Chapter 40. Divorce.
Ji Wanyuan's hiding place was quite secluded. She was petite to begin with, and with a green cloak covering her, she hid among the flowers and leaves. Even if someone came by, they wouldn't see her at all unless they looked closely.
If it weren't for the guards' reminder, he would have had a hard time noticing.
"What's wrong?"
When Wen's father saw him talking normally, he suddenly looked up and walked towards the window, even pushing it open, seemingly looking at something.
Noticing Wen Qiyan's gaze fixed on a certain spot, Wen's father frowned. "Could it be that someone is there?"
Even on home turf, when discussing official court matters and mining in Youzhou, Wen's father was very wary, and he also came over.
Upon hearing the voices of the father and son, along with the approaching footsteps, Ji Wanyuan immediately shrank back in fright, her heart pounding wildly.
What should I do? What should I do? Is she going to get caught eavesdropping on her very first time?
She was in a terrible panic, but she didn't dare to suddenly look up to see what was going on.
In desperation, she had no choice but to imitate a kitten and let out a weak meow, hoping to get away with it.
Upon hearing the shout, the handsome man couldn't help but chuckle to himself, a forced smile curving his thin lips.
But he quickly disappeared as he turned around, closing the window slightly to block Ji Wanyuan's view when Wen's father walked to the window and looked over.
"It's just a cat, nothing to worry about."
Mr. Wen looked around but didn't notice anything unusual. "Hmm."
He walked back, but seeing that Wen Qiyan was not following, he sat down at the round table instead of going to the desk.
"None of the spies we sent to track Ji Lingyue have returned; they are likely in grave danger."
The man's long, slender fingers gently pushed open the window again, and he saw her.
He looked at Ji Wanyuan's head and said, "The adopted son of the Ji family has always been a ruthless and vigilant person. Father, are you surprised that the spy was eliminated by him?"
She actually overheard some news!
Although the crisis was temporarily averted, Ji Wanyuan's heart began to pound even harder as she carefully memorized every word Wen Qiyan and his father had said.
"I wonder how the mining in Youzhou is going. Ji Shizhang is a real old fox. He's hidden his tail so well that we still can't find out where it is."
Ji Wanyuan couldn't help but grumble inwardly, "How dare they speak ill of my father? Who's the real old fox here?"
Seeing the emerald green stake move, Wen Qiyan replied to his father, "Father-in-law was once a prominent figure who dominated the officialdom for decades. He naturally has some skills. Father, you have been too hasty."
Upon noticing that Wen Qiyan addressed the other party as "father-in-law," Wen's father glanced at him.
Given that his feelings for the Ji family woman had not faded and he subconsciously respected the Ji family members, it was understandable.
Fearing that Wen Qiyan would become more and more involved, the maidservant said that he had been clinging to the Ji family girl very much yesterday. When she went to the guest room, he followed her. She really didn't know if it was for official business or something else.
Despite being called official business, we still have no clue whatsoever.
Thinking of this, Mr. Wen was somewhat displeased, so his tone was not very pleasant, and his words carried a subtle threat.
"Since you don't want your brother involved, you'd better hurry up with Ji Wanyuan. If there's still no news after a while, your father can wait, but the court can't."
"I understand, son." Wen Qiyan remained expressionless, sensing the urging in his father's words.
When Wen's father came out of the South Study, Ji Wanyuan was so frightened that she shrank back several steps against the wall.
Only after Wen's father had completely walked away did she breathe a sigh of relief. She waited for a while longer, seeing that Wen Qiyan showed no intention of leaving the South Study.
She then tiptoed away, disappearing along the corner of the wall.
After Ji Wanyuan left, Qinghe appeared and said that she had gone to Madam Wen's place, and that Madam Wen had just sent a maid to deliver a message.
"What does Mother want with her?"
Wen Qiyan flipped through the files from Youzhou, looking at the documents his father had brought this time, as well as the letters his men had sent out that had been retrieved and sent back.
"I do not know."
"Send someone to check it out," Wen Qiyan ordered.
Qinghe cupped her hands in greeting, "Yes."
Now, the eldest son is paying more and more attention to the eldest daughter of the Ji family, and even reveals news from the imperial court to her.
Although she didn't understand what her master meant, Qinghe knew that she could no longer treat Ji Wanyuan the same way as before.
