Chapter 29. He was bothered; he was jealous.
The next day, Ji Wanyuan slept for a long time.
The sun was high in the sky, but there was still no sign of him waking up.
When Wen Qiyan got up, she was not affected at all by his movements. It must have been because of the sudden commotion yesterday, and she was really exhausted from being pregnant.
He didn't know why, but he stopped and looked down at her sleeping face.
As Ji Wanyuan slept, she lost much of her aggressive demeanor. Her long, thick eyelashes cast an arc across her eyelids, revealing a rare tenderness on her face, making her serene and gentle.
Ji Wanyuan was the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister, and not only was she of noble status, but she was also quite beautiful. However, she was too prominent and too stunning. In addition, her past behavior was too arrogant and unconventional, which made her unpopular with the people of the capital.
Similarly, he didn't like it either.
The Wen family has always maintained a low profile, and he has followed his father's example in many ways, embodying the principles of being cautious in speech and action, and practicing self-discipline and propriety.
Before meeting her in person, he had heard of the "prestige" of the Prime Minister's eldest daughter and never thought he would have any interaction with Ji Wanyuan, nor did he want anything to do with her.
Before meeting Ji Wanyuan, his life was smooth and peaceful, or rather, he followed the established path, just like the scions of prominent families in the capital, studying for the imperial examinations and entering officialdom, and rarely participating in social gatherings or banquets.
I still remember when he first entered the Ministry of Justice for training, he was ordered to investigate a murder case that occurred at Yunqi Bridge.
He was leading people to explore around Yunqi Bridge when he was surrounded by onlookers. Many people were whispering among themselves, discussing the case and talking about him.
One gaze was particularly intense; it was the one he had been intently investigating the clues about the person who had fallen into the water, and he couldn't help but feel it. It was as if it were firmly nailed to him, never leaving his side, cast down from the platform of the restaurant next door.
When he finished his investigation and left with his men, he glanced back at that place.
What comes into view is a face so exquisite it's almost flamboyant, one that will leave a lasting impression.
Judging from the fact that she doesn't tie her hair up, she probably hasn't even gotten married yet.
He looked over, and their eyes met.
She gave him a big smile and stared at him even more intently.
It wasn't uncommon for girls to secretly glance at him in the past, but this was the first time they had done so openly and without any attempt to avoid it.
He frowned and looked away. Not long after he left, a colleague who was investigating the case with him leaned over and whispered to him that the woman was Ji Wanyuan, the legitimate daughter of the current Prime Minister Ji Zhao.
It was her.
In the days that followed, Ji Wanyuan seemed to haunt him relentlessly, constantly circling his every move and trying to bump into him, making the whole capital city aware of the situation.
Another day, she blocked his way home, and he asked her coldly what she wanted to do.
What surprised him even more was that she actually dared to ask him if he hadn't noticed.
She said she liked him and wanted to be with him.
Upon hearing this, he sneered, truly taking debauchery to the extreme.
How could she block someone in the street and say such things with a smile?
As the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister, Ji Wanyuan was of noble status and had the Ji family backing her up. Even her father, upon learning of Ji Wanyuan's entanglement with him, was helpless and could only say that such a girlish temperament would pass in time.
But Ji Wanyuan's entanglement had gone on for so long that people in the capital had become accustomed to it and gossiping about it.
Upon seeing him, one would immediately think of the eldest daughter of the Ji family.
Although he has no relation to Ji Wanyuan, his name is inextricably linked with hers.
The people of the capital seemed to pay more attention to the "romantic affairs" of aristocratic families. In the past, when talking about him, they mostly talked about his triple crown in the imperial examinations, or his appearance.
These days, all that's being said is his "entanglement" with Ji Wanyuan. Some people are even placing bets in casinos in the capital, wondering if Miss Ji has managed to win over the young master of the Wen family today.
Privately, he also approached Prime Minister Ji, hoping that he would restrain Ji Wanyuan, because he was so bothered by her that he could only escape her from the government office.
Later, she also managed to infiltrate the government offices through the Ji family's influence, leaving no place for anyone to hide or avoid her. She even began to set foot in the Wen family, trying to get closer to his mother and indirectly enter his life.
At first, Prime Minister Ji was known for his ability to restrain people, but later he even said that it was a blessing for him to be favored by his daughter.
