Chapter 64: Indignation

Chapter 64: Fury

Xin He took the Concubine Release Letter, her eyes quickly scanning its contents.

It was indeed a Concubine Release Letter.

But Wei Mingjin had always been cunning—how could he possibly give her a genuine release letter?

Xin He didn't believe it! She reread it, word by word, sentence by sentence, confirming there were no hidden traps, no linguistic pitfalls, and that it was truly a Concubine Release Letter. Only then did she look at Wei Mingjin.

"What are your terms?"

Xin He didn't believe Wei Mingjin had suddenly had a change of heart and decided to let her go. This Concubine Release Letter surely came with conditions.

"I want you to marry me as my wife," Wei Mingjin stated his terms.

Xin He was stunned.

For a moment, Xin He almost suspected she'd stabbed Wei Mingjin not in the abdomen, but in the brain!

He had previously used underhanded means to trick her into becoming his concubine, and now he wanted to use a Concubine Release Letter to get her to marry him?

"I remember you once said you wanted to marry a noble lady from a powerful family, so her family could advance your political career," Xin He reminded him.

She had nothing to offer—not only could she not be an asset to him, but she might even ruin his career.

Wei Mingjin said candidly, "I did think that way before. But now I've changed my mind. Even without the support of a wife’s family, I can still reach the highest ranks of office." It would just be a more difficult path.

But there was no having everything. Weighing the two, he chose what mattered most to him.

Xin He was not moved by Wei Mingjin’s words. She told him bluntly, "Not only will I be of no help to your career, but I might even destroy it. Once it becomes known that I was your father’s concubine, the censors will not let you off."

According to the laws of the court, having an affair with a father’s concubine was an unforgivable crime. If proven true, the punishment would be burning the body and scattering the ashes.

Wei Mingjin’s expression remained calm. "I’ll take care of that matter. He Niang only needs to think about what style of wedding dress you want to wear when you marry me."

"I haven’t agreed," Xin He frowned.

But Wei Mingjin looked as though he held all the cards. "I bet He Niang will agree."

Without the main wife’s or master’s permission, a concubine could only stay within the inner gates for life. But a wife was different—a wife was the mistress of the household, in charge of the family’s finances. She could come and go as she pleased and freely socialize and attend banquets.

Moreover, the laws of the dynasty stipulated that, aside from the seven grounds for divorce, if a husband divorced his lawful wife without cause, he would be punished with conscription or exile. Even after the punishment, the wife’s status would still be recognized.

This was even stricter for officials. If an official’s household was in disorder, the censors would impeach him for lack of private virtue, and in severe cases, it could affect his official evaluations. If she became Wei Mingjin’s lawful wife, it meant she would have a legally protected status. For the rest of her life, she wouldn’t have to live in constant fear, worrying about what Wei Mingjin might do to her. But...

Xin He looked at Wei Mingjin. "Will you be able to sleep peacefully at night if you marry me?"

Wei Mingjin had already witnessed her determination to follow through on her words. If he married her, wouldn’t he worry that she might send him to meet the King of Hell while he slept?

Wei Mingjin, however, smiled and said, "Why wouldn’t I sleep peacefully? He Niang and I are destined to share the same quilt in life and the same grave in death. If I were to die, I would surely take He Niang with me. I wouldn’t leave you alone in this world—I wouldn’t rest easy."

Upon hearing this, Xin He cursed inwardly: You madman!

Three years ago, if she had known that Wei Mingjin was not only a hypocrite but also terrifyingly insane, she would have aborted the child and fled far away.

But now it was too late for regrets.

Moreover, Wei Mingjin’s attitude was clear: either she married him, or they would remain entangled for a lifetime. If she could have freedom, who would willingly stay trapped in a cage forever?

Xin He didn’t take long to make her decision.

She went to find Wei Mingjin. "I can agree to marry you, but I have one condition."

"Speak," Wei Mingjin said leisurely.

"I want to travel for two years. After two years, I will return to the capital to marry you."

