Chapter 269: Chapter 269: One Last Glance
The sky was lovely.
The cat-shaped kite fluttered in the air, full of childlike fun.
After sending people away, Xuan E felt refreshed. Having not seen Xuanyao for a long time, she couldn’t wait to rush forward and embrace her darling.
Just as Xuan E was about to step forward, she caught sight of Wen Yiran’s hand holding a handkerchief turning white from the tight grip, her movements uncertain.
Wen Yiran’s gaze at Xuanyao seemed somewhat lost.
She couldn’t help but think, if she had not caused trouble back in the day, might her and Xuan Chen’s child have been as big by now?
Towards this child, Wen Yiran indeed had complex feelings.
Xuan E took hold of Wen Yiran’s cold hand.
Wen Yiran was startled, murmuring, "Mother-in-law."
Xuan E said, "Let’s go, your mother-in-law will accompany you over."
"Yaoyao."
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Xuanyao immediately beamed and ran over, using her fuzzy object to nuzzle against her.
"Grandmother!"
Xuan E was heartbroken: "Look how thin you’ve become."
Shen Hua witnessed Xuan E, leading Wen Yiran towards Xuanyao. From a distance, she couldn’t hear clearly, but after Xuan E smiled and pushed Wen Yiran forward, bending down to say something to Xuanyao—
The little girl’s face immediately fell, her eyes hostile as she looked at Wen Yiran, even taking a few steps back.
"Daddy is marrying her and doesn’t want Yaoyao anymore, and Grandmother doesn’t want Yaoyao either."
Xuan E hurriedly said, "How could Daddy and Grandmother not want Yaoyao?"
Xuanyao bowed her head, fiercely wiping her eyes with her sleeve: "Maternal Grandmother said so, she said Daddy never wanted Mama to give birth to Yaoyao."
"It’s because of her, she’s a vixen!"
Wen Yiran’s complexion suddenly turned deathly pale.
Vixen?
How could a three-year-old child come up with this term unless taught by someone?
Xuanyao said it out loud. The words were carried by the wind and heard by all.
Qiao Si sighed heavily.
In truth, she knew Xuanyao’s biological mother for a longer time.
However, upon thinking of Xuanyao’s biological mother, Qiao Si’s beautiful eyes revealed an unexpected sentiment.
Back then, when Marquis Yangling Mansion was in decline, that woman, being of noble status and looking down upon others, considered the Cui Family as poor relatives clinging to the Xuan Family. How could she hold in high regard Qiao Si, born of a small and humble family?
Disdaining her was one thing, but she also disdained Rong’er.
While Xuan Chen was alive, he was still somewhat restrained, but when Xuan Chen wasn’t there—
In no aspect could Shi Lingling compare to Wen Yiran.
Cui Xuan ordered the old woman behind her: "It’s almost time for a meal. Tell the kitchen to prepare a few more dishes."
This meant she intended to have guests stay.
Indeed, under the current circumstances, it wouldn’t be good to leave.
"Yes."
Xuanyao was very resistant to Wen Yiran. She didn’t even want to see Wen Yiran, which showed the teachings instilled day by day by the people from Prince Guo Mansion were extremely effective.
It seemed as if no matter what Xuan E said, Xuanyao would not listen.
In the end, Xuan E couldn’t help but scold her, and then Xuanyao cried, not wanting her kite anymore, and began to look everywhere for the wet nurse. She made a scene about returning to Prince Guo Mansion, with tears in her eyes as if she had suffered a great injustice.
This upset Xuan E, who felt both anger and heartache.
She was Xuanyao’s grandmother, but also Wen Yiran’s mother-in-law; both palms and backs of hands were flesh. Seeing the situation getting out of control, fortunately, Cui Xuan quickly stepped forward.
Cui Rong also ran over.
Qiao Si followed a few steps, then walked back and pushed Shen Hua ahead.
Shen Hua, seated in her wheelchair, remained silent. The sense of belonging straightened her posture.
The girl conducted herself with proper decorum. Her pale white hands rested gently before her knees.
Cui Xuan spoke softly, "Yaoyao, do you still remember your grandaunt? "
"In your grandaunt’s room, there are several interesting treasures kept aside. I intended to give them to your cousin Rong, but upon seeing our Yaoyao, I won’t give them to her anymore. Would you like your grandaunt to take you to see them?"
Cui Rong: ...
So, is she always the one to get hurt?
Cui Rong immediately became furious.
Then she was glared at by Shen Hua.
With a pout, she managed to refrain from reacting.
Cui Xuan held the sobbing Xuanyao in her arms and turned to Wen Yiran with a gentle smile.
