When the female supporting role has a beauty system

Chapter 1452 Jin Yue 53
They were tricked into going to the Duke's mansion by Tan You, who summoned so many snakes. Yet the three-year-old boy just stood there watching, not scared out of his wits. That courage alone was extraordinary.

Six years later, the once gloomy little boy has grown into a bright and cheerful person, with a harmless smile.

Judging by appearance alone, who wouldn't praise him as a handsome and refined gentleman?
Uncle Wei looked at Cheng Sui, his mouth filled with bitterness. There was a deep-seated hatred between him and Cheng Sui. His daughter had been beaten to death by Tan You, but his daughter had only done so to save face and gain benefits for him.

Even if she did something wrong, how could he, as her father, blame Wei Ruoyu? She did it all for the sake of the family.

Unfortunately, her own daughter was to become someone's concubine, even if it was a relative. But in the eyes of the mistress, a concubine was just a servant, someone who could be sold off at will.

It all boils down to one sentence: the victor is king, the loser is villain.

It's all because Tan You was the unexpected variable.

Uncle Wei forced a smile: "Young Master, it's been a long time."

Cheng Sui smiled innocently: "It's been a long time. Five years have passed since we last met. Lord Wei, you still have the same charm."

Cheng Qian felt a toothache when he saw him laughing like that. Seeing the large crowd at the city gate, Cheng Qian quickly changed the subject: "It's still twenty li to get out of the city. Let's hurry up and set off. We can talk on the way."

Cheng Sui grabbed the saddle and leaped onto the horse, a move that drew the attention of those in the know.

Cheng Sui knew he was nothing but a troublemaker to the Wei family, so he didn't bother them and simply walked quietly along the side of the carriage.

Uncle Wei, Uncle Wei, Uncle Wei, and Uncle Wei, all of whom were scholars, and Wei Qian and Wei He were even more so, the five of them rode in two carriages. At this moment, Uncle Wei couldn't care less about anything else, he lifted the carriage curtain and looked out the window at Cheng Qian riding a horse.

Why is he here?

Cheng Qian smiled wryly: "After all, she is his grandmother. It is only natural for him to go and see her and show his filial piety."

Uncle Wei said, "I don't think he went there to show filial piety; he went there to keep an eye on you. He's afraid that your mother is having an easy time on the estate."

Cheng Qian gave him a look, as if to say, "Even if you know, don't say it out loud. Big families value appearances. Even if they're fighting tooth and nail in private, they still need to maintain a harmonious facade in public."

Wei He glanced at Cheng Sui on horseback. He was only eight years old, but he had already grown into a very strong and healthy young man. He was like a sapling, full of energy and spirit.

Cheng Sui listened to their murmurs but pretended not to hear. What was he afraid of? All of the Wei family members combined couldn't get close to him. Besides, he had so many guards with him; his safety was guaranteed.

When everyone arrived at the estate, Madam Wei had already gotten up. In the dead of winter, there wasn't much work to be done on the estate, so she and two elderly women made their way around it.

Seeing his younger sister in such a state, dressed simply and without makeup, and without her favorite gold and silver jewelry, Uncle Wei felt a pang of sorrow.

"Little sister! You've suffered so much! It's all because your older brother is useless!"

When Madam Wei saw her eldest uncle, her nose immediately stung with tears. She and her eldest uncle were the closest, and she truly treated Wei Ruoyu like her own daughter. It was she who had strongly pushed for Wei Ruoyu to enter the household as a concubine.

Her elder brother only has one daughter, Wei Ruoyu, and she worries that he will be destitute in his old age. She wonders if this marriage would strengthen family ties, and perhaps Cheng Qian would take care of his maternal uncle in the future.

But she never expected that despite all her scheming, she would still be outmaneuvered.

"Brother! It's not your fault, I was the one who went astray first." Madam Wei wiped her tears with a handkerchief: "I was the one who first had the intention to harm others, so it's no wonder that others retaliated."

Uncle Wei was heartbroken. First, he was saddened that Wei Ruoyu had died so young. Second, he was saddened that Wei Shi, already quite old, was being sent to the estate to do manual labor.

Cheng Qian let the siblings talk privately while he, along with Wei Qian and Wei He, tidied up several rooms on the estate. Cheng Sui, meanwhile, looked around with his hands behind his back, occasionally exchanging a few words with the estate manager. The group was busy and enthusiastic, and Cheng Sui even led some men to hunt two rabbits in the nearby woods.

Cheng Qian glanced at it: "Alive?"

Cheng Sui said seriously, "These are for my mother. She gets bored living in the Duke's mansion, so she raises rabbits to relieve her boredom."

"Are you done with your work here? Go back when you're done."

Cheng Qian took one last look around. The water had just been fetched, and he and the Wei brothers, Wei Qian and Wei He, had filled the woodshed to the brim with firewood. Two cartloads of grain had arrived today, and there were also clothes, bedding, and other winter supplies.

The house was simple, but it was draft-free and habitable.

“Then go back, Mother. I will come to see you again when I have time.”

Wei held Cheng Qian's hand and said, "Okay, be careful on your way back."

"If you're busy with official duties, you don't need to come here often. I'm fine here."

She paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Go back and tell the young lady that I will live a quiet life on the estate and diligently copy scriptures to cleanse myself of my sins."

Cheng Qian patted Wei's hand: "I understand, I will convey your message."

The Wei family felt a pang of sadness seeing Wei Shi in this state. But who could they blame now?

They are currently preoccupied with their own troubles, and the three uncles of the Wei family are particularly at a loss when they think about the various romantic entanglements they have accumulated over the years.

Tan You was right about one thing: they were the ones who had affairs first and fathered children, so the wife only targeted the children of her concubines in order to consolidate her position. If they had been more self-disciplined and followed proper etiquette, things wouldn't be like this now.
“We’ve gone back, and we’ve said everything we needed to say.” Uncle Wei sighed, then glanced at Madam Wei one last time: “These past years, the family has been in a mess, and all the debts we’ve incurred still need to be repaid.”

“From now on… from now on, your two nephews will come to visit you more often. We… we also have our own things to do.”

Madam Wei nodded firmly: "It's my fault for worrying you brothers. I'm doing well on the estate. She's not harsh on me. It's just an ordinary life, and I can manage."

Uncle Wei: "You did it for your family. Others may resent you, but my parents and I cannot."

"I'm leaving... Take good care of yourself."

After Wei's uncles left, Wei stood there wringing out her handkerchief. Cheng Sui looked at her desolate figure and felt no sympathy for her at all.

He and the Wei family were adversaries, and he would never sympathize with them. Otherwise, where would he place the once tragically pitiful Cheng Sui and Lin Jinyue? He remembered a saying: one should not waver between right and wrong.

Lady Wei went to the estate to live a life of seclusion, and the Duke's mansion remained largely unchanged, with life continuing as usual.

After returning from court, he told Tan You about his current job assignment during dinner: "I have been assigned to command the Imperial Guards at the Western Suburbs Camp. I will be serving in the capital for the next three to five years."

Tan You smiled and said, "That's good. It will also make it easier for you to take care of the Wei family while you are working in Beijing."

Cheng Qian paused for a moment: "Miss..."

Tan You glanced at Cheng Qian's face: "Your father, Cheng Kun, is still going strong for his age."

Lin Jinyue coughed slightly: "Miss, is that what I mean?"