Chapter 149

Before dawn, Grandma Wang and Madam Zhang took Wang Min’er to the capital by carriage.

Before leaving, Grandma Wang said to Grandpa Wang, “I never thought my first trip out of Changle would be to the capital for such a wretched reason. Old man, this is Heaven’s punishment, not letting me live peacefully in my old age.”

Grandpa Wang listened to his wife’s words and found himself speechless. He smoked his pipe more furiously than ever before.

As the sun set, Wang Yuan’er calmed from her initial anxiety to a state of dead calm, feeling somewhat composed.

Everyone knew that Wang Min’er was very likely pregnant. The trip to see the doctor was merely to confirm the fact.

“Hey, I saw your grandmother and aunt waiting at the carriage station early this morning. Where are they off to?” Madam Zheng handed the needles and threads Wang Yuan’er had bought and asked casually.

Wang Yuan’er smiled and replied, “Grandmother has a distant relative who moved to the capital. They’re going to a wedding banquet and thought to visit.”

She had devised this excuse on the fly, blending truth and falsehood for credibility.

Madam Zheng nodded and looked at her, somewhat annoyed. “Your grandmother only cares about the second branch and doesn’t take you to see new things.”

Wang Yuan’er forced a smile. If Madam Zheng knew the truth, she wouldn’t know what to say.

“Hey, it’s Matchmaker Zhu. You’ve just matched another pair of lovers?” Madam Zheng suddenly called out to someone behind Wang Yuan’er.

Wang Yuan’er turned to see Matchmaker Zhu, who was all smiles, shaking a large fan as she walked.

Matchmakers are known for their talkative nature and should not be offended, so Wang Yuan’er greeted her politely.

Seeing this, Matchmaker Zhu smiled even more and nodded secretly before looking at Madam Zheng and saying, “Indeed, I just took on a new matchmaking job.”

In weddings, there’s always a role for a joyful woman to play, and Matchmaker Zhu was happy to be asked.

Wang Yuan’er and Madam Zheng congratulated her with a smile and were about to leave, but as they reached the door, they heard Madam Zheng ask whose wedding it was.

“It’s for one of the big families in our town, the Tang family’s third young master!”

Wang Yuan’er paused mid-step and turned back. “The Tang family’s third young master?” Her heart pounded.

No, it couldn’t be the one involved with Min’er, could it? If it were true, what would they do?

One crisis after another—this was too much to bear.

“Indeed.” Matchmaker Zhu seemed proud, leaning on the counter with her fan. “The third young master, the eldest son of Tang Third Master, turned twenty this year and is already a scholar. He’s engaged to Miss Rong, the daughter of the Deputy Commissioner of Salt Transport in Dingzhou. Miss Rong is beautiful, and her father is a high-ranking official—a true lady of the family. Although she’s an illegitimate daughter, she’s the only daughter in the Rong family, raised under the main wife’s name. She’s as good as a legitimate daughter.”

Matchmaker Zhu praised the match, describing the couple as perfect for each other, just short of singing their praises to the heavens.

Though the compliments might have been exaggerated, Wang Yuan’er knew that this was a well-matched union. If the Tang family’s third young master was engaged, what about Min’er and her unborn child?

“Is the engagement settled?” Wang Yuan’er asked.

“The families have exchanged betrothal documents. Now it’s just a matter of setting the wedding date.”

Scoundrel! Heartless jerk!

Wang Yuan’er cursed inwardly. The Tang family’s third young master had seduced Min’er and now was engaged to another woman. Was this fair?

No matter how foolish Min’er was, she must have had feelings for the Tang family’s third young master. How could he get engaged quietly without giving Min’er an explanation?

Wang Yuan’er’s face turned ashen, her fists clenched, and her teeth gritted.

“What’s wrong, Miss Wang?” Matchmaker Zhu noticed her tense expression and asked.

Wang Yuan’er composed herself and asked curiously, “I heard that the main wives in big families are tough on concubines. What about Miss Rong?”

