Chapter 90: Fear, what she said is what it means

When Chu Li came to the Prime Minister's Mansion to find Ruan Qinghuan, she happened to be about to go out with Wei Mingxi. Chu Li saw Wei Mingxi holding Ruan Qinghuan's arm, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.

When did these two people, who were always at loggerheads, become so friendly with each other?

Ruan Qinghuan was very happy to see Chu Li: "Chu Li, why are you here?"

Chu Li collected his thoughts and said, "I received the wedding invitation from the Pei family this morning, so I rushed over."

Chu Li had known about the engagement between the Pei family and the second daughter of the Ruan family for a long time. The Ruan family had no connection with the Duke's Mansion, but the Pei family had been officials for generations, and although they were in decline now, they still had to send invitations to the Duke's Mansion.

"Time flies. In five days, Ruan Xiaoyue will be getting married."

Wei Mingxi said disdainfully: "Sister-in-law, if she bullies you again in the future, I will teach her a lesson for you."

Chu Li looked over, not hiding his suspicion: "Little girl, it's good that you didn't do something behind my back."

"That... that was in the past. I won't do that again in the future." Ever since he understood his own feelings, Wei Mingxi no longer had any hostility towards Ruan Qinghuan. Instead, he felt that she was much easier to get along with than her cousin who always had a sullen face and never showed a displeasure to her.

The two men sent Wei Mingxi to the Ruan family's rouge shop. Since they had mentioned Wei Mingxi's visit to the shopkeeper earlier, the shopkeeper had already arranged a task for her. To put it bluntly, at most she would just display the goods, look after the shop, and spend her days there.

Ruan Qinghuan gave a few instructions to the shopkeeper and then left with Chu Li.

After walking a few steps, Chu Li looked back and said, "Are you sure she is here to work and not to cause trouble?"

Ruan Qinghuan chuckled when he heard this.

**

Ruan Qinghuan and Chu Li came to East Street while strolling. The shop had been prepared by Xia Lian and was just waiting for an auspicious time to open.

Chu Li had no interest in doing business, but he immediately praised the decoration of the shop's facade: "The shop's facade is so grand and very eye-catching. I noticed it when I just turned the corner. I don't know where the craftsmen were hired, but their craftsmanship is really good."

"Yes, the craftsman is really awesome." Ruan Qinghuan did not mention that she drew the drawings herself.

This business has to be done, but she can't do everything by herself. After all, she is now the prime minister's wife, it is not easy for her to show up in public often, and she can only be a behind-the-scenes boss.

Xia Lian was busy inside and didn't notice her at all. Ruan Qinghuan didn't want to disturb them, so she and Chu left to the teahouse next door.

The two ordered a pot of tea and started chatting. Chu Li asked the question that had been held back all the way: "What's going on with Wei Mingxi? She was jealous of you before, why is she suddenly calling you sister-in-law?"

"She may have come to terms with it." Ruan Qinghuan brushed the matter off lightly. "I heard that after you returned home, the Duke invited three teachers to teach you needlework, poetry, calligraphy, and zither. How is your progress?"

When this was mentioned, Chu Li's face darkened: "Don't mention it. These three masters are really boring. They talk non-stop from morning to night. They are nothing more than teaching me to be a woman who puts her husband first."

Ruan Qinghuan couldn't help laughing, "This is a bit difficult for you."

"That's right, so I thought of various ways to make all the teachers angry and leave."

This seems like something she could do.

The two chatted for a long time, and Chu Li thought of the main business: "On the tenth day of September, my cousin is going to hold a banquet. Let me tell you that you must go with the adults. This way, we can have a good talk."

Ruan Qinghuan thought about it and nodded in agreement.

By the tenth day, the Ruan family should have divided up their property.

I wanted to ask her about Chu Li and Ji Lingchuan, but she kept hesitating and didn't want to say more. Ruan Qinghuan didn't want to ask her any more questions, so she had to change the subject.

**

In the Jingzhao prison, Qu Yuancheng, who had been imprisoned for nearly a month, leaned against the wall with dishevelled hair and dirty face. Recently, he had been tortured less frequently and given less food. His instinct for survival made him eager to be released as soon as possible.

Hearing footsteps outside, he quickly climbed to the fence. The sour smell of food wafted over, but his eyes were shining. At this moment, he ate to survive, not for enjoyment.

When the officer who brought the meal approached, Qu Yuancheng saw a nobleman beside him. He looked carefully and the bowl in his hand fell to the ground. He huddled and hid in the inner side of the cell.

He'an's sinister eyes were like thousand-year-old ice, and Qu Yuancheng was so frightened that he dared not look directly at him.

The cell door was opened and Hean walked in.

Seeing that he could not escape, Qu Yuancheng knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly: "Please spare my life, sir. I knew nothing about what happened that day. It was all Liu Yueru's fault. She said that in order to compensate me, she would give me a concubine. Even if I had the guts to do it, I would not dare to covet the prime minister's wife."

"I know, so I came here today to let you out."

Qu Yuancheng thought he had misheard, and raised his head in confusion, only to hear He An continue, "It's just that Liu Yueru wants you dead, and I don't know what other means she will use in the future. If you want to survive in the future, you can only rely on yourself."

When Qu Yuancheng heard this, hatred first filled his eyes, and then a trace of fear flashed across his eyes. No matter how bad Liu Yueru was, she had her brother's military merits on her, and she had many sinister tricks, so she might really put him to death.

After leaving the cell, Wei Lingchuan came up to him and sniffed him, then immediately moved aside in disgust: "Let the police do this, why did you come here in person?"

He'an didn't care. Since it was his wife, he had to do it himself.

Ji Lingchuan could not help but feel disappointed: "I never thought that a loyal and brave man like Liu Zhongju would have such a vicious sister. I heard that since she was released, she has secretly climbed up..."

He paused and glanced at He'an's gloomy face.

He An snorted coldly: "Pei Chong is really greedy and dares to want a woman like this."

"He doesn't want Liu Yueru, but because she hates you. If I'm guessing correctly, Pei Chong wants to use her to deal with you."

He An didn't care: "Let's see what other tricks they have."

After saying that, he walked away in big strides. Ji Lingchuan hurriedly chased after him: "Well, since we have nothing to do today, why don't we go for a drink?"

"No."

"No, look at you, you're a grown man, but you go home after work every day. If it gets out, people will think you're introverted." Ji Lingchuan smiled and said, "Shall we go have a drink?"

He An paused and looked at him coldly for a long time. Ji Lingchuan felt uncomfortable being looked at by him, so he had to confess: "I do need your help with something."

"I can't help you with this."

"I haven't even told you yet, and you can't help. Our friendship of more than ten years is wasted." Ji Lingchuan angrily stood in front of him and said, "You have to listen to me, right?"

He An was unmoved: "Now you know you are in a hurry. What did you think before? If you want Chu Li to change his mind, you have to find a way yourself."

"I thought about it, but this girl has become a different person since she returned to Beijing. Every time she sees me, she is like air. When I went to the Duke's Mansion to look for her, she always made excuses that she was not there..." He paused and said, "You and your sister-in-law delayed your wedding for three years. How did you ask for her forgiveness later?"

"Kane, whatever she says is what it is."

Ji Lingchuan: “…”

Fear?

For a general who had commanded three armies, these two words really meant...