Chapter 88 Ji Wanyuan, you are not allowed to abandon me.
"What wrong thing could a daughter do?"
Mr. Wen said "Oh," and then added, "Do you know how guilty you look right now?"
Wen Qingling choked up instantly, her face even paler than before, her lips pressed tightly together, refusing to speak.
With Wen's father holding a high position in the Censorate, how could he be easily fooled?
Based on Wen Qingling's reaction at this moment, he was certain that Wen Qingling's illness was definitely related to Wen Qiyan.
"Did Father come here to interrogate his daughter?"
What do you mean she did something wrong? She just had a nightmare, but she herself doesn't understand why the dream felt so real.
Even the tranquilizer and the rain that fell when her brother snapped her neck felt so real…
It was just a dream, but the intense pain often sent chills down her spine. Not only that, but in the past few days she had also frequently dreamed that her neck was snapped and that scarlet blood splattered onto the inner wall of the carriage.
Her brother, disgusted by her head, discarded it; his appearance was sinister and terrifying.
Thinking of this, she began to shiver all over.
Looking at her current state, Wen's father knew he shouldn't provoke her too much, but what Wen Qingling had done could very well jeopardize the foundation of the Wen and Ji families, so he had no choice but to harden his heart.
The Wen family's century-long history must not be ruined in his hands.
"If you have done nothing wrong, why would you consider my words of comfort as torture?"
Wen Qingling had no chance against her father, who was a seasoned official. Just his stern look at her was enough to frighten her.
Moreover, Wen Qiyan is Wen's father's son, and the two have similar features. Looking at Wen's father, she thought of that terrifying dream again.
“Qingling, if you really did it, it’s not too late to tell me now. I will find a way to resolve this matter.” Father Wen used both soft and hard tactics. “After all, you are my daughter, and I will not abandon you.”
That last sentence did indeed give Wen Qingling some reassurance.
Her expression seemed to have softened somewhat; she was struggling.
At the opportune moment, Wen's father added fuel to the fire, saying, "But if you continue to hide it, don't blame your father for sitting idly by when the truth comes out. I have already shown concern for you today."
Mr. Wen did not speak again, waited quietly for a while, and then got up to leave without further delay.
Just as Wen's father got up, Wen Qingling was so frightened that she quickly called out "Father!"
Wen's father turned to look at her.
"My daughter... my daughter hasn't done anything wrong..."
It was that same phrase again. Wen's father narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking she was going to refuse again, but Wen Qingling said she had a terrible and bizarre nightmare.
In her dream, Wen Qiyan strangled her with his bare hands and killed her on the spot, which is why she is filled with fear and anxiety every day.
"A dream?" Wen's father thought it was her way of making excuses, but when Wen Qingling looked up at him, it was as if she had grasped at the last straw.
"Yes, in the dream, Ji Wanyuan had a difficult childbirth, and my brother blamed me for it, but I had no idea what I had done."
"Father, it's all true!" Afraid that her father wouldn't believe her and would scold her for being silly, her eyes turned red with anxiety, and even her breathing became heavy.
“Your daughter didn’t lie to you, your brother really did it.” He was going crazy for Ji Wanyuan.
"The dream felt so real, it felt like it was actually happening, that's why I..."
She was already afraid of Wen Qiyan, and this dream made her even more terrified.
Wen's father composed himself, looked at her trembling figure, and sat down again.
“Tell me your dream from beginning to end in detail.”
Wen Qingling hadn't fully calmed down yet, and she said "okay" in a trembling voice.
Half an incense stick later, Wen's father's expression also became solemn, because Wen Qingling's dream actually mentioned clues about the imperial court, especially about the Lin family.
"Where is the tranquilizer?" Since Lin Nianxi brought it, there must be something fishy about it.
After she finished speaking, Wen Qingling saw that her father seemed to believe her, and she felt a little relieved.
After venting her frustrations for so long, Yu Tuan finally felt a little lighter.
She summoned her personal maid and brought over the calming medicine that Lin Nianxi had given her. "It's all here. I didn't use it, nor did I give it to you, sister-in-law."
When the topic of this matter came up again, and Ji Wanyuan was mentioned, Wen Qingling simply told her father the truth of what she had overheard outside the study that day.