Before following Wei Mingjin to the capital for the exams, Xin He had never left Qingyuan County. Her time in the capital and her previous escape had shown her the world beyond. Moreover, during her confinement in the Wei household, she had passed her days reading. Many travelogues had filled her with a sense of wanderlust, making her wish she could see those places herself.

Now that Wei Mingjin wanted her to marry him in exchange for the Concubine Release Letter, Xin He wanted to take this opportunity to visit the places she had read about.

"No!" Wei Mingjin refused immediately.

He couldn’t wait two years. Moreover, he didn’t trust Xin He—he was afraid she would disappear again.

Upon hearing this, Xin He flew into a rage. "If that’s not acceptable, then take back this Concubine Release Letter."

With that, she slapped the letter onto Wei Mingjin’s chest, turned around in a fury, and was about to leave when Wei Mingjin grabbed her wrist, pulling her into his embrace.

"Let go of me!" Xin He struggled angrily.

But Wei Mingjin held her tightly, not letting go. He sighed. "He Niang, you know best how to handle me."

Xin He’s heart leapt with hope—did this mean Wei Mingjin agreed? She immediately turned to look at him.

"I can agree to let you travel, but two years is too long. At most, six months."

Now that Wei Mingjin was a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, he often had to serve at the emperor’s side in the palace. If Xin He traveled, he wouldn’t be able to accompany her, and he couldn’t bear not seeing her for two years.

"No! Six months is too short!" Xin He disagreed.

"Six months isn’t short," Wei Mingjin tried to persuade her.

But before he could finish, Xin He was already trying to pry his hands off, ready to leave again. Wei Mingjin had no choice but to compromise. "Eight months."

"Let go!"

"Ten months!" Wei Mingjin said. "At most, ten months."

Just as Xin He was about to argue further, Wei Mingjin preempted her. "He Niang, ten months is my final bottom line. Not a day more."

Meeting Wei Mingjin’s dark, intense gaze, Xin He knew he wouldn’t yield any further.

After a moment’s thought, Xin He declared, "Ten months is acceptable, but after that, I want to travel for one month every year."

Wei Mingjin instinctively wanted to refuse, but seeing Xin He’s unyielding expression, he paused, then nodded. "Fine. But we must marry first before you travel."

"I’ll travel first, then we’ll marry when I return."

"No!" Wei Mingjin stroked Xin He’s face, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Does He Niang still plan to play tricks?"

"If I wanted to play tricks, why would I agree to your condition?" Xin He retorted.

Wei Mingjin leaned in and said with a soft chuckle. "In that case, we marry first."

Just as Xin He was about to object, Wei Mingjin kissed her.

Xin He raised her hands to push him away, but Wei Mingjin pinned her wrists above her head with one hand and, in that position, pressed her down onto the daybed, kissing her.

Wei Mingjin was kissing her fiercely, tangling with Xin He’s tongue as one hand slid like a fish inside her robes.

Soon, Xin He was too lost in pleasure to speak.

After a long, heated moment, a light rain started falling outside.

Xin He lay on the couch, her face flushed, her eyes still hazy with desire. Wei Mingjin held her from behind, planting lingering kisses on a red mole on her left shoulder. The bandage wrapped around his waist showed a faint stain of blood.

Though they say it’s worth dying for a beauty, even if you become a ghost, he’d rather have a long future with Xin He. There was no need to rush.

Once she had recovered, Xin He picked up her dress, put it on, and went to bathe.

After Wei Mingjin took Xin He away, he also went to another room to wash up and change into fresh robes before returning to find her.

Fresh from her bath, Xin He was sitting by the window drying her hair. Wei Mingjin set down a bright yellow scroll he was holding, took the dry towel from her, and began to dry her hair himself. "Autumn has turned chilly," he said. "If you don’t dry it thoroughly after washing, you might get a headache."

Xin He ignored him, hugging her knees to her chest as she gazed out the window.

It was already September. In Qingyuan County, the scent of osmanthus still lingered in the air this time of year, but here in the capital, the osmanthus had already wilted, leaving only magnolias blooming quietly in the yard.

