Chapter 263
After Qi Wu returned home, in addition to investigating secretly himself, he also asked Mu Bo to subtly inquire with Zhang Yuan to see if there were any movements from Qi Yue.
How could Mu Bo “subtly inquire”? He directly asked: “Who are all the people by Third Master’s side, are they all still there?”
Zhang Yuan didn’t understand what he meant and replied: “Those who usually follow him are all still there.”
Then, Zhang Yuan actually started complaining to Mu Bo: He strongly disapproved of the things that Third Master had done.
At the time, he had tried to dissuade him but was punished. As a guard, he couldn’t betray his master, couldn’t tell anyone, and could only endure it.
But from then on, Third Master stopped using him. He was now just a figurehead!
The two of them looked down on each other, but because the Marquis was there… because his father was there! Unless he died or was crippled, he had to stay by Qi Yue’s side!
Mu Bo asked what Qi Yue had actually done…
Zhang Yuan let out a long sigh and didn’t answer.
✿✿✿
Yan Zhu had a slight fever that night, but she had a good constitution and was fine the next morning.
Staying at the inn, she could reach the shop in just a few steps and felt quite happy, but everyone wouldn’t let her go out.
She also learned that Gu Yue was the legendary “Mr. Hu”! This made her very excited!
After Wen Ruoqing left for the morning court session, Hu Fei could come to see Yan Zhu. And endure her barrage of questions…
In front of Yan Zhu, he was just like before. But in front of others, it was different…
Master Qing was afraid that Yan Zhu would be bored, so he had someone bring some ingredients for her to pass the time. Yan Zhu worked enthusiastically, and Hu Fei still helped her as before…
“Is your hair naturally this white?”
“Yes.”
“Hahahaha, then when you were a little kid, wouldn’t that have been hilarious?” Yan Zhu thought of a little boy with snow-white hair and laughed until she bent over, getting flour on her nose.
If anyone else dared to say that, Hu Fei would have gotten angry! But when Yan Zhu said it, he recalled what he was like as a child. “When I was very young, I was very serious. Shaking my head and reciting books, I really looked like a little old man…”
After speaking, he took out a handkerchief and handed it to Yan Zhu, pointing at her nose.
Yan Zhu also had flour on her hands and couldn’t take the handkerchief, so she shook her head and then rubbed it against her arm, wiping off some of it, but there was still some left.
So Hu Fei directly reached out and helped her wipe it off.
Yan Zhu didn’t feel anything unusual and continued to ask: “Legend has it that you are very skilled at sword dancing. When I heard that, I thought it was like dancing, the kind that is very beautiful…”
Hu Fei was busy with his delicate work and replied: “It is beautiful… but also very practical.” There was a look in his eyes, one that could kill…
“Is the Hu family very wealthy!?” Yan Zhu remembered the look of emotion on Master Qing’s face when he mentioned the Hu family to her.
“Actually, the reason why the Hu family has some fame is not just because of wealth, but because they have many unique secret techniques. For example, shipbuilding, spinning wheels, Hu Ma paper, fireworks, and so on… are all family traditions, very unique things. Some were left by ancestors, and some were created by later generations.”
“Oh…” Yan Zhu pretended to understand, but she didn’t really get it. “Hey hey… last time Ah Yu came back from Heavenly Dragon Temple and said she saw a stunning beauty, is that your wife? Ah…” Yan Zhu sat down, full of yearning: “Ah Yu said she had never seen anyone so beautiful! For Ah Yu to praise her so much, oh my god, I can’t imagine how beautiful she must be!”
This was a complicated question, and Hu Fei calmly savored his own mood. He found that he had let go of that experience that had made him both infatuated and utterly despairing… He could talk about her calmly.
“Yang Ruishi. She is indeed very beautiful, but even more pitiful… Her beauty didn’t bring her a good life, but disaster and pain. After marrying me… no one dared to disrespect her anymore, so she should have lived a carefree life. However… she couldn’t escape the past, nor did she enjoy the present.
She was like a walking corpse, always unhappy. Perhaps death was her release. I tried my best to help her, almost ruining myself in the process. So, I have no regrets, no guilt.”
Yan Zhu listened attentively, then nodded: “Yes, actually, whether you are happy or not is up to you. If she wanted to, she could have moved on without you doing anything. Ah Yu and I, we also had many unhappy years…
In those days, we were both so careful, just afraid of being looked down upon. We would discuss all day long what we could do to make Old Madam Wen and Master Wen happy… Later, we realized that nothing we did would work.
So, we stopped being foolish! We only do what we like! But then, Old Madam was actually happy again. But we no longer cared about that!”
Hu Fei looked at Yan Zhu: “Zhu Zhu, you are very smart, very good.”
