Chapter 54. To him, she was a priceless treasure. ...
Ji Wanyuan paused, "I...guess?"
Was he teasing her? Why was he saying things like "guess or not"? Did she seem inclined to guess?
Despite saying that, Ji Wanyuan actually followed the man's train of thought and considered it further. Her first thought was, what priceless treasure could her father possibly have that Wen Qiyan would want?
Mining in Youzhou?
That mine must be the most valuable thing Father currently owns, right? Once the mine is fully exploited, its value will be immeasurable; the money it generates could crush a person to death.
Wen Qiyan wants this priceless treasure? But it's his father's bargaining chip; how could his father give it to him?
Even if she was foolish, she knew that this was the key point in the power struggle between her father and the imperial court.
After thinking it over, Ji Wanyuan felt it was impossible.
Seeing her deep in thought, glancing at him every now and then, it was inexplicably funny.
She truly never considered herself in the slightest.
After racking her brains, Ji Wanyuan still couldn't come up with an answer, so she simply asked...
"What exactly did you ask my father for? Stop keeping me in suspense." She hated guessing games.
Besides, what priceless treasures does the Ji family possess that she doesn't know about? Wen Qiyan is definitely lying to her.
The man remained silent, calmly turning the pages of the book in his hands.
Unable to get a reply from him, Ji Wanyuan resorted to provocation, crossing her arms and chuckling coquettishly, "Wen Qiyan, are you trying to trick me?"
Seeing through her method, Wen Qiyan didn't play along. Instead, he asked, "Do I have any reason to lie to you?"
"Doesn't that count? How can I believe you're telling the truth if you don't tell me the whole story?"
"Why be in such a hurry, my lady? We can't know for sure right now, but we'll find out once it's all over."
"After it's done?" Ji Wanyuan pondered his words.
"After what is accomplished?"
Could it be that Wen Qiyan already knows what the Ji family is planning? Did his father tell him? How could his father tell him?! He's an outsider!
Thinking of this, Ji Wanyuan felt utterly bewildered, but she still had to maintain a facade. She really wanted to go back and find out the truth.
Wen Qiyan seemed to have read her mind and said, "There are still guests at home."
"What guest?" Ji Wanyuan feigned ignorance.
He glanced at her but didn't reply.
Ji Wanyuan sat there for a long time, becoming increasingly unsettled. Her mind was in turmoil; how had things changed so drastically? She couldn't see clearly, and she was completely baffled.
"I want to go back." She didn't want to be kept in the dark and refused to go back to the Wen family with Wen Qiyan.
"What's all the fuss about?" Seeing her stern face as she lifted the carriage curtain to tell the guards driving the horses to stop, Wen Qiyan pulled her back.
“If you don’t explain it to me clearly, I’m going home to ask my father.”
"Even if you go and ask, your father-in-law may not tell you."
Ji Wanyuan said irritably, "How do you know my father won't tell me who my father is?"
"Is there a difference?" the man asked.
Ji Wanyuan snorted again.
The guards were confused, but they had heard the argument between the two, so they slowed down the carriage.
Before long, he received instructions from Wen Qiyan to return to the Wen family.
Before he could finish speaking, Ji Wanyuan couldn't help but raise her small face and glare at him arrogantly.
"Wen Qiyan, you're such a bastard," she cursed at him.
"Am I a bastard?" The man flipped through the book, glancing up at him.
"Aren't you one?" she retorted, then called him a bastard who loved to keep people in suspense.
The man gave a nonchalant "Oh," and said, "If I'm a bastard, then isn't the baby you're carrying a little bastard?"
Ji Wanyuan was speechless with anger, "You!"
She couldn't out-argue him, and then muttered that he wasn't a man and only knew how to bully girls.
"Did I bully someone again?"
"I already told you I wanted to go back to my parents' home, why won't you let me go? Isn't this bullying?"
"We have guests at home. As the young mistress, you should at least meet them." Wen Qiyan remained calm in the face of the aggressive woman.
She was still angry, her little face puffed up with rage, her full chest heaving, and even her protruding belly bulging as she kept pulling open the cloak she was wearing.
"See your sister?" Since things had already fallen apart, she might as well make it clear that she didn't like his sister and didn't want to see her!
