Chapter 51 Divorce? Don't even think about it.
After Wen Qiyan left, Wen Yunqin was still staring in the direction he had left, his face very blank.
Madam Wen called him several times before he turned around, walked over, and sat down, but he didn't say anything.
Thinking of her second son's stubbornness, just like his elder brother's, Madam Wen wanted to sigh again; the inside story was still that disgraceful matter.
Wen's father finally finished writing the prescription with the help of the imperial physician, and then sent someone to get the medicine.
When he came in, Wen Yunqin greeted him.
"Yes, you must be tired these days. Go back first. I will take care of your mother."
"Yes." Wen Yunqin stood up, bowed to Madam Wen, gave her a few words of advice, and then left.
Watching Wen Yunqin's figure walk around the screen and disappear completely at the door.
The old woman next to her was very perceptive and dismissed the maids who were serving her.
After everyone left, Madam Wen began to vent her anger, asking her father what had happened.
"What could possibly be wrong?" Father Wen said with a smile. "Madam is overthinking things. The imperial physician said you should take good care of your health and stop worrying about such trivial matters."
"Heh..." Madam Wen sneered, "There are so many things to deal with, how can I possibly relax and recuperate?"
Now that there were no outsiders around, she vented her dissatisfaction with the marriage to the Ji family to Wen's father.
They say Ji Wanyuan is a femme fatale and that they shouldn't have married her in the first place.
Of course, it's not just Ji Wanyuan who should be blamed; Wen Qiyan is the real culprit. If he hadn't acted recklessly while drunk, this wouldn't have happened.
Let alone Ji Wanyuan being pregnant right now, even if she wasn't pregnant...
As the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister, with such a distinguished background, she couldn't simply choose to divorce him.
Divorce?
Impossible. Considering Wen Qiyan's protectiveness towards her, compared to his previous lively thoughts, it's clear he's taken it to heart.
Has it come to this? Divorce? Don't even think about it.
Madam Wen rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
Seeing this, Wen's father still smiled and sighed, telling her to relax and that her children and grandchildren would have their own blessings.
"Is my lord pretending to be ignorant? Don't you know why I'm upset and have a headache?"
Wen's father paused for a moment without replying, and tucked the thin blanket around her.
Since they were each other's bedmates anyway, Madam Wen said frankly, "Yun Qin has developed feelings for Ji Wanyuan. Qi Yan found out about this, and the two of them almost got into a fight here just now."
Seeing that Mr. Wen seemed unsurprised, Mrs. Wen asked him if he already knew and what to do now.
"No wonder you asked me to find a girl from outside the capital to be Yun Qin's wife. You already figured it out back then, didn't you?"
What puzzled Madam Wen was, "Why has the master changed his mind now?" He said he was not in a hurry to have Wen Yunqin's fortune told, and even said that it would be fine to choose a noble lady from within the capital.
"This matter..." Wen's father really couldn't explain it clearly in a short time.
After all, it's a complex and convoluted affair involving so many people, and it mainly involves the imperial court.
"Speak! What can't you say?" Madam Wen was so angry that her blood boiled. She suspected that her father was also involved in something, perhaps hiding someone outside?!
Mr. Wen was both amused and exasperated by the suspicion, "Why would Madam think that?"
"The house is such a mess, and the master looks like he wants to say something but can't. How can I not be suspicious?"
"If it's really as I suspect, sir, you should write me a divorce agreement as soon as possible, and I'll go back to my parents' home."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Wen exclaimed "Oh dear!" and deliberately put on a stern face, "Madam, please don't say such things, it will damage our relationship."
"They're all such a handful, what am I doing in the Wen family?"
Mr. Wen tried to coax her with many words, but this time Mrs. Wen was probably really sick. When she got angry, she wouldn't listen to anything he said, and she made a big fuss and even started crying.
Pinching his brow, Wen's father said, "Madam, you don't know, and I didn't want to deal with this so much, but this matter is of great importance and involves the imperial court. I don't know how to explain it to you right now."
"The imperial court?" Madam Wen's commotion subsided for a moment.
Father Wen was able to catch his breath for a moment and poured himself a cup of tea.
"Yes, the imperial court."
Since I'd already started, I might as well continue. The main problem is that if Madam Wen makes such a fuss, things could get out of control.
Without Madam Wen managing the household affairs, Father Wen was also uneasy about handling official business at the front.
The main reason is that Ji Wanyuan is in the inner quarters; she is a key pawn in the power struggle between the two families.