“My daughter harbored resentment at the time, so she kept it a secret,” she said. “It seems like everyone in the family treats her like an outsider.”
Wen's father sighed, "Qingling, it's for your own good that I'm not telling you."
Wen Qingling pouted. "The real reason is because my daughter is on good terms with Sister Nianxi, right?"
Wen's father did not deny it, "You have been spoiled by your mother and me since you were a child. You are simple-minded and impatient. You like to do things as you please and often do not consider the consequences. The girl from the Lin family is scheming. You can't see through her, so you are extremely easy to be bewitched by her."
It may be harsh to say, but it's the truth.
Today, Ji Yu came to visit, and Wen Qingling saw how he bowed his head to her because of her family.
If she were rejected by the family, she would definitely be bullied by Ji Yu. She absolutely could not let such a thing happen. Even if her brother did not like her as his sister, she could not let her brother become Ji Yu's backer. She was the one with the surname Wen!
Over the past few days, she has come to realize that her mother's constant avoidance of contact with the Lin family and her shift of allegiance to the Ji family must be because of Ji Wanyuan.
Her brother liked her and loved her, so... she couldn't afford to offend Ji Wanyuan.
Not only must he not offend Ji Wanyuan, but he must also protect her just like his father and mother.
As long as what happened in the dream doesn't actually happen, there's still a chance for things to turn around!
As long as Ji Wanyuan doesn't die, she won't die.
“Sister Nianxi… isn’t that bad, is she? She just likes her brother too much.”
The two had been friends for many years, and she confided in Lin Nianxi. Lin Nianxi treated her very well, so she could never connect Lin Nianxi with the person who murdered her brother's offspring.
To be precise, she didn't want to think that way, nor did she want to give up their close friendship.
"Back then, you fell for Ji Yu. If it weren't for her encouragement, would you have married this man without hesitation?"
After all, they were his own children, and Wen's father had some understanding of their personalities.
Back then, when she fell in love with the Ji family, her family disapproved. Even Wen Qiyan said that this man was wicked and untrustworthy.
Wen Qiyan has always been indifferent to family affairs and rarely judges the character of others. Because of his rare remarks, Wen Qingling did have the idea of backing down, but Lin Nianxi has always "supported" her.
She supported her in pursuing love, said she was brave, and told her to live for herself.
Because she had been constantly opposed at the time, Lin Nianxi's comfort made her feel extremely happy.
“Qingling,” Wen’s father told her, “a true friend will indeed support your decision without hesitation, but such support must be based on your own determination to do it after weighing the pros and cons, not on someone who, knowing there is a trap ahead, fans the flames and pushes you into the fire while you are wavering. Do you think such a person can be trusted?”
Wen Qingling was stunned for a moment, and even felt a slight soreness in her nose, "..."
“I know you’ve always disliked Ji Wanyuan.”
Not only Wen Qingling, but even he and his mother didn't like Prime Minister Ji's family very much.
These days, the emperor is seriously ill and even when he is lucid, he is unable to handle state affairs. Most of the work is handled by senior cabinet ministers. In addition, the national treasury is empty. In order to extract money from the families of officials, the emperor has been asking the Censorate to reopen old cases, which is a way of extorting money from these families.
With the Censor-in-Chief Wen Qiyan absent, his father had to handle all sorts of matters, big and small. Upon investigation, it was clear that there was no harm in comparison.
Despite his seemingly illustrious and arrogant demeanor over the years, Ji Zhao was actually very fair in handling internal affairs. His subordinates were always kept in check and never made any major mistakes. In fact, they couldn't even detect minor errors.
The Ji family was originally the one the emperor most wanted to investigate, and he even sent a eunuch to the Censorate to give him a hint. However, after investigating, he found no faults or omissions in the Ji family. As for the other aristocratic families, some of which considered themselves to be upright and honest, they were so filthy that they were unbearable to look at.
Including the Lin family, the last time the incident involving the fourth branch of the Lin family was exposed, the Censorate was responsible for investigating it. Because the Wen family and the Lin family were on good terms, which was common knowledge in the capital, Wen's father did not get involved in handling the matter, so it was handed over to another Censorate official.