Ji Wanyuan never expected that when she and He Xun returned in the same carriage that day, they would be seen by so many members of the Wen family.
She thought she was being discreet, but she was caught by Wen Yunqin a while ago, and now she's been caught by Madam Wen again.
Mrs. Wen spoke very directly, saying that it was the old lady next to her who told her, and asked her what exactly happened.
Wen Yunqin is a decent man and shouldn't sell her out, so it's highly likely that a sharp-eyed old woman saw it and let it slip to Madam Wen's ears, which is why she came to question her.
Ji Wanyuan remained silent for a moment, no longer wanting to endure it.
To be honest, she didn't know how to explain it, so she simply denied it, since there was no substantial evidence.
Moreover, she wanted to divorce Wen Qiyan, and she didn't want to be as subservient and obsequious as before, trying to please Madam Wen.
It would be best to make a scene.
So her attitude was lukewarm, neither bad nor good.
"It's just some unfounded rumors. My mother-in-law is questioning me about such a trivial matter. Does she think there's something wrong with me?"
Mrs. Wen was choked and stopped.
Ji Wanyuan kept pretending to be well-behaved, and she almost forgot that this young lady was actually arrogant and domineering.
"Which old hag is blind and making a fool of herself, gossiping about me behind my back? Let her come and confront me. I want to see where she saw me hiding a man."
Ji Wanyuan suddenly turned hostile, and Madam Wen was momentarily at a loss for how to respond. It was the elderly woman beside her who noticed the awkward situation and stepped in to smooth things over, refilling Ji Wanyuan's tea.
"Young Madam, please calm down. Madam did not mean to blame you."
Ji Wanyuan gave a forced smile. "Really?"
“My mother-in-law called me over to question me. Doesn’t she already believe that I did something to betray the Wen family?”
"No, no," the old woman said with a forced smile. "Madam was only trying to protect the young mistress's reputation; she didn't mean it that way at all."
Madam Wen was surprised by Ji Wanyuan's outburst today, which was completely different from before. Although her expression was unpleasant, she didn't say anything because of Ji Wanyuan's high family background.
He could only swallow his anger and patiently say, "I called you over just to ask a few questions. I didn't say you did anything to wrong the Wen family."
"If that's the case, why did my mother-in-law only call me over to ask? What about that old woman? Why didn't she call her up?" Ji Wanyuan pressed on this point.
Madam Wen could only go and call someone to bring the old woman up.
When Granny Jiao, who was in charge of the second gate, saw Ji Wanyuan with a gloomy face that looked like she wanted to eat people, she was startled and dared not say anything more. She knelt down and said that she had seen wrong and that there was no such thing.
Madam Wen was annoyed, holding back her anger with nowhere to vent it. "Since there's no such thing, why are you spouting nonsense!"
"This servant was mistaken. Please forgive this servant, Madam. I have worked for the Wen family for decades. This is just an occasional... lapse in attention."
Jade coldly said, "If you're not careful, you could ruin our young lady's reputation."
Old Granny Jiao used to love drinking and gambling, neglecting her duties and only interested in listening to her masters' private affairs. After Ji Wanyuan married into the Wen family, she became more agreeable, and they thought she was easy to bully, so they dared to gossip about her.
"Young Madam, please forgive me. I really won't dare to do it again next time."
Ji Wanyuan was about to curse with a cold face, and also to set up a stage for Madam Wen to see, so as to vent the anger that Madam Wen had suppressed before. Before she could open her mouth, a little maid outside suddenly announced that the eldest young master had arrived.
Her gaze shifted to Wen Qiyan's face, and the man's deep eyes looked in her direction.
Ji Wanyuan snorted and turned her face away; she didn't get up.
"Qi Yan, weren't you discussing matters with your father in the South Study? Why are you here?"
Madam Wen originally intended to discuss this matter privately with Ji Wanyuan.
After all, regardless of whether the incident actually happened, it was still disgraceful, and as the mother-in-law, she naturally had to discipline her.
She thought Ji Wanyuan would say no politely as before, and that she would just give her a little reprimand and that would be the end of it.
Who knew that Ji Wanyuan would actually get angry and order someone to bring Jiao Pozi up. Jiao Pozi was afraid when she saw Ji Wanyuan and actually changed her words. Perhaps the commotion was too big, because it also attracted Wen Qiyan.
Mrs. Wen is really having a headache.
