Chapter 72. He really went to great lengths for Ji Wanyuan...
What a rebellious son! Even after leaving the capital, he still causes us no peace of mind.
Mr. Wen never imagined that one day he would use the word "rebellious son" to describe his most proud and steady son.
When exactly did he start to change? He's become so unrecognizable, so unfamiliar, that he could even harm his own mother. Wasn't he the one who hated the Ji family women the most?
He puts on a dignified facade, yet his actions are so biased. Last time I asked him to distinguish between what's important and what's not, was this how he did it?
Upon learning the news, Wen's father had already sent someone to fetch medicine and take him to the imperial physician on his way back home.
This medicine is indeed not harmful to the body; it will only delay the onset of the illness.
However, every medicine has its side effects!
These days I've been so busy with affairs of the court that I haven't had time to attend to the household matters. I never expected that such a distressing thing would happen.
On the left is the wife, and on the right is the son.
After barely calming down, Mr. Wen thought for a moment and decided to confront his son. He then launched into a stern rebuke.
"Hasn't Ji Wanyuan already returned to the Ji family to recuperate?"
Was he afraid that Madam Wen and Ji Wanyuan, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, would run into each other and cause conflict, or what?
Even if they did run into each other and things got heated, it wouldn't turn into a physical fight like he and Wen Yunqin did, would it?
Thinking of this, Wen's father couldn't help but pinch the bridge of his nose again. Last time, he shouldn't have let it go and let Wen Qiyan and Wen Yunqin fight without doing anything about it.
He truly regretted it then; why did he only talk to Wen Yunqin? He believed the two were just sparring, and even thought Wen Yunqin was causing trouble because of the inside story of the marriage between the two families. Now, looking back, he realized that Wen Qiyan was probably the biggest problem!
It takes two to tango, so why didn't anyone suspect Wen Qiyan? They were truly fooled by his calm and composed demeanor.
"What else did he do?" Father Wen asked sternly. "I'm afraid it's more than that!"
"I am unaware of the rest." The guard was not afraid of the pressure from Wen's father.
After thinking it over carefully, Mr. Wen still asked angrily, "What does Madam's illness have to do with Miss Ji's pregnancy? Miss Ji is carrying the Wen family's child. Madam must hope that she can give birth safely, and the Wen family will protect this child."
The guard replied, "The young master said that Miss Ji is carrying the Wen family's child. The Wen family naturally hopes that she will have a healthy delivery, but it's hard to say what others might think."
Bystanders...
As Mr. Wen pondered those two words, he thought of Madam Lin, who had brought a doctor to the Wen family's door earlier that day, and his eyes narrowed. "Is he wary of the Lin family?"
"The eldest young master said that the Lin family, acting on imperial orders, wants to harm the Wen family's offspring. However, since the Lin and Ji families have no relationship, if they want to accomplish this discreetly, they will inevitably start with the Wen family. Miss Qingling and her wife have always been close to the Lin family, so we need to be wary of them."
The words "obeying the imperial command" struck Wen's father's heart heavily, and his expression became very solemn.
Putting everything else aside, His Majesty cannot tolerate this child, yet Wen Qiyan insists on protecting him. Isn't that going against the court and His Majesty?
Wen's father then asked, "Is His Majesty unable to tolerate this child, or unable to tolerate Ji Wanyuan?"
The difference between the two is huge.
Unexpectedly, this rebellious son seemed to have foreseen what he was going to ask, and directly instructed his subordinate to say, "The eldest son said there is no difference."
Mr. Wen, who was blocked for the second time, was speechless.
He started to get agitated. "How can there be no difference? Ji Wanyuan's surname is Ji, and the child in her belly will be born with the surname Wen."
He said there's no difference, isn't that backwards?
Mr. Wen's brows furrowed as usual, but his heart was in turmoil.
Unfortunately, Wen Qiyan was not in the capital, and Wen's father couldn't find anyone to ask him. Not only was he not there, but Wen Yunqin was also not there.
"The eldest young master asked me to tell you something: if there is any difference, it is that Miss Ji herself is more important than the child in her womb. The person the eldest young master wants to protect is always her."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Wen felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, as if the sky had fallen.
Now that things have been said to this extent, is there anything you don't understand?
Wen Qiyan openly wanted to protect Ji Wanyuan, and even secretly opposed the emperor, beginning to disobey imperial orders.
