She Holds the World After Being Reborn-Chapter 323 - 322: Two Women, One Act

"Cong Ge, serve some tea and let the guests rest a while. I’ll be back shortly after a quick bath," Yan Wanqing smiled and nodded at Huai Xinmei, then raised her hand to beckon Cong Ge.

Huai Xinmei saw a maid in a green dress approaching her, her demeanor refined as she slightly bowed.

"Miss Huai, Marquis, this way please."

Huai Xinmei retracted her scrutinizing gaze from Cong Ge, thinking to herself that the maids from the Capital City truly were different; with such appearance and grace, one could easily mistake them for a lady of nobility.

Huai Yu finished delivering the greeting card and was in a bad mood. She raised her hand to stop and said, "I still have matters to attend to. Please tell the Commandery Princess that I must leave first."

Cong Ge nodded, "If the Marquis has matters to attend to, we won’t keep you then."

"No need to see me out." Huai Yu turned and left directly, without arranging for Cong Ge to have someone send him off.

Huai Xinmei watched her hurried steps, slightly raising her eyebrows, but said nothing. She smiled at Cong Ge and the two headed towards the hall.

After a short while, sufficient to drink a cup of tea, Yan Wanqing had dressed and appeared in the hall.

She looked around the hall and noticed the absence of Huai Yu.

"Where is the Marquis?"

Huai Xinmei cut in before Cong Ge could speak, "He had to attend to some matters. Men are always like this, busy here and there every day. Who knows what they are busy with?"

Yan Wanqing glanced at Cong Ge, who nodded, then she slowly walked to the upper seat and sat down.

If she had known Huai Yu was busy, she would have soaked a bit longer.

She had just briefly washed with cold water and came quickly.

Now her skin felt icy, and she shivered as the wind blew on her way here.

But it was not a big deal; she was trained in martial arts.

"Miss, have some hot tea." Seeing that Yan Wanqing’s hair was still slightly damp and cold, Cong Ge knew her mistress must have indulged in the cold water from the well and quickly served her a cup of hot tea.

Yan Wanqing took the hot tea and drank it, feeling a bit more comfortable.

"I heard that the Commandery Princess previously stayed at the Marquis Residence for a while." Huai Xinmei opened the conversation, "Did something happen? Why did the Commandery Princess move out?"

Bringing up what should not be mentioned.

Cong Ge slightly bowed her head to the side.

Holding the tea cup with one hand, Yan Wanqing slightly chuckled upon hearing this, "Miss Huai, how are you so unaware of the news? The whole Northern Border knows that I did not get along with the people of the Marquis Residence, and so I bought this residence with a substantial amount of money."

A flash of unease crossed Huai Xinmei’s eyes.

She indeed knew the inside story, but no one would outright state it so openly.

The dispute between Wu Zhen and Yan Wanqing was a future mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflict. If a usual woman encountered such dislike from her future mother-in-law, she would have been in tears long ago. Who would react like Yan Wanqing, boldly buying the residence right across?

"Ahem... I have been out of the loop for over four months now, letting the Commandery Princess laugh at my ignorance... Well..."

Huai Xinmei sighed softly.

She looked hesitant to speak further.

Yan Wanqing regarded her calmly, "Miss Huai, speak freely."

Biting her lower lip as if struggling internally, Huai Xinmei seemed to summon a great deal of courage. She placed her tea cup on the table, then gently lifted her left sleeve with her right hand, revealing a pink scar on the otherwise flawless inner side of her arm, making it quite conspicuous.

"What is this?"

Huai Xinmei’s eyes were filled with sadness, "This was bestowed to me by the senior lady when I was young."

Yan Wanqing did not speak, waiting for her to continue.

Huai Xinmei let her sleeve fall, seemingly plunging into painful memories, "When I was young, my younger brother, being playful, accidentally dirtied the senior lady’s favorite skirt, so that afternoon, with the Marquis and father not around, she planned to seriously discipline my little brother. Being weak and young myself, but unable to ignore my brother’s plight, I raised my hand to block that whip which nearly ruined Huai Xin’s face..."

"This scar has never faded, despite applying many remedies."

The beating by Wu Zhen was real.

But it was not because Huai Xin was playful.

It was because she had killed a maid close to Huai Yu.

However, family scandals should not be publicized, and so much time has passed that even if Yan Wanqing were suspicious, there would be no way to verify it.

Wu Zhen’s nature was such that she would never speak of her past actions.

Yan Wanqing listened quietly, "The Northern Border is skilled in the Witch Poisonous Insect Technique, and there should be many remedies to eliminate scars. How come it couldn’t be removed?"

Huai Xinmei shook her head sadly, "If it can’t be removed, then let it be. It doesn’t matter if it stays."

"Today, I presumptuously brought this matter before the Princess mainly to urge caution... The senior lady always retaliates, and opposing her will bring no good. Once married, I fear the days ahead will be difficult for the Princess."

Her every word was claimed to be for the sake of Yan Wanqing.

If she hadn’t long known from Huai Yu the kind of character this woman was, she might truly have been deceived.

"But...now that things have reached this point, there’s no medicine for regret in the world," Yan Wanqing sighed softly, her peach blossom eyes clouded with worry, "This marriage arrangement was bestowed by the previous Emperor, and it cannot be lightly refused. Despite my noble title, I must follow the imperial edict."

Huai Xinmei listened to Yan Wanqing expressing her grievances and couldn’t help feeling secretly pleased.

There is no girl in the world who isn’t afraid of a wicked mother-in-law.

As long as Wu Zhen maintains her notorious reputation, no matter how much Yan Wanqing favors that pretty boy Huai Yu, she would consider retreating.

Once her brother Huai Xin offers some warmth and shows some attentiveness, there’s no way the Princess Anping won’t be infatuated.

Once the rice is cooked, even the Imperial Family must adhere to the rule that it’s better to destroy ten temples than to break one marriage."

Huai Xinmei was calculating in her heart, but her face bore a deep sadness.

"We women are born to follow our fathers before marriage, and our husbands after marriage, never having a choice. Fortunately, as of now, there is still some time before the Princess’s marriage to Huai Yu, we can still delay and find a way. It’s up to us to keep hope alive."

"You make sense," Yan Wanqing’s eyes brightened, "After all, the time hasn’t come yet. There is still hope, and I should really think about this marriage."

Seeing that she truly began to deliberate the marriage, Huai Xinmei’s lips curved into a smug smile.

All this was not missed by Yan Wanqing.

The two women were like actresses in a play.

Just as the drama started, a voice from outside reached them, "Miss, Young Master Chen from the City Lord Residence requests an audience."

"City Lord Residence?" Yan Wanqing frowned in confusion, "I don’t recognize him. Does he have a visiting card?"

Shen Shuyun stood outside the door, not entering, having seen Huai Xinmei outside and almost having a heart attack, she dared not enter the room.

"No visiting card."

Yan Wanqing waved her hand in irritation, "No visiting card means no meeting."

Huai Xinmei looked outside, "Please don’t take offense, Princess. Perhaps he came to see me. Today, Young Master Chen had arranged to go boating with me." As she spoke, a blush tinged her cheeks.