Chapter 48. He said he loved her.
Upon hearing this, Ji Wanyuan felt a tingling numbness throughout her body, tears welling up in her eyes, and she couldn't help but roll her eyes inwardly.
Seriously? He's been jealous all this time?
She was utterly exasperated by this scoundrel's temper.
"Of course I want you."
"You hesitated." She had only been a little slow in answering, yet he was picking on her again.
Ji Wanyuan, panting, sniffed, "Where did I hesitate?"
"Wouldn't it be better if you didn't nitpick like that?"
The man sneered, "You think I'm being petty?"
Ji Wanyuan choked for a moment, "..."
If I say something back to him, I'm afraid I'll never have a moment's peace.
So she swallowed her anger and avoided answering, deliberately ignoring the man's frosty handsome face. She looked down at his moon-white robes, which she had torn into disarray. Even in such a mess, he still had the mind to be jealous.
"That's not what I meant. I was just a little out of breath, so I answered a bit slowly."
"In my heart, how can my uncle compare to you?"
Ji Wanyuan said this simply to appease Wen Qiyan.
Surely you've appeased them?
She secretly lifted her eyelids and saw that the man's expressionless face, which had been slightly frosty, seemed to have softened somewhat.
"What did you say?" he asked calmly.
"Didn't you hear what I said?" She was uncomfortable, and her patience fluctuated.
He was so patient; she was already in so much pain, yet she could see right through his suffering.
They stopped halfway through, but the die was cast and they had no choice but to continue arguing.
Ji Wanyuan clung to his shoulder, "Aren't you going to continue?"
"I didn't hear what you just said."
He leaned down, bracing himself on both sides of her, and pulled her completely into his arms, his gaze looking outwards.
Outside the window, where Wen Qiyan's gaze met, stood a man with an extremely cold and gloomy expression. "..."
He arrived at some unknown time and seemed to have been standing there for a while.
Hearing the man's deep, husky voice, and having touched his weak spot, Ji Wanyuan felt very ashamed.
She nestled into the man's arms, burying her face in his neck, and said, "I'll tell you..."
She was about to speak.
He lowered his eyes, and the man gently moved her cheeks out of the way, lifting her chin.
"Speak," he said, looking into her eyes and enticing her.
Ji Wanyuan felt nervous under his close gaze and choked on her own saliva.
"I said—" Her thoughts were a little stuck, and she couldn't quite recall what she had said.
Seeing her choked voice, the man stroked her rosy cheeks, enticing her, "Between me and Qin Di, who do you like, and who do you want?"
Ji Wanyuan pursed her lips, and as her lips moved, she couldn't help but suck, her lips brushing against the man's long, jade-like fingertips.
"I like you, I want you."
She looked up at him with her small face upturned, her thick eyelashes trembling slightly, exuding a pitiful charm that made the man's eyes grow even darker.
"Who am I?" he kept asking.
Ji Wanyuan was starting to lose her temper.
If it weren't for the need to extract information, she would definitely have to coax him back to his family for the sake of the Ji family. Right now, she would certainly be scolding this scoundrel for never stopping.
Ji Wanyuan sniffed, "Wen Qiyan."
"Ji Wanyuan, who do you like, and who do you want?" he asked again.
As he asked the question, he moved closer to her.
He resisted her, tormented her, and "hit" her in the same way as last time.
The force was very gentle, and Ji Wanyuan felt no pain at all.
There was only a tingling sensation, creeping into her bones, making her feel uncomfortable, and wanting to be close to Wen Qiyan, to be with him...
When she spoke again, her voice was slightly choked, broken and weak, revealing only her delicate charm.
“I…I like Wen Qiyan, I want Wen Qiyan.”
The man's thin lips curved upwards. "Okay."
They moved forward as if receiving a reward.
Ji Wanyuan couldn't help but sniffle her red nose. She felt weak in the waist and could no longer wrap her arms around the man's neck. She could only settle for hugging the man's waist instead.
Like a beautiful dodder vine that has taken human form, she clung tightly to him, pressed against his chest, on the verge of tears, looking so delicate and captivating.
