Chapter 82. Using her as bait to lure Wen Qiyan into a trap. ...
Although he never married, never had a concubine, and never experienced human relationships, he was not a fool.
His younger sister was extremely resistant to being touched by others; no one would kiss her like that unless she wanted to.
Therefore, currently only one man can do it.
The father of the child in her womb is Wen Qiyan.
Unexpectedly, it was still discovered.
Ji Wanyuan's hands tightened even more. She maintained her composure, but Ji Lingyue's gaze was piercing, making her feel uneasy.
In the end, she was so afraid that she would lose her composure that she angrily retorted, "I don't know what you're talking about!" and simply turned her back to them.
Ji Lingyue looked at the back of her head and her slightly thin body, which was still covered by a cloak.
"This is the Prefect's residence. My people and spies are everywhere. Does Yuan'er really think she can hide this from her brother?"
Knowing that saying too much would only lead to more mistakes, Ji Wanyuan simply stopped responding.
Ji Lingyue said, "If you don't want to talk about it, I won't force you. As long as you're still here, if he really likes you, he will definitely come again."
Judging from Ji Lingyue's tone, it seemed he intended to use her as bait to set up a trap around her and lure Wen Qiyan into it. No wonder he had been staying here all this time and refused to leave.
Besides trying to find out the location of his father's remaining troops, he was probably also waiting for Wen Qiyan, right?
He was just talking about the changes in the capital, about his mother and Wen Yunqin, when he suddenly changed the subject and mentioned Wen Qiyan.
He must have wanted to catch her off guard, and while he did succeed in scaring her, don't think she's stupid.
In her haste, Ji Wanyuan slowly sorted out her thoughts.
She deduced that Ji Lingyue told her about what happened in the capital to make her panic, thereby forcing her to reveal Wen Qiyan's whereabouts and make her confess about his visit and words.
Therefore, what he said may be true or false.
Regardless of whether it's true or false, she must remain calm and absolutely not lose her composure.
If she loses control, everything will be over.
Regardless of what her mother is really like in the capital, the emperor is far away, and Ji Lingyue is in Youzhou. Does he think he can reach into the capital and interfere in so many things? Does he think her father is dead?
She can't afford to make a fuss.
Wen Qiyan had said that she should have some faith in him, and even if she didn't have faith in Wen Qiyan, she should have some faith in herself. She was as beautiful as a flower, and Wen Qiyan was already her devoted follower.
Alas, at this moment, there is no other way but to trust Wen Qiyan.
Ji Wanyuan kept reassuring herself, her clenched fists slowly loosening as she stroked her swollen belly, hoping that the baby in her arms would give her some strength.
Ji Lingyue watched Ji Wanyuan's retreating figure for a while, then picked up the tea she hadn't finished and drank it all in one gulp.
I could feel the lingering fragrance on the rim of the teacup as she drank, even though the flavor had faded and was now very subtle.
But this is the closest he can get to his sister right now.
Whether Wen Qiyan came or not, both sister and brother know the answer.
After setting down his teacup, he picked up the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from the ground and said slowly, "If you don't want to write, your brother won't force you."
"It's because your brother always spoils you."
Ji Wanyuan felt like vomiting when she heard those words.
His affection for her was completely incompatible with power, and he showed her absolutely no respect. He imprisoned her, forced himself on her, and even tried to take liberties with her. Now he is resorting to coercion and enticement.
How can someone like that be worthy of being her brother?
She used to think he was pretty good; she was truly blind.
I wonder if my parents know what's happening here, or if they know he's a hypocrite with a beast in human form?
Does Wen Qiyan understand her current predicament?
Her brother set a trap for her, and she both hoped he would come and hoped he wouldn't.
"You should get some rest." After the commotion, Ji Lingyue didn't linger and left directly.
Ji Wanyuan dodged his touch and watched him withdraw his hand, which had been hovering in mid-air, attempting to rub her head.
She turned around and discovered that Ji Lingyue had eaten all the tea and pastries she hadn't finished.
That's disgusting.
Ji Wanyuan covered her mouth, feeling like she was going to vomit.
She still cannot leave the courtyard and can only move around inside the house.
