Chapter 57: Marriage

Three days later, the news that Cui Junji had taken a concubine spread throughout the capital.

Even though it was a concubine, the ceremony was quite grand. When the Wang family married off their daughter, even if she was a concubine, they would do it with great fanfare to show that the Wang family's power remained undiminished.

The Cui Mansion was decorated with lanterns and overflowing with guests. Most of the officials in the court were present. Cui Junji's sudden marriage with the Wang family when the Wang family was in trouble was self-evident.

As the newlyweds toasted, Cui Junji sneered at Wang Ruoti, who was covered in a red veil beside him. Wang Ding'an believed that after placing his niece by his side for three years, monitoring his every move, he must now let him "truly" get what he wanted.

Li Wenqin was dignified and polite the whole day, but when she was drinking the concubine's tea, she accidentally caught a glimpse of Cui Junji's momentary impatience and almost dropped the tea in her hand.

On the wedding night, Cui Junji lifted Wang Ruoti's veil. Under the candlelight, Wang Ruoti was beautiful, her eyes were charming, and she had a certain romantic demeanor.

"Husband." She stood up and saluted, her voice soft and charming.

Cui Junji helped her up and felt the warmth of her fingertips when he touched her, without the usual nervousness and trembling of a newlywed.

She was indeed no ordinary woman. Cui Junji sneered inwardly, but remained gentle on the surface: "My cousin has long been a family member, so there's no need to be so polite."

After drinking the wedding wine and dismissing the servants, Cui Junji sat down at the table and asked casually, "I heard your brother Wang Rong is coming back. He missed our wedding this time. We'll make up for it another day."

Wang Ruoti lowered his head, a smile on his lips: "Brother has been in Xunyang for nearly ten years. Now that he has made a contribution, he can finally come back."

The answer was flawless.

"Master will definitely be happy." Cui Junji said with a smile.

The red candles burned brightly, the curtains hung low. Inside the tent, the two men each had their own thoughts. Cui Jun said to them, "You're tired, too. Rest early today." Then they lay down in their clothes.

The next morning, Wang Ruoti came to Li Wenqin's courtyard.

Wang Ruoti behaved properly and spoke respectfully. If Cui Junji had not told Li Wenqin that she was a spy sent by the Wang family, she would almost have thought that she was an ordinary concubine who was obedient and law-abiding.

Suddenly, in front of Li Wenqin, Wang Ruoti pulled Shen Laixi and Cui Zhang and said, "These two brothers look so alike."

Li Wenqin said calmly, "Yes, he looks like his father."

After the people left, Li Zhang pointed at Shen Laixi and said, "Mother, stepmother just pointed at the wrong person."

"Shh." Li Wenqin made a shushing gesture and looked firmly at Li Jue, who was dozing off next to Shen Laixi. "She's referring to my younger brother."

That night, Cui Junji deliberately stayed late in his study, sorting through the files related to the Wang family. He deliberately placed several documents related to Wen Youqing in a conspicuous place, and among them was a forged secret letter, implying that Shen Zijie and Wen Youqing had other undiscovered evidence of their crimes.

Sure enough, the next morning, he discovered signs of tampering in the study. The forged secret letter had been slightly moved, clearly someone had carefully examined it.

Cui Junji sneered. The fish had taken the bait.

However, Wang Ruoti did not take any further action in the following days. She simply stayed in her courtyard every day, reading and embroidering, occasionally taking a stroll in the garden. When she met Cui Junji, she was respectful and polite, without any violation of the rules.

He is quite smart.

So one night three days later, Cui Junji went directly to Wang Ruoti's courtyard.

Wang Ruoti was embroidering when she saw Cui Junji coming. She hurriedly stood up to greet him, saying, "My husband, you are here early today."

Cui Junji sat down opposite her and looked her straight in the eyes: "I have something to ask you."

Wang Ruoti's expression remained unchanged: "Husband, please speak."

"Master sent you here for nothing else?" Cui Junji went straight to the point.

A hint of surprise flashed in Wang Ruoti's eyes, then she smiled and said, "My husband, you're joking. I'm here to get married, not to be a spy." As she spoke, Wang Ruoti put down the embroidery frame, still smiling. "My husband, what's wrong with you today? Although Ruoti was born into the Wang family, now that she's married into the Cui family, she's a member of the Cui family."

Cui Junji sat in a high seat and summoned an old maid. The maid was disheveled but well-dressed. Seeing Wang Ruoti panic for a moment, he felt confident of victory. "You're a smart man. The Wang family is in tatters now. I can't save them even if I want to. How about we make a deal? We can split the meat and support your mother."

"Oh?" Wang Ruoti raised an eyebrow, finally dropping his gentle facade. A sneer flashed in his eyes. "Then, sir, tell me, how much can I get?"

Changing the title, the identity also changed. Cui Junji tapped his fingers on the table and said slowly: "I rescued your mother, so you can spend her old age with her. You and I have been together for a long time, and we both lived under his command. Wouldn't it be better to live on your own?"