Subconsciously, Wen's father was about to pick up his pen and write a letter, ordering Wen Qiyan to turn back and scold him for everything he was doing.
But as soon as he sat down at the desk and picked up his brush to dip in ink, he immediately thought of something and broke out in a cold sweat.
Wen Qiyan was going to Youzhou, but Ji Zhao suggested that since the emperor had given his permission, his trip to Youzhou was very complicated. If he were suddenly summoned back to the capital now, wouldn't that be like stirring up trouble?
This is more than just alerting the enemy; it's like the sky is falling and the earth is collapsing.
If Wen Qiyan turns back halfway, the emperor will definitely hold the Wen family accountable.
Madam Lin left today with the doctor, and in a couple of days that unfilial son will be called back. Even a naive person would suspect something fishy, let alone the Lin family.
When the Lin family submits a memorial, they will surely find that the emperor's suspicious nature has ruined the mining business in Youzhou. He will definitely order a thorough investigation, follow the clues, and unravel the mystery. How could he not figure out what really happened?
It's obvious what's going on!
If things escalate to that point, how can the Wen family possibly survive? Even if they do manage to survive, they will become the target of public criticism, and with the Wen family becoming the target of public criticism, the Ji family will have even more breathing room.
After much deliberation, Wen's father finally understood that he had thought everything through regarding Wen Qiyan's order to change the medicine. If it wasn't exposed, it would secretly prevent the Lin family from using the Wen family to associate with the Ji family and deal with Ji Wanyuan and her unborn child.
If the truth comes out, Madam Wen will definitely ask him to deal with the matter. At that time, the unfilial son who stayed in the capital will confront him, making him understand everything and learn the true side of Wen Qiyan.
He knew that his father, who cared about his reputation and wanted to protect the Wen family, would have to swallow his anger because of his wife, the emperor's surveillance of the Wen family, and the Lin family's covetous eyes.
Moreover, even if you don't want to get involved in this mess, you have to.
To preserve everything, she would not only swallow her anger but also help him to prevent the Lin family from taking advantage of the Wen and Ji families' relationship to harm Ji Wanyuan's unborn child.
He is using the Wen family's century-old foundation to further secure the safety and well-being of the Ji family's daughter.
He's meticulously planned every aspect, he's really schemed against his father.
After fully regaining his senses and realizing the truth, Wen's father suddenly recalled their many conversations before.
He asked his father to stop the emperor from holding the Ji family accountable, and he did so in a particularly high-sounding manner, claiming it was for the sake of the court and the country, speaking with great righteousness. In reality, he was just buying time for the Ji family to mine!
Going back further, when discussing his relationship with the woman from the Ji family, he said it was just lust, not love. When asked if he had thought it through, he replied with a cryptic expression that he had, and thanked his father for helping him understand.
Perhaps what he realized wasn't ruthlessness, but rather that his love had taken deep root. He knew he couldn't overcome the tide of love, so he began to scheme everything to get the Ji family's daughter and board the Ji family's ship! Because he knew that if he wanted to be with the Ji family's daughter, he had to make sacrifices for her.
He went to great lengths for Ji Wanyuan, not just in terms of sacrifice.
He openly and secretly bound the Ji family and the Wen family together, plotting against his father so that his father would protect the Ji family while he was away from the capital, ensuring that his beloved woman could sleep soundly every night.
What a clever scheme! What a brilliant plan!
This is the good son he had high hopes for, the one he hired a famous teacher to educate, who has now turned against everything for a woman he once looked down on.
That's insane.
As he pondered this, even the most composed Wen's father couldn't help but slam his pen down in anger. These past two days, the Censorate had been piling up cases, keeping him extremely busy. Upon returning home, he suddenly learned of this matter, which only added to his frustration. He told Wen Qiyan's men to get lost.
The guard respectfully picked up the pen and ink from the ground, put them aside, and then left.
"..."
Madam Wen had been waiting for her father's instructions without resting. She heard that her father had been furious in the South Study and couldn't sit still any longer, so she got up to see what had happened.
Halfway there, they ran into Mr. Wen, whose face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
"Master... what's wrong with you?" Madam Wen had never seen him like this before.
As Wen's father grew older, he rarely got angry and was mostly all smiles. This was the first time in so many years that he had a dark face, as if he had suffered a huge setback but had no choice but to accept it.
Upon seeing Madam Wen and noticing the worry on her face, Father Wen immediately composed himself.