Upon hearing this, he finally understood how Ji Wanyuan had developed such arrogance and audacity.
It's all because the Ji family spoiled them.
Several years have passed in the blink of an eye.
The situation changed when she invited him to a banquet at a restaurant. In the past, he would never have gone. He had always avoided Ji Wanyuan. But this year, news came from Youzhou that a rich mining area had been discovered, but the location could not be traced.
The Prefect of Youzhou was a relative of Lady Ji's maternal family, and was also someone personally promoted by Prime Minister Ji.
Officials protected each other, and were "strictly guarded against."
The court sent people, but they found nothing. His Majesty ordered him to contact the Ji family, and his father also hinted that he might be able to learn some information through Ji Wanyuan.
He initially refused, not believing that Ji Wanyuan would find out anything, but the investigation in Youzhou was at a loss, and she kept inviting him.
In the letter, she said that she was well past the age of marriage and had pursued him for so many years without any results. She had come to a complete realization, but wanted to say a proper goodbye to him and would never bother him again. She hoped that he could come and visit her.
It wasn't just a plea; she even left a threat at the end of the letter, saying that if he didn't come, she would find a way to locate him and perhaps even "visit" the Wen family.
He left, and with that departure, his entanglement with Ji Wanyuan became inextricably linked.
He hadn't expected her to be so ruthless.
To get him, they would stop at nothing.
Looking back on the past is like a dream; if you really think about it, from that event to now...
He and Ji Wanyuan had only been married for a short time, but it felt like an eternity had passed.
Looking at the sleeping person, Wen Qiyan realized that he no longer felt so disgusted.
Yes, he clearly felt that the aversion was gradually decreasing.
I don't know why, maybe it's because she's being used, and she's carrying his child in her belly.
Thinking of this, he shifted his gaze to Ji Wanyuan's lower abdomen.
Yesterday, I massaged her waist, and it was still slender. Even after three months, there wasn't much variation. While she was thin, she was also quite plump, probably because she was still early in her pregnancy.
The more I think back, the more inevitably my thoughts drift to yesterday's events.
She forbade him to kiss her anymore, saying it didn't feel right.
But when he embraced Ji Wanyuan and leaned in, her breasts would bump against his chest.
They were bullied and squeezed out of shape.
Thinking of this, he inexplicably felt a surge of heat coursing through his body.
He realized that his thoughts were starting to wander, even out of control, thinking about all sorts of messy and beautiful scenes.
Wen Qiyan stopped abruptly, then pulled back to his feet. With a cold expression, he got up and left the bed.
Not long after the man left, the person on the bed cautiously opened their eyes.
call……
She was actually very sleepy and wanted to continue sleeping.
But after Wen Qiyan got up, he kept staring at her. He probably didn't realize how frightening his gaze was, and that it woke her up.
Ji Wanyuan didn't dare to open her eyes when she woke up, and she didn't even dare to breathe too heavily.
Fortunately, Wen Qiyan seemed lost in thought, perhaps a little absent-minded, and didn't notice that she was awake.
Listening intently to the sounds outside, and confirming that Wen Qiyan had left, perhaps not far, or maybe he had gone to the study, Ji Wanyuan slowly got up.
She felt sore all over, and even after applying medicine yesterday, she didn't feel any better. She had many marks all over her body.
Fortunately, Madam Wen and Aunt Jiang are not at home today, otherwise I would have had to get up early to pay my respects. If I had slept until now, I would probably have been criticized again.
While washing up, Emerald told Ji Wanyuan that Lord Wen had returned and was in the South Study. Wen Qiyan went over to pay his respects and sent a servant to tell her that breakfast was being served in the main hall and that they would eat there later.
Wen's father actually came home at this time. Either he had finished his business with the court, or he came to find Wen Qiyan and ask about her.
After all, she and Wen Qiyan had been inseparable these past two days.
Her father-in-law was a real wolf in sheep's clothing.
If they didn't get anything from Wen Qiyan, they might "comfort" her at the dinner table.
Ji Wanyuan sighed as she thought to herself, knowing she would have to deal with things again.
Mr. Wen was much more difficult to deal with than Mrs. Wen.
This father and son were both incredibly cunning, like foxes who had become spirits; they were full of schemes and spoke in roundabout ways.
