A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 53

Chapter 53: I Did It on Purpose

The next day, after breakfast, the sisters accompanied Old Madam Wen to the grand reception hall.

As soon as they entered, they found that there were already more than a dozen guests inside.

Wei Shi was wearing a bright red embroidered with gold silk peony flowers, a full set of gorgeous hair ornaments, and heavy makeup on her face. Her brows and eyes carried a sharp and arrogant look.

She was casually talking to people.

Old Madam Wen saw Wei Shi and said with a smile: “Oh, today Xiang Yu looks like a bride!”

Wei Shi raised her face affectedly: “What bride? I’m the principal wife!”

Old Madam Wen was a little dumbfounded, thinking: What’s wrong with Wei Shi?

She was a little angry, but what could she do?

So she pretended not to hear it and laughed. Just then, someone called out in front: “Aunt Song, you’re here!”

Old Madam Wen took the opportunity to walk forward. “Oh, Madam Feng! It’s been a while since we last met.”

The Wen sisters followed inside, Wen Yu being the last. As she passed Wei Shi, Wei Shi spat, “Where did this stink bug come from, flying into my mouth! It’s really looking for death!”

Wen Yu looked at Wei Shi with a surprised expression, looking her up and down, as if she couldn’t believe Wei Shi’s behavior.

Wei Shi glared…

But at this moment, a girl walked over gently: “Ah Yu!”

“Yi’er!” Wen Yu ignored Wei Shi and walked away.

Wei Shi sneered behind them.

Yi’er was the niece of Madam Song’s family and only a few days older than Wen Yu. Madam Song liked her very much and often asked her to accompany her.

She and Wen Yu often met and were quite familiar with each other.

Yesterday, she had something to do and didn’t see Wen Yu. When she saw the Wen family coming in, she came to find her, but she saw Wei Shi throwing a tantrum. Yi’er was also taken aback: What’s wrong with her again?

Yi’er’s parents passed away early, and Madam Song was worried that Yi’er’s upbringing wouldn’t be enough, so she took care of her personally. At present, all the matters in Madam Song’s courtyard were managed by Yi’er.

Actually, it had nothing to do with Wei Shi.

But Wei Shi was arrogant and looked down on her mother-in-law from the bottom of her heart, let alone her mother-in-law’s orphaned niece.

Moreover, her husband was too kind to Yi’er!

That girl was not engaged yet, and she was really afraid that Old Madam would make the decision to give Yi’er to her husband.

So on the surface, she didn’t show it, but in private, she didn’t give Yi’er a good look.

Yi’er’s parents died early, and she was very sensitive. She was embarrassed to tell Madam Song about Wei Shi’s coldness, so she often felt wronged.

“Ah Yu, I had something to do yesterday and didn’t see you at the Hundred Beasts Garden. Last night, I was afraid that you were tired from the journey, so I didn’t want to bother you.”

“What’s there to be polite about? We’re seeing each other now! Oh my, it’s been almost a year since we last met. Are you doing well?!”

“I’ve been living with my aunt all this time, and everything is fine! Ah Yu, you’re… taller than me by a fist now, right?”

“Yes, I’ve grown taller recently.”

“You’re so beautiful!” Yi’er said sincerely. “Eh, this is… Hong Dou? Why are you so dark?”

“Miss Yi’er, my name is Zhu Zhu now. This face… is because of a rash. It’s from the medicine. It’ll be fine in a few days!” Yan Zhu was very concerned about this and touched her little face with worry.

“Well, even with a dark face, you’re still beautiful…” Yi’er was quite ordinary-looking, so she liked beautiful people.

“Yi’er, Zhu Zhu is not my maid anymore. My uncle adopted her as his daughter, so she’s my sister now!”

“Ah?! Really? What happened?! Tell me quickly!” Yi’er widened her eyes, she also liked gossip.

Wei Shi stood there alone, watching Wen Yu and Yi’er chatting animatedly. That curvy one next to them, was that the one called Hong Dou? She’s laughing so flirtatiously!

She’s such a natural-born slut!

From her husband coaxing the two of them to have fun at the Hundred Beasts Garden yesterday… she extrapolated that maybe they would both follow her husband in the future?

