Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Upon hearing this, Ji Wanyuan looked up in astonishment, "..."

Why was her father not playing by the rules?

Mrs. Ji and Ji Lingyue were equally shocked.

Ji Lingyue kept his composure, hiding his shock, and stood silently to the side.

Mrs. Ji immediately questioned, "Yuan'er, is what your father said true? Is Wen Qiyan the father of the child you're carrying?!"

They say no one knows a daughter better than her mother, and Ji Wanyuan was never good at hiding things. Chancellor Ji's sudden interrogation caught her off guard, and her startled reaction had already given her away.

It was pretty much on the mark.

Realizing this, she quickly shook her head, "No... it's not him! He has always utterly despised me, never even looked at me properly. How could anything possibly happen between us?"

"Father, Mother, please don't speculate wildly. This child isn't his, it's... someone else's!" As for whose, she hadn't thought of that yet.

As she spoke, Ji Wanyuan's voice trailed off, her mind racing to figure out who to pin the blame on.

Why not say she took a fancy to an actor from an opera troupe, used her influence to force herself on him, accidentally went too far, and then ended up pregnant? Fearing exposure, she tried to pay him off, but who knew he was an artist who sold his skills, not his body—a man of principle—and he actually hanged himself. So, that man is dead.

Would that story be full of holes? It should hold up, right?

She had the story all worked out, but facing her stern father, whose expression grew even more severe, she couldn't bring herself to say it.

Not daring to meet Chancellor Ji's gaze, she lowered her eyes, "No... it's not Wen Qiyan. It's an actor from an opera troupe."

Steeling her heart and closing her eyes, she added, "He's dead. Don't bother looking for him."

Even though Ji Wanyuan said this, Chancellor Ji no longer believed her.

From her reaction, he had gotten his definitive answer.

Besides, there were other pieces of evidence; otherwise, he wouldn't have tried to trick her into confessing.

In fact, even before learning about this matter, he had already sensed something fishy.

The Wen family served in the Censorate. Wen Qiyan's father held the position of Censor-in-chief, and last year, Wen Qiyan was promoted by His Majesty from the Remonstrance Bureau to the position of Censor.

They had been secretly monitoring all officials, with the Ji family being a particular "focus of surveillance." When his subordinates detected something amiss and reported it, how could Chancellor Ji not know?

He had been keeping an eye on the Wen family since last year. That Wen Ze was no pushover, and his son Wen Qiyan was even more exceptional—surpassing the master. Among the noble families of Liangjing, he was a rare standout, remarkable in both appearance and literary talent, as well as in his methods.

He had even captivated his own precious daughter, who chased after him for years. The usually willful and spoiled young lady of the household actually humbled herself, lowering her head just to gain his favor.

If his daughter could win such a man over and bring him into the Ji family's camp, it would be ideal. Unfortunately, the other party spurned her advances, completely ignoring Ji Wanyuan's overtures and showing utter indifference.

Not even a favorable glance—he never looked at Ji Wanyuan properly.

If he couldn't be used, then he was a variable, a future enemy.

This year, with the Wen family making frequent moves, Chancellor Ji not only increased surveillance on them but also had people keep an eye on his daughter to prevent her from interacting too deeply with Wen Qiyan and causing problems.

He had even told Ji Wanyuan before that while three-legged toads were hard to find, two-legged men were everywhere, advising her to stop liking Wen Qiyan.

But she wouldn't listen. This delicate, beautiful girl had a stubbornness like an ox, insisting on pressing her warm face against his cold backside.

Over a month ago.

Somehow, she managed to arrange a banquet meeting with Wen Qiyan.

Chancellor Ji didn't know what happened that night. He had been busy with mining affairs in Youzhou those days and only found out later.

At the time, he never imagined that the two of them had actually been intimate?

After all, ever since returning that day, Ji Wanyuan had been having nightmares and waking up startled. The imperial physician couldn't find anything specific when checking her pulse, only saying she was suffering from palpitations and fright.

Chancellor Ji suspected that Wen Qiyan had likely threatened and intimidated her, forbidding her from causing any more trouble, and had scared her badly.

Although his daughter had a somewhat restless temperament, she was still a young lady. Wen's son had trained in the Ministry of Justice in his early years—a man of few words, aloof and cold, with a perpetually indifferent expression. He must have frightened her.

Because of this, Chancellor Ji sought revenge for Ji Wanyuan, secretly undermining many of the Wen family's subsidiary businesses and blocking their promotions as a warning.

Even so, Ji Wanyuan's health didn't improve, and now she was pregnant.

One trick question, and sure enough, it was him.

Regardless of who initiated it and sparked this affair.

Since a "life" was involved, it naturally had to be handled properly.

"Master... what should we do about this?" Ji Wanyuan still refused to admit anything, insisting it was some opera troupe actor, adamantly claiming she had caused his death and that his body couldn't be found.

Chancellor Ji pondered for a moment, then stopped questioning Ji Wanyuan. He only told her to take good care of her health, instructed Mrs. Ji to look after her, and said he would handle the matter. Then, he left with Ji Lingyue.

Hearing this, Ji Wanyuan wondered what there was to handle? Getting rid of it was the best option! Never being able to become a mother wasn't such a big deal anyway.

If it really came to it later, she could just adopt a child like her brother did, raise them under her care—wouldn't that be better than having her own?

