Chapter 25. It seems that at some point, she stopped loving him. ...
He likes Ji Wanyuan? Of course not. He has always disliked her for so many years, disliking her dissolute behavior and her persistent clinginess.
But... her delicate, fair, and well-proportioned body, exuding a natural fragrance, seemed to hold an endless attraction for him.
He was certain he didn't like Ji Wanyuan, but... he was also certain he didn't reject contact with her, and could even say he liked it. He didn't know when it started, but he actually enjoyed being intimate with her.
Could it be that the medicine he took back had a strong aftereffect, causing his usually strong self-control to uncontrollably diminish every time he touched Ji Wanyuan?
"..."
Ji Wanyuan's heart was pounding. How did things turn out this way?
She was frantic, trying to figure out how to get away, but the man above her was pressing down on her and wouldn't get up, and he was still so close to her.
It was so similar to that day; if this continued, those unspeakable things would inevitably happen. She didn't want to continue with him.
"temperature--"
Before she could finish speaking, the man's kiss landed again, this time not on her lips, but on the side of her neck.
Moving down step by step, I lingered on her pulse.
Because this place was dangerous, if a man bit her hard, she would die. Ji Wanyuan's disordered breathing stopped.
This was completely different from the previous two times when he had restrained her, choked her by the neck, and prevented her from struggling or moving.
The man's kiss was very gentle, and his warm, moist breath landed on her collarbone.
While Ji Wanyuan was panicking, she felt a strange tingling sensation all over her body.
She didn't like this feeling, especially the one Wen Qiyan gave her. Being kissed by a man like this, she didn't feel any arousal; instead, she felt as if a venomous snake was coiled around her neck, flicking its tongue from time to time.
She began to struggle, but Wen Qiyan held her hands and feet too tightly. She cried out that she was uncomfortable, and he loosened his grip slightly, not pinching her wrists as hard, but she still couldn't break free.
In the instant Ji Wanyuan struggled, she felt as if she were being peeled off like a lotus seed.
Then the softness on her chest was enveloped by the man's thin lips.
Ji Wanyuan froze instantly. Not only her, but even the man who kissed her was stunned for a moment.
His thoughts were locked in a fierce battle between his weariness of Ji Wanyuan herself and his attraction to her body.
The space inside the curtains was too cramped, and the distance between them was too close. Her faint, delicate fragrance would occasionally waft to his nose.
Thinking that he needed to comfort her, he had an excuse, and almost unconsciously, he lowered his head.
It is said that the one who tied the knot must untie it. The previous two times were too harsh, which caused her to resist so much.
To appease her now, he had to lower her guard, so he stopped being fierce and kissed her very gently, even through the thin fabric of her clothes.
The man's movements were slow because they were gentle, and if someone were to peek at them, they would easily see the naivety in his movements.
Since Ji Wanyuan became pregnant, she took good care of herself, so the first two months were fine.
However, she has started to show some signs of morning sickness in the past two days. In addition, her body has become very sensitive, especially her breasts, which are always prone to swelling and pain.
When she was at home, she thought that Wen Qiyan had bullied her too much, causing her serious internal injuries. She wanted to find a female physician to take a look, so as not to ruin her.
Her mother smiled and said it was nothing to worry about; most women become like this during pregnancy, and it would get better after the baby was born.
So, the instant the man kisses her.
She instantly felt all her senses converge on the spot where he had kissed her.
She looked down and saw only the man's handsome and outstanding features; he was kissing her.
Why would Wen Qiyan kiss her? And on her body at that?
Ji Wanyuan pursed her lips, still feeling very uncomfortable. "Wen Qiyan, don't touch me..."
"I am currently pregnant."
The man paused, stopped, looked up at her, and stared intently at her face.
After all this commotion, it was already quite dark.
The space inside the curtained room was dim, but Ji Wanyuan's eyes were bright and clear, filled with anger and shyness. She bit her lip and glared at him, her black hair loose and her clothes disheveled.
She was panting, and her expression was indescribably vivid and bright.
He looked at her for a long time without saying a word.
"..."
After a while, the man loosened his grip on her wrists and legs slightly. Ji Wanyuan was overjoyed, thinking she was finally free. She braced herself against the bed and tried to get up on her own.
Unexpectedly, the man grabbed her waist and lifted her up.
