A Tale of Golden Heiress: Lady Wanjin - Chapter 23

Wen Yue’s heart sank, but she could only steel herself and ask, “What do you mean by this, little brother? Didn’t both families agree that Wen Wan would marry into the Qi family, strengthening our bonds? How could you change your mind so suddenly after just a few days?”

Wen Weiming felt deeply disappointed in his elder sister.

Since he fell ill, Wen Yue had not once come to visit him.

Now she had rushed over in a panic, likely under the mistaken impression that he had agreed to this marriage.

No wonder the entire family looked so grim and flustered.

Rarely did Wen Weiming speak to Wen Yue with such severity. “What ‘strengthening our bonds’? Sister, don’t you dare slander my daughter’s reputation with empty words! If you claim there’s a marriage agreement between our families, where is the written proof? Where is the matchmaker’s testimony? Were betrothal gifts exchanged? Were the birth characters swapped?”

The Qi family was dumbfounded.

Back when both families had considered having Qi Guili marry into the Wen family, Wen Weiming was still hoping to try for a third child, aiming for a son. Wen Yue, on the other hand, disliked the social stigma of a man marrying into his wife’s family, yet she coveted the Wen family’s wealth, leaving her torn.

Both families had a tacit understanding, but each had their own calculations. No one had ever put the marriage agreement in writing.

A verbal promise holds no weight. What proof was there?

Even if they argued until they were blue in the face, this marriage arrangement couldn’t be considered binding.

It was precisely this ambiguity that had allowed the Qi family to exploit the situation and pressure Wen Weiming not long ago.

Who would have thought the tables would turn so quickly, and now it was the Qi family’s turn to be cornered—

Both Qi Lanting and Wen Yue were left speechless by the questioning.

“In two days, it will be the auspicious day for the Wen family to welcome a son-in-law. If you still value our sibling bond, sister, come and have a celebratory drink. But if you continue spouting such nonsense, I’m afraid I must ask you to leave.”

Wen Yue had never been treated so coldly by Wen Weiming before. She stood frozen, her face pale with shock.

Qi Lanting, however, refused to believe the marriage was off. “Second Brother, even if you’re angry that Wen Yue and I tricked you before, the children are innocent! My third son and your Wen Wan grew up together; they are deeply attached to each other. Are you really going to let your anger with us… tear apart these two poor, star-crossed lovers?”

Huh?
Who said they were lovers?

Don’t make me sue you for slander.

When Qi Guili entered the Wen residence and saw the courtyard filled with red lanterns, his legs went weak with joy. The thought of soon marrying Wen Wan set his heart ablaze. But then this “Zhao Heng” character appeared out of nowhere—

He felt as if he’d been plunged into an ice cellar, his eyes reddening with desperation. “Uncle, if my cousin marries into my family, she can preserve the Wen family assets. Not only do our families become closer, but I also avoid public ridicule. It’s a perfect solution for everyone. Why are you so determined to change course?”

A perfect solution for everyone?

So, perfect only for your family, is it?

Wen Wan felt her fists itching.

She barely managed to hold back the phrase “If you don’t have a mirror, surely you have urine.” Instead, she put on a look of puzzled innocence. “Third Cousin, when did I ever say I was fond of you?”

“There are some things I didn’t want to say.”

“But if I don’t make them clear, I’m afraid you’ll continue to misunderstand, Third Cousin.”

“You have no notable achievements in either scholarly or martial pursuits. You call yourself a scholar, yet at seventeen, you hold no official rank, which shows you have little talent for studies. Despite your youth, a simple fall into the water left you bedridden for half a year, indicating poor health. In terms of looks, you are merely average. As for family background and wealth, I doubt anyone in Ping County surpasses our Wen family.”

“Would I give up a life of luxury and privilege to go suffer and toil in your Qi family? Have I… lost my mind?”

Wen Wan’s eyes smiled, her tone gentle, but her words were sharp and confrontational.

The faces of the Qi family members collectively changed color.

