares for her, how great is that?! Why did Cui Shi have to interfere?”

“Ye, Erlang and his wife are also doing well. His wife is five months pregnant.”

“Good, good, good! Finally some good news! This silver…” He took out a box and opened it, revealing several silver notes inside.

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“This is for you! You can also give some to Erlang’s wife. As a mother-in-law, you should be generous, so your daughter-in-law will be filial!”

“The allowance you gave me, Qieshen hasn’t touched it? You don’t need to give me any more!”

“Just take it when I give it to you! Oh, I almost forgot, there’s a share for Mother.”

Xiu Yun pursed her lips and smiled upon hearing this.

“Mother doesn’t have much dowry, neither do you! Although I’ve given you some over the years, after all, you don’t have much savings… Save it!”

“Following you, Qieshen doesn’t need any silver? Would you let Qieshen starve or freeze?!”

“Of course not! Just listening to you say that breaks my heart!”

“Then I’ll take it. Those siblings of yours, you’ve spoiled them, making them arrogant! I’m just afraid they’ll encounter trouble outside and suffer losses!”

“Don’t worry, they won’t suffer! Lao Er is managing quite a few businesses, and when my matters are settled, I’ll find him a good position… Xiao Mao…” He had always wanted Cui Shi to formally acknowledge Qi Xiangbao as her daughter. He had brought it up several times, but that woman just played dumb!

What a nuisance! If she were dead… he could elevate Xiu Yun to the position of principal wife.

His heart skipped a beat… He didn’t dare to think further!

“Alright, alright! Enough idle chatter, why don’t you ask if Ye misses you…”

He gently pulled her into his arms, “Look…”

What he loved most was her expression when she was lost in passion. So wild, so unrestrained, as proud as a queen, looking down at him, making him, a man of iron and blood, feel a kind of inescapable joy and pain!

Xiu Yun’s face flushed red, “Ye…”

✿✿✿

Meanwhile, Qi Xiao and his wife had already been intimate twice in their room.

Only then did the two settle down, tidying up, having tea, and calming down before they started talking.

Qi Xiao talked about his recent activities and handed his wife some silver and jewelry he had bought. It wasn’t a lot, but Xu Shi was quite satisfied.

Her attitude made Qi Xiao feel proud.

Then, she talked to her husband about his mother.

“Fourth and Fifth brothers’ marriages were actually settled back in our hometown. I wonder what she’s trying to do!” Her tone was unpleasant.

Qi Xiao’s relationship with his mother wasn’t good either, seeing his wife unhappy, he remained silent with a cold expression.

“I originally told Mother that when you came back, we’d go together to repair the house and the ancestral tombs. Mother acted as if she didn’t hear a word! She took Lao Si and Lao Wu and left. Repairing the ancestral house and tombs, and I heard they even want to repair roads and build bridges, can you imagine how much silver that will cost?”

“Hmph! As if Mother would take me along?!” Qi Xiao sneered.

“You are the eldest son and grandson! If you don’t go, who will? No one is more biased than Mother! Favoring Lao Wu is one thing, you are blood brothers. But Lao Si?! This time, the one mainly in charge is Lao Si!”

“Really?!”

“Of course! I’ve already inquired about it! Mother wrote to Grandfather, requesting the family property back home, and the expenses are all coming from here. This time, Qi Si will surely make a fortune!

You’re out there working hard, facing danger and hardship, only to bring back this little silver for me. I feel for you, and I can’t bear to spend even a single coin! But Lao Si, he’ll probably pocket at least ten thousand taels this time!”

“But… she clearly took Fifth brother along, why didn’t Fifth brother take charge?”

“I don’t know! What has Lao Wu been doing these past two years? He’s often not at home. Originally… I won’t hide it from you, someone had their eye on him, promised benefits, and I even wanted to push for it. I didn’t expect Mother to settle his marriage! I don’t even know how to explain it to them now…”

The couple, thinking of Mother’s unfair treatment of them, were furious.

“A few days ago, I heard from a servant girl in Grandmother’s room that someone actually approached Grandmother about Fourth brother’s matter, but Grandmother was worried, saying that our marriage was arranged by her. Mother… hasn’t given her a good look in all these years. So, she doesn’t want to interfere anymore…

This is absolutely true. Since I entered the family, Mother has been so cold towards me!

But what have I done wrong?! I come from the esteemed Ding’an Earl’s Mansion! And she found a good match for Lao Si?! A magistrate’s niece, compared to me? So, she disregards the facts, only what she chooses is good?!”

The more she spoke, the angrier Qi Xiao became.

“Look, Mother went back to our hometown, not taking our daughter, but taking her niece from her maternal family! Isn’t our daughter her granddaughter?!” Xu Minghui’s eyes reddened as she spoke.

“Later, I’ll have to ask Mother if she still considers me the eldest son…”

Xu Minghui secretly rejoiced: “Actually, I shouldn’t complain as soon as you’re back, but my heart…”

“I know, you’ve been wronged.”

“Husband, look… isn’t Mother sick in the head?!” She pointed to her head.

“Don’t talk nonsense…”

“How is it nonsense? Acting foolishly and doing whatever she wants, isn’t that a sign of being sick in the head? You don’t know, this time after she returned from our hometown, she only saw Grandmother once, and that was just to tell her about Lao Si and Lao Wu’s marriages! What kind of family in the capital behaves like this?!”

Qi Xiao remained silent.

“Mother holds quite a bit of property in her hands! Don’t let her foolishly squander it all. Then, you’ll be bearing the name of the eldest son in vain! Without reaping any benefits!”

Qi Xiao nodded silently.