At this moment, Wen Ninghan stood outside the gates of the Yong’an Marquis’s residence. A small, lonely green-covered cart was parked by the side of the wide road.
Although the place was called “Horse-Running Alley,” it wasn’t just any ordinary alley. As the name implies, it was a lane wide enough for horses to gallop. It was also home to many high-ranking officials, a place of distinction, signaling favor from the emperor.
The gatekeeper of the Yong’an Marquis’s residence at that moment felt that the honor of the place was almost unbearably heavy, like a mountain pressing down on him. He was sweating nervously as he stared at the solitary green-covered cart.
The cart seemed completely out of place in this prestigious alley where wealthy and powerful people lived. Yet, it exuded a sense of immense pressure, so much so that he had no energy left to move or think clearly. Instead, he hunched over and curled up in a corner, instinctively holding onto the small bit of security he felt there, despite the raging storm outside.
As for where the pressure came from—whether it was from the young man holding the horsewhip with an unfriendly smile, or from the silent green-covered cart—it was hard for the gatekeeper to say. Anyway, the last person who had come this way was now lying not far from the gate, seemingly unable to even groan, as if they were a corpse, motionless.
He had already followed Su Yiniang’s instructions to open the side gate, but the young lady hadn’t moved. That was none of his business.
Zhi Xin stood by the carriage. She wasn’t very tall, and her age wasn’t old, but she exuded an air of confidence that was solid and unshakable.
Her young lady had told her that when they arrived in the capital, at the Wen family’s place, as long as they weren’t dealing with the master of the Wen family, she would be the mouthpiece for her young lady—although she didn’t really understand what “mouthpiece” meant, Zhi Xin was smart enough to figure it out from the context.
“So, this is the kind of upbringing of the mighty Marquis’s household?” Zhi Xin tilted her chin up proudly, her expression one of rebellious arrogance mixed with composure. “A servant dares to boss around my young lady in front of me?”
Zhi Xin had been feeling uneasy ever since she couldn’t help her young lady the night before at the inn. At this very moment, all she wanted was to complete the task her young lady had given her, to turn every bit of the Wen family’s arrogance back on them. She absolutely couldn’t let them bully her young lady, not even a little.
“This Marquis’s household is clearly lacking the management of a proper lady of the house, that’s why the rules are so lax. My young miss has been away from home for so many years, and now, upon returning, she can’t even get the front door opened? What kind of manners are these?”
Zhi Xin’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was full of strength, and in the quiet, spacious street, it rang out clearly.
It wasn’t early by any means, but the residents of Horse-Running Alley were already out and about—those who needed to leave had left, and those who liked to wander were wandering. Especially for the wealthy families, when they left their homes, it was always a grand affair with servants in tow, making it seem particularly lively.
After receiving the news, Su Yiniang, the concubine of the Yong’an Marquis’s household, hurriedly made her way to the gate.
Naturally, the news of Wen Ninghan returning to the capital had already been sent ahead. Although she didn’t think much of the Wen family, Wen Ninghan still paid careful attention to the necessary formalities and procedures. She wasn’t planning to give the other side any chance to criticize her. Even if she had to slap them in the face, she was determined to do it in a way that was completely justified!
Of course, if it really couldn’t be helped, she could still manage to be justified, even if she wasn’t entirely in the right.
There was a noticeable gap in the curtains of the carriage. Sitting inside, Wen Ninghan rested her chin on her hand, watching the gate of the Yong’an Marquis’s residence, and observing Su Yiniang as she approached, getting closer and closer.
This Su Yiniang was quite a figure in her own right. To be precise, she was the current Yong’an Marquis’s—Wen Ninghan’s father’s—first love. She was also the cousin of Wen Congyan, having grown up together as childhood sweethearts. She was someone who held a special place in Wen Congyan’s heart.
Yes, this Su Yiniang was two years older than Wen Congyan. She had been in the family for many years, and with Wen Congyan’s affection, she held significant influence in the household, managing the Marquis’s domestic affairs.
