Chapter 74. Wen Qiyan was almost brought to tears by her.
He made it very clear to her that he wanted her heart.
It's not just about occupying her body, but also about occupying her heart, filling her heart completely.
To possess her entirely.
Countless times, Wen Qiyan mentioned his feelings for her and asked for her reciprocation.
Ji Wanyuan felt a little flustered. If she hadn't known what he had done for the Ji family, she could have pretended to be deaf and dumb, ignoring whatever he said, or even changing the subject. But now that Wen Qiyan had brought it up, it probably wouldn't be good for her to do so.
So, her mind raced, and she felt a little flustered, unsure how to respond to him.
He couldn't help but drift off into his own thoughts, thinking to himself, "He's too direct..."
This was even more direct than when she was pursuing him before. Had she ever been as unbridled as Wen Qiyan before?
The man's forehead was still pressed against hers. She wasn't sure if it was because they were both inside the carriage, but even though it wasn't directly against his chest, she could still feel his heartbeat.
A powerful, sudden shock jolted her, making her heart tighten.
Ji Wanyuan pressed her wrist against his chest, curled up inside, hesitated and stumbled for a long time, but still chose to escape, her eyes beginning to dart away.
But he wouldn't allow it. His fingers pinched her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes and feel his surging, unfathomable affection.
“Ji Wanyuan…”
I really like Ji Wanyuan.
Did she give him some kind of love potion, making him so infatuated, unable to control himself, and increasingly unable to extricate himself?
He loved her, but he also hated her.
He hated her for pretending to be deaf and dumb and not responding; he hated her for not loving him and letting lust torment him while she stood by and watched him make a fool of himself.
She wasn't focused when she kissed him, and would even smile at other people.
Realizing that his feelings for her could no longer be eradicated, he began to indulge in his infatuation, and now he was sinking deeper and deeper, and even he himself did not know how far he would drown.
Once he falls in love with Ji Wanyuan, he will never be able to turn his life around.
I know perfectly well that this is wrong, but my reason has been eroded to almost nothing.
He also wanted to be a selfless person, giving to her without expecting anything in return, but he couldn't do it.
With such greed, Ji Wanyuan will only love him less and less.
That suffocating sense of injustice welled up again, causing his eyes to sting and sting.
Ji Wanyuan's pupils widened in an instant. What did she feel...?
Wen Qiyan looked like he was about to cry.
"You must be mistaken? Are your eyes glistening with tears because you're not getting a response from her?"
To verify this, she stared intently at the man in front of her.
As he watched, he suddenly looked away and even reached down to cover her eyes.
Ji Wanyuan's vision went completely dark in an instant, and she could no longer see anything.
She immediately struggled to pry Wen Qiyan's hand off, and after a brief struggle, they managed to separate them.
But the man's expression had returned to its normal indifference, showing no change whatsoever, as if what she had just seen was nothing more than an illusion.
The conversation ended abruptly, as Ji Wanyuan couldn't answer, and Wen Qiyan didn't press the matter further.
The silver charcoal inside the carriage was still burning, and she was still sitting on his lap, watching him look at the map of Youzhou and process the documents sent from the capital.
The man's profile was handsome and aloof; she stared at him, slightly lost in thought, "..."
The days in the capital were far from peaceful.
Especially the Wen family.
The Lin family visited frequently. After Madam Wen recovered from her illness, Madam Lin brought Lin Nianxi to celebrate again.
Lin Nianxi held a peace charm in her hand, saying that she had bathed and fasted before going to the temple to obtain it.
Madam Wen sat in the flower hall, put down her teacup, and accepted the amulet that she was given. She stroked the purse containing the amulet, which was exquisitely embroidered and lifelike.
Mrs. Lin said that Lin Nianxi made this herself, and the purse can be opened.
As they were talking, Madam Wen had already opened it.
But it really is a peace charm. It also contains some Chinese medicine, such as honeysuckle, cloves, and cinnamon, which can compress the charm and emit fragrance, making the pouch bulge and appear round and beautiful.
"Actually, there's no need to go to such lengths." Madam Wen felt a mix of emotions.
If she hadn't known the Lin family's true purpose, she would have been incredibly moved. But now that she did, she really didn't want to take it on; it was a complete hot potato.
The peace charm was also given today, so the Lin family will probably bring up the matter of going to the Ji family. They didn't say anything about it a while ago, probably because they were afraid she would have questions.
