Chapter 28

Chapter 28

He actually drank it—didn't pour it away.

Seeing this, Cao Xin's heart hammered in her chest.

The drug mixed into the tea hadn't taken effect yet. Just thinking about what was about to happen made her a nervous wreck.

She even lost her cool a bit, standing there gawking at Wen Qiyan.

He set down the teacup and asked coldly, "...Is there anything else?"

Was he trying to send her away after barely exchanging a few words? Cao Xin's heart sank. However, remembering what Ji Wanyuan and her mother had said about not rushing things, she suppressed her emotions, curtsied, and left.

Following Ji Wanyuan's instructions, Cao Xin didn't go far. Instead, she sat waiting in the outer chamber, waiting for Wen Qiyan's drug to take effect. When he came out then... the deed would be done.

Ji Wanyuan had already taken care of the surrounding maids and old nannies. Today's events wouldn't be spread around, which gave Cao Xin a measure of peace.

Once her cousin was intimate with her, her mother would bring pressure to bear on her aunt and uncle. According to Ji Wanyuan, she would add fuel to the fire, conceal it from the Ji family, and let her enter the household first. The status of a concubine would be given to her once the commotion died down.

This plan was an insult to her, letting her think it over herself.

But Cao Xin didn't feel slighted. Compared to marrying down into a humble family, she was willing to take this gamble.

Furthermore, to put it bluntly and selfishly, the Wen and Jiang families were related by marriage, not ordinary households. Cao Xin naturally wasn't worried that the Wen family would go back on their word.

And to say something unkind and selfish, back when her cousin so detested the Eldest Miss Ji, not even glancing at her for so many years, it was precisely because he had been intimate with her that he now was so devoted to her.

If she also became intimate with her cousin, or even bore him a son or daughter, in the future...

Cao Xin thought to herself, working herself into a state, her composure fraying. She couldn't help but look up towards the study.

She was still waiting, waiting for Wen Qiyan to come out.

But she waited for a long time, and still there was no movement. Not even a slight sound, let alone a big commotion.

Could it be the drug dosage was too light?

"..."

But how could Cao Xin know that the study had long been empty?

In the guest room cleared out on the other side of the courtyard, the air was thick with tension.

Ji Wanyuan couldn't figure out how things had developed like this?

Cao Xin hadn't stopped Wen Qiyan? Instead, she let him come here?

Today, she had sent Feicui to deal with the old nannies in the courtyard, afraid these people would ruin the plan she and Cao Xin had devised.

The little maid guarding outside tonight was so useless?

She had let Wen Qiyan in without making a peep.

He...

Just moments ago, when Ji Wanyuan heard the door open, she thought it was Feicui sending someone to deliver a message.

But suddenly seeing the tall, elegant man standing there with a cold, handsome face, she was so frightened she tensed up immediately, her thoughts freezing. She even thought she was seeing things and rubbed her eyes.

After calming down, she realized it was indeed Wen Qiyan.

And it was a Wen Qiyan who was faintly revealing signs of arousal, with obvious desire surfacing on his face.

Ji Wanyuan was about to speak but didn't know how to ask.

Because she wasn't clear about the situation, she simply pretended to be deaf and dumb.

"Hus... husband, you... why are you here?"

Even after calming down a bit, the guilty Ji Wanyuan still couldn't avoid stammering, and she choked on her own saliva under his gaze.

Wen Qiyan watched her sitting awkwardly on the edge of the round table, her eyes darting around, her two hands placed on her knees constantly fidgeting.

So, she was still afraid.

But if she was afraid, why did she drug him?

Didn't she not want to be intimate with him, even pushing someone else onto him?

He had seen through all the little tricks she had played these past two days.

If it was still to test whether he had any intention of taking a concubine, it was somewhat understandable.

But now she had tested to the point of drugging him...

The rising tide of desire swept over him, seeping into the very marrow of his bones, causing endless heat and discomfort to press against his organs, clamoring to occupy his thoughts.

Seeing this beautiful face before him, filled with fear and surprise, Wen Qiyan felt slightly confused and puzzled.

To test whether he cared for her, could Ji Wanyuan really pretend to go this far? Even drugging him to force him, to see if he would do something with Cao Xin?

But if that were truly the case, he had resisted the drug's effects and appeared here. He hadn't had any interaction with Cao Xin. Seeing him come, why wasn't Ji Wanyuan happy? Instead, she was as terrified as if she'd seen a ghost, as if she wanted to flee.

Her words and actions made it difficult for him to discern for a moment whether she was truly testing him or not.

Or perhaps it wasn't like that at all. She wasn't testing him but truly trying to push him towards Cao Xin.

Wen Qiyan's thoughts became chaotic. He couldn't quite distinguish clearly anymore.

That day, she had cried so sorrowfully, it could be said with utmost sincerity, clinging to his waist telling him not to lie to her again. Was all that an act?

The bone-deep numbness surged up again. Even though the drug was subtle, it was incredibly potent.

Right now, he was using his inner strength to suppress it. He could suppress it, keep it from rising up, but it still scattered everywhere, especially gathering and stoking the fire in dangerous places.

Wen Qiyan had definitely ingested the drug from the tea. But where was Cao Xin?

Ji Wanyuan hadn't yet sorted out the cause and effect of how things had developed to this point.

The immediate plan was to leave. She absolutely could not stay under the same roof as Wen Qiyan. Otherwise, the nightmare from that day would surely return.

But in her panic, she couldn't help but show her fear. "..."

Achieving complete "clear conscience" was impossible, especially under the man's cold, piercing stare.

Ji Wanyuan slowly shuffled a few steps. "Husband... are you feeling unwell somewhere? I'll go call for—"

Her heart hardened, and she decided to run.

But the moment she stepped forward, the man grabbed her wrist and brought her to an abrupt halt.

His large palm was scorching. Ji Wanyuan let out a shriek due to her inner fear, her face went deathly pale. The nights tormented by nightmares came surging through her.

Ji Wanyuan was beyond caring about anything else and only said, "You... what are you doing? Let me go!"

"I'll go get someone for you."

Wen Qiyan watched her play dumb, shivering as she tried to shrink away, itching to make a quick getaway.

At this moment, amid the churn of desire, that earlier, hazy thought that Ji Wanyuan might not love him resurfaced.

Somehow, thinking of this, he instinctively tightened his grip on her wrist.

Amid Ji Wanyuan's startled cry and her fearful expression, Wen Qiyan finally snapped back to his senses.

"I'm really uncomfortable... don't go."

"You... what's wrong with you?"

Ji Wanyuan played dumb, as if she couldn't feel how searing hot the man's palm was