Although she didn’t hold the formal title of the main wife, she act like one. Now, it was clear that she had taken good care of herself—she still appeared to be in her twenties, with a youthful and delicate face.
Yet, there was a mature charm to her, completely different from that of a young girl. Every movement of hers exuded an alluring elegance. It was no wonder that Wen Congyan had kept Su Yiniang in his heart all these years.
With such looks, charm, and grace, even Wen Ninghan, as a woman herself, couldn’t help but sigh in admiration at her extraordinary beauty.
Unfortunately, back in the day, the old marquis thought that Su Yiniang’s looks were not suitable for the main halls. At that time, the Wen family had encountered some setbacks and needed money to manage things.
The Su family had already fallen from grace. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent their daughter to the Wen family in hopes of finding a new path. They were of no help to the Wen family. That’s why the old marquis turned his attention to the Qin family in Jiangnan.
It was clear that Su Yiniang wanted to make an impression and show her authority. She had been the one to send the message about the time of departure. Even if her biological father didn’t care, Su Yiniang, who managed the family’s affairs, would certainly be aware of it.
Wen Congyan, that person, was obsessed with face-saving to the extreme. He would never directly order someone to do something to humiliate her.
However, if someone else were to step in and “discipline” this daughter who hadn’t been raised under his care for ten years—provided it didn’t cause any trouble—he would definitely be happy to let it happen.
Su Yiniang wanted her to enter through the side door. If it were any other time, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. But after ten years away from home, with everything having changed, Wen Ninghan absolutely had to walk through the main gate with confidence and dignity!
Su Yiniang was also observing Wen Ninghan, but all she could see was the gap in the cart window and the faint outline of a figure beyond it.
After ten years, Su Yiniang really had no idea what the little girl who had once struggled to survive in the small courtyard would have turned into.
The Qin family in Jiangnan was wealthy and powerful, with a loose exterior but a tightly controlled interior, managing their affairs with utmost secrecy.
Even though Su Yiniang held influence over the resources and connections of the Yong’an Marquis’s residence, it wasn’t easy for her to learn anything about Wen Ninghan.
She only knew vaguely that the Qin family had probably taken good care of her. Over the years, they had hired quite a few tutors, claiming they were for this daughter of hers.
But no one really knew how much she had learned. This daughter of hers almost never appeared at any social events. People only heard her name, but had never actually seen her in person.
In Su Yiniang’s eyes, a young girl raised in seclusion was easy to control. The girl had traveled so far to return, and the Qin family had only sent an uninformed young man to accompany her, suggesting that she was hardly doted on. Therefore, making a display of authority at the front gate was necessary.
Su Yiniang needed to make it clear to this young lady of the Wen family that in order to survive in the Yong’an Marquis’s residence, she had to listen to her.
But to her surprise, this young lady didn’t take the bait.
A flash of dark light flickered in Su Yiniang’s eyes, but her face remained adorned with a graceful smile.
“So, you really are the young lady? After ten years, the young lady has finally returned? Ah, it’s just that the servants at home are ignorant. If we had known the young lady was arriving today, we certainly would have gone to the city gate to welcome you!”
As she spoke, it almost seemed as though she herself had been moved by her own heartfelt words.
“The young lady is truly cruel—ten years without returning home, not even coming back to see us. The marquis has missed you day and night, and even I, as the concubine, have been thinking about you all these years. I wonder, did you eat well, were you warm enough? After all, you are of the Wen family, and only those of the Wen family can understand what warmth and care truly feel like.”
Wen Ninghan couldn’t help but laugh. The implication behind Su Yiniang’s words was clear. As a member of the Wen family, after so many years of being away, she was supposed to make the elders of the family worry about her. Not only was this a sign of forgetting her roots, but also of being unfilial.
What kind of legitimate young lady would spend ten years away from her family without returning home?