Before the Lin family mother and daughter could speak, Madam Wen decided to strike first, saying, "Nianxi is not young anymore, have you found someone to marry?"
Upon hearing this, not only did Lin Nianxi's expression freeze, but even Madam Lin paused for a moment.
The two did not expect that after Madam Wen received the amulet, she would bring up Lin Nianxi's marriage.
Could it be that I'm going to tell her... about my destined marriage with Wen Qiyan?
However, the marriage between Ji Wanyuan and Wen Qiyan remained unresolved, with no word of divorce reported. Ji Wanyuan was peacefully resting and pregnant at the Ji family home, and judging from Madam Wen's demeanor, it seemed unlikely that she intended to bring it up.
So why did she suddenly say that?
While feeling nervous, Lin Nianxi had a bad feeling, but dared not make any rash moves.
He could only force a smile and ask, "Madam, why... did you suddenly bring this up?"
Madam Lin patted Lin Nianxi's hand under the table, subtly signaling her to stay calm and not lose her composure.
"Could it be that Madam intends to act as matchmaker for my daughter?" Madam Lin asked, trying to gauge the meaning behind Madam Wen's words.
Madam Wen smiled and said, “Nianxi is beautiful, gentle, and well-educated. In my opinion, there is no man in the entire capital who is worthy of her.”
These words were so cryptic that Madam Lin couldn't immediately understand what she meant.
After a pause, Madam Lin simply brought up Wen Qiyan, saying, "Our number one young master in the capital is from the Wen family, born to you. No wonder you look down on the others; that's understandable."
Madam Wen smiled, picked up the flower tea, and took a sip.
Unexpectedly, Madam Wen didn't respond, leaving Madam Lin feeling uneasy.
Sensing something was wrong, Lin Nianxi's ominous premonition was amplified, and she almost lost face. Madam Lin gave her a look, telling her to eat the pastries and not to panic at this critical moment, lest she be caught and ruin the Lin family's affairs.
As the saying goes, experience is the best teacher. Sensing that Madam Wen might not bring up the marriage, Madam Lin cut off the conversation first to avoid a bad situation, saying, "Her marriage isn't in a hurry."
"At least wait until her brother gets married before she remarries. We can't go over the order of seniority."
As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Nianxi quickly called out "Mother".
Meeting Lin Nianxi's gaze, Madam Lin instantly realized that what she said was wrong. The Wen family had two sons and one daughter, and the youngest daughter was the first to get married. She had been married for more than a year before Wen Qiyan finally got married, while Wen Yunqin was still unmarried.
When she talked about the order of seniority, wasn't she just gossiping about the Wen family?
Madam Lin, unusually flustered, didn't know how to handle the situation, so Lin Nianxi stood up and poured tea for Madam Wen.
Madam Wen put away the amulet, saying, "You are a guest, you don't need to do these things."
guest……
Although she was a guest, she had helped take care of Madam Wen from time to time while Madam Wen was ill. Why didn't Madam Wen call her a guest then?
Madam Lin quickly changed the subject, "Xi'er, didn't you get a safety amulet for the young mistress when you went to the temple a few days ago? Why don't you take it out?"
Young Madam, Ji Wanyuan.
The Lin family's purpose has been achieved, Madam Wen thought to herself with a cold smile.
After hearing Madam Lin's words, Lin Nianxi took out a brocade box from her hand, opened it, and found a peace buckle lying inside.
"Because the young mistress is pregnant, she cannot use incense. This safety amulet is something I specially obtained from the abbot of the temple, and I wanted to give it to the young mistress."
Madam Wen said, "You two have never had much of a relationship, it's kind of you to go to such lengths. Actually, it's not necessary, Ji Wanyuan, she..."
Madam Wen deliberately hesitated, but how could Madam Lin and Lin Nianxi not understand what she meant?
The two already had a bad relationship and were often at odds; even if you gave it to her, she might not accept it.
That woman wasn't one to swallow her pride. She pretended for a while when she first married into the family, but then her true nature was revealed. She would run back to her parents' home after a few words, and no one wanted to mess with her.
Thinking of the tricks the Lin family was up to, Madam Wen picked up the safety buckle to examine it, stroking the knot with her hand. While praising how exquisitely it was tied, she couldn't help but wonder if there was something wrong with it. Could it have been drugged?