"..."
Since the last time Lady Ji was summoned to the palace, she has been effectively placed under house arrest by the Empress under the pretext of recuperation.
Madam Wen visited several times and was able to see Madam Ji each time, but she still couldn't find an opportunity to speak up for Madam Ji and get her to leave the palace.
In recent days, she has not been able to find an opportunity to leave the palace, let alone speak a few words, because she cannot enter the palace alone too often; she has to go in with the Lin family and other families.
Today, everyone was sitting and eating tea and cakes, but they did not see Madam Ji. Madam Wen gave a wink, and the old woman next to her secretly bribed a young palace maid to inquire. She heard that Madam Ji was ill and had caught a cold.
Upon hearing this, she risked suggesting that they go and see her, but the Empress said that she was afraid that Lady Ji had passed on her illness, and the imperial physician said that Lady Ji needed to rest, thus rejecting her request.
After leaving the palace, Madam Wen secretly sent a message to the Ji family and then brought her father back.
"Is something wrong with Ji Wanyuan's mother?" As soon as her father arrived home, she told him all the news.
Father Wen frowned. "It shouldn't be."
"How could it not be?" Madam Wen said repeatedly. She hadn't seen Madam Ji today and didn't know if she was really seriously ill.
If we fail to protect Madam Ji, not only will Wen Qiyan reprimand us when he returns, but the Wen family will also suffer.
"Prime Minister Ji has been dispatched to handle cases these days. Currently, the Fang and Lin families are handling political affairs on behalf of the Emperor. Killing the Prime Minister's wife at this juncture will not benefit the royal family at all."
"If that's what you're saying, sir, is Madam Ji really sick, or is she faking it?"
Mr. Wen rubbed his temples. "I don't know either."
"But the only thing that is certain is that the Empress will not let Madam Ji return for the time being."
The Lin family must have realized that Ji Wanyuan was missing, so they submitted a memorial to the emperor and detained Madam Ji, hoping to force Ji Wanyuan out.
Ji Wanyuan's existence is related to the marriage ties and maintenance between the Wen and Ji families.
Fortunately, he had already learned from Wen Qiyan that Ji Wanyuan was no longer in the capital.
Although she is not there, it is very important to conceal her whereabouts; we must create the illusion that she is still in the capital.
"Madam, please make more trips to the Ji family to check on Ji Wanyuan's pregnancy and make sure nothing goes wrong with her. We must not give the Lin family any leverage over her."
Going to the Ji family home wouldn't be a problem, since she's Ji Wanyuan's mother-in-law. But the Wen family and the Lin family haven't officially broken ties yet. What if the Lin family comes knocking again, shamelessly insisting on going to the Ji family home with her?
When the time comes, even if we need to find an excuse, we probably won't be able to find a safe one to refuse, because the Lin family members are all shrewd people.
Madam Wen expressed her concerns to her father.
"It's alright, just don't go too often. There's still someone sane at the Lin family's place."
Madam Wen knew he was referring to Lin Sinian, but she was still worried, "Lin Sinian is, after all, surnamed Lin."
"The eldest son of the Lin family is still hung up on that cousin of the Ji family, deeply in love with her, and wants to become her lover. He's not so clueless as to not understand the situation."
Initially, Wen's father didn't trust Lin Sinian very much, but Wen Qiyan wrote to him saying that he was a capable person and that he could rest assured.
The unfilial son in the family is always right; now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to go along with him.
"It seems the Ji family is really planning a rebellion, and our family... is really going to..."
Even though the maids beside her had been dismissed, Madam Wen still didn't have the courage to discuss it openly, so she hesitated to speak.
Mr. Wen patted her shoulder and put down his hand that was pinching her brow. “I know Madam’s concerns, but right now the Wen family and the Ji family are in the same boat.”
They are so closely connected that, given Wen Qiyan's deep affection for Ji Wanyuan, even if Ji Wanyuan loses the child in her womb, he will still work for the Ji family and protect her relatives.
"Let's wait and see. Even if we wanted to get away now, we wouldn't be able to get away completely."
Seeing Madam Wen's grave expression and deeply furrowed brows, Father Wen smiled and coaxed her with many words.