"You don't like your sister, you like your brother, is that right?"
Ji Wanyuan, “…”
She laughed in exasperation, "You really know how to find loopholes."
"Isn't that how it is?"
Ji Wanyuan understood the meaning behind his words very clearly; he was simply saying that what he said was wrong.
She really spoke without thinking. She glared at him again, annoyed, "You're right. I like your brother, not your sister, and I don't like you either."
I've never seen anyone like this before, always getting jealous.
He clearly doesn't love her, yet he enjoys being jealous like this. Who is he putting on this act for? How much salary does the court actually give him? He's gone to such lengths to please her.
She was pulled away as soon as she finished speaking.
Ji Wanyuan gasped in surprise, already on his lap, instantly enveloped by the man's cool breath, and dared not move again.
She froze even more when she looked up and met the man's cold, ruthless gaze.
"You're determined to upset me, aren't you?" He looked at her panicked expression and slowly raised his hand to stroke her cheek.
Ji Wanyuan felt the man's fingertips slowly tracing her face. Suppressing her nervousness, she forced herself to remain calm, her tone already slightly timid.
"I... the 'like' I'm talking about isn't the kind of 'like' you think it is."
"What do I consider liking?" he asked again.
"The attraction between men and women."
He looked at her and tried to argue, "It's not romantic love, what kind of love do you have for Qin Di?"
Ji Wanyuan was very annoyed by his imposing manner. Now that she was trapped in his arms, she couldn't argue with him. She stammered, "It's normal, it's just affection between an uncle and sister-in-law."
The man's smile was forced and insincere.
By the time Ji Wanyuan realized what was happening and tried to run away, she had already been grabbed by the cheek and kissed.
Her sobbing was also silenced by the man.
He kissed her fiercely, as if he intended to finish her off. Ji Wanyuan was already trying to avoid him, and now that she was trapped in his arms, she was almost powerless to fight back and could only be kissed by the man.
After he entered her lips, he swept her soft tongue around with the force of a whirlwind, entice her, and coerce her.
Ji Wanyuan reacted and tried to escape, even attempting to fight back, but the man had already absorbed most of her strength, and her remaining attacks were quickly dissolved by his kisses.
Gradually, she lost her strength. Not only did she lose the strength to resist, but her breathing also became rapid. Just when she was about to suffocate and faint from the kiss, the man finally released her.
She had no choice but to nestle in Wen Qiyan's arms, her two hands weakly clinging to his narrow waist, pitifully leaning against his chest, her cheeks flushed, her swollen lips and tongue slightly parted, breathing heavily, her heart pounding incredibly fast, and the tip of her nose also extremely red.
Even a young lady who has never experienced love could tell from her delicate appearance that she had been badly bullied.
Ji Wanyuan couldn't say a word; she was still trying to calm her breathing.
The man holding her, his handsome face flushed with desire yet still cool, slowly raised his hand to straighten her disheveled dress and cloak, adjusted her loose hairpins, and smoothed her dark hair.
His rough fingertips caressed the woman's delicate lips again, and he softly called her name, "Ji Wanyuan".
"If you don't want to be scolded by me, then don't say things like that again, otherwise..."
She was still catching her breath, and when she looked up at him, she was still in a daze, but she seemed much more obedient than before.
Under the man's domineering pressure, and in order to keep her breathing and her mouth shut, Ji Wanyuan had no choice but to nod blankly.
Seeing this, the man curled his lips into a smile, "..."
Ji Wanyuan did not argue with Wen Qiyan again until the carriage stopped in front of the Wen family's house.
He couldn't hit her, nor could he do anything about it, but whenever she mentioned something he didn't like, especially anything related to Wen Yunqin, he would kiss her until her lips were soft and her breathing became rapid.
Ji Wanyuan never expected him to be this kind of person. He was truly shameless! On the main road of the capital, inside the carriage, he started touching and kissing her, and kissing her so forcefully.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. When the carriage came to a stop, she didn't wait for Wen Qiyan anymore. She angrily lifted her skirt and cloak, stepped off the small stool, and walked away quickly. Emerald led the little maids behind her, calling out to her, "Miss, watch out for the steps!"
