Chapter 96. I want to keep you by my side at all times. ...
She stammered, her expression shifting slightly with guilt, "I...I'm fine."
The thought that the person in front of her had not only lived in fear these past few days, but had also taken care of her every need, hiding all her troubles, just to make her comfortable and happy.
She was completely unaware of the care and blessings she was receiving, which made Ji Wanyuan feel ashamed and uneasy.
In particular, the prefect's wife was gentle and kind, and always spoke softly. Although the two were not related, she was clearly "living under someone else's roof," yet she relied on the strength of her husband's and her own family to enjoy the care they gave her without any burden. She said that she was causing trouble for them, but in reality... she didn't really have much awareness of causing trouble for others.
This belated realization was all because of the two old women's unintentional words, which made her face burn instantly.
She felt she could no longer feel at ease, because she couldn't forget what she had just heard.
Even if she couldn't feel at peace with herself, what could she do? She didn't know what she could do.
How could she stop the war? But the war had already begun; how could she possibly do it on her own?
"..."
Ji Wanyuan is of noble status. Before she came, the prefect had privately instructed her repeatedly that she must not be allowed to suffer any mishaps or be wronged, otherwise they would not be able to bear the consequences.
So when she heard that she was fine, but her complexion was still not very good, Madam Ming still gestured to the maid to go find a doctor.
Not long after Ji Wanyuan returned to the courtyard, the doctor arrived shortly after. He came in a great hurry and had specks of blood on his body, as if he had been temporarily dragged there.
Seeing that the other person was about to take her pulse, Ji Wanyuan naturally resisted. She waved her hands and said that it was really unnecessary. She was fine, she was just too tired from walking in the backyard.
Madam Ming, however, thought that she did not trust the doctor and felt that the doctor's clothes were not respectable, so she refused to let him take her pulse.
The physician stood by, unsure of what to do. He was the closest doctor to the prefect's private residence and had rushed over upon hearing that the nobleman was ill.
There was no time to wash or tidy up, since the military camp was full of sick people these past two days, and meals were squeezed out of time.
Madam Ming was clearly aware of this as well. After thinking for a moment, she told Ji Wanyuan the truth, saying that the other party was not being rude on purpose, but that there had been too many patients in Yizhou recently, so the doctor had no time to tidy his appearance and had offended her. He was mainly worried that Ji Wanyuan was not feeling well and that getting better was the priority.
Upon hearing this, Ji Wanyuan felt even more guilty.
She said she was in good health, but Madam Ming still didn't believe her. Thinking of this, she had no choice but to agree to let the doctor take her pulse.
After examining her, the doctor said that she was indeed fine and that Madam Ming could rest assured. Only then did she relax.
After the doctor left, Ji Wanyuan stared in the direction he went, unable to come back to her senses for a long time.
It wasn't until the maids served breakfast that Madam Ming invited Ji Wanyuan to eat.
Looking at the exquisite food on the table, Ji Wanyuan recalled the words of the two old women.
She had no appetite at all, and even felt unable to eat. The food seemed to be mocking her, but she couldn't get angry. She just felt embarrassed and like she was a freeloader.
"Is the food not to your liking?" Madam Ming asked, noticing that she was staring at the food on the table for a long time without moving.
As the prime minister's eldest daughter, Ji Wanyuan was the apple of his eye and had tasted all kinds of delicacies. These past few days, the food had been scarce, and Madam Ming was worried that the other party would feel that she was neglecting her. This was because she had previously inquired about Ji Wanyuan's temperament and knew that she was not very good-natured and was quite spoiled.
But during these days of meeting and spending time with her, I never saw her throw a tantrum. On the contrary, she had the demeanor of a well-bred lady, and was lively and likable.
No wonder the renowned First Young Master Wen, the Grand Secretary, was so infatuated with her that he was practically inseparable from her, wanting to keep her under his nose at all times. Even if they couldn't see each other every day, they still kept in touch through letters.
On the surface, it seemed to be to put the young mistress and young lady at ease, but in reality, it was probably to put his own mind at ease.
Ji Wanyuan was pondering how best to say it, but seeing Madam Shangming's concerned eyes, she finally decided to tell her the truth.
She said, "That's not the case. It's just that there are too many and too exquisite dishes. I don't actually need that much."