Ji Wanyuan was stunned. When she came to her senses, Wen Qiyan had already placed her on his lap.
The curtains, which were not fully drawn before, were now completely lowered, obscuring and isolating the faint candlelight in the outer room.
Ji Wanyuan hadn't figured out what he was up to, nor did she have a countermeasure.
Suddenly, the man raised his hand and pulled out all the hairpins and jewels that held her hair up.
The young woman's previously loose, dark hair suddenly cascaded down to her waist like ink splashes, covering her shoulders and making her already small face appear even more delicate and exquisite.
Confused, she looked up at him in a panic, her full breasts bouncing with each breath, exuding both allure and innocence.
Wen Qiyan's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as his large hand reached up to the back of her head and pulled her back a little, forcing Ji Wanyuan's chin to lift. At that moment, the man lowered his head and covered her lips with his again.
This time, his kiss was gentle, tracing her full lips little by little, sucking and caressing them.
The implication was no longer punishment or lesson, but rather appeasement and... flattery.
He was observing her reactions, trying to get her to experience pleasure through kissing as well.
Ji Wanyuan was a little stunned.
Her lips were sore, but his gentle caresses and kisses brought out a strange sensation.
Wen Qiyan was still not very good at kissing, and she could sense the man's awkwardness.
"..."
Does he really want to sleep with her that badly?
But before him...
Oh, her blockhead is starting to forget again that it was he who used her, which is why he patiently got close to her, comforted her, and tried to seduce her.
But does he even know that his kissing skills are terrible?
He has absolutely no kissing skills! Even if he wants to get close to her, can't he at least have some self-awareness about his kissing abilities?
Ji Wanyuan raised her hand and pushed against the man's shoulder, resisting his kiss.
He realized that his attempt to play hard to get had gone a little too far, as he had noticed her resistance.
He disliked her inappropriate resistance, and thought that there should be an end to her manipulative tactics. Why couldn't she know when to stop? He had already cooperated, said kind words to her, and even kissed her gently.
Doesn't she like being close to him? Isn't bowing her head like this enough? What does she want from him?
At this moment, he felt very annoyed by Ji Wanyuan's spoiled and arrogant temperament, which made her difficult to please.
He wanted to restrain her wrists and force her to obey, but he couldn't; he couldn't disrupt the gradually stabilizing situation.
So he stepped back slightly, pressed his lips to hers, and whispered patiently, "Stop making a fuss, okay?"
His breathing was unsteady, his cool breath carrying the burning heat of passion as it hit her face, mingling with her breath. Although they hadn't actually made love, their connection was so intense that they were inseparable.
What's all the fuss about? Ji Wanyuan felt that his words were ambiguous.
“You… I’m not making a scene.”
When she spoke, her breath was as fragrant as orchids, making him feel a little hot.
"I want to rest, don't kiss me." Trapped inside the curtains, even if she wanted to throw a tantrum, Ji Wanyuan had to suppress her temper; she had truly had enough.
She still resisted contact with him, turning her face away, once again conveying her desire not to be intimate with him.
This is not the first time.
Wen Qiyan silently observed the resistant expression on the person's face. Under his focused gaze, even in the darkness of night, he still saw many things.
Ji Wanyuan was angry, and she was also shy, but... more than anything, she was resistant. Her small face turned away, panting and trembling, both angry and charming.
Her lips were sweet to kiss, but the words she spoke annoyed him.
Tonight, Wen Qiyan felt defeated once again; he couldn't discern her emotions.
If it was a case of playing hard to get, her reaction was a bit too much.
She seemed genuinely unwilling to be intimate with him anymore, and even averse to closeness with him.
How could Ji Wanyuan possibly dislike him?
At that moment, a thought suddenly occurred to him: Could it be that... she arranged for him to take a concubine not to get his attention, but because she really disliked him and wanted to push him away to someone else?
Many images flashed through Wen Qiyan's mind: Ji Wanyuan's hand pulling back when he went to pick up the bride, her howling resistance on their wedding night, her quick departure after greeting him in the morning, her disappearing figure around the corner, and howling and laughing when she was with him.
And some time ago, when he was intimate with her and spoke to her, she ignored him and pretended not to hear him. When he helped her apply medicine, she said she didn't need it.
In the past, he wouldn't even need to say a word. Just a glance or a kind look would make her ecstatic and cling to him, shamelessly calling him "Brother Qi Yan."