"I heard some noise over here, so I came to check it out." He briefly replied to Madam Wen and walked towards Ji Wanyuan.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the man moving this way.
Ji Wanyuan, who had already turned her face away in a huff, moved it even further away.
He sat down next to her, right on the side where she had turned her head away.
Their eyes met.
Ji Wanyuan immediately turned her face to the other side, only showing him the back of her head.
Wen Qiyan couldn't see her face, but after watching her swaying hairpin for a while, he turned to Madam Wen and asked,
"What happened?"
Madam Wen had been observing the interaction between the two without making a sound.
She noticed that Wen Qiyan seemed neither surprised nor angry at Ji Wanyuan's tantrum; in fact, he seemed to be doting on her and wanted to support her.
"There's an old woman in the family who's been gossiping, and we're about to deal with her."
"What are you gossiping about?" Wen Qiyan asked again.
"This..." Madam Wen pondered his attitude, hesitating whether to speak or not.
The old woman on the ground immediately pleaded that she had really misjudged the situation, that it was all her fault, and begged for forgiveness.
Wen Qiyan asked again, "What did you misread?"
"Young Master, that day I saw the Young Madam and Miss Emerald getting off the carriage together, and at first glance I mistook them for a man, so I thought, I thought..."
“She said I cheated on you!” Ji Wanyuan turned around. “She said I cheated on you behind your back, so my mother-in-law came to question me and said she wanted to divorce me.”
Madam Wen was shocked. "When did you say you wanted to divorce me?"
"Isn't this what my mother-in-law meant when she questioned me?" Ji Wanyuan continued to argue and stir up trouble.
Madam Wen was truly angered by her, but she couldn't reprimand her, so she could only turn to Wen Qiyan and say, "Mother didn't mean that. She just wanted to know what happened. She didn't mention the word 'divorce' at all. We hadn't even exchanged a few words when you arrived."
Ji Wanyuan was about to speak when Wen Qiyan gave her a cold, somewhat intimidating glance.
At this moment, she was also holding back her anger. She was already planning to make a scene with him, and she stubbornly glared back at him, unwilling to back down.
Seeing this, Madam Wen was extremely annoyed. She couldn't blame either her son or daughter-in-law. She regretted asking Ji Wanyuan for advice, never expecting things to turn out this way.
Ji Wanyuan suddenly reverted to her true nature, and no one informed her at all.
I'm really scared.
It was Ji Wanyuan who broke the deadlock; she suddenly stood up.
"What are you looking at? It wasn't my fault to begin with. Just because a servant is gossiping and spreading rumors, my mother-in-law came to question me without even investigating. You're not on my side, and you're even glaring at me. I can tell you don't consider me a member of the Wen family at all. Fine, if that's how it is, then I'll leave!"
After saying that, she turned her face away and left. Emerald and the other maids hurriedly bowed and followed her.
Mrs. Wen never expected things to get so bad.
Seeing Ji Wanyuan running towards the gate, it seemed she was going back to the Ji family to complain.
She was about to go out and stop them, but Wen Qiyan said there was no need.
"I'll go and coax my son later."
After the person left, Madam Wen pinched the bridge of her nose and couldn't help but say, "Look at the mess you've made, the good wife you married." She was referring to Wen Qiyan's drunken promiscuity.
“Although she was wrong in this matter, she was also wronged. Mother really shouldn’t have questioned her before finding out the truth of the matter.”
Madam Wen was taken aback. "No..." She couldn't even ask?
Unexpectedly, he sided with Ji Wanyuan and started lecturing his parents, leaving them speechless and choked with embarrassment.
Before she could react, Wen Qiyan had already ordered his attendants to deal with Granny Jiao, slapping her twenty times and kicking her out of the Wen family. He also warned her that if she dared to talk nonsense again, he would cut out her tongue and send her to jail, which frightened Granny Jiao so much that she cried repeatedly.
"I have to take my leave now. Mother, please spend these next two days selecting a suitable young lady for Qin. Finding a wife for Qin as soon as possible is the most important thing."
After saying that, he left.
Mrs. Wen felt frustrated and her head ached from holding it in.
Ji Wanyuan threw a tantrum and then got into the carriage and went back to the Ji family home.
Anyway, she was going back, so the excuse Wen Qiyan used to bother her yesterday wouldn't work. But now it was fine. Most importantly, after all that fuss, she finally felt a little better.
