Chapter 020: You Suspect I Have An Affair?

Chapter 020: You Suspect I Have An Affair?

He An felt a pang of regret as he looked at the bruises on her body, filled with remorse. But the events had already unfolded, and perhaps it was for the best, so they wouldn’t have to suspect each other anymore.

If she could quietly and properly fulfill her role as the Prime Minister's wife, he could let go of everything and stop pursuing the matter.

As he lifted Ruan Qinghuan into his arms and saw the bloodstains on the bedsheet, He An frowned. "You've been through a lot," he murmured.

Ruan Qinghuan bit her lip. What kind of weirdo is this guy? How could he say something like that at a time like this?

Jiang Ming relayed a message through the window. "Push everything off today," He An said irritably.

"This might not be possible," Jiang Ming said hesitantly.

"Just tell me," He An responded, thinking it was an urgent summons from the Crown Prince. But Jiang Ming explained that it was someone from Jingzhao Mansion.

"Jingzhao Mansion matters are typically handled by the Ministry of Justice. Have them speak to the Deputy Minister there."

Jiang Ming replied, "Sir… you’d better come out later."

"Why are you being so hesitant? Spit it out or get lost."

Jiang Ming was in a tough spot, but if he delayed any longer, his master might cause big trouble. He had no choice but to explain, "Jingzhao Mansion sent someone to deliver a message, asking you to pick up your brother-in-law."

"What?" Ruan Qinghuan immediately stood up from the bath tub, not stopping to think, and began to get dressed.

He An hurriedly followed her out.

**

"Oh dear, this is like a family feud gone wrong—where one hand doesn't know what the other is doing," the magistrate of Jingzhao Mansion said with a forced smile, trying to smooth things over all morning but unable to send the ‘big shot’ away.

There was no choice but to send for the Prime Minister.

After all, this mess was a ‘great task’ handed to him by General Ji, and now it looked like it would be hard to complete satisfactorily.

Sitting in the chair with a cold expression, Ruan Qingzhou said, "Lord Wang keeps talking about catching adulterers. May I ask, with which young lady am I supposed to have had an affair?"

"There must be some misunderstanding—a mistake," the officials stammered.

Unfazed, Ruan Qingzhou said, "If that's the case, I'll sit here and wait for Lord Wang to clear my name and set things straight."

"This…"

Sweating profusely, Lord Wang had no choice but to send for Ji Lingchuan. Otherwise, how would he explain this if the Prime Minister asked later?

In the carriage, He An no longer had the overbearing attitude from the night before. Under Ruan Qinghuan’s glare, he fell silent.

"So, my brother is locked up in Jingzhao Mansion, all thanks to you?"

"I was drunk last night. This is Ji Lingchuan's fault—he was negligent and let things escalate."

"And yet, you were threatening and scaring me yesterday. Was it because you suspected I had an affair?"

He An cleared his throat. "Not entirely. I was just upset because you always seem to want to escape from me."

Ruan Qinghuan hadn’t slept or eaten all night, and now, fuming with anger, her head spun.

The priority now was to bring Qingzhou back. The rest of the accounts could be settled later.

They finally arrived at Jingzhao Mansion. Ruan Qinghuan nearly tumbled out of the carriage, but He An caught her just in time. "Careful, Madam," he warned.

Ruan Qingzhou noticed his sister's pale face and red-rimmed eyes. Sensing that it was because of the incident from the night before, he glared at He An, ready to pick a fight.

He An stepped forward, smiling, and patted him on the shoulder. "Since you're back, Qingzhou, why don't you pay a visit to the Prime Minister's residence? Your sister has been missing you."

"Brother-in-law, if it weren't for this mess, I wouldn't have realized how easy it is for anyone to frame my sister. It was this Ji Lingchuan who had the Jingzhao House arrest me."

Relieved to see her brother was unharmed, Ruan Qinghuan asked, "You were locked up all night. Are you okay?"

Though Ruan Qingzhou hadn't suffered much, the matter couldn't just be let go. "I'm fine, but this matter must be thoroughly investigated. Who spread the rumors, and what was their motive?"

He had gathered a rough understanding of the situation from the magistrate, and it was clear that someone was framing him.

He An called over the magistrate. "Have you found out the source of the rumors?"

The magistrate looked uneasy, neither confirming nor denying, which hinted at something suspicious.

When the magistrate attempted to speak privately with He An, Ruan Qingzhou wasn't having it. "Lord Wang, as the party involved, shouldn't everything be discussed in front of me?"

He An responded, "Lord Wang, whatever you've discovered, just say it."

After several hesitations, Lord Wang, clearly uncomfortable, finally replied, "The rumors originated from the Prime Minister's residence."

He An: "..."

Ruan Qinghuan: "..."

Ruan Qingzhou laughed bitterly, clearly furious. "Brother-in-law, is this whole thing your own production? I heard that on your wedding night, you brought a girl into the residence. Is this your plan to divorce my sister?"

Growing angrier, he was about to take a swing when Ruan Qinghuan pulled him back. "It can't be him."

He An felt slightly relieved. "I truly didn't know about this."

However, Ruan Qinghuan wasn't about to defend him. "Just because you didn't do it doesn't mean you're unaware of who's behind it."

After saying that, she led her brother out of the Jingzhao House.

As they waited in the carriage for He An, Ruan Qingzhou was fuming. "Sister, are you just going to let others bully you like this?"

"Of course not."

"Then why didn't you let me file a report? If I had filed a case at the Jingzhao House, they would have had to investigate, and the person behind these slanderous rumors would have paid the price."

Ruan Qinghuan had already guessed who was behind the schemes targeting her. Liu Yueru was certainly not a good person, but her brother was a brave general. If things were to escalate, the Liu family's reputation would be ruined.

And the Emperor, who had just bestowed the title of Loyal and Brave upon the Liu family, certainly wouldn't want to see that happen.

"Not escalating this doesn't mean I won't address it. It's just that the method can't involve official channels, understand?"

"Hmph, Liu Jiang is a hero of the Eastern Zhao. How could he have such a sister?" Ruan Qingzhou sighed. "Ultimately, it's He An's lack of self-control that invites trouble."

Growing angrier, he continued, "If not for the storms in Jiangnan delaying the ships, I would have been back before your wedding. I would never have let you marry He An."

Ruan Qingzhou had always been wary of this brother-in-law. After his sister came of age, there had been an engagement, but He An delayed the marriage for two years. Their father, eager to climb the social ladder, refused to cancel the engagement no matter what.

Ruan Qingzhou had often thought about taking his sister to Jiangnan. Let some high-ranking official or noble family deal with their own marriages. His sister wouldn't have to endure such hardships.

But his sister couldn't bear to leave their mother, and taking their mother with them wasn't practical. As time dragged on, it led to the current situation.

With a heavy heart, Ruan Qingzhou asked, "Does he treat you well?"

"It’s fine." Ruan Qinghuan didn’t want to talk about it and forced down her frustration.

Ji Lingchuan had just walked into Jingzhao Mansion when he took a punch from He An: "I told you to investigate, not to have Jingzhao Mansion round up suspects!"

"How else were we supposed to investigate without rounding up suspects?"

Ji Lingchuan was confused by the punch and asked Lord Wang: "Did you guys arrest the wrong people?"

Lord Wang was completely exasperated: "It’s not just the wrong person—it’s a massive screw-up. The person living in the courtyard at Osmanthus Lane is the Prime Minister's wife's brother."

"You’ve got to be kidding me... What are the odds?" Ji Lingchuan chuckled twice.