It seems that she no longer loves him... at some point.
Thinking of this, Wen Qiyan felt no sense of relief, but rather a heavy feeling.
What happened to him?
He disliked Ji Wanyuan's relentless pursuit of him for the past ten years, and he also disliked her current resistance towards him.
Perhaps... it was due to official duties of the imperial court.
If Ji Wanyuan is not obedient, he will not be able to get close to the Ji family through her. Ji Zhao is wary of everyone, but the only one he indulges and loves is this daughter.
Before he entered the Censorate as Vice Minister, he was only working in the Censorate. His father discovered that the Ji family harbored rebellious intentions and learned that Ji Wanyuan liked to cling to him and be close to him. He also hinted that he might be able to take advantage of her. Even if he didn't deliberately take advantage of her, he might be able to get some clues out of her.
But he thought Ji Wanyuan was foolish, spoiled to the point of being stupid, and only knew how to eat, drink and have fun. What could she possibly know?
Besides, he didn't want to have any contact with her.
After his father saw through his resistance, he never mentioned the matter again.
But who knew that Ji Wanyuan would do such a thing later, drugging him to have sex with her, getting pregnant and being caught by the emperor, who ordered him to marry Ji Wanyuan, using her as a pawn to find a breakthrough in investigating the mining industry in Youzhou.
The investigation into the mining industry in Youzhou has been going on for so long with no progress. They've arrested one person and interrogated him for so long, but they still can't get him to talk. They can only rely on his roundabout words to guess and verify. If this drags on any longer, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Because once mining begins, it brings immense wealth. If this huge sum of money were used to purchase troops and weapons, and to bide one's time, the threat it would pose to the imperial court would be self-evident...
In addition, over the years, Ji Wanyuan's father, Prime Minister Ji, has been constantly making connections and gaining the support of many people in the court. Everyone knows that Prime Minister Ji is "treating the virtuous and talented with courtesy" in the officialdom, and his call to action is met with great enthusiasm.
The Ji family supported countless civil officials, and even the Censorate had many people who spoke up for the Ji family. In addition, the Ji family, a military family, also "divided" many people over to the Ji family.
Although Prime Minister Ji only had one biological daughter, Ji Wanyuan, he had countless "adopted daughters" under his care. These women came from places like Yangzhou and were eventually sent to the private quarters of those who needed them.
"..."
Yes, all his frustration and dissatisfaction stemmed from this—the stagnation of official duties and decrees from the imperial court, leaving him at a loss.
But on the other hand, I'm also wondering, is that really true?
At that moment, something else suddenly came to his mind...
If he succeeds in getting close to Ji Wanyuan and ultimately gets things done for the Ji family through her, obtaining evidence of Prime Minister Ji's factionalism, the Ji family will inevitably fall.
What will happen to her if the Ji family falls from power?
die?
Upon having this thought, he felt a strange sense of unease.
Panic...?
In no time, Wen Qiyan instantly dismissed the thought in his mind.
He couldn't help but scoff inwardly. Things hadn't even started yet, so what was he thinking about the future?
Even if the Ji family falls, Ji Wanyuan's fate is not something he should worry about. She is Ji Zhao's darling daughter, and over the years she has lived a life of luxury and extravagance. Even if she didn't get involved in the Ji family's factionalism, she still enjoyed a lot of the people's hard-earned money.
After calming down, Wen Qiyan's romantic thoughts dissipated, leaving almost nothing. He released Ji Wanyuan, but did not leave.
"..."
Ji Wanyuan was surprised that he suddenly stopped going crazy.
But he didn't leave. He remained silent and stammering, seemingly lost in thought.
The eerie silence made her inexplicably nervous.
After a while, realizing that Wen Qiyan really had no intention of continuing to "make things difficult" for her, she glanced at him sideways and her desire cooled down.
Ji Wanyuan carefully observed the man's expression, then slowly climbed off his lap.
Wen Qiyan naturally noticed her movement.
Noticing the man's indifferent gaze, Ji Wanyuan's already slow movements became even slower.
She tried to escape twice tonight when Wen Qiyan wasn't paying attention, but he caught her both times. Now she's brazenly trying to slip away right under his nose. Will he catch her again and strip her naked and kiss her?
