On the boat's canopy, the boatman stared wide-eyed at the rippling water in disbelief.
She actually jumped into the river?!
In a panic, he cursed and took off his clothes, then plunged into the water.
Although it was summer, the water at the bottom of the lake was frighteningly cold at night. He searched underwater for a long time but couldn't find anyone. Unable to bear it any longer, he quickly surfaced.
The young lady had instructed him to send the person out of Yandu, but now the matter had been botched, and if it got out, his life would be in danger.
The thought flashed through his mind, and a ruthless glint appeared in the boatman's eyes. He shook off the water, leaped onto the boat, and hid outside the city for two days.
After returning to her residence, Yan Yuan forgot about the matter. It was only when Wang Wan secretly sent a maid to ask her that she remembered it and hurriedly told her nanny to ask.
That night, the old woman returned and reported, "Chang Biao has already sent the people out of the city. He just came back. His wife is about to give birth, so he went back to the estate first."
"No manners, they don't even bother to report back after they've finished their work."
Yan Yuan leaned against the brocade couch, lazily holding a crystal pomegranate in a jade plate. Her eyes flashed with a sharp edge, startling the old woman, who quickly lowered her head respectfully.
"Alright, send someone to tell Awan to put her mind at ease."
"yes."
After the old woman finished speaking, she called the maid outside to go to Qu Shui Garden to report back, and then brought in fresh tea and snacks and placed them on the table.
“Madam, why are you helping that woman? Wouldn’t it be better if she stabbed Fourth Master and was beaten to death by the Fifth Branch? If she were dead, Master would naturally change his mind and want to live with you.”
Yan Yuan twitched her lips, recalling what had happened at the family dinner a few months ago.
She was certain that Wang San did it on purpose. Although she hadn't been caught red-handed, the masters in the mansion weren't fools. Such a coincidence would surely arouse suspicion.
Wang Silang lost his son and his wife was nearly scared to death. As soon as he returned to Yandu, he set his sights on Xie Rongyue. Taking advantage of Wang San's trip to Jiankang, he was about to make his move, clearly knowing the inside story.
She guessed that her good husband was deliberately trying to annoy them, making them suspicious but helpless, so they could only suppress their anger and swallow their pride.
Given his vindictive nature, she didn't want to antagonize him, so she decided to do him a favor.
“He treats me very well, so why should I go out of my way to annoy him? Even if Xie Rongyue is gone, there will be another one. There will be no shortage of women in the manor. Do you expect this eldest son of a noble family to stay with just one woman?”
Since she married into the Wang family, Wang San has never mistreated her. She has been provided with all kinds of jewelry, including pearls, gold, silver, silk, satin, and ornaments, and her monthly allowance is a hundred taels of gold.
If she stayed by his side for a few more years, she could open a money exchange; why would she want to mess with Yin?
"A lady should give birth to a legitimate son."
Upon hearing this, Yan Yuan's expression turned cold, and she frowned.
“We haven’t even had sex, so how can we have a child? If it really doesn’t work out, we can wait until he has a son born out of wedlock and then adopt one of his children to raise under my name.”
Hearing this, the old woman sighed helplessly, "Does Madam intend to live like this for the rest of her life? In my opinion, that illegitimate daughter of the Xie family is no pushover. When Master returns, he will definitely send someone to look for her."
"Madam, you should nip this in the bud and send someone to kill her."
Yan Yuan, who was leaning against the jade pillow, paused slightly without speaking. The maid beside her respectfully served her by rubbing her shoulders and back with a jade clapper.
Seeing that she didn't speak, the old woman was angry at her lack of self-control and sighed as she spoke.
"Since the lady married into the family, she has been living in Fuqu Garden, but that concubine lives with the master in Qingfeng Garden. Isn't that climbing over your head?"
"Have you forgotten that the old patriarch favored that concubine back in the day, causing discord among the Yan clan members? Even now, His Majesty is not close to several elders in the clan."
Upon hearing this, Yan Yuan couldn't help but chuckle and said slowly and deliberately.
“Wang San is not like my uncle, and Xie Rongyue is not like that vixen. They should not be confused.”
“Even if she gets pregnant again, she will still call me mother after she gives birth. Wang San, a heartless man, will not let a concubine climb over the head of the mistress.”
This eldest son of the Langya Wang clan prioritizes profit above all else. It's fine for him to dote on one woman, but he won't overstep the bounds of propriety.
"But does Madam intend to wait until Master returns before bringing that woman back to enjoy his favor every day?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Chang Biao's face flashed through Yan Yuan's mind, and she remembered the man from the manor's evaluation of him. She tapped the rim of her teacup lightly and spoke softly.
Everyone has their own destiny.
Qushui Garden.
Wang Wan takes medicine regularly, so there's a faint medicinal smell in the room.
She was dressed in a moon-white dress and lay weakly on a small couch by the window. Hearing the voice of the maid behind her, she coughed violently a few times.
The nanny serving nearby quickly handed over the sandalwood box.
She took out the pills and swallowed them, her face pale as she leaned against the jade pillow behind her, speaking softly.
"Send someone to Jiankang to inform Third Brother."
"yes."
Night had fallen, and a full moon rose outside the window, a cool breeze blowing in.
The room was silent. A maidservant made up the bedding, turned on the peony-patterned incense burner, used a hook to pick out the incense and put it into a funnel, and then respectfully withdrew.
Wang Wan picked up a book from the couch and flipped through it. The warm candlelight shone on her face, making her appear gentle and serene.
After a short while, she rubbed her forehead wearily and looked up at the night view outside the round window.
When Xie Xuan climbed in through the window, she saw this scene. The soft moonlight reflected in her eyes, making them look moist and glistening.
"You—how did you get here?"
Wang Wan's heart tightened, and she subconsciously glanced at the door to the inner room.
There were no lights on inside, only a gauze lamp on the ancient bronze branch, covered by a lampshade, emitting a soft, warm light.
His red robe was extremely eye-catching in the dimly lit room.
Xie Xuan casually closed the window and slowly walked towards her.
"Give my sister-in-law a little gift."
Suddenly, a pure white Persian cat leaped from his arms and landed on the tatami table in front of her.
When Wang Wan saw the kitten, memories of the past suddenly flooded her mind.
That year, she caught her uncle and aunt having an affair, and it was Xie Xuan's cat that saved her from the situation.
Later, the cat often came to her window and played with her in the bamboo forest behind the mountain. Gradually, she started to keep it as a pet, and those days were very happy.
"It looks just like a snowball, exactly the same."
Xie Xuan listened to her murmurs, picked up the cat and put it in her lap, then sat down next to her.
Wang Wan shuddered and subtly moved further inside, still holding the cat.
"Is my sister-in-law avoiding me?"
He leaned on the tatami table, resting his chin on one hand, and tilted his head to look at her with a smile.
Wang Wan always felt that his smile was fake and that he was full of scheming.
She looked away and said softly, "Thank you. It's late, you should go back."
Xie Xuan did not move, his expression lazy and casual.
"My second brother's leg ailment is getting worse. I'm afraid my sister-in-law will be lonely and isolated after she marries into the family."
"Xie Xuan!"
Her face suddenly darkened, and she looked at him warningly.
"Stop talking nonsense."
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