Ji Wanyuan returned to the courtyard and did not go to Madam Wen's side.
She didn't want to see Wen Qingling, especially since Lin Nianxi was also there.
She'd never gotten along with these two before, and now she had to face them, even in a bad mood, and still put on a good face. It was just too much.
Madam Wen received the news first, when a servant told her that the two had returned.
Ji Wanyuan walked ahead, looking rather unwell, while Wen Qiyan strolled leisurely behind her.
"What's wrong?" Madam Wen asked, frowning, while Wen Qingling and Lin Nianxi listened from the side.
"This servant does not know."
With Lin Nianxi present, Madam Wen couldn't press the matter too much. She simply gave her trusted servant a look, signaling her to keep an eye on things.
Even if Ji Wanyuan wanted to avoid it, they still ran into each other at dinner time. Wen Qingling returned home, and there were also guests from the Lin family, so they had to dine together in the front hall.
She was upset and didn't want to go, but Emerald coaxed her, telling her not to act impulsively, lest word get out and others gossip, which wouldn't sound good.
So she went anyway, going with Wen Qiyan.
The two haven't spoken a word since they returned.
He was reviewing the cases submitted by the Censorate in his study, while she went to rest in the inner room.
Walking along the covered walkway and past the hanging flower gate, I still didn't hear a single word.
Wen Qiyan glanced at her a few times. The person beside her was still sulking, with a stern face, as if afraid others wouldn't know she was unhappy. Her lips had been treated with medicine by her maid, but the swelling hadn't completely gone down yet.
When they arrived at the main hall, almost everyone from the Wen family was there.
Ji Wanyuan first greeted Wen's parents, then exchanged greetings with Lin Nianxi and Wen Qingling, and finally with Wen Yunqin. Because of the presence of a certain man, she didn't dare to smile at him. After going through the formalities and exchanging pleasantries, she sat down.
"What's wrong? You don't look well," Madam Wen asked her.
Before Ji Wanyuan could reply, Wen Qiyan said it was because he had been exposed to the wind yesterday.
"The weather has been getting colder these past few days, so don't be careless. Those who serve you should also be careful."
Mr. Wen chimed in, “Your mother-in-law is right. If you’re really feeling unwell, you should find a doctor from the Imperial Physician to take a look.”
"My father-in-law and mother-in-law are worried, and I will be careful. There's no need to see the imperial physician. I already had the doctor examine me today, and he said I'm fine and just need to rest more."
Ji Wanyuan pursed her lips and gave a smile as she made her way through the scene.
"That's good." Mother Wen was relieved and told everyone to hurry up and eat.
The banquet had just begun when the rain outside started to pour again, and the wind was blowing so hard that it was splashing rainwater onto the windowsill.
The old woman told the maid to close the window. Wen Qingling, who was sitting next to Madam Wen, noticed her usually indifferent and aloof brother and took a cloak from the maid and tied it on Ji Wanyuan.
The other person seemed annoyed with him and glared at him.
Although the two were keeping their interactions discreet, Wen's mother and father seemed not to notice.
But Wen Qingling, Lin Nianxi, and Wen Yunqin, who were sitting at the lower end, all saw it clearly.
Ji Wanyuan was very impatient with Wen Qiyan.
She glared at him, clearly not wanting him to touch her, and raised her hand to do it herself.
However, Wen Qiyan used some method and only glanced at her. Although Ji Wanyuan was dissatisfied, she still obediently let him tie the cloak on her.
There was a strange atmosphere between the two that no one else could understand or get a word in edgewise.
"Brother and sister-in-law are so loving," Wen Qingling said with a smile.
Lin Nianxi suppressed her jealousy and sneer and echoed her words.
Ji Wanyuan and the two of them didn't get along. Faced with their teasing about being "a snake and a rat" in cahoots, she just smiled and lowered her head to eat, wanting only to finish her meal and leave as soon as possible.
After the meal, the rain outside grew heavier and heavier, pattering against the windowpanes. Father Wen called Wen Qiyan to the South Study to discuss matters, and Wen Yunqin also left the table.
He was still serving as the commander of the Imperial Guard, but he had to go out now because he hadn't finished his official duties.
