Chapter Fourteen: With Ulterior Motives-Após três anos de viúvula, toda a Mansão do Marquês se ajoelha e implora meu perdão.(pensar dinheiro pensar grosso)

Spring Bud tilted her small round head and asked curiously, "Second Miss, what’s the exciting news?"

Chu Yue lifted her teacup and said, "You’ve been sharper lately, especially be more cautious around Xiao Yu."

Spring Bud nodded and smiled, "That Xiao Yu has long been avoiding me."

Chu Yue set down her teacup, her eyes darkening as she gazed out the window.

Qian Mengyun watched tearfully as Qian Kun and Madam Xu were carried out of the Marquis residence, her heart aching so painfully it felt hard to breathe.

The maid Xiao Yu stepped forward to comfort her, "Miss, don’t worry. I just gave the coachman a purse of money to make sure he takes good care of the two elders on the way."

Qian Mengyun sighed deeply, then said nothing more and hurried into her courtyard.

Xiao Yu quickly followed, then ordered the maids inside to close the gate tightly. No one was to enter without her permission.

Qian Mengyun washed her face, then sat on the wooden daybed, her gaze lowered, lost in thought.

Xiao Yu brewed a cup of Eight Treasures tea and said, "Miss, have a sip of this warm tea to soothe yourself."

Seeing the tea, Qian Mengyun nodded and raised the cup, asking, "Did you find out where the young footman from just now went to deliver that letter?"

Xiao Yu quickly replied, "I inquired. He was sent by Madam to the Prime Minister’s residence."

"The Prime Minister’s residence?" Qian Mengyun asked in surprise.

"Since the year’s end is near, perhaps Madam wants to send a gift and build some goodwill," Xiao Yu speculated.

Qian Mengyun shook her head, "What kind of place is the Prime Minister’s residence? The royal uncle lives there, and Father has never had dealings with them. How could they suddenly grow so close?"

Xiao Yu was quick-witted, "Could it be about the young master’s return to the capital?"

Mentioning the Marquis residence’s eldest son brought Qian Mengyun some comfort.

"If my brother could come back, that would be wonderful. I wouldn’t have to endure Chu Yue’s bullying so miserably."

Xiao Yu asked, "Miss, are you not pretending to be foolish in front of others, making allowances for Second Miss?"

Having served her since childhood, the maid could see through her at once.

Qian Mengyun lowered her head and took a sip of the tea. Tears uncontrollably fell into the cup.

Xiao Yu’s heart ached, and she softly called, "Miss."

Qian Mengyun lifted her head and shook it with a faint smile, "I’m fine. I once thought that if I could marry Mo Zixiao, then even if I severed ties with this Marquis residence, it wouldn’t matter. But it seems that General Mo only has eyes for Chu Xi."

Xiao Yu curled her lips, "So what? As long as the Marquis doesn’t agree, the eldest miss won’t have a chance. Besides, would a tiger-toothed general of the third rank really be willing to marry a widow and become a laughingstock of the entire capital?"

Qian Mengyun raised an eyebrow, and her once dim eyes suddenly brightened.

"Perhaps I have a second path—to remain in the Marquis residence forever."

Xiao Yu asked in surprise, "Miss, do you mean you’ll never marry?"

Qian Mengyun smiled, "If I can’t become the legitimate eldest miss of the Marquis residence, then when Chu Yong returns, I’ll become the wife of the Marquis’s only son, the future lady of the house. That wouldn’t be so bad."

"Ah?!" Xiao Yu gasped in shock.

Heavens, she intended to marry her own brother, Chu Yong, the sole son of Marquis Chu.

By evening, the young footman returned from the Prime Minister’s residence and went straight to the main hall to deliver a letter to Lady Liu.

Lady Liu took the letter and hurried to Marquis Chu’s study. Both of them anxiously tore it open and read.

"Marquis, what shall we do?" Lady Liu asked anxiously after reading the letter.

Marquis Chu thought for a moment and said, "It’s nothing. Tomorrow morning, you take Xi and visit the Prime Minister’s residence."