Suddenly, a flash of bright yellow appeared before Xin He’s eyes.

It was an imperial edict.

Puzzled, she looked at Wei Mingjin.

He extended the edict toward her, gesturing for her to open it.

When she unrolled it, her eyes widened in shock.

It was actually a marriage decree—granting her and Wei Mingjin the emperor’s permission to wed.

"Why would His Majesty issue a marriage decree for us all of a sudden? He’s never even met me, has he?" Xin He held the edict, her face full of confusion.

"I went to the palace and asked His Majesty to grant it," Wei Mingjin replied, his hand still in her hair.

Xin He’s hair was dark and glossy, softer than the finest silk, and he couldn’t stop touching it.

Hearing this, Xin He’s first thought was that Wei Mingjin hadn’t gone to the palace that day. Then she remembered: three days ago, he had suddenly dragged his injured body into the palace. After returning, he had said he wanted to talk to her.

So, he had secured the imperial marriage decree first, and only then spoken to her.

"Wei Mingjin, you’re utterly shameless!" Furious, Xin He smacked the edict against his chest.

He had made it seem like she had a choice, but in truth, she had no option but to marry him.

The edict struck right where Wei Mingjin’s wound was, and he let out a pained grunt. But Xin He only said angrily, "I wish I’d stabbed you an inch to the side!"

Wei Mingjin didn’t get mad.

"He Niang, I admit it—I am despicable and shameless for using this imperial decree to bind you. But at the same time, this decree is also a lifeline for both of us."

Xin He scoffed. She didn’t buy a word of his nonsense.

But then Wei Mingjin continued, "I’m not lying. If our past were ever exposed, both of us would be burned to ashes and our ashes scattered. But with this imperial decree, even if someone learns of it in the future, they wouldn’t dare use it against me."

Xin He had always been clever, and by now she understood what he meant.

She and Wei Mingjin were marrying by imperial decree. Even if someone discovered their past, the fact that they were wed by the emperor’s order would force that person to keep their mouth shut.

Xin He had always known that Wei Mingjin had a cunning mind, but she never imagined he would dare to use the emperor himself.

No—not just the emperor. He had also used Princess Jiahe.

It was no secret among the nobility that Princess Jiahe had taken a liking to Wei Mingjin and wanted him as her imperial princess’s consort.

In this dynasty, an imperial princess’s consort was barred from holding office. Wei Mingjin was the triple #1 scholar—why would the emperor let him marry the princess? The simplest way to dissuade Princess Jiahe was for Wei Mingjin to marry someone else.

And just at that moment, Wei Mingjin had gone to the palace to request an imperial decree for their marriage. The emperor was more than happy to go along with it.

Once she figured out his clever plan, Xin He spoke partly serious, partly sarcastic: "Wei Mingjin, in all the world, you must be the only one who can play people like that with such precision."

Wei Mingjin smiled faintly. "Then I thank you for the praise, He Niang."

Not long after, Princess Jiahe heard the news that Wei Mingjin was to marry Xin He. She came rushing over in a panic to the Wei residence to see Xin He.

Since Xin He had agreed to the marriage, Wei Mingjin no longer restricted her movements.

This time, Princess Jiahe got to see Xin He without any trouble.

As soon as she laid eyes on Xin He, the princess grasped her hands and said urgently, "Xin He, how could you agree to marry Wei Mingjin?"

"Princess, I—"

"I know it—he forced you, didn’t he? That despicable, shameless villain! I must have been blind to have been deceived by his appearance!"

"Princess..." Xin He tried to explain the whole story.

But Princess Jiahe didn’t give her a chance to speak. Instead, she held Xin He’s hands and said, "Don’t be afraid, Xin He. With me and your fiancé here, we won’t let Wei Mingjin have his way."

"My fiancé?" Xin He looked bewildered.

"Yes, he traveled all the way from Chu County, going through all kinds of trouble to reach the capital, all to rescue you from Wei Mingjin’s grasp!"