"It's been a long time since I've seen the young mistress. I wonder when she'll be back?" Madam Lin probed Madam Wen indirectly.
She thought Madam Wen would give a definite answer, or say that she would go to the Ji family's door, but she never expected Madam Wen to say that she didn't know.
"She's quite far along in her pregnancy now, so let her stay wherever she's comfortable. I'll accept this peace charm on her behalf and have someone send it to the Ji family along with some tonics in a few days."
Mrs. Wen's words left the Lin mother and daughter speechless.
Lin Nianxi was getting anxious, and Madam Lin was also worried. How long had this been delayed? If they missed this opportunity, it wouldn't be good to mention it to the Wen family.
She tentatively asked Madam Wen, "The young mistress has been back at her parents' home for quite some time. Aren't you going to bring her back to the Wen family?"
Madam Wen had someone put away the safety amulet and then looked at Madam Lin.
Perhaps because Madam Wen's gaze was too direct, Madam Lin felt a little guilty. She added an explanation, "After all, she's married into the family. If she always stays at her parents' home, outsiders might gossip about the Wen family. Our two families are on good terms, and I always consider the Wen family's interests."
Madam Wen sneered inwardly, but sighed outwardly, "Only you can understand my suffering."
“I want to as well, but Ji Wanyuan is of noble status, and her father is the Prime Minister. Even my husband can’t surpass her father. Ji Wanyuan refuses to come back, so how can I, as her mother-in-law, force her to come back?”
"Sigh." Madam Wen's expression grew increasingly unpleasant as she spoke.
She continued, "Something happened before that you don't know about. I'm telling you now, but you must never tell anyone else."
Madam Lin nodded and said she wouldn't tell anyone. "What exactly happened?"
“An old woman in the family, whose eyesight is failing, saw a woman who looked like her and mistook her for her. She was talking to a man outside and came back and told me about it. I just asked her about it and before I could say anything, she immediately turned on me, saying that I, as her mother-in-law, didn’t trust her. She even complained to Qi Yan that I scolded her and told him to divorce her?!”
Madam Lin was shocked to hear this. She looked at Lin Nianxi, but Lin Nianxi had a furrowed brow and was clearly unaware of the matter.
"And then?" Madam Lin thought Madam Wen was lying, but looking at Madam Wen's complicated expression, she seemed to have suffered greatly.
"Then she ran back to her parents' house! To complain to them."
Madam Lin clicked her tongue, "This Miss Ji is really arrogant and irritating."
Madam Wen followed her words, "That's right, this matter isn't over yet. Qi Yan went to the Ji family to pick her up, and guess what happened?"
"What's wrong?" Madam Lin was so engrossed in listening that she almost forgot about the important matter at hand.
"To avenge his beloved daughter, Prime Minister Ji whipped Qi Yan more than a dozen times without even asking what happened. Her skin was torn and her body was covered in blood. Her father and I didn't dare to say a word. Who told the Ji family to be so powerful?"
"Qi Yan was actually beaten by Prime Minister Ji?" Madam Lin said she hadn't heard anything about it.
"How can you talk about such a family scandal? Our two families have a good relationship, and I only told you about it today." Madam Wen repeatedly urged that you must not tell anyone.
"Sigh, Qi Yan is really suffering because of having such a young mistress." Madam Lin said meaningfully.
Madam Wen verbally agreed, but inwardly she couldn't help but grumble: "Brine sets tofu; one thing subdues another."
She used to feel sorry for him, as his mother, and thought he was suffering. But now...
It wasn't suffering at all. He loved the Ji family girl so much that he gave up the entire Wen family as her "dowry" so she could "play with" him. What was a dozen lashes compared to that?
Madam Wen was truly distressed; the pain on her face was genuine, a clear sign of her disappointment and frustration.
Seeing that Madam Wen was in such distress and had already started to hold her head, Madam Lin hesitated whether to continue speaking, unable to make a decision.
Lin Nianxi couldn't hold back any longer and said, "How can she, as a daughter-in-law, be so domineering in her husband's family? If this continues, what will become of us?"
"Xi'er!" Madam Lin scolded her, "How can a young lady like you say such things?"
Madam Wen said, "Forget it, the Prime Minister's family is too powerful to offend. Let her be. I should take care of my health. Out of sight, out of mind."
