Chapter 33: The Eldest Daughter Emerges
Zanquan Mountain Estate was shrouded in an awkward and gloomy atmosphere, while at this moment, the Wen family was solemn and lively.
The bride is about to enter the house!
Wen Yu’s impression of her eldest brother and his wife wasn’t very deep. In her past life, when her eldest sister-in-law entered the house, Yan Zhu had just passed away not long ago, and she didn’t attend the wedding at all. Afterwards, she was sent by Song Shang to a separate courtyard, waiting to enter the Song family.
Since blood ties are thin, it’s better to follow the rules and not expect too much.
Wen Yu was applying makeup in front of the dressing table. On a day like this, it wasn’t appropriate to be barefaced, so she applied a light layer of powder and lipstick. She also used the gardenia flower fragrance she had extracted herself.
Yan Zhu watched her intently from the side, her face filled with admiration, looking from left to right, “Miss, you look so beautiful! Truly beautiful!”
“Hehe, right? Grandmother’s jewelry set is beautiful, isn’t it?!” Wen Yu said playfully. Previously, she had given all her jewelry and gold and silver to her uncle, leaving only a few silver hairpins for herself.
These days, she wore them every day, and Old Madam Wen found it extremely unpleasant to look at, but she didn’t say anything.
Last night, Wen Yu carried the clothes she was going to wear today to Old Madam’s room, “Grandmother, you know, I gave all my valuable jewelry to my uncle. My everyday jewelry is quite shabby. It’s fine when there are no outsiders, but on the big day of eldest brother’s wedding, it would be embarrassing for the Wen family if I were so simple. Grandfather did give me a set of kingfisher feather jewelry, but I’m only a few years old. It feels a bit too presumptuous to wear it. Look, could you lend me a set of jewelry? I’ll return it after using it!”
Old Madam Wen looked at Wen Yu speechlessly. She had actually become so shameless! She really didn’t want to pay any attention to her…
But if she didn’t give it to her, she would really wear those few silver hairpins… Hmph, not to mention embarrassing the Wen family, if that old thing knew about it, who knows what he would do! With a sigh, she said to Nurse Song expressionlessly, “Go get my set of eastern pearl hairpins. It just so happens to match this outfit perfectly!”
After a while, Nurse Song came back with a box.
Old Madam personally opened it, and on the red velvet cloth lay eight exquisitely crafted pearl hairpins, shimmering with radiance.
“Take them and wear them. You don’t have to return them!” she said lightly.
Wen Yu took them and looked at them, nodding with certainty, “As expected of grandmother’s things, they’re truly beautiful! Thank you for the gift, Grandmother!” After saying that, she left with them.
Old Madam looked at her retreating figure: After sending away that plague god and my son, I’ll think about how to deal with her!
At this moment, Yan Zhu had finished combing Wen Yu’s hair, inserting the hairpins one by one into her hair. The shimmering pearls reflected off her jet-black hair… She couldn’t help but sigh, truly beautiful!
After showering her with compliments, the main point was that she wanted to accompany Wen Yu to join in the excitement. Wen Yu was really helpless and had to agree.
The two of them arrived at the back, where the women of the Wen family were all dressed up, gathered together, and chatting and laughing.
The fourth master of the Wen family hadn’t returned, and the fourth mistress wasn’t there either. Everyone tacitly avoided asking about them. Even Guan S*i didn’t ask, which made Old Madam a little worried. She wondered if the old man knew about it…
Yan Zhu’s gaze on the clothes and jewelry was as sharp as an eagle’s, and she had a photographic memory, constantly whispering comments to Wen Yu, “Hehe, Second Miss’s fashion sense follows after our Madam. Look at her from head to toe, not a single detail is overlooked! But no matter how much effort she puts in, in front of you, Miss, it’s all quite sparse!”
As expected, this “sparseness” was also noticed by Wen Wan.
She would never miss this opportunity. So she said, “Eldest Sister has become so much prettier these days. Don’t you think so, Second Sister, Third Sister?! Could it be that everyone becomes this beautiful when they come of age? I’m really looking forward to it…”
Wen Jiao sneered, “Looking forward to it is understandable! But don’t let it become an extravagant hope, otherwise, you’ll be disappointed.”
After saying that, she deliberately glanced at Wen Huan.
Wen Huan looked at Wen Yu, her heart filled with jealousy and hatred. Provoked by her younger sisters, she felt even more uneasy.
But she also agreed with her mother’s meaning. What was her identity? What kind of future could she have? Who would bother competing with them over these things?! After Wen Jiao went to the capital in half a year, she would know the difference between her and them! Although that’s what she thought, she was still young and inexperienced, and couldn’t help but change her expression repeatedly.
The women in the room were full of compliments; no one wanted to create any trouble on this day.
A servant reported that guests had arrived.
Wen Yu surprisingly took the initiative, grandly, gently, and firmly stood beside Old Madam, facing the arriving guests with a smile alongside her.
She looked exactly like the image of the most favored legitimate eldest granddaughter.
For a time, all kinds of “congratulations” and “well wishes” filled the room and the courtyard.
As expected, Wen Yu, standing next to Old Madam, was so outstanding that all the guests noticed her first.
“Oh! This is… Yu girl?!” a woman asked Old Madam Wen.