She just didn't expect that she hadn't even complained to her before she got home.
Her mother actually questioned her first, asking what was going on between her and Wen Yunqin.
"What? What's going on?" Ji Wanyuan asked, puzzled.
Madam Ji looked at the jade, and Ji Wanyuan narrowed her eyes, immediately understanding.
What did you say to my mother?
Emerald pursed her lips, lowered her head, and dared not look at her, stammering as she called out, "Miss."
"She's doing this for your own good." Madam Ji poked her head and dismissed the maidservant beside her.
Ji Wanyuan ate her pastries, annoyed, "What could possibly happen between Wen Yunqin and me? We just exchanged a few normal words. What could possibly happen between my uncle and sister-in-law? Mother, you're so easily swayed these days, you believe whatever others say."
Ji Wanyuan was annoyed by being questioned by Madam Wen at the Wen family home and then by her mother here.
"I've only said a few words to you, and you're already giving me the cold shoulder. Your temper is getting worse and worse."
"Mother, please let me catch my breath," Ji Wanyuan said, explaining that she wasn't feeling well.
"Where do you feel unwell?" Madam Ji immediately sent someone to find a doctor.
Ji Wanyuan said no, she just felt sore all over.
"Your pregnancy is progressing, so this is normal, but you still can't let your guard down. Shall I find a doctor to take a look at you?"
Ji Wanyuan wouldn't let anyone go. She complained to Madam Ji that it was all because Wen Qiyan was unrestrained and always wanted to have sex with her, and she couldn't stand it anymore.
This wasn't the first time Madam Ji had heard Ji Wanyuan complain like this. She had initially felt embarrassed, but after hearing it so many times, she had grown accustomed to it and even teased her.
"You used to always complain that Wen Jiazi didn't love you, but now his heart is all on you, so why aren't you satisfied?"
"His heart is never with me, it's nothing but..." It's nothing but lust!
To put it bluntly, every time I see her, she pounces on me like a vicious dog.
They kissed, rubbed, and pinched every inch of her body; there wasn't a single good spot. Her breasts still hurt and were even swollen.
Besides that, some random images flashed through Ji Wanyuan's mind.
I don't know if it's because she's pregnant, or if that annoying man Wen Qiyan has improved his bedroom skills.
Just thinking about it made her somewhat tempted.
Especially when he "hit" that place, it didn't actually hurt much, but thinking about it sent a tingling, numb sensation up her spine.
She hated that she had such a reaction, especially towards Wen Qiyan. If he knew, he would definitely be smug again.
However, that bastard's breathing in her ear sounded quite nice and sexy every time he leaned in.
etc! ! !
What is she thinking!
Ji Wanyuan quickly put those images out of her mind and turned to the important matter at hand, asking where her father was.
Just as Madam Ji was about to ask her what it was, she was surprised when her tone changed so quickly, "Your father went to the Tian family's house today and won't be back until tonight."
"What is Father going to the Tian family for?" Ji Wanyuan asked.
Why are you so concerned about your father's affairs these days?
Ji Wanyuan nestled in her arms and said she was just asking.
She was trying to figure out how to tell her father about this, and whether he would still think she was being ridiculous.
Are the things Wen Qiyan and his father said today believable?
"Your father is right. Just focus on your pregnancy and don't worry about anything else."
"Speaking of which, what exactly is going on between you and Wen Yunqin?" Madam Ji told her not to beat around the bush.
"I already said it's nothing." Ji Wanyuan pouted.
“Why would he send you pastries and silks if nothing’s wrong? And what you said to him was very inappropriate, do you know that?” Madam Ji pinched her cheek again.
"Mother, I don't want to live with Wen Qiyan anymore." Ji Wanyuan buried her head in Madam Ji's arms.
Madam Ji didn't take it seriously. "What's wrong now?"
"I just feel that he doesn't love me at all, and I don't want to spend my life with someone I don't love."
Madam Ji asked in confusion, "But Emerald told me that the Wen family has been paying more attention to you lately, and no matter how much you argue, they always give in to you."
"What does Emerald know?" Ji Wanyuan said irritably, scolding Emerald for being a spy and saying she didn't want her serving her anymore.
“You already have children, you can’t just say things like that.”
"Can't our Ji family afford to raise a child?" Ji Wanyuan argued with Madam Ji.