“Really? But I’m not as smart as Ah Yu. But this is good enough…”
“It is very good. I haven’t said thank you to you yet!”
“Why are you saying that!?”
“Have you forgotten? What I was like when I met you, it was because of you that I woke up!”
Yan Zhu thought of his beggar appearance… and giggled, “You smelled so bad then!”
✿✿✿
Hu Fei smiled, “You’ve seen me at my worst. So, don’t dislike me…” he whispered.
“What are you saying?”
“Nothing. Is the matter of you acknowledging your adoptive father really settled?” He was very depressed. That person was really annoying. He had wanted to lose his temper several times but had held back.
“Yes. He always makes me laugh…”
“What about me!?”
“What about you?”
“Can I make you laugh? Or, am I the same as Wen Ruoqing?”
“It’s different! He acts quite fatherly. You…”
“What about me!?” Hu Fei asked somewhat anxiously.
“I can’t explain it! Ah Yu said that you are going back to your clan, that you are going to do great things. But the thought of me calling for Gu Yue in the future and you not appearing… it feels really strange.”
“No, I won’t leave. Yan Zhu, do you really want me to be by your side, no matter when you call for me?”
“Yes… that would be great!”
“Then you…”
“Zhu Zhu!” Wen Yu arrived!
Hu Fei had been preparing himself for a long time to say it, only to be interrupted by Wen Yu.
It made him so angry…
✿✿✿
Wen Ruoqing’s daughter recognition ceremony proceeded without any obstacles.
The news spread, and people talked.
As Yan Zhu’s friend, Wen Yu calculated: Wen family, Song family, Chen family, Zhang family, Cui family, Qi… there would have to be several tables.
Xu Shi had been talking to Tan Shi for a long time. Her mouth was full of disparaging remarks…
Tan Shi was also quite annoyed. She had just finished badmouthing this Yan Zhu a few days ago, and now this Wen Ruoqing came to slap her in the face? Hmph, adoptive father and adoptive daughter, did they really think it sounded nice!?
Feeling unhappy, she naturally wanted to instigate. With a few words, Xu Shi’s face had turned pale with anger.
How could Wen Yu care what they said?
But she had to come and invite Tan Shi, and she also had to find an opportunity for Master Qing to meet her, to see if he could discover anything!
“Grandmother, in recent days, guests coming to the shop have all been mentioning this matter. You should go too! Join in the fun!”
Tan Shi smiled and shook her head: “Grandmother is quite good friends with Old Madam Wen! But their family matters, where the salt is salty and the vinegar is sour! I still haven’t figured it out! Making such a big fuss about recognizing an adopted daughter… If Old Madam Wen had sent a letter of invitation, I would definitely have gone. But now… If I go, and then see Old Madam Wen, it would make things awkward!”
Wen Yu looked at Tan Shi with a smile. Only Xu Shi and I were present now, why was she still beating around the bush?
Wasn’t this just accusing Wen Ruoqing of being unfilial and acting arrogantly?
Since her wish had not been achieved, Wen Yu didn’t linger. “Oh, is that so… What a pity!
She exchanged a few more perfunctory words and then left. Unexpectedly, Xu Shi followed behind her. “Wen Yu, I heard that Old Madam Wen dislikes this son, Wen Ruoqing, very much. Eagerly rushing to acknowledge an adoptive father, I’m afraid he won’t get much benefit from it, right!?”
Wen Yu turned around and smiled: “Doesn’t Eldest Sister-in-Law know that the Wen family currently relies on Master Wen to maintain their status as a first-class family in the capital? Every prominent family relies on capable descendants to support them!?
Look, just like Eldest Sister-in-Law’s family… It’s still an Earl’s mansion, but your father’s generation is incompetent, and your brother’s generation is also incompetent. They have fallen to the ranks of middle and lower-class families!”
Xu Shi was scolded by Wen Yu, who pointed at her nose and insulted her father. She retorted, “Bullshit! You bitch…”
Wen Yu wasn’t annoyed at all: “So, what does Old Madam Wen want… She’s just a useless old woman, who cares about her?”
“Good! You dare to say such rebellious words, I’m going to tell Grandfather!” She had finally caught her!
Wen Yu suddenly leaned closer and said, “Eldest Sister-in-Law, when will your body be ready? I see that in this family, Third Mistress has taken control both inside and outside. These past few days, as I’ve been coming and going, none of the servants have mentioned you! I’m quite happy about it, but what about you? However… if you can really give birth to the legitimate eldest son of this generation, it will be worth it! That’s what you’re thinking, right!?”
After saying that, she winked and smiled, leaving gracefully.
Xu Shi stood there stunned, so angry that she couldn’t speak…
