Chapter 222
Wen Qian was sleepless all night.
In his mind, the image of Chen Shi was clearer than ever before.
Then he thought of Yuan Shi, and the little things they encountered when they first met.
Comparing the two, he realized that there were too many “coincidences” between him and Yuan Shi…
He would always run into her looking beautiful, always hear her say things that pleased his heart.
Her sadness when he became engaged to Chen Shi.
His own emotion and pleasant surprise when she threw herself into his arms like a moth to a flame.
From that moment, he was determined to create everything for her. Even if it meant resorting to drastic measures…
He wiped his tears silently, not even remembering the last time he cried.
He had always believed that the two most useless words in the world were: regret.
But at this moment, his heart was cold and aching, wishing that none of this had happened. What was going on?
In the morning, he got into the carriage and went out to pick up Wen Huan.
Old Madam also didn’t sleep all night, sighing and groaning…
The sun rose, and just as noon arrived, there was a commotion at the door.
Footsteps were chaotic, “Something happened to Old Madam!”
Old Madam Wen’s mind was already unsettled, and she was startled by this sound.
The servants from the front gate ran in: “Prince Wu’s Residence sent our Second Miss back!”
Old Madam’s heart skipped a beat. This was bad!
“Where’s her father?!”
“The Eldest Master went out of the city and hasn’t returned yet!”
“He hasn’t encountered them? Quickly, ride a horse to find him!”
Just after giving the order, two people helped Wen Huan in.
Wen Huan was wrapped in a cloak, unable to stand. As soon as the people beside her loosened their grip, she slumped to the ground.
Her hat fell off, revealing messy hair.
Old Madam looked at her silently.
The servants were too scared to make a sound. At this moment, a woman who looked like a court official entered.
Upon seeing this person, Old Madam became nervous: “Your Excellency! This… what happened?”
The court official had a very arrogant attitude: “Wen Huan, last night, she had a secret meeting with Li Duoxin from Duke Xingguo’s Residence and was discovered by Her Highness. Therefore, she was sent back!”
Duke Xingguo’s Residence?
Old Madam Wen’s face turned pale, but she was calculating in her heart. Duke Xingguo’s Residence? Which family was that?
“This…” She was speechless.
“Your Excellency!” Wen Yu entered. She had been waiting for news at home: As expected, everything went smoothly.
The court official didn’t move, her eyes slanted. “Who are you?!”
“I am Wen Yu, Wen Huan’s elder sister!”
“You’re her sister?” The court official’s face was full of mockery.
“Yes. I just heard Your Excellency say that Wen Huan was discovered having a secret meeting with someone?”
“Yes!”
“Your Excellency, Wen Huan is just a young woman, invited by Prince Wu’s Residence to be a guest at their villa! I don’t know the rules of the residence. But even in a small family like the Wen family, it’s impossible for a young lady to leave the courtyard in the middle of the night. I wonder how the residence provided the opportunity and place for a secret meeting!”
“You are being impudent!” The court official became flustered.
Old Madam Wen was startled. She was really bold!
“Your Excellency, you just sent her back like this, and you won’t even allow us to ask a few questions? Although the Wen family is not a prominent family, we are law-abiding people. Moreover, the guests invited by Prince Wu’s Residence must all be of noble character and clean background. How could such a thing happen on a perfectly good day?!”
The court official: “She was caught red-handed with solid evidence. Would Her Highness wrongly accuse her?”
“Her Highness’s character is, of course, a role model for women. She would never do such a thing! So, it’s even stranger! Maybe there’s a misunderstanding, or maybe someone framed her. I hope Her Highness will investigate further!”
“Humph! I saw it with my own eyes, what else is there to investigate?”
“Last time at the Eastern Palace, what that Li Duoxin, also known as Jinzi, did is well known to everyone. He was escorted out of the Duke’s Residence by the Crown Prince. How could Prince Wu’s Residence invite such a person with such bad behavior? And he even appeared where young men and women sleep at night…”
Jinzi was known to be promiscuous, so these words were even more harsh!
The court official felt a little guilty: “Of course, Her Highness will investigate further! The Wen family should also properly question their own daughter!”
Old Madam Wen only remembered upon hearing “Jinzi”, that Duke Xingguo’s Residence belonged to that guy!
Oh my god!