That said, Wen Qiyan had already become suspicious yesterday. How should she deal with him this time?
We can't let all our previous efforts go to waste, otherwise all those tears from that day would have been for nothing, and all the time he spent sleeping with and kissing us yesterday would have been for nothing.
Ji Wanyuan thought for a moment, then turned and asked, "Is Miss Cao up yet?"
“They’re up,” Emerald said, having already heard the commotion over there.
How is she today?
"The maidservant said that Miss Cao's complexion was still not very good, and she looked a bit listless."
They must still be troubled by what happened yesterday.
"Hmm..." she pondered, still needing to comfort him.
Ji Wanyuan instructed her maid to find another set of jewelry from her storeroom, specifically requesting that it be expensive, preferably with South Sea pearls, and that the fabric be several bolts long, the kind of tribute silk that her mother had given her as a reward.
Jade said that she was too generous; the things she had her maid bring were things that even money couldn't buy in the capital.
Ji Wanyuan waved her hand dismissively.
When it comes to wooing a young lady, you can't be stingy, especially since she doesn't lack these things. Things that can be solved with money aren't really problems.
After washing up, Ji Wanyuan took her belongings and went to find Cao Xin.
When she saw her, Cao Xin greeted her as usual. She was indeed listless at first, but when she saw the things Ji Wanyuan gave her, her attention was diverted.
Because they were so incredibly expensive, even her mother, as the matriarch of the Jiang family, hadn't received these tributes from Ji Wanyuan.
Cao Xin's sadness was somewhat dispelled; after all, what girl doesn't love silk, satin, and jewelry?
She just didn't like them, but during holidays she always needed these things to make a good impression. She used to save up her monthly allowance to buy them, but now that she's only been with the Wen family for a short time, she's already received two sets of jewelry.
Moreover, the things Ji Wanyuan gave us could be sold for a considerable sum of money.
I knew Miss Ji was generous, and seeing it today confirms it!
"Sister-in-law, this is too precious for me to accept. Besides, I can't accept gifts without having done anything in return. How can I keep asking you for so many favors?"
She said that if it was because of what happened yesterday, there was really no need to do this.
Ji Wanyuan insisted that she accept it, saying there was no need to be polite, and said a lot of nice things. Cao Xin was tempted, declined for a while, but finally accepted it.
Ji Wanyuan exchanged a few more polite words, dismissed the maid beside her, and was about to bring up Wen Qiyan's matter when Cao Xin spoke first.
"Sister-in-law, I thought about it all night yesterday and I think we should just give up on this matter."
"ah?"
Ji Wanyuan asked her why, since things had hit a snag several times but hadn't reached the worst possible outcome.
"My cousin has no feelings for me at all, so... I'd better forget about it."
After returning yesterday, she calmly thought about it. With her resourceful cousin who had passed the imperial examinations three times in a row, how could he not see what Ji Wanyuan was plotting with her?
Perhaps out of consideration for the kinship between the two families, they didn't kick her out. If she still doesn't know her place, who knows what even more embarrassing things she might do.
It might even damage the kinship between cousins.
Moreover, she and Wen Qiyan were not actually cousins at all; she was just an adopted daughter.
Besides, she couldn't bear yesterday's embarrassment. If it happened a few more times, and everyone knew about it, she wouldn't be able to get into the Wen family. What way out would she have? Other men would probably all reject her.
Seeing Cao Xin's resolute expression, Ji Wanyuan didn't know how to persuade her anymore. She asked, "Are you... are you really sure? Don't you love your husband?"
However, it was all wishful thinking on her part, and Cao Xin felt disappointed and dejected.
Finally, he nodded firmly, "I've thought it over. Perhaps I'm not fortunate enough to be my cousin's wife."
He tried several times to enter the Wen family and take a concubine, and it was almost a done deal, but he was rejected in the end. He even tried to poison her, but what was the result? In the end, it was still the same.
Fortunately, not many people know about this.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but admire Ji Wanyuan, who had pursued her cousin for so many years without giving up.
"I really don't have my cousin's wife's guts..." She has no family to back her up and can't afford to waste time.
Fearing that Ji Wanyuan would try to persuade her again, she simply made her point clear and hoped for her understanding.
Ji Wanyuan had prepared herself for Cao Xin's retreat on the way here, and she was originally confident that she could persuade her to back down.