Putting all that aside, she had gained a lot of weight since leaving the capital, and her clothes were too tight! Her mother and father even wrote to her, worried that Wen Qiyan was not treating her well and that he would cut back on her food and clothing after she had a child. In reality, Wen Qiyan didn't care much about the child; he always took care of her first.
Even with just that one sentence, Madam Ming still didn't understand Ji Wanyuan's meaning. She thought that Ji Wanyuan was tired of eating, so she made excuses by saying that it was too much and too exquisite.
So he suggested that in a couple of days, they should find a different cook for Ji Wanyuan and ask her what kind of food she liked. He also suggested that she inform her in advance.
Ji Wanyuan quickly waved her hand and made her point more clearly, "There is currently a war in Yizhou. I heard that the city gates are closed and there is a shortage of supplies and food. Madam, you don't need to prepare so much for me. I can't actually eat it all, and it would be a waste. It would be better to use it where it's needed."
She didn't know what Madam Ming did with the leftover pastries and soup. Perhaps she gave them to the servants, or perhaps she threw them away? She thought they probably weren't thrown away, because food was scarce at the moment.
Since she couldn't possibly finish it all anyway, it would be better to just prepare enough to fill her stomach. Ji Wanyuan accurately expressed what she was thinking.
After hearing this, Madam Ming choked and fell silent.
She never expected that Ji Wanyuan's "distraught" state and hesitation to speak were actually because of this.
"How...did the young mistress know?" Ji Wanyuan hadn't shown any signs of thinking like this in the past few days; her change was so sudden.
"I heard it from the servants." Now that the truth was out, Ji Wanyuan didn't hide anything anymore. She asked Madam Ming not to punish the two old women because they hadn't done anything wrong; she had only found out by eavesdropping on their conversation from a corner.
"Young Madam, you..."
"What's wrong with me?" Ji Wanyuan asked, puzzled.
Madam Ming smiled awkwardly and said that Ji Wanyuan was not quite the same as the rumors about her. At the end, she immediately added, "...I hope the young mistress won't be angry with what I said."
After hearing Ji Wanyuan's words, Madam Ming intuitively felt that she was a good person at heart. Shocked, she was no longer so reserved and cautious when speaking to her.
"Really?" Ji Wanyuan smiled shyly, a rare sight for her.
In fact, she had always known that her reputation in the capital and even throughout the country was not very good.
Madam Ming didn't need to be so direct; she knew perfectly well how people in the capital judged her—nothing more than arrogant, domineering, foolish, and frivolous…
"I can't do anything for the people of Yizhou. I only hope that I won't cause too much trouble for you, Madam. Please grant my wish."
After hearing this, Madam Ming hesitated slightly, "This..."
These days, the people of Yizhou are suffering from severe food shortages. If Ji Wanyuan is willing to save and distribute the food, it can indeed help many people.
but……
"Will Madam's health be able to handle it...?" Madam Ming asked hesitantly.
Ji Wanyuan said that she had already finished her postpartum confinement and was in good health, so she could rest assured. "Besides, didn't that doctor just say that I'm fine?"
Even so, Madam Ming still hesitated.
Ji Wanyuan simply became a bit domineering, telling her not to hesitate any longer and to do as she said, otherwise she would be unable to eat or sleep, and even if she did eat it, she wouldn't be able to digest it.
Upon hearing this, what could Madam Ming say? She had no choice but to obey.
In the following two days, as Ji Wanyuan had said, the amount of food was reduced.
During this time, Madam Ming carefully observed her expression. Seeing that she was eating with a smile, and indeed as she said, she was just afraid of wasting food and had no other intentions, Madam Ming was relieved.
Not long after Kexin put her back in her stomach, Madam Ming couldn't help but start to panic again.
Because Ji Wanyuan asked her if there was anything she could do to help, and she could try to learn how to do it.
Madam Ming said it was nothing, but Ji Wanyuan insisted, even telling her not to be polite. Madam Ming asked Ji Wanyuan what was wrong, but she didn't answer.
Lady Ming was worried that she would lose control of the situation, so she sent someone to deliver a message to the prefect.
At that time, Wen Qiyan was discussing matters at the prefect's residence.