So, Wen's father explained everything to her, saying basically everything he could.
Madam Wen was shocked, “…?”
She quickly grasped the key point, "So back then... Qi Yan didn't have any impure thoughts while drunk?"
Madam Wen had always found this matter strange. Although she believed her father when he told her, she still harbored some doubts.
Wen Qiyan has always been self-disciplined and respectful of propriety, so why did he suddenly become intimate with Ji Wanyuan? It's said that he was drunk and acted recklessly, but could he really have been completely intoxicated?
That's just too much...
If he's obsessed with Ji Wanyuan's beauty, how come he remained unmoved even after she pursued him for so many years? How did they suddenly become intimate at this juncture?
So it turns out there's something going on with the imperial court involved.
Use their own tactics against them.
At that moment, upon learning the truth, Madam Wen was at a loss for words. She even felt a little sorry for Ji Wanyuan, because Wen Qiyan's affection for her was all... a pretense?
Thinking of this, Madam Wen pressed her father for an answer.
"Qi Yan's... concern and jealousy towards Ji Wanyuan were all feigned?"
Mr. Wen nodded. "Yes."
Madam Wen's brows did not relax. Wasn't this still ruining that girl's life?
You've ruined your health and disappointed others; if this gets out in the future, who knows what kind of mess it will cause.
"But when I look at Qi Yan, I seem to have some thoughts about her too."
Looking back on everything, especially how Ji Wanyuan initially agreed to let Cao Xin into the family in order to see if Wen Qiyan cared about her at all.
Wen Qiyan was just pretending; why would he be so shocked and angry?
If it was really acting, the acting was just too good!
But her eldest son has always been outstanding, so what's so strange about his flawless acting skills?
“Ji Wanyuan is carrying the Wen family’s child. Even if Qi Yan dislikes her, he will still care about her belly, since she hasn’t given birth yet and the baby is still growing inside her.”
Mr. Wen's words were cold and indifferent, and Mrs. Wen felt no comfort whatsoever.
I felt increasingly sad for Ji Wanyuan, because she was also someone who had gone through ten months of pregnancy and become a mother.
Putting aside Ji Wanyuan's character for the moment, let's just talk about this matter. The kindness of her husband is all calculated, even involving the family. Who could tolerate that?
Mrs. Wen was deeply saddened upon learning the truth.
Seeing her like this, Wen's father knew why, and coaxed her several times, telling her about how her family had been deceiving their superiors and subordinates, and also saying that Wen Qiyan had no choice.
If the Ji family could be eradicated in one fell swoop, it would be a relief for the common people who had suffered injustices due to the Ji family's protection and corruption.
Madam Wen was unaware of what was happening in the imperial court.
But hearing Wen's father's analogy, Ji Wanyuan's grievances seemed somewhat sentimental compared to the grievances of the oppressed common people.
Moreover, Ji Wanyuan has been acting recklessly and arrogantly over the years, relying on the Ji family, and she has heard about it.
"There must be something hateful about a pitiful person," Madam Wen thought, and she wasn't so sad anymore.
"Oh, right." She quickly remembered the most important thing.
"What about Yun Qin?"
"Is Yun Qin also faking it towards Ji Wanyuan?" Madam Wen thought it was unlikely.
Father Wen said no, the two were close, Wen Yunqin must have had feelings for Ji Wanyuan, even before Wen Qiyan.
"Yun Qin learned the inside story of the marriage between the two families, and coupled with his feelings for Ji Wanyuan, he caused a scene with Qi Yan?"
This is the scene that Mrs. Wen least wanted to see.
Both sons are equally dear to me.
"Nothing has happened yet." What Madam Wen was referring to had actually occurred, but it hadn't been quite direct yet, since the two were brothers and had a bond of kinship.
"For now?" Madam Wen couldn't help but scoff. "What do you mean, 'for now, there's no trouble'?"
“Yun Qin was unaware of the details of the marriage between the two families, and I did not tell him.”
"What?" Madam Wen was stunned again.
"He just sensed that the court was not in the right direction, and he also felt that there was a problem between Qi Yan and Ji Wanyuan. Young people are always full of vigor, so he got involved."
At this point, Madam Wen finally understood why Wen Qiyan opposed Wen Yunqin's appointment as the leader of the Imperial Guard and why he wanted to find him a noblewoman from outside the capital to be his wife.
But... is there any abuse of power for personal gain?