“I can afford to raise him, but don’t you really like the Wen family’s son?” Madam Ji was worried that she was only enthusiastic about him.
"Mother, I really don't want to live with him anymore." Ji Wanyuan said seriously.
“Jade only told you how tolerant Wen Qiyan was of me, but why didn’t she tell you about how he bullied me? It wasn’t just him who bullied me, but even the Wen family bullied me.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Ji immediately became serious, "Did the Wen family bully you?"
"Yes." Ji Wanyuan recounted the events of the day to her mother.
Madam Ji was even more furious upon hearing this. "I disliked Jiang Liyun from the very beginning. She always told me that she would treat you well, like her own daughter, but then she turned around and questioned you like this behind my back?"
"Uh-huh!"
Ji Wanyuan fanned the flames from the side, "It's more than just questioning..."
She then added fuel to the fire, recounting how Madam Wen had deliberately used very hot water when serving tea to give her a hard time, making her hold the cup for a long time, and how she had made her sit with the guests and talk to her even though she knew Madam Wen was pregnant and her pregnancy was unstable, and how she had made it difficult for her to answer questions. She poured out all the details of the past.
As she spoke, she immediately burst into tears, saying that she lived in constant fear and anxiety in the Wen family.
"If you don't believe me, you can ask Emerald. She knows all about these things. She even asked her daughter to tell you, but at the time, her daughter was so infatuated with Wen Qiyan that she didn't plan to say anything."
Madam Ji was furious that her precious daughter, whom she had cherished since childhood, was being treated this way.
Before going to the Wen family to cause trouble, she asked Ji Wanyuan why she hadn't told her sooner. She had previously pretended to be well-behaved in front of her, saying that the Wen family treated her very well. Was she under a spell?
Ji Wanyuan sobbed, "This marriage was arranged by the Emperor. In addition, at that time, I... I liked Wen Qiyan, so I thought I should bear with it. I was afraid of causing trouble for you and Father, so I said it was fine and that her family was very good to me."
She started lying and twisting the truth, saying that she never wanted to let Wen Qiyan take a concubine in the first place, and that it was all because Madam Wen forced her to.
"Jiang Liyun actually pressured you?"
Ji Wanyuan said, "At that time, my pregnancy was unstable, but Wen Qiyan always bullied me. He was not nice to me at all. He wanted it himself, but he made excuses and said that I seduced him. When I told you this, you didn't believe me. He bullied me not only at his house, but also at my house."
I have some recollection of this Madam Ji.
"Mother, look..." As she spoke, she pulled down her ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress).
Upon seeing the lingering bluish-purple marks on the surface, Madam Ji's face grew even more somber.
Ji Wanyuan buried herself in her arms and continued to pitifully call for her mother, saying that she didn't want to go through the formalities with the Lin family at the time, but she had no choice but to smile and fawn over them because of Madam Wen's instructions.
"Lin Nianxi visited the Wen family a while ago. Wen Qiyan didn't leave the courtyard for several days. As soon as he heard that she was coming, he immediately went to the main hall and even flirted with her in front of his daughter."
“I’ve been in a bad mood these past two days. My uncle, Wen Yunqin, whom I used to be on good terms with, asked me a few questions and brought me some things.”
"But I didn't expect Wen Qiyan to go crazy again. He suspected that I had something going on with my uncle, saying that I seduced his brother. He scolded me, calling me a vixen, reckless and shameless, and even wanted to lock me up."
“I was so afraid of him at night that I went to sleep in the guest room. I didn’t expect him to follow me there. He pressed me down and tossed and turned with me all night, completely disregarding my pregnancy. I don’t know if I will be able to give birth to my child if this continues.”
"I can't take this kind of miserable life anymore, sob sob sob..."
She cried so hard it felt like the sky had fallen, soaking a large part of Madam Ji's clothes.
Madam Ji was both angry and annoyed, yet also heartbroken. She listened to her crying and tried to comfort her.
Ji Wanyuan cried all day.
Madam Ji summoned Emerald for questioning and was surprised to learn that many of the things she had said were true.
Immediately, Madam Ji sent someone to summon Prime Minister Ji back, saying that something major had happened at home.
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Ji realized that he had not reached an agreement with the Tian family and returned with his men, leaving He Xun to handle the situation.
Back at the mansion, he saw that the mother and daughter had red eyes from crying, especially Ji Wanyuan, whose eyes were swollen like walnuts. He frowned and asked what was wrong.
