TFWYH – Chapter 436 The Skin of Hypocrisy

To put it plainly, Wen Dai’er’s family wanted Madam Yi to arrange a good marriage for her.

Not asking for too much—at the very least, the groom had to come from an official’s family.

Madam Yi originally didn’t want to involve herself, but Wen Dai’er’s branch of the family had contributed quite a lot to her over the years.

Since it was only a young woman’s marriage, she decided to put in some effort and help look for a suitable match.

But good marriages were never easy to find.

Wen Dai’er’s family had declined, she wasn’t especially beautiful, and her talents were mediocre—she knew a little about everything but excelled at nothing.

The families of officials were all shrewd. Why would they marry a useless daughter-in-law into their household?

Yet Wen Dai’er lacked self-awareness. She believed she was excellent in every way and looked down on other women.

And so, she lived in the Yi household for two full years. During that time, Madam Yi brought her to many social gatherings.

But not a single family came forward with a marriage proposal.

Wen Dai’er had reached adulthood at fifteen, and now at seventeen she still remained unmarried. Naturally, she grew anxious.

So she set her sights on Yi Minzhe.

Not only did she flatter him constantly, she frequently went to his room without concern for propriety.

Yi Minzhe was already married, and his wife was pregnant at the time. Wen Dai’er’s behavior angered her so badly that she nearly miscarried and was still bedridden recovering.

Madam Yi’s heart completely cooled toward Wen Dai’er, and she began treating her with indifference.

Realizing Madam Yi could no longer be relied upon, Wen Dai’er became increasingly desperate.

Just then, with the provincial examinations approaching, many scholars gathered outside for poetry societies and literary meetings.

Having no other option, Wen Dai’er shifted her attention to those scholars, hoping to pick someone wealthy and promising—someone likely to succeed in the exams.

And that was exactly why she was supposedly heading to a poetry gathering today.

…

Without Tang Wan even asking, Yi Yashu immediately rattled off all of Wen Dai’er’s past deeds like a string of firecrackers, clearly afraid Tang Wan might associate with someone like her.

Hearing Yi Yashu expose everything, Wen Dai’er felt as if her carefully crafted façade had been stripped away. Embarrassed beyond measure, tears streamed down her face.

Seeing the servants looking at her with open disdain, she could no longer remain there and ran off crying.

Yi Yashu didn’t feel guilty at all about exposing her.

She liked Tang Wan very much—

—or rather, she liked Tang Wan’s facial masks!

After using them, her skin felt incredibly comfortable, and even her maids said her complexion had become much fairer.

“Sister, the facial masks you brought my mother last time were amazing! Even better than the ones sold at Hongyan Workshop. They were specially made, right? Do you have more?”

“…You’re not only overly familiar, you’re also completely shameless,” Tang Wan thought silently.

After a brief pause, she replied, “I came in a hurry this time and didn’t bring any. I’ll bring some for you next time?”

“Great, great! Then it’s settled! Bring enough for me, my mother, and my sister-in-law too!”

“…Alright.”

Thanks to the facial masks, Tang Wan was instantly promoted to “one of our own” in Yi Yashu’s eyes.

The group arrived at the main courtyard. Before they could even enter, Yi Zhanhong walked out laughing heartily.

“Ling Yu! Long time no see!”

“Ling Yu greets Lord Yi,” Ling Yu said with a respectful salute. He then removed the painting scroll from his back and handed it over. “I heard that Your Excellency appreciates Master Bai Anting’s paintings. Coincidentally, I happen to possess one. I hope you will accept it.”

“Oh?” Yi Zhanhong’s eyes lit up with delight. He carefully received the scroll, holding the jade roller with great care.

Yi Minzhe stepped forward knowingly and gently unfurled the painting.

A landscape of green mountains and clear waters appeared before father and son.

The flowing brushwork, the natural elegance, the heavenly artistic spirit—

Wasn’t this unmistakably the work of Master Bai Anting himself?