15
Main Courtyard
A maidservant in blue hurried in to announce, “Madam, Fourth Miss has arrived.”
Madam Zhang quickly said, “Let her in.”
The Duchess of Zhen, Madam Min, slowly set down her teacup. She had never met this legendary Fourth Miss Tang in person, but thinking of how her son had acted as if bewitched the night before—repeatedly insisting before the duke that his recovery was thanks to the body-strengthening medicine and even, as if under a spell, preparing a lavish gift for Fourth Miss Tang—Madam Min’s eyes flickered with cold disdain. She hadn’t expected this ignorant, willful, and spoiled Fourth Miss Tang to possess such seductive skills.
A moment later, Tang Cheng entered with her four maids.
The Duchess of Zhen looked up, her gaze critical, sweeping over Tang Cheng from head to toe, over and over again.
Tang Cheng was dressed in a striking crimson skirt. Her features were delicate, her skin like snow, her aura bold and blazing. Her delicate chin was slightly raised, and her brows carried a hint of pride.
What a striking, radiant young lady!
She was nothing like the vain, ignorant, arrogant concubine born daughter, Fourth Miss of the Marquis of Nanyang’s residence that rumors described.
The duchess studied her intently for a moment, then found herself silently comparing Tang Cheng to Xuening. To her disbelief, her carefully cultivated Xuening was actually overshadowed by this straw-stuffed concubine born daughter.
Upon entering, Tang Cheng gave a slight nod to Madam Zhang, then turned to the beautifully dressed, poised woman beside her. That must be the Duchess of Zhen. Tang Cheng raised an eyebrow and cut straight to the point.
“I hear the duchess has come to break off the engagement.”
In the original owner’s memories, she had never once bowed or paid respects to Madam Zhang. Tang Cheng naturally had no intention of doing so either—a slight nod was polite enough.
If the other party held a significantly higher status, Tang Cheng could be flexible.
But as for the Duchess of Zhen, the mother of her child’s father, Tang Cheng had no intention of currying favor.
Since she had come to break off the engagement, they likely wouldn’t be family anyway. Tang Cheng refused to do anything so spineless and humiliating. Even if the engagement weren’t broken off, she still wouldn’t grovel—at most, she would be polite and courteous.
There were plenty of fine men in the world.
She didn’t need Wen Huai’an.
That said, the duchess was a remarkably beautiful woman with an elegant presence. No wonder the child’s father was so handsome.
Too bad the child’s father was an ungrateful wretch.
He had taken advantage of her and now wanted to burn the bridge after crossing the river—no way!
Tang Cheng was furious, and the consequences would be severe.
Madam Zhang was used to Tang Cheng’s unceremonious manner. She lowered her head and quietly sipped her tea, looking uninvolved.
Scold Fourth Girl?
Not a chance!
Her life was comfortable now, and she didn’t want to stir up trouble.
Seeing that Tang Cheng didn’t even bow to her and spoke as if interrogating her, the duchess’s face immediately darkened.
Truly the same rude, undisciplined Fourth Miss Tang. Her decision was right. How could someone so lacking in virtue and talent, so ignorant of proper manners, ever be allowed to overshadow Xuening? She wouldn’t even want her as her son’s concubine.
“Does Fourth Miss agree to break off the engagement?” The duchess’s tone was equally direct, cold, and laced with barely concealed disgust.
Tang Cheng cast a sidelong glance at the haughty duchess, then leisurely sat down on a chair. Her four maids lined up behind her. Linglong, who knew a bit of martial arts, and Hupo, who knew medicine, positioned themselves closer to Tang Cheng.
Hupo, ever perceptive, poured tea.
“Miss, please have some tea.”
Tang Cheng took the teacup and took a sip.
Hmph—she hadn’t missed the deep-seated disgust hidden in the duchess’s eyes.
There was no need to show face to someone who hated you.
Tang Cheng had always been spoiled so, she acted as she pleased.
And simply ignored her.
Madam Zhang’s mouth twitched.
Fourth Girl was still as temperamental as ever.