Ji Wanyuan couldn't explain it; some of the things she had made up herself had become forgotten.
Fortunately, her mother, Madam Ji, told her father everything.
Moreover, not a single word was missed. Ji Wanyuan simply nodded and cried, saying it was all true, that's how it was, and that she didn't want to live anymore.
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Ji frowned deeply, pinching his brow and remaining silent.
“Master, this is our only daughter. I carried her for ten months and gave birth to her, not so that she would be subservient and suffer grievances. She has such a hard time in the Wen family, and as her mother, my heart feels like it is being fried in oil.”
“If my lord is wary of the imperial decree and is unwilling to stand up for the Wen family, then I will go back to my parents’ home and have my father go to His Majesty.”
Ji Wanyuan's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
She should have come back and cried sooner; otherwise, why would the divorce have taken so long?
Prime Minister Ji quickly stopped her, saying, "Madam, please calm down. Yuan'er is also my daughter, my flesh and blood, the pearl I've cherished since she was little. How could I not love her? If she's being bullied, of course I'll handle it."
"Alright, Yuan'er, don't cry."
Prime Minister Ji said that she was pregnant and crying like this was not good for her health.
Ji Wanyuan sniffed, "Father, will you help me get a divorce or not? Regardless of whether you help me or not, I don't want to go back to the Wen family. I'm staying here."
She said she would die if she went back, that she would be tortured to death. Since she was going to die anyway, she might as well let her die now.
Prime Minister Ji reassured her, "This matter... can be handled, but there are still some tricky issues at the moment."
Prime Minister Ji didn't know how to explain the affairs of the court to his wife and daughters.
He hesitated, wondering how to say it in a way that they would understand.
"So, in the end, Master just doesn't want to go?" Seeing his hesitation, Madam Ji held her sobbing daughter and continued to pressure him.
Prime Minister Ji said no, "I'm thinking of a solution."
Ji Wanyuan steeled her heart and decided to play her trump card, saying that the reason she insisted on a divorce was because she had accidentally learned some things and was really scared, not knowing whether she should tell them or not.
"What is it?" Prime Minister Ji asked.
Seeing that her face was covered in tears, she looked really pitiful, so he asked the maid next to him to bring water and wipe her face.
After washing her face, Ji Wanyuan sent the person away, mustered her courage, and told Prime Minister Ji and Madam Ji that she had heard some nonsense in the South Study.
“My father-in-law said that none of the spies he sent to follow my brother have returned, and they are likely in grave danger.”
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Ji's expression changed drastically. "You heard all of this with your own ears?"
"Yes!" Ji Wanyuan assured her.
She had initially worried that her father might not believe her casual words, but it seemed he did, as his expression was quite serious.
Madam Ji realized that things were not simple, but she didn't know how to ask.
“Not only that, there’s more!” Ji Wanyuan repeated another sentence she had heard earlier that day.
To increase credibility, she even imitated Wen's father's tone of voice and called him by his given name.
"I wonder how the mining in Youzhou is going. Ji Shizhang is a real old fox. He's hidden his tail so well that we still can't find out where it is."
After saying that, she said, "I think Wen Qiyan must have ulterior motives for marrying me, so I don't want to be with him anymore. I'm scared."
"Father...please let your daughter get a divorce."
Prime Minister Ji was lost in thought and did not respond for the time being, but he kept patting Ji Wanyuan's head to comfort her.
After a long while, Prime Minister Ji said, "I know about everything you've said. It's getting late, so let me think about this matter carefully. Yuan'er, you should stay at home and take good care of yourself. I'll think of a solution."
"Then I..."
Seeing her genuine unease, Prime Minister Ji smiled and asked her in return, "Your father has doted on you for so many years, how could I not?"
After saying this, he gave Madam Ji a wink, signaling her to comfort Ji Wanyuan. Then he went outside, where He Xun, who had returned from his business, was already waiting.
Prime Minister Ji led him to the study.
Originally, Madam Ji was supposed to stay with Ji Wanyuan at night, but Ji Wanyuan was really worried that even after telling everyone everything, there was still no way to get a divorce, so she asked her mother to persuade her and whisper sweet nothings in her father's ear.
Madam Ji scolded her for being a clever little devil, and seeing that she really didn't need to accompany her, she left after instructing the servants.