"Wen Qiyan..." Her voice trembled at the end.
She wanted to call him a bastard, but couldn't bring herself to say it, so she could only bite him.
Ugh...
His arms were all solid muscles, and you couldn't bite them at all.
"You only want me, not Qin Di?"
That's enough.
"I don't want him, I only want you. In my heart, he can't compare to you."
The man's smile deepened as he looked outside, meeting the gaze of a man whose features bore a striking resemblance to his own through the blurry windowpane.
"Yeah?"
"Brother Qin is now in charge of the Imperial Guard, wielding military power. He is so prominent, yet in your heart he is not as good as me?"
"Hmm... I can't beat him." She was really being worn down by this jerk.
He kept tormenting her, sometimes getting close, sometimes retreating. She could hear the back-and-forth sounds and could already imagine the scene of their lingering, complicated relationship.
She glanced down and realized it was worse than she had imagined.
It's more than just lotus root with intertwined fibers; it's practically lotus root chopped up, sticky, and layered all over.
Not only was the hem of her skirt stained, but even her cloak was covered in dirt.
The man's large hand moved up from the woman's slender waist in his arms, to the back of her head, controlling her and pulling her forward. His thin lips kissed her ear, spraying her hair.
"Ji Wanyuan, why are you being so obedient?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Wanyuan couldn't help but curse him in her heart, but she didn't show it on her face.
She felt uncomfortable and nudged the man with her head, which made him chuckle.
Suddenly, I stumbled upon the fragrant lotus pond, Rongshe.
Both of them gasped at this action.
“Ji Wanyuan…” He kissed her soft, black hair.
Even though I knew she had ulterior motives, I still couldn't help but feel my heart tremble.
When their emotions reached their peak, Ji Wanyuan knew she needed to add another blazing fire. She called out to him, "Brother Qiyan, Wanyuan likes you so much."
"Is that so?" The man smiled, but there was no smile in his eyes.
Because she's so sweet, it's almost unreal.
“Hmm…” she said.
"Since you like it so much, then we should get a little closer."
Ji Wanyuan understood what he meant: things had already come to this, what else could they do?
"Then be gentler," she said coquettishly, sniffing.
"Mmm," the man murmured.
The man outside the window couldn't bear to listen to the wind and rain any longer, so he lifted his foot and left with a sullen face.
Ji Wanyuan was completely unaware of this change.
She was caught in the storm and endured the onslaught of wind and rain.
She cried even harder than before, her little face turned red, her hair stuck to her face, and the corners of her eyes were even more red.
"..."
Even with his good temper, Wen Yunqin couldn't hold back after leaving the courtyard and smashed the artificial mountain carved from Dali jade next to him with a single palm strike.
"Second Young Master, you..." The subordinate beside him saw that his face was really ugly and didn't know how to comfort him.
After all, he, being a martial arts practitioner, had heard some of the commotion inside.
"My elder brother is so cunning. He suppressed my sister-in-law and tricked her into saying such hurtful things to make me back down. He is truly shrewd."
A common tactic on the battlefield is to first win people's hearts and minds.
Although his elder brother had little experience on the battlefield, he was adept at navigating the officialdom. Who could rival his psychological warfare skills? It was precisely because he was so formidable that people in officialdom were wary of him.
"How do you know that the young mistress was deceived by the eldest son?" The subordinate was about to say that perhaps they were just deeply in love as a couple.
But Wen Yunqin's cold gaze startled him, causing him to choke back his words.
After a long pause, he couldn't help but say, "I think you should stop interfering in the relationship between the eldest son and the young mistress."
"Heh, originally I didn't want to do anything else, I just wanted to test my sister-in-law's feelings, but my brother's behavior is so deceitful, it's clear that he's not very confident about this marriage."
Anyone can take advantage of a weakness.
"Besides, didn't Father also say that I should spend more time with my sister-in-law?"
He knew that his elder brother must have been involved in his mother's selection of a noblewoman from outside the capital.
Instead of heeding his elder brother's warning to be mindful of his behavior, his father instructed him to get closer to Ji Wanyuan and even told him not to let his elder brother know.
