Chapter 919: Chapter 873: Becoming a Concubine (Part 2)

Seeing Wen Wan, Song Qi couldn’t contain her excitement, blurting out, "Third Aunt!"

She realized afterwards that Wen Wan and Song Wei had divorced, and quickly corrected herself, showing much more respect, "Commandery Princess."

The women in the same cell heard this address and immediately understood who had come. They hurriedly knelt on the ground to pay respect to Wen Wan, their eyes filled with hope that Wen Wan would rescue them.

Wen Wan looked at Song Qi, recalling the deaths of Song Jiao and her mother-in-law. A shadow flashed through her eyes but quickly disappeared as she appeared surprised, "I heard from the Shuntian Prefect that they caught a young girl with no household registration who resembles a Song family member, and asked me to verify. Unexpectedly, it really is you. How did you end up like this?"

At times like this, any casual inquiry could magnify Song Qi’s grievances indefinitely.

Thus, as soon as Wen Wan spoke, Song Qi couldn’t help but sob uncontrollably, tears streaming onto the ground.

...

After greeting the Shuntian Prefect, Wen Wan pulled her out of the dungeon.

In the carriage, Song Qi cried and complained non-stop, blaming Third Uncle for deceiving her, promising to bring her to the Capital as a candidate for Heir Consort, only to erase her household registration halfway, clearly intending to make her a laughingstock in Chu Capital.

After crying for a while, she looked up at Wen Wan, indignant, "No wonder the Commandery Princess wants to divorce him, someone like Third Uncle is both despicable and vile! A beast in human skin! Unworthy of the Commandery Princess!"

Wen Wan smiled at her, "Have you thought about where you want to go?"

Song Qi immediately lowered her eyes, "I have no household registration and no one to rely on, I can only turn to the Commandery Princess."

"You’re not getting any younger, I’ll find you a suitor," Wen Wan leaned back in her seat, her tone casual.

Upon hearing this, Song Qi’s previously dark face lit up with joy, "Thank you, Third... Thank you, Commandery Princess."

"I’m just worried you might not like it," Wen Wan expressed her concern.

"I like it, whatever the Commandery Princess arranges, I like it all," Song Qi’s eyes were full of anticipation.

During her stay in the Capital, she had heard that the Commandery Princess made great contributions on her mission to Bei Yan, now a distinguished court meritorious officer, praised by the people. Someone like that seeking a marriage alliance would have aristocratic families giving due respect.

Though it’s possibly not as prestigious as being an Heir Consort, with the Commandery Princess backing her, even as an aristocratic family main wife, she could carry herself with the stature of an Heir Consort.

Wen Wan gave her a deep look, "Actually, I think Xie Feng is quite nice. Recently he got recognition from Your Majesty for improving the mechanical beast, and has been transferred to the Divine Soldier Bureau. If he can improve an entire set, it won’t be long before he rises to prominence."

Upon hearing that Xie Feng received recognition from Your Majesty, Song Qi secretly clenched her fingers; is this settling for less while losing out on more?

But in the end, she didn’t see the shadow of the lesser, let alone the greater.

No, the Commandery Princess’ matchmaking will certainly not be inferior to Xie Feng, she must not lose hope or regret, Xie Feng is just waiting for her to regret it, but she insists on living well to show him!

Thinking of this, Song Qi collected her thoughts, her face shy, "They say parents’ commands and matchmaking are the way, and now without household registration, since the Commandery Princess saved me, you are my elder, whatever you say, I have no objections."

"That’s good." Wen Wan curved her lips.

...

The carriage didn’t go directly back to Changning Marquis Mansion but turned into a small gray-walled alley, stopping in front of a wooden door with a New Year’s painting on it.

Wen Wan lifted the curtain to get out of the carriage and knocked on the rusty copper ring on the door.

Soon, a thirty-something woman with thin eyes came to open the door, seeing Wen Wan, she quickly saluted, "This humble woman pays respect to the Commandery Princess."

Wen Wan raised her hand to exempt the salute, "I’ve brought the person to you, treat her well from now on."

The last four words were said with special meaning.

The woman immediately understood and smiled, "Rest assured, Commandery Princess, once inside this door, she is part of the Zeng family, she will have good days in the future."

Wen Wan returned to the carriage and told Song Qi, "I’ve found you a family, you’ll be a concubine there, and from now on, you’re part of their family."

Song Qi had just peered through the curtain to see what was outside and was deeply disdainful, assuming Wen Wan came here for other matters—not expecting to be sent to this family and as a concubine at that?

Song Qi’s face turned white immediately, her voice trembling as she said, "Commandery Princess, did you make a mistake?"

Shouldn’t it be marrying into an aristocratic family as a main wife? How could it be a concubine? How can she marry into such a family!

Wen Wan said, "Their family trades horses, Mr. Zeng breeds horses outside the border year-round. If you like it outside the border, perhaps there’ll be a chance to go in the future."

"No, no no no." Song Qi shook her head vigorously, "I don’t want to be a concubine, I don’t want to go outside the border."

How can she endure the harsh environment outside the border?

