A Tale of Golden Heiress: Lady Wanjin - Chapter 22

The entire windowsill seemed to become bright and vivid with that bouquet of flowers and the young woman’s misty, rosy dress.

“The wounds on my back and chest have already scabbed over. The physician said they’ll be fully healed within half a month.”

Mhm.

As long as it doesn’t affect the wedding.

She certainly didn’t want to hinder her great mission of producing an heir.

Wen Wan added silently in her heart.

“Are you settling in well at home? Has Father been giving you a hard time?”

Zhao Heng shook his head, as if Master Wen’s provocations were no great matter in his eyes.

He understood.

A son-in-law who showed up out of nowhere with an unknown background was bound to be tested and put in his place by the father-in-law. Life as a live-in husband wouldn’t be easy—he had mentally prepared himself for it.

“Master Wen is very fond of you,” Zhao Heng said with a smile. His face, pale a few days ago from blood loss, now looked nourished and noticeably rosier. “Today, the master suggested that I change my surname to Wen. He even picked a new name for me—”

Wen Wan’s eyebrows shot up.

Oh no.

She hadn’t anticipated this move from her father.

Master Wen was also being a bit too hasty—he should have at least waited until after the wedding to bring this up.

Besides, did it really matter what surname the father, who was meant to be kept for childbearing and then discarded, had? Wasn’t it enough that the child would bear the Wen surname?

Wen Wan deliberately put on an angry expression. “What’s all this about now? How could Father do this? I’ll go talk to him.”

But Zhao Heng grabbed her sleeve, stopping her from leaving. “It’s alright, I just said I’d think about it. The master hasn’t fully recovered from his illness yet—don’t go and upset him.”

Wen Wan let out a sigh.

Then, she uttered the line that every man would say,

“Husband… you’ve been wronged.”

Of course, when saying this, her attitude had to be utterly sincere, her gaze unwavering, making sure the other person felt her helplessness and powerlessness in the situation.

She simply took his hand in hers.

“Don’t worry, the status of a live-in husband is just an excuse to placate outsiders. No matter what Father says, no matter what outsiders say, after we marry, we will be one as husband and wife. We will respect and love each other, help and support each other, through sickness and health, and never abandon one another. In short, I’ve chosen you.”

Sure enough, the handsome man was coaxed into a smile.

Zhao Heng had discovered another trait in Wen Wan.

This young woman… looked gentle and delicate, but she was actually quite bold.

Few women in this world would dare to openly say such “unseemly” words. Yet she delivered them effortlessly, straightforwardly, without a trace of embarrassment on her face.

Especially with her daily inquiries about his well-being, the small gifts she brought, her perfectly timed concern, and her endless tricks to please him—it all gave Zhao Heng the impression that Wen Wan was actually a smooth-talking playboy who “wandered through countless flowers without a single leaf sticking to him.”

The man also gently held her hand, his gaze deep and unreadable, “Shopkeeper Wen, you’d better remember what you said today. I… am a man who holds grudges. If you ever deceive or betray me, I will not let it slide.”

Wen Wan immediately raised her right hand. “I swear to heaven, if I ever betray your trust, may I never marry again and end my days alone.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Zhao Heng’s fingers came to rest on her lips.

They were warm.

But in the next instant, he withdrew his hand and said with a smile, “I naturally believe you.”

“I brought you a gift when I went out today.” Zhao Heng had noticed the wooden box she placed on the table earlier. Wen Wan opened it and took out a half-face silver mask. “A-Heng, don’t overthink it. The reason I’m giving you this mask is mainly for your protection.”

“How so?”

“You once told me that your stepmother and elder brother are vicious and won’t rest until they have your life. Our wedding is in two days, and the Wen family will be hosting a grand banquet. If someone at the banquet recognizes your face, it could bring disaster upon us.”

The excuse was flawless.

The worry in the young woman’s eyes also seemed genuine.

“I specially made this mask for you. For now, wear it when you come and go from the Wen household. In a year or two, when things have settled down and the Wen family has overcome this crisis, you can remove it.”

If I plan to keep the child but not the father, how can I let too many people see Zhao Heng’s face?

Wen Wan thought to herself: Sorry, brother.

The truth was… she wanted a child, but not the child’s father.

Zhao Heng’s gaze fell on the mask, and a warm feeling flowed through his heart. The lightness in his steps finally settled into a sense of security, as if he were standing on solid ground. “You’ve gone to such trouble to think of everything for me, my dear.”

He took the mask and gestured for Wen Wan to help him put it on. She complied without hesitation.

The mask was lightweight, covering the upper half of his face. As the young woman leaned in, gently smoothing a stray lock of hair from his forehead, Zhao Heng caught a clear scent from her.

It was the fresh fragrance of gardenia.

Clean, subtle, and gentle.

This was Wen Wan’s scent.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow on their intertwined figures.

Anyone who saw them would have praised them as a perfect couple.

Just as they were lost in each other’s company, Wen Wan hesitated whether to be a bit bolder—to hold his hand or embrace him—to help Zhao Heng quickly adapt to his role as a husband, when a commotion arose from the front courtyard.

Faintly, she could hear the voices of the Qi family. Wen Wan had no choice but to abandon her fleeting, mischievous thoughts. She patted Zhao Heng’s shoulder and said with a smile, “Rest well. The wolves and tigers I mentioned to you yesterday have arrived.”

Zhao Heng looked concerned. “Let me accompany you to meet them.”

But Wen Wan refused. “Focus on recovering. Don’t jeopardize the important event of our wedding night.”

Her words left Zhao Heng blushing and flustered.

In the front courtyard, the Qi family was causing an uproar with the Wen family servants.

Wen Wan listened for a moment from a distance. It turned out that the Qi family had come to visit Master Wen under the pretext of being in-laws, only to find the Wen household decorated with lanterns and banners. They had overheard the servants mentioning a certain son-in-law named Zhao.

Unwilling to believe that their sure victory had slipped away, the Qi family argued with the servants and were now heading toward Master Wen to demand an explanation.

Wen Wan sneered inwardly.

How dare they come to us for an explanation?

Her father had been in high spirits lately due to the joyous occasion, and his health had noticeably improved. Worried that the Qi family might aggravate his condition, Wen Wan quickened her pace to intercept them.

Qi Lanting prided himself on being composed, but now he was pacing anxiously. The moment he saw Wen Wan, he disregarded the servants filling the courtyard and immediately launched into an accusation, “Wan girl, this marriage was settled—nailed down—how could it be changed?”

Wen Wan stood on the steps, with Nanny Chen and Hong Mei behind her. She dismissively waved away the servants crowding the courtyard before slowly and deliberately bowing to the two visitors.

Almost the entire Qi family had come.

Even Qi Lanting, who had been absent last time, was present, along with Qi Guili, who was supposedly too ill to leave his bed.

Wen Wan smiled faintly, her tone neither warm nor cold. “Aunt, Uncle, the wedding is set for the day after tomorrow. If you’ve come to deliver gifts… you’re a bit early.”

Wen Yue could no longer maintain her composure. She glanced at the glaring red decorations throughout the residence, her voice tinged with displeasure. “Wan Niang, are you really planning to marry that boy named Zhao Heng as a live-in husband? When was this marriage decided? How come we, your elders, knew nothing about it? I thought—”

“Wen Wan’s marriage is naturally a matter of matchmakers’ words and parents’ orders.” Master Wen, supported by his old servant, slowly made his way to the main hall. Compared to the last time the siblings had met, Wen Weiming’s complexion was rosy. Aside from still being quite thin, he didn’t look at all like the dying man the elders had described.

(End of Chapter)