A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Easily Disposed Of

Did he become suspicious!?

Old Madam Wen broke out in a sweat.

Wen Qian remained calm and said without much emotion, “I don’t know yet! I will keep an eye out. Don’t worry, it’s not a big deal.”

“Hmph…” The old madam felt a lingering unease.

“Mother, just now Wen Yu asked me for her mother’s dowry!”

“What? She asked for it?! Crazy! Crazy! That little brat, how dare she mention this to you?!” The old madam was furious again.

“Mother! Please don’t get so worked up.” Wen Qian tried his best to soothe her.

“It’s truly laughable, one after another, they’re all trying to turn the world upside down!” Too many things had happened recently, finally igniting the old madam’s anger.

Do they all take me for a fool?

The life I have today didn’t just fall from the sky!

“Mother, you know what Wen Yu was like before. For her to suddenly change so drastically, it must be her uncle who came back and is giving her advice behind the scenes.”

“Are we afraid of him!? The amnesty only pardoned his crimes, it didn’t say that the Chen family was wronged… They have no property, no official positions, not even a place to live. Heh, relying on the help of relatives and squeezing a bit more from the Wen family, it’d be good if they can just make ends meet!”

“That’s true.” Wen Qian nodded.

“But…” The old madam considered herself someone who planned ahead, “You should also pay attention, if there’s any sign of trouble, nip it in the bud!”

“Yes.”

The old madam couldn’t help but blame Yuan Shi again, this was all her fault… She was truly a jinx!

“Mother, it’s not wise for us to act rashly now. As for the dowry, why don’t we let her have it for now! Otherwise, if it becomes a constant entanglement, it’ll be even more troublesome. Our family never coveted it in the first place.” Wen Qian said.

After the situation with the wharf settled down, the family’s life had become much better. With his promotion to the capital, their life would be even more worry-free.

The old madam glanced at him sideways and said with a sneer, “Everything that’s in my hands is sealed in the storehouse! I haven’t touched Chen Shi’s dowry! As for what’s in your hands… Heh, have you told your precious wife about it?!”

“…” Wen Qian felt a bit helpless upon hearing this.

A Jun’s family was only well-off, not wealthy. Then that incident happened, and when she married him, her dowry was so small it could be ignored.

When she entered the household, he gave her his private savings from all those years so she wouldn’t lose face.

Then she followed him to his official postings, had to socialize, and gave birth to their children, the expenses were huge… Although the family could support them, it was still not as convenient as having money on hand.

So he gave his deceased wife’s dowry shops and fields to Yuan Xi Jun.

Now that he had finished talking to his mother, he had to go back and discuss it with A Jun… Sigh, it was truly a headache!

Wen Qian felt a bit agitated, but he still had to cover for his wife, “Most of the income from those properties was used by me. A Jun is a reasonable person, I’ll tell her when I get back. As long as it’s given to Wen Yu, it’s fine. I have a lot on my plate and can’t be bothered with this!”

“Well, do as you please. The family will be moving to the capital, and we’ll need a lot of money. I can’t help you much.” The old madam said pretentiously.

Actually, it wasn’t that she couldn’t help at all, but she didn’t want to, she wanted to make things difficult for Yuan Shi and make her feel uncomfortable!

The two of them were silent for a while.

Seeing her eldest son’s solemn expression, the old madam felt some sympathy for him: “It’s just a little girl, can’t you handle her? How about… I take care of it!?” Her eyes held a hint of ruthlessness.

“Mother, there’s no need for that!” Wen Qian understood his mother’s intention, but… “It’s better for me to be cautious now. Besides, it would be troublesome for father.”

This time, the old madam had nothing to say.

They sat in silence for a while longer.

“Just give it to her, it’s not a big deal. However, this girl is turning fifteen, her marriage can’t be delayed any longer, do you have any thoughts?” The old madam asked.