She squeezed her handkerchief tightly. That letter yesterday…

Who wrote it?

It was certain that it was someone from Old Madam Wen’s side. Moreover, Old Madam Wen might not even know about this…

Who could it be?

What did they want to do?

Red coral hairpins!

She hadn’t seen them, but she had heard of them…

Exquisite, precious aside, the key was: this was her husband’s intention!

Since marrying Song Shang, she hadn’t even counted how much silver she had spent on jewelry and clothes! She hadn’t even thought about this issue. Anyway, when the things were brought back, the accountant would settle the bill.

She used to think this was good, that she lived a more comfortable life than the noble ladies in the capital.

But she didn’t expect that her husband had never carefully purchased anything for her.

At most, during the New Year, she would receive gifts from her husband along with her mother-in-law: neatly packaged, from their own shop, all good stuff! But now that she thought about it, it didn’t take any effort from him…

He went to the “Huiyuan” auction and bought the red coral hairpins!

But he gave them to that slut Wen Yu!

It’s outrageous!

✿✿✿

Over there, several women were chatting after exchanging greetings, it was very lively.

After a while, someone said: “Old Madam, our Fifth Master is here!”

“Oh, he’s here!” Madam Song quickly said: “Hurry up and let him come in to meet these aunts and uncles!”

Song Shang strode in, dressed in bright blue, with a smile as pure as the sky. He walked up to Madam Song: “Mother!”

Several madams quickly praised: “Oh, Shang Ge’er! Look how energetic he is!”

“Yes, yes! This bearing! You could say he’s a marquis and people would believe it!”

There were many who flattered him.

These people, more or less, had benefited from Song Shang, so they were truly full of enthusiasm.

Song Shang stood beside his mother, smiling and talking to everyone. Then his eyes turned and he saw that person over there, chatting and laughing with Cousin Yi’er and that… Zhu Zhu…

Hehe, he felt at ease and content.

At this moment, Madam Song’s sister-in-law nudged the girl beside her: “What did you make for your aunt? Hurry up and take it out!”

That girl’s nickname was Zhen Niang, and she was the niece of this Madam.

Seeing that Song Shang had been married for several years and still didn’t have a son, she had an idea and wanted to give her niece to Song Shang as a concubine. Whether she was a concubine or not, once she gave birth to a son, it would be the same!

That Zhen Niang had an oval face and big eyes, she was very proper-looking. Her clothes and manners were those of a well-behaved young lady!

Hearing this, her face flushed slightly, she responded and went to get it.

Madam Song originally liked Zhen Niang, but when she learned that her sister-in-law wanted to give her to her son as a concubine, she didn’t like her so much anymore.

What proper young lady would want to be someone’s concubine?

✿✿✿

She wouldn’t allow such a thing!

A Madam asked: “What birthday gift did Shang Ge’er give you?”

Madam Song pointed to a table beside her, covered with a red velvet cloth, on which were placed several objects: “It’s an antique jade Bodhisattva. In a few days, it’s the Heavenly Dragon Temple’s millennial Dharma assembly, and Shang Ge’er said he wants to offer it in front of the Dharma image and have the master consecrate it. He’ll bring it back and enshrine it! The niche is already made!”

Some people gathered around to look, knowing it was valuable, they didn’t dare to pick it up, they just clicked their tongues and praised it.

“And that one next to it, is a set of ruby jewelry that Shang Ge’er’s wife gave me. Oh my, this old woman, where could I possibly wear such a thing?!”

Wen Yu laughed when she heard Madam Song’s rambling.

That set of ruby jewelry, it was said that Princess Wu had a similar set.

But what was her status?

If Madam Song really wore such a thing outside, wouldn’t she cause trouble or become a laughingstock?

But Wei Shi always looked down on others.

Zhen Niang’s birthday gift was an embroidered handkerchief with the character for longevity written a hundred times.

Madam Song took it in her hand and looked at it carefully. Although she was a little dissatisfied with her, she couldn’t deny that the handkerchief was really well made.

“Good girl, your hands are really skillful!”

“Yes! Zhen Niang she…” Her sister-in-law started praising her again.