"It's just... I had too much official business at court, and I was a bit overwhelmed." Afraid that Madam Wen would press him for answers, he quickly changed the subject, "Madam's illness hasn't gotten better yet, why did you come out?"
"The imperial physician said you can't be exposed to drafts, go back to your room first..."
After returning to the courtyard, Father Wen dismissed the servants who were attending to him.
He first asked Madam Wen if the Lin family had said anything besides looking for a doctor when they came to her house these past two days. He also asked when the Lin family had brought the doctor to treat her.
"Why are you suddenly asking these questions, sir?" Madam Wen asked, puzzled, especially since her father's expression was grave when he asked the questions, as if the situation was very serious.
"I will not hide it from you, Madam. This matter concerns the Ji family and the nation, so please be sure to attend to every detail."
"It concerns the Ji family and the nation?" Madam Wen was startled.
"Yes. I will tell you the details later, Madam. Please answer my question first."
He not only questioned Madam Wen, but also sent his men to investigate secretly. Although Wen Qiyan's people had given him specific inside information, Wen's father was still annoyed and felt irritated whenever he saw him.
He schemed against his own father, mother, and son for the sake of a woman, thinking she was no good person, but she happened to be his own son.
After thinking for a moment, Madam Wen recounted everything that had happened in the past two days, including the Lin family's visit.
Upon hearing this, Wen's father's expression remained solemn.
Madam Wen wasn't stupid, and immediately asked, "Could it be that the Lin family has ill intentions?"
She lowered her voice, "Is it because of the infighting among the powerful families that..."
What she really wanted to know was whether the medicine she was taking was orchestrated by the Lin family themselves, or whether the Lin family had switched the medicine.
Before she could even speak, Lin's father had already guessed what she was going to say and said directly, "No, it wasn't done by the Lin family."
Madam Wen breathed a sigh of relief. After all, the two families had a long-standing friendship and had helped each other in the past. If it was really the Lin family who did it, it would truly break her heart.
While she was relieved, she completely ignored the complicated expression on her father's face.
Before he could even catch his breath, he heard Wen's father say,
"It was Qi Yan who switched your medicine."
Mrs. Wen, “?”
Madam Wen was stunned for a long time, thinking she had misheard, and was somewhat amused and exasperated. "What did you say?"
Father Wen initially didn't want to say it, but after thinking it over carefully, he did, lest the Lin family become restless and gossip behind his back, causing who knows how much trouble they might cause.
Let's just make things clear at once, so that Wen's mother has some idea.
"It's a long story. Your medicine... was actually switched by Qi Yan."
Even after hearing it clearly, Madam Wen still didn't believe it. "My lord, even if you're joking, you don't need to drag Qi Yan into this. What does this have to do with Qi Yan? He's not even in the capital..."
That's what she said, but Madam Wen suddenly remembered what her father had just said: her matter of traditional Chinese medicine was related to the country and the Ji family.
It concerns the Ji family...
"This matter can't possibly have anything to do with Ji Wanyuan, can it?" Madam Wen asked rhetorically.
If it really was Wen Qiyan who did it, apart from being related to Ji Wanyuan, Madam Wen couldn't think of any other possibility.
Father Wen sighed inwardly, "It is indeed related to the Ji family girl, but she is completely unaware of it."
Worried that Madam Wen might hold a grudge against Ji Wanyuan, Father Wen carefully considered his words. He knew he had to be mindful of the relationship between his wife and mother, lest they become enemies.
"Master, what exactly do you mean by saying such things?" Madam Wen urged him to explain clearly, instead of being vague and making people uncomfortable.
"This is a long story..." Father Wen explained everything to Madam Wen in detail, from the inside story of the marriage between the two families to the matter of changing Wen Qiyan's medicine.
Mrs. Wen was stunned and fell into a long silence. Her father stayed by her side, giving her time to process what had happened.
After a short while, Madam Wen still didn't speak. Her father called her several times, but she didn't respond. She was probably terrified.
Mr. Wen hurriedly ordered someone to bring a bowl of ginseng soup and personally helped Mrs. Wen back to her room.
It wasn't until I lay down, drank a small bowl of ginseng, and sucked on a few slices of ginseng that I finally felt better.
Wen's father stayed by her side, patting her back and soothing her.
"I originally intended to keep this from you—"
Before she could finish speaking, Wen's mother ruthlessly interrupted her, "Hidden? How long are you going to keep it a secret?!"
Madam Wen glared at him coldly, and Father Wen immediately shut up.