Ji Wanyuan slowed down and got off the bed slightly. She found that the man was just watching her move away and had no intention of pulling her back. So she started to move faster again, crouching down in a slightly lewd posture and looking guilty as she moved away.
Although she didn't know what she was feeling guilty about, she just couldn't straighten her posture.
Wen Qiyan's presence was too strong, not only because of his tall stature, broad shoulders and narrow waist, but also because of the intimidating aura that always surrounded him.
When facing him, she simply couldn't look him straight in the eye, nor could she stand tall and proud.
He had disheveled her clothes, especially the small blouse covering her chest.
It was covered in his saliva, sticky and uncomfortable.
She was covered in Wen Qiyan's scent, and being enveloped by his aura made her feel uncomfortable. Ji Wanyuan wanted to go to the bathroom to wash up as soon as possible.
He watched her lift the curtain and move.
With one foot already on the ground, Ji Wanyuan was overjoyed. She could walk now!
But the man behind her suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist.
Ji Wanyuan froze, like a cat whose scruff of the neck had been grabbed.
She shrank back even further, turned her head away, buried her face, and tried her best to open her big, bright eyes to look at him.
Her watery eyes flickered with trepidation and unease.
I really don't like seeing her like this.
Wen Qiyan tried his best to control his tone and expression so as not to frighten her.
But no matter how he tried to control it, his brows remained furrowed, and his tone was cold as he blurted out, "Be careful."
Ji Wanyuan asked in confusion, "Hmm?"
After saying that, he released her wrist and untied the curtain that was wrapped around her other ankle.
She was in a state of high tension and only thought about running away. She didn't notice that she had gotten caught on the curtain. If she hadn't been pulled back, she would have definitely fallen flat on her face.
Even though Ji Wanyuan resisted his touch, she couldn't bring herself to curse him at this moment, because Wen Qiyan's "ill intentions" had inadvertently helped her.
Even so, she didn't want to give him a friendly look, so she quickly got off the ground, put on her embroidered boots, and ran away.
Because she was running too fast, the ends of her hair swung and hit the eyebrows and nose of a man who was very close behind her.
Wen Qiyan, caught off guard and humiliated, was speechless.
The maids only dared to enter after receiving the imperial decree. The two masters didn't seem to be making a fuss. Although the bed in the inner room was messy, it wasn't as bad as their wedding night.
Moreover, the two of them looked normal, not like they had a falling out.
Ji Wanyuan deliberately sped up her washing and grooming to avoid Wen Qiyan.
This time, she didn't plan to wait for him. After Emerald applied skin-nourishing dew and ointment to her, she crawled to the inside of the bed, wrapped herself in her own blankets, and closed her eyes to sleep.
She was worried that she wouldn't be able to sleep, and that would be terrible if Wen Qiyan came over, since she didn't want to face him.
But she was pregnant and had been through so much today, she was exhausted. She nestled into the soft bed and fell asleep almost immediately.
When Wen Qiyan came to the main courtyard from the side room to wash up, he did not see Ji Wanyuan. He thought she had run to the guest room to hide again, but he saw her personal maid in the outer room. As he walked in, he saw the "small mountain" that was bulging at the innermost part of the bed.
She had someone distribute blankets, and she rolled herself up in one to sleep, burying herself completely in it, with only her long hair and fair nape showing.
Her breathing had become steady; she had fallen asleep.
After watching for a while, Wen Qiyan went to bed to rest.
The next day.
When Ji Wanyuan woke up, she was still a little dazed, but after a while, she remembered what had happened the night before.
The edge of the bed was empty; I had assumed Wen Qiyan had gone to the government office to work.
Just as I settled in, I was about to ask if Emerald was not there, but before I could ask, I saw Wen Qiyan's attendant Qinghe by the door leading from the outer room to the study.
With this servant present, Wen Qiyan must also be present.
Sure enough, Emerald told her that Wen Qiyan went to the study early this morning and hasn't come out yet.
Upon hearing this, Ji Wanyuan couldn't help but purse her lips, saying "Oh" with little interest.
What is he doing at home?! It's so annoying.
While doing her hair, Ji Wanyuan looked in the bronze mirror and noticed that her lips, which had been swollen from Wen Qiyan's kiss the day before, had not completely healed, and her mouth was even slightly sore.
Not only her mouth, but also her neck were marked with many marks, as if she had been bitten by insects. While asking Jade to find her medicine, she cursed the man in the study many times in her heart.
