Chapter 145: The Lady Actually Had a Secret Affair

Chapter 145: The Lady Actually Had a Secret Affair

After changing clothes, Jiang Jie went to bathe, and Qi Siwei hurriedly swapped clothes with Lian Yao, put out the lights in the room, and hid in the servants' quarters.

She dared not light a lamp, curling up in the corner with her hands clasped together, hoping today's events wouldn't go wrong.

As long as she could hide the fact that she wasn't a virgin, she could beg him tomorrow to find a way to save her father.

This deception had already left her terrified, but just then, the door to the corner room suddenly swung open and shut, and Qi Siwei froze, her eyes, now adjusted to the dark, locked onto the approaching shadow.

She was shaking all over.

She was all too familiar with this presence, the suffocating pressure closing in, and though she had never dared to resist before, tonight she suddenly reached out to push him away.

But her strength was no match, and her efforts were futile.

Qi Siwei whispered, "You're so bold—this is Minister Jiang's residence. Aren't you afraid..."

Before she could finish, she was interrupted, "What do I have to fear? If we're caught, we'll die together, won't we?"

"You..."

That night, Qi Siwei spent trembling in fear, until the sky started to brighten, and he finally left.

Fortunately, nothing had happened in the main room last night, presumably Minister Jiang hadn't uncovered Lian Yao's identity.

After cleaning up the mess in the room, she wanted to sneak back to her room under the cover of darkness, but as soon as she opened the door, the door next to hers opened, and a figure was tossed out, followed by Jiang Jie's icy voice, "This woman dared to ruin my plans, take her to the Dali Temple and make sure she's dealt with properly."

Lian Yao, bound all night, was too weak to resist and was dragged away.

At that moment, Jiang Jie also noticed Qi Siwei.

Turning his head, the faint dawn light didn't reveal his expression, but he walked step by step towards her.

Qi Siwei, terrified, kept retreating until she was caught by him.

His voice, seething with rage, seemed ready to devour her, "What kind of game are you playing, my lady? Just married into the Jiang family, and already in a hurry to find a concubine for your husband?"

Qi Siwei shook her head repeatedly.

"If not, then your maid must be misbehaving, and in the end, it's still your fault as the mistress. Could it be that she learned it all from you?"

Qi Siwei: "..."

Jiang Jie grabbed her wrist with one hand and brushed aside the hair on her forehead with the other, a mark from a night of indulgence.

Qi Siwei's body trembled uncontrollably, afraid that Jiang Jie would discover what had happened last night. Her mind went blank, and in desperation, she dropped to her knees, "My lord, forgive me, it's... it's my fault..."

"How is it your fault?"

"I... I was really not feeling well, so..."

"Not feeling well? I'd like to see just how unwell you are..."

Before Qi Siwei could finish her excuse, she was dragged back into the room. Facing Jiang Jie, she had no chance to escape, and all her carefully laid plans had come to nothing.

When he left the room, Qi Siwei was filled with despair, lying still, lifeless.

Yun Yi, unaware of what had happened, only felt that her mistress's current state was terrifying, her eyes filled with hatred and despair, "Madam, you are now the mistress of the Jiang household, it's a great honor, why are you so sad?"

Yun Yi thought she was still thinking about the Chancellor, feeling it was truly not worth it for the young lady.

"Go ahead and leave, but have someone check if the master is coming back tonight. If he does, prepare dinner; if not, forget it."

"That won’t do. The mistress needs to eat too."

Eat?

Every moment of her life now is torture for Qi Siwei. She only hopes that Jiang Jie can rescue her father. Then, even if those shameful deeds are exposed, she won’t be afraid.

As long as her parents and brother leave the capital, she will take that beast down with her.

Hatred surged through her like a tidal wave, and a strong nausea made her retch. Yun Yi, worried, stepped forward to check, but Qi Siwei stopped her: "I might have eaten something wrong. You go and take care of your duties."

The room fell silent, and Qi Siwei smiled bitterly.

What sin had she committed in her past life to endure such torment now?

As long as her father is saved, she will end all this herself.

**

In the prison of the Ministry of Justice, the wails of prisoners were incessant. The sound and stench of branding irons searing fabric and flesh filled the torture chamber.

By the time Jiang Jie entered, Lian Yao had already fainted from the agony.

"Greetings, my lord."

"Continue."

A ladle of cold water was splashed, jolting the unconscious Lian Yao awake.

"You have some nerve, daring to climb into this minister’s bed."

"It was the mistress, the mistress ordered it. Lian Yao had no choice but to comply."

"That naive Qi Siwei has been under your thumb for so long. Did you really think I knew nothing?" Jiang Jie’s soft laugh was colder than the prison’s chill: "Now that the Crown Prince has departed the capital, do you think the Crown Prince’s consort will come to your rescue?"

"Sir, what are you saying? Lian Yao... does not understand." The battered Lian Yao shook her head weakly: "The Crown Prince’s consort has given me to the mistress, so Lian Yao remains loyal only to the mistress."

"Is that so? You are quite loyal, so shall I reward this loyalty of yours?" As he spoke, his eyes darkened, and he signaled to the officers.

The officers brought a long bench, took Lian Yao down from the wooden stake, and pressed her onto the bench. One officer placed wet paper over her face, while the other poured water.

Almost immediately, the suffocating Lian Yao began to thrash instinctively, but her hands and feet were held down, unable to break free.

Seeing that she had suffered enough, the two officers stopped.

The moment the wet paper was removed, Lian Yao turned over, lying on the ground, gasping for breath.

Jiang Jie: "I’ll give you one more chance. Will you tell the truth?"

After a while, Lian Yao finally managed to speak: "Sir, please investigate. Lian Yao has actually been infatuated with you for a long time, so she agreed to the mistress’s proposal. But in fact, there is one more thing. Lian Yao dares not hide it from you anymore."

Jiang Jie’s eyebrows raised slightly.

"Lian Yao... discovered the mistress’s secret. The mistress has been secretly involved with someone."

At these words, the officers shouted angrily: "Bold slave, dare to slander the minister’s wife?"

"I did not. Lian Yao is telling the truth." Lian Yao crawled to Jiang Jie’s feet, grabbing his hem: "This matter was seen by Lian Yao with her own eyes. At the Qi residence, someone always sneaked into the mistress’s room at night, staying for as short as an hour, or as long as until before dawn."

"This matter is absolutely true, and I dare not speak a single false word. I implore Minister Jiang to investigate this matter thoroughly."

Jiang Jie scrutinized her and then sneered coldly, "I underestimated you. I didn’t expect you to be skilled."

Upon hearing this, Lian Yao shook her head in denial, but the next second, she suddenly looked up in shock.

She had hidden her combat skills very well. Even when exposed last night, she did not struggle. How did Minister Jiang know about her abilities and speak so confidently?

After a moment's thought, it was not hard to guess. Lian Yao collapsed to the ground in despair, her eyes filled with disbelief, "Could it be that you, Minister, are the one who sneaked into the Qi residence?"