How did she offend this troublemaker?
“After my father returns, he will also go to the residence to demand an explanation! Good riddance!” Wen Yu was really tough, making the court official so angry that she flung her sleeve and left.
✿✿✿
Old Madam Wen was both ashamed and angry. Suddenly, she went up and slapped Wen Huan twice.
Wen Yu stood aside, enjoying the show.
Wen Huan was awakened from her daze by the slaps, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
She looked at Old Madam, then at Wen Yu.
“Tell me honestly, what happened?!” Old Madam asked.
Wen Huan just stared at Wen Yu, not speaking.
Old Madam Wen wouldn’t indulge her, she came up and slapped her again: “What are you looking at her for? Speak! Otherwise…” She pulled a hairpin from her head, “If you make me ask again, I will stab your eyes blind!”
Wen Huan shuddered, her mind clearing: “Grandmother, I really don’t know what happened…”
“What do you mean you don’t know! You won’t say it, will you?” Old Madam raised her hand.
“I’ll say it, I’ll say it…” Seeing her grandmother about to hit her, Wen Huan gave in, “But I really don’t know what happened… I want to be Prince Yongqing’s concubine. But even though he clearly has feelings for me, there’s been no news. That day, I saw him talking to Yan Zhu, and he was actually very flattering. So, I became anxious. I wanted to use this opportunity to confess my feelings to him.”
“So I wrote a letter, using my left hand… inviting him to meet in the small garden. I set up a guqin there and played. But somehow, the one who came was Jinzi!”
“When he saw me…” Wen Huan cried, “He started saying crazy things. I felt something was wrong and wanted to run. But he grabbed me, tearing my sleeve. Just like that… my clothes were disheveled, and someone saw us.”
“Did you lose your virginity?” Old Madam Wen asked coldly.
“No! Really, Grandmother, I didn’t!” Wen Huan explained anxiously.
“What did the Princess and the others look like when they saw you?!”
Wen Huan’s face flushed red with shame.
Jinzi had already ripped off her outer garment…
Inside, she was wearing a beige peony-patterned bodice, revealing her jade-like arms…
Old Madam Wen shook her head, “Hong Xing wanted to poison Wen Yu, you ordered her to do it, right?!”
Wen Huan neither admitted nor denied it, just stared blankly at Wen Yu. “Wen Yu, are you happy now!”
“I’m quite happy to be alive!”
“Grandmother, Huanhuan was wrong! Find a way to save your granddaughter!”
Old Madam Wen sat there, her expression ashen. Save her? It wouldn’t be easy for Wen Qian to get out of this.
“Take her away!”
The servant women helped Wen Huan up and took her away.
“Mother! Quickly send someone to inform my mother!” Wen Huan’s cries came…
“Wen Yu, what do you think we should do?”
“Grandmother, what you should consider now is how father can get out of this! Letting his own daughter have a secret meeting with the Duke’s heir in the middle of the night, selling her body to powerful people to advance his career. That doesn’t sound very good!”
Indeed, that’s what people would say!
Old Madam Wen was so angry that she really wanted to kill both Yuan Shi and Wen Huan.
“If the Qi family doesn’t care about this and still welcomes me into their family… Grandfather might have to go to the capital… No matter who gets into trouble, father can’t be the one.”
Wen Yu looked at Old Madam’s expression, feeling a sense of satisfaction.
Originally, she had planned to expose the past and deal with Wen Qian as well.
But after her conversation with Jiang Pinting last time, she changed her mind. This person was still useful…
It was enough to make him suffer!
“Grandmother, fortunately, Duke Xingguo’s Residence has a bad reputation. But unfortunately, they have power and are shameless. If Jinzi’s father comes to our door and makes a scene like he did at the Imperial Son-in-Law’s Residence, then the Wen family will be utterly disgraced! Of course, this is just my humble opinion. Ultimately, it’s up to you, Grandmother. At worst, we’ll just go back to our hometown in shame…”
Wen Yu got up and left.
Go back to their hometown?
Old Madam Wen’s mind raced through the people and things in the capital: the Zhang family, the Song family, the Qi family, the Cui family.
The residence, the palace, the shops…
The proud tone she used when writing to that old man…
Everything was going to be ruined?!
Happiness and glory had come quickly, and now they were going to be lost?
It really was like a dream.