This must be for the sake of the Ji family's power. Unfortunately, we can't get the full story from his father for now, and can only guess.
Although he had been away from the capital for several years, he had some understanding of the affairs of officialdom. Prime Minister Ji was powerful and the emperor was wary of him, so the marriage between his brother and Ji Wanyuan would not be so pure.
She suddenly lost affection for her brother, yet she continued to deal with him. Could it be because she learned the details of the affair and was forced to act this way because of those details?
"Go and investigate the Prime Minister's residence, and trace it back a bit further to see if my father has made any moves in secret."
The subordinate nodded. "What about the eldest young master? Shouldn't we investigate him?"
"The men under my boss are not to be trifled with. Investigating my boss might alert them. Remember to avoid my boss."
"Understood."
Wen Yunqin looked down at the bloodstains on the back of his hand. He was still furious, but he managed to suppress it.
In the study on the other side, the documents on Wen Qiyan's desk were in complete disarray, and even the inkstone had been overturned.
Ji Wanyuan was well protected by him, but the man's moon-white brocade robe was filthy.
She didn't know how many times he had tricked her into calling him "Brother Qi Yan."
Does this bastard love to hear that? The more she called him that, the harder he hit her, until tears streamed down her face.
He lingered there for so long that he soiled her skirt.
Ji Wanyuan felt that the cooking time should be about right.
She hugged the man's narrow waist, pressed her face against his chest, listened to his erratic heartbeat, and called out "brother" again in a sticky, affectionate voice.
"Mmm." The man responded to her words, and, taking advantage of the water's force, continued to harass her.
Even though Ji Wanyuan pursed her lips, she couldn't help but let out a few sounds.
"You still haven't told me whether you'll target the Ji family."
"So, is this how you deal with the Ji family?" After saying this, he bumped into her several times.
Ji Wanyuan, who had been holding back, couldn't help but cry several times.
"No...that's not how you bully someone."
"If it's not this kind of bullying, then what is?"
She was so tired, but she had to pull herself together to deal with him and ask him questions.
If we don't get any results, then Wen Qiyan will have slept with us for nothing today.
"My wife said that the Ji family is my in-laws. If I were to deal with the Ji family, wouldn't we all suffer? What kind of talk would that be if word got out?"
Judging from his words, does that mean he doesn't know how to deal with people?
Ji Wanyuan was overjoyed, but before she could speak, he taunted her again, leaving her speechless.
"Slow down!" she said, unable to bear it any longer.
What if something happens to the child?
"Am I not slow enough?"
Knowing she was going to give him a perfunctory answer again, Wen Qiyan cut her off.
"Where are you slow? You're so fast."
"If you're slow, you'll say I'm heavy." He kissed her cheek and couldn't resist biting the tip of her nose.
"I……"
"No matter what, things can't go your way, right?" Wen Qiyan asked.
Ji Wanyuan really didn't want to talk to her about this anymore, so she simply changed the subject.
She had very little energy left, and if this dragged on any longer, she might faint.
She was far inferior to Wen Qiyan in terms of physical strength.
"Then..." She choked for a while, almost unable to say anything.
Wen Qiyan also knew that she had given him a taste of sweetness today, and if he didn't reveal some information to her, she wouldn't do this again in the future.
When baiting, it's natural to do it little by little.
"Well?" He paused, then stepped back to calm her down.
He looked down at her, her skin soft and supple, glistening with fine beads of sweat.
"Speak."
Ji Wanyuan found it strange. Why did he suddenly stop? It was as if he did it on purpose, deliberately waiting for her to ask.
Could it be that Wen Qiyan knows?
impossible.
She didn't give anything away.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the Xuexia porridge on the side; it was not only cold, but also spilled.
He doesn't eat this at all; he just wants to eat people.
"If my wife doesn't ask, then I'll continue." He waited for a while.
"How many times have you done this? Isn't that enough?"
What do you think?
She deliberately seduced him, kissing and coaxing him, and after only a few times, she thought she could get rid of him.
"I think...I think..."
Almost being led astray by him, Ji Wanyuan changed her mind and said, "I don't think it's a big deal. If you want to continue, then continue."