"Earlier you said you liked everything I arranged for you, as it was in accordance with your parents’ will and the words of the matchmaker." Wen Wan casually picked up an orange and peeled it, her tone indifferent, "Why the sudden change of heart?"

Song Qi’s small face stiffened, realizing she was deceived. She hurriedly grasped Wen Wan’s sleeve, crying and pleading on her knees, "Commandery Princess, I beg you, don’t sell me to their family."

"Sell?" Wen Wan sneered coldly, her gaze contemptuous, "Someone like you, how much are you worth selling for?"

Before Song Qi could say anything more, Wen Wan instructed the coachman to grab her by the back collar and throw her to the ground.

Through the brocade curtains, Wen Wan no longer maintained her earlier softness, her voice as cold and sharp as a knife, "If you don’t want to stay in the Zeng Family, you can wait to be captured by the government officer again."

Song Qi’s heart sank, her face ashen, tears rolling down incessantly.

Suddenly, someone stepped on her back, causing her pain as she lifted her head, meeting the sharp, mean face of Mrs. Zeng Yang.

"You little wench, why are you glaring? Get inside and serve my son!"

Song Qi refused to get up, but she was yanked by the hair and shoved inside.

A quarter of an hour later, Song Qi was kneeling on the ground, with Mrs. Zeng Yang’s five-year-old son riding on her back, holding a whip and constantly lashing her, "Giddyup, giddyup––"

Mrs. Zeng Yang sat at the hall door, legs crossed, enjoying her melon seeds.

Song Qi felt utterly humiliated, her eyes blurred by tears. She suddenly thought of Xie Feng, the boy who had treated her with constant kindness for years, who had once liked her so much, whom she had hurt time and again, who was now engaged to another woman.

Song Qi so wished she were that woman, wished to hear Xie Feng gently call her "Sister Song Qi," wished to be cherished by him, but she couldn’t go back, never again.

The little brat on her back lashed her again, and in pain, Song Qi could only carry him and continue circling the courtyard.

The male head of the Zeng Family wasn’t home; it was just Mrs. Zeng Yang with her son, Da Zhuang.

During the day, she had to wash clothes and cook meals; at night, she had to serve Mrs. Zeng Yang by washing her feet. If Da Zhuang got excited and wanted her to act as a horse, then she had to lie down; if he wanted her to bark like a dog, she couldn’t keep silent.

Song Qi was busy until late at night before she could sleep, crying silently on the kang, regretting her past actions. She attempted to escape several times but each time ran into government officers checking for household registrations, panicking and returning to endure Mrs. Zeng Yang’s torment.

These dark, oppressive days filled her with unprecedented despair.

...

At the Changning Marquis Mansion, Wen Wan listened to the news brought by the servants, her lips curled slightly.

Zhao Xunyin clicked his tongue twice, "Being tormented by the Third Son in Ningzhou, then tricked by you in the Capital, this girl is really quite miserable."

"The Third Son cannot be stained with human life," Wen Wan said, "He was born to endure calamities. If Song Qi were to die at his hands, his fate might change again. It is more fitting for me to be the villain."

"That’s the karma she deserves," Zhao Xunyin mentioned Song Qi, his brows furrowing, "She was young but arrogant, full of schemes. She enjoyed the good life, so naturally, she can’t escape the suffering."

"Let’s not talk about her," Wen Wan was in a good mood today and didn’t want Song Qi to spoil it, "Linglong tells me Jia has sent me some good things from Suzhou, I’ll go take a look."

Earlier this year, the Yun Family had arranged two marriages, one between Xue Yinhuan and the Cheng Family’s Young Master, and one between Yun Huai and Xu Jia, which Wen Wan couldn’t attend.

The Yun Family has a tradition for marriage; the groom’s elder brother comes to fetch the bride, and it was none other than Erlang, who vowed never to marry.

Zhao Xunyin said that the Yun Family divided into waterway and land route, flower boats, flower carriages, flower sedan chairs, the grand procession was so spectacular that the uninformed thought it was a princess wedding, enlivening Chu Capital for quite some time.

Xu Jia sent Wen Wan several bolts of top-quality Su Jin Hang Chou, along with a Glazed Bottle.

Inside the Glazed Bottle was medicinal juice.

Xu Jia noted in her letter that she had specially asked Sixth Son to find a local prescription, which could alleviate Wen Wan’s headache.

Having been inexplicably "fed dog food," Wen Wan rolled her eyes secretly.

She sniffed the strangely scented medicinal juice, crinkled her nose, herself now without precognitive abilities, she had no headaches anymore, but she really liked these few bolts of fabric.

The war with Prince Liang wasn’t going to end anytime soon; Su Qing still needed to continue guarding Yanjing, as Amuer, being King of Western Border, couldn’t stay in the Capital indefinitely, soon was arranged by Emperor Xuanjing to be sent back.

After the beginning of summer, the weather gradually became hotter, the plague in the Northern Border was completely under control, and Prince Kang returned to the Capital with a group of doctors to report on their work.

Feeling quite idle, Wen Wan counted the days by bending her fingers.

That day, as she was lying on a recliner under a banana tree to stay cool, Linglong rushed in saying, "Commandery Princess, there’s someone outside who claims to be your brother and wants to see you."

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