Chapter 41: A Display of Exemplary Acting Skills

Chapter 41: A Display of Exemplary Acting Skills

After leaving the Hall of Eternal Light, Tang Shuyi hurried back to the courtyard, suspecting that the Wu family might make their move during the midday rest.

True to her suspicions, upon entering the courtyard, she encountered a flustered Cui Yun, who whispered urgently upon seeing her, “Madam, something’s happened.”

Tang Shuyi’s heart skipped a beat—could Xiao Yuchen really have fallen into the Wu family's trap?

“What happened?” she asked, grabbing Cui Yun's arm.

Cui Yun, with beads of sweat on her forehead, exclaimed, “The eldest young master, he...”

“Madam Hou,” interjected Madame Wu, her face etched with concern as she approached Tang Shuyi. Lowering her voice, she said, “My Jingshu is missing. I’ve looked everywhere and can’t find her. Have you seen her?”

Tang Shuyi narrowed her eyes, about to reply that she hadn’t, when a maid beside Madame Wu suddenly chimed in, “Madam, I just saw the Third Young Miss with… with the young master. Could they be in the young master’s room?”

"Nonsense." Tang Shuyi hadn't even spoken when Madam Wu interjected, scolding sharply, "The Young Master is well-mannered. How could he have private meetings with Jing Shu, let alone let her enter his room?"

Tang Shuyi sneered. It seemed she was the only clever one in the whole world, and everyone else was a fool, wasn't it?

"Indeed, my son Yuchen has been well-behaved since childhood, and has never been rude in his interactions," Tang Shuyi stated, her voice cold and laced with mockery, "Take today, for instance. It was Miss Wu who sought him out to talk. If it weren't for you, Madam Wu, asking him to look after your three daughters, he would have stayed far away from them."

Madam Wu's face turned the color of liver in irritation. She hadn't expected Tang Shuyi to turn on her so quickly, nor had she anticipated such blunt and sharp retorts that spared no feelings. However, she still wished to marry her daughter into the marquisate. Despite her fury, she forced a stiff smile and said:

"Madam Marquise, my apologies for misspeaking earlier. I, of course, trust the Young Master's character. It was just my anxiety speaking, as I couldn't find my child. Please don't take it to heart. The priority is to find her now."

Saying so, she hurried towards the courtyard next door, where Xiao Yuchen's room was located.

Tang Shuyi quickly followed, whispering to Cuiyun, "What happened?"

Cuiyun rattled off like a machine gun, "You had us keep an eye on the Wu family. I had a stomachache and went to the latrine. When I returned, Cui Zhu told me she saw Miss Wu taking snacks to the eldest son's room. She was about to stop her when the second Miss Wu called her away. By the time she returned, she heard... those sounds coming from the eldest son's room."

Hearing this, Tang Shuyi's step faltered, nearly causing her to stumble. Cuiyun quickly steadied her.

Taking a deep breath, Tang Shuyi continued towards the adjacent courtyard. Upon arrival, she saw Madam Wu standing at the doorway of Xiao Yuchen's room, trying to enter while Cui Zhu barred her way, resulting in a standoff.

"Madam Marquise," Madam Wu approached Tang Shuyi anxiously, "I mean no offense. I just want to ask the Young Master if he has seen Jing Shu."

Tang Shuyi ignored her and approached Xiao Yuchen's room. The sounds of slapping and moans from inside sent a surge of blood to her head.

She was profoundly disappointed. From the Wu family's visit to their house to the lunch they had just had, she had reminded Xiao Yuchen more than a dozen times to be cautious. Yet, he still fell for their scheme.

Given the circumstances, there was no need to save his face anymore. Losing face might teach him a lesson.

After a moment's silence, she raised her foot and kicked the tightly shut door. The door trembled with a bang but remained closed. She kicked again, and with another bang, the door swung open, and she entered with a frosty demeanor.

Madam Wu, with a racing heart, tried to follow. The Marquise's kick was so fierce, it was like a man's, no, even more vigorous than an average man's. She began to worry. Would her daughter suffer if she married into a family with such a Marquise?

While pondering, she stepped one foot inside but before she could step further, Tang Shuyi pushed her out and said, "They're in the middle of something. Let's talk after they're done."

Saying so, she closed the door and instructed a maid to bring a chair over, then sat down leisurely.

"Madam Marquise, what... what's the situation inside?" Madam Wu was now completely confused and didn't understand Tang Shuyi's intentions.

Moments ago he was all bluster, how come he's in no rush now? Could it be the fear of disturbing the young master? Interrupting a man during that sort of thing can indeed lead to complications.

"Your daughter is indeed inside," Tang Shuyi said nonchalantly, leaning back in his chair with a lazy drawl, "Young people are full of vigor, you should understand."

"Th-this... this..." Madam Wu was at a loss as to Tang Shuyi's real intent when she heard her add, "Just go back and prepare the dowry."

Although Madam Wu was extremely embarrassed, she was somewhat relieved. Does this mean that the Marquess's wife has accepted the situation?

Although it deviated somewhat from their original plan, as long as the Marquess’s wife accepted her, and her daughter could marry into the Marquis’s household, that was all that mattered. However, her worry was that the Marquess's wife was not as the rumors suggested, acting too decisively and sharply. With such a mother-in-law, her daughter's future...

Thinking this, Madam Wu sighed.

At this moment, Wu Jingyun approached. She greeted Tang Shuyi and Madam Wu gracefully and then said, "I was feeling a bit unwell just now and was resting in the room. I didn't know my younger sister had gone missing. Mother, has she been found?"

Madam Wu, upon hearing her words, wore a troubled expression. She looked towards Tang Shuyi, hoping she would say something, but Tang Shuyi was looking at her nails, not even glancing her way.

Madam Wu could only speak to Wu Jingyun with a face full of guilt and distress, "Child, it's all a misunderstanding, no one expected this to happen."

Wu Jingyun wore a face of confusion, "Mother, what do you mean? Isn't it just that my younger sister is missing? How does it relate to a misunderstanding?"

Tears already brimmed in Madam Wu's eyes, "Child, I'm afraid your engagement with the young master might not come to pass. Your sister and the young master, they... they..."

She didn't finish her sentence before pulling Wu Jingyun into her embrace, crying and comforting her, "Rest assured, your mother will not let you be wronged."

Wu Jingyun's eyes were wide with disbelief, "Mother, what are you saying?"

Madam Wu shook her head and cried, holding Wu Jingyun...

Tang Shuyi sat leisurely, watching the drama unfold, thinking that acting is indeed a necessary skill among the women in these ancient households! Look, Madam Wu and Miss Wu, one more skilled in acting than the other.