At that moment, the man, who had been working at his desk since morning, heard the noise of people getting up outside and looked up.
The study was far from the inner room, so Ji Wanyuan could not be seen dressing in front of the mirror; only the swaying beaded curtain and jade screen could be glimpsed.
His gaze paused for a moment, then returned.
When Mr. Wen returned from the government office that morning, Mrs. Wen immediately told him about what had happened the day before.
Wen's father had never approved of Wen Qiyan taking a concubine, since Cao Xin's arrival at this juncture would cause trouble. However, since it was Ji Wanyuan's idea, he had to go along with her wishes and it wouldn't be good to refuse too much.
Hearing Wen Qiyan's reaction at this moment was understandable.
However, when Madam Wen said that Wen Qiyan might actually have some feelings for Ji Wanyuan, Wen's father disagreed. He thought Wen Qiyan was not the kind of person who acted on emotion; at most, he would just be surprised and taken aback. Besides, he didn't like Miss Ji.
After all, it was all just an act, and Lady Wen knew nothing about the affairs of the imperial court.
Moreover, Madam Wen believed that Wen Qiyan had developed feelings for Ji Wanyuan, and would inevitably convey this to Ji Wanyuan, which, in turn, could indirectly promote the "relationship" between the two.
Ji Wanyuan stayed at the Wen family home all day to rest during her pregnancy, and had the most contact with Madam Wen. With the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law easing, Ji Wanyuan was able to lower her guard.
So, Mr. Wen followed up with a smile and said,
"Although the eldest daughter of the Ji family has a bad temper, she is very beautiful. She has been chasing after Qi Yan for so many years. If Qi Yan hadn't had some feelings for her, how could he have gotten intimate with her after drinking?"
Madam Wen grasped the crux of the matter: "Between Qi Yan and Ji Wanyuan, it was actually Qi Yan who did something wrong?!"
Madam Wen had never liked Ji Wanyuan very much, and now that she wanted to win her over, Madam Wen would have to help her out. So, her father said this to her.
"Yes, it's our son's fault."
"You ruined that girl's reputation, and now the Ji family is coming to your door demanding you take responsibility."
Madam Wen paused, no wonder Prime Minister Ji and Madam Ji had spoken in a bad tone when they came to her door, and Wen Qiyan had only said that he would marry her without saying a word.
"Ke Qiyan has always had a high alcohol tolerance! How could something like this happen?"
Wen Qiyan is not only good at drinking, but he also has a high degree of self-control. How could this be?
Madam Wen still didn't quite believe it. She asked, "Didn't Ji Wanyuan take the initiative?"
Father Wen said, "Even if that girl likes our son, when it comes to matters of the heart, it's always the girl who suffers. Besides, the Ji family has high standards, and Miss Ji is beautiful. Even if she leaves our son, wouldn't there be other families who would want to marry her?"
That's true.
Ji Wanyuan's beauty was astonishing even in the capital, but her domineering nature and poor manners were what made her frightening.
But putting all that aside, her father was the Prime Minister, and her mother, Lady Ji, was also from a Marquis's family.
"Sigh... Master, why didn't you tell me sooner? Why were you covering him up and protecting him?"
"It's not good to talk about this, and besides, we had guests at home the other day, didn't we?"
Madam Wen felt a headache coming on. Recalling Wen Qiyan's drunken misconduct and taking advantage of another girl's innocence, even her son, whom she was usually so proud of, couldn't help but scoff, "All crows are black."
Upon hearing this, Wen's father couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Yes, yes, they're both black."
"What about the Cao family?"
"The matter was not leaked out after all, and the idea of taking a concubine was dropped. We reassured my wife during breakfast later and told her not to think about it again."
"By the way, Madam Ji should also go and visit the Ji family. When you talk to the Prime Minister's wife, please don't say that it was your idea to let Qi Yan take a concubine. Just say that it was our family's fault."
What else could Madam Wen say? She couldn't help but curse a few more times before giving a curt reply.
As Ji Wanyuan had expected, after Wen Qiyan's outburst yesterday, the matter of taking a concubine was off the table.
Strangely, when the concubine proposal fell through, Madam Wen was not angry at all. On the contrary, her attitude towards her seemed to have improved considerably. Although it was very subtle, Ji Wanyuan could sense the change in Madam Wen's words.