"If my medication hadn't been switched, how long were you going to keep this a secret?!" Mother Wen was on the verge of collapse.
Unexpectedly, the inside story is like this.
At first, she believed it wholeheartedly, thinking that Wen Qiyan had been drunk and had ruined the girl's life, getting her pregnant. Later, Wen's father told her that there was more to the story behind the marriage between the two families, and now the Lin family had also joined the family.
The Lin family plots to harm the Wen family's offspring, directly targeting Ji Wanyuan, and is acting on imperial orders. Wen Qiyan then binds the Wen and Ji families together...
Even the change of her medication was part of the plan.
He really liked Ji Wanyuan very much, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to scheme to this extent.
"I was just worried you wouldn't be able to handle it," Wen's father comforted her.
Madam Wen spat out the remaining ginseng slices in her mouth, "You...you and your son are just the same!" Neither of you can say anything to the other.
Father Wen, "..."
How can he be compared to that rebellious son?
Wen's mother coughed several times in a row, and Wen's father dared not argue anymore. He hurriedly said that it was all the same, that it was all his fault, and that he would never fight back or talk back no matter how much he was hit or scolded.
Let Madam Wen vent her anger; don't bottle it up, lest she harm her health.
Wen's mother did cry and make a scene for half an hour. After eating some food and drinking half a bowl of herbal medicine, she asked Wen's father in a bad mood what to do next.
"Is His Majesty really going to eliminate the Ji family? How should our Wen family position ourselves?"
Even if Wen Qiyan didn't tie himself to the Wen family, given the depth of his feelings for the Ji family's daughter, he would definitely not stand idly by if the Ji family were in trouble.
Therefore, no matter what, there's no way to get out of this mess cleanly.
Thinking back to the time before Wen Qiyan married Ji Wanyuan, his cold face and aloofness, and now he's fallen so low, it's simply a tragic fate.
Mr. Wen said, "Pretend you know nothing, continue to associate with the Lin family as usual, but don't bring any members of the Lin family to the Ji family's door."
"What about Ji Wanyuan?"
Madam Wen is worried, shouldn't she at least offer some words of comfort? What kind of mother-in-law would she be if she didn't care when the time comes for the delivery?
"It's alright, she's at the Ji family's house. The Ji family will take good care of her. When you're better, I'll take you to visit her."
"Does the Lin family really have to come to this point with us?"
To be honest, even if it was by imperial decree, Wen's mother was heartbroken. The two families had a good relationship, yet the Lin family actually wanted to murder the Wen family's descendants. It was a life, no, it could have been two lives.
For a woman, childbirth is like stepping into the gates of hell; if anything goes wrong, the consequences are unimaginable.
Despite her disheartening experience, Madam Wen understood that in aristocratic families, profit was paramount. If interests clashed, even family members would turn against each other without mercy, let alone friends.
Seeing her sadness, Father Wen offered many words of comfort and once again instructed Madam Wen not to give herself away during this time, to make up any excuses to appease Madam Lin, and absolutely not to involve Ji Wanyuan and Wen Qiyan.
"Master, is the world really about to descend into chaos?" Madam Wen asked him if he had heard the imperial decree to conscript soldiers.
"The people are making a huge fuss, and I'm in the officialdom, how could I not hear it?"
He hasn't even mentioned the Censorate yet. The emperor is constantly exploiting the people in order to collect taxes. Throughout history, the capital has always been the most prosperous place. Now, some people actually want to move out. Isn't that going to cause chaos?
Previously, Wen Qiyan had mentioned the "Three Cases" to him, saying that the emperor's actions were absurd. He said that everyone has selfish desires, and now these selfish desires are being amplified and placed above the common people. Wen's father really didn't know what to say; he just felt powerless.
The situation was beyond his control; he couldn't possibly expect the emperor to act according to the ideas of a mere censor.
Moreover, the emperor has already become suspicious of the Wen family, and now he relies most heavily on the Fang family, as the Fang family has many daughters, most of whom have been sent to the harem.
The wind whispered in his ear at night, and he even found a Taoist priest who could refine elixirs and make medicine for the emperor, thus winning the emperor's favor and gaining him great prestige.
"Master, are you alright?" Madam Wen asked again.
"No, there's been a lot going on at the Censorate lately. Although I'm busy, I've managed to extricate myself from the situation." It's just that it's difficult to navigate the situation.
