A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Resentment for the Cruel East Wind

Wen Yu lay in bed, her mind too excited to sleep.

She kept replaying the events of her past life.

Although the hairpin Song Shang gifted her had brought her heartache, it had also moved her. After all, there was someone in this world who cared about her.

And his later act of rescuing Hong Dou had completely changed her state of mind.

After he had properly buried Hong Dou, she knelt before him, her face streaming with tears, to express her gratitude.

But Song Shang said, “After what happened to Hong Dou, your life at home must have become even more difficult.”

“Ah Yu, I’ve always liked you. However, I can’t divorce my wife at the moment. Come with me. I’ll ensure your security for the rest of your life.”

Actually, at that time, she had planned to end her own life after settling Hong Dou’s affairs. Because she felt that if she stayed in the Wen family for another moment, she would go mad.

She would rather wander the streets, rather be a prostitute in the red-light district, than ever look back at this “family” again!

So, she nodded without hesitation.

Song Shang went to plead with his grandmother, but she refused to agree under any circumstances… citing that a legitimate daughter of the Wen family couldn’t be someone’s concubine.

But in reality… Song Shang controlled the lifeline of the Wen family’s businesses. Many important matters had to be handled by him.

The grandmother knew that she hadn’t treated Song Shang well all these years, so she didn’t want to be involved with him, to affect him, and cause any mishap to the Wen family!

But Song Shang directly threw out a condition that his grandmother couldn’t refuse: two hundred thousand taels of silver!

It was like buying her, using a price rarely seen in the world!

Later, she heard from Song Shang that when he threw out this condition, his grandmother was utterly stunned.

If it hadn’t been the grandmother who received the silver, she would have probably cursed Song Shang as a prodigal!

The benefit was too tempting. The grandmother readily agreed, fearing that he would go back on his word!

But Father…

Wen Yu still vividly remembered his expression at that time, “Since you’re willing to degrade yourself, then I, Wen Qian, will no longer have you as a daughter!”

He “resolutely” severed the “father-daughter relationship” that never existed.

The ridiculous thing was… he didn’t hesitate to accept the two hundred thousand taels of silver.

It funded his promotion to a higher position and the lavish dowry for his beloved daughter, Wen Huan…

Heh heh…

Thinking of this, Wen Yu almost laughed out loud. Tears, however, uncontrollably flowed onto her pillow.

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When she entered the Song family, she almost made her cousin’s wife, Wei Shi, faint from anger, causing her to genuinely fall ill.

Wei Shi came from a family with a centuries-old lineage in western Anhui. Her family had a continuous history of officials. Even now, many officials in the capital were from her family. Her background was profound.

Wei Shi had loved beauty since childhood, her thoughts whimsical and eccentric. She enjoyed being admired and sought after.

But such things weren’t good for marriage, as no high-ranking family liked such a flamboyant daughter-in-law.

Therefore, Wei Shi’s marriage to Song Shang was a union that benefited both families.

She believed she was exceptionally beautiful and talented, with impeccable taste in clothing and fashion, setting trends and admired by all. Although she had only given birth to a daughter in the few years since entering the family, she believed she could control Song Shang perfectly!

Even if she did some excessive things… Song Shang never spoke out.

But she never expected… that he would welcome Wen Yu into the family with such extravagance and fanfare.

It was said to be taking a concubine, but it was like marrying a second wife.

This was indeed a slap in the face!

After Wei Shi recovered from her illness, she lay dormant like a beautiful snake, waiting for an opportunity…

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Song Shang was genuinely good to her. He would even take her with him when he went out on business.

They traveled to scenic spots, enjoyed tea, and watched plays.

That was the most beautiful period of her life in her past life.

Later, she became pregnant.

When Song Shang’s mother, Madam Song, learned of this, she insisted that she return home to recuperate.

Song Shang was very busy, often having to travel, sometimes for several months at a time.

And Wei Shi had already instigated Madam Song to believe that she was the biggest wretch in the world, a fox spirit who would ruin Song Shang.

Therefore, Madam Song was cold and indifferent to her!

Even though she was pregnant, she had to go and listen to Madam Song’s lectures every day.