She guessed that perhaps it was Wen's father who interfered, somehow persuading Madam Wen to give her a friendly look.
The whole family pitched in to win her over.
Hmph, a whole family of weasels.
She couldn't help but chuckle to herself.
"Daughter-in-law, your father-in-law knows that Qi Yan has been busy these days, so much so that he has neglected you since you got married. As for taking a concubine, listen to your father-in-law and don't mention it again in the future."
“When I returned yesterday, my father-in-law had already petitioned the Emperor, requesting that Xu Qiyan take a few days off so that he could spend more time with you.”
Wen Qiyan is with her? He's probably here to try and get information out of her.
Ji Wanyuan immediately refused, "How can this be? Official duties of the court are of course more important. My husband doesn't need to worry about me. I'm not bored at home with my mother-in-law."
At this point, she put some food on Wen Qiyan's plate, saying, "Husband, you don't need to stay with me. I'm not angry."
After saying that, she gave Wen Qiyan and his parents a big smile.
Wen Qiyan watched her fake smile without showing any emotion.
Then Ji Wanyuan said that it might not be good to just let the matter drop. She was not jealous of Wen Qiyan taking a concubine, especially since Cao Xin had come. She was a relative of the Wen family and Wen Qiyan's cousin. If they just left her like that, where would the young lady put her face?
Whether it was her imagination or not, when she mentioned that she wouldn't feel jealous, the man sitting next to her seemed to frown and glance at her, his gaze seeming to have a hidden meaning.
Ji Wanyuan, who felt the gaze, pretended not to notice. She was focused on helping him find a concubine and changing the course and ending of the storybook, so she didn't care about anything else.
She tried to persuade them with all her heart, but no matter how much she talked, it was really difficult for one person to convince three people. Even though Wen Qiyan didn't say much, it was still quite a struggle for her to talk to Wen's parents by herself.
As they talked, Wen Qiyan served her some food and said directly that he would never take a concubine in his life, so she didn't need to be so virtuous and generous.
Virtuous and generous?
Ji Wanyuan, “…”
After dinner, Wen's father had to go about his business, leaving Wen Qiyan at home to keep her company.
Madam Wen ordered gifts to be prepared, saying she wanted to take the two of them to the Ji family to explain the matter of taking a concubine.
Ji Wanyuan said it wasn't necessary, and that she would send someone to deliver the message, but Madam Wen insisted on going, so there was no other way but to make the trip herself.
The carriage swayed and rocked. Ji Wanyuan was in a bad mood and didn't say a word the whole time. Even though she pretended to be very good, Wen Qiyan could tell that she was in a bad mood.
Thinking of his father's instructions before leaving home, he wanted him to spend these days getting closer to Ji Wanyuan and also to see if she knew anything.
Otherwise, why would she go against the grain and insist on giving him a concubine?
After a night of calm, Wen Qiyan realized something was wrong without his father even reminding him.
If Ji Wanyuan wasn't trying to test whether he cared about her by taking a concubine to get his attention, then there must have been another reason.
Considering her resistance after marrying into the family, could it be that Prime Minister Ji said something to her before her marriage? Is that why she was so wary and wanted to arrange a concubine for her?
They arrived at the Ji family's residence soon.
Madam Ji was not pleased with Madam Wen's visit.
The two have never gotten along, and if it weren't for this marriage, they probably would never have sat at the same table.
Moreover, because of the incident involving Ji Wanyuan taking a concubine, she caused such a scene at home, refusing to eat or drink and almost getting into trouble. Madam Ji became increasingly displeased with the Wen family.
Even though it was Ji Wanyuan's idea to arrange for Wen Qiyan to take a concubine, Madam Ji knew that it takes two to tango, and the Wen family was definitely involved. However, Ji Wanyuan was unwilling to say so, and there was no way to verify it.
What woman would willingly share her husband with another? She used to love Wen Qiyan so much, yet now she's so generous as to risk her life. Madam Ji really wants to find a Taoist priest to check if she's been cursed.
He made a few sarcastic remarks to Madam Wen, and seeing that Madam Wen smiled awkwardly and didn't say anything, Wen Qiyan jumped out again to find fault, saying that it was all because he had neglected Ji Wanyuan in the first few days of their marriage due to official business, which made her angry and upset, so she wanted to take a concubine for him.