Coincidentally, she also had something to ask Prime Minister Ji.
Prime Minister Ji returned late at night.
While Prime Minister Ji was washing up, Madam Ji kept asking what was going on.
Prime Minister Ji wiped his face and first asked Ji Wanyuan if she was alright.
Madam Ji sighed, "She just wants a divorce and cried so hard. She must have suffered a lot of grievances in the Wen family. By the way, I can tell that my daughter doesn't really like the Wen family anymore."
"Yes." Upon hearing the last sentence, Prime Minister Ji nodded in affirmation, "This is a good thing."
"Wen Qiyan is cold and aloof, but harbors malicious intentions. I didn't expect Yuan'er to wake up at this critical moment."
Madam Ji said, "Actually, my daughter didn't want to marry him in the first place. She was probably terrified by him at that time, but she couldn't go against the emperor's will."
Prime Minister Ji sat down, and Madam Ji asked him if things were difficult and whether a divorce was possible.
"The reason His Majesty bestowed the marriage upon the Wen and Ji families was simply to use their strength against them."
The art of balancing power by emperors has always been this way.
Madam Ji didn't quite understand, so she asked Prime Minister Ji for a definite answer so she could explain it to her daughter.
"It can be done, but not now."
Prime Minister Ji bluntly stated, "How can the emperor allow others to sleep soundly beside his pillow? The emperor has long been unable to tolerate the Ji family."
As his wife, Madam Ji was naturally able to detect some suspicious things about what Prime Minister Ji was doing, but she never inquired about them in detail.
“If Yuan’er were to divorce the Wen family now, it would surely alarm the Emperor. The mines in Youzhou are still in operation, so it’s not wise to act rashly. Therefore, regarding my daughter…”
"We need to be more patient."
Torn between her husband and daughter, Madam Ji was at a loss, her face showing her dilemma.
Prime Minister Ji patted the back of her hand to reassure her, "I care about our daughter and I won't let her be sad, so please don't worry, Madam."
Madam Ji couldn't help but wipe away her tears, "She was perfectly fine when she got married, but she's only been married a short time and she's come home crying time and time again. It really breaks my heart."
Prime Minister Ji sighed, put his arm around Madam Ji's shoulder, and patted her to comfort her.
"..."
The following day, Ji Wanyuan received some bad news.
Divorce is not possible at this time.
Her plan ultimately failed.
"Father knows he has wronged you and that you will have to suffer for a while longer, but Yuan'er, now that you have heard these words, you know that Father has his reasons for doing this."
Ji Wanyuan is no longer the girl who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun. She also foresaw some future events. How could she not know?
But as things have progressed to this point, despite all the methods she's tried, everything is still exactly as described in the storybooks.
She has no way to divorce Wen Qiyan. Is she really going to die from postpartum hemorrhage during childbirth?
As she thought this, she felt somewhat dejected.
Seeing that she didn't look too good, Prime Minister Ji comforted her, "Don't worry, it won't be long before you can go home with a divorce."
Ji Wanyuan couldn't help but cry out, "What if my daughter couldn't give birth smoothly in the Wen family and died from postpartum hemorrhage?"
Prime Minister Ji reprimanded her, "You are not allowed to say such unlucky things!"
"Your pregnancy is going very well. The doctor said that as long as you take good care of yourself, there won't be any problems!"
"Really? But I had a dream yesterday. I dreamt that you were going against the court, that the Ji family was investigated and their property confiscated by His Majesty, that I died in childbirth, and that Wen Qiyan married a woman from the Lin family and that we lived happily ever after."
She used a nightmare-like approach to recount everything she had learned from the storybook.
After saying this, her eyes filled with tears, looking incredibly pitiful. Ji Wanyuan was truly terrified.
Prime Minister Ji smiled and reassured her, "No, I promise you, none of this will happen."
See? Look at her father's expression; he still doesn't believe it.
I feel like she's really going to die.
Seeing that she looked really bad, Prime Minister Ji coaxed her for a long time and briefly told her about the affairs of the court.
It is said that he had long known that His Majesty's intention in bestowing the marriage was not pure, but he had no choice but to go along with it. Now, if the situation were to be suddenly disrupted, it would be detrimental to the Ji family's position.
"Father, are you really going to rebel?" Ji Wanyuan asked with a complicated expression.
