Chapter 252

Wen Yu returned home and went straight to Madam Qi’s room.

“Mother.”

Madam Qi had just finished lunch. Seeing her return, she quickly put down her chopsticks: “Ah Yu, have you eaten? How is Second Aunt?”

“Let’s not talk about her! I came from the shop and brought pig’s trotters. They’re still hot! Let’s eat together!”

Madam Qi looked at Wen Yu’s lovely little daughter-like behavior, and her heart felt as sweet as honey. “Okay! Let me try it. Did Zhu Zhu make it?”

“Yes! It’s with fermented bean curd…” Wen Yu opened the box and scooped a piece into Madam Qi’s bowl.

Madam Qi took a bite. It was salty, fragrant, soft, glutinous, and melted in her mouth.

“Zhu Zhu is really a good cook.”

“Yes, she especially likes to eat these glutinous and chewy things. So, look at her little face, it’s so smooth!”

“Then we’ll eat more in the future…”

After the two finished their meal, the dishes were cleared away, and tea was served. Wen Yu let out a long sigh.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh… I want to tell you, but it’s really hard to say.”

“What’s so hard to say to me?”

“Mother, do you know Princess Hui Duan?”

“Of course I know! She’s a little younger than me. When we were young, we had a pretty good relationship! Later, she became a widow and was afraid of causing trouble for others, so she didn’t often arrange to meet. And after I got married, I wasn’t happy, so I didn’t have the energy to keep in touch. Gradually, we drifted apart.”

“What kind of person is she?”

Madam Qi chuckled. “When I was young, I seemed straightforward, but deep down, I was still bound by conventions. But she was truly unconventional. She had talent and strong opinions. She only cared about her own happiness and ignored what others said. I care about Xiao Wu and his brothers, good or bad, and I arrange everything for them in detail. But she treats her son like an ordinary acquaintance. There’s no talk of a loving mother and a filial son! They both do whatever they want! Why did you bring her up?”

“Princess Hui Duan’s husband was a good friend of Moqing’s family. She’s also very good friends with Madam Zhang. I heard… a few months ago, my Second Uncle met Princess Hui Duan at the Zhang family’s house. Later, they ran into each other at our shop… Then, hehe, they ate, drank tea, drank wine, watched dances, and got along very well. Now, my Second Uncle wants to divorce Second Aunt… and marry the Princess!”

“What? There’s such a thing?!” Madam Qi burst into laughter.

Wen Yu blushed. “Mother… your daughter-in-law is really struggling with this!”

“What are you struggling with? Oh my…” She laughed so hard that tears came out.

Wen Yu quickly wiped her tears. “This isn’t a good thing! If others hear that this happened in our family, won’t they laugh their teeth out?” She pouted.

“What does it matter to them? If anyone gossips, you just tell them to say it to Hui Duan’s face! See if they can still talk after that!”

“Oh, that’s a good idea.”

“Tell me what happened!” Madam Qi was very excited.

“They say that Second Uncle fell in love with the Princess after spending time with her and confessed his feelings. The Princess said that he should first qualify himself to say such things, and then she would consider it. So, Second Uncle went home and asked for a divorce from Second Aunt! The whole family can’t talk him out of it! Grandmother is worried, and Second Aunt is heartbroken! I was afraid something might happen, so they asked me to go and persuade him.”

“Oh, this Hui Duan… really… at her age, she’s still stirring up such things!”

Although Madam Qi was sighing, Wen Yu could tell that her mother-in-law was actually quite envious?!

No, she must have seen wrong!

“Grandmother has high expectations for Father, but she dotes on Second Uncle. He has no official title and doesn’t work. Fortunately, he has family wealth to support him, so he lives a carefree life. He plays music, plays chess, games, he’s eloquent, and his calligraphy is not bad either. When it comes to having fun, he’s good at everything. My Second Aunt is a very traditional wife, whatever Second Uncle says, she follows. She never interferes!

But this matter… let’s not talk about what others will say. Just imagine, if this happens, and Second Uncle dares to act recklessly again in the future, won’t he be dealt with severely?!”

Madam Qi snorted: “Everyone has their own fate! Hui Duan and your Second Uncle are a bad match, it’s natural for them to have problems. Similarly, your Second Uncle divorced his first wife for her, regardless of his children. If he messes up in the future and gets disciplined by Hui Duan, he won’t have anything to complain about.”

“Oh, Mother, you’re so wise!”

“You don’t know, the Princess’s son is not someone to be trifled with!”

“Really?” Wen Yu smiled…

✿✿✿

Magistrate Wen was very angry to find that the pig’s trotters were gone because he was a little late.

Yan Zhu was surprised: “You’re already past your usual time!”

“Can’t I come if I’m late?! Besides, even if I couldn’t come, I would have sent Hu Zi to get them.”

“But I already promised them to Mu Bo and his brother. How about… you share with them?”

Magistrate Wen was unhappy. “But I just heard that you also let Qi Wu’s wife take some?”

“There’s still enough. I also made glutinous rice balls.”

“Then… alright.” Magistrate Wen reluctantly agreed.

Mu Bo and Zhang Yuan exchanged glances and then picked up their chopsticks to eat the pig’s trotters that Mu Ling brought up.

