Chapter 270 Who is the Traitor?
Dou Wenyi looked at her coldly, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Blood ties are a double-edged sword; once severed, they will only backfire twice as much.
Wen Jingchu needs to learn a lesson.
Wen Jingchu pursed her lips, her face drained of color, and looked at Duke Wen with a pained yet stubborn expression.
“Brother, I was really wrong. I was blinded by greed. I will never do it again. You promised Mother that you would protect me. Mother is not in good health. If she finds out that her daughter is suffering, she will be so anxious that she will be heartbroken. What will she do?”
Her voice choked with emotion, and large tears streamed down her face.
She thought that with the protection of Duke Wen, Pei Siyan would not be able to betray his own family for the greater good. But Sheng Xiyue almost died and still could not escape the fate of being rejected by her fiancé. How much more so would she!
This time, she's probably doomed.
But she had no other choice but to cling tightly to Duke Wen, her lifeline.
Duke Wen's face was cold and stern. He knew that Wen Jingchu had gone too far this time, but he still wanted to try again. "Your Highness, she and your mother are siblings. Could you please be lenient for the sake of Empress Wen?"
Pei Siyan remained expressionless. "If it weren't for the Empress Dowager, do you think she would still be here unscathed? The Wen family has many offspring. If you can't properly discipline them, and a few more scoundrels like my aunt emerge, the Wen family's wealth and prosperity will likely come to an end!"
Dou Wenyi thought to herself, "Since ancient times, the imperial family has always been wary of maternal relatives."
The Wen family has been suppressed for so many years, yet they still dare to provoke the Crown Prince's bottom line. They really don't respect the imperial power, nor do they know their place.
Pei Siyan used this opportunity to give them a warning, which can be seen as a way of making an example of them.
At the same time, she also thought of the Dou family. Fortunately, they were all useless and incompetent, holding no important positions and having no influence on the court.
Duke Wen dared not show favoritism any longer. "I will take her back to my family and deal with her according to the family rules. I will definitely give you an explanation."
Pei Siyan nodded slightly. "Uncle, I believe you. There won't be a next time!"
Wen Jingchu's face turned pale, her eyes filled with terror. She couldn't help but recall that incident, and her body trembled uncontrollably. She felt that Pei Siyan's gaze was as if he wanted to devour her alive.
No, he couldn't possibly know!
After everyone dispersed, Pei Siyan and Dou Wenyi returned to Wutong Garden.
A hint of guilt flashed in Pei Siyan's eyes. "Yi'er, you don't have to save Sheng Xiyue if you don't want to."
Dou Wenyi remained calm and composed. "Your Highness, I have suffered from rumors before, and I don't want us to fall into such a predicament. Respect for the dead is paramount, and public opinion is easily manipulated. If she truly died in the Eastern Palace, even if she was wrong, she would become right."
"Didn't you say that governing a country is like cooking a small fish, and cutting meat with a dull knife will only hurt more!"
Pei Siyan nodded, seemingly lost in thought.
He had to admit that this method of killing without leaving a trace was far more sophisticated.
"Your Highness, what was the final agreement between you and Lord Sheng?"
"They have agreed to annul the engagement. However, it will not be announced to the public until the emperor ascends the throne. In addition, I have promised to promote the Sheng family members and will offer them a suitable official position."
Dou Wenyi was stunned for a moment, but then she understood his intention: he wanted to use this official position to stabilize the Sheng family.
"They are reluctant to give up the position of concubine, but they just want to gain more benefits for themselves. A palace concubine and a powerful official position. They can tell which is more important."
In fact, Sheng Chunfang wanted to send his other daughters to the Crown Prince's Palace, but he refused.
“My aunt is right. You will be the Empress again in the future. I can’t make too many enemies and disregard your reputation.” Pei Siyan’s voice was deep.
At this point, he felt somewhat ashamed. He had acted recklessly and didn't care about his reputation at all, but it was precisely because of this that he had implicated her.
For example, last time, the Vice Minister took his anger out on Dou Wenyi because of his injury.
After today's events, he suddenly realized that etiquette and doctrines were outdated, and reputation was especially demanding for women. If he wanted Dou Wenyi to become empress, he would need to win people's hearts and build up her reputation!
However, Dou Wenyi performed much better than he had imagined.
Today, her saving Sheng Xiyue and gaining the upper hand in her confrontation with the Sheng family is the best proof of this.
Her approach to problems was gentle and subtle, yet highly effective.
This life-saving grace will later become a sharp arrow aimed at the Sheng family.
Just like how Sheng Xiyue was able to repeatedly instigate the Wen family, wasn't it all because of that little bit of favor from their family?
Dou Wenyi then asked, "Your Highness, what about Wen Jingchu? How will the Duke of Wen deal with her?"
A dangerous glint flashed in Pei Siyan's eyes. "I don't know. I do suspect that someone from the Wen family was involved in that rumor, but I don't know whether it was one person or a group, so let's wait and see!"
Dou Wenyi looked at him in surprise, "Your Highness, are you trying to force them out?"
"Um!"
Pei Siyan gently grasped her hand, his face cold and stern. "If they're united, this kind of thing will naturally remain a secret forever. But what if there's a rift between them?"
No wonder he let Duke Wen take Wen Jingchu away; he did it on purpose to provoke conflict between them.
Who could be the traitor to the Wen family?
Suddenly, a look of melancholy crossed his face. "Yi'er, are you scared?"
"What are you afraid of?" Dou Wenyi asked, puzzled.
Pei Siyan uttered two words indifferently, "Family."
In this world, he doesn't care about other people's opinions. Even if all his relatives say he is cold-hearted, he doesn't mind at all.
But he cared about her opinion; he didn't want her to see him as a cold-hearted person.
Dou Wenyi felt a pang of bitterness rising in her heart; both of them had been deeply hurt by their relatives.
He was even somewhat world-weary, so whether the Wen family members were intentionally or unintentionally involved in that rumor and gossip, which ultimately led to the death of Empress Wen, they would all pay a heavy price.
Even utter ruin!
By then, he will probably be a truly lonely man.
“Your half-brother Dou Ruzhang seems to have some real talent and learning. I plan to place him in the Ministry of Works.”
Dou Wenyi's eyes widened. "Your Highness, isn't he worried about these so-called relatives? Why is he still giving them important positions?"
Pei Siyan shook his head. "Sheng Chunfang has controlled the Ministry of Works for many years, and the officials under him have intricate connections with the Sheng family. I need a pawn. I will discuss this matter with him, and the decision will be his."
She instantly understood his deeper meaning. From this day forward, the Sheng family would maintain a superficially harmonious relationship with the Crown Prince.
The real game has only just begun.
Dou Ruzhang was merely a target, a target to lure the Sheng family into chaos.
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