After the delicate and soft-spoken wife gave up, the aloof and powerful minister embraced her and sh

Chapter 248 A thorn pierces the palm

There weren't many flowers blooming in autumn, but the Duke of Qi's mansion was such a noble family that even at the flower-viewing banquet, the flowers were still in full bloom.

The sweet fragrance of osmanthus blossoms wafted through the air, and a breeze swept by, scattering a golden carpet that made the women beneath the trees appear even more elegant and graceful.

Chrysanthemums are common, but the chrysanthemums in the Duke's mansion are not; they are all rare and precious varieties.

As she walked forward, Mrs. Bo counted the names of the chrysanthemums.

"This is Green Cloud... these few are Black Lotus, right... goodness, there are also more than a dozen Ten-Foot Hanging Curtains... oh my god, and Jade Pot Spring!"

Her expression was full of amazement. Even though Wen Jiayue didn't know much about flowers, she could tell from her expression that these were treasures that ordinary noble families couldn't obtain even if they spent all their wealth.

Wen Jiayue casually admired the flowers, but her thoughts had already wandered far away.

Along the way, many things from my childhood flashed through my mind.

She hadn't consciously thought about it, and some things she had even forgotten had become clear again at this moment.

Brother Dragonfly, Gu Tingqing's father was a businessman who lived away from home, and he was raised by his mother from a young age.

Although he was a businessman, none of the neighbors had ever seen Mr. Gu.

Gradually, rumors began to circulate that Gu's mother was so beautiful that she must be a mistress, and that Gu Tingqing was an illegitimate child who wouldn't let his children play with him.

However, Wen Jiayue was not bound by this constraint; on the contrary, Zhang encouraged her to be friends with Gu Tingqing.

Looking back now, he probably hoped that she and Gu Tingqing would have an affair so that Wen Ruohuan could marry Shen Fuhan.

But Zhang's wishful thinking failed when Gu Tingqing moved away when she was seven years old.

As far as I can remember, he ignored these rumors, whether out of habit or because he didn't care, his expression was always as gentle and peaceful as ever.

Even if you called him a bastard to his face, he seemed not to hear you, and smiled as he patted her head and asked her if she wanted to eat candied hawthorn.

Gu Tingqing would buy it for her as long as she nodded.

She nibbled on a candied hawthorn and asked cautiously, "Brother Dragonfly, when will your father come back?"

He would then give a bitter smile, gazing into the distance, lost in thought.

"Madam Shen, Madam Shen?"

The aunt's words pulled Wen Jiayue out of her reverie, and she stared at her blankly.

"what's up?"

Mrs. Bo apologized, "I'm so sorry, the child has disappeared again. I'll go look for him first, and then I'll come with you later, okay?"

Wen Jiayue nodded and said, "There's no need to apologize to me. The child is more important."

Mrs. Bo was taken aback. What did that mean? Would Mrs. Shen be angry?

She rubbed her hands nervously and gritted her teeth, saying, "Never mind, let the maid go find it. I'll go with you."

Wen Jiayue shook her head: "No need, I want to be alone for a while."

Mrs. Bo said uneasily, "This... Mrs. Shen, I..."

“You don’t need to overthink it,” Wen Jiayue interrupted her. “What I said was just what it meant, and I certainly won’t complain to the Marquis. If your husband is talented, the Marquis will promote him. Don’t worry about it.”

The aunt looked somewhat embarrassed: "That's not what I meant."

Wen Jiayue smiled at her: "Go find the child quickly, don't delay."

After watching Madam Bo leave, Wen Jiayue looked around and noticed a particularly secluded path behind the flower wall.

Apart from an osmanthus tree, there are no other flowers, so it is a secluded place, perfect for solitude.

Wen Jiayue then took Ruyi over and sat down on the stone bench under the tree to rest.

With no one around and the women far away, Ruyi felt relieved and spoke up.

"Madam, you seemed lost in thought just now. Were you thinking about Young Master Gu?"

Wen Jiayue didn't hide anything, nodded, and looked somewhat sentimental.

"For a moment, I thought of many things from my childhood, and I felt more and more that the heir of the Duke of Qi resembled him."

Ruyi suggested, "If Madam wants to be sure, we can go over there and take a sneak peek."

Wen Jiayue smiled and said, "I could never do such a thing."

Although she emotionally hoped that the prince would be her brother, Dragonfly, reason told her that the possibility was only one in ten thousand.

She'd rather not go than risk being watched by others for even a one in ten thousand chance.

Seeing that the lady was unwilling, Ruyi gave up the idea.

She asked, "Is Madam hungry? Shall I bring you some snacks?"

Reminded by her, Wen Jiayue was indeed a little hungry. She had eaten breakfast in a hurry and hadn't eaten much.

"Go ahead, I'll wait here."

A gentle breeze rises, scattering osmanthus blossoms and filling the air with their rich fragrance.

Wen Jiayue casually picked up a flower that had fallen on the stone table and was looking down at it when a pair of black boots suddenly stopped in front of her.

She paused for a moment, then slowly raised her head.

A moon-white brocade robe embroidered with auspicious clouds and cranes outlined his tall figure, and a black jade pendant inlaid with pearls was tied at his waist. Above him was a familiar face, gentle and warm like jade.

Wen Jiayue stood there stunned. He was just like her brother Dragonfly!

"Don't you recognize me?" Pei Huaijin called out her childhood name gently, "Yue'er."

Wen Jiayue stood up abruptly, speechless, and said, "You..."

Compared to her shock and helplessness, Pei Huaijin was much calmer, though his eyes still held a lot of emotion.

He spoke calmly, "It's me."

Wen Jiayue's eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and she asked, choking back sobs, "How did you become the heir of the Duke of Qi?"

“This is a long story, and I will tell you about it later,” Pei Huaijin said. “But I hope Yue’er will not tell anyone about my childhood, not even Marquis Jing’an. Is that alright?”

"why?"

“Father doesn’t want others to know,” Pei Huaijin said with a somber expression. “I only came to see you secretly because I knew you were at the flower viewing banquet. I will be leaving soon.”

His eyes held approval as he looked at her, and he said with satisfaction, "Yue'er has grown up so much, and she's getting married so quickly... How are you doing at the Marquis of Jing'an's residence?"

Wen Jiayue's nose suddenly stung with tears. She had so much to say, but she didn't know where to begin.

Seeing that she didn't answer, Pei Huaijin asked with a complicated expression, "Have you been wronged? Has Marquis Jing'an treated you badly?"

"I...I'm fine..." Wen Jiayue gave a hasty smile, "I just cried tears of joy because I saw you."

He didn't ask any more questions, but smiled and teased her, "Who am I?"

Wen Jiayue bit her lip and whispered, "Brother Dragonfly..."

"My dear Yue'er."

Pei Huaijin reached out his hand, and Wen Jiayue was taken aback, instinctively taking a half step back.

His hand paused for a moment, but still landed on the top of her hair and plucked a petal of osmanthus.

They were as close as when they were children, as if they still existed in each other's lives even after eleven years apart.

That faint barrier, like the morning mist, quietly dissipated.

Wen Jiayue looked up, her eyes smiling.

From afar, they looked like a perfect couple, a match made in heaven.

Shen Fuhan stared at it silently for a long time, only to find it irritating.

When she smiled at him... she had never smiled at him so unreservedly before.

Shen Fuhan clenched his fist, and even as the thorns pierced his palm, he felt no pain whatsoever.