Currently, Qingzhou has fallen, the governor of Youzhou has surrendered to Ji Lingyue, the court is in turmoil, and Yizhou has been blockaded for some time, leaving it isolated and helpless.
Yizhou was easy to defend and difficult to attack. Ji Lingyue had been unable to conquer it for a long time, so he decided to use delaying tactics and directly blocked Yizhou's exit routes, intending to wear down the people of this city and also use this opportunity to recuperate.
"Although food supplies can buy us some more time, but..."
Seeing that there were already incidents of price gouging and fighting and unrest in the city, the governor of Yizhou was very worried that he would not be able to stabilize the people's hearts.
He couldn't help but ask Wen Qiyan, "My lord, do we really have to drag this out like this?"
Looking at the map of the border between Yizhou and Youzhou, Wen Qiyan realized that Prime Minister Ji's troops were there after Ji Lingyue's long-term attack on Yizhou. Therefore, he dared not make any rash moves. Now the two sides were deadlocked, and it was a matter of who could hold their breath.
"As for the imperial court..." The prefect of Yizhou hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself.
I heard that the emperor has not yet been buried, and the vassal kings have occupied the palace and controlled the government. Many aristocratic families have taken the opportunity to start a rebellion. The vassal kings, under the pretext of treason, have killed many aristocratic families. Now, civil officials are executing the vassal kings with their pens, and the people in the capital are also making a big fuss.
Given the current instability of the imperial court, it's unlikely they will send troops.
Wen Qiyan looked over and said, "Lord Ming, please speak freely."
The governor of Yizhou said, "I'm afraid the imperial court won't send reinforcements, will it?"
Although the imperial court will not allow Yizhou to be annexed, after all, Qingzhou has already been captured, the court is in such a chaotic state now. It is not even clear who is the ruler of the world, and who would not want to sit on the dragon throne?
Now, Yizhou is trapped like a turtle in a jar. As the governor of this region, he has been in office for decades. He is not concerned about his own personal safety, but when he sees the people suffering, his heart is like being fried in oil.
I heard that after Qingzhou was captured, the city suffered heavy casualties. The foreign small country not only seized Qingzhou's territory, but also humiliated the people of Yizhou, burning, killing, and looting, committing all kinds of evil deeds.
They attempted to spread their name as a wicked and ruthless army to intimidate those around them, without ever considering that these were human lives at stake.
Wen Qiyan reassured him, "Yizhou will never fall."
The man before me had always been strategizing and planning. If it weren't for his support, Yizhou would probably not be so stable now. Not to mention being taken over by Ji Lingyue, it would certainly be teetering on the brink of collapse.
With Wen Qiyan's words, the Prefect of Yizhou felt at ease.
But a moment later, a servant came in to deliver a message. Since it concerned Ji Wanyuan, the Prefect of Yizhou immediately told Wen Qiyan.
The man frowned and said, "I'm going back."
The governor of Yizhou personally escorted him out.
Ji Wanyuan didn't receive a reply from Madam Ming, but instead received a letter from Wen Qiyan.
It had been a long time since the two had last been intimate in the study.
That day, things got intense. Ji Wanyuan originally wanted to settle accounts with Wen Qiyan after she sobered up, but he was too busy to see her. She only scolded him in her letters.
Now, when we meet again, the intense resentment I felt from being bullied and clashed with him has long since dissipated.
She even felt that she missed him a little.
Seeing the man's tall figure and handsome face, Ji Wanyuan was slightly distracted.
He came over and took her hand. "What are you daydreaming about?"
I'd like to ask about Madam Ming.
His opening question became, "Why are you here?"
"If you don't want to see me, who do you want to see?"
Ji Wanyuan's lips twitched involuntarily. "Wen Qiyan, that's enough."
She was really fed up with him, and she was about to reach her breaking point.
The man raised an eyebrow slightly and led her to wash up.
The maids standing nearby were astonished to see Wen Qiyan personally wiping Ji Wanyuan's face and doing her makeup.
I had long known from my wife that this young mistress of the Grand Secretary was greatly favored by my husband, but I never expected that he would take care of her to the point that he did everything for her, leaving her no one else to do it.
The maids beside them all seemed unsurprised, suggesting that this was how the two usually acted.
Even after realizing this, the young maids assigned to serve the prefect were still filled with shock.
