Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 659 - 659 660 The New Aunt Enters the Estate_1

Chapter 659: Chapter 660: The New Aunt Enters the Estate_1 Chapter 659: Chapter 660: The New Aunt Enters the Estate_1 Chapter 19:

Muniang’s heart skipped a beat. This couldn’t be aimed at Yu Ze, could it?

“Since the Louxi beauty is such, it would be inappropriate for Us alone to enjoy her. Let’s give her to a meritorious minister,”

Ruoxian said with a beaming smile, “If we’re talking about a meritorious minister, in the Daqian Dynasty, naturally none can compare to the Yu Family. What do you think, Your Majesty?”

“Indeed,” Long Yi’s gaze immediately found Yu Ze, but upon encountering his cold eyes, he felt inexplicably intimidated. If he were to bestow her upon Yu Ze, he might just turn on him right there in the grand hall. To be honest, Long Yi was truly afraid of him.

Ruoxian suggested, “It is widely known that Marquis Chen is unparalleled in wisdom and is a pillar of the state. What does Your Majesty think?”

As soon as she spoke, Jian Yue’s hand, holding a wine cup, trembled slightly, nearly spilling the wine.

“Excellent!” Long Yi declared with a grand gesture, “Let’s award her to Marquis Chen. As for the other one, Prince Rui has recently made contributions in managing the flood disaster in Liaodong. Let’s reward him!”

Marquis Chen’s face stiffened. He glanced at Jian Yue and eventually rose to join Prince Rui in front of the hall to receive the decree and give thanks.

Muniang subconsciously turned to look at Lady Rong, only to see her smiling provocatively at Muniang as if to challenge her. Muniang’s gaze grew sharp. She had a premonition that today’s events were premeditated. What was Nangong Qian really up to?

The treasures presented by the Prince of Louxi were not few, and after the beauty had been offered, naturally it was time for the treasure presentation. However, Muniang already had no interest in looking at these items, and the banquet passed in a daze.

Finally out of the palace, Muniang couldn’t help but pull on Yu Ze and ask, “Mother looked rather pale. Are we really supposed to take that Louxi beauty back?”

Yu Ze’s eyes narrowed slightly, “I’m afraid it’s inevitable. The beauty was bestowed by the Emperor in front of all the court officials; my father doesn’t have the courage to refuse.”

“What if it were you?” Muniang suddenly felt a bit scared. If the Emperor had bestowed upon Yu Ze, wouldn’t he also have to accept?

Yu Ze squeezed Muniang’s hand as if to comfort her, “If the Emperor knew I was such an obedient person, he wouldn’t have mentioned giving her to my father today. Not only does the Emperor know, but so does that Goddess. She’s well aware of it, too.”

Muniang felt slightly reassured but still said, “Is she coming after us, or is she after the Emperor?”

“Does it make a difference? Louxi has always sent beauties in previous years. It’s just that this year’s beauty has quite the background. Normally there would be nothing unusual, yet I still feel something is off,” Yu Ze replied.

Muniang nodded, “I feel the same. Lady Rong seemed completely unconcerned that the new Goddess had stolen her favor, making me suspect she knows something. That Prince of Louxi…”

Before Muniang could finish, she felt a chill and shuddered involuntarily. Looking up at Yu Ze, she saw him say in a grim tone, “What about him?”

Muniang retorted irritably, “What about you?”

“You were staring at him for so long in the great hall; did you see anything?”

Muniang couldn’t help but laugh and cry, “You noticed that? Wasn’t everyone in the hall looking at that Goddess at the time?”

Yu Ze huffed, “Isn’t he also watching you?”

Muniang: “…”

“That’s why I find him strange. I clearly don’t know him, yet the way he looks at me, it’s as if he recognizes me,” Muniang said, tilting her head.

Just as she wanted to say more, she saw Jian Yue already come out alone, her expression still composed, but a hint of chill had clearly crept into her eyes, and she didn’t even feel like speaking to Yu Ze and Muniang. She went straight to the carriage at the entrance of Jing’an Gate, the coachman cracked his whip, and they were off.

Muniang naturally understood what Jian Yue was angry about. How could any woman, no matter how magnanimous, truly tolerate her husband taking concubines time and again? It might have been better when they were younger, but now both Marquis Chen and Jian Yue were old, and here came a beautiful sixteen-year-old. No matter what, Jian Yue couldn’t bear it in her heart.

Marquis Chen followed out with a sigh. He was also helpless in this matter. Yu Ze gave him a cold look, promptly led Muniang away, not feeling the slightest bit that these matters were unavoidable, but rather it was his father’s cowardice that had given others the opportunity.

The same was true when he was sent out as a hostage, and it was the same now with repeatedly accepting concubines sent by others.

Although Yu Ze respected his father, he held scorn for him on this matter. Thus, mixed in with his obstinacy towards Muniang was also some resentment towards his father – he wanted to prove by his own example that, even in such a position, he could still provide complete happiness to the woman he loved.

The next day, early in the morning, a small sedan was carried into Marquis Chen Mansion. Regardless of how unwilling everyone was to accept it, the beauty from Louxi had ultimately become Concubine Wu of the Marquis Chen Mansion.

That night, Marquis Chen did not go to the room of the Louxi beauty, instead, he stayed with Jian Yue, who he offered the greatest respect and reassurance. Jian Yue’s attitude shifted accordingly, from initial anger to accepting reality, reverting to the gentle and noble mistress of the house.

However, the recognition Marquis Chen could offer was limited; anything more would be an offense to the Emperor’s face. Therefore, on the second day after the new concubine arrived, he slept in the new concubine’s room.

Now it was deep autumn, and the night breezes carried a touch of chill. Yu Ze had not yet returned from handling affairs, and Muniang naturally had to wait for him. With nothing else to do, she went for a stroll by the lakeside in West Garden.

Who knew that just as she reached the rockery by the lake, she would see Jian Yue’s solitary, desolate figure. Perhaps startled by Muniang’s presence, Jian Yue hurriedly wiped away the tears from her face, trying to maintain some semblance of composure before she forcibly calmed herself and said, “What brings you here?”

Looking aside, Muniang noted that across the lake of West Garden was the new concubine’s courtyard. Marquis Chen was there tonight. So, the so-called acceptance of reality was nothing more than a show of magnanimity for others.

In a soft voice, Muniang said, “Mother, I was just walking around aimlessly and didn’t expect to find you here. Mother… there’s no need to be so flustered. If there’s pain in your heart, just speak it out.”

Jian Yue let out a bitter laugh, “It’s ridiculous for you to see this, me at such an age, still unable to find true peace in my heart.”

“It’s not that Mother can’t learn, it’s that she still has feelings for Father.”

Jian Yue smiled and shook her head, choosing not to continue the conversation.

“If Mother still harbors suffering inside, why put on a magnanimous front and give Father the wrong impression? If Father truly cares for Mother, then he should…”

Jian Yue said helplessly, “I thought you were a clever child, but it turns out you don’t understand these things. You now know my magnanimous front is a facade. Do you think if I showed anger, it would be real?”

Muniang was slightly taken aback. “What do you mean, Mother? Could it be that in front of Father, you need to…”