Chapter 283

Chapter 283 – The So-Called Third Young Master He

Chapter 283 The So-called Third Young Master He

Noble Consort He’s family, the He Family, was once a wealthy and powerful family, but it later declined. If not for Empress Yuan, the He Family probably wouldn’t have existed. It was only because of Lord Jing that the He Family prospered again.

The current He Family was not the one it used to be. Empress Yuan was in the main branch of the He Family back then, and she was the only person in the main branch. Noble Consort He was in the side branch at that time. Later, Empress Yuan passed away, and the main branch had no descendants, so Noble Consort He naturally supported her own brother of the side branch.

Noble Consort He’s brother was now in charge of the He Family.

Third Young Master He was considered a promising one among the young masters in the He Family. He was said to be good-looking and studious, and he was not a womanizer. However, his marriage was not smooth. He had married once, but his wife died a month after the marriage. He was the one whom Madam Li wanted to introduce to Qu Moying.

Hearing Madam Li talk about Third Young Master He, Old Lady Qu secretly nodded. She had also heard of Third Young Master He. It was said that his moral character was really good among the young masters of the He Family. Although he had married once, his ex-wife died a month after marriage and did not leave any children. In fact, it was the same as he had never married.

This was indeed not something to be picky about. As long as he had good morality, it was not a problem at all.

Seeing Old Lady Qu nod, Madam Li was overjoyed and said anxiously, “Your Ladyship, since you have also heard of Third Young Master He, then I could stop praising him. A person like him could be worthy of a young lady with a better status. However, Third Young Master He is a kind-hearted person. After hearing about Fourth Lady Qu, he thought that Fourth Lady Qu is kind and wanted to marry her so that he could take care of her.”

Madam Li described Third Young Master He as an extremely kind person. Qu Moying sneered in her heart. Others might not know, but she knew clearly that Third Young Master He appeared to be kind, but he was actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He was evil.

How did his wife die? He tortured her to death.

He tortured not only his wife to death but also some beautiful maids in He Mansion. However, nobody dared to speak up for them because they were only maids, and he was in Noble Consort He’s family.

Upon his ex-wife’s death, Third Young Master He pretended to be devastated, and he fainted a few times in the mourning hall. Qu Moying knew his true nature in her previous life. Her father found it out, but it had nothing to do with her father. He only sighed that Third Young Master He’s ex-wife was unlucky, and he asked Ji Hanyue to stay away from He Mansion’s people.

But now, Madam Li actually introduced Third Young Master He to Qu Moying. She was clearly pushing Qu Moying into the fire pit. Qu Moying did not have any special feelings for Madam Li at the beginning, but now she found her hateful.

Judging from Madam Li’s behavior, it was obvious that she had known something, but she deliberately hid it from Old Lady Qu. She only spoke well of Third Young Master He, and she hinted that Qu Moying was really lucky.

Qu Moying’s eyes under the eye veil were cold. She slowly raised her head and looked at Madam Li. “Madam Li, I heard that Third Young Master He is not a good person.”

Her words were so blunt that the smile on Madam Li’s face froze. She looked at Qu Moying with a bit of coldness in her eyes. She thought Qu Moying did take a fancy to her son, and that was the reason why Qu Moying disdained Third Young Master He. However, she would not let such a woman marry her son.

Although her son was not very good, he was still the legitimate son of an earl’s mansion.

“Of course he is a good person. Third Young Master He is the most promising one among He Mansion’s young masters. Moreover, he does not depend on Her Grace. I heard that Third Young Master He is going to participate in the Imperial Examination next spring. He will definitely pass the exam. But when the time comes, I am afraid it will be difficult to marry him.”

Madam Li said with a smile. Her words meant that if Third Young Master He passed the examination, Qu Moying would not be worthy of him. After all, he was Noble Consort He’s nephew. His future career would definitely be promising.

Old Lady Qu was silent for a moment. She was a little hesitant. She thought that Young Master He was not bad, but she could tell from Qu Moying’s reaction that she was unwilling to marry him. However, Old Lady Qu didn’t want to refuse it now. After thinking for a moment, she said with a smile, “Thank you, Madam Li, but I have to discuss it with Ying’s father.”

“Alright, but you must hurry. I heard that Noble Consort He has known about Third Young Master He’s matter and is also choosing a wife for him. If you don’t make up your mind quickly, Noble Consort He might not give her consent.” Although Madam Li despised Qu Moying in her heart, she said with a smile, but her smile seemed a little mocking.

“Thank you, Madam Li.” Old Lady Qu’s gaze landed on Madam Li’s face. She also saw the hint of mockery on her face, and she felt a bit displeased.

Madam Li stood up since she had said the matter. She wiped her face with a handkerchief and said goodbye with a smile.

Old Lady Qu asked Granny Wu to send her out.

After Madam Li left, Old Lady Qu turned to ask Qu Moying in a gentle voice, “Ying, did you hear anything about Third Young Master He?”