When he read the case file, he was shocked to find that the Lin family had gone to such extremes, harming the people. It was a shame that Lord Lin had always been so upright.
"Let's put aside her affair with your older brother for now. Actually, Ji Wanyuan is a decent person..."
Wen Qingling looked up and asked, "What do you mean by that, Father?"
In an effort to reconcile the conflict between the sisters-in-law, Wen's father sighed inwardly and told Wen Qingling that one cannot judge a person solely by their appearance; he too had been deceived before.
He said that the Censorate wanted to investigate the Ji family, but could not find any mistakes made by Prime Minister Ji, so they thought of starting with Ji Wanyuan, since this young lady Ji Wanyuan has always been shrewish and domineering.
Unexpectedly, the absurd things Ji Wanyuan did were all acts of justice.
Wen's father said that he had only seen Ji Wanyuan associating with Fang Chao and others, going in and out of brothels, and even pinning people to the ground and beating them until their faces were swollen, but he still wouldn't let them go.
Upon closer investigation, it was discovered that the woman she had beaten was actually a restless woman who, despite her pitiful and delicate appearance, was juggling multiple relationships and even engaging in human trafficking.
This woman was a notorious "man-eating flower" in the capital, seducing respectable men and women, bewitching them, leading them to gambling dens, and accumulating huge debts. She would then sell her own wife to brothels to pay off these debts. Ji Wanyuan did this on behalf of Heaven, but in order to protect people's reputations, she was criticized by the people of the capital, and she did not explain herself.
The reason she got involved in this matter was because she accidentally saw Fang Chao's people buying married women who were being sold by men through "man-eating flower women" in the backyard of Flower Alley.
The woman refused, and the Fang family servants kept trying to abduct her, which is why Ji Wanyuan intervened.
She learned the whole story and immediately ordered people to arrest the "man-eating flower woman" and beat her in the street. Outsiders, not understanding why, thought she was jealous of the woman's beauty, which caused many misunderstandings.
"Alas, when it comes to judging people and things, you really can't just look at the surface," said Mr. Wen, adding that he used to be quite old-fashioned.
"Is that really how it is?" Wen Qingling was shocked.
Actually, she had heard about this matter before.
At the time, Lin Nianxi told her that Fang Chao was interested in Ji Wanyuan, and Ji Wanyuan enjoyed the adoration and affection of the Fang family, but did not want to accept him.
She didn't want to accept it, but that didn't stop her from being domineering. That's why she couldn't stand Fang Chao flirting with other women, which is why she beat up that brothel woman. She never expected things to turn out like this.
"Do you think your father is lying to you?" Father Wen said, adding that he could show her the case file of the woman in the capital who ate man-eating flowers.
"His Majesty made a fortune from this incident, which brought a huge profit to the Fang family."
If it weren't for the fact that the Fang family sent many daughters into the harem to influence the emperor's wife, the Fang family would probably have been severely punished, and might even have had their property confiscated, given the many offenses they had committed.
It was through the Fang family that Wen's father witnessed the emperor's biased actions.
The Fang family's daughter has been influencing the emperor through her influence, and the emperor now greatly favors the Fang family.
"My daughter... my daughter doesn't know about these things."
Wen's father tucked the blanket around her, saying, "Your mother and I didn't tell you, so naturally you wouldn't know."
"Does Father really believe what his daughter says?" Wen Qingling still couldn't quite believe it, after all, it was just a dream.
Although dreams are mysterious, if they can help Wen Qingling understand the importance of things, he will naturally believe in them.
“You are my daughter, of course I believe you.”
That rebellious son still wields considerable influence.
"Then..." Wen Qingling hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.
"I will mediate between your elder brother and your father," Father Wen reassured her. "But you should also reduce your contact with the Lin family."
"The Lin family and the Wen family really can't..."
"I will not ask you to break off your relationship with Lin Nianxi. I just want to tell you one thing: Ji Wanyuan is the apple of your brother's eye. If anything happens to her, I cannot protect you. At that time... if it is too late, I will be powerless to help you."
"It all depends on what you do." He will also have Madam Wen keep an eye on things from now on.
"Father, don't worry, I understand."
By handing over the tranquilizer, Wen's father already knew her choice.
