Luck Reliant Beauty – CH 036

Chapter 36: Zheng Wen’s Decision

Zheng Wen suddenly felt a chill run through her body. She clenched her hands tightly, trying to find strength in them.

Silence fell over the pavilion. After a while, Fan Yuxiu asked, puzzled, “But, in such a large family as the Zheng clan, isn’t there a single wise person to remind Zheng Wen?”

On the pavilion, Jiang Mi said casually, “That’s not surprising. Wasn’t it said that Zheng Wen’s mother died long ago?”

“But…but doesn’t she have a father?”

As soon as Fan Yuxiu finished speaking, Jiang Mi said matter-of-factly, “Her father probably doesn’t like Zheng Wen.”

More than just dislike? He practically resented her! Leaning against the stone wall, Zheng Wen thought coldly, “Since marrying his new wife, he hasn’t even glanced at me once.”

Above her, Jiang Mi’s voice came again, “Zheng Wen should have people around her trying to warn her, but she certainly didn’t listen. Besides, Her Imperial Highness the Empress and Prince Kang might have also sent people to influence her.”

Zheng Wen’s face turned deathly pale. Yes, several old servants had been trying to persuade her, but she had long since stopped paying attention to them. Of course, some members of the Zheng clan were also dissatisfied, but she always felt that those people were attacking her. “The idea of ​​using her own money…”

Fan Yuxiu, seemingly eating, mumbled, “If all else fails, let’s just go with the collective. After all, Zheng Wen has a deep affection for Prince Kang.”

Unexpectedly, as soon as Fan Yuxiu finished speaking, Jiang Mi said crisply and decisively, “But, in that case, Zheng Wen will die!”

“Zheng Wen will die!”

“Zheng Wen will die…”

At that moment, Zheng Wen’s ears were ringing, and her face had lost all color. Even in the pavilion, Fan Yuxiu was stunned by Jiang Mi’s words. After a moment, Fan Yuxiu shrieked, “Ah’Mi, what nonsense are you talking about?”

Jiang Mi seemed confused by Fan Yuxiu’s surprise. She said doubtfully, “I’m not talking nonsense. Zheng Wen gives up all her wealth to become the principal consort of her beloved, but in the end, she becomes a concubine. Additionally, as she enters Prince Kang’s home, she must go through the principal wife for everything, even a scrap of paper. Her adversaries’ hands are the only ones that can be useful. She had everything since childhood, and suddenly she has nothing. Adding to that, she offended her family by giving away her inheritance, leaving her with no way back. In this situation, any proud noblewoman would find it unbearable. At that point, how could she endure the rest of her life without committing suicide?”

Jiang Mi spoke in such a casual manner!

And the content of her words was so cruel and terrifying!

For a moment, Fan Yuxiu stared blankly at Jiang Mi, speechless, as if she were seeing her for the first time. After a while, Fan Yuxiu suddenly snapped out of her daze. She ran to the pavilion, looked down, and turned to Jiang Mi, asking, “Did you hear something just now?”

…

Zheng Wen stumbled out of the garden.

She didn’t know how she left the Fan Mansion; she simply wandered aimlessly through the streets before ending up in front of her mother’s memorial tablet, where she cried.

An hour later, Zheng Wen finally remembered that there was still someone she could trust. She immediately headed towards Qingling Temple in the west of the city.

While waiting at Qingling Temple, Zheng Wen’s hands and feet trembled. Her two maids watched her with concern but dared not ask anything.

After an unknown amount of time, Zheng Wen heard someone calling her in.

…

Miao Guan, the Daoist nun, hadn’t seen her family for many years. When she learned that Zheng Wen wanted to see her, she was slightly impatient.

But when Big Sister’s only daughter suddenly knelt before her, Miao Guan was startled. Looking at Zheng Wen’s pale face and trembling body, she finally couldn’t hold back her concern and asked with worry, “Wen’er, what’s wrong? Who bullied you?”

Zheng Wen hadn’t seen Miao Guan since she was ten years old. Hearing her distressed voice suddenly brought a long-lost warmth. With a burst of tears, Zheng Wen threw herself into her arms and wept bitterly.

