Chapter 159: Slowly Plan for Wen Yan
outside the house.
Ying Zhilin heard Wen Yan's words clearly.
He felt a dense sour feeling in his heart.
Does she really not care about herself at all?
But I...
Ying Zhilin pursed his lips.
Just then.
"Hey, Mr. Ying, why are you here? How long have you been here?" Aunt Li came out of the house and ran into Ying Zhilin outside the door.
Could it be that he heard everything I just said?
Aunt Li felt a little guilty and avoided looking at him, not daring to look him in the eye.
Ying Zhilin said calmly, "Hmm," and said, "Take care, Aunt Li."
Aunt Li felt embarrassed to stay any longer, so she smiled awkwardly and left in a hurry.
When Ying Zhilin walked in with the things, he saw Wen Yan had already gone to the inner room.
She sat in the armchair by the window, her chin supported by her hand, staring at the rosy sky in a daze.
Hearing footsteps, she turned around and looked at him: "You heard what Aunt Li said just now!"
Ying Zhilin put the things on the table: "Don't worry about this matter, I will take care of it."
"The autumn examination is approaching. What are you going to do? Don't let this matter affect your future." Wen Yan's tone was very calm.
Ying Zhilin looked at her: "What do you want to do?"
Wen Yan stood up, walked in front of him, looked up at him and said, “I guess you heard the conversation between me and Aunt Li from beginning to end.
I want you to marry Huang Ying'er right away."
"Impossible." Ying Zhilin refused without thinking.
Ying Zhilin regretted what he said as soon as he said it.
Ever since I kissed her impulsively yesterday morning, she has been deliberately distancing herself from me.
She was wary of getting close to him.
Thinking of the contract she signed with herself on her wedding night.
Ying Zhilin must have known what else he didn't understand.
Wen Yan has never had any romantic feelings for him, nor does she intend to have any.
If I cross the line, she will probably divorce me without hesitation.
He warned himself that if he wanted to be with her for a long time, he must not act too hastily but should take it step by step.
Thinking of this, Ying Zhilin quickly added, "If I were interested in Huang Ying'er, I would have married her long ago.
You should know what kind of character my aunt is. If I really marry Huang Ying'er, there will be countless troubles in the future.
If I really embark on a career in government, it will definitely hold me back."
He clenched his fists and said insincerely, "I plan to keep passing the imperial examinations until I become a Jinshi.
Once I pass the imperial examination, my value will naturally increase.
Now that the contract between you and me has expired and I am single again, I naturally want to find a wife-in-law who can help me in my career.
If I had a concubine, my appearance would be greatly reduced.
How can I afford to lose sight of the bigger picture and create hidden dangers for the future?"
Ying Zhilin's analysis is very logical.
Wen Yan stared at him intently.
Trying to find a flaw in his expression.
But she didn't see anything.
"Then let you handle this matter." After confirming Ying Zhilin's true thoughts, Wen Yan also breathed a sigh of relief.
Wen Yan is not afraid of divorce.
But they divorced after only two months of marriage, and when the news got out it had a huge impact on her reputation.
Besides, she would rather be a widow than a divorced woman.
"Um... I'll go to the kitchen to see what's for dinner." It was awkward to be in the same room with him, so Wen Yan found an excuse and wanted to slip away.
"Wait a minute." Ying Zhilin grabbed her wrist. "I'm afraid I'll need your cooperation on this matter."
Wen Yan felt as if his palm was burning like a furnace: "What do you want me to do?"
Ying Zhilin said distressedly: "Now that rumors are spreading everywhere, even if I get rid of the Huang family mother and daughter, my reputation cannot be saved.
In order to successfully participate in the Autumn Examination, I can only ask you to cooperate with me in a play."
"How do you want me to act with you?"
"In terms of origin, the third-rank officials are your adoptive parents who raised you.
In terms of appearance, Huang Ying'er is not even one-tenth as good as you.
In terms of wealth, when you came to our village, you built houses and opened workshops, and you also had the support of the General's Mansion.
If I were not stupid, I would not have upset you for a plain-looking country girl."
"You want me to cooperate with you in showing our affection?" No matter how Wen Yan thought, she felt that Ying Zhilin's intentions were not pure.
Ying Zhilin looked at her expectantly: "Is it okay?"
Those beautiful eyes, covered with a layer of mist, looked at her sparklingly.
Her words of refusal got stuck in her throat.
She waved her hands helplessly: "I'll just act with you."
Ying Zhilin gathered his nervous fingers together with his sleeves and said, "Let's do the whole show. Can I move into the East Cross Courtyard and live with you?"
"You are getting too arrogant." Wen Yan looked at him with suspicion.
"With so much coming and going in our house, the news that we sleep in separate rooms will eventually get out. No matter how genuine our performance is, it will still arouse suspicion.
But don't worry, I won't live in the same room with you. I'll just stay in the side room on the left."
Ying Zhilin had blocked all her excuses.
Wen Yan rubbed her hair irritably and had to agree.
"Then I'll go move the things." Ying Zhilin walked out briskly.
Living under the same roof with Wen Yan, he can get the upper hand.
Wen Yan runs around all day, leaving early and returning late.
Not at home most of the time.
The time they had to meet each other was already very limited, and if they lived in two more courtyards, they wouldn't see each other for ten days or half a month.
How can I make my presence felt in front of her?
At this time, in the imperial study.
The emperor sat behind his desk and read the files handed over by Jinyang Prefecture.
His face was terribly dark.
He angrily threw the memorial in his hand away: "How can this be! Jinyang Prefecture is so prosperous, but they have made the people's lives miserable!"
What’s even more hateful is that Lan Hong kept the accounts very clean.
He also imprisoned himself, put himself in the position of a victim, and almost sacrificed his life for Jinyang Prefecture.
No matter how the investigation goes, Lan Hong will only be charged with the crime of not being strict with his subordinates and not having the ability to govern the prefecture.
In addition, he almost died in Jinyang Prefecture in order to save the people, so his merits and demerits offset each other.
At most, he could be demoted, but dismissal would seem too harsh a punishment.
He had been on the throne for more than ten years, and this was the first time he had been fooled like this.
A fire of evil nestled in my chest that I couldn't let out.
Just then, a eunuch came to report: "Your Majesty, Concubine Lan is outside seeking an audience."
The emperor was about to say no,
He suppressed his anger and said to the eunuch, "Let her come in."
The young eunuch took the order and left.
The emperor asked the eunuch serving beside him to pick up the memorial and spread it out on the imperial desk.
As soon as I finished all this, the door was pushed open from the outside.
Concubine Lan came in gracefully, carrying a food box. "Your Majesty, I'm here to see you."
The emperor immediately put on a doting expression and reached out his hand to her: "Lan'er, why are you here?"
"Lan'er knows that the emperor is diligent in his work and loves his people. Once he gets busy, he doesn't even have time to eat.
Lan Er can't help with government affairs, so she wants to take good care of the emperor in his daily life." Concubine Lan's eyes swept across the table.
The memorial on the table was indeed about my brother.
The emperor was touched and held her hand: “My beloved concubine is so thoughtful.
There are so many women in the harem, and they only know how to curry my favor and ask for things. Only you, Lan'er, care about me as a person."
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