Magistrate Wen sat back in his usual spot. “Zhu Zhu, you eat some too?!”

“Zhu Zhu has already eaten!”

“Then come sit here and chat.”

“Okay!” Yan Zhu sat down, her eyes sparkling.

“You have something on your mind today.” Wen Ruoqing smiled faintly.

“Ah?! No, I don’t?”

“No? Your expression doesn’t look like you don’t.”

✿✿✿

“Really!” Oh no, he saw through her…

Yan Zhu blinked her eyes. After Magistrate Wen finished eating and drinking, she asked: “Sir, Zhu Zhu hasn’t asked you before, do you have a daughter?”

Magistrate Wen was stunned. “Why do you ask?”

“Tell me!”

“No. I don’t have a daughter, and I don’t have a wife.” Magistrate Wen’s expression turned indifferent, and his face looked quite unpleasant.

“Oh… should I not have asked that?” Yan Zhu was a little nervous.

Magistrate Wen was indeed unhappy. If it were anyone else, he would probably have lost his temper. But facing Zhu Zhu… forget it.

“Why did you think of asking that?” His expression was also very different from his usual gentle demeanor.

“I… um… I…” Yan Zhu was frightened and didn’t know what to say.

Wen Ruoqing felt a little regretful. He liked this place not only for the good food but also for the… atmosphere. Sometimes, he even felt like this was his “home”…

But if it touched upon his sensitive spot, then this would be his last time here.

“I really like the atmosphere here. And I know you’re not a girl who doesn’t know her place. Just tell me what’s on your mind… If not, I’ll be leaving.” He wiped his hands.

Gu Yue, who was eavesdropping outside, blinked, a smile appearing on his lips. Did he mean… he wouldn’t come here anymore?

That would be good…

Magistrate Wen suddenly became a stranger, and Yan Zhu was terrified, as if she was about to lose something important.

“Please wait, Sir, actually…” She quickly spilled everything like beans pouring out of a bamboo tube.

After Wen Ruoqing finished listening, his expression softened.

“From the methods you described, it really sounds like the style of someone I know… Zhu Zhu, this so-called Wen Xianggui has nothing to do with me. Feel free to use any methods you want to fight back. If you need my help, you can ask.” He smiled.

“You looked so scary just now… I…” Yan Zhu relaxed, her nose turning sour…

“Alright! Silly girl. I’m not angry, I just don’t like that topic. If I had a daughter, I would hope she’d be like you…”

At this point, Wen Ruoqing saw Yan Zhu on the verge of tears, as if she overlapped with a certain figure in his mind. Suddenly, his vision went black, and he felt a sharp, stabbing pain. He cried out “Ah!” and clutched his head with both hands.

He slumped over the table.

Yan Zhu jumped up: “Sir?! Gu Yue!” She shouted instinctively.

Gu Yue flashed in and caught Wen Ruoqing, who was about to fall to the floor.

Yan Zhu pointed at him, her eyes wide: “What’s wrong with him?!”

Gu Yue saw that Wen Ruoqing’s jaw was clenched, his body trembling, as if he was in great pain… and about to vomit. So he reached out and stroked the back of his neck. Wen Ruoqing’s hands dropped, and he fainted.

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong with him?” Yan Zhu was panicked.

“It’s alright. He probably has a headache. Go get a doctor…”

Upon hearing this, Yan Zhu turned and ran outside, bumping into Song Shang. “Fifth Brother Song, Sir fainted! Quickly get a doctor!” she said anxiously.

Song Shang said to the person beside him: “Go invite Doctor Huang!” Then, he walked behind the screen.

Gu Yue looked down, supporting Wen Ruoqing.

“Carry him to the private room upstairs,” Song Shang said.

Gu Yue scooped Wen Ruoqing up in his arms and strode upstairs. There was a soft couch in the private room. He laid him down on it.

Yan Zhu followed closely behind. “Is he alright? Gu Yue, did you hurt him with that move? He just ate a lot, he’s not choking, is he?”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t hurt him. The doctor will be here soon. Don’t worry…” Seeing Yan Zhu’s anxious look, Gu Yue felt distressed and comforted her softly.

Song Shang said: “Is anyone with him? We need to inform his family.”

Yan Zhu remembered: “Hu Zi is outside chatting with someone. Quickly call him up.”

Soon, a strong and sturdy young man of seventeen or eighteen years old came up. “Sir!” He was also startled.

Song Shang said: “Sir seems to have a sudden headache. We’ve already called for a doctor. Has he had such symptoms before? Does he have a regular doctor?”

Hu Zi said: “Sir was injured before and occasionally suffers from headaches. He doesn’t need to take medicine usually, only when it flares up does the doctor prescribe medicine or acupuncture.”

“It’s not convenient to move him now. Which doctor usually sees him? Also, have someone inform his family.”

Hu Zi shook his head: “Sir has instructed us not to tell his family about these matters. It’s always been Doctor He from Heyan Hall who has been treating him.”

“Quickly go to Heyan Hall and invite Doctor He,” Song Shang ordered.

Yan Zhu pulled up a small stool and sat beside Magistrate Wen, looking at him worriedly…

Gu Yue stood by the side, looking at Yan Zhu with concern.