"Don't worry, the Ji family has been entrenched in the court for many years and they are not to be trifled with. Even if you don't trust the Ji family, Madam, you should trust your son. Qi Yan has always been meticulous in his calculations, so I don't think anything will happen."
"But how long can the emperor's illness last?"
Even if she was born into a high-ranking family and was well-informed, how could she not be afraid?
"His Majesty values his life and will not die so easily."
Lady Wen still couldn't be completely at ease. "These past few days, I've been listening to the reports from the eunuchs in the Empress's palace. It seems the Emperor is quite ill."
"In my opinion, this is probably a ploy to lure the snake out of its hole."
Wen's father said that only by staying out of the fray could they catch the traitors, and that Wen's wife should not trust the Empress's words too much.
Madam Wen sighed, "I don't understand matters of the court. I'll just do whatever you say, sir."
"I'll visit the Ji family more often these next few days and keep watch over Qi Yan and Ji Wanyuan."
"Hmm." Father Wen told her to take good care of herself and also sent more people to Madam Wen's side, including many maids who knew how to fight.
The Lin family's case, which was brought up again last time, dragged on for a long time before it was finally resolved.
The source of the problem remains unknown, but it is definitely not a coincidence.
If we can't trace the source, then we should look for the one who benefits the most.
The Lin family is embroiled in lawsuits; who benefits from this?
The Fang family, the Ji family, the Wen family...
It could be a prestigious or aristocratic family.
The biggest beneficiary is the Ji family, because the Lin family is handling the matter of Ji Wanyuan's pregnancy according to the emperor's decree, which is very likely done by the Ji family.
However, almost all of Ji Zhao's capable men have been sent out, including his adopted son, his son-in-law He Xun, Wen Qiyan, and Wen Yunqin.
Who exactly is it?
After much thought, Mr. Lin still had no clue. He wondered who might know about the Lin family's private affairs from a few years ago.
Fortunately, Madam Ji has been placed under house arrest by the Empress. By controlling Madam Ji, the Empress has gained leverage over the Ji family. Moreover, there is finally progress on Ji Wanyuan's side.
Mr. Lin was instructing Mrs. Lin to spend more time with the Wen family in recent days, and use this as a means to visit the Ji family, investigate Ji Wanyuan's pregnancy, and then make a move against her.
Madam Lin responded and then told her father that Madam Wen and Madam Ji had been getting very close in the past month. Madam Wen often inquired about Madam Ji's whereabouts, and when she learned that Madam Ji was ill, she even asked the Empress if she could visit her.
"Could the two families have already joined forces?" Thinking of Madam Wen's neglect these days, Madam Lin felt very unhappy.
If the Ji family falls into ruin in the future, what good marriage can the Wen family find? Shouldn't they just marry into the Lin family? I really don't know what got into Madam Wen, that she would get close to Madam Ji.
Lin's father said no, "Wen Ze and I entered officialdom together. He is cautious and always follows the rules. He has the laws and regulations ingrained in his bones. He would never associate with traitors like the Ji family."
"Mrs. Lin, is that so?" "My brow has been twitching a lot lately; I have a feeling something's about to happen—"
Before she could finish speaking, she heard the maids calling for the young lady. Lin Nianxi rushed in, looking rather pale.
"Mother, I've found something out!"
Seeing her flustered and sweaty, Madam Lin said, "What's the big deal that's making you so anxious? You're the eldest daughter of the Lin family; you should be more careful with your words and actions."
Mrs. Lin wiped her sweat while scolding her.
Lin Nianxi nodded and said she understood, but she really had something urgent to say, and she asked the maidservant beside her to send away all the irrelevant people.
"Xi'er, what are you doing?" Lin's father asked, puzzled.
"Father, do you remember that cousin from the Ji family?"
"Which one?" Lin's father had been dealing with a ton of things lately, and he was already overwhelmed with the family lawsuits. He had no idea about any of the Ji family's cousins.
Aside from Ji Wanyuan, the Ji family has many other cousins.
Madam Lin asked, "Is it Lou Qingru, who recently divorced and returned to the capital?"