Madam Song listened and nodded, turning to hand it to someone beside her: “Put it away.”

Song Shang stood there with a smile, saying nothing.

Two other girls also gave her embroidered pouches and other things they made themselves, which were also quite delicate.

Old Madam Wen quickly said: “You girls, take out what you made for your aunt! It definitely can’t compare to Zhen Niang and the others, but you can’t hide from it either, it’s better to lose face early!”

“Haha, Aunt, what are you saying!” Madam Song laughed heartily.

Everyone laughed.

Wen Jiao gave a gold-painted folding fan. The fan was bought, and the fan surface originally had characters on it. After buying it, she only needed to trace it with gold powder.

Old Madam Wen looked at it and shook her head with a wry smile: “This girl’s hands are really clumsy!”

Wen Jiao didn’t care and opened it to fan Madam Song. “Aunt, this is no ordinary fan, smell the fragrance! Doesn’t it smell good?!”

“It smells good!”

Madam Song took it and fanned herself. “Hmm, it really smells good!”

Wen Wan gave a silk cord with six agarwood beads on it, which also had a fragrance. Although it wasn’t top-grade agarwood, it wasn’t cheap either. Fortunately, she didn’t use much, otherwise Wen Wan would have felt the pinch.

Wen Su was the most stingy, she copied scriptures. Knowing that Madam Song was a Buddhist, copying this would never be wrong!

Finally, it was Wen Yu’s turn.

She held a book in both hands.

Madam Song took it: “Yu girl, what is this?”

“Aunt, this is a painting Yu’er made for you!”

Song Shang leaned forward, and the mother and son looked at it together.

Opening the first page, it was a painting of a marketplace, with shops lining the streets and people coming and going.

On the second page, there was a little boy running and playing in the marketplace. When he saw someone slaughtering a pig, he stood there watching the commotion.

Turning the page again, the little boy went next door, where someone was shouting and selling goods, he looked on with his mouth open in curiosity.

✿✿✿

Then, his mother saw him, packed their belongings, and they moved.

Madam Song immediately understood. “I know this! This is Mencius’ mother moving three times!”

When she was in her boudoir, she was illiterate.

After getting married, she didn’t learn either.

Later, when her husband died, she had to look at the accounts, so she had no choice but to learn some characters. She wasn’t very smart, she was depressed, and lived in fear. She studied hard, but she could only read accounts, she couldn’t even understand contracts.

After her son grew up and took charge, she was greatly relieved and returned all the knowledge she had learned to her teacher.

It was impossible for her to read books, but as soon as she saw this painting, she immediately knew that it was the story of Mencius’ mother moving three times!

Looking at it more carefully, she was stunned, this little boy… was actually her son when he was young!

And looking at Mencius’ mother… she also looked six parts similar to herself when she was young…

Madam Song immediately understood, her eyes reddened…

Song Shang, seeing this, felt a surge of emotions. She was thoughtful…

Wen Yu handed Madam Song a handkerchief. “Aunt, Cousin’s achievements today are all thanks to your careful guidance! You are the person Yu’er admires the most!”

This sentence made Madam Song think of the dangerous times they had been through. Among the Song family, some wanted to kill him, some wanted to take advantage of him, and some wanted to lead him astray.

It was she who protected him, managed him, guided him, and taught him…

It wasn’t easy for her, a widow with no real skills.

But in the end… she looked at her son in front of her: he had become an even more outstanding person than his father!

All of this was thanks to her!

Madam Song held Wen Yu’s hand: “Ah Yu… you’re a good child.”

Song Shang felt both sweet and bitter. Afraid of revealing his emotions, he didn’t dare to look at Wen Yu, his eyes slightly moist.

Wei Shi walked over and smiled faintly: “Cousin Wen, you’re really thoughtful!”

“Yes, I did it on purpose! Thank you, Cousin, for the compliment!” Wen Yu smiled coquettishly.

Wei Shi wanted to say something more, but she saw her husband take the painting album from her mother-in-law’s hand and look at it carefully.

Old Madam Wen sat there. Wen Yu had received Madam Song’s approval, she should be happy.

But why did she feel so sour inside?

This book is about to be signed:）

Thank you all for your support.