Chapter 8: As Thin as Spring Ice
A line of carriages stopped in front of the Wen family’s gate, and a middle-aged man stepped out of the first carriage.
He was tall and straight,
with a fair face and a short beard. His two dark eyes bore a striking resemblance to Old Madam Wen. He wore an understated fine cotton cloak and clean gray satin shoes.
Every movement he made was calm and elegant.
Such grandeur stunned the passersby.
After getting off the carriage, the man first looked up at his own gate, then turned around and said gently, “Xijun, we’re home. Come down!”
Two maidservants came over and helped him escort a woman in a thin cloak down from the carriage. She wore a thin veil, obscuring her features.
Upon stepping onto the ground, the woman first glanced down to check if her clothes were neat, then turned to look at the man from head to toe, saying softly, “Husband, you should go in quickly! Mother must be anxiously waiting for her son.”
Her tone carried a hint of teasing.
The man smiled slightly.
At this moment, two boys around ten years old came over, pulling a slender girl along with them.
The girl also wore a veil, thin enough to reveal her small white teeth. “Father, Mother, I want to go in with you!”
The man’s patience with her was boundless. He smiled, “Alright, let’s go in together.”
“Father, when we entered the city earlier, my younger brother threw pebbles at my carriage.” She complained in a coquettish voice, snuggling up to the man.
“Father, I didn’t!” The younger boy retorted.
“You did! Yun’er saw you!”
The family chatted and laughed as they walked into the gate.
Seven or eight servants had already come out to greet them, some addressing the man as “Your Excellency,” others as “Eldest Master.”
The steward who was always by the man’s side directed them to start unloading the luggage.
After entering the second gate, there was a huge water-absorbing rock bonsai with moss growing all over it.
The man couldn’t help but frown…
Every time he came back, that girl would always hide there and peek at him.
Timid and apprehensive, with a small-minded air! She was probably there now too!
Looking at his daughter Wen Huan, who was accompanying his wife, her gait was light, her posture elegant, and she even carried a hint of pride and nobility…
This was his Wen Qian’s eldest daughter!
He pretended to be inspecting the garden, but in fact, he was looking behind the rock.
…No one?!
He looked again carefully, and indeed, no one was there!
He couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief… That girl’s admiration was an invisible pressure on him.
He considered himself to be intelligent, calm, and a man of noble character.
Those unbearable past events, once done, were in the past! He wouldn’t come back to dwell on them!
Nurse Song, who was by Old Madam’s side, greeted them with a smile, “Eldest Master, Eldest Madam.”
Madam Yuan, the Eldest Madam, looked at Nurse Song with a smile on her face as well, “Nurse Song. Is Old Madam doing well?”
“Yes! She’s doing well! She’s just been thinking about Eldest Master, you, and the young masters and mistresses!”
The servants along the way all bowed respectfully to them.
Wen Qian was very happy. It had been almost two years since he last came back!
This time, it could be considered a triumphant return! Thinking about his promising future, he felt even more spirited.
✿✿✿
Old Madam and the Wen family were waiting in the rear hall. She couldn’t help but stretch her neck to look outside!
Ever since her marriage, she had not been on good terms with her husband, Wen Rujiang. That disgusting bastard had no idea what decency was. If it weren’t for her own ruthless methods, she might not have even been able to keep her two sons!
Later, it was her eldest son, Wen Qian, who gradually became successful and provided her with support! Thinking about her eldest son’s promising future, she stroked the bracelet on her wrist, her face full of smiles.
Third Miss Wen Jiao, who was beside her, was being dramatic and saying to Wen Yu, “You must miss Eldest Uncle too, right? You used to run outside to greet him. Why are you so calm today?”
“I was young then. If I run around casually now, Grandmother will scold me.” Wen Yu said with a genuine smile.
“Humph!” Wen Jiao rolled her eyes. Wasn’t it because she always got a cold shoulder?
If he didn’t see you, Eldest Uncle probably wouldn’t even remember he had such a daughter!
