Li Junyan shouted, his voice strained from exertion: "Come! Seize this venomous woman who dared to trespass into the Duan Mansion! Drag her out and beat her to death!"
Li Junyan called out countless times, but all he received in response was silence. Not a single person came.
Li Junyan’s face had turned pale. His gaze met Ji Xinhe’s provocative eyes, making his heart ache sharply.
Xinhe chuckled: "What are you shouting for? Everyone in the Duan Mansion should know by now that their mistress is about to change. Do you really expect them to still be loyal to you? You’ve been abandoned." After saying this, she casually shook off his hand.
Li Junyan staggered and collapsed onto a chair, appearing lifeless. His eyes were filled with despair, tears fell down in strings, but he seemed unaware of this.
For six years, since the day she happily married him, she had convinced herself that this paragon of a man was the best husband she could ever have in her lifetime. However, six years of coldness and alienation had almost entirely frozen her heart with grief. Nevertheless, she comforted herself with the fact that she was his wife, and that she could see him day in and day out.
The woman in his heart was now someone else’s wife and had borne someone else’s child. As long as Ji Xinhe didn’t return, Duan Lan would always have no choice but to keep her as his wife. Over time, as they aged, perhaps he would accept this?
Hence, Li Junyan chose to endure, persisting in a hopelessly unbearable situation.
However, a few months ago, when Duan Lan suddenly announced his departure to Yu State, Li Junyan’s heart was thrown into chaos. She had long known that this day would arrive; he wouldn’t rest until he had achieved his goal. How could he possibly let go of any opportunity to defeat Marquis Mu Houchu in order to have Ji Xinhe?
She was anxious, so she followed him covertly. Regardless of the fact that she was aware it would enrage him, she still came. She was confined in a dark room, deprived of sunlight until this day when Ji Xinhe came to tell her, in a flaunting manner, that she had chosen Duan Lan.
Seeing Li Junyan’s pale face, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. She never imagined that in this politically charged and conspiratorial marriage between Duan Lan and Li Junyan, Li Junyan would develop genuine feelings.
Perhaps this was the most tragic thing for a woman in her lifetime: she fell in love with the man she should never have loved.
Chillingly, Xinhe taunted: "What do you think Duan Lan was doing when you were locked up? He was busy dealing with Mu Houchu. Everything is ready now, just waiting for the right time. Duan Lan is worried about me and insists that I wait for him here, in his mansion. After he returns victorious, we’ll head back to the capital city together. So, Li Junyan, your days as Madam Duan are numbered. Please take good care of yourself."
Li Junyan glared at Ji Xinhe with rage, gritting her teeth as she said, "You venomous woman!, even though your husband’s not dead yet, you’re already looking forward to marrying another man?!"
Xinhe laughed lightly. "So what if I am? The man I want is the best of the best. Mu Houchu is incapable, confining me to this tiny Yu State. My discontent has already reached its limits, whereas Duan Lan has been doing quite well these past few years. Now, he’s one of the most influential ministers in Da Qian. If he can get rid of Mu Houchu this time around, it’ll be a huge merit to his name. Likely, nobody in court or common ranks can compete with him then. Only such a man is worthy of me."
"You mean person! I will kill you!" Li Junyan lunged at Ji Xinhe, crazed with anger.
Xinhe stepped aside, snickering: "You dare to attack me? Can’t you see your status now? You’re just a drowning dog!"
Outraged, Li Junyan said, "Isn’t it a bit early for you to be acting so arrogant? Mu Houchu isn’t dead yet! If he comes back alive today and finds that you, his unfaithful wife, are already flirting with another man, he will surely strangle you!"
A flicker of panic appeared in Xinhe’s eyes. Li Junyan’s words seemed to take her off guard, but it was only momentary. She quickly regained her composure and snapped: "Impossible! Duan Lan said the game has been perfectly set up today. There’s no way Mu Houchu could come back. Mu Houchu will surely fall into Duan Lan’s hands today!" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
Li Junyan saw the rare panic in Ji Xinhe’s eyes and felt a rush of pleasure. "Oh, who knows? It’s not over until it’s over. Do you really think everything’s done and dusted?" she challenged.
Xinhe scoffed: "Why wouldn’t it be? Mu Houchu has already headed to Honghua Valley. I personally saw him leave. Duan Lan’s grand plan is about to succeed. Do you think I would be scared of you? Don’t think you can just say something and I’ll believe you!"
"The ambush at Honghua Valley alone can’t kill Mu Houchu! He probably knows Yu State’s terrain better than anyone. Do you think Mu Houchu would be ignorant of such tactics after all these years?" Li Junyan yelled hysterically.
A flash of understanding passed Xinhe’s eyes, happening so quickly it was barely noticeable. So, luring Mu Houchu to Honghua Valley was intentional.
Xinhe’s palms were sweaty, her mind racing. If Duan Lan just wanted to lure Mu Houchu to Honghua Valley, he didn’t have to go through the trouble of disguising someone as refugees. Any slight hint of his plans would alert Mu Houchu. Ji Xinhe felt strongly that Duan Lan’s strategy couldn’t only be the ambush — he must have other tricks up his sleeve.
Xinhe took several steps back: "Duan Lan won’t just give up like that. He has backup plans! In any case... Mu Houchu absolutely cannot escape this disaster! Duan Lan promised me!"
In her state, she seemed genuinely afraid of what would happen if things didn’t go as planned and she would end up at Mu Houchu’s mercy.
Li Junyan felt a surge of elation, laughing sarcastically, "Do you believe everything he says to comfort you? I’ll tell you, Duan Lan never intended to kill Mu Houchu this time. Given Mu Houchu’s cunning, he could easily detect an ambush at Honghua Valley. The most it can do is scare him. Duan Lan just wants the disguised refugees to play the part of a small army. He’ll use this as evidence of Mu Houchu’s private army in Yu State to report to the Emperor. In the end, the Emperor will decide Mu Houchu’s fate."
Li Junyan paused a moment, her smile growing wider: "During this time, Mu Houchu might not die that fast. He’ll have to live for at least another month. Now, do you think a month is enough time for him to skin you alive?!"
Xinhe felt a jolt and missed a heartbeat.
So, that’s how it was! This was Duan Lan’s real plan!
He hadn’t given up on accusing Mu Houchu of hiding a private army. However, since he could not find evidence of it, he decided to create some!
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