Old Lady Qu naturally trusted her granddaughter more than Madam Li.

“Grandmother, I heard that Third Young Master He… doesn’t have a good personality…” Qu Moying said reservedly. Those things were not some things that an unmarried woman like her could talk about, and she shouldn’t even hear about it.

“Where did you hear that? Is it just a rumor? Ying, most of the rumors are not true. You don’t have to care about it!” Old Lady Qu gently comforted her, thinking that Qu Moying had only heard the rumor. “I will ask your father about the rumor. I will definitely consider it carefully. But Third Young Master He is actually not bad.”

Old Lady Qu had heard of Third Young Master He, and she thought he was the only good young master in the He Family.

Qu Moying was silent for a moment. Her eyes rolled under the eye veil. She knew that Old Lady Qu was doing this for her good, but she couldn’t explain it to Old Lady Qu. The only thing she could be sure of was that Madam Li didn’t like her or even hated her.

She saw the mockery on Madam Li’s face just now. She bit her lips and said softly, “Grandmother, Madam Li doesn’t seem to like me.”

Since Madam Li didn’t like her, how could she introduce a good man to her?

“I don’t think so. You think too much. I will discuss this matter with your father first and then ask your father to investigate it. If there is really nothing wrong, I will ask you again. I have already told your father before that I will make the decision on your marriage, but I will respect your wishes. After all, it’s your marriage.”

Old Lady Qu said.

Qu Moying lowered her head, and tears welled up in her eyes. She felt warm inside. In this mansion, Old Lady Qu was really good to her, and she could feel it. She gently tugged at the corner of Old Lady Qu’s clothes and called her with affection, “Grandmother!”

“Alright, you can go back first. There’s no rush. I asked you to come over so that you can hear it yourself. You’ve grown up, and you are smart. I believe that you have your own judgment.” Old Lady Qu’s eyes turned red at the sight of Qu Moying. She thought Qu Moying was pitiful. Nobody treated her well in the past, so she was so moved when someone treated her a bit better.

Although Qu Moying seemed to be indifferent, she was actually very grateful.

After coming out from Old Lady Qu’s yard and taking a few steps behind Qu Moying, Yu Dong called out to her hesitantly, “Miss…”

“What’s wrong?” Qu Moying slowly walked forward with a calm expression.

“Miss, should I send someone to investigate it?” Yu Dong suggested.

“No need. Father will investigate it.” Qu Moying shook her head.

“But if there really is something wrong with Third Young Master He… People all say that he is good. It meant that he hid it well, so ordinary people could not find it out.” Yu Dong said worriedly. Moreover, he felt that Qu Moying’s father did not care about his daughters, especially Qu Moying. He had never taken her to heart.

The fact that he left Qu Moying in the village for so many years could prove that.

Qu Moying nodded. She understood what Yu Dong meant. With her understanding of Qu Zhizhen, she guessed Qu Zhizhen would agree as soon as he heard about the proposed marriage.

But those things were secrets that were not known by ordinary people. Moreover, an unmarried woman like her could not talk about it. Even if she knew, she could not say it out.

Even if she said it out in embarrassment, Qu Zhizhen would not believe it. He would think that she had heard a rumor and that it must not be true.

She didn’t let Yu Dong investigate it because she knew the truth of the matter. However, the effect of her finding the truth was different from that of Qu Zhizhen finding the truth.

“I heard that He Mansion’s eldest son, He Dachong, and Third Young Master He don’t share the same mother.” Qu Moying said slowly with a deep look in her eyes.

Yu Dong nodded repeatedly. It was not a secret in the capital. “Yes, I heard that the first wife of Noble Consort He’s brother gave birth to First Young Master He. The second wife gave birth to Third Young Master He. They don’t share the same mother, and their relationship is not good. But First Young Master He is obviously not as good as Third Young Master He.”

One could tell from their reputation in the capital. First Young Master He’s reputation was bad, but Third Young Master He’s reputation was just the opposite. Moreover, First Young Master He was not good at studying, but Third Young Master He had already been famous for his talent when he was a child, and even the emperor knew about him and had once praised him.

This was also the reason why Madam Li mentioned that he would become an official.

However, Third Young Master He’s moral character didn’t match his talent. He was an evil sadist. He had harmed those young and beautiful girls with extremely vicious methods, but he hid the truth very well.

However, no matter how perfectly Third Young Master hid it, First Young Master He should be able to find some clues as long as he paid attention to it because he lived in the same mansion as Third Young Master He.

Qu Moying said meaningfully, “Try to let First Young Master He know that Third Young Master He might be the one who killed the ex-Third Madam He, and also hint him that if Third Young Master He marries Qu Mansion’s lady, he might have a closer relationship with Lord Jing.”

He Mansion must have known the matter between Qu Qiuyan and Lord Jing…

For any young master of any noble family, even if he was a useless dandy, he would be sensitive to this…