21
Being sent back to her maiden home was nearly indistinguishable from being dismissed.
The Duchess of Zhen panicked. She could not bear to become a laughingstock among the aristocracy, nor could she accept losing her status as the Duchess. For the first time, she was forced to lower her head and admit her mistake. But in her heart, her hatred for Tang Cheng had reached its peak.
The Duke of Zhen with his striking features reminiscent of Wen Huai’an, remained unmoved.
Madam Min’s face turned deathly pale.
Without her title as the Duchess of Zhen, she would be nothing.
All her years of scheming would be meaningless. At this moment, even her cherished Xie Xuening had faded from her thoughts.
No—she still had her son.
Madam Min’s gaze snapped to him, filled with hope.
Wen Huai’an’s handsome face remained unreadable, his dark eyes cold and unfathomable.
Only at times like this did his mother remember him.
He had intended to plead for her from the start, this only made it happen a little sooner.
“Father, please give Mother another chance.”
No matter what, she was still his mother. Wen Huai’an could not stand by and watch as his father sent her back to her maiden home.
Hearing Wen Huai’an speak up for her, the Duchess’s eyes lit up, as if she had grasped her last lifeline.
For the first time, she truly felt the duke’s cold ruthlessness, and it sent a chill down her spine.
She regretted it now—she had acted too rashly.
She never expected the duke to care so much about Fourth Miss Tang’s child. Why? Why wasn’t it Xuening carrying Huai’an’s child instead?
The respect and status the duke had always granted her had made her forget to be cautious.
If she could survive this crisis, Madam Min swore she would be more careful in the future—step by step, she would find another way.
The Duke of Zhen regarded his only son with a complex expression. For once, he suppressed the fury burning in his chest and gave him a deep, assessing look.
His son had always been exceptionally intelligent, possessing both skill and capability. If not for his frail health holding him back… Fortunately, he had recovered. Fourth Miss Tang had given him a grandson, and he had even secured a position for Huai’an at the Ministry of War.
Everything was progressing in a favorable direction.
Who would have thought that Madam Min would interfere, overstepping her bounds by unilaterally calling off the engagement with the Marquis of Nanyang’s family, sabotaging such a promising future?
The duke had long been disappointed by Madam Min’s frequent, clandestine dealings with the other branches of the family, but now, she had gone so far as to meddle in the lineage of the Zhen household. His patience had reached its limit.
Now, with his son pleading on her behalf, the duke fell into brief contemplation before speaking sternly:
“Madam Min, for Huai’an’s sake, I will let this go—this time. But let there be no next. The Zhen household will not tolerate a mistress who turns against her own family.”
This was no mere reprimand, it was a grave warning.
She must not assume that bearing the duke’s only heir made her untouchable, safe from consequence.
To interfere in the matter of succession—she had dared to touch his bottom line.
Fourth Miss Tang must marry into the duke’s household.
She was nothing more than a spoiled girl—willful and brainless, perhaps, but what did it matter? Her tantrums and petty troubles were nothing more than trivial nuisances. Someone like her was simple to understand and easy to control.
She was her son’s fated benefactor. Because of her, his once-looming fate of an early death had been averted. More importantly, her constitution carried the hope for his lineage.
The Duke of Zhen cast a cold, merciless gaze at Madam Min.
She understood the unspoken warning in his words. A shudder ran through her, and the blood drained from her face once more.
“…Thank you, Your Grace,” she murmured, lowering her head. “Tomorrow, I will personally take the matchmaker to the Marquis of Nanyang’s residence.”
Compared to her title as the Duchess, being ridiculed and losing face was insignificant.
As long as she remained the Duchess of Zhen, they would still have to flatter her, curry favor with her.
As for Fourth Miss Tang… Fourth Miss Tang… She could deal with her after the child was born!
The Duke of Zhen cast an impassive glance at Madam Min. “I hope you will do as you say.”
With that, he shifted his gaze to his son, his expression softening slightly. “Huai’an, come to my study.”
Wen Huai’an gave his mother a long, unreadable look before rising to follow his father.
Tang Ping left with them.
The once lively room now felt vast and empty.
The Duchess of Zhen let out a breath, her entire body slackening as she collapsed into her chair, drained of strength.
At that moment, none of the three in the duke’s household were aware of the Marquis of Nanyang’s brewing revenge.
That night, while the atmosphere in the duke’s residence remained heavy and oppressive, countless others lay awake in excitement.
Yet the very subject of it all, Tang Cheng slept soundly through the night.
At the break of dawn, as the first rays of morning light spilled over the horizon, Tang Cheng rose early to freshen up. Today was the day she would enter the palace.
It had been four days since her arrival here, and she was finally about to meet the supreme ruler of this feudal dynasty.
A slight thrill of excitement coursed through her. She had deliberately chosen an embroidered silk gown woven with gold thread, adorned from head to toe in jade ornaments.
With no trace of makeup, her delicate oval face remained strikingly beautiful. Her almond-shaped eyes were bright and clear, her brows sharp with an unmistakable air of pride—radiant, bold, and impossible to ignore.
Her four personal maids were secretly awed by the sight, especially Zhenzhu. In the past, her mistress had favored gold jewelry, but now, she preferred jade.