Then she changed the subject, "Nianxi, I've watched you grow up. These past few days I've been sick, and you've been running around taking care of me, even going so far as to get me a talisman for protection."
"I'll just say one more thing: let's not talk about your brother's matter for now. You should think more about yourself. In this world, girls are always at a disadvantage compared to boys. Don't blame me for being nosy, but you should start looking for someone to marry soon."
Madam Wen then said to Madam Lin, "I've been feeling better lately, so I can help with the matchmaking. If Nianxi is really getting married, I will definitely prepare a dowry for her!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Nianxi's smile froze, and she barely spoke afterward.
Fearing that she might lose her composure and ruin things at home, Madam Lin made an excuse and left with her entourage.
Sure enough, as soon as she left the Wen family residence and got into the carriage, she began to press Madam Wen for her meaning and started crying again.
Madam Lin had a terrible headache, and while comforting her, she tried to figure out what Madam Wen meant.
"..."
After the person left, the old woman next to her asked, "Should we send this peace amulet to the Ji family along with the tonic?"
Madam Wen shook her head. "No need, just burn it." There's no need to find anyone to come and watch.
The Lin family and the Ji family have never had a good relationship. Ji Wanyuan and Lin Nianxi had a lot of disagreements over Wen Qiyan. Ji Wanyuan is currently pregnant, so it's best to keep these annoying people or things out of her sight.
Moreover, even if she didn't mind, Madam Ji would definitely blame her for being a bad mother-in-law if she saw it.
"And what about Madam's amulet?"
Madam Wen thought for a moment, then said, "Keep it."
Lin Nianxi cried all the way in the carriage and continued to cry even after arriving home. Madam Lin tried to comfort her for a long time without success, so she sent someone to invite Lord Lin. Lord Lin did not return, but instead brought back bad news: the Lin family was embroiled in a lawsuit.
Madam Lin was shocked and exclaimed, "What?"
What's going on?
The servants said that someone had impeached a collateral branch of the Lin family for abducting a woman, and that Lord Lin had covered it up. The case had already been sent to the Censorate.
Lin's father returned on the third day after the news arrived, his brows furrowed. Without even asking, one could tell from his expression that he had gotten himself into trouble.
Madam Lin asked him what was wrong. Hadn't the matter been resolved yet?
Lin's father pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's a bit difficult."
The son of the fourth branch of the Lin family was particularly lecherous. He had taken a fancy to a married woman, but bribing her husband was useless, so he simply snatched her away.
Because the other party was an ordinary citizen, the case was suppressed when it was reported to the government. Who knew that it would be brought up again, and even Lin's father got into trouble.
Madam Lin said that Lin Sinian was serving in the Dali Temple, so could she help mediate between them?
Before he could finish speaking, Lin's father interrupted, "Si Nian has also been impeached."
"What?!" Madam Lin was genuinely panicked. "What does this have to do with Guan Sinian?"
"The person who submitted the case said that Si Nian was protecting the fourth branch of the family and that he should be suspended from his post!"
Madam Lin's eyes widened. "Si Nian has never had any dealings with the fourth branch of the family. Why should he be suspended from his post? Someone is definitely making a mountain out of a molehill!"
“Si Nian was implicated for more than just this.”
Madam Lin urged him to speak quickly, asking what else was the reason.
"Because of He Xun, who is under Si Nian's command, I wonder if Madam has any impression of this person?"
Madam Lin certainly remembered; wasn't this the son-in-law that Prime Minister Ji had chosen for Ji Wanyuan?
He did well in the imperial examination and rose to the position of Dali Temple, working under Lin Sinian. However, the relationship between the two was purely official; how could they possibly have any other dealings?
"The impeachers said that Si Nian had a close relationship with him and that a thorough investigation was needed."
"Your Majesty believed it?" Madam Lin said absurdly, "Our Lin family and the Ji family have always been irreconcilable enemies."
"That's what I said too," Lord Lin sighed. "But you know how sharp the tongues of civil officials are. Who can really know for sure? It might just be a cover for our two families' dealings."
Lin's father sat down, rubbing his temples. "His Majesty is suspicious, and the national treasury is empty. I'm afraid our family will have to spend money to avoid disaster."
If it were just a small amount of money, it wouldn't be a problem, but the problem is, His Majesty wants a lot of money now!