As for the Ji family's affairs, let Wen Qiyan handle them himself. Isn't he capable? He's so meticulous in his calculations, what can't he handle?
The emperor's review of past cases, ostensibly to punish corrupt officials, was actually a means to extract money from powerful families and clans to replenish the national treasury.
Mrs. Wen sighed.
The next day, the Lin family came to the door, but Wen's father was not home.
Madam Lin carefully observed Madam Wen's expression, saying that she couldn't sleep well at night, afraid that something might happen to Madam Wen, and also afraid that Madam Wen's self-determination would cause trouble for the Wen family and ruin the relationship between the two families.
Madam Wen inwardly scoffed, but outwardly remained as warm as ever towards her, saying, "Our two families have known each other for so many years! Our friendship is deep, how could you think like that?"
"If it weren't for you, I would still be in the dark and probably would have been murdered!"
Madam Wen said that if Madam Lin didn't come, she would personally prepare generous gifts and visit the Lin family to thank her properly once she recovered from her illness.
Seeing that Madam Wen's expression remained unchanged and showed no flaws, Madam Lin was slightly relieved. "I'm glad you don't blame me for acting on my own. This is what I should do. Everything has been taken care of. So... what exactly happened?"
"It's all taken care of," Wen's mother sighed.
"It was one of the maids in the house who did it. She was not very efficient before, and it just so happened that she happened to be in a bad mood, so I fined her several months' wages. Who knew that she would hold a grudge and switch my medicine? I found out yesterday and then kicked her out!"
When Madam Wen mentioned "this matter," she clutched her chest in anger. The old woman beside her quickly advised her to take care of herself, saying that it was no wonder she was so angry about a young girl.
"This maid is really reckless, actually doing something like plotting against her master. Why not send her to the authorities?" Madam Lin was somewhat incredulous.
"The imperial physician said the changed medicine only delayed my illness and wasn't serious, so let's just forget about it. There have been so many incidents in the capital lately; getting involved with the authorities would be embarrassing and make us a laughingstock. Forget it..."
Madam Wen waved her hand and pinched her brow. "By the way, don't tell anyone."
Madam Lin nodded, "...Alright, I definitely won't tell anyone. I just feel that a little maid probably wouldn't have the guts to do that. Could someone be behind her?"
“I never make enemies in my daily life, so I don’t think anyone is so vicious as to want to take my old life.”
Madam Wen was sarcastic and cryptic behind the scenes, but pretended to be kind on the surface. Madam Lin vaguely felt that she was being sarcastic, but she couldn't find any evidence. She could only listen, her heart pounding.
"You're right. The most important thing now is to take care of yourself, take your medicine on time, and get better soon." Madam Wen didn't pursue the matter, and Madam Lin couldn't overstep her bounds, so she reminded her to be careful.
Only when Madam Wen recovers can she be allowed to visit the Ji family.
"Where is Nianxi?" Madam Wen asked, wondering why she hadn't come.
Mrs. Lin smiled and said, "She recently went to the temple to burn incense, saying she wanted to get you a good luck charm."
Amulet for peace and safety?
Upon learning that the two families' interests were at odds, Madam Wen felt a mix of emotions. She didn't say anything in the end, but sighed, "She really put her heart into it."
"..."
A few days later, Madam Wen gradually recovered and her illness subsided.
Not only did Madam Wen recover, but Wen Qiyan, who was far away in the capital, also recovered significantly.
The emperor sent a letter of condolence and urging, and he could no longer delay. The group packed up and prepared to set off.
Ji Wanyuan sat in the carriage and watched him read the letter intently, glancing at him furtively. Wen Qiyan noticed her little actions, and after reading it, he put the letter in her hand, saying, "If you're going to read it, then read it openly and honestly."
"Why would I want to see it?" she said, but she didn't return the letter to the man.
She snorted and, feigning reluctance, unfolded the emperor's letter.
The letter urged Wen Qiyan to speed up her trip, ordering him to take over Youzhou and even... eliminate her brother?!
"The emperor wants to kill my brother?"
“Yes.” Wen Qiyan looked at her. “Your brother-in-law’s identity has been exposed. You’ve been with him day and night for over ten years. Don’t you know who he is?”
Ji Wanyuan didn't smell the faint scent of jealousy. She only wondered, "My brother is just my brother, what else could he be?"
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Author's Note: Hey everyone! Happy National Day! This chapter will randomly drop 50 lucky red envelopes! [rainbow emoji]
There will be another update tonight.
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