Only after crying until she was hoarse did Zheng Wen slowly stop her sobs. She took a deep breath and said in a hoarse voice, “Elder Aunt, the dowry Mother left me, I’ve managed it mediocrely all these years. Her Imperial Highness the Empress’s birthday is in a few days, and Wen’er, who admires Prince Kang, is thinking of giving all this wealth to Her Imperial Highness the Empress, hoping to win her favor and marry him as his consort.”

Zheng Wen had barely finished speaking when Miao Guan angrily retorted, “Foolish!” Then, Miao Guan shouted, “How foolish is that idea? Who in this world would hand over all their chips and cards to someone without any promises?”

Hearing Miao Guan’s words, Zheng Wen felt a chill run through her body!

Elder Aunt’s words were so similar to Princess Yihua’s!

Zheng Wen lowered her head, paused for a moment, then said in a hoarse voice, “Wen’er has had this idea for a long time and has even mentioned it to others, but apart from Uncle Guan and a few others left behind by Mother, no one in the family, including Father, has sincerely advised Wen’er against it, nor has anyone explained the seriousness of the matter to her.”

Her voice lowered, and she murmured, “Even today, when Wen’er is a guest at General Fan’s residence…” Hearing the newly appointed Princess Yihua chatting with the eldest daughter of the third branch of the Fan Mansion, she learned that the empress had someone else in mind for Prince Kang’s Consort position…

Before she could finish speaking, Miao Guan said in a deep voice, “Wen’er, if you offer up all your family’s wealth and Prince Kang marries someone else as Consort, your life is over! You’ll only have death as your fate!”

Zheng Wen smiled sadly, murmuring, “Elder Aunt’s words are exactly the same as Princess Yihua’s!”

Miao Guan asked, “What did Princess Yihua say? Tell me everything!”

“Yes,” Zheng Wen quickly replied and immediately recounted the entire conversation she had overheard.

Miao Guan listened intently, remaining silent for a long time after Zheng Wen finished speaking. Only after a while did Miao Guan slowly say, “Princess Yihua’s words are all profound truths! That child is a rare and insightful person!”

At this point, Miao Guan turned to Zheng Wen. “Wen’er, what are your plans now?”

Zheng Wen pursed her lips, her lips trembling for a moment before she softly said in a low, hoarse voice, “Wen’er will not give anyone the inheritance left by Mother.”

Miao Guan smiled and nodded, saying, “However, since you’ve spread the word, your gift at Her Imperial Highness the Empress’s birthday banquet can’t be too meager. How about this: in Elder Aunt’s secular home, the wall connecting the bedroom to the bed is hollow. Inside is a recipe; take it as a gift. It’s the recipe for Snow-Patterned Gauze.”

Snow-Patterned Gauze? Zheng Wen looked up abruptly. Snow-Patterned Gauze was one of the famous gauzes of Sichuan; the recipe for making this gauze was worth a fortune!

Miao Guan looked at her and slowly added, “However, when you present this recipe to the Empress, you must not do it quietly. You must do it when there are many people around and when His Majesty is also present,” she explained. “This priceless recipe, as a birthday gift, won’t be considered meager. But if you give it to her in front of everyone, the Empress will be resentful because you didn’t offer all your wealth, but she won’t dare to do anything openly in the future!”

Having received Miao Guan’s idea, Zheng Wen felt reassured and quickly replied, “Alright.”

Miao Guan looked at her for a long time, and after a while, she added, “However, from now on, your connection with Prince Kang is also severed!”

Zheng Wen, with a bitter taste filling her mouth and after a long pause, said in a hoarse voice, “It was originally something Wen’er presumptuously desired…”

Miao Guan nodded. “It’s not bad that you think that way. Alright, you can go back now.”

“Yes!”

But just as Zheng Wen was leaving the Taoist temple, Miao Guan suddenly called out to her, “Wen’er, the sage once said that an excellent friend must possess one of three qualities: uprightness, understanding, and talent. As for Princess Yihua, I may not know if she is tolerant, but it’s certain that she’s upright. From now on, you should spend more time with her.”

In Zheng Wen’s heart, Miao Guan was her only family left in the world. Besides, because of what happened today, Zheng Wen also felt a sense of awe towards Jiang Mi! She earnestly replied, “Yes.”

“Also, your change of mind was because you listened to my advice. From beginning to end, it had nothing to do with Princess Yihua and the Fan Mansion, do you remember?”

“Yes, Wen’er remembers.”