In the end, it was all his fault, which put both families in a difficult position. He promised to his face that it would not happen again and asked Madam Ji not to be angry and to take care of her health. He said he would accept any beatings or discipline without complaint.
Ji Wanyuan ate pastries and drank tea beside him, watching the man's humble and respectful demeanor.
Everything is his fault. He said that, and now his father and mother also think that she is jealous and is using the idea of taking a concubine to test whether Wen Qiyan cares about her.
Wen Qiyan's words were earnest, and Madam Ji didn't know what to say. She only said, "Since you know what's going on, don't make the same mistake again. I only have one daughter, and her father and I have always loved and spoiled her..."
While Madam Ji was nagging Wen Qiyan, Ji Wanyuan was thinking to herself, what should she do?
If this path is blocked, what other options does she have to change the course of the story? She can't just sit idly by and wait to be slaughtered!
On the way here, she made up her mind and even considered telling her father everything so he could come up with a solution.
She told him everything. If her father didn't believe her and thought she was crazy from reading too many stories, then she would think of another way.
Who knew that her father wasn't at home? Not only was her father absent, but her brother was also gone.
I don't know what they went to do.
Thinking back to what she overheard when she went to her father's study that day—about Youzhou, about mining… and about arresting people—perhaps he was busy with that.
Perhaps it was fate, that they didn't want her to tell her father.
Never mind, I'll see if I have time to come another day. I'll try to subtly hint at it to her father.
Besides, her father is probably still angry about the concubine matter, so she shouldn't go and summon him to avoid being scolded.
After much thought, Ji Wanyuan decided that since taking a concubine was out of the question, she might as well invite Cao Xin into the Wen family and help match her with Wen Qiyan.
Judging from Aunt Jiang's tone, Cao Xin seemed to like Wen Qiyan, her cousin by marriage, quite a bit.
If you give her a chance, she certainly won't be that stupid, right?
Why……
After all, putting everything else aside, Wen Qiyan, that scoundrel, is top-notch among the scions of prominent families in the capital, both in terms of looks and wealth!
Eight or nine out of ten noble ladies in the capital admire him, and many even want to lower themselves to become his concubines, but they dare not make any rash moves because of his presence.
Since she can't take Cao Xin in directly right now, she'll call her over to live at the Wen family's house for now. If things really come to a head, she doesn't mind taking a risky approach and adding some "explosive" elements to their relationship, just like before.
If the two of them have already consummated their relationship, then it's a done deal.
With this in mind, I have a solution.
Ji Wanyuan's worries dissipated considerably. She raised her eyebrows and looked up, inadvertently meeting the man's deep gaze.
Whoa! Ji Wanyuan, who was plotting something, was startled.
"..."
Why isn't he listening to his mother properly? What is he doing, secretly staring at her like that?
It's impossible to read her mind, right?
Impossible. Even if he were a Great Immortal, he couldn't possibly know what she was thinking.
Being in the Ji family, Ji Wanyuan felt more confident than in the Wen family. She couldn't help but glare back at Wen Qiyan, silently asking him what he was looking at. Who gave him permission to look at her? Even a subtle glance wasn't allowed!
It seems that after last night's "argument," she's stopped pretending so much. Especially after returning to the Ji family, her pampered princess persona has started to swell up, and she's currently showing off in front of him.
Wen Qiyan looked at the young woman sitting not far away, watching him being scolded with a smug and defiant air.
Her arrogance and stupidity remained, but looking at her, he didn't feel as tired of her as before; in fact, he was starting to find her somewhat pleasing to the eye.
Madam Wen, who remained silent, kept a close eye on the two men's reactions. Seeing them exchanging glances, she became even more certain of her suspicions.
I can't help but sigh, calling them enemies is really not wrong.
"..."
Madam Ji scolded Wen Qiyan for the time it takes to drink two cups of tea before stopping. Wen Qiyan remained humble and showed no anger, so Madam Ji had nothing more to say.
She said that the matter should be dropped, and emphasized that Ji Wanyuan was her precious daughter. Even if she got married, she would still be the noble eldest daughter of the Ji family. If anyone made her unhappy in the slightest, the Ji family would not let it go.
Madam Wen quickly chimed in, saying that everyone in the Wen family treated her like a treasure and that no one bullied her.
Not wanting to embarrass the Wen family, Ji Wanyuan still stepped in to reassure her mother, telling her not to worry and that the Wen family had treated her very well.