But Cao Xin's last few words, so pitiful, made her feel uneasy.
After looking at her for a while, Ji Wanyuan had mixed feelings and could only give up.
"Alright." She'll find someone else, this time a maid or something.
Young ladies from noble families always have some reservations, but it's a different story with junior maids. They might not even need to go to such lengths; they're quite adept at it on their own.
"I'm sorry, sister-in-law, I've let you down," Cao Xin apologized to her.
Ji Wanyuan smiled and waved her hand, "What's wrong with that? Even if we can't be sisters, we're still relatives. We can keep in touch in the future!"
She saw that Cao Xin was not averse to her. Although Cao Xin came from a lower social class and was not a true young lady of the Jiang family, she did not have the arrogance of a noble lady, nor did she deliberately act coy or pretentious.
"Really?" Cao Xin asked her, not sure if it was just a polite remark, but she followed up with another question.
"Of course it's true." Cao Xin had done her part, even though she hadn't succeeded.
Moreover, the Wen family's relatives are people they can win over, regardless of whether they are legitimate relatives or not, or whether they are blood relatives or not; they are all pampered young ladies listed in the family genealogy.
"I really like my cousin-in-law. If you don't mind, I really..."
If I really want to associate with her, let's set aside the fact that she likes Ji Wanyuan, let's talk about something practical.
Ji Wanyuan is of noble status. If she goes with her and becomes on good terms with the Prime Minister's eldest daughter, her sisters and cousins at home will have to think twice before trying to bully her.
Moreover, if she could get in touch with Ji Wanyuan, she could indirectly benefit from the Prime Minister's family's glory and might even marry into a better family.
Although Ji Wanyuan wasn't very smart, she knew why the woman was hesitant to speak.
He patted her hand, smiled at her, and nodded before she could finish speaking, saying yes.
“I’m not just being polite. If you have time, you can come to the Wen family’s residence anytime, or you can come to the Prime Minister’s residence to find me. We can talk and chat together.”
Cao Xin was thrilled, all her gloom vanished, "Thank you so much, cousin-in-law!"
"You're welcome," Ji Wanyuan said with a smile.
Cao Xin was overjoyed at the mere promise to spend time with her, even more so than when she became Wen Qiyan's concubine, and she even took the initiative to hold her hand.
Seeing Ji Wanyuan's bright smile, Cao Xin was slightly dazed.
Suddenly, she remembered something and said to Ji Wanyuan, "Actually, I've realized that my cousin still has feelings for his wife."
Ji Wanyuan was originally thinking about which maid to look for, or whether she should go home to ask for help, explain the situation to her father. She had been struggling for so long without any progress, and she really couldn't afford to delay any longer.
And most importantly, that bastard Wen Qiyan already knows she's past her first trimester. What if he tries to have sex with her again?
She can dodge the first day of the month, but she can't dodge the fifteenth.
Thinking about how slowly the man withdrew yesterday, and how he almost re-entered, she couldn't help but curse him several times in her mind.
besides! ! !
He actually went to Madam Wen to ask about her month of pregnancy, which shows that he had been planning this for a long time! It was intentional!
She was about to ask Cao Xin how Wen Qiyan drank the tea yesterday.
Before he could even ask, Cao Xin shut him down with a single sentence.
What did Cao Xin say?
Does Wen Qiyan still have feelings for her?
"Huh? What did you say?" She was so surprised that she couldn't help but laugh.
Could it be that Cao Xin was eavesdropping outside yesterday and overheard Wen Qiyan coaxing her into having sex on the bed and lying to her that he loved her?
Seeing that Ji Wanyuan didn't believe her, Cao Xin knew that she was completely unaware of this matter.
So she told Ji Wanyuan seriously that it was true.
She also listed the "strange things" she had discovered in recent days, saying that Wen Qiyan always paid attention to her every move, and when she smiled, his eyebrows and eyes were also tinged with a faint joy.
There was also her sudden change of excuse when she served tea yesterday, and Wen Qiyan's "disappointed" reaction when he saw her.
"My cousin must have feelings for his wife."
Despite hearing many things, Ji Wanyuan still didn't believe it.
She believed that Wen Qiyan was faking it, and even Cao Xin was fooled.
"Sister-in-law, you still don't believe me?" She said a lot, but Ji Wanyuan's expression remained unmoved, even showing a ridiculous look.