Wen Qiyan was a man of deep thoughts, even more difficult to understand than his father, Lord Wen. Madam Wen had a headache and didn't want to think about it anymore, so she rubbed her temples.
Seeing this, Wen's father put down his teacup and took over to massage her hands.
After a while, Madam Wen's tone softened, and she asked Lord Wen how to handle this matter.
Why did he change his mind, saying that there was no need to select a noble lady from outside the capital for Wen Yunqin for the time being, and that he could keep an eye on people within the capital, and then let Wen Yunqin take over the position of Imperial Guard?
"Madam, you are unaware of this, but I had no choice."
It was really difficult to mention that Wen Qiyan might have developed real feelings for Ji Wanyuan. Gathering information was slow, and the Emperor was putting constant pressure on him. He couldn't wait any longer, so he planned to send Wen Yunqin to test the waters.
He only said that after carefully weighing the pros and cons, if Wen Yunqin were to take over as the leader of the Imperial Guard, the Wen family would be able to grow stronger and their interactions in various aspects would be more advantageous. In addition, it would also put His Majesty at ease.
"Reassured?" Madam Wen asked doubtfully. "Reassured about what?"
"His Majesty trusts the Wen family and has appointed Yun Qin to command the Imperial Guard. Besides valuing them, it is very likely that he is also testing the Wen family's intentions and monitoring whether they have any rebellious thoughts. Therefore, he cannot refuse."
Mrs. Wen did not want to express her opinion, so she remained silent.
"Therefore, I rejected Qi Yan's idea."
After speaking, Father Wen smiled at Madam Wen, "Madam, you don't need to worry about the affairs of the court. Just take good care of your health and protect Ji Wanyuan in the inner quarters. If there's any trouble, just let me know."
What else could she do? She was just a woman, willing but powerless. Madam Wen nodded.
After taking the sedative, Madam Wen rested.
When I came out, I ran into Wen Yunqin at the corner, who was obviously waiting for me there.
Mr. Wen's surprise was fleeting. He then smiled and asked why he hadn't gone back to rest and what he was doing here. "Your mother's illness is not serious, so there's no need to worry."
"It's not that I'm worried about Mother's health, it's just that there's something I can't figure out, and I'm waiting for Father to explain it to me."
Wen Yunqin's face was devoid of smiles. To be fair, his serious demeanor after calming down was somewhat similar to that of his elder brother, Wen Qiyan.
I tried to persuade that one, but they're making a scene here too.
Mr. Wen paused for a moment, then said, "This is not the place to talk. Let's go to the study."
Upon arriving at the study, Wen Yunqin went straight to the point, asking his father why he wanted him to get close to Ji Wanyuan.
“There is a proper distinction between uncle and sister-in-law. My father doesn’t want me to abide by these ethics. Instead, he wants me to be close to my sister-in-law. Does he expect her to divorce my elder brother so that I can marry her?”
Mr. Wen had just sat down and hadn't even swallowed a sip of tea when he choked on his words.
With a stern face, he scolded, "What nonsense are you spouting?!"
Oh, these two sons not only have a similar way of being silent, but they are also incredibly sharp-tongued and get straight to the heart of the matter when they speak or act.
In the past, Wen Yunqin was more roundabout, and after several years of training outside, he was really annoyed by Wen Qiyan's words today and didn't want to beat around the bush.
"How could your father ask you to do such a thing?"
Wen Yunqin sat down and said sarcastically, "Doesn't Father know my feelings for my sister-in-law?"
“I had liked her long before she married my older brother, and I had liked her for many years.”
He simply didn't want to force her or put Ji Wanyuan in a difficult position, and he was even more afraid that he would lose her as a friend, which is why he hadn't spoken up.
But now, he's lost patience; the men he sent out haven't uncovered anything suspicious.
Is my father's manpower even more capable than my eldest brother's?
The more difficult it is to find out, the more serious this matter is.
Therefore, it's better to ask directly.
“If the father doesn’t explain clearly, the son won’t do it,” Wen Yunqin stated.
"If you insist that your son do it, then I'll make my point here today. Since Father allows me to get close to my sister-in-law, it's a legitimate reason, isn't it? Even if he's my brother-in-law, he can compete fairly with his elder brother now."
"Anyway, my sister-in-law is carrying the Wen family's child. Whether she marries my brother or betroths her to me, the child she gives birth to will have to call her father and mother 'grandfather and grandmother'."