Given that the Tang family’s third young master was engaged, this marriage was likely set in stone. Min’er might end up as collateral damage, at best a concubine, subject to the main wife’s attitude and the Tang family’s stance. Wang Yuan’er needed to find out more.

Madam Zheng also looked at Matchmaker Zhu curiously, “You know so much. Tell us more!”

Matchmaker Zhu, pleased with the attention, cleared her throat and said, “In big families, there’s always some dirty laundry. Take the Tang family, for example. Last year, Second Master Tang’s mistress made a scene. She and her child survived but died suddenly within a month. Do you think it was really a sudden illness?”

Madam Zheng exclaimed, “Wasn’t it?”

“No. Which main wife would willingly share her husband, especially with an insignificant mistress? Second Madam Tang seemed to accept it outwardly but took care of the mistress privately. It wouldn’t take much effort if she wanted to get rid of the child.” Matchmaker Zhu smacked her lips.

“What about the Rong family?” Wang Yuan’er asked, concerned about Miss Rong.

“Miss Rong is said to be ruthless. When she was young, a maid lost her cat, and she had the maid beaten to death. She was only a few years old!”

Madam Zheng gasped, “And the Tang family accepted this?”

“The Tang family isn’t as prestigious as before. Miss Rong’s family might be lower in rank, but her maternal family has strong connections and is likely to rise in the future. It’s all about alliances in big families,” Matchmaker Zhu explained.

“So, Miss Rong is tough,” Wang Yuan’er felt a chill.

Only a few years old and had a maid beaten to death over a cat? This person was ruthless and unforgiving.

Compared to her, what was Min’er? A small matter. Miss Rong could crush her with a finger.

Wang Yuan’er felt increasingly hopeless about Min’er’s future.

Matchmaker Zhu continued talking about the dowry and gifts for the wedding.

Wang Yuan’er couldn’t listen anymore. She excused herself and hurried home.

As the sun set, Grandma Wang and the others returned to the Wang family, exhausted. Wang Min’er, with dark circles under her eyes, said she wouldn’t eat and went to sleep.

Wang Yuan’er helped prepare the meal for the second branch and then sat in the main house to discuss matters.

“This is a sin, a real sin!” Grandma Wang cried after a long silence.

Madam Zhang was pleased, but seeing Grandma Wang cry, her joy diminished. “Mother, Min’er is carrying a golden child and will marry into a big family. This is good news.”

“Bah!” Grandma Wang spat in her face, “Unmarried and pregnant, it’s a scandal. You’re happy about this?”

Wang Yuan’er sighed inwardly. This confirmed Wang Min’er was indeed pregnant.

“Grandmother, did Min’er get pregnant during the incense offering?” Wang Yuan’er asked coldly.

As an unmarried girl, it was improper to ask such questions, but given the situation, Grandma Wang nodded.

Wang Yuan’er found it amusing. Once, and she got pregnant—was Min’er lucky or unlucky?

“I told you your sister-in-law was selfish. If Min’er hadn’t kept going there, this wouldn’t have happened. Now, what will you do?” Grandma Wang scolded Madam Zhang, “I bet your sister-in-law is involved.”

Madam Zhang felt wronged, “What’s the point of blaming now? It’s already happened.”

“You…” Grandma Wang raised the teacup in anger.

“Mother, Min’er’s mother is right. Blaming won’t help. Mother, you need to decide. The longer we wait, the harder it will be,” Wang Er said.

“What’s to decide? Since it’s the Tang family’s third young master’s child, they should marry Min’er. It’s their bloodline. The doctor said it might be a boy. I don’t believe they would reject their own son!” Madam Zhang’s spirits lifted, imagining the wealth and honor.

Grandma Wang felt pained, wondering why they had married such a foolish daughter-in-law.

Wang Yuan’er found it laughable. A month pregnant and already claiming it’s a boy? Madam Zhang was too naive!

“Aunt, I don’t think Min’er will marry into the Tang family,” she said slowly. “I heard today that the Tang family’s third young master is already engaged, and the betrothal documents have been exchanged!”