Giving birth might... lead to trouble.

Not just might—she would definitely run into trouble.

"Mother, what does Father plan to do?" Ji Wanyuan asked pitifully, "Do you and Father still not believe what I said?"

"Didn't you hear what your father said? You need to take good care of your health. Don't think about anything else."

How could she not think about it?! This matter had been troubling her for a long time!

"In my opinion, we should just get rid of this child—"

Before she could finish, Mrs. Ji interrupted, "Enough! No more talk of getting rid of it or anything like that!"

Ji Wanyuan was startled, swallowing her words as tears welled up in her eyes. Mrs. Ji had never scolded her harshly before, but these past two days, she had done so several times.

Seeing her pout as if she had suffered a great injustice, Mrs. Ji couldn't bring herself to continue scolding. She sighed and comforted her, "Alright, Mother is just worried about you. What if what Imperial Physician Fu said is true, and you can never become a mother in the future?"

Ji Wanyuan nestled into Mrs. Ji's arms, "If I can't, then I can't."

She deliberately huffed, "If I really had a child as troublesome as me, wouldn't that just add to Mother's worries?"

Knowing she was acting spoiled again, Mrs. Ji tapped her nose, "You little imp! So you know you're troublesome?"

Ji Wanyuan scrunched up her face, mumbling without refuting, "..."

On the way back to the study, Ji Lingyue, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up, "Father, regarding Sister Yuan's pregnancy... what do you intend to do?"

Chancellor Ji shot him a look. "What do you think?"

"I wouldn't dare to speculate."

"Feel free to speak your mind. After all... this is a family matter, and Wanyuan is your sister."

Chancellor Ji's last words seemed loaded, and Ji Lingyue picked up on it immediately.

After a long moment, he said, "Whatever Father decides, I'm sure it will be for the best after his careful thought."

Chancellor Ji gave a faint smile. "Though that may be so, heaven's will is hard to predict."

Heaven's will...

Which heaven exactly? The Son of Heaven, or... As Ji Lingyue went down the steps, he looked up at the sky.

Ji Wanyuan was anxious all night. The next day, upon learning that her father had gone to the Wen family, she was so frightened that she paced frantically around the courtyard.

She wanted to go out but couldn't, as Mrs. Ji had confined her to her quarters. Except for her personal maid, Feicui, the courtyard was now staffed with her mother's old nursemaids, all there to keep watch over her.

"Feicui, do you know what Father and Mother are doing at the Wen family?"

Didn't Father always say to avoid suspicion? He often said that civil officials shouldn't fraternize too much, hardly ever accepting invites from other noble houses, let alone visiting anyone. Why did he go today? It must be because of her pregnancy!

Seeing the fierce glare Ji Wanyuan directed at her own belly, her teeth gritted, Feicui was afraid she'd do something rash. She quickly tried to divert her attention, saying that Mrs. Ji had personally made sweet cakes for her before leaving, and they were still warm—she should try them.

She had no appetite, but she was hungry nonetheless. Initially intending to take just one bite, she found herself taking one after another.

She took one in each hand and ate them alternately, as if venting her anger, finishing several pieces this way.

Seeing that she had finally calmed down, Feicui soothed her a while longer, reassuring her not to worry. Father, Mother, and Big Brother had always doted on her and would surely protect her.

"Feicui, you don't understand me either..." Ji Wanyuan sighed deeply.

Would there really be a turning point in what followed? Or would it continue to unfold like the stories in those operas?

She was anxious but trapped here with no way out, as if waiting for death. The Wen family was so dangerous—why were her father and mother still walking right into it?

"..."

In the main hall of the Wen residence at that moment, the servants had been sent away, and the atmosphere was tense.

When Mrs. Wen received the calling card from the Ji family, she had no idea of their purpose and went to find Lord Wen.

Lord Wen had just returned home when Chancellor Ji and his wife arrived shortly after.

Judging by the expressions of Chancellor Ji and Mrs. Ji, it seemed... they came with ill intentions.

Sure enough, as soon as they entered the hall, they mentioned having important matters to discuss and suggested that Mrs. Wen have the room cleared.

Uncertain what the Ji family was up to, Lord Wen and Mrs. Wen exchanged a glance. Mrs. Wen then instructed her attendants to dismiss all the servants.

Little did they expect that it was not merely an important matter but a bolt from the blue.

Miss Ji was pregnant, and the child was Wen Qiyan's?

"No, impossible!" Mrs. Wen exclaimed in shock, immediately refuting the claim. "I know that child Qiyan—he loathes—" Before the word "loathes" could escape her lips, Lord Wen's urgent coughing covered it up.

Mrs. Wen quickly changed her words. "He dislikes being close to women. He would never do such an outrageous thing."

"Is that so?" Before Mrs. Ji could retort, Chancellor Ji said with a thin, insincere smile,

"Shall we summon Young Master Wen and ask him what he has to say?"

As the two families were locked in a standoff, the door suddenly knocked, and a servant announced that the eldest young master had returned.

Everyone looked toward the entrance. Who else could the tall, elegant figure standing there be but the very person they were discussing?

Mrs. Wen hurriedly rose and walked over. "Qiyan, Chancellor says you and Miss Ji—"

Before she could finish, the aloof young master spoke calmly. "Mother."

"The child is indeed mine."