The next day, in the Marquis Household’s main courtyard.
After Marquis Yong’an finished his meal and set down his chopsticks, the others followed suit one after another.
“Yue’er, I heard the Second Master was injured?”
Marquis Yong’an, with his neatly kept beard and refined appearance, looked gentle and approachable.
“It was just a fall. The imperial physician said it is not serious. Father, do you wish to visit the Prince’s Estate?” Wen Yunyue replied softly, head lowered with a well-behaved expression.
A hint of awkwardness flashed across Marquis Yong’an’s face. “I am busy with official duties. Let it be. Yue’er, you may go in my place.”
The Wen family had been granted the title of marquis not because of merit in service to the court, but because their ancestor was skilled in ingenious and unusual crafts. At that time, the emperor on the throne was fond of such things, and the Wen ancestor pleased him, earning the noble title.
Even though later generations of the Wen family had many who entered officialdom through the imperial examinations, this origin could never be erased.
Among the noble families of the capital, others outwardly said nothing, but inwardly still looked down on Marquis Yong’an.
While others at least knew how to hide it, the original owner did not. She openly showed disdain toward Marquis Yong’an, leaving him embarrassed, though he could do nothing about it and only avoided seeing her as much as possible.
The second young lady Wen Sixin ran over and clung to Marquis Yong’an’s side. “Father, I have never been to the Prince’s Estate either. I want to go too.”
Marquis Yong’an patted her head with a smile and refused. “Not this time. Next time I will let Yue’er take you.”
Without an invitation from the host, it was improper to visit. Wen Sixin was not engaged to the Prince’s Estate like Wen Yunyue, and she was only a concubine-born daughter. Marquis Yong’an was cautious and would not risk offending anyone.
Wen Sixin pouted in dissatisfaction. “Father always tricks me. You said that last time too.”
The smile on Marquis Yong’an’s face faded slightly. He doted on her, but only within limits.
Jiang Yiniang understood him well. Seeing his expression, she quickly pulled Wen Sixin back and scolded gently, “Sixin, do not cling to the Marquis. If you are worried that Eldest Young Lady will be bullied, you can speak properly. What can a child like you do anyway?”
Marquis Yong’an frowned slightly. “What is going on?”
Jiang Yiniang smiled sweetly. “It is nothing. Sixin only heard that the Second Master has a rather bad temper and worried that Eldest Young Lady might be mistreated, so she wanted to accompany her. The child is simply overthinking it. Please do not blame her.”
Marquis Yong’an relaxed. “So that is all. Sisterly affection is a good thing.”
Wen Yunyue also smiled at the right time. “I am very happy to have such a considerate younger sister. Mother, please do not be too strict with Sixin.”
Everyone laughed, except Marquis Yong’an’s wife.
Seeing her cold expression, Marquis Yong’an felt annoyed. Out of consideration for Wen Yunyue, he said nothing more and left for duty.
Once he left, Jiang Yiniang also departed with Wen Sixin. Wen Yunyue’s smile faded, and she looked at the Marquis’s wife. “Mother, your health is not well. I will help you back to rest.”
The Marquis’s wife nodded.
Back in the main courtyard, the Marquis’s wife sat on the couch and held Wen Yunyue’s hand gently. “Yue’er, it is your mother’s fault.”
Wen Yunyue leaned into her embrace, just as she had in childhood, and shook her head. “If not for maternal grandfather, how could I have been engaged to the Second Master? Does Mother think Father could make the Prince value him? He is not worthy.”
Her tone was no longer gentle and obedient, but calm and cold.
The Marquis’s wife sighed softly. “It is just a pity that your maternal grandfather and uncles are all at the border and cannot look after you.”
The Wen family of her mother’s side was a military family. Compared to Marquis Yong’an, they were clearly more legitimate and respected among nobles.
However, Great Yue was currently at war with Great Liang, and the fighting was intense. It would likely not end for years. The Wen family’s absence in the capital was also the reason Marquis Yong’an dared to favor concubines over his wife.
“Mother, do not worry. I can take care of myself,” Wen Yunyue said calmly. She had long stopped relying on others.
After speaking with the Marquis’s wife for a while, Wen Yunyue left for the Prince’s Estate.
In Yifeng Residence.
Earlier that morning, the Old Royal Consort and Gu Lin had already visited Gu Zhan. However, Gu Zhan, who had transmigrated into this body, felt guilty and afraid of exposure, so he pretended to be weak and barely managed to get through it.
Now, as he was racking his brain for a way to avoid suspicion from Gu Lin, Zhang Liu reported, “Second Master, Miss Wen has arrived.”
Gu Zhan froze.
Then he saw Wen Yunyue enter. She wore an apricot-colored cloud gauze dress, her long hair loosely draped behind her and held only with a ribbon. Her face was naturally beautiful even without makeup.
“I greet Second Master,” she said softly.
Her voice pulled Gu Zhan back to reality. Thinking that it was precisely because of this engagement that his future ended in tragedy, his earlier amazement vanished completely.
“Um, Miss,” Gu Zhan said awkwardly. “Yesterday I had a dream. In it, my ancestors scolded me for ruining a marriage alliance and disgracing my family. I suddenly came to my senses. I am in the wrong. Why don’t we cancel our engagement?”
He hoped that if he returned Wen Yunyue to Wei Hao, Wei Hao would no longer hate him.
Wen Yunyue looked at the completely different Gu Zhan, thoughtful, but her expression dimmed. “Second Master, we are already engaged. What does this make me?”
“En, engaged?” Gu Zhan was stunned.
After checking the memories, he realized it was true. The original owner had been infatuated with Wen Yunyue’s beauty and hastily exchanged betrothal documents without proper procedure, driven by desire.
Gu Zhan collapsed back onto the bed, feeling hopeless. Since they were already engaged, how could he fix this?
He also knew that in this era, a woman’s reputation was extremely important. If he insisted on breaking the engagement, she might have no choice but to die to preserve her honor.
It seemed he would need a compromise.
Wen Yunyue noticed his dejected state and, for some reason, felt intrigued. She sat beside the bed and reached for his wrist.
Gu Zhan jerked his hand away immediately, sitting up in alarm. “What are you doing? Do you not know proper distance between men and women?”
Wen Yunyue was startled. “Second Master, I know some medicine. I only wanted to check your pulse.”
Gu Zhan quickly covered his reaction. “Ah, I was scratched yesterday. You touched the wound.”
Wen Yunyue glanced at his flawless wrist and apologized. “I see. I was careless.”
Gu Zhan hurriedly refused the diagnosis and sent her away.
After she left, Gu Zhan was even more troubled. Breaking the engagement was not an option, and deceiving Gu Lin and the Old Royal Consort was another major problem.
He was thinking hard when Wen Yunyue, sitting in the carriage on the way back, became thoughtful.
Something about Gu Zhan felt different, as if he had become another person.