Chapter 208 - The Young Lady Who Struck Gold

While Chu Wang Ji was feeling unpleasant with how Young Master Zhang was looking at him, the others didn't seem to notice it as they were struck with shock and envy.

They were envious not because the Duke of Xin somehow snatched a young lady from the great general Lin's family but because they couldn't accept the fact that the man that they all wanted to become was now sealing the hole that was left opened in his life.

Previously, Qu Xing Xu was considered a successful youth both inside the court and outside the battlefield. He was wealthy enough to contend the royal family and even got the monarch comprise to his will several times already. However, because there wasn't a Duchess to handle his inner courtyard and he hasn't married anyone yet, this greatly pleased many.

Men who was envious of his achievements and his background naturally couldn't allow to watch him have a fulfilled life. Thus, even if they were gloating at him being the best, they were willing to smile happily knowing that he won't at least have a woman by his side.

Many even thought that he had a different s.e.x.u.a.l orientation as he was never rumored to be with any woman. Women was slightly doubtful but glad that they still stood a chance to win his heart.

But with the news of him being engaged with someone from the Lin family, this piece of news will break a lot of hearts and their misconception about Qu Xing Xu.

"Anyway, from what I've heard. This young lady was brought to the Duke's residence as soon as their engagement was finalized. Looking at this, it seems that the Duke is very anxious that someone will steal his bride even before the wedding." Young Marquis Liu said with a chuckle. He was merely speaking his mind but it was still a possibility and everyone nodded their heads with a defeated smile.

Taking a young lady before the wedding to a man's home shouldn't be allowed since both of them were still unmarried. A lot of nasty words would spread about these pair of couple and their reputation will be smeared woth dirt. But because this thing happened to the Qu Xing Xu, no one dared to say a word and even if they did, they would feel unruly and rude instead.

"Now, who's this young lady that struck gold?" Young Marquis Liu said with mirth in his eyes.

Young Master Zhang replied with a bit of reluctance as if something was blocking his throat, "Well… I'm not too sure either. I mean it's kind of weird. I think the rumors mentioned the wrong lady."

"What do you mean?"

"Did the Duke pick a servant maid from the Lin family?"

"Come on! Tell us who's she?"

All of them became interested.

Scratching the back of his head, Young Master Zhang finally said, "Alright. It's the Fourth Young Lady of the Lin family, Lim Xiaofei.

Everyone else was speechless at first. The silence was deafening as it stretched out for about a minute before they laughed hard to the point their jaws were hurting.

"Fourth Young Lady? That stupid girl?"

"Young Master Zhang, please don't lie to us! You must've heard it wrong. It must be the second or first young lady! How can it be that arrogant and unruly young lady? The Duke might have been blind if he chose that girl!"

Everyone nodded at this young lord's words. 

"That's right. I'll even bet my monthly allowance this month that you're wrong about it!"

"I'll bet my store in Pei province!"

"I'll bet ten thousand taels!"

Everyone joined to bet without even watching the pained expression on Young Master Zhang's face. He seemed to look like he was sighing dejectedly but only shrugged in the end.

Well, if they didn't believe him, it wasn't his problem. They're the one who will lose something in this bet anyway. He thought as he was also remembering how his mother pulled him to talk about this matter.

Early this morning, his mother seemed to heard about the engagement between Qu Xing Xu and Lin Xiaofei from the previous Duke's concubine. His mother and that concubine was close friends and thus, she was able to hear it from the person from the Duke's residence directly and not only from the rors outside. It was more credible to believe that concubine than the market's rumors.

But the reason why Young Master Zhang told his friends that he heard it from someone else was to protect his mother's involvement with this matter.

In any case, whether his friends will believe him or not will depend on their judgement. He was only trying to gouge out everyone's reaction.

And as expected everyone thought that it was a joke. Who would believe that the fourth young lady was even able to capture the duke's attention anyway?

'Sigh…'

Young Master Zhang sighed once again and drank the remaining alcohol in his cup. However, the change in his behavior was noticed by two people. 

One was Chu Wang Ji who was once engaged to Lin Xiaofei. His hands shook tremendously upon hearing Lin Xiaofei's name and even had a vicious glint in his eyes as if something that belonged to him was robbed from him by someone. A resounding slap was surely imprinted on his face as if he had shot himself in the foot.

After breaking the engagement with her, Chu Wang Ji thought that the Lin family would at least beg the Chu family to take her in even as a first concubine. If it were so, he will gladly accept her since one cannot simply reject a beauty. But who would have known that Lin Xiaofei got herself a bigger thigh to hold on.

And the other person was the young marquis who somehow felt that some of Young Master Zhang's words were true. He didn't join in the fun of betting but silently drank his cup of alcohol. While doing so, he thought that he might have to visit the Duke's residence and meet up with Qu Xing Xu to confirm this news. 

And well, if it was true… A wedding gift should be prepared as well.

On the other hand, Lin Xiaofei kept on sneezing. 'Achoo!'

It seems that someone was scolding her but she didn't know who.