But there are too many unpredictable things in this world. After thinking for a moment, Father Wen said, "If you find it too troublesome to deal with the Lin family girl, I suggest you go back to Linxia with Ji Yu."
“But he…” Wen Qingling wanted to say that she regretted it.
Even without her saying it, Wen's father could tell what she wanted to say.
"Qingling, you must take responsibility for your choices." That was all he said.
Wen Qingling pursed her lips and remained silent.
"..."
Upon returning home, Madam Wen immediately asked how things had gone.
Wen's father recounted the events of that year to her.
"I've already had someone examine this tranquilizer, and there's nothing wrong with it."
"But something just doesn't feel right," Mr. Wen said, frowning.
The Lin family woman would never do anything pointless. If there's nothing wrong with the medicine, it's fine for Wen Qingling to use it alone. Why bring up giving it to Ji Wanyuan?
There must be something wrong with this tranquilizer.
Mrs. Wen couldn't figure it out either. She said perhaps it wasn't a problem with the medicine.
Father Wen remained silent; this matter was not so simple.
Ji Wanyuan's safety and pregnancy are of great importance to the Wen, Lin, and Ji families.
The following day, Wen's father sent someone to Youzhou to inform Wen Qiyan of Lin Nianxi's recent movements and the tranquilizer.
Anyway, that rebellious son is powerful; what is there that he can't find out?
Perhaps because Wen Qingling had resolved her inner conflict, her illness gradually improved, and her complexion became much better. However, Lin Nianxi came to visit again.
She carefully dealt with Lin Nianxi, and suddenly realized the difficulties her mother faced in navigating the Lin family.
Looking at Lin Nianxi's face and spending time with her, Wen Qingling felt endless exhaustion. She had to rack her brains and carefully choose her words for every sentence she spoke. It was really too difficult.
So she followed her father's arrangement and left the capital with Ji Yu. She had been back at her parents' home for a long time, and if she stayed any longer, it would be difficult to explain to her husband's family.
After arriving at Linxia, she wrote another letter, describing her time with Lin Nianxi, what Lin Nianxi had said, the calming medicine, and the dream, and told Wen Qiyan about it.
The only thing omitted was the part where Wen Qiyan snapped her neck, which was ultimately dishonorable.
When Wen Qiyan's men arrived in Youzhou with the letter, Ji Wanyuan was only one month pregnant and about to give birth.
Thinking of the dream about premature birth, Wen Qiyan stayed by her side all day long, never leaving her side.
He personally served her by washing, bathing, and wiping her body. He helped her turn over at night, held her like a heater, and even wanted to cook for her himself. But Ji Wanyuan said he had never cooked before and it must not taste good, so she didn't want it! This made him look at her silently.
Qinghe watched the two from the side. The one with the bigger belly crossed his arms and turned his face away to express his dissatisfaction, while the other stared at her without saying a word. The scene seemed to be arguing, but it was also strangely harmonious.
Starting in the last month, Ji Wanyuan couldn't sleep well. She would feel thirsty and need to drink water every half hour, and soon after, she would have to get up at night.
The baby in her belly kept kicking her. She didn't want to talk about it, but even though she didn't want to, Wen Qiyan noticed.
Several times, she was half asleep when she saw the man staring intently at her stomach, as if he disliked her very much.
She asked him what he was looking at, but he wouldn't answer.
He simply tucked her in, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and stroked her face after she fell asleep.
That day, after reading the letter in his study, Wen Qiyan took a bath and went to bed.
Ji Wanyuan hadn't fallen asleep to begin with. Hearing the noise, she opened her eyes and saw the man sitting on the bed, taking off his boots. His thin undergarment outlined his broad shoulders and narrow waist; he looked so handsome.
His face looked even better when he turned around.
"What are you looking at?" He asked, pinching her cheek after lying down.
Ji Wanyuan mumbled something but didn't answer.
Wen Qiyan asked her if she wanted to turn over, but Ji Wanyuan shook her head. She was pulled into the man's arms, and smelling his cool scent, she subconsciously closed her eyes.
As her due date approached, she was initially filled with immense panic, but Wen Qiyan's constant companionship and meticulous care gradually eased her tension and fear.
Sometimes, just seeing him when she opened her eyes made her feel at ease, and when she couldn't see him, she would subconsciously want to look for him.