And Wei Shi, with her cold face and heart, insulted her with her words. The servants were sarcastic and mistreated her in every way.

Song Shang was away, and there was no one to call the shots. One moment she was given food, the next she was ignored. Life was… even more difficult than at the Wen family.

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But at that time, she always felt indebted to Wei Shi.

She wouldn’t, couldn’t, and didn’t dare to confront Wei Shi. She silently endured even the greatest humiliation.

Anyway, she was used to enduring.

She thought that once the child was born and her cousin came back, everything would be fine.

Unfortunately, she didn’t wait for her cousin to return.

When she was almost seven months pregnant, Wei Shi caused her to miscarry.

She lost a baby boy.

When he came out… he could still move… he even cried…

If this incident hadn’t shocked Madam Song, making her regret her previous mistreatment and bringing in the best doctor to care for her… she would have probably died that time, right?

When Song Shang rushed back, she was extremely thin, like a ghost. She was in a daze and no longer recognized anyone.

Song Shang directly hit Wei Shi and even wanted to divorce her.

Under Madam Song’s obstruction, he didn’t succeed.

But Song Shang insisted on sending Wei Shi to the family temple. Wei Shi, with her pride and arrogance, couldn’t bear it!

She took the initiative to leave!

From then on, Song Shang took her with him wherever he went.

To help her overcome her grief as soon as possible, Song Shang hired many teachers for her, teaching her to read, write, paint, and play the guqin. He invited a nanny from the palace and even personally taught her about account books and business.

It took her several years to slowly recover.

Then, she became pregnant again.

She waited for the arrival of this new life with a nervous heart.

But she found Song Shang somewhat restless.

She asked him, but he didn’t answer…

Finally, one day, when she was almost seven months pregnant again.

Something happened to the Song family!

It was her younger sister, Wen Huan, who, in order to support an imperial grandson’s plot, planned to murder and seize the Song family’s property.

And the husband Wei Shi remarried to also played a significant role in it.

Finally, under the pretext of colluding with bandits, the Song family was raided.

The men of the Song family were beheaded, and she was also imprisoned.

In prison, she was punched and kicked by Wei Shi’s daughter and once again lost her child.

As she lay dying, Wen Huan came. She was dressed in fine clothes and adorned with pearls. She recounted her triumphs:

“You became a concubine to Cousin, and the Wen family received two hundred thousand taels of silver! Sister, you are worth several times more than Ying Ying, the famous courtesan from Qinhuai River!”

“If it weren’t for this silver, how could Father have gotten such a good position? And how could I have had such a lavish dowry?”

“Father and my mother have been in love since childhood. If it weren’t for that bitch of a mother of yours interfering, how could my parents have wasted several years of their prime? And how could I have concealed my birth year and age, living beneath you?! From the moment I learned of this, I hated you the most in this world.”

“You thought your mother’s death was your fault?! Hahahaha, I told you, it was your most respected father who did it. Grandmother knew too! You’ve longed for your father’s recognition and grandmother’s love all your life. You never expected this, did you? It was they who made you a motherless child and burdened you with a cursed fate!”

“But, you shouldn’t be angry. You wouldn’t have been born without me. Father and your mother never consummated their marriage. Later, when my mother became pregnant with me, Father took advantage of the time when your mother was giving birth to you to make his move, marrying my mother… Hehe, Father loves me the most all his life. He always felt guilty for not giving me the title of legitimate eldest daughter. I want the moon, he wouldn’t give me the stars…”

“Prince Jing’s position as Crown Prince is within reach. In the future, when he ascends the throne… Heh, I originally wanted to throw you into the red-light district, letting you witness that day in misery, but with your current ghastly appearance… wouldn’t you scare people to death?!”

She said enough and turned away with satisfaction.

And she, in infinite despair and hatred, died.

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At this moment, a cruel smile appeared on Wen Yu’s lips…

After planning for more than two months, I finally have this opportunity.

No matter how badly you two are burned, I won’t be afraid, nor will I regret it!

Anyway, this family, even the stone lions at the entrance are not clean!

Liu Si, even if you are lucky enough not to be burned to death or injured, don’t even think about getting away from this incident!

And this is just the beginning!