Wen's mother gave him many instructions, telling him to be careful and instructing the accompanying guards to follow him closely to prevent any accidents.
Ji Wanyuan listened silently from the side without saying a word.
After Wen Yunqin left, she looked up, but to her surprise, he turned the corner around the main hall and glanced in her direction.
The man's eyes held a complex expression, which puzzled Ji Wanyuan. What exactly was going on?
What pulled her back to reality was Wen Qingling's question. She asked if it was past April and if she was eating and sleeping well.
"Thank you for your concern, Aunt. Everything is fine." Ji Wanyuan replied casually, not paying much attention to her.
She planned to stay for a while and then take her leave, but Wen Qingling kept trying to talk to her, asking about her pregnancy and her daily life.
Then she brought up the gifts she had brought back, explaining what kinds of food and brocades they were, and told Ji Wanyuan to try them and see if she liked anything in particular, and that she would send more over in the future.
Ji Wanyuan had no choice but to deal with it, and Lin Nianxi next to her would also chime in from time to time. The back-and-forth went on and on, and she was getting tired.
Madam Wen noticed her impatience and stepped in to smooth things over, changing the subject to Lin Nianxi's marriage. Only then did Ji Wanyuan have some free time and even became somewhat interested in listening in.
Watching Lin Nianxi feign shyness as she answered Madam Wen's questions about her choice of husband, she was happy to watch the show. However, the wind and rain outside made her feel drowsy after only a short while.
Inside the South Study, after hearing Wen Qiyan's report from his visit to the Ji family that day, Wen's father was not particularly moved and asked him if it was true.
"Does the father no longer believe in his son?"
Amidst the wind and rain, father and son confront each other at the desk.
When Wen's father thought about how he had shown concern for Ji Wanyuan at the dinner table, it didn't seem like an act at all; it seemed like he was genuinely worried that Ji Wanyuan had caught a cold.
Hesitating for a moment, he quietly observed him, and after a long while, he said, "It's not that I don't believe you, but..."
Before he could finish speaking, Father Wen changed the subject and laughed, "Qi Yan, since ancient times, even heroes have found it hard to resist the charms of a beautiful woman. Sometimes I worry that you have truly fallen for Miss Ji."
"Will you, like your brother, become hopelessly entangled in romantic relationships, unable to extricate yourself, and ultimately turn against the family?"
Wen Qiyan did not answer directly, but instead asked, "What does Father think?"
"I gave birth to you and raised you, but I understand you less and less now."
Let alone him, even the emperor probably couldn't see through it.
Today, during an audience with the Emperor in the Imperial Study, after inquiring about Wen's father's recent situation, the Emperor said that the investigation into the Youzhou mining industry had been going on for so long without any news, and there must be something wrong with it.
The problem lies either with Ji Wanyuan or with Wen Qiyan.
The emperor then told him to be careful, as the matter could not be delayed any longer.
Based on this one sentence, Wen's father understood the implied meaning, and the emperor, unsure of his outstanding eldest son, began to have doubts and reservations.
After returning home, Wen's father thought about it carefully and also felt that something was wrong.
Wen Qiyan is wise. It has been almost five months since the Ji family made any progress, and looking at the bigger picture, this is indeed not right.
"The day when those people sent to Youzhou to investigate return to the capital will be the final deadline for the Ji family."
"Once the memorial impeaching the Ji family is submitted, will you have any regrets?"
"What's wrong with being soft-hearted?" Wen Qiyan never gave a direct answer.
“We father and son speak frankly. Last time you talked to me about those three cases, you said that the monarch’s judgment was not corroborated and that he was not worthy of being a monarch. This statement made me worry about you when I thought about it later.”
"What are you worried about?" Wen Qiyan asked, following up on his words.
"I'm worried that you'll be swayed by love, lose faith in the country, and go astray."
Faced with his father's concern, Wen Qiyan smiled faintly, "In Father's eyes, is this the kind of person your son is?"
"Qi Yan, answer your father honestly. In the months since you married Miss Ji, you've visited the Ji family several times. Have you really not found out anything suspicious?"
"Or have you already found out, but in order to protect her and her family, you refuse to say anything? That's why you keep making excuses?"