"Yes! That's right, it's her." Lin Nianxi nodded, glancing outside every now and then as she spoke, it was unclear who she was wary of even in her own home.
Madam Lin told her to speak her mind, "Your father and I have things to do later, and we don't have much free time to stay here with you."
If the issues between the Wen and Ji families are not resolved, it will be a major threat to our health.
“My daughter’s people recently investigated the people around Ji Wanyuan and discovered an old story: Lou Qingru and my brother were very close!”
"Your brother?" Madam Lin asked, puzzled.
"Yes, it's my brother. I heard from the people from the Ji family who were sent away before that my brother and she..."
Before she could finish speaking, Madam Lin already knew what she was going to say and quickly stopped her, "Xi'er, you can't say such things. What kind of relationship could your brother have with a divorced woman who has returned to the capital?"
Mr. Lin raised his hand to stop Mrs. Lin, letting Lin Nianxi continue.
Lin Nianxi, free from any worries, quickly said that according to the servants of the Ji family, Lin Sinian had already had an affair with Lou Qingru before Lou Qingru got married, and the two had stayed in an inn together for a day and a night without coming out.
After that, they kept in touch privately, but for some reason, Lou Qingru married someone else.
"How could your brother possibly be entangled with Lou Qingru?"
Ji Wanyuan had a bad reputation in the capital, and her cousin was just like her; the two were unorthodox and shared the same wicked ways.
Therefore, it was not surprising to people in the capital that Lou Qingru had been married abroad for many years, divorced, and returned to the capital.
“Mother!” Lin Nianxi said again that she was also afraid that the Ji family would try to implicate their Lin family, so she specially sent someone to Lou Qingru’s ex-husband’s family to investigate.
It took a lot of money to pry those people's mouths open, and they said that Lou Qingru often quarreled with her husband, "and mentioned her brother's name between the lines!"
"What?!" Madam Lin felt a sudden darkness engulf her!
The feeling of having carefully nurtured a cabbage only to have it eaten by a pig came to mind.
"Is this true?" Lin's father's expression was also very serious.
Lin Nianxi said it was absolutely true, "Brother's feelings for Lou Qingru are definitely not ordinary."
After a moment of silence, Lin's father sent someone to bring Lin Sinian back, instructing them not to say anything to him on the way.
At that time, Lin Sinian was busy with matters concerning the Dali Temple. His subordinate leaned close to his ear and said that he had received a secret letter from Wen's father, which he read and then burned.
After thinking it over, he handed over the things he was doing and was about to go home when, unexpectedly, someone from his family came over and said that his father wanted him to come back.
Something's up, but they won't say what it is.
Lin Sinian paused slightly, “…”
Once inside the study, Lin's father's gaze was not pleasant.
He remained calm and asked, "What does your father want with his son?"
"Although the lawsuit involving the fourth branch has been settled, is there anything you want to tell your father?" Lin's father asked, looking into his eyes.
Lin Sinian instantly understood, but despite his understanding, he chose to pretend not to hear. "What exactly is Father trying to say? I don't understand."
"Don't understand?!" Lin's father grabbed the inkstone next to him and smashed it over his shoulder.
Lin Sinian dodged quickly and was not hit by the inkstone, but his clothes were splattered with ink.
"Do you dare say that you weren't the one who leaked the information about the fourth branch of the family to the Ji family?!"
"I never imagined that such an ungrateful child would appear in my family!"
On the way to invite Lin Sinian, Lin's father had someone investigate the officials who handled the case that had been submitted to the fourth branch of the family. It turned out that the case had been suppressed after being submitted to the relevant government office.
But the relevant government offices and the Court of Judicial Review were in cahoots. The person who suppressed this case was Lin Ssu-nien's classmate and brother.
Lin Ssu-nien may have appeared to be uninvolved, but in reality, the fact that the case was able to be suppressed was entirely due to him. How could he not know about the affairs of the fourth branch of the family?
So... Lin's father realized that he had neglected Lin Sinian.
It's hard to guard against a thief within your own household, even if you guard against them day and night.
He was preoccupied with figuring out which aristocratic family had done it, but he never imagined that there was a traitor within his own family.