It seemed jade suited her even more.
Zhenzhu did not dwell on the change. Her mistress had always been unpredictable, never particularly attached to any one thing.
“Let’s go to the main courtyard.”
Lifting her chin slightly, Tang Cheng strode out of Peony Garden with a commanding presence, her four maids and the strengthening potion in tow.
The servants of the Marquis of Nanyang’s residence quickly lowered their heads in greeting as they witnessed the scene.
The Marquis himself hadn’t expected his beloved daughter to arrive so early. He had just been preparing to fetch her from Peony Garden when, to his surprise, she appeared on her own—radiant, her smile bright and dazzling, clearly eager to enter the palace.
The Marquis couldn’t help but chuckle in amusement.
Madam Zhang took it all in stride, her composure unwavering. Meanwhile, Tang Xin who had rushed over upon hearing the news, was utterly stunned at the sight before her.
Dressed in full splendor, exuding an air of confidence and dominance, Tang Cheng looked every bit the haughty noble lady with her head held high.
Once the initial shock passed, Tang Xin inwardly shook her head.
She never expected Tang Cheng to possess such an intimidating façade. So, this was what it means to be all show and no substance.
“Father, it’s getting late. Let’s head to the palace,” Tang Cheng said sweetly, affectionately linking her arm through her father’s.
The Marquis of Nanyang chuckled. “There’s still plenty of time no need to rush.”
The emperor wouldn’t summon his beloved daughter until after court had adjourned—no matter how eager she was, it wouldn’t make a difference.
Tang Cheng tugged at her father’s arm, drawing out her voice in a playful whine.
“Fatherrrr!”
“Alright, alright, we’re going!”
The Marquis of Nanyang chuckled, amused. He gave Madam Zhang a slight nod before glancing at his third daughter, Tang Xin. Remembering the tricolor peonies she had cultivated, he actually offered her a rare word of praise. Then, without further delay, he left with Tang Cheng.
Tang Xin’s eyes dimmed slightly.
Why was her so-called father taking Tang Cheng to the palace? Was it because of the broken engagement with the Duke of Zhen’s household?
Hmph. What a biased, unfair father!
She clenched her teeth in silent resentment.
Neither her so-called father nor her so-called mother could be relied upon. It seemed she could only count on herself.
Lost in her thoughts, Tang Xin failed to notice Madam Zhang watching her with a furrowed brow.
Shortly after the Marquis of Nanyang and Tang Cheng’s carriage departed, another carriage from the Duke of Zhen’s residence slowly came to a halt at the gates of the Marquis’s estate. A crowd of onlookers trailed behind, eager to witness the spectacle.
The previous day’s uproar over the Duke of Zhen’s household annulling the engagement had spread like wildfire. Everyone was watching closely, anticipating the Marquis’s reaction—surely, the doting father would retaliate.
Yet, before the Marquis could make a move, the duke’s household had once again stirred up trouble.
Strangely enough, instead of hostility, the Duchess of Zhen had arrived with an official matchmaker and an entire carriage filled with lavish betrothal gifts.
What was going on?
The gathered crowd erupted into a flurry of whispers, speculation running rampant.
Inside the carriage, Madam Min, the Duchess of Zhen, heard the hushed discussions outside. The words lodged in her chest, neither able to be swallowed nor spat out. Taking a deep breath, she forcibly steadied her emotions, suppressing the irritation bubbling within her.
This time, however, the situation seemed different. Whether it was by the Marquis’s orders or mere coincidence, the gate guards though respectful—did not immediately grant her entry. Instead, they halted her procession and sent someone inside to report her arrival.
The gathered onlookers took in the scene with keen interest, their murmurs growing louder.
Moments later, the steward of the Marquis of Nanyang’s estate emerged. He stepped forward and bowed respectfully toward the carriage, yet his demeanor remained firm. He acted as though he hadn’t noticed the conspicuous presence of the official matchmaker.
With a polite yet unyielding tone, he declared, “Greetings to the Duchess of Zhen. By order of the Marquis, the Zhen household is not welcome here. Your Grace, please return.”
Inside the carriage, Madam Min’s face instantly paled, a flicker of panic flashing in her eyes.
What should she do? If she couldn’t complete the task assigned by the duke, the consequences would be dire!
“Your Grace, please return,” the steward repeated, this time with unmistakable finality.
Madam Min had initially planned to take advantage of the Marquis’s absence at court, prepared to swallow her pride and bow before Fourth Miss Tang in order to reinstate the marriage agreement. But now, she couldn’t even step foot past the gate.
Taking a deep breath, she leaned toward her trusted attendant and whispered a few instructions. The elderly maid lifted the curtain and addressed the steward.
“Please, inform Miss Fourth Miss Tang that the Duchess wishes to speak with her.”
The steward maintained his respectful demeanor as he replied,
“Fourth Miss has accompanied the Marquis to the palace to meet His Majesty. Your Grace, please return.”
Madam Min felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. She had not anticipated that the Marquis of Nanyang would take Fourth Miss Tang to the palace. With no other choice, she could only turn back.
The gathered crowd buzzed with excitement, their curiosity piqued. Speculations spread like wildfire, each rumor more sensational than the last.
**