"Has Father become so suspicious of his son?" Wen Qiyan said indifferently. "In that case, why not break up the marriage between our two families and let me and Ji Wanyuan get a divorce? What do you say?"
Father Wen frowned and narrowed his eyes, "You're willing to do that?"
"How could I not want to part with it?" He didn't hesitate at all and directly picked up where Wen's father left off.
"If you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them. Since Father and His Majesty both suspect their son so much, wouldn't it be best not to involve him in this anymore?"
“After all, you have more than one son. I can just divorce Ji Wanyuan and let Qin take over.”
Wen's father was somewhat confused by his rapid-fire words.
Looking at Wen Qiyan's expression, it was utterly calm and completely unmoved.
Seriously speaking, Mr. Wen was a little stunned.
Previously, he had gone to great lengths to prevent Wen Yunqin from getting close to Ji Wanyuan, and even tried to send him away, but now he was incredibly magnanimous, even casually mentioning the word "divorce."
What exactly is his intention, what are his thoughts?
After a long silence, Wen's father said indirectly, "I was just guessing; I didn't really suspect you."
"Qi Yan," Wen's father turned his gaze outside and looked at the rain, "with your wisdom and foresight, it's not hard to see that His Majesty can no longer tolerate the Ji family, and the Ji family has indeed harbored rebellious intentions, and has been making frequent moves behind the scenes."
"Family and women, I hope you can distinguish which is more important."
Which is more important?
His rationality indeed allows him to distinguish between what is important and what is not.
But right now, all reason has been completely devoured by the name Ji Wanyuan.
"Do not disappoint the monarch's expectations of you, and the cultivation your father has given you."
Wen Qiyan remained silent.
Looking at his cool and handsome profile, Wen's father realized that his probing tonight had not revealed a single problem, but instead had left him in a daze.
"If you are truly in love and want the daughter of the Ji family, after the Ji family falls, with your merits and achievements, it should not be difficult to ask His Majesty to protect her."
"Of course, she is also carrying the child of our Wen family. I will plead for her then. The best outcome would be to change her name and raise her in the inner quarters, as long as she behaves herself and doesn't cause trouble like before."
Wen Qiyan sneered inwardly, but nodded slightly on the surface.
Father Wen didn't know whether his nod meant agreement or something else.
But in the end, doubts arose. Wen's father still trusted Wen Qiyan. After all, he was his son, and the most outstanding one. She was just a woman. No matter how much he was attracted to her, he would never go against the Wen family or the entire court for her sake.
"Since the Ji family has already allowed you to enter and leave the study and has told you about the affairs of Youzhou, you should find out the exact location as soon as possible. Once you have the accurate location, the imperial court will send troops to arrest Ji Zhao's people. When the matter is brought to court, the downfall of the Ji family will be a foregone conclusion."
"Father has worked with Prime Minister Ji for many years. You know his abilities and methods all too well. It's already quite an achievement for your son to gain his favor after being beaten. As for the location of the mine, do you think it's possible to find out in a short time?"
"So what do you mean?" Father Wen frowned, got up, took the kettle, and added hot water to his teacup.
"My son thinks we shouldn't rush things."
Father Wen paused slightly, "But what about His Majesty..."
"Ji Wanyuan hasn't been born yet, and His Majesty is pressuring me like this just to test my feelings for Ji Wanyuan through you. Father, don't think my words are harsh. Aren't you being used as a pawn in this?"
Father Wen, "...?"
"Isn't that so?"
Wen Qiyan raised his teacup and met his father's hesitant expression.
As he gradually came to his senses, Mr. Wen asked, "...Is that so?"
"Whether it is or not, you can go and tell His Majesty tomorrow that it is not advisable to rush into impeaching the Ji family. Then you can see if he will accept the offer."
"And what about your feelings?" Father Wen squinted.
"What are your thoughts, son?"
"Do you want the Ji family to be impeached at this juncture?"
“Of course not.” Wen Qiyan slowly sipped his tea.
Why?
"Do you think your son did this for Ji Wanyuan?"
Was his affection for her already so obvious? Her father had tested her so many times, so why couldn't she see it?
His finger bones tapped the rim of the cup intermittently.
