Chapter 284 Why did he betray Empress Wen?

Duke Wen was startled and immediately turned to look for the Crown Prince.

The Imperial City Guard's methods of interrogation are ruthless. No matter how tough the case, once someone is imprisoned, their family secrets for eighteen generations will be dug up. They used to obey Shen Yanzhou, but now, after a major purge, most of them are Pei Siyan's men. Is he determined to kill Wen Jingchu?

Duke Wen was in a state of panic. Wen Jingchu had brought this upon herself and deserved to die, but he was afraid that she had said things she shouldn't have, which would have alienated the Wen family from the Crown Prince and ruined the Wen family's honor and future!

Before he even stepped across the threshold, he heard Pei Siyan's sorrowful voice coming from inside.

"...Wen Jingchu attempted to murder her mother but failed. Despite repeated admonitions, she remained unrepentant. She was sent to Cuifeng Nunnery to reflect on her actions last time, but knowing that her maternal grandmother was in poor health, she still cruelly switched the medicine, almost killing her grandmother. If she had even a shred of conscience, none of this would have happened today."

Wen Yannian, the second master of the Wen family, pleaded bitterly, "Your Highness, I beg you, your second uncle... I know you hate your aunt deeply, but she still has three children. Once she is accused of matricide, how will those three children face the world?"

“We will keep her locked up in Cuifeng Nunnery, so that she can be enlightened by the Bodhisattva every day and will be the best person to repent and start anew.”

Pei Siyan's face showed a sneer, and he said in a cold voice, "Going to Cuifeng Nunnery again? This time, Duke Wen brought her back directly. I even suspect that she deliberately made my grandmother critically ill so that it would be convenient for her to come back!"

Wen Yannian was both anxious and angry, and tried his best to defend himself, "Your Highness, that's going too far. Your maternal grandfather is her biological mother. No matter how despicable she is, she wouldn't do such a thing. Besides, at least Mother was saved. She only made this terrible mistake because she listened to Granny Tao's slander. That Granny Tao is already dead. Can't you show some leniency?"

Pei Siyan raised an eyebrow, his tone sharp and confrontational. "It was thanks to the miraculous healing skills of Little Fairy Doctor and Doctor Sun that my grandmother was able to escape with her life. What does this have to do with Wen Jingchu? Does she think she deserves credit just because she didn't die?"

Duke Wen couldn't stand it any longer and lifted the curtain to go in. "Crown Prince, you're too heartless. Your aunt used to visit you in the palace often when you were little..."

At this point, he suddenly realized something and hurriedly stopped talking.

Madam Fan hurriedly changed the subject, "We are all family after all, and harmony in the family brings prosperity. If all else fails, give her a few dozen more lashes, and if we don't send her to Cuifeng Nunnery, we can send her back to her hometown in Longxi, right? Your Highness, the Wen family really can't afford to lose face like this, after all, it's better for everyone this way."

Lady Qi chimed in at the opportune moment, "Yes, if your mother-in-law knew the truth, she would surely forgive her. Children are all here to collect debts, Your Highness. You will understand when you have children of your own."

Pei Siyan narrowed his phoenix eyes and sneered, "Good for everyone? What about Grandmother? She could have enjoyed her old age and lived a few more years, but with her tormenting her like this, how many peaceful days does she have left? She is our ancestor, and this is how you act as filial sons and grandsons?"

"Wen Jingchu has repeatedly caused trouble for the Wen family, yet you all work together to support her. Could it be that she has promised you all benefits?"

Duke Wen's eyes darted around for a moment, and he said awkwardly, "Your Highness is joking. After all, we are siblings from the same mother, blood relatives, and even if the bones are broken, the tendons are still connected."

No joke, just investigate and examine, and the truth will come out.

Wen Yannian sighed, "You're showing some love to your grandmother, but do you really want her to bury her child again? Her body can't withstand that kind of blow."

After learning of Wen Wan's suicide, Madam Wen was deeply shocked and never recovered. Her once robust and healthy body was completely worn down.

If it weren't for wanting to support the Crown Prince, he might have already gone with Wen Wan.

Pei Siyan's voice was cold and indifferent, "This kind of troublesome matter should not be known to Grandmother. A country has its laws, and a family has its rules. Since the family rules cannot control her, let the Imperial City Guard handle it. The people there are tight-lipped and will not spread any rumors or cause the Wen family to lose face. You can rest assured."

"How can Wen Jingchu be worthy of the surname Wen? It would be better to just expel her from the family genealogy. That would kill two birds with one stone."

“According to the law, although she did not intend to kill her mother, she still caused someone to fall critically ill by negligence, and her sentence is at least seven years of imprisonment or exile. In addition, she deliberately plotted to harm the Crown Prince last time. Shouldn’t she be executed by slow slicing? If you insist on protecting her, then I will pursue her for the crime of plotting to harm the Crown Prince.”

"Duke Wen, I already said last time that there would be no next time." Pei Siyan said no more, and then turned and left.

This change in address signifies a shift in the etiquette between ruler and subject, meaning the matter is no longer just a family affair, but a matter of state.

The room fell silent instantly, everyone filled with unease, and they all looked at Duke Wen.

Duke Wen's face turned ashen, and his shoulders slumped.

He suddenly realized that Wen Jingchu was probably doomed this time. He was afraid that she might not keep her mouth shut and bring disaster upon the Wen family!

——

After bathing and changing, Dou Wenyi comfortably lay down on the bed in Wutong Garden.

After several days, Madam Wen's condition finally stabilized, and her tense heart finally relaxed.

Pei Siyan lifted the curtain and slipped in. Both of them were only wearing a thin layer of undergarment. Even faced with the spring scenery in the room, he could not muster any romantic thoughts.

"...Has Wen Jingchu been recruited by the Imperial City Guard?" Dou Wenyi nestled in his arms, her black hair casually spread out, letting him massage her.

"Yes, she confessed to switching the medicinal herbs, but didn't mention anything else."

Dou Wenyi pondered for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "Are you waiting for the Wen family to fall into disarray?"

Given the Imperial City Guard's methods of torture, it shouldn't be difficult to pry Wen Jingchu's mouth open. The fact that she hasn't revealed anything about Empress Wen can only mean that Pei Siyan hasn't ordered anyone to torture her.

Pei Siyan had mixed feelings and simply hummed in agreement.

The matter involved his mother and the Duke of Wen's mansion. He did not want to be tortured into confessing and thus wrong the Wen family. Instead, he wanted to find solid evidence.

Dou Wenyi smiled slyly, "Sanlang, evidence will surface soon. Didn't you send people to keep an eye on the Duke of Wen's mansion? We just need to wait patiently."

Madam Wen kept an eternal lamp burning in the temple for many years and often went to the temple to pray for her soul. However, the rest of the Wen family kept quiet about the early-deceased Empress Wen.

They probably all harbored some resentment towards her.

After all, if she hadn't committed suicide, how could the Wen family have been neglected by Emperor Muzong for more than ten years?

Old Madam Wen raised Wen Jingchu with great difficulty, almost losing her life because of her. It would be a tragedy for anyone to have such a daughter.

However, she was genuinely curious about what exactly caused the Wen family to betray Empress Wen.