“I heard Eldest Uncle will be going to the capital in a few days. This time, he will definitely take Eldest Sister with him, right? I’m so envious!” These sour words were spoken by Wen Wan.
“In my opinion, you’re envious for nothing,” Wen Jiao said with a mysterious smile, as if she knew a lot of inside information.
✿✿✿
Mother said Eldest Uncle wouldn’t take her!
“Oh? What does Third Sister mean…” They exchanged meaningful glances.
How boring!
Wen Yu smiled faintly, showing no reaction.
Seeing that Wen Yu wasn’t upset, Wen Jiao felt she hadn’t achieved her goal, so she pouted again. She didn’t even have a coming-of-age ceremony. Who in Jiangzhou had ever heard of such a thing? Even poor families would have a simple ceremony.
You’re the most pathetic “legitimate eldest daughter” in the world!
Wen Yu sighed inwardly. She was about to experience that “father-daughter affection” as thin as spring ice…
However, at present, she had no power, no wealth, and no one on her side.
And they, they had filial piety to suppress her, power to coerce her…
It wouldn’t be easy to achieve her goals. She had to plan carefully!
“They’re here, they’re here! Old Madam, Eldest Master and Eldest Madam are back!” A maid lifted the curtain and said with a smile.
Then, they saw a man and a woman, along with a girl and two boys, enter the room together.
“Mother, your son is back!” The man’s voice was slightly emotional.
“May Mother be in good health, your daughter-in-law pays her respects!”
“Grandmother!”
Several people knelt down in unison.
Old Madam smiled so widely that her eyes crinkled, “Get up! Get up, it’s good to be back! It’s good to be back! Heng’er, Jin’er, come here and let Grandmother see you!”
She was calling her father’s two sons.
Wen Huan noticed that Grandmother had called her two younger brothers but not her. Her face fell, and she pouted.
Wen Qian knew his daughter was prone to jealousy, so he looked at her with a doting smile.
Old Madam looked at her two grandsons with satisfaction. They were bright-eyed and handsome, with intelligent looks and sturdy bodies.
“Good! Good! Was your journey smooth?” She turned to ask her son, looking him up and down.
Wen Qian was already handsome, and in the past two years, his official career had been going well. His demeanor had become calmer, and he now had an air of authority. Old Madam was truly satisfied from head to toe.
“Don’t worry, Mother, everything is fine! Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law.”
Wen Feng and Madam Wu exchanged greetings with their elder brother.
As they entered, Wen Yu stood up with the others, looking at them calmly.
It seemed her admiration in her past life was indeed justified!
The middle-aged man before her, having shed his youthful awkwardness, was truly elegant and refined, as gentle as jade!
And his beloved… she wore a light gray heavy silk dress and a few simple jade hairpins.
Her complexion was fair, and her hair was black as ink.
She stood gracefully, with a gentle smile.
Even though there were faint wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, they didn’t make her look old, but rather added to her elegance.
And beside her stood Wen Huan…
Wen Yu couldn’t suppress the panic and hatred in her heart.
Wen Huan… At this moment, she hadn’t been tempered in the circles of noblewomen in the capital, so she was still just a little girl with a clearly proud expression.
With such parents, Wen Huan’s appearance naturally wouldn’t be bad. She had two arched eyebrows, a pair of large almond-shaped eyes that were always smiling, and small lips that were naturally red even without lipstick.
She wasn’t short, and her overly straightened back and neck further accentuated her shallow arrogance and dominance.
Although her clothes and accessories were appropriate for a young girl, they all exuded refinement, with no detail overlooked.
She looked like someone who had lived a carefree life, raised in wealth!
…
This time, Wen Huan had something on her mind, so she was more sensitive. At this moment, she felt someone looking at her and glanced back. Wasn’t that her… elder sister?
Her heart skipped a beat, and she involuntarily averted her gaze.
How did she become so beautiful?
Wen Huan was quite puzzled…