I've Got This Cannon Fodder Trope Covered!

Chapter 46

Seeing that Wei Hanzhang was frowning, seemingly troubled by her marriage, Wei Hanshuang couldn't help but comfort her: "I was just saying it casually. Your marriage was verbally agreed upon by both families' elders, so I doubt the Gu family would go back on their word. Don't overthink it."

"I'm not worried about that," Wei Hanzhang shook her head slightly and linked arms with her cousin, pursing her lips before saying, "To be honest with you, ever since I learned that... Qi Yuxiao might be interested in Gu Yunran, I haven't had high hopes for this marriage."

Before this, even though Wei Hanzhang had been disappointed in Gu Yunran, she was still prepared to marry into the Gu family. Despite foreseeing a future where they might become a couple filled with resentment, she was willing to take that chance.

But Qi Yuxiao had appeared, a supremely arrogant young lady, just like her princess mother, who wouldn't give up on a man she fancied just because he was engaged or even married. The way Qi Yuxiao made things difficult yesterday clearly showed how much she liked Gu Yunran, to the point where she harbored jealousy and hatred toward her, someone she had only met once.

Maybe she was just being cowardly, but with her sister Wei Hanyue's example before her, she'd rather let go than spend her life being resented by someone of such high status, constantly worrying about being harmed by their schemes. It was better to be prepared to step aside.

Still, that was only preparing herself mentally. If Qi Yuxiao could successfully snatch him away, that would be her ability. But to truly hand over the little childhood friend she had been "training" for over ten years? That was impossible.

However, it seemed she hadn't trained him very well. Gu Yunran had still grown up to be like any other noble son of this era...

Thinking of those two concubines that were like a thorn in her side, Wei Hanzhang let out a little whimper, resting her chin on her cousin's shoulder and whining, "I hate it when the person I like has been touched by others!"

"What?" Wei Hanshuang was confused. "Who touched him?"

"..." Wei Hanzhang stopped herself from blurting out something shocking and instead huffed, "Anyone that's been touched by someone else, I don't like!"

She didn't want to like Gu Yunran anymore!

Suddenly recalling something, Wei Hanzhang asked, "Sister, do you know if that Chen heir has any concubines or maids?"

Wei Hanshuang was stunned for a moment before replying, "As for official concubines, I haven't heard of any. As for maids... What young noble doesn't have a few serving girls? Whether he's taken any as concubines—if they're not close friends, who would talk about it openly?"

At this, she looked at her sister in surprise, "Why are you suddenly asking about this? Is it really worth looking into whether someone has a few maids? You just need to know that in any respectable family, they won't allow illegitimate children to be born before the main wife is wed."

"...Haha..." Wei Hanzhang forced an awkward laugh. "I was just curious."

Internally, she sighed—just as she thought. People say nice things about not having a wife yet, but these men likely haven't been idle either.

Wei Hanzhang couldn't help but laugh at herself. After going through Gu Yunran's affair with concubines, she still had any expectations left for men in this era?

This was someone who had grown up with her and practically listened to her every word, yet even Gu Yunran couldn't stay faithful. How could other men possibly rise above the mud and remain unstained?

...

By late May, the weather was gradually getting hotter, and the days were getting longer.

Wei Hanzhang applied the ointment given by the Heir of Prince Yan, and after just one night, the redness on her face had nearly disappeared and it no longer hurt when touched.

When paying her respects to Madam Jiang, she noticed her mother looking troubled and couldn't help but act playfully, saying, "Mother, look at my face, it's almost all better now."

Even though Madam Jiang was still worried about her family and brothers, seeing her youngest daughter's face clear and white as usual, she couldn't help but feel pleased. "What medicine did you use? It looked quite serious yesterday, and yet it healed overnight."

"..." Wei Hanzhang hesitated for a moment, her eyes shifting guiltily to the side. "What other medicine could it be, just the usual ones we keep at home."

Madam Jiang didn't notice anything unusual. She gently touched the decorative flower mark on her daughter's forehead and said softly, "My Ranran is so beautiful, we can't let anything go wrong with your marriage. I heard that the young master from the Gu family came to see you yesterday?"

"Yes, Gu Yunran said his father is returning to the capital today," Wei Hanzhang knew her mother was worried that the young lady from Duke Qi's family might steal her engagement, so she comforted her, saying, "Mother, don't worry about me. If it's meant to be, it will be. If not, then let it be. What's mine can't be taken, and if it's not mine, then let it go."

"Well said!" Wei Heng, who was home on his day off, walked in and happened to overhear. He smiled and said, "To remain calm whether in honor or disgrace, that's the spirit a daughter of the Wei family should have."

Madam Jiang gave him a playful scowl, "What do you men know about the difficulties of being a woman? Ranran is already of age, and we've publicly announced her engagement. If..."

At this point, Madam Jiang couldn't help but sigh, "If the marriage with the Gu family truly falls through, it won't be easy to find a better match."

Even a verbal engagement was still an engagement. If the marriage didn't go through, it might not affect the man much, but it could greatly harm a woman's reputation.

Especially since Wei Hanzhang and Gu Yunran had grown up together, childhood sweethearts with a special bond, which was different from others. Strict families wouldn't consider a woman who had had past entanglements with another man as a suitable wife.

Wei Heng, being a gentleman, didn't get angry when his wife spoke like this in front of their daughter. Instead, he placed a comforting hand on Madam Jiang's shoulder and reassured her, "Every generation has its own blessings. Ranran doesn't seem like someone lacking in fortune, and the Gu family may not break off the engagement. You're just worrying unnecessarily."

"Exactly," Wei Hanzhang interjected from the side, "If the Gu family abandons me in favor of a more prestigious match, then it wouldn't be a bad thing for me to avoid marrying into such a family."

Her words successfully resonated with Madam Jiang.

Yes, if they were truly such a family that only valued power and status, she wouldn't want her daughter to marry into it either.

Wei Heng cast an approving glance at his daughter, then lowered his head and gently soothed his wife.

Watching her father comfort her mother, Wei Hanzhang couldn't help but think about Madam Jiang's fate in the original story...

Once again, she couldn't make sense of it.

She had been back in the capital for months now, and after observing the relationship between Wei Heng and Madam Jiang for two months, she could only conclude that the male protagonist of the original story was not heartless toward the female supporting character.

Even if the Jiang family eventually fell and their eldest son Wei Yunpei died, would that really warrant turning against his wife of over twenty years and divorcing her on the spot?

Was this Concubine Shen really so captivating? Did she enchant her father so much that he'd abandon his wife of many years just to elevate her?

But... that Concubine Shen truly seemed like a quiet and obedient concubine.

Madam Jiang, as the main wife of the second household, was quite capable, managing the household concubines with firm discipline. Though Wei Heng's three illegitimate children were all from Concubine Shen, she had not allowed any ambitions to grow in her.

After all, every day when Wei Hanzhang came to pay respects to Madam Jiang, she would always see Concubine Shen and the other concubines carefully serving her mother.