"I...of course I believe it." Ji Wanyuan didn't want to waste her breath arguing with her; this matter was simply impossible to resolve.
Ultimately, it's all because Wen Qiyan, that scoundrel, is such a good actor.
But Cao Xin's next sentence completely baffled her.
Because Cao Xin said, "My cousin cares about my cousin's wife, but he may not even be aware of it himself."
Ji Wanyuan, “?”
She was puzzled and about to ask when a maid came to invite them, saying that the food had been set out in the main hall and asking them to move over.
Ji Wanyuan was indeed hungry, and she still had to deal with Wen's father later.
Cao Xin didn't say anything more.
She only said, "Although I am not married, I have seen a lot about men and women in the past few years in the village. If you don't believe me, you can pay attention to it yourself."
She said earnestly, "My cousin has my sister-in-law in his heart."
Ji Wanyuan nodded outwardly, but inwardly she didn't care.
"..."
Moreover, she couldn't spare any more attention to think about this, because as she expected, Wen's father began to interrogate her, pretending to ask casual questions.
When asked what she had been doing at home these days, Ji Wanyuan replied that she had just been walking around the mansion and hadn't done anything else.
Wen's father then remarked that life at home was stifling, unlike when she was at the Ji family's.
He then asked her what she used to do at the Ji family, and what kind of fun Madam Ji and Prime Minister Ji would take her to.
"Qi Yan is a quiet person. In the past, he only knew how to study and practice martial arts. After entering officialdom, he devoted himself to official career and paid no attention to girls' things. He doesn't know how to coax people."
"Let him know what kind of fun the Prime Minister and his wife used to take you to relieve boredom, so he can learn from them."
Ji Wanyuan put on a silly grin, her gaze inadvertently drifting towards Wen Qiyan.
When Lord Wen questioned her, he remained silent, his brows furrowed slightly, and it was unclear what was wrong with him.
Her thoughts shifted, and she started making things up.
“My father was very busy, but my mother often accompanied me. However, she would always teach me to do some chores that are traditionally considered girly, such as embroidery and learning to read. She said that I was disobedient in the past and that she needed to temper my temperament so that I wouldn’t be able to do anything when I married into my husband’s family and would be criticized by others.”
As she spoke, she made a distressed expression, saying that she really disliked embroidery and learning to read, finding it very difficult, and asked Wen Qiyan not to make her do these things, as she didn't like them.
When she mentioned that she didn't like it, the man next to her, who had been silent, glanced at her.
She retorted shyly, "..."
"Is that all?" Father Wen asked. "Madam Embroidery taught you, so why does Madam Ji have to teach you to read? Didn't the Prime Minister personally teach you to read and write?"
Ji Wanyuan feigned innocence, "Yes, it was all taught by my mother. I don't see my father much in the past, so why is Father-in-law suddenly asking about this?"
Wen's father looked at her and smiled.
Ji Wanyuan's heart pounded. Could it be that Wen Qiyan had told his father about what had aroused her suspicions yesterday?
After a short while, Wen's father said, "The Prime Minister was once a renowned scholar who ranked third in the imperial examinations. His talent and calligraphy are also first-rate. Countless scholars and young men wanted to become his students. I thought he would teach you personally."
Ji Wanyuan continued to evade the question, saying, "My father used to teach me. He was too strict. If I didn't write well, he would hit my palms. He hit very hard. Even after I cried from the pain, he would still scold me fiercely."
"later……"
"What happened next?" Wen's father asked, and Wen Qiyan glanced at her casually.
During that time, he did serve her some food, but he remained silent the whole time.
Ji Wanyuan feigned a troubled and pained expression.
"Later, I... to get revenge, I drew a few turtles and buffalo fighting on my father's file, which made him so angry that he glared at me and said that I was a hopeless case, and he never taught me again."
Upon hearing this, Cao Xin couldn't help but laugh, but quickly lowered her head to suppress it.
Ji Wanyuan looked up and inadvertently met the man's handsome face with a slight smile.
What's he laughing at? He's probably been fooled by her too.
Hmph, her father would never have the heart to hit her.
Her calligraphy wasn't very good when she copied from the model books, but her father never scolded her. Instead, he praised her and coaxed her.