Mr. Wen choked again, and this time he slammed his fist on the table, "Wen Yunqin!"
He wasn't as polite to Wen Yunqin as he was to Wen Qiyan.
Wen Qiyan was mature beyond his years and had been steady since childhood. He was also very smart and quick-witted, so he didn't need to be taught or scolded.
Wen Yunqin was mischievous in his childhood. In front of him, his father was more like a father, while with Wen Qiyan, the father and son were like colleagues.
"Don't talk nonsense!" Father Wen scolded him.
"Whether he is talking nonsense or not, Father can try to find out."
Over the past few years, Wen Yunqin has also grown up and is no longer the naive young man he once was.
Mr. Wen put down his teacup, sighed, and lifted his eyelids to look at him. "What have your men found out?"
"Did the father know that his son sent people to investigate?" It turns out he was prepared all along; no wonder his men found nothing.
“Your brother left someone by your side. I was unaware of your actions, but he certainly was.”
Upon hearing this, Wen Yunqin narrowed his eyes instantly.
Was he being monitored? Or was there a traitor among his trusted confidants? He was completely unaware of his brother's actions.
If his father hadn't pointed it out today, he would probably still be in the dark.
Brother, you are indeed unfathomable.
Seeing Wen Yunqin's expression, Wen's father knew that he was unaware.
But it's always good to give him some leeway, lest he always be restless, so Wen's father didn't explain it clearly.
She simply told him, "The Ji family's days are numbered."
"Oh?" Wen Yunqin feigned a question.
He couldn't help but think to himself, "As expected, he guessed right. This marriage, bestowed by the Emperor, is aimed at the Ji family."
The Emperor intends to use the Wen family to deal with the Ji family, and Ji Wanyuan is a pawn in the "back-and-forth" between the two families.
Wen's father's next words confirmed this and also revealed his purpose in urging him to get close to Ji Wanyuan.
Wen Yunqin's expression grew increasingly solemn, his brows furrowed deeply.
Seeing his resistance, Wen's father said, "Yunqin, you are a member of the Wen family, and you have Wen family blood in your veins, so you know what you should do."
Upon hearing this, Wen Yunqin couldn't help but sneer, "Should be?"
"Father, don't you and my brother feel ashamed to use a girl who knows nothing as a pawn to scheme against her family and friends?"
Today, he had already stabbed Wen's father several times. If Wen's father's anger the first two times was just for show, this time he was truly angry.
"What did you say?" Father Wen asked with a stern face.
“What did Ji Wanyuan do wrong?” Wen Yunqin stood up.
His imposing figure, honed on the battlefield, was extremely intimidating, leaving Wen's father speechless for a moment.
Is it wrong for her to like her brother?
"How could you use her affection for her brother to overthrow the Ji family?"
When Wen's father came to his senses, he laughed angrily, "The Ji family is disobedient and deceives their superiors. She enjoys the Ji family's favors, is she innocent?"
Wen Yunqin also laughed; he scoffed.
"In this chaotic officialdom, which young master or noblewoman hasn't enjoyed the protection and favors brought by their family?"
"Don't even mention me and my brother, didn't you have our father back then?"
"It's just an unspoken rule; does it really mean everything is clean just because no one mentions it?"
Wen Yunqin retorted with a laughable comment.
“My son has known Ji Wanyuan for so many years. Although she is arrogant and domineering and does things without any pretense, she is also sincere and bright, and has never done anything immoral or immoral.”
"Compared to those scoundrels who only know how to use underhanded tricks behind people's backs, how can she not be considered upright?"
Mr. Wen did not expect his father to react so strongly and say so much.
But what Wen Yunqin said next was truly heart-wrenching.
Because his son looked at him, his eyes filled with disappointment, "Father, I've always looked up to you as a role model, but I never imagined that after I've been away from the capital for several years, and you've been immersed in officialdom for so long, you've become so self-righteous and sanctimonious—"
Snap!
By the time Wen's father realized what was happening, his angry slap had already landed on Wen Yunqin's face.
The force was great, and a palm print instantly appeared on Wen Yunqin's face.
His face, which had been deflected by the force, quickly turned back, his sneer unchanged.
"Is it that the Ji family has rebelled and deceived the emperor, or is it that the Ji family's power has made His Majesty uneasy and determined to eliminate them?"
"Shut up!" Father Wen slammed his fist on the table and berated him.