Wen's father did not notice Wen Qiyan's absent-mindedness and was still speculating about his intentions in asking His Majesty to postpone the impeachment of the Ji family, wondering if he had any ulterior motives.
"Have you done anything for her?"
“There are indeed some,” Wen Qiyan said.
"Oh?" His words immediately made Wen's father frown.
"She's only four months pregnant. If something goes wrong at this crucial time, does Father still want to hold his grandson?"
Father Wen, "..."
Although he didn't particularly like his daughter-in-law Ji Wanyuan, Wen's father still wanted to hold his grandson.
"It is highly likely that the Ji family has just started mining in Youzhou. They have not even found the location yet, but they are already being impeached and targeted. If the Ji family holds onto their mines and keeps them hidden, this mine will definitely not fall into the hands of the imperial court."
"In recent years, the national treasury has been empty. One of the main reasons His Majesty has taken action against the Ji family is to confiscate their assets, seize their private mines, and replenish the national treasury. If we impeach and confiscate the Ji family now, we will have their assets. But how confident are we that we can succeed in seizing their mining assets?"
"Don't rush things and make a mess of things." He sneered.
Wen Qiyan's words hit the nail on the head, leaving his father speechless for a moment.
He made a bizarre discovery: in terms of manipulating the politics of officialdom, Wen Qiyan had far surpassed him.
Even though he didn't want to admit it, Wen's father had to. Sometimes, it would take him a long time to understand what Wen Qiyan said.
“That’s…that’s true, you’re right.”
"Hmm." Wen Qiyan lowered his eyes.
Father Wen sighed, "It's good that you know what's going on. You must not let personal feelings for your children cloud your judgment and ruin our great cause."
"I'm entrusting everything of the Wen family to you," Father Wen said earnestly, patting his shoulder.
Wen Qiyan didn't reply, "..."
Inside the main hall, Madam Wen kept rambling on and on until her old woman reminded her that she should rest, at which point she finally stopped.
Ji Wanyuan didn't want to wait for Wen Qiyan, so she took her leave and returned to her courtyard alone.
The rain was still heavy, and most of the covered walkway was wet. The maids carried many lanterns to light the way and to warn her to be careful.
Ji Wanyuan did not expect to run into Wen Yunqin at the corner.
Just like the previous times, he seemed to be waiting for her.
Before Ji Wanyuan could speak, Fei Cui stepped forward and stood between the two to greet Wen Yunqin, subtly reminding them of their identities and that they should avoid suspicion.
The moment Ji Wanyuan saw Wen Yunqin, she inexplicably felt a pain in her lips and subconsciously pursed them.
"Sister-in-law, I have something to tell you, it's very important." Wen Yunqin looked at her.
Emerald frowned. Why was this second young master so stubborn? He was always watching their young lady. They had been alone together several times, but the eldest young master had caught them every time. Hadn't he learned his lesson?
Is it important?
Ji Wanyuan wondered what important things Wen Yunqin wanted to say to her. She recalled the complicated look Wen Yunqin gave her as he left the hall.
Before she could answer, Wen Yunqin's gaze shifted to what was behind her, and a bad feeling arose in her heart.
Before she could turn around, Ji Wanyuan heard a cold voice coming from behind her.
"Brother Qin, what do you want to say to your sister-in-law? Why don't you let me hear it too, and see just how important it is?"
Before Ji Wanyuan could turn around, the man had already put his arm around her shoulder.
The large hand landed on her shoulder, and with a slight force, she crashed into the man's broad chest, where he held her waist.
Ji Wanyuan, “…” Isn’t he still in the South Study?
How come Wen Qiyan appeared like a ghost right after she met Wen Yunqin?
"Brother, you've arrived very quickly," Wen Yunqin chuckled.
Wen Qiyan's expression remained unchanged. Ji Wanyuan raised her face and met his deep eyes, seeing a cold smile slowly curving up on the man's lips.
He looked at her, but spoke to Wen Yunqin.
The man's tone was nonchalant, but the implication in his words was chilling.
"It seems you didn't take my advice to heart at all last time."
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Author's Note: I'm here! This chapter also features 50 random red envelopes! [Rainbow fart] Let's see who's lucky!
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