I've Got This Cannon Fodder Trope Covered!

Chapter 134

Wei Hanzhang nodded and quickly relayed the events of the past few days to her mother. At the end, she hesitated and asked, "Should I tell Seventh Sister that the Heir of the Chen family once visited our home?"

"Absolutely not," Madam Jiang said firmly. "Very few people know about this matter. Why would you tell her? With her timid and fragile nature, who knows if she can keep her mouth shut? If the news spreads, it will harm you greatly."

"But if I don't say anything, and Seventh Sister finds out in the future..."

"If it becomes known, it won't just harm you; it will also harm the Chen family heir," Madam Jiang interrupted. "If she's sensible, she'll understand why you didn't tell her when she finds out later."

Madam Jiang's expression turned complicated as she thought about her former ideal son-in-law being admired by a concubine-born daughter she never thought highly of. "Seventh Daughter does have lofty ambitions, but with her status as the daughter of a concubine, the Chen family is far beyond her reach."

"I think they actually make a good match," Wei Hanzhang said optimistically, not holding rigid views about social hierarchy. "When fate comes, status and position won't matter. Besides, Seventh Sister is now considered a daughter of a duke's household, so it's not too big of a gap."

What mattered more, though, was Wei Hansu's personality. Her timid demeanor made her ill-suited to be the main wife, especially of a noble family like Duke Chen.

Madam Jiang, however, completely disagreed.

Having a son herself, who also happened to be the heir to a duke, she couldn't fathom bringing in such a meek and small-minded daughter-in-law to be the main wife. Just the thought of it made her head spin.

Even if she were the Crown Princess's sister, it was still out of the question!

Since it was premature to discuss these matters in depth, Madam Jiang held back further comments. After a joint lunch with her daughter, a servant came to inform them that Xiao Junzhan was too busy with state affairs to join them for the meal but would visit later in the evening.

Wei Hanzhang, accustomed to her fiancé's thoughtfulness in all things, didn't consider his gesture of sending someone to inform her as anything extraordinary. She simply dismissed the messenger with ease.

On the other hand, Madam Jiang noticed how her daughter and the Crown Prince, though not yet married, interacted as if they were an old, harmonious couple. Her initial concerns about her daughter's possessiveness and jealousy eased slightly.

Shortly after lunch, Madam Jiang carefully reminded her daughter not to mention to anyone her almost-engagement to Chen Zishu before taking her leave.

___

Meanwhile, Liu Wanning left Qixiang Palace with a heart full of despair. Outside, Qi Yuxiao, who had been waiting for her for some time, noticed her friend's red-rimmed eyes, evidence that she had been crying. She immediately approached her with concern. "Did she give you a hard time?"

Liu Wanning had no energy to reply. Raising her eyes, tears spilled over once more as she said, "Chengyi, I have no way out anymore."

If she couldn't enter the Eastern Palace, what had all her years of waiting been for?

Was it all just a joke?

Why should she, the so-called most beautiful woman in the capital, become a laughingstock, while Wei Hanzhang—a girl whose birth and beauty were both inferior—won the Crown Prince's favor and was destined to be the future Empress?

Thinking of the humiliation and ridicule she had just endured from that young girl, Liu Wanning clenched her hands tightly in her sleeves, consumed by an overwhelming hatred.

Anyone could mock her, but not Wei Hanzhang.

Her dark thoughts swelled, larger and more malevolent than ever. Taking Qi Yuxiao's hand, Liu Wanning forced a bitter smile and said, "I only now realize that you were right. That Miss Wei... she's not on the same path as us."

Qi Yuxiao sneered. "I told you she was arrogant and overbearing, but you wouldn't believe me..."

She was about to say more when Liu Wanning shot her a warning glance to stop. Looking around cautiously, Liu Wanning shook her head slightly and said, "My brother brought me a bixie tea set this morning. Would you like to take a look?"

Since Duke An's residence in the palace was near the Gu family's lodging, Qi Yuxiao naturally didn't decline.

Once they returned to Liu Wanning's quarters, she dismissed the servants. After the door was closed, Liu Wanning began brewing tea, her tone soft as she said, "When my brother gave me this tea set, he also told me something. Chengyi, would you like to hear it?"

Qi Yuxiao, knowing her friend must have a reason for bringing her over, asked directly, "Is it about her?"

Liu Wanning smiled faintly. "Do you know why she emerged unscathed from such a dangerous situation yesterday? Because the Heir of Duke Chen risked his life to protect her. So many guards were present, yet Chen Zishu shielded her all the way, disregarding his own safety. The two of them even ended up in each other's arms."

"What?!" Qi Yuxiao was stunned. "Chen Zishu? How could she have anything to do with Chen Zishu?"

"Could it be that the situation was urgent, and Chen Zishu stepped in simply because she's the Crown Princess?" she speculated, unwilling to believe otherwise.

"Do you know what kind of person Chen Zishu is? He doesn't even spare a glance for things he doesn't care about," Liu Wanning said with a mocking smile. "Crown Princess or not, with so many guards present, even if something went wrong, the Imperial Guard would bear the blame. Why would he risk his life for her?"

"But..." Qi Yuxiao opened her mouth but couldn't find words to refute.

She knew Chen Zishu well. As someone from a dukedom, with ties of kinship to her own family, he was technically her distant cousin.

Chen Zishu, despite his gentle and refined demeanor, was known for his ruthlessness and absolute detachment. Such a person risking his life to protect the future Crown Princess, especially when there were already guards present?

And embracing her on top of that?

Qi Yuxiao pressed her lips together, hesitating. "Could it be I was right? That woman really is a seductress?"

This is absurd! First, she bewitched her husband to the point of obsession, never once entering her room since their marriage. Then, she captured the heart of her uncle, the Crown Prince. Now even Chen Zishu couldn't escape her charms?

"I don't know if she's a seductress," Liu Wanning said calmly, "but she certainly has methods you and I don't possess."

"And there's more," Liu Wanning continued, her tone deepening. "I was shocked to learn this morning that, even before she came of age, the Heir of the Chen family asked his aunt, the Marchioness of Yongle, to propose a marriage to the Wei family on his behalf."

"What?!" Qi Yuxiao was so shocked she nearly dropped her bixie jade cup. "How could something like that not have spread through the capital? Where did your brother hear this?"

"This is something even the Crown Prince might not know," Qi Yuxiao said urgently, springing to her feet. "I have to tell him. He can't be blinded by that seductress!"

As she moved to leave, Liu Wanning pressed her hand down, stopping her.

"If His Highness hadn't intervened, do you think the Wei family would have rejected a proposal from Duke Chen's household?" Liu Wanning's expression was both sour and bitter. "For her, there's nothing His Highness wouldn't tolerate. Didn't he also endure her past entanglement with your husband?"

Thinking of her so-called "virtuous" husband, who refused to set foot in her room, Qi Yuxiao clutched her chest in frustration and anger. "Why don't all the men in the world just let her have them!"