Watching the duchess’s expression after being snubbed by the audacious Fourth Girl, Madam Zhang’s gloomy mood suddenly lifted.
The other servants in the hall: “…”
The ignored Duchess of Zhen, seeing Tang Cheng behaving as if she, a duchess, were beneath her notice, darkened further.
“Such an ill-bred girl!”
“Marchioness Tang, the tutor of your Marquis of Nanyang’s residence is truly beyond my commendation.”
Madam Zhang twitched her lips.
“Duchess, you must not generalize. Fourth Girl is the marquis’s treasured daughter. I have never had any say in her upbringing.”
She meant that Tang Cheng was not her responsibility to teach—she had been spoiled entirely by the marquis. Madam Zhang was not taking the blame.
The Duchess of Zhen felt a breath catch in her chest.
The Marchioness of Nanyang was truly spineless, allowing a concubine born daughter to trample over her and throw her weight around.
“How utterly ridiculous. An ungrateful wretch who burns the bridge after crossing it dares to call me ill-bred? That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard!”
Tang Cheng had never been one to suffer in silence. Being accused of having no manners—of course she couldn’t swallow that. She fired back directly.
If she didn’t show her teeth, they’d mistake her for a sick cat.
The duchess looked down on her. And this was the very next day after she had used the body-strengthening medicine on Wen Huai’an. Tang Cheng not having exploded on the spot already showed great restraint.
Madam Zhang was astonished…
Fourth Girl’s sharp tongue was truly rare.
Wasn’t she supposed to be brainless and unlearned?
Madam Zhang felt she had been deceived. She looked at Tang Cheng with a hint of scrutiny.
The Duchess of Zhen, accustomed to being pampered, flattered, and even shown deference by the current Empress, was humiliated so openly for the first time. Her face turned livid.
“Quibbling! To drag ‘ungrateful wretch’ and ‘burning the bridge’ into breaking off an engagement—preposterous!”
“Whether Fourth Miss Tang agrees to break off the engagement or not, the Duke of Zhen’s manor is determined to end this marriage.”
“I give Fourth Miss Tang this advice: a woman should be virtuous, gentle, respectful, and courteous, know propriety, and honor her elders. A person as deviant and irreverent, as disrespectful to her elders, as lacking in talent and virtue as Fourth Miss Tang—our manor cannot endure her, nor do we wish to.”
Tang Cheng sipped her tea, playing with the beautiful teacup in her hand as she listened to the duchess twist her meaning to demean and scold her. When the duchess finished, Tang Cheng let out a scornful laugh and raised her chin slightly.
“Duchess, do you think I’m eager to marry into your manor? It’s not as if I have a choice. Blame fate for tying us together, after all, I’m carrying your grandson in my belly.”
“Fate is truly marvelous!”
So marvelous it made the duchess want to spit blood.
Such a shameless person had never existed in this world!
“By the way, when I spoke of ‘ungrateful wretch’ and ‘burning the bridge,’ I wasn’t referring to breaking off the engagement. The duchess should know exactly what I meant. I don’t believe Wen Huai’an failed to tell you that his health has greatly improved. As for breaking off the engagement, I have no objection. Break it off by all means—so I can find a stepfather for the child in my belly.” Tang Cheng smiled at the duchess, speaking as if it mattered little to her.
Out with the old, in with the new.
A buzzing sound went off in the duchess’s mind, and an absurd thought suddenly occurred to her.
Could it be that her son’s recovery truly had something to do with Fourth Miss Tang?
How was that possible?
The duchess refused to believe it.
Everyone knew the body-strengthening medicine was a fraud concocted by the Marquis of Nanyang and the senior physician of Jihetang.
“But before we break off the engagement, let’s settle an account.” Tang Cheng’s tone shifted abruptly, and she set her teacup down on the table with a thud.
“I have always been clear about favors and grievances. When I bestow a favor, I must receive repayment. Otherwise, it will stay on my mind and affect my mood.”
Madam Zhang: “…”
The four maids: “…”
**