Nanny Chén and Hóngméi turned away—one studying her nose with intense focus, the other pretending to be very busy looking at the sky.

Well, it seemed the young mistress didn’t need their help after all.

Miss, you might as well have told them to go urinate and look at their reflection.

Qí Guìlì refused to believe that Wen Wan could say such heartless words. His cousin was gentle by nature and had always been exceedingly kind to him. How… how could she be so hateful today?

No.

It must be because she was angry that he was late.

His cousin had feelings for him.

Don’t be stubborn, little girl. Your eyes can’t lie.

“Cousin, why say such things to upset me? I know you care for me. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have accepted so many gifts from me.”

“Ah?” The young lady’s smile was faint. “I thought those were return gifts.”

“Return gifts?”

“Every time Auntie comes to our house, she never leaves empty-handed. Carts loaded with rice, flour, grains, wine, fabric… I thought Auntie surely wasn’t coming to sponge off us. With our families exchanging courtesies, I assumed… Auntie sent you, Cousin, to return the favor. Although the things you sent were all rather worthless trinkets, how can the affection between our families be measured by money? So I had the servants carefully store them away in the warehouse.”

Qí Guìlì’s face turned pale, etched with disbelief and pain. “You stored the gifts I gave you… in the warehouse?”

What else was she supposed to do?

Burn them for warmth in winter?
They were all handicrafts, calligraphy, and paintings he made himself.

Not a single valuable item among them!

Poor and still trying to chase girls—rich girls, no less.

You might as well die of stinginess!
Of course, it was undeniable that the original owner of this body must have had feelings for Qí Guìlì; otherwise, she wouldn’t have carefully treasured those DIY gifts.

However, after she had taken over this body, she immediately severed all emotional ties and ordered all the gifts from Qí Guìlì to be thrown into the warehouse.

So young, and already talking about love.

The Qí family had never suffered such a colossal humiliation. Their faces were now all extremely unpleasant to look at, especially Qí Lántíng’s.

Today’s affair was ultimately his muddle-headed decision as the head of the household. Now that the Wēn family had suddenly reneged, slapping him hard in the face, how could he hold his head up in front of the younger generation?
With the arrow already on the bowstring, there was no time to consider the consequences of a fallout with the Wēn family. Qí Lántíng flicked his sleeve. “Well, well, Second Brother Wen! I never thought that behind your facade of generosity and righteousness, you actually look down on us, your relatives. Since that’s the case, there’s no need for our families to have any further dealings! The Qí family can get by; we don’t need to beg at your door!”

Having said that, he stormed off without regard for anyone else.

Dammit! If you have such backbone, give back all the stuff you carted away from here before!

It was all my father’s!
Which, by extension, is all mine and Wēn Jìng’s!
Wēn Yuè looked at Wēn Wéimíng, then at the departing Qí Lántíng, caught in a dilemma.

She didn’t want to break with her younger brother. A married woman without brothers to support her is truly like duckweed adrift; if she suffers grievances in her husband’s family, she has nowhere to turn.

She was also unhappy about Wēn Wéimíng going back on his word, but things had come to this, so she had no choice but to hold her nose and say, “Little brother, your brother-in-law was just speaking in anger… you and I are siblings, flesh and blood connected by bone. Don’t let this damage our harmony. I will definitely come in two days to drink the celebratory wine for your eldest daughter.”

Wēn Wéimíng was also angry. He thought about how every time the Qí family came to the Wēn house, wasn’t he always the one urging them to stay, hosting them with good tea and fine meals?

Who would have thought that giving an inch would make them take a mile? Not only did the Qí family trick him first, but now that things hadn’t gone their way, they were blaming him?

What did he get out of this?
Did they really think Wēn Wéimíng was made of clay?

Wēn Wéimíng waved his hand impatiently, not saying a word.

Wēn Yuè had made an unwelcome advance and quickly took the younger Qí family members to chase after Qí Lántíng.

(End of Chapter)