The door slammed shut, and Wang Wan's hand, which was gripping her dress, paused slightly, tears welling in her eyes.
She closed her eyes, quickly put on her dress, and walked out.
The sun was still high in the sky, so she put on her veil and quietly left the restaurant through the side door.
The carriages in the alley had already returned to their residences. She paused for a moment, then walked towards the East Market.
The market in Yandu was bustling with activity, with stalls on both sides selling steaming hot breakfast food, and the shouts and calls of vendors filled the long street.
Wang Wan was physically weak and was strictly supervised at home, so she rarely ate outside food, and when she did go out to eat, she would go to restaurants.
With no one watching over it, she couldn't help but glance at the bacon being sold on the street.
"Ah Wan?"
Suddenly, a soft, gentle female voice came from behind.
Wang Wan paused slightly upon hearing the familiar voice and turned around.
The slanting sunlight streamed through the carriage window, illuminating the beautiful woman who had lifted the curtain. She was draped in a red fox fur coat, with a circle of soft fox fur around her neck, revealing a delicate and beautiful face.
"Sister-in-law?"
Chu Changning glanced around and asked, "Why are you here all alone?"
Wang Wan paused, then awkwardly lowered her head.
Xie Xuan did something, and the groom in the manor went straight home. She had instructed her maid last night not to say anything, so her family probably still didn't know she was out alone.
Yes, she needs to hurry back to avoid being discovered.
She quickly looked up and walked towards the carriage.
"Where is my sister-in-law going?"
Chu Changning paused slightly, understanding her meaning.
"Come on up, I'll take you back to your residence."
Wang Wan was overjoyed and stepped onto the carriage using a stool.
A magnificent carriage was parked not far away. The man inside saw this scene and his face darkened.
"Return to the residence."
This end.
Wang Wan entered the carriage and saw the food laid out on the small table inside. She pursed her lips, feeling hungry.
Chu Changning had just returned from the villa and was hungry on the way, so he bought some food at random.
She took out a spoon, bowl, and chopsticks and handed them to her.
Do you want some?
Wang Wan's eyes lit up, and she gladly accepted it.
Where did my sister-in-law go?
Chu Changning was drinking his soup when he heard her words and took a deep breath.
That bastard Yan Beimo is such a troublemaker. She made an excuse that she was feeling unwell and went to the villa to recuperate, but before a day had passed, he sent people to forcibly bring her back.
"I went to the villa."
The two chatted casually.
Upon arriving at the Wang family ancestral home, Wang Wan bid her farewell and alighted from the carriage.
Chu Changning lifted the carriage curtain and watched her quietly go to the back door, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"Madam, shall we go back?"
"Let's go."
The old lady of the Yan family has been in poor health lately and has little energy.
Two nights ago, he suddenly fell seriously ill. The doctor in the manor examined him but could not find any symptoms and could only give him calming soup to recuperate.
Chu Changning returned to her residence, and before she could rest for a while, she heard from a maid that Yan Beimo wanted her to change her clothes and wait for him in the study.
"What is it?"
Shuangyue said respectfully, "I heard that the old ancestor is ill, and the lord needs to return to the ancestral home and asks the lady to accompany him."
A flash of surprise crossed Chu Changning's eyes. The old lady had always been in good health, so how could she suddenly fall ill?
She couldn't help but ask, "What illness does the old lady have?"
"The doctor couldn't find any illness, and there's nothing seriously wrong. He's just confused, probably because he's getting old."
Chu Changning felt a little suspicious, but didn't ask any further questions.
"knew."
In the study.
Yan Beimo sat high in the main seat, listening to the reports from the crowd below, his gaze calm and unwavering.
"My lord, the patriarch had a very close relationship with the general of the capital before his death, and I fear he may have harbored disloyal intentions. Since you took over the capital, you have not yet personally visited the capital."
"I think we can put the matter of the thirteen capitals in the east aside for now. My lord should return to the capital first to stabilize the morale of the army."
Yan Beimo said calmly, "Then what do you think, sir, about the matter of the Thirteen Capitals of the Eastern Court?"
"The capital is vast, and the thirteen capitals in the east are just the eastern part of the capital. Prince An is on good terms with the lord, and with him causing trouble there, the Western Regions cannot take the thirteen capitals, and the court cannot recover them either. After the lord has finished his business, we can kill Prince An and send troops to garrison the thirteen capitals."
Yan Beimo remained indifferent and silent.
At this point, someone brought up the matter of Qingzhou in Jiangdong.
“My lord, since the Fourth Prince went to Qingzhou, he has not met anyone, but the Governor of Jiangdong met with several generals from the capital two days ago.”
"The governor of Jiangdong has always been loyal to the fourth prince, controls the Jiangdong government, and is on good terms with the Prince of Pingxi. If that matter gets out, it may be detrimental to our lord."
Yan Beimo glanced out the window, toying with two black beads in his hand, his voice calm.
"Is everything arranged in Gyeongju?"
"The Governor of Jiangdong has submitted to our lord and has agreed."
The Governor of Jiangdong should have been in charge of the troops of Jiangzhou, but the Governor of Jiangdong colluded with Yan Nanyan and had been suppressing him. He had long wanted to rebel.
"It's time for things to change in Jiangdong."
Chu Changning happened to hear this cold voice when he came in.
She paused, just as she was about to hide by the door to eavesdrop, when she noticed a gaze directed at her.
She paused slightly, then immediately composed herself, lifted the beaded curtain, and went inside.
The advisors and retainers inside the room exchanged glances with her and spoke respectfully.
"lady."
Chu Changning nodded and walked to Yan Beimo's side to speak.
"Shuangyue said you were going back to the ancestral home and asked me to wait for you in the study."
Yan Beimo glanced at her, hung the black bead in his hand on the small white jade hammer hanging on the table, and spoke.
"Go inside and wait."
Chu Changning inwardly scoffed and turned to enter the inner room.
After she went in, she pretended to go to the table to pour tea and listened carefully.
But their voices became lower, and it was hard to hear them clearly.
She frowned and quietly slipped to the door to listen.
The internal struggle within the Yan family was fierce. Although Yan Beimo had taken the position of family head, many people below him were dissatisfied with him as soon as he took office.
Moreover, he has uncles and paternal uncles above him, and many highly respected relatives in the clan, whose influence is deeply entrenched and whose relationships with the other three top aristocratic families are complex.
Once the truth about Yan Shike's death is revealed, Yan Beimo's fate is predictable.
So, his decision to send Yan Nanyan to Qingzhou this time might be a ploy to use the Qingzhou bandit incident to eliminate Yan Nanyan and silence him forever.
Chu Changning leaned over the doorway and listened intently, but suddenly, there was no sound outside.
She was startled and straightened up.
When Yan Beimo came in, he saw her lying limply on the soft couch by the window.
She wore a layered green dress, her delicate white face was unadorned, and her exposed skin was as white as flowing light. Her captivating eyes were slightly closed as she slept.
He approached and lowered his eyes to look at her.
"stand up."
Chu Changning pretended to turn over and mumbled something.
Yan Beimo leaned down and pinched her nose.
That's insane.
She instinctively opened her mouth to breathe.
Her lips, as alluring as if painted with rouge, were moist, delicate, and slightly parted, beckoning one to pluck them.
Yan Beimo gave a wicked smile and stabbed inside with his icy hand.
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