“Madam Xu!” Wen Yu, with a rosy complexion and a proper posture, bowed steadily.
“Aiyo, you’re truly a young lady now! So wonderful! Mother Wen has raised her eldest granddaughter so well, tsk tsk tsk tsk…”
The arriving guests all looked at Wen Yu with surprise and admiration.
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Wen Yu smiled throughout, reserved but not shy, dignified but not showy.
“Indeed! Elder sister, I truly envy you. Look at these flowers by your side! Especially Yu girl… This grace, worthy of your legitimate eldest granddaughter! Come, come, let this old woman take a look. Tsk! She’s beautiful, and this figure resembles yours, elder sister! Yu girl, this string of beads was brought back from abroad by your Uncle Huan! You can take it and wear it!”
Wen Yu first glanced at her grandmother. Seeing Old Madam Wen nod, she accepted it with both hands.
On the other side, Wen Huan, hearing the words “legitimate eldest granddaughter,” turned pale with hatred.
In a short while, Yan Zhu had collected quite a few pieces of jewelry given to Wen Yu by the guests. She was delighted…
Of course, there were also families who had good relationships with the Wen family. Knowing that Wen Qian had been promoted and had a brighter future, possibly even entering the Grand Secretariat, they all tried to curry favor with Yuan S*i and Wen Huan.
Wen Huan felt a little better, but she didn’t want to be as gentle as Wen Yu. Instead, she put on the airs of a young miss, interacting with people reservedly.
Seeing this, Yuan S*i didn’t feel anything was wrong. Once their family arrived in the capital, it would be a different world! The people here might not even be worth interacting with in the future.
The demeanor of an official’s daughter had to be practiced now.
Old Madam Wen entertained the guests while secretly observing Wen Yu. She found that this girl was doing everything just right. Whether someone was close or distant, how she spoke and smiled, it almost completely aligned with her own thoughts.
She couldn’t help but wonder even more, who taught her all this?
Regardless of who taught her, her popularity was a troublesome matter. Finally, finding a moment, Old Madam said to Wen Yu, “Many young ladies have come today. You don’t have to stay with me all the time. Go and play with your sisters!”
Wen Yu readily agreed and turned to leave.
Just a few steps out of the room, “Sister Yu!” a cheerful voice called out, and a little girl ran in lightly.
It turned out to be Zhang Jinqing, the younger daughter of Magistrate Zhang, followed by Madam Zhang, her daughter-in-law, and Zhang Weiqing. Zhang Weiqing was the daughter of Magistrate Zhang’s elder brother.
Zhang Jinqing was ten years old and very innocent and lively, “Younger Sister Jinqing, why are you so happy?” Wen Yu took her hand.
“Elder Brother Wen is getting married! I can see the bride later, I’m so happy! Ah, Sister Yu is so beautiful today! Your clothes are beautiful, your hair is beautifully done! And you smell so good!” Zhang Jinqing praised her one by one.
Yan Zhu, standing beside them, quickly whispered to her, saying that she was the one who combed her hair.
“Aunt Zhang!” Wen Yu greeted Magistrate Zhang’s eldest daughter-in-law and Zhang Weiqing one by one.
Madam Zhang and the others looked at Wen Yu, also surprised in their hearts. How did Wen Yu become so beautiful?
“Ah Yu is truly beautiful today!” Madam Zhang smiled. Her daughter-in-law and Zhang Weiqing both nodded in agreement.
Old Madam, hearing from the servants that Madam Zhang had arrived, hurried over to greet her, “Huixian is here?!”
Madam Zhang led the others to meet Old Madam.
Wen Yu, however, pulled Zhang Jinqing aside, “Where’s your little brother?” She was asking about Zhang Jiangqing, Magistrate Zhang’s younger son.
Zhang Jinqing’s eyes lit up, “He’s at the front!”
Wen Yu whispered a few words to her, and the little girl nodded vigorously.
Madam Zhang had already finished offering her congratulations. The two families had a good relationship, and they chatted for a while, “When I saw Ah Yu today, I almost didn’t recognize her! How did she get so tall all of a sudden?”
“Yes, she’s grown up! She’s a young lady now! You know, the fortune teller who read her fate when she was little… Although I don’t believe in those things, after all… Now, she has overcome her hurdle! From now on, it’s all good fortune for her!” Old Madam Wen said with infinite emotion. She was hinting, hoping to quickly finalize the marriage with the Zhang family, just in case something unexpected happened!
Madam Zhang nodded and sighed, “Ah Yu has always been a good child!”
In fact, Madam Zhang had long since taken a liking to Wen Yu, wanting her as a wife for her younger son, Zhang Jiangqing. But her son said that he had to wait until he had some merit, like passing the imperial exam or getting an official position, before proposing marriage, so that Ah Yu could “have more face.”
Hehe! That silly boy!
His father had already gone to make arrangements, and things were looking promising.
She originally wanted to wait until it was settled before saying anything, but seeing Wen Yu so outstanding, she was worried that at this wedding, who knows how many people would take a liking to her. It was better to make a move first!
She had just found a suitable way to express herself, giving Old Madam a hint, and was in the middle of organizing her words when new guests arrived, interrupting her…
I have something to attend to at home, so I finished writing this in a hurry. There might be many mistakes. I’ll fix them tomorrow.
