Chapter 253 – Competing for my husband and lord’s heart (2)
“Nie Sangyu has been lacking in etiquette since she was young. She’s always liked seducing my older brother too.”
Sitting in Qiangwei Courtyard, Nie Chenyu had come here to follow through with her half of the agreement to tell about Nie Sangyu’s past.
Wen Wan cast a glance at her clothes and adornment before quietly listening to her.
Twisting the handkerchief in her hand and with a face full of resentment, Nie Chenyu said, “My older brother always sided with her and protected her, but she was always offending my mother and speaking rudely. Who knows how her mother taught her?”
Wen Wan wasn’t interested in this. Waving her hand, she said, “What was the information that could be used against her?”
Nie Chenyu looked left and right before whispering, “Nie Sangyu is a shameless person. Before she got married, she would frequently leave home to go out to play. One time she didn’t return until the next day. I heard that she had gotten separated from my older brother and spent the time alone with a man. No one else knows about this. My older brother had only told me and threatened me with keeping it a secret from our mother.”
Wen Wan raised her eyebrows. This was already something that happened several years ago. Could this really be considered blackmail material? Still, spending a night with a man was something that could ruin a woman’s reputation. So Nie Sangyu had hidden this matter and that was how she was able to marry Marquis Moyu later?
“Who was that man? Do you know?” Wen Wan asked.
Nie Chenyu shook her head. “How could I know this?”
Wen Wan looked at her in disappointment. She shouldn’t have believed in her. Don’t even mention that she had given away Yuxuan’s favor to her, but she hadn’t even gotten any useful information in return.
Looking at Nie Chenyu’s prideful expression now that she had gotten power, Wen Wan was in a bad mood. After exchanging a few more words, she let her leave.
Wen Wan felt fretful. It really wasn’t an easy thing to overturn Nie Sangyu.
Standing by her side, Tanxiang said, “Master, is there any need in asking about her past? It’s only natural that Nie Sangyu hasn’t messed up too badly before. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to act so arrogantly for so long. If she hasn’t done anything bad, won’t it be fine if you just get her to do something bad now?”
“But…” Wen Wan somewhat helplessly rubbed her handkerchief. “If I act so viciously, I’m afraid that Yuxuan will despise me in the same way that he used to despise her.”
“Master, do you still not understand? Kind-hearted people can’t survive in this household. If you want something, then you need to compete for it.”
Wen Wan fell silent.
—
Returning from the imperial court, Ning Mingjie didn’t take a carriage back. Instead, he slowly walked. He found out today that his father had selected a main wife for him. She was Prince Gong’s daughter. Although he had never met her, he heard that she didn’t know the Four Scholarly Arts, her adherence to etiquette was very poor, and she was very arrogant and rude. He didn’t understand why his father had chosen a woman like this to be his wife.
Still, he wasn’t young anymore. If he had to marry a woman and settle down, he could… try to accommodate it.
Just as he was absorbed in thinking about this, there was suddenly a figure in front of him that hadn’t notice him and ended up bumping into him.
Wearing a cloak, Wen Wan hurriedly bowed and said, “Sorry.”
Ning Mingjie raised his eyebrows. “Why is it you?”
He had always had a good impression of Wen Wan because he hadn’t seen her shady side. This woman knew how to write, and her fragile appearance made people feel tenderness towards her. If it wasn’t… he might have liked this type of woman.
Wen Wan seemed to have recognized him. She wryly smiled and said, “So it’s Young Master. Wan-er is sorry for bumping into you.”
“Why did you come out by yourself?” Finding the situation strange, Ning Mingjie looked around.
Wen Wan sadly smiled and said, “Wan-er is just a servant. If Wan-er doesn’t come out by myself, then should there be someone with me to protect me? Young Master, if you aren’t busy, do you want to go to a nearby teahouse with Wan-er?”
Ning Mingjie slightly nodded.
—
“Last time at the palace banquet, a lot of people praised you for your dancing. Why do you still seem unhappy today?” Ning Mingjie asked another question.
Wen Wan lowered her head before finally sighing and saying, “It’s probably because Wan-er shone too brightly that time. After we returned home, Madam wouldn’t let the marquis raise Wan-er’s status. Wan-er is still only a servant.”
Ning Mingjie raised his eyebrows. “Didn’t you give birth to a son?”
“So what if I did?” Wen Wan’s eyes reddened. “Even my child was taken away by Madam. Even though I gave birth to that child, it doesn’t matter.”
Seeing that she seemed to have a lot of grievance that she wanted to spill out, Ning Mingjie looked at the sky, stood up, and said, “Let’s talk on another day. It’s not early anymore. If we keeping talking, it might be snowing by the time we’re done.”
Wen Wan paused. She nodded and wanted to stand up, but her foot suddenly wobbled and she fell towards Ning Mingjie.
Ning Mingjie stretched his hand out to support her. Slightly frowning, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
Wen Wan hurriedly endured her pain and stood up straight, only to end up gasping as she said, “It’s nothing… I just sprained my foot.”
“Can you still go back without seeing a doctor first?”
Wen Wan forced a smile. “It’s okay. It’s not a problem.”
Looking at how her foot was in so much pain that she had to keep it raised, Ning Mingjie hired a carriage to bring her back to the marquis’s estate even though he thought this wasn’t a good idea.
“You can stop at the back gate,” Wen Wan said to the driver.
When they arrived at the back gate, Wen Wan was in so much pain that she couldn’t get off the carriage. Her large eyes gleamed with tears as she looked at Ning Mingjie.