Upon hearing this, Madam Ji glared at her with exasperation.
After having lunch at the Ji family's house, the Wen family had other matters to attend to, so the three of them returned home.
Remembering her father's parting words, Madam Wen suggested that Wen Qiyan take Ji Wanyuan out for a walk, as it wasn't good for her to stay cooped up at home all day.
Ji Wanyuan didn't want to be alone with him, so she used her pregnancy and instability as an excuse, saying that she was tired and wanted to go back to the Ji family home to rest.
More importantly, she also needed to tell Madam Wen about Cao Xin.
Who knew that Madam Wen insisted that she had been feeling down for a while and should go out for a walk, assuring her that nothing would happen with Wen Qiyan around.
Ji Wanyuan couldn't help but scream in her heart, "Oh no! This is what happened because Wen Qiyan was around!"
She was about to say something more when the man behind her stepped forward and said, "Since there's something going on at home, you should go back first. Your son will take her for a walk."
"Yes." Madam Wen nodded and instructed Wen Qiyan to take good care of Ji Wanyuan and not let anything happen to her.
"Don't worry."
Seeing that Madam Wen was about to leave, Ji Wanyuan quickly stepped forward and asked, "Mother-in-law, are you going to the Cao family's house?"
When she passed by the Ji family today, she saw that Madam Wen had ordered her servants to prepare an extra gift. She dared to guess that the gift she received after passing by the Ji family must have been an apology to the Cao family.
Madam Wen did not hide anything and said, "Although the matter of taking a concubine has not been made public, I still feel sorry for Xin'er. I have to go to the Cao family to comfort her."
Ji Wanyuan was secretly delighted. She frowned seriously and suggested, "It was my decision to take a concubine after all, and I feel bad for Miss Cao. Otherwise... I won't accompany my husband today. I'll go to the Cao family with my mother-in-law."
She would rather be with her mother than be alone with him.
Wen Qiyan stared at the person's smooth, jade-like profile. As she spoke, her snowy cheeks trembled, and her long, curled eyelashes swayed.
She must have noticed his gaze; her eyes darted around and avoided his gaze. She even moved closer to his mother, creating distance between herself and him, turning the back of her head towards him.
Madam Wen was unaware of the unusual situation between the two at this moment, and simply said, "Next time, you haven't spent time with Qi Yan for a long time, you should have a talk alone."
At this point, Madam Wen gave Wen Qiyan a look, signaling him to appease Ji Wanyuan and prevent a second "concubine-taking" incident from happening.
All this back and forth is unbearable.
Wen Qiyan nodded slightly, accepting Madam Wen's gesture.
Ji Wanyuan still refused to give up, "Then, Mother-in-law, why don't you bring Cousin Cao and Aunt Jiang home? I want to apologize to them in person."
"this……"
Ji Wanyuan spoke sweetly, saying she wanted to make up for her mistake, and even tugged at Madam Wen's sleeve and coaxed her, asking if it would be alright.
This made Madam Wen feel awkward, and unable to resist her coquettishness, she could only nod.
Having achieved her goal, Ji Wanyuan immediately beamed with joy and praised, "Mother-in-law, you are the best. You love me just like my own mother."
Looking at her beautiful, dazzling smile, Madam Wen couldn't help but shake her head with a smile, "..."
After Madam Wen left, Ji Wanyuan reluctantly followed Wen Qiyan into the carriage.
Seeing her change her expression as soon as she turned around, Wen Qiyan's brows furrowed slightly.
After getting into the carriage, she stopped talking and sat against the side of the carriage wall. Although she didn't show it on her face, he could tell that she was unwilling.
You really don't want to be with him?
She can now act coquettishly with her sleeves in front of his mother, but she turns her back on him instead.
She's really something; she always manages to make him feel uneasy.
After the carriage had been traveling for a while, Ji Wanyuan was about to ask him where he was taking her? Or maybe they could just ride around in the carriage and head back?
But unexpectedly, the man next to him suddenly asked,
"What are you planning to do by insisting that Mother bring the Cao family back for a meeting?"
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Author's Note: My little ones, I'm here! [Exaggerated] Thank you all for your love of this story and for your encouragement.
This story will continue to be updated daily until its completion, with updates occurring roughly between 23:30 and 23:59.
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