A Tale of Golden Heiress: Lady Wanjin - Chapter 12

“The day is quite pleasant. So, I drove over to see you.”

“I heard a few days ago that the elders of the Wen family made a scene at your place. Are you alright, cousin?”

Even while ill, news travels fast to him.

Wen Wan replied, “It’s nothing. The clansmen have already been sent away.”

Li Shi stood by the side, smiling as she urged Qi Guili, “Third Brother, haven’t you been thinking about Cousin Wen this whole time? You even made a little trinket. Now that Cousin is here, why not take it out quickly?”

Qi Guili’s face flushed red with heat. He fumbled by the bedside and pulled out a grass-leaf dragonfly he had woven, handing it to Wen Wan.

Li Shi chimed in like a comic sidekick, “Cousin Wen, look at my third brother here. Even while sick, he can’t forget his beloved. Though this bamboo dragonfly isn’t worth much, it’s Third Brother’s heartfelt intention. I hope you won’t look down on it, Cousin.”

Wen Wan accepted it, her expression neutral. “How could I?”

Li Shi couldn’t shake the feeling that Wen Wan wasn’t as warm toward Qi Guili as before. She seemed noticeably colder, especially since stepping into the Qi family home—her words had been sparing all evening, which made Li Shi uneasy.

She was deeply conflicted.

On one hand, she hoped Wen Wan would marry into the family; on the other, she was wary of it.

But Wen Wan had already exchanged a glance with Physician Yan. She then stood up to take her leave. “Third Cousin, rest well. I can’t leave Father alone for long—I need to return to keep an eye on him. Focus on recovering, Cousin. Once you pass the imperial exam and become a scholar, I’ll be able to share in your glory.”

Qi Guili gazed at Wen Wan with reluctant longing.

Li Shi reached out to hold Wen Wan’s hand, her tone unable to conceal surprise. “You’re leaving already?”

Shouldn’t these young lovers, freshly reunited, have some intimate words to share?

Li Shi had been planning to excuse herself to give them privacy, but Wen Wan was leaving almost as soon as she had arrived.

Wen Wan sidestepped lightly to avoid the touch and said with a smile, “Now that I’ve seen with my own eyes that Cousin is ill, I feel reassured. I came in a rush today and didn’t even have time to take Father’s medicine. I should head back early.”

“It’s so late now. Why rush back? Why not stay here for the night—”

But Li Shi cut herself off.

Stay?

How?

The Qi family home only had three courtyards, and with three brothers already living there, space was tight. If the Wen family stayed, where would they put them?

Wen Wan smiled and said, “He needs his medicine. The physician advised Father not to travel far, but he insisted on coming to see Cousin. Now that he’s done so and matters are settled, it’s time to return. Besides, tomorrow I have a meeting scheduled with the manager of the winery to discuss business.”

Ah, right.

Now Wen Wan manages the Wen family business.

Who knows how much silver passes through her hands daily? No wonder she’s so extravagant with food, clothing, and travel.

Li Shi’s envy flared up again. “Yes, Cousin is someone who handles important matters now. But you still ought to be frugal where possible. Once you and Third Brother marry, you’ll have to change this habit of spending lavishly.”

She then pursed her lips toward the main hall. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you—that aunt of yours… she dislikes extravagant and indulgent behaviour the most.”

Wen Wan shot her a sidelong glance.

“Sister-in-law Li, would you like some liuliumei?”

Li Shi was taken aback, forcing what she thought was a simple and honest smile. “Cousin, I really don’t understand what you’re saying these days. City folks are just different from us country bumpkins—even your words are so refined.”

Wen Wan raised her hand, her slender fingers adjusting the gold hairpin in her hair.

That hairpin was definitely pure gold!

Li Shi knew quality when she saw it.

Wen Wan smiled with narrowed eyes. “Sister-in-law Li also thinks this hairpin is quite lovely, doesn’t she?”

“Everything younger sister wears is beautiful.”

If she had a capable father like Wen Weiming, she could be hundreds, thousands of times more elegant than Wen Wan.

“This hairpin isn’t worth much, really. It would be an honour to give it to sister-in-law.” The young woman chuckled softly, watching Li Shi’s greedy gaze before shifting her tone. “However… wearing such a hairpin would require a matching dress made by a tailor. That would cost no less than fifty taels of silver. Given sister-in-law’s humble background, even if you wore this hairpin, without the right dress to match, you’d only become a laughingstock.”

In the dim moonlight, the young woman holding the lantern looked pale as a ghost.

She smiled faintly, mimicking Li Shi’s earlier gesture by pursing her lips toward the main hall. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you—that mother-in-law of yours… she dislikes extravagant and indulgent behaviour the most.”

Li Shi’s face instantly turned deathly pale!

Meanwhile, in the main room, the atmosphere was equally tense.

At the dinner table, Wen Weiming had hinted multiple times, but Wen Yue played dumb. It wasn’t until the younger Qi children left the table that Wen Weiming finally spoke bluntly, his tone impatient, “Elder Sister, about the matter I wrote to you about a few days ago—can you give me a definite answer?”

Wen Weiming knew his time was limited and wanted to resolve things quickly.

“This…” Wen Yue avoided her brother’s gaze, not daring to look him in the eye. “You know, little brother, Third Brother has quite a talent for studying…”

That single sentence made Wen Weiming’s anger flare.

Talent?

In the Great Chen Dynasty, which serious scholar didn’t begin their education at five or six years old?

But Qi Guili—seventeen years old and hadn’t even taken the child-level imperial exam. And now they were talking about talent?

Wen Yue felt deeply guilty. “This matter… I’ve discussed it with my husband. We thought… if Third Brother were to marry into your family, he wouldn’t be able to hold his head up at the academy. Besides, how could a young girl like Wen Wan manage the winery business? Since Wen Wan has feelings for Third Brother… wouldn’t it be better… for her to marry into our Qi family…”

Wen Weiming was so angry he breathed heavily through his nostrils, his chest rising and falling sharply. But as a businessman, even in his fury, he forced himself to remain calm.

He wanted to hear what other excuses the Qi family had.

“Little brother, Wen Wan is my niece. Even if something were to happen to you, I would never mistreat her. Besides… besides…” Wen Yue’s voice grew softer under her brother’s cold gaze. “Besides, even if Third Brother married into your family, how could two youngsters manage life on their own? I’ve thought it over, and there’s no better solution than for Wen Wan to marry into the Qi family. This way, we fulfill the feelings between Wen Wan and Third Brother while preserving the legacy you’ve worked so hard to build. Isn’t that a perfect solution?”

Upon hearing this, Wen Weiming’s heart sank rapidly.

A sharp pain shot through his chest, and a metallic taste rose in his throat. For a moment, his vision darkened, and he nearly collapsed.

Fortunately, he braced his hands against the table edge, preventing himself from showing weakness in front of Wen Yue.

He couldn’t die yet.

If he died, Wen Wan and Wen Jing would be devoured by their own flesh and blood, leaving nothing behind.

Wen Weiming’s mind was in turmoil, but he forced himself to stand. “This matter… let me think it over. I have business at the winery tomorrow, so I’ll take my leave now.”

Wen Yue, thinking Wen Weiming was softening, felt a surge of joy, her voice lightening. “Little brother, why not stay here tonight? I’ll prepare a couple of rooms. How can you travel so late? Since you’re here, stay a few days—let the two young ones spend some time together and develop their feelings.”

Wen Weiming’s tone was firm. “No need. I have matters to attend to back home. Next time… next time we siblings can meet again.”

Next time?

Did that mean the wedding date was settled?