"Marquis Mansion has welcomed you with Brother Chen in earlier years. This is the first time you come here as a niece-in-law, so naturally you should stay for the meal."
This sentence was obviously deliberately said for Wen Yiran to hear.
In early years, when Wen Yiran came here, she did so under the identity of Xuan Chen’s fiancée.
Qiao Si also said, "I’ve just developed several boxes of rouge and was about to give them to my cousin-in-law. Why not come and sit in my courtyard first?"
Wen Yiran’s fingertips curled, knowing this was offering her a way out, and she hastily replied, "Good."
Cui Rong also followed Lady Cui Xuan away.
Wen Yiran felt somewhat out of place, and as if looking for something to do, she quickly took over Qiao Si’s place to push Shen Hua’s wheelchair.
This family truly doesn’t treat Shen Hua as an outsider.
Shen Hua had been to Qiao Si’s courtyard a few times before.
When the three entered the room, Qiao Si asked the maid to serve tea and refreshments.
Once all the servants had withdrawn, Qiao Si opened her mouth as if to speak, hesitated for a moment, and finally turned her words into, "This tea was a reward from the Empress in the palace at the beginning of the year, how does sister-in-law find it?"
Wen Yiran held her teacup, "I thought you would try to persuade me."
If Qiao Si were Wen Yiran, she would certainly have ended up in a dead end.
"Yaoyao is at an age when she is most easily influenced by others, although children speak without restraint, those words can still hurt."
Qiao Si spoke in a gentle and delicate voice, very gentle and charming: "I am not in a position to persuade, even if I did, I’m afraid sister-in-law wouldn’t want to listen."
Wen Yiran was taken aback, her long-suppressed emotions suddenly made her eyes redden. She lowered her head to look at the tea leaves drifting in her cup, and a bitter smile overflowed from the corner of her mouth.
"She is just a three-year-old child, how can I take issue with her? The resentments of the elders should not be placed upon her."
She still understands right from wrong.
But sometimes, it is precisely such clarity that can harm both oneself and others.
The way she was before, wasn’t like that at all.
She is the legitimate second daughter of the Wen Family, most distinguished and pampered. From a young age, she had everything at her beck and call.
She could even quarrel fiercely with Xuan Chen over a trivial matter.
Once, in a fit of irrational anger, she even threw the book in her hand forcefully at Xuan Chen.
Xuan Chen exclaimed in pain: "Wen Yiran!"
Abandoning her book after her successful retaliation, she tried to run away. But how could she outrun Xuan Chen? Soon he caught her wrist, and pinned her against the corner of the wall.
This posture made her feel uneasy.
"I won’t dare again."
"You say that every time! Next time you’ll do the same! No lesson learned at all."
Xuan Chen was both annoyed and amused.
"It’s me who’s hurt, why are you the one crying?"
"The matter between you and me—"
He scrutinized her carefully, the young man’s ears reddening yet trying to look calm and serious.
"A girl’s wedding dress takes a long time to prepare, you should start making arrangements."
Later on, her wedding dress was indeed completed.
But the families of Xuan and Wen, under the ’imperial grace’, had to call off the engagement.
To avoid sudden incidents, the Astronomical Observatory selected an auspicious date at short notice. The palace took it seriously, and Empress Zou left the palace to personally witness the event.
The long procession of relatives, filled with music and drums.
Xuan Chen, dressed in wedding attire, sat atop a fine horse. His gaze was unfocused, like a puppet with strings pulled taut. Completely lacking the vitality of a bridegroom.
Until abruptly, he looked towards a certain place.
In the crowd, Crown Prince Ji Zhen stood by Wen Yiran’s side with the posture of a victor.
Later, Ji Zhui forcibly took Wen Yiran to the Xuan Family to congratulate and partake in the wedding feast.
Wen Yiran, unable to hold her liquor, went to a nearby corridor with the accompaniment of her maid to catch a breath of fresh air.
The little corridor had a red lantern every five steps, its warm colors inviting.
Xuan Chen was approaching from the opposite direction.
There was a distance of three lengths between them.
One about to wed another woman, the other a betrothed Crown Princess Consort.
They had no further possibilities.
Exchange of glances between them, one look was enough.
Xuan Chen gazed at her deeply and bowed respectfully: "I wish the Second Lady a life of peace and joy."
Wen Yiran smiled; she curtseyed in return.
"The brocade river flows endlessly, bidding you forever farewell."
When she turned around again, both had tears in their eyes.
"Second Lady."
Xuan Chen faced away from her.
"Don’t look back again."