Wen Yunqin paused for a moment, then raised his hand to wipe away the blood from the corner of his mouth. His handsome face was swollen, but he didn't care at all.
"You've only been in office for a few years, what do you know about all the intricacies of it all?" Father Wen scolded him, warning him to be careful what he said!
“My son is indeed naive and doesn’t know how to flatter His Majesty, curry favor, and gain promotions.”
Mr. Wen was almost so angry at his words that he turned his back to them again, “…”
It took a long time before Wen's father finally calmed down.
But Wen Yunqin had already left.
Those were all Wen Qiyan's spies and informants. The moment Wen Yunqin left the South Study, Wen Qiyan had already received the message from his subordinates.
"The second young master and the master got into an argument."
Upon hearing this, the handsome man's thin lips curved slightly, and he hummed in agreement, as if everything was expected.
His gaze drifted toward the inner room.
After Ji Wanyuan returned, she didn't want to face him, and since she was heavily pregnant, she ate a few pastries and fell asleep immediately.
It's been a long time now, and she still hasn't woken up.
Ji Wanyuan didn't wake up until dinner time.
I was woken up by the heat.
Wen Qiyan got into bed at some point and held her as they fell asleep.
The man's chest was warm. With autumn approaching, some warm incense burners had been added to the inner room, making Ji Wanyuan feel even hotter.
She struggled for a moment, but couldn't break free.
Looking up and meeting the man's deep eyes, Ji Wanyuan paused, "You...you let go of me."
"Can't I even hug you?" His voice was deep and resonant, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, yet pleasant to the ear.
"I'm hot," Ji Wanyuan said awkwardly.
Wen Qiyan pulled back the covers and asked her if she was feeling better, but he didn't let go of her.
Ji Wanyuan, “…”
"What exactly are you—"
Before he could finish speaking, the man suddenly opened his mouth and said, "While my wife was resting today, my father and my brother Qin had an argument in the South Study. Aren't you curious?"
What?
Ji Wanyuan's attention was diverted.
She was wondering what was going on, why they always had a fight whenever she slept at the Wen family's house lately.
"Really?" She suspected that Wen Qiyan was lying.
He released her, but still stood in front of her, saying, "Mm."
"What exactly are they arguing about?"
"Does my wife want to know?" he countered.
Ji Wanyuan stared at him intently. "You've already said it, so of course I want to know. After all... everyone has a sense of curiosity."
She offered a flimsy explanation.
Wen Qiyan, who saw through her thoughts, did not expose her, "If you want to know, you have to exchange something for it."
Ji Wanyuan, “?”
"Change?"
"Exchange something for what?" She felt something was off; it felt like he was setting her up.
"When Madam sent people to inquire about the Southern Study, she gave away so many silver notes. Now that she wants to know the news from me, she doesn't want to pay anything in return?"
Ji Wanyuan's heart skipped a beat.
No way, Wen Qiyan actually knew that she sent Emerald to gather information?
Shocked, Ji Wanyuan also felt that it was understandable.
What kind of place is the South Study? It's also an important place for the Wen family. If news from there has leaked out, wouldn't Wen Qiyan know about it?
Thinking of this, she suddenly remembered something.
Wen Qiyan knew that Jade was gathering information, but did he know about the news she heard in the South Study?
If you knew?
Could it be that he deliberately leaked the news to her?
Ji Wanyuan was even more shocked.
No...impossible.
How could Wen Qiyan possibly leak such private information to her for no reason?
What benefit would it bring to him and the Wen family if the news reached her ears and was brought back to the Ji family?
Perhaps it was because the maid, Emerald, was careless and the Wen family found out about her gathering information? After all, what Emerald was investigating wasn't exactly something respectable.
If the Wen family father and son start arguing, they will inevitably have to keep quiet, so it's not surprising that the investigation will lead to the jadeite.
After thinking it over, she made up her mind.
Focusing on dealing with the man in front of her, she said, "Well... what do you want me to give you in exchange?"
The man's eyes flickered slightly, and his well-defined fingers traced down her clothes, causing Ji Wanyuan to tremble and her heart to tighten.
The man's slender fingers slowly moved down to the soft spot on her heart and stopped.
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Author's Note: Four thousand words left to go. I'm a bit stuck on the plot chapters and haven't finished writing them yet. I'll update tonight, so you can read it tomorrow morning! [rainbow fart emoji]
I will update the 10,000-word chapter as usual tomorrow!
This chapter also features 50 random small red envelopes~ [Milk tea emoji]
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