Chapter 632 Madam Wen's Plans
"Mother, what exactly do you want to do?"
Wen Jue threw several old women in front of Madam Wen and asked with displeasure.
When Madam Wen heard that Wen Jue had something urgent to discuss with her, she was met with his interrogation as soon as she entered the room.
Looking at the old women kneeling on the ground, Madam Wen snorted coldly: "Useless things."
She slowly walked to the side and sat down, then looked up at Wen Jue. "Don't you know very well what I want to do?"
"Otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to stop them in time."
Wen Jue sighed heavily.
Yes, he knew what the old lady wanted to do!
The Dowager Madam wants to have Qiao Ning destroyed, to make enemies of the Qiao family, and to be at odds with the Marquis of Enping's family!
But, "Mother!" Wenjue asked, his voice suppressed, "Does it really have to be this way?"
Madam Wen looked at Wen Jue strangely, "What's wrong with you today? Why are you so agitated? Didn't you already know about this?"
"Or is it someone who affected your mood?"
A flicker of panic crossed Wen Jue's eyes. "No. I just felt that there were many other ways to oppose the Marquis of Enping's household, and there was no need to harm an innocent woman."
"Ha, innocent?" Madam Wen scoffed. "A merchant's daughter of lowly birth dares to refuse our Yongchang Marquis's marriage proposals time and time again."
"Since she's so ungrateful, isn't it right to teach her a lesson?"
She had genuinely liked Qiao Ning back then. Initially, she wanted her to be a concubine for her eldest grandson, but after Qiao Ning said she wouldn't be a concubine, she promoted her and wanted to marry her to her younger son, Wen Jue, who was born out of wedlock.
The result was still rejection!
Hehe, since that's the case, then let's make sure no one wants her even as a concubine!
So, she hired two thugs from outside...
"Mother, are you doing this to make the Marquis's mansion a pawn for the Emperor to check and balance the Marquis of Enping? Or is it to vent your anger?" Wen Jue looked at Madam Wen with disapproval.
When Madam Wen's thoughts were exposed, she became furious and said, "So what if I just wanted to vent my anger? In the end, wasn't it all for you?"
"Although you are not my biological child, I treat you like my own son!"
"The Qiao family girl has repeatedly refused your marriage proposal, humiliating you. What's wrong with me standing up for you?"
Wenjue sighed, “Mother, things are different now. The Emperor wants to give us important positions, so we just need to do what he asks of us. We don’t need to do anything else.”
"Whether it's checking and balancing the Enping Marquis's Mansion or controlling the Yongning Marquis's Mansion, we don't need to do anything special. As long as my elder brother and I hold our current positions, that will be the biggest deterrent to them."
"If we do too much, it will be easier for others to find a handle to bring us down."
Madam Wen frowned and said irritably, "In the end, all you're telling me is not to touch the Qiao family's maids, right?"
Madam Wen glanced at Wen Jue, "You wouldn't actually have taken a fancy to that girl from the Qiao family, would you?"
Wen Jue quickly denied it, "Miss Qiao is already engaged. Moreover, in my eyes, Miss Qiao is still a child, and even more so, a junior. I have absolutely no other thoughts about her."
Madam Wen pondered Wen Jue's words carefully, then suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "You, you wouldn't have taken a fancy to that old maid from the Qiao family who can't get married, would you?"
This time, Wen Jue neither denied nor admitted it, but simply remained silent.
But silence itself is an attitude.
Madam Wen looked at Wen Jue in disbelief, "Last year at Fahua Temple, you chose Qiao Yuanyao! Did you already have your eye on her back then?"
Wen Jue remained silent.
Yeah?
The answer is no.
Because he noticed Qiao Yuanyao even earlier than that.
It all started with a painting.
At that time, he was feigning a limp and lying low, so he temporarily abandoned his martial arts skills and turned his attention to reading and painting.
At that time, he had not yet returned to the capital; he had only acquired a painting by chance.
The painting wasn't by any famous artist, but he inexplicably liked it.
Later, they asked someone to help collect a few more paintings by that artist.
Later, upon returning to the capital, he learned that the painter had become famous there, and his paintings, which were once worth a few dozen taels of silver, were now worth a thousand taels.
He was very curious: who exactly was this person? And what methods did he use to become famous in the capital so quickly?
So, through subtle clues, he finally found out the painter's true identity.
Qiao Yuanyao!
Lady Qinghe's niece!
An old maid who had never married in her hometown in Jiangnan because her reputation was ruined by repeated rejections from potential suitors.
An ordinary woman, after experiencing what she went through, should have become dejected, depressed, timid, and withdrawn.
But what he met was a cheerful, confident, bright and flamboyant woman!
She earned money by painting, bought shops and houses, and interacted openly with Princess Huaiyang, without a trace of gloom in her eyes.
At that time, he felt that a woman like her was truly admirable!
Later, when he saw her there during the matchmaking, his heart was stirred with emotion.
That's why he later proposed to her.
Unfortunately, she refused at the time.
He initially thought Qiao Yuanyao disliked his lameness or his age.
But later, when he heard the Qiao family say that Qiao Yuanyao didn't plan to get married and was going to have her nephew or niece adopted to take care of her in her old age, he knew that Qiao Yuanyao didn't dislike him for anything, she just simply wasn't interested in him.
He knew that she was an independent, self-reliant woman, not bound by worldly conventions, and extraordinary.
As for now, he still loves her, but he also knows that it's impossible for them to be together!
It wasn't just because Qiao Yuanyao didn't fancy him, but also because it was impossible for the Yongchang Marquis's Mansion to form a marriage alliance with the Qiao family now.
Because His Majesty will not allow the Yongchang Marquis's Mansion and the Enping Marquis's Mansion to have any connection whatsoever!
Seeing Wen Jue remain silent, Madam Wen felt extremely upset.
"Don't even think about it, it's impossible for you two."
Last year, when they were looking for a partner at Fahua Temple, that was their only chance.
At that time, the Crown Prince had not yet plotted a rebellion, and the Yongchang Marquis's mansion was still quietly languishing in obscurity.
At that time, Wenjue married a woman from the Qiao family, and that was that.
But once they missed their chance, they could never be together again.
Given the current situation, it's impossible to marry a woman from the Qiao family, let alone take her as a concubine.
Therefore, from beginning to end, she never intended to let Qiao Ning enter the Marquis's mansion as a concubine.
Everything is just said for those who are interested.
“I know.” Wen Jue gave a wry smile. “I never intended to force anything. I just beg Mother not to hurt her or the people around her.”
Madam Wen waved her hand weakly, "I understand."
***
On the other side, in the Wei Rui Xuan opposite the waterside pavilion, a crowd surrounded Xia Linyuan and the King of Chu, discussing scholarship, national affairs, the economy, and people's livelihood.
This is when the tribute students take center stage.
They were testing Xia Linyuan's knowledge, talent, and attitude towards relations between the two countries on behalf of the imperial court. At the same time, they were also showcasing their own talent and knowledge.
Of course, a serious atmosphere is not suitable for today's occasion.
Therefore, the young masters from aristocratic families would occasionally chime in and chat with Xia Linyuan about local customs, food, drink, and entertainment.
But no matter what they talked about, everyone was always watching Xia Linyuan's every move.
Especially when he looks at the pavilion across the water, everyone unconsciously follows his gaze and looks over there as well.
Everyone knew in their hearts that they were here today to choose a crown princess for Xia Linyuan.
It's just unknown who Xia Linyuan will take a fancy to.
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