"Really? You're exploiting my weakness, how is that any different from my uncle?" Wang Ruoti lowered his voice. "At least the Wang family has some bloodline to back me up. How can you, sir, be so willing to back me up?"

Even if he dug up her past, as long as he didn't touch upon her core interests, he wouldn't be able to sway such a clever woman. Cui Junji stared at her for a long time, then slowly released his hand. "What do you want? A large sum of money, a fake death, and the chance to escape with your mother?"

Wang Ruoti rubbed her wrist, sore from sewing for her mother-in-law, and chuckled, "I've learned the etiquette and tactics of aristocratic families for so many years. What's the point of sending me back to the countryside? My lord, you should think about how I can live a glorious life without relying on the Wang family."

Such ambition made Cui Junji dazed for a moment. If he hadn't broken off the engagement, would Wen Youqing, who was raised by the aristocratic family according to the rules, be like this too—a master at using marriage to gain benefits? Cui Junji immediately found it ridiculous. A madman like Wen Youqing would probably not sit down to negotiate with him. "Do you have a place you like?"

Wang Ruoti sighed, "Your Excellency is jockeying for position in the officialdom, while I am merely confined to the inner chambers. How could I possibly know as much as you do? Just a little thought would be much better than me racking my brains."

Knowing to rely on him, but also knowing to find a replacement from the bloodline clan, Cui Junji's eyes flashed with murderous intent, but he quickly suppressed it. He stroked his teacup, and after a while, he said, "I'll find you a job as a female official."

Wang Ruoti raised his eyebrows and turned down the corner of his mouth: "Madam Shen worked hard to become a female official, isn't it just a topic of conversation after dinner? If you want to take her official hat off, there are plenty of people who will pull her down from that position for you."

"What do you want?" Cui Junji was impatient.

The smile on Wang Ruoti's face finally disappeared. "I want the position of wife. Even if not the wife, then the wife of equals. The power of housekeeper must be given to me." As if she was afraid of really angering Cui Junji, she softened her tone. She delicately pulled her already idiotic mother to her knees and began to cry with her face covered. "You and I are one, husband and wife. That is the most reliable."

At this moment, Cui Junji didn't care. He chuckled and said, "We are going to bring down the Wang family anyway. So what if I kill you and your mother?"

He waited, waiting for the prey to spit out the prey it had bitten, only to find that it was actually just the hunter's bait, which would only pierce her throat and lips, causing her excruciating pain.

Secret letters, those forged secret letters, tell them, tell them quickly.

Suddenly, Wang Ruoti stopped crying and looked up at Cui Junji from her wide sleeves. Her beautiful eyes were filled with calculation and said, "I sent a letter to Madam Shen, but as long as I am alive, the letter will never be delivered."

Cui Junji's face paled instantly. He instinctively reached out and grabbed Wang Ruoti's neck, pushing her against the wall. Her mad mother pounded Cui Junji, but Cui Junji kicked her away, knocking her against the corner of the Eight Immortals Chair and losing consciousness.

"Uh..." Wang Ruoti gasped for breath, his eyes sinister, "You uh... you can cough... and try."

In just a moment, Cui Junji realized that he dared not gamble, so he let go, and Wang Ruoti fell heavily to the ground, but he still crawled to his mother's side to check her injuries.

"Someone come!" Wang Ruoti shouted anxiously, "Come find a doctor."

The courtyard was empty, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Cui Junji was about to ask more when he heard hurried footsteps outside the door. The housekeeper hurried in and reported, "Sir, someone from the Dali Temple is here to say that Madam Shen is in trouble in prison!"

Cui Junji's face suddenly changed, and he didn't care about Wang Ruoti and immediately followed the housekeeper out.

Inside the prison, Wen Youqing's cell was crowded with people. Seeing that she hadn't eaten breakfast yet, the jailer opened the door to check and found her unconscious on the ground, her face blue, as if she had been poisoned.

When Cui Junji arrived, the imperial physician was treating the patient.

Wen Youqing's eyes were tightly closed, her breathing was weak, and her fingertips were tinged with bluish purple.

"What's going on?" Cui Junji asked anxiously.

The imperial physician shook his head: "The poisoning was quite severe. Fortunately, it was discovered in time and can still be saved. However..."

"Just what?"

"This poison is rare, and the antidote requires the Tianshan Snow Lotus. The only Tianshan Snow Lotus in the palace was taken away by Lord Wang three days ago to be used in a medicine to treat burns."

Cui Junji understood instantly. This was the Wang family's warning—if he continued investigating, Wen Youqing would surely die.

Wang Ruoti was really audacious. He had already tipped off the whole thing, yet he was still discussing this useless information with him!

He clenched his fists, digging his nails into his palms.

The moonlight outside the window was like water, spilling onto the desk and illuminating half of Cui Junji's face. He called over his confidant and ordered, "Please invite the young lady."