Prime Minister Ji was taken aback, and after a long while, he said, "Yuan'er, your father does not want you to get involved in these matters, but... now that you know, your father will not hide it from you. Even if the Ji family wants to keep quiet, it will be difficult."
The emperor had long wanted to eliminate the Ji family, not only to confiscate the Ji family and Madam Ji's maternal clan to replenish the empty national treasury, but also to establish his authority and consolidate his rule.
In fact, the emperor had been smearing the Ji family for a year while simultaneously praising them. How could Prime Minister Ji not be aware of these tricks? This was the emperor he had supported for many years.
Should we just sit and wait to die? No.
"Given the circumstances, it's a matter of the victor taking all the credit; we have no choice but to take a gamble..."
Otherwise, death is the only outcome.
Prime Minister Ji did not say the last sentence.
He pinched Ji Wanyuan's cheek and changed the subject, "Your mother made your favorite dishes, and your father will dine with you in a bit."
Having confirmed her father's intentions, Ji Wanyuan had no appetite for food.
Just as he was about to reply, a guard came to deliver a message that someone from the Wen family had arrived.
"Who has come?" Prime Minister Ji asked.
"It's the son-in-law."
"Let him wait in the front hall." Prime Minister Ji was still comforting Ji Wanyuan, telling her not to be afraid and that he would protect her.
Upon hearing this, Ji Wanyuan felt a lump in her throat again.
In the storybooks, the downfall of the Ji family was all related to her stupidity; in other words, she was the one who killed her parents.
Now, she has come to her senses and hopes that such a thing will not happen again.
But she didn't want to just wait to die, so she asked, "Is there anything I can do to help you, Father?"
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Ji was taken aback.
I was about to say that it wasn't necessary, after all, she was pregnant, and besides, Prime Minister Ji really didn't want Ji Wanyuan to get involved in these matters.
"I am my father's daughter, and I want to help him. I can gather information!"
Speaking of gathering information, Prime Minister Ji also sensed something fishy about the two sentences Ji Wanyuan overheard yesterday.
Not to mention that the Wen family's South Study was an important place for the Wen family father and son to discuss matters, there was also Wen Ze's vigilant nature, and his eldest son Wen Qiyan, who surpassed him in ability...
How could Ji Wanyuan have overheard it so easily?
Thinking of this, Prime Minister Ji asked her again how she had heard it.
Ji Wanyuan then recounted the scene from that day word for word.
Upon hearing this, he had already made up his mind, but still needed to test the waters a little more.
"Alright, since you're so eager to help Dad, then you can do what you think is best."
Finally, it's been somewhat useful. Ji Wanyuan showed a long-lost smile.
"..."
The time it takes for an incense stick to burn before the father and daughter reached the main hall is over.
Madam Ji berated Wen Qiyan in the main hall for the duration of an incense stick burning, hurling insults at him mercilessly, but Wen Qiyan remained silent.
Seeing the man so embarrassed, Ji Wanyuan felt a little better.
As soon as she appeared, Wen Qiyan's gaze fell on her, especially on her red and swollen eyes.
When he saw the father and daughter appear together again, his eyes flickered.
Ji Wanyuan ignored the man's gaze and did not try to smooth things over for him. Instead, she sat down to the side, sipping her tea and watching the show unfold.
Prime Minister Ji said, "That's enough, that's good enough."
After appeasing Madam Ji, Prime Minister Ji looked at Wen Qiyan with a critical and unfriendly gaze.
"You're here?"
"Greetings, Father-in-law." Wen Qiyan bowed to him.
Prime Minister Ji stared at him for a long time. "Yesterday, Yuan'er came back crying and said that your Wen family treated her harshly and that you often bullied her. Is this true?"
"It's all my fault for not doing well, which has caused my wife to feel wronged," Wen Qiyan said without arguing.
"When we handed her over to your Wen family, you said you would treat her well. How long has it been, and she has suffered so much injustice. How are you going to explain this?"
Prime Minister Ji then questioned him.
"I will accept any punishment from my father-in-law." Wen Qiyan's expression remained unchanged.
"Good." Prime Minister Ji nodded. "That's a straightforward approach."
"In that case," he ordered his men outside, "Go and fetch the family punishment!"
Family rules?
Ji Wanyuan was stunned, somewhat unsure whether Wen Qiyan was going to... get beaten up?!
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Author's Note: I'm here! Just a quick transition into the main story. [Exaggerated praise]
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