She didn't like the feeling of being so dependent, but she had no other choice but to rely on Wen Qiyan.
"Why are you so late today?" she asked, her tone tinged with a spoiled reproach as she looked up at him.
Wen Qiyan lowered his eyes and saw her small, delicate face, with charming yet innocent features.
It was the vibrant Ji Wanyuan, nestled in his arms, looking so adorable.
He lowered his head and kissed her forehead.
Ji Wanyuan was about to ask him what he was looking at when he was told, "You're not allowed to look."
The next moment, her forehead and eyes were covered by the man's warm kiss, and her hands couldn't help but clench his undergarment tightly because of nervousness.
"Ji Wanyuan, if you feel unwell recently, you must let me know immediately." Even though he stayed by her side, having the doctor take his pulse every day, and looking at her vivid and bright eyes, he was still afraid.
Ji Wanyuan said she was about to give birth and was worried about the pain.
But he was actually more afraid than she was.
He stayed by Ji Wanyuan's side every step of the way, not only to ease her fear, but also to ease his own.
He was afraid something would happen to her.
"What's wrong?" Ji Wanyuan felt his embrace tighten.
"nothing……"
I just feel that it's good that she's alive.
"You still haven't answered me. Why are you so late today? Did something difficult happen?"
Wen Qiyan has been staying with her these days and hasn't gone out much. Being by his side, she has also unconsciously sensed the tension of the situation, as people often come and go from his study.
Wen Qiyan did not avoid discussing matters with her. She knew that her brother had left Youzhou for Wuhuan. The governor of Youzhou had received some benefits and had actually become her brother's man.
The elder brother had not given up searching for his father's troops, and besides that, he did not sit idly by and wait for his death. As the young master of the Wuhuan, he began to gather people from other states to strengthen the Wuhuan.
Even without Wen Qiyan saying anything, Ji Wanyuan sensed that war was about to break out.
She is currently being kept in a secluded place between Youzhou and Yizhou, where she is safe.
"My father and younger sister wrote to me today, and they talked about some things."
"What happened?" Ji Wanyuan's first reaction was, "Could something have happened to her mother?"
Wen Qiyan saw through her worries and told her not to worry. He also told her that he was already arranging for people to rescue Madam Ji.
"Really?" Ji Wanyuan asked him excitedly what he wanted to do.
"My mother is in the Empress's palace. Can you really rescue her?"
He looked at her eyes and brows, her long, thick eyelashes fluttering. "If I can't even do this much, I'm not worthy to be the son-in-law of the Ji family."
If Madam Ji cannot be saved, Prime Minister Ji will not feel comfortable entrusting Ji Wanyuan to him.
Therefore, Madam Ji must live.
The man spoke softly, his expression aloof, yet his tone subtly revealed an air of arrogance.
But he also has his own skills and methods, Ji Wanyuan knew that.
"That would be for the best." She snorted, but as she lowered her head, the corners of her lips curled up slightly.
"What are you laughing at?" He lifted her little face up.
Ji Wanyuan quickly composed herself, "I... I wasn't laughing!"
“Yes, you don’t.” He raised his eyebrows and smiled along with her.
Ji Wanyuan raised her hand, "You're not allowed to laugh!" Her laughter was utterly devastating.
"You're not even allowed to laugh?" he said.
Ji Wanyuan said she wouldn't allow it, "because you're laughing at me."
"I wouldn't dare," the man said, referring to her as the boss.
How dare he laugh at the boss?
Ji Wanyuan cursed inwardly at how flirtatious his words were! But she had to admit that they were very endearing.
"Young Master Wen should save his sweet talk for fooling others!"
"Are you going to push me onto someone else?" he said, displeased.
Ji Wanyuan immediately fell silent, "I didn't."
"You have."
Ji Wanyuan sighed inwardly at his overreaction; it was just a joke.
But the man said, "You are not allowed to abandon me."
"otherwise……"
Ji Wanyuan scoffed at his threat, annoyed, "Otherwise what?"
"Or I'll lock you up, okay?" he finally said.
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Author's Note: Here it is! This chapter also features a random giveaway of lucky red envelopes! [Exaggerated praise]
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