Chapter 393: 393: Bestowal of Marriage_1

Wei Yichen also received the gifts from Wei Ruo, two precious calligraphy and paintings and two bolts of silk.

Wei Yichen looked at the gifts. There were no obvious expressions on his face, nor did he make any comments, just instructed Xiaonan in a calm tone to put everything away.

“Young Master, the calligraphy and paintings that Miss has sent should be the ones you particularly like, Won’t you take a look?” Xiaonan asked with doubt.

The Young Master has always had a fondness for calligraphy and paintings, especially those by famous masters. Those gifted by the palace happened to be mostly masterpieces that the Young Master hardly got a chance to see on an ordinary day.

“No need, just put them away.” Wei Yichen didn’t say much.

Xiaonan could only nod and do as told. However, he still felt, perhaps more than ever before, that the Young Master had become more quiet and reticent. After surviving a near-death experience, he had grown quiet, and after the second young master left, he had become even more enigmatic.

###

Wei Qingwan was stationed at the estate, but she was still able to keep up with the happenings in the mansion.

People at the estate also discussed events occurring inside the General’s Residence. Especially when they spoke about Miss receiving the rewards from the palace, the people in the estate were elated.

They talked about how good the rewards are, saying that the silk Wei Ruo shared with the mansion people was incredibly shiny and the porcelain had exquisite craftsmanship. It was like nothing the people in the mansion had ever seen before.

Those words sounded incredibly grating to Wei Qingwan’s ears.

These people on the estate were the same as the servants in the mansion. They would flatter when they saw Wei Ruo’s current success, but when they saw her downfall, they would make things difficult for her in every possible way and bargain over her daily necessities.

Wei Qingwan glanced at her shabby room. The room was drafty, and despite Cuihe cleaning it many times, she could still faintly smell the dampness.

Her dressing table no longer had any jewelry that she could wear out.

Some earrings and bracelets had all been used in exchange for silver taels, which could be used to cover her necessities.

After being sent to the estate, her daily living conditions worsened drastically. If she didn’t make up for it in some way, her life would have become tougher by now.

Wei Qingwan thought about the massive amount of rewards Wei Ruo received. She sneered and looked at herself in the mirror, self-mockingly. She only had herself to blame; if she had only realized sooner, if she had taken the initiative, she wouldn’t have ended up in such a predicament.

With a “squeak”, the room door was pushed open.

“Miss, Miss…” Cuihe rushed in from the outside, holding a letter in her hand.

“What happened?” Wei Qingwan hurriedly asked.

“Young Master Qi gave you a letter.” Cuihe handed her the letter.

Wei Qingwan eagerly took the letter, checking its content without delay.

She had finally received news from Young Master Qi, she always believed that Qi Zhen would keep his promise…

As she unfolded the letter, a gradual smile appeared on Wei Qingwan’s face.

“How is Miss’s letter? What does the letter say?” Cuihe asked with anticipation.

“I can rightfully return to the General’s Residence.” Wei Qingwan said confidently.

“Really? That’s great!” Cuihe said excitedly, “The joy of Miss Ruo will be short-lived! Even her rewards won’t catch the eye of Miss in the future!”

Wei Qingwan clenched the letter in her hand, her eyes filled with hope.

###

The next day, Wei Ruo was tilling in the yard. She had collected all vegetables from the small vegetable patch she had set up next to the wall, and was preparing to turn over the soil and add some fertilizer to plant new seeds.

“Miss, Miss…” Xiumei ran in hastily.

“What’s the matter?”

“An eunuch from the palace has arrived at our house with a decree.”

“Is he here for our father, or eldest brother, or me?” Wei Ruo asked.

“None of them… He is here for second Miss.” said Xiumei.

“Wei Qingwan? What’s going on?”

“It’s a marriage decree!”

“A marriage decree? To whom?”

“The sixth prince! She’s to be his concubine!”

“The sixth prince? Are you sure? Did you hear right? It’s the sixth prince not the seventh, and surely not Qi’s third son?” Wei Ruo found this news surprising.

Xiumei nodded her head vigorously, “I heard it clearly, it’s definitely the sixth prince, not the seventh, and surely not Qi’s third son!”

Wei Ruo frowned, she was holding the hoe in her hand but forgot to move, caught in deep thought over this issue.

According to the original plot of the story, Wei Qingwan’s official spouse was Chu Lan, and in this life she had hooked up with Qi Zhen.

But now with the marriage decree, she was given to the sixth prince with whom she had had no interactions. It was very strange!

“Did the decree specify why the marriage was arranged?” asked Wei Ruo.

“They said that second Miss Wei is virtuous, gracious, and respectful. They heaped a bunch of praise on her.” answered Xiumei.

Such words were usually mentioned in the marriage decree, bringing no concrete reference.

“Do you happen to know who the main wife of the sixth prince is?” asked Wei Ruo.

From what Wei Ruo understood about the customary rules of this dynasty, a prince’s wedding typically coincides with his crowning. In such cases, the primary wife is chosen before the concubines. It’s common to marry the primary wife and concubine on the same day, but it was rare to marry the concubine first and the primary wife later.

The sixth prince, Chu Heng, and the seventh prince, Chu Lan, were both over eighteen now. It was time for them to be crowned and married, according to the rules of this dynasty.

“I do not know that yet, I came back to report to you as soon as I heard the news. I haven’t found out more details.” Xiumei replied.

“Let’s go to Cangyun Garden to find out more.” said Wei Ruo.

It wasn’t that she wanted to gossip about Wei Qingwan, but if Wei Qingwan really became the concubine of the sixth prince, Chu Heng, then it would inevitably involve the Wei family. Wei Ruo had to figure this out.

Wei Ruo, along with Xiumei, arrived at Cangyun Garden. An unusual atmosphere filled the air due to the recent marriage decree.

Entering the main hall of Cangyun Garden, Wei Ruo unusually didn’t see Yunshi, who usually showed joy upon receiving a decree from the court.

“Eldest Miss.”

Cuiping called out to Wei Ruo, gaining Yunshi’s attention. Yunshi looked up and met Wei Ruo’s eyes.

“What brings you here?” Yunshi asked with a somewhat cold tone.

“I heard that a decree from the palace has given my second sister in marriage to the sixth prince?” Wei Ruo got straight to the point.

“Yes, I didn’t expect your second sister to have such good fortune, huh?” Yunshi replied.

“Does Mother believe this is a good development for the Wei family?” inquired Wei Ruo.

“Whether it’s good or bad for the Wei family is a different matter, but at least for Wanwan, it’s a good thing. This way she won’t be bothered by rumors anymore!” Yunshi said sternly.

“Mother doesn’t find anything wrong with this? Previously, the person involved privately with second sister was Qi Family’s third son, but now the one she is to marry is the sixth prince. The two are cousins.” Wei Ruo voiced another issue.

“Wanwan didn’t have an illicit relationship with Qi’s third son. The relationship between the two was sincere and respectful. If outsiders misunderstnad, it could be dismissed; but you, as the eldest sister of the family, why do you keep calling it an ‘illicit relationship’? What is your intention?” Yunshi retorted.