Chapter 100: Will There Be a Future?

Chapter 100: Will There Be a Future?

The commotion at the Crown Prince's estate quickly subsided, but the final conclusion was both expected and unexpected.

This Vice Minister Tang Shao of the Right was Qi Yuanchang's deputy and originally had no connection to the disaster relief efforts.

However, since learning that Qi Yuanchang was under great suspicion, Mrs. Tang had been hoping for his downfall, so that her husband's position could rise from the current third rank to the second rank.

This wasn't the only reason. To the surprise of the consort and Ruan Qinghuan, Mrs. Tang had a daughter who had just come of age. The daughter had fallen head over heels for the newly appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Jiang Jie. Upon learning that Jiang Jie was to marry Qi Siwei, she was so heartbroken that she stayed at home all day, refusing to eat or drink.

Mrs. Tang, worried about her daughter, thought it over and privately discussed the matter with her husband. However, Minister Tang firmly opposed it and told his daughter to give up on the idea as soon as possible.

Seeing her husband's anger, Mrs. Tang initially wanted to let it go, but her daughter was stubborn. After accidentally seeing Jiang Jie at the palace gate just after he had finished court, she couldn't let go of her feelings.

She even threatened to take her own life. Mrs. Tang, out of love for her daughter, had no choice but to orchestrate today's drama.

After all, if the Qi family fell, the most likely candidate for promotion in the Ministry of Revenue would be Minister Tang.

In this way, the marriage between the Qi family and Jiang Jie would also have to be called off.

Ruan Qinghuan, who was accompanying the consort, listened to the report and remained noncommittal. What Mrs. Tang did was indeed foolish, but if Mrs. Chen had been slightly more rational, she would never have acted so excessively, unless... the other party's words happened to hit the mark.

The consort remarked, "The Ministry of Revenue is in utter chaos now. The marriage between Miss Qi and Jiang Jie is highly anticipated. Jiang Jie's actions undoubtedly signal that he intends to protect the Qi family. But the one who truly wants to protect the Qi family might be His Majesty."

Ruan Qinghuan replied, "If His Majesty has such an arrangement, it must be because he doesn't want to escalate the turmoil."

"Indeed, if Qi Yuanchang falls, how could the Qi family's limited funds possibly cover such a massive deficit?" The consort shook her head. "With such a large amount of money unaccounted for, wouldn't they have to dig deeper?"

If they dug deeper, they might reach the Crown Prince. Since His Majesty wants to protect him, they can only go so far.

This court upheaval has nearly wiped out most of the second prince's confidants. That's enough.

Returning to the Prime Minister's residence, Ruan Qinghuan had just stepped out of the carriage when He An swept her into his arms, looking displeased. "My lady has been absent-minded all the way. Do you really think your lord is just a decoration?"

Ruan Qinghuan, exhausted from the day, had no mood for jokes. "My lord, please put me down. It's not proper for others to see."

"What's there to fear? The Prime Minister holding his own wife, who dares to interfere?" As soon as he finished speaking, they entered the courtyard and ran straight into his parents.

His father was holding a birdcage, and his mother looked as if she had just been angry. Upon seeing Ruan Qinghuan, she put away her anger and was stunned by the intimate scene.

They all stood there. Ruan Qinghuan secretly pinched He An and whispered, "Put me down quickly."

He An acted as if he didn't hear. "Father, Mother, why have you returned so suddenly?"

What kind of question was that?

Where else would they go if not home?

Just as He Qizhang was about to speak, Meng Suqiu pushed him from behind. "We were in the middle of a conversation. Come back with me and finish it."

Ruan Qinghuan let out a long breath and glared at He An in frustration. How could she face her in-laws after this?

He An, however, was indifferent and comforted her. "My lady should learn from Mother. When has Father ever dared to say a word?"

Ruan Qinghuan: "..."

Back in their room, Ruan Qinghuan brought up the Qi family's marriage. "The Qi and Jiang families are getting engaged. Will you attend, my lord?"

Counting the days, the Qi family's engagement should be in a few days. He An didn't have a good relationship with them, which is why Ruan Qinghuan asked.

"Of course I will go, and you will accompany me."

"But I don't want to go." In Ruan Qinghuan's eyes, Jiang Jie always gave off a sinister and cunning vibe. No wonder he solved many cases as soon as he took office; he clearly was a ruthless person.

Dealing with such a person required one's full attention.

"Why not?"

"No reason, really. I just don’t want anything to do with him."

After He An personally helped her change clothes, he carried her into the prepared bath tub: "Since we are colleagues in the court system, we will inevitably see each other often. If I don't go, wouldn't it seem petty? Not only am I going, but I’ll also bring a generous gift."

Ruan Qinghuan understood He An's meaning, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that this man was dangerous. Qi Siwei marrying such a person, she didn't know if it was a blessing or a curse.

**

Qi Residence

As soon as Minister Qi entered the door, he asked someone to find his daughter, but the servant replied that she had already gone to bed early.

Upon hearing this, Qi Yuanchang slammed the table in frustration but was powerless to change the situation.

When he initially sought a matchmaker, Minister Qi didn't hold much hope, but Minister Jiang agreed, which eased some of the anxiety he’d felt over the past few months.

Since Minister Jiang dared to agree to this marriage, it meant he had a way to protect the Qi family. For the first time, Qi Yuanchang felt grateful that he had cultivated his daughter from a young age, which now provided a glimmer of hope in desperate times.

Thinking about the survival of the Qi family, his anger turned into hope. After all, this time, it was all thanks to his daughter.

With this in mind, Minister Qi suppressed his anger and stood up, wanting to talk to his daughter. After all, marrying into the Jiang family was not a bad deal; the status of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court’s wife was something many could only dream of.

For example, Minister Tang's daughter was eager to marry, but Minister Jiang didn't even like her.

In the backyard room, Qi Siwei’s muffled sobs were heavy with tension and despair. Just now, when the servant knocked on the door, she was so scared she almost screamed.

"Master... please... what if someone comes... uh..."

The man didn’t let her speak, his movements rough and unfeeling, and the sturdy wooden bed creaked, not loudly, but enough to frighten Qi Siwei.

Tears fell like rain, and all she could do was endure.

Footsteps approached from afar, and Qi Siwei recognized it was her father. Her tearful eyes glistened in the dark, filled with shock and fear. She pushed the man hard: "My father, my father is coming..."

As the knocking sound came, the man finally finished. In her excitement, Qi Siwei covered her mouth tightly to prevent any sound from escaping.

Satisfied, the man exhaled and lay down beside her, making no move to leave.

Qi Yuanchang knocked for a while but got no response. Through the door, he advised: "Siwei, you must understand, everything your parents are doing is for your own good. Once you marry into the Jiang family, you will be the wife of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a position many people can only dream of."

Qi Siwei steadied her breathing and wiped her tears: "I understand, father."

Hearing the heavy nasal sound from inside the room, Qi Yuanchang thought she was still sulking and sighed: "Since ancient times, children's marriages are decided by their parents. You should think more openly and not dwell on it, lest you suffer in the Jiang family later."

These words stung Qi Siwei. Listening to the man's breathing beside her and thinking about what she had just endured, her heart sank to the bottom. Would someone like her even have a future?

"Siwei... open the door... father..."