Before I could get anything out of him, I said, "I just want to ask you, you told me to tell my father to be more restrained in everything he does."
"What exactly is it?" She wasn't sure if Wen Qiyan would tell her.
Anyway, just ask directly. If you beat around the bush, it won't be clear in a short time. Besides, her strength is about to be exhausted, and she might lose consciousness.
Ji Wanyuan's heart was pounding.
Caught off guard, he suddenly burst in again, and in an instant, she clung to the man.
"Waaah," she cried, tears welling in her eyes.
“I went to the government office earlier and heard some news.”
"What news?" Ji Wanyuan asked in a trembling voice.
"Your Excellency the Prime Minister has taken in many disciples, and the Ji family is numerous and powerful. Does Your Highness think they should restrain themselves?"
"I... I don't know anything about these things," she said evasively.
The jade bracelet on her wrist struck the edge of the table, making a clear sound, like the jade hooks of a curtain clattering together.
Crisp and melodious, ambiguous yet lingering.
"I don't understand, why ask?" he replied casually.
"What you're saying is puzzling. Since it concerns the Ji family, of course I have to ask!"
"Of course..." she added weakly, "It also concerns the Wen family. After all, our two families are engaged. If something happens to the Ji family, do you think the Wen family can escape responsibility?"
"There is indeed no way to escape." The man chuckled.
"Is my wife afraid that something will happen to the Ji family and still wants a divorce?"
"What?" Ji Wanyuan couldn't understand what he was trying to say for a moment.
Why did he suddenly bring up divorce? Didn't he want a divorce?
Could it be that after the pregnancy progressed further, the Emperor had found some leverage over the Ji family, and Wen Qiyan had changed his mind and wanted a divorce?
She'd only found out a tiny bit of information; how could she possibly agree to a divorce?
"You want a divorce?" she asked.
"Didn't my wife want a divorce?" He said that she had caused such a scene at the Ji family a while ago, and that she was the one who wanted a divorce first.
“If something happens to the Ji family, your divorce from me can indeed protect the Wen family.”
"Only today do I understand that Wan Yuan wanted a divorce because she was afraid that if something happened to the Ji family, it would implicate the Wen family. You still have feelings for me, don't you?" the man said mockingly.
What nonsense is he spouting?
Ji Wanyuan was so tired and aching that she couldn't quite figure out what he meant by those words.
"you……"
“You still love me, don’t you, Ji Wanyuan?” He stroked her face.
Ji Wanyuan smelled a sweet scent on his fingertips.
It's hers.
Looking into the man's deep, unfathomable eyes, Ji Wanyuan paused for a moment before replying, "Mm."
"Hmm what?" he asked again.
"I still love you," she thought to herself, chuckling as she tried to appease him.
Even knowing it was a lie, the man couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.
"If you love me, then don't divorce me."
"I...I won't divorce you." She hadn't managed to get much information out of him.
“If you don’t divorce me, the Wen family will do everything in its power to protect the Ji family if something happens to them. We will not stand idly by.”
He seemed to be teaching her, yet also bewitching her.
"Really?" Ji Wanyuan asked in disbelief. "Won't the Wen family take advantage of our misfortune?"
"We're in the same boat, like grasshoppers on the same rope. We're husband and wife, how can you kick someone when they're down?"
"You're so capable, if the Ji family gets into trouble, won't you be able to get away with it cleanly?"
"Do you see me as such a petty person?" He brought up the time she said he was vindictive.
"I...I don't know." She couldn't see through him.
While they were doing such intimate things, she was carrying his child, almost five months along, and the curve of her belly was quite obvious.
She and Wen Qiyan were still far apart; she had her own agenda, and he had his own ideas as well.
"Didn't you say that you would never love me, no matter who you fall in love with? If something really happens to the Ji family, shouldn't you divorce me, extricate yourself completely, and protect yourself?"
"First you said my father was unruly, then you told me not to divorce you. What are you up to?"
She deliberately probed him.
"What do you think I'm up to?" She had really gotten smarter; she could get this much information out of him.