"Our family is still serving His Majesty, and he doesn't trust us at all?"
"The art of rulership..." Lin's father waved his hand, "Let's put the Ji family's affairs aside for now." The family is in dire straits, and Ji Wanyuan is not even seven months pregnant. We need to prioritize.
Madam Lin asked, "Who exactly wants to harm our Lin family?"
Lord Lin said that he couldn't find out for the time being and that he needed to sort things out.
With trouble brewing at home, Lin's father was troubled and had a headache. Lin Nianxi, standing nearby, didn't dare to say anything more, afraid of incurring his bad luck.
On the other hand, Mr. Wen returned home three days later. Mrs. Wen had just told him about the trouble the Lin family mother and daughter had caused when they came to visit, and then said that something had happened to the Lin family and they hadn't come to bother them for the past few days.
"Finally, I can have some peace and quiet." It must be exhausting to put on an act all day.
Mr. Wen smiled, first asking Mrs. Wen how well she was taking care of her health, then dismissing everyone around her and telling her that he had arranged everything for the Lin family.
"This matter is very tricky and involves the Ji family. Madam, please rest assured that the Lin family will not be visiting the Wen family for a long time."
"Master, did you do this?" Madam Wen was stunned.
"Yes," Mr. Wen admitted.
“Keep refusing and making excuses, it’s not a solution. We need to find something for the Lin family to do.”
The emperor is currently short of money, and he will slaughter even his closest confidants without hesitation.
Although this method is effective, Mrs. Wen is worried that it might not be a good idea.
"The Lin family members are on good terms with us on the surface, but they are plotting against the Wen family's offspring behind our backs. To deal with such people, we must retaliate in kind."
After hearing this, Madam Wen felt that it made sense.
"Will the Lin family suspect us?"
"No," Wen's father reassured her. "Even if this matter is investigated further, it will only be the Fang family who did it."
"Sir, you've framed the Fang family?"
"Hmm." Father Wen said with a smile, "Madam may not believe it, but the Lin family has been protecting themselves all these years, and there are many things I haven't been able to find out. It was Lin Sinian who took the initiative to hand over the incriminating evidence against their fourth branch to me."
"Lin Sinian?" Madam Wen was genuinely shocked.
"Isn't this a disservice to both his father and himself?" Why would Lin Sinian do such a thing?
Wen's father replied, "The Censorate has countless cases; otherwise, how would I have had time to investigate this one? After all, it's an old case." It wasn't even sent to the Censorate back then; it was handed over to the relevant government office, where it was suppressed.
"I suspect that Lin Sinian did this because Qi Yan informed him."
Madam Wen guessed, "Because of their friendship?"
Wen Qiyan values the Ji family's daughter. If the Lin family murders Ji Wanyuan, regardless of whether Lin Sinian was involved, this feud will be formed. Lin Sinian's move is a case of sacrificing a pawn to save the king.
Mr. Wen nodded, "It should also be related to the Ji family."
"What does it have to do with anything?" Madam Wen was almost completely confused.
Mr. Wen said meaningfully, “Since ancient times, even heroes have found it hard to resist the charms of a beautiful woman. It’s not just our son who wants to become the son-in-law of the Ji family.”
"Huh?" Madam Wen was stunned. "Lin Sinian likes Ji Wanyuan?"
If that's the case, it would be a terrible situation.
"No." Seeing that she had misunderstood, Mr. Wen quickly explained, "It's Miss Lou Qingru from the Ji family."
"The eldest son of the Lin family has a bit of a thing for her."
Wen's mother was stunned. If she remembered correctly, that girl had gotten married and had a child.
"...?"
After several days of travel, we finally bypassed Yizhou and arrived at Youzhou.
Youzhou was even colder than Yizhou, and Ji Wanyuan was practically wrapped up like a rice dumpling.
As they approached the city gate, she peeked out through the carriage curtain and was surprised to see a handsome man on horseback coming to greet her.
She was so excited because she hadn't seen her family in so long.
Grabbing Wen Qiyan's wrist, she pointed in that direction, "Look, it's my brother! He brought people to the city gate to pick me up!"
The aloof man glanced at her indifferently, then turned his gaze back to her bright smile on her face, which he found extremely irritating.
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Author's Note: Here it is! This chapter will still randomly drop 50 lucky red envelopes! [rainbow fart]
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