If I had to scold her, it would be for being so stubborn, insisting on clinging to Wen Qiyan like a crooked tree.
That was because she was too good to Wen Qiyan, always acting subservient to him, and even when he treated her coldly, she would still cling to him with a playful smile.
Looking back now, she can't help but berate herself.
"I see." Lord Wen wanted to ask more, but he didn't have much time to go home and had a lot of things to do at the government office.
He told Ji Wanyuan that Wen Qiyan's calligraphy was taught by famous scholars in the capital, and asked him to teach her.
After speaking, he glanced at Wen Qiyan.
The latter understood the deeper meaning but remained silent.
It would be bad to refuse too harshly.
Moreover, she "liked" Wen Qiyan and cared a lot about his affairs, so Ji Wanyuan did not refuse.
She simply said, "I'm glad my husband is willing to teach me," indicating that she was very willing to learn.
Having just left that topic behind, Lord Wen turned to Cao Xin, asking if she was engaged now that she had reached marriageable age.
If not, he, as her uncle, would help her choose a suitable young man, allowing her to make her own choice.
Ji Wanyuan couldn't help but think to herself, "Wen's father really won't let Cao Xin stay at home."
Because Cao Xin was a complete hidden danger to them, father and son, they never expected that in order to eliminate future troubles, he would directly arrange a marriage for Cao Xin.
Ji Wanyuan had no room to interrupt on this matter and could only listen to Cao Xin agree.
After having breakfast, Wen's father left home.
The three of them were originally going to the flower hall, and before she could figure out how to invite them, Cao Xin had already made an excuse to slip away, leaving only her and Wen Qiyan.
Ji Wanyuan, “…”
The man looked at her. "Does my wife still want to go to the flower hall?"
Ji Wanyuan puffed out her cheeks and asked, "Is my husband busy with something?"
"If you have something to do, just go ahead and do it. Don't worry about me."
"I ate too much just now, and I need to digest my food now."
After listening to her, Wen Qiyan gave a faint "hmm" and said, "Let's go, I'll go with you."
Ji Wanyuan, “…”
Although Ji Wanyuan hid it well, Wen Qiyan still noticed her reluctance.
The strange signs that were noticed yesterday have grown overnight.
He took a closer look and realized that Ji Wanyuan had indeed changed a lot compared to before.
She was so enthusiastic towards him before, and although she is still enthusiastic now, she has even made some excuses, saying that she is testing whether he cares or not, and that she does not really want to push him to someone else.
But I've seen how passionately she pursued him, how wholeheartedly she loved him.
Her lack of love was quite obvious.
At this moment, Ji Wanyuan's attitude towards him... is really not the same as before.
Her feelings for him seemed to have faded, and even seemed somewhat superficial and fake.
He had always thought that it was a little trick played by Ji Wanyuan, that she was pretending to attract his attention and divert his gaze.
But after spending time together and peeling back the layers, I suddenly realized there were many things he had overlooked.
If Prime Minister Ji really told her that the truth behind his marriage to her was to get close to and use her to deal with the Ji family.
So what if he said it? This matter hasn't really happened yet. Could he use this to dilute Ji Wanyuan's love for him?
Relying on Ji Wanyuan, a mere woman who only knows how to eat, drink, and have fun, and has never been involved in court affairs, do you understand? Do you know what a political enemy is? Do you understand what it means to choose sides?
He felt she couldn't understand because she was too naive and simple-minded, with only love and romance in her mind. Over the years, she had been raised carefree by the Ji family, and her understanding of things was superficial and ignorant.
So... her unusual behavior is most likely for something else.
All she knows is love and romance...
Wen Qiyan recalled this, and his thoughts returned to the possibility he had considered last night.
The one who wanted to defy the imperial decree and not arrange the marriage was not Prime Minister Ji, but Ji Wanyuan?
right.
In addition, before the Emperor had even bestowed the marriage, the Ji family had already come to the Wen family demanding an explanation.
That was after Physician Fu took Ji Wanyuan's pulse and discovered that she was pregnant.
Therefore, it was only after Prime Minister Ji and his wife found out about her pregnancy that they came to the Wen family in a huff demanding an explanation.
He had promised to marry Ji Wanyuan, and the Ji family left. A few days later, his mother started looking for a matchmaker to buy live geese to propose marriage to the Ji family.