“I was just about to discuss this with you. Since she’s getting her dowry back, you can find someone suitable here and marry her off. In half a year, when you go to the capital, you won’t have to take her with you…”

Upon hearing this, the old madam felt a bit troubled. Wen Yu wasn’t engaged yet, and to be married off within half a year? She wasn’t the daughter of a humble family, how could they be so careless!?

“The time is too tight. She’s not even engaged yet, how can we manage to marry her off in half a year? Moreover, we can’t just choose anyone! If the eldest daughter doesn’t marry well, what about the younger ones!?”

“Mother! We’re moving to the capital. It’ll be all new people, a new circle, who will care about this?” Wen Qian calmly countered.

“That’s true. But it’s still the family’s face… Hmm… Oh, right! Magistrate Zhang’s wife seems to like that girl quite a bit. The Zhang family has a younger son who’s not married yet, I heard he’s going to work at the government office…”

Wen Qian knew the Zhang family; their two families had always been on good terms.

✿✿✿

He only reached the position of magistrate in his forties, his potential for further advancement was limited.

The Zhang family’s youngest son… No official title.

Good family reputation, close relations between the two families, plenty of justification for the marriage!

“Alright! It’s him! Please, mother, settle this!” Wen Qian’s mind became clear in an instant, he decisively interrupted the old madam and made the decision.

The topic ended there, no further discussion.

✿✿✿

Wen Yu, who was in her room, didn’t know that her father and grandmother had already decided her future like this.

The red mark on her face had faded, and she was thinking about getting her mother’s dowry back. She wanted to use what she had learned from being by Song Shang’s side in her previous life on this matter.

✿✿✿

After his talk with his mother, Wen Qian returned to his room.

Yuan Shi was waiting in the room, and she quickly stood up when he returned.

“You’re back?!”

“Yes, sit down.”

Yuan Shi said with a wry smile, “I’m so sorry! Huanhuan went too far, I’ve caused you trouble.”

“It’s not that serious.” Wen Qian smiled.

“It’s my fault. I didn’t know she had such thoughts…”

“Haha, she’s always been carefree. If you want to blame someone, blame me.” Wen Qian said gently.

“You should be blamed! When I tried to discipline her, you always stopped me…” Yuan Shi complained playfully.

Wen Qian chuckled as he looked at his wife, “For so many years, she hasn’t done a single thing wrong. She’s just a young girl, how can she be perfect in everything?! This one time makes her even more perfect.”

Yuan Shi’s heart skipped a beat: It seems he was still bothered by it!

“Sigh! That girl, she usually keeps her mouth shut. She doesn’t tell me when she’s unhappy. I just found out that when we go out to socialize, her status has been deliberately belittled by those young ladies.

You probably don’t know… The world of young ladies is just a small circle. They talk about every little thing for ages! Comparing themselves to each other is even more common.”

“Haha, those are all petty girls. Our daughter can’t be like them. After this incident, she should be more mature. Hmm… There’s something I want to discuss with you…” He found it difficult to bring up.

Seeing his formal tone, Yuan Shi’s heart sank, “You and I are husband and wife, do you need to be so polite?”

“Yes!” Wen Qian was stunned for a moment, then said, “It’s like this, the reason that girl made such a fuss today is because someone is instigating her behind the scenes.”

“Who?” Wu Shi? Yuan Xi Jun’s first thought was her second brother’s wife.

“It’s her uncle, he’s back from there.”

“Ah?!” Yuan Shi was startled, she had forgotten about him after all these years!

“Yes. He didn’t come to me, but he found Wen Yu. He just came back, his life probably isn’t going well, so he’s set his sights on Chen Shi’s dowry.”

“Ah?!” Yuan Shi was startled again, the dowry?

It’s in her hands…

“He suffered for more than ten years there, he’s penniless now, it’s understandable that he has this thought. However, instead of coming to me, instead of going to mother, he’s scheming against his niece whom he’s never met, it’s truly despicable… He must be desperate after all these years…”

“Then… What are your thoughts?” Yuan Shi asked cautiously.

“Pack up the shops, the properties you have, and return them to her.”

“…” Yuan Shi was dumbfounded.