If Lin Nianxi hadn't discovered his past with Lou Qingru, Lin's father probably would never have been able to figure it out and would have remained in the dark for the rest of his life.
Lin Ssu-nien was not surprised; his father knew that it was he who had leaked the information.
Since they're talking about the Ji family, it means the Wen family hasn't been exposed yet.
It's good that nothing has been exposed.
"You've belittled the Lin family and yourself, causing the Emperor to suspect you and the Lin family to lose money. What were you thinking?!" Lin's father was furious at his unmoved face. He had reminded him repeatedly that this could very well lead to his dismissal from office!
Lin Si sighed and, ignoring his father's murderous expression, sat down to the side.
“Now that Father has investigated and found out the truth, he should understand his son’s intentions.”
"What's the intention?" To be honest, Lin's father really didn't understand his intention.
Was it for Lou Qingru?
"You don't actually want to marry that cousin from the Ji family, do you?"
When she was mentioned, Lin Sinian paused slightly and remained silent.
He didn't answer, but Lin's father took it as a tacit agreement and immediately sneered, "A used-up woman who has divorced and returned to Beijing with a child will never be able to enter our Lin family and tarnish our family's reputation. You'd better give up on that idea!"
Mr. Lin has been busy lately and has been very angry, so he is coughing repeatedly now.
Lin Sinian watched him cough while leaning on the table, but didn't reply or offer any comfort until his father recovered.
Lin's father was indeed very angry. But no matter how angry he was, his son was still his own son and the future head of the Lin family. What could he do?
I can't exactly break his legs, can I? Besides, this is a family scandal. We finally managed to smooth things over, what good would it do to bring it up again and make a huge fuss? So all I can do is curse him behind closed doors.
"If Father has vented his anger, I have matters to attend to at the Dali Temple, so I will not stay with you any longer."
Lin Ssu-nien was about to get up as he was speaking when his father asked him to sit down.
"You're not allowed to leave until you give me an explanation today!" Lin's father had someone lock the door from the outside.
Lin Sinian remained calm and composed. "What explanation does Father want?"
"Isn't the case already closed? Do you expect your son to turn himself in and say that he was the one who leaked the information about the fourth wife's affair?"
The more he spoke, the more unpleasant Lin's father's expression became.
"Tell me whether you've completely broken things off with that cousin from the Ji family, and whether you two are still in contact?"
Even though she's from a collateral branch of the family, Lou Qingru is still a member of the Ji family!
Is he courting death by getting involved with the Ji family? Is he trying to ruin the entire Lin family?
He wasn't like this before. Who did he learn it from?
Lin's father was completely baffled. How could his son, who had always been so peaceful, have become like this?
"Since Father has already replaced the person I placed in Yanling, how come he still doesn't know whether I've completely broken off with her? Why does he still have to ask me about it today?"
Mr. Lin almost forgot about this matter.
When Lou Qingru married out of the country, Lin Sinian planted people in Yanling, where she was to marry.
He was afraid that Lou Qingru would go astray and do something shameless, after all, Lou Qingru had harassed him many times before, and he wasn't so indifferent.
Lin's father simply replaced the person he had sent to guard Yanling.
Lin Sinian learned of Lou Qingru's return to Beijing from Wen Qiyan.
"So you really did have an affair with Lou Qingru." Lin's father pointed at him. "Do you know who's behind Lou Qingru?"
Lou Qingru faced a lot of criticism after returning home from her divorce, but Prime Minister Ji brought Wen Qiyan to support her. Lou Qingru and Ji Wanyuan were so close that Lou Qingru didn't seem like a cousin of the Ji family, but more like Ji Zhao's second daughter.
"You still dare to get involved with her?" Lin's father was furious and ordered him to cut ties immediately.
Lin Sinian stood up and smiled.
"Father is getting old and is no longer able to handle many matters of the court. You can no longer manage your son's affairs."
Just that one sentence made Lin's father so angry that he turned over and coughed so badly that he felt dizzy.
Lin Sinian watched for a while before sending someone to fetch a doctor.
"..."
Ji Wanyuan has been quietly resting during her pregnancy these days. She appears calm on the surface, but she is suffering immensely inside.