But before everything was fully prepared, the Ji family came again, saying that Ji Wanyuan was no longer going to marry.
Is it really that Prime Minister Ji and his wife don't want this marriage?
With this in mind, the answer in Wen Qiyan's heart became clear.
It was Ji Wanyuan who didn't want to go through with this marriage in the first place, which is why Madam Ji and Prime Minister Ji came to refuse again.
Only she, the daughter who was pampered and spoiled by the Ji family, could make Prime Minister Ji and Madam Ji risk offending the Wen family.
Why did she suddenly decide she didn't want to get married?
Thinking of this, Wen Qiyan frowned deeply.
When she drugged his tea, Ji Wanyuan was perfectly fine. It was only after they had sex that her feelings for him faded, and she even refused to marry him despite having a child.
Is it really because his bedroom skills are so terrible?
That first time, he was indeed fierce. He only knew how to use brute force, but it wasn't a real weapon, so it was impossible for him to pierce her intestines or hurt her.
And later, they found themselves strangely compatible.
Her voice changed, and she called him Qi Yan Gege in a soft, whimpering voice, "Be gentle, don't be so rough, I'm dying."
She gradually got used to it, and didn't she also get him wet?
If someone leaves her like that, will they take advantage of her vulnerability?
Even back then, when Ji Wanyuan was terrified of his cruelty, was there anyone who whispered sweet nothings in her ear, coaxing her and stealing her heart and her love for him?
She has been staying at the Ji family home, not leaving for more than half a month. Who could be the male guest at the Ji family home?
There was someone who could freely come and go from the Ji family home, and in a way, this person was considered to have a legitimate status.
...He Xun.
Her son-in-law.
Could it be that Ji Wanyuan has developed feelings for that man? When she returned to her parents' home earlier, this man actually visited the Ji family.
The more the man thought about it, the uglier his expression became.
Just now in the South Study, his father told him this.
He hadn't been to the government offices these past few days, and the mining manager from Youzhou whom he had secretly investigated and captured hadn't yet managed to extract anything directly useful. Surprisingly, he bit his tongue and committed suicide yesterday!
For the past two days, Prime Minister Ji has been on sick leave, but his adopted son, Ji Lingyue, has been attending court.
Will Prime Minister Ji personally go to Youzhou? Is mining already underway there?
The most important thing is to uncover the mining operations in Youzhou and gather evidence of the Ji family's deception and corruption.
His father urged him to win over Ji Wanyuan's heart, and even "eliminated" Cao Xin by selecting a suitable marriage partner, so as not to let the Jiang family interfere.
But he didn't know why, even though he had promised his father in the study that he would do it as soon as possible.
After leaving the South Study, he saw Ji Wanyuan's face and watched her slowly eating her meal, vividly describing to her father the "grievances" she had suffered in the Ji family.
He didn't even want to join his father in subtly interrogating her at the dinner table anymore.
He didn't even want to speak anymore...
Not knowing what was wrong with him, he remained silent, ignoring the gaze his father cast at him.
Now, as he revisited the previously overlooked shady dealings, what he cared about more deeply was actually Ji Wanyuan's thoughts!
He dislikes his uncontrollable emotional fluctuations, yet finds it difficult to fully control and bring them back on track.
"..."
Ji Wanyuan, who was walking beside him, was already on guard and naturally noticed the change in the man's expression, but she didn't know why.
What's wrong with Wen Qiyan? What's wrong with him?
Her face looked so pale; did she owe him money?
When they reached the pavilion, she didn't want to walk any further, so she sat down, and he followed suit.
Ji Wanyuan had just taken a sip of tea and picked up a piece of pastry to eat when she suddenly met the man's eyes.
She looked at her, her gaze chilling.
She instinctively stopped, no longer daring to take the pastries.
"…What's wrong?"
Why are you staring at her like that?
It's as if she did something terribly wrong to him.
Ji Wanyuan, “?”
Confused, she took the pastries, didn't dare say anything, and ate them slowly.
She had only taken two sips when she heard the man ask unhurriedly, "Do you know He Xun?"
Why bring up He Xun out of the blue?
Ji Wanyuan nodded hesitantly.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" he said.
Ji Wanyuan coughed and hurriedly swallowed the pastry in her mouth.
"Didn't I nod?" How can you speak when there was something in your mouth?