"I don't know what you're up to, but I feel like you have ulterior motives for marrying me!" She snorted, poking his chest with her fingertip, only to be met with a hard bump from him.
Listen to the rain, the sound of it being pounded, sticky and unbearable.
Ji Wanyuan couldn't help herself. She tilted her head back and sobbed several times before finally stopping her tears from falling.
She thought about what would happen to her after the child's accident, and a sense of sorrow welled up in her heart. Her resentment towards him was only on the surface, and cracks gradually appeared in her charming expression, which even became somewhat distorted for a moment.
The man stroked her face and kissed her lips.
"How could I not have good intentions in marrying you?" he murmured.
He did have ill intentions at first, but now he realizes that he is completely infatuated with Ji Wanyuan and is no longer the self-disciplined and proper person he once was.
Even his father, mother, and younger brother saw through the deception.
Only Ji Wanyuan didn't notice.
She believed his casual remark without question, refused to get close to him, and tried to trick him into revealing information.
What did he do to make her so disgusted?
Since she knows the inside story of the marriage between the two families, could she follow this line of thought and consider whether, after being married for so long, he has ever revealed anything negative about the Ji family to his father or the Emperor?
Her prejudice against him was so deep that it made him feel powerless. He harbored resentment and hatred towards her, yet he was also filled with love because of her insincere smile.
The tangled emotions of love and hate tormented him, twisted his personality, and even fueled his jealousy.
He was jealous of her relatives for their trust and closeness, and he was also jealous of his own brother for being able to talk to her.
The more he thought about it, the more a strange thing inexplicably surfaced in his mind.
Just as they were getting closer, Ji Wanyuan asked him with an extremely confident tone what would happen if the son in her womb was harmed.
She hadn't given him a direct answer yet; she didn't like sons and hoped for a daughter, but then she said with certainty that it was a son.
Putting all that aside, what does she know?
What she knows may be more than just the inside story of the marriage between the two families.
"Anyway, you have ulterior motives, because you don't love me at all. If it were just for the child, why would you have to beg the Emperor?"
Her father told her that this marriage was arranged by the Emperor.
That means the Wen family had already agreed.
"Don't change the subject. You haven't made it clear yet. You want me to tell Father how to curb this? Is it just because you've taken in too many retainers?"
"Besides that, there are naturally other things."
really!
Ji Wanyuan thought to herself that it wasn't just that; the imperial court must have found out some other information as well.
"Then tell me quickly." She no longer cared about their intimacy and urged him on.
The man suddenly moved closer, "So fast?"
Ji Wanyuan let out a soft "Ah!" as tears rolled down her cheeks.
No, it's not...
"As for other matters, since my wife is pregnant, you shouldn't worry about them."
The sweet treat she gave him seemed to only make him fulfill those few words.
Ji Wanyuan felt it wasn't enough, but she didn't want to ask any more questions.
She was worried that asking too many questions would alert Wen Qiyan to something amiss.
Since she couldn't ask anymore, she began to distance herself from any intimacy between them.
When asked if he was feeling better, he said he was tired and wanted to rest.
"No," the man replied directly.
They became even more ruthless.
Ji Wanyuan endured the wind and rain; her clothes were torn and disheveled.
It hung loosely on her body, revealing a patch of fair skin covered with red marks, from the kisses of men.
“Ji Wanyuan…” he called her name softly.
It sounds deep and tender, yet it also conveys endless affection.
Wen Qiyan really enjoys having sex with her, he's so happy now, he was just pretending a moment ago, she couldn't help but sneer.
But the next moment, she actually heard the man ask,
"Why have you never considered that the reason I don't want a divorce is because I've fallen in love with you?"
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Author's Note: Here I am, I'm about to randomly drop yesterday's red envelopes! Today, there will still be 50 random red envelopes!
Thank you for your support.
Hehehe, my nutrient solution is almost at 9000! I'm so happy! I feel like it can really break 10,000 during the serialization period! I'm so happy I'm spinning around! [Sprinkling flowers]
By the way, if you like my work, you can bookmark my author page! I'm dreaming of making over 10,000 views this year! (⌒▽⌒)
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