When Wen Qiyan was tying Ji Wanyuan's hair up, Ji Wanyuan didn't forget to mention the hairpin she had broken that day. She told Wen Qiyan to remember to return it to her, and that she would have to pay ten or a hundred times the amount as compensation.
"Miss Ji really knows how to extort money."
Ji Wanyuan glared at him through the bronze mirror, and the man accepted her gritted teeth without question.
After tying her hair up, Wen Qiyan said he would definitely make it up to her.
Ji Wanyuan told him to remember this sentence.
During the meal, he paused for a moment while looking at the food on the table. He remembered the matter that the person who had been secretly keeping watch had reported to him. Wen Qiyan asked her why the two of them suddenly wanted Madam Ming to reduce her food rations.
Speaking of this, Ji Wanyuan couldn't help but feel listless, "Because I feel like I'm just freeloading."
“Your husband is serving as a military advisor to the governor of Yizhou, without receiving a single penny in salary. How can you be considered to be freeloading?”
Ji Wanyuan didn't want to joke around with him. She said irritably, "You clearly know what I mean."
Wen Qiyan served her some food, "Do you think the war is related to you?"
Wen Qiyan hit the nail on the head.
Ji Wanyuan did indeed think so, because the one who instigated the war was Ji Lingyue, her sworn brother, someone her parents had raised.
In fact, Ji Lingyue has now left the Ji family and returned to Wuhuan after recognizing his ancestors, but he did not change his name or surname, so how can it not be the fault of the Ji family?
"Have a lot of people died outside?" Ji Wanyuan suddenly lost her appetite.
These past two days, when she went to see her son, she couldn't help but think of the little grandson the old woman had mentioned; he was probably about the same age as her son.
well……
"Ji Wanyuan, don't fantasize about sad things."
"People die in war," she said.
“But it’s not what you think,” he said, trying to comfort her, not wanting to see the sadness on her face.
"I don't like war," she said, pursing her lips. "And I don't like dead people either."
She had already experienced the pain of parting in the storybook; it was truly heart-wrenching. Even though she was a ghost and couldn't cry, the pain in her heart felt like a knife scraping against her soul. That's why she always wanted to do everything in her power to prevent what happened in the storybook from happening.
The events described in the storybooks have now been reversed, but the changes are significant. Qingzhou has fallen, and Yizhou has also been attacked.
She recalled her last visit to Youzhou, when she passed through Qingzhou. Although the place was not as prosperous as the capital, the people were simple and honest, and the atmosphere was harmonious. The black rice cakes made by the old woman at the stall were soft, sticky, and sweet. They didn't look fancy, but they tasted just as good as the pastries in the capital.
Now, it's probably impossible to eat it anymore.
Thinking of this, her expression grew even more desolate, and she unconsciously poked at the pork rib dumplings in her bowl, "Is there anything I can do about this?"
Wen Qiyan gently rubbed her head. "Ji Wanyuan, how come I never noticed how sentimental you were before, hmm?"
She brushed his hand away, very impatiently, "I'm talking to you about something important."
"I also want to talk to you about something important. The most important thing for you now is to protect yourself."
"Isn't the court in chaos now?" The emperor is dead, and she gave birth safely. Who could possibly harm her and her child?
The letter my mother sent also mentioned that the Lin family is currently preoccupied with their own problems, and Lin Nianxi is under house arrest by her brother and can't even leave the house. Surely she wouldn't extend her reach here, would she? Besides, everyone around her is Wen Qiyan's confidant.
"I want to help." Her tone softened unconsciously, and she looked at him pitifully.
Wen Qiyan sighed softly, "Do you think I'm joking with you?"
Ji Wanyuan asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"
"The reason your brother besieged Yizhou was not only to capture the city and expand the territory of the Wuhuan, but also mainly for your father's troops."
Ji Wanyuan said she was aware of this, "Didn't you say that before?"
She's not a forgetful idiot, how could she forget?
"My brother-in-law's forces suffered considerable losses in the battle of Qingzhou, and his forces are currently insufficient. The reason he dares not launch a strong attack on Yizhou is because there are troops left behind by my father-in-law in Yizhou."
Ji Wanyuan had a question: "Do the people from the imperial court, specifically the governor of Yizhou, know about the troops my father left behind?"