Wen Qiyan is really sick.
He kept looking at her, his gaze growing colder and colder.
When questioned by Wen's father, Ji Wanyuan was still able to sort out her thoughts; the questions were directed at her father.
She was somewhat puzzled by Wen Qiyan's probing.
Has He Xun been involved in the affairs of the Ji family?
It seems not.
He Xun was a man carefully chosen for her by her father, and his background was impeccable.
When I showed her the portrait, she felt that this person was just trying to curry favor with the powerful and said she didn't like him.
But the father said that this person was calm, steady, and very capable.
She simply couldn't believe it, thinking she was no match for Wen Qiyan. She even made a bet with her father, forbidding him from helping her, to see if this man could get a government position.
Her father agreed, and she remembered... her father said that he had never intended to support this person in the first place.
He Xun was merely chosen by him; the imperial examination was his first test of He Xun.
Does Wen Qiyan think there's something wrong with this person?
“You didn’t give me a straight answer.” He looked at her.
"I know." This time, she not only nodded but also gave him an affirmative answer.
"What do you know?"
Ji Wanyuan: “?” What is he trying to do with her?
It was all so baffling; she had no idea how to deal with Wen Qiyan's questioning.
"Husband...why did you suddenly bring up He Xun?" she asked tentatively.
The man looked at her with a half-smile, "Is it sudden?"
Isn't that sudden?
After a moment, he lowered his eyelashes, his tone unhurried, the ambiguous smile on his face still present, and said again,
"I have a feeling that my wife is very protective of this man between the lines."
Are you two very close?
Ji Wanyuan was even more stunned, "What?"
"What kind of relationship?" She couldn't understand a word she was saying.
Before she could figure it out, the man in front of her seemed to be carrying a grudge, so he looked away and even turned around, saying, "It's nothing."
Ji Wanyuan, “…”
She was truly impressed.
"What exactly do you want to ask?" He made her extremely nervous.
This situation, where she couldn't touch or guess what the other person was thinking, really made her feel passive and anxious, and she didn't like it.
To get closer to the man, she moved the pastries she had just eaten in front of him.
She smiled and said, "I just tried it, and it tastes very good. Would you like to try some, my husband?"
She was changing the subject.
The man caught a glimpse of the pastries out of the corner of his eye, but pretended not to see them and made no move.
Ji Wanyuan thought for a moment and decided to take the initiative to probe, "Husband, did you suddenly mention He Xun because you think there's something wrong with him?"
"What do you think is wrong with him?" he asked.
"I don't know what's wrong with him." She really couldn't understand what he meant.
She changed the subject, saying, "It's precisely because I don't know what's wrong with him that I'm asking my husband. Do you think he has a problem?"
“There is indeed a problem,” the man retorted.
Ji Wanyuan felt increasingly confused.
"Then... what's the problem?"
"Identity issue."
"What identity issue?"
Could it be that He Xun was not from a poor family, but was a pawn sent by the court to his father's side?
Was it all just to monitor the Ji family all these years?
But if that's the case, wouldn't Wen Qiyan's sudden mention of He Xun expose He Xun's identity?
Or did he want to expose He Xun's true identity in order to gain her allegiance and thus strengthen his relationship with his father?
Ji Wanyuan's head turned back and forth, and she thought of many things in an instant.
"Who is he to you?" the man suddenly asked as she was lost in thought.
Ji Wanyuan asked, puzzled, "...Who is he to me?"
"Your live-in son-in-law." He turned around, a forced smile on his face. "Doesn't your wife know?"
Ji Wanyuan, “…”
So, after all that, the He Xun he was talking about was actually this identity?
Why suddenly bring up He Xun and then talk about the son-in-law?
Thinking of Wen Qiyan's series of roundabout questions, plus what Cao Xin said in her ear today.
Ji Wanyuan's eyebrows twitched slightly. "Husband... are you bothered by this?"
After a moment, the man said, "I don't mind."
Why would you ask this if I don't mind?
It was so strange, and it made her think about so much.
If you're going to pretend to be jealous and care about her, why bother going through all that trouble with He Xun?
"Oh, so if you don't mind, I can't ask?"
-----------------------
Author's Note: I'm here! [Exaggerated] Thank you, little ones, for feeding me nutrient solution!
I am very happy.
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