She was really worried about whether something had happened at home in Beijing.
Wen Qiyan hasn't come recently.
Xi'er called her to eat, but she didn't have much of an appetite. She sat down anyway, but after only a few bites, she noticed that there seemed to be something in the pastries.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Just a quick plot chapter, and Wenger will appear in the next one! [rainbow emoji] This chapter also features random lucky draw red envelopes!
By the way, based on the current outline, this story should be finished around the end of the month.
My next novel is "She Changed Her Heart in the Third Year of Marriage," which will be released after this one finishes, also at the end of the month. Please add it to your favorites!
The text is as follows:
With the wedding date approaching, her elder sister suddenly fell seriously ill, and Pu Jinyu, who had been raised in the countryside for many years and forgotten by everyone, was finally brought back to the capital.
With her stepmother threatening her with the life of her aunt, she had no choice but to change her appearance and study her elder sister's words and actions to marry into the Yan family in her place. She only needed to wait for her elder sister to recover from her illness so that this marriage, which had been a deception, could be returned to her.
Unfortunately, her elder sister fell seriously ill and succumbed to her illness.
The Yan family was a powerful and influential family with strict rules within its deep mansion. Bearing the appearance and name of her elder sister, she lived in constant fear, serving her parents-in-law and sisters-in-law with trepidation, racking her brains to deal with her aloof and unapproachable husband, daring not to slack off in the slightest.
Her stepmother, angered by the death of her elder sister, took her anger out on her and made things difficult for her in every way. Ultimately, she suffered from heart failure and died in childbirth at the age of twenty-nine.
Using the name of her elder sister, Pu Wange, her soul and body were trapped in the Yan family's deep, ruthless mansion for her entire life.
Only after her death did Pu Jinyu learn that her elder sister had not died of illness, but had faked her death to escape in order to follow her lover.
Her most trusted and beloved concubine was never coerced in any way. Instead, for the sake of her own bright future, she used and then abandoned her daughter countless times to consolidate her position and enjoy wealth and glory.
Pu Jinyu looked back on her life. She was born as a concubine's daughter and was forced to dress as a man to please her biological father. Unfortunately, the fake could not become real. As she grew older, her identity could no longer be hidden, and her aunt did not hesitate to devise a plan to send her to a dilapidated remote area.
At that time, seeing her aunt's teary eyes, the young girl did not understand the meaning of rejection and truly believed that they were full of love and care for her.
It's just a pity...
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself back in the third year of her substitute marriage, looking at the red bricks and green tiles of the Yan family's house, and the soft, gauze curtains.
She lowered her eyelashes with a cold smile, revealing a pitiful expression to conceal the turbulent emotions churning within her.
***
The Yan family had a glorious history of over a century, ranking first among the most prestigious families in the capital. Its eldest son, Yan Chiyun, was outstanding and handsome, and at a young age, he had already reached the highest position in the government, making him someone that others could only look up to but never reach.
The Yan and Pu families had been betrothed since their early years. When he reached marriageable age, Yan Chiyun, following the advice of his elders, married the most impeccable noblewoman in the entire capital.
After marriage, he was restrained in his sexual relations and busy with political affairs, leaving early and returning late. Although the two rarely met, they treated each other with respect and lived like guests. They lived like this for three years without interfering with each other. If nothing unexpected happens, he will be a good wife and mother until the end of his life.
Therefore, he really couldn't understand why his wife, who had always been proper and virtuous, would betray her kinship.
Even when he caught her, facing his stern questioning, she remained unmoved, dressed herself, looked coldly into his eyes, and casually replied, "Since you've seen it all, then let's get a divorce."
He was so furious that he laughed in a deep voice, looking at the profile of his wife, who was as serene and beautiful as a gardenia.
Suddenly, he realized that he seemed to have never truly known this woman.
A self-disciplined and aloof beauty falls for love, driven to madness and resorting to force to possess it.
Reading Guide:
A restrained, polite, and abstinent head of household vs. a beautiful and resilient mistress
Arranged marriage, love blossoms, the old house catches fire, the unattainable beauty turns out to be incredibly attractive, the man goes crazy for love and even has to cremate his wife – a happy ending.
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