"I don't know." Wen Qiyan put more food on her plate, urging her to eat more. He frowned and said that she hadn't been eating properly lately and looked thin.
Ji Wanyuan said no. She put down her silver chopsticks, rested her chin on her hands, and said that she had gained a lot of weight. "Didn't you feel it when you hugged me?"
Upon hearing this, his gaze lingered on her face for no more than a moment before moving downwards.
Ji Wanyuan's gaze naturally followed his, falling down to his chest.
Ji Wanyuan blushed instantly and scolded him for being shameless and looking at her.
The man frowned. "Didn't you ask me first?"
Ji Wanyuan blushed instantly. "I asked you, I didn't tell you to look." She could also feel her breasts growing, and she was changing her underwear.
This is all because... because of that thing!
But this is all normal.
"Don't look." Before she could even finish speaking, the man had already averted his gaze.
He said he didn't think she had gained weight and was still very thin, and told her to eat more and not to think about these things, as they would only cause her more trouble.
"The war will end soon."
Ji Wanyuan asked him, "Really?"
He responded casually, "Mm."
"What did you mean by what you said before? Did you mean that my brother wanted my father's troops?"
"What I mean is..." Wen Qiyan put it very clearly, "Your father-in-law values you, and your brother-in-law will definitely use you to threaten your father-in-law, so you must protect yourself, which is also protecting the people of Yizhou."
“My father is not such a muddle-headed person.” Although her father doted on her, he was still very clear-headed when it came to important matters, and sometimes he was quite strict with her.
"Whether it is true or not, remember what I said."
Ji Wanyuan looked dejected. "I understand."
"You came back today just to tell me to behave myself?"
"You guessed it." He smiled.
Ji Wanyuan scoffed, "Are you implying that I'm very restless?"
“I didn’t say that, don’t talk to me like that,” he said, accusing her of framing him and having malicious intentions.
Ji Wanyuan's eyes widened. "Who has ill intentions?"
If he dares to talk back to her, she definitely won't hold back!
But the man stepped back, saying, "I..."
“I have ill intentions and act like a despicable person.”
Ji Wanyuan, “…”
"Wen Qiyan, you have no shame!"
The man laughed at her scolding, "You're right."
"..."
I thought he would leave soon after arriving today, since things in Yizhou were incredibly busy.
But he didn't leave; he stayed here with her and the child.
At night, after taking a bath, Wen Qiyan kissed her cheek, the kiss eventually landing on her lips, a tender and lingering kiss that made her feel almost suffocated.
Ji Wanyuan couldn't take it anymore. Seeing that something was about to happen, she immediately pushed Wen Qiyan's chest away, "You...you mustn't do anything rash!"
"You can't do such a thing in someone else's residence."
"I didn't expect my wife to be so particular." He gently brushed the moisture from her lips with his fingertips.
Ji Wanyuan pushed his hand away, propped herself up on her wrists, and glared at him.
"snort."
As Wen Qiyan watched her fuming in his arms, he found every smile and frown so captivating, and the fatigue and exhaustion of the past few days seemed to dissipate.
Ji Wanyuan felt her heart heat up under his deep gaze. She wanted to say something but didn't know what to say, so she just told him not to look at her and then snuggled into the man's arms to hide.
She also covered her face with the blankets, not allowing men to see it.
Seeing this, Wen Qiyan couldn't help but chuckle and followed her into the bedding. The two breathed together in the darkness, their noses touching.
Ji Wanyuan felt very hot and wanted to go outside.
But Wen Qiyan wouldn't let her. He pressed down on the back of her neck, controlling the back of her head as he kissed her.
The two kissed passionately, intermittently, "..."
The next day, when Ji Wanyuan woke up, Wen Qiyan was still there.
However, he gave her a set of men's clothing.
"What's this?" Ji Wanyuan asked, puzzled. "What are you going to do with it?"
He pulled her closer, a half-smile on his face, "Of course I can't bear to part with you, I want to keep you by my side at all times."
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Author's Note: This chapter also features random little red envelopes! [Rainbow fart] There are probably only a few days left until the main story ends. Feel free to tell me what kind of side stories you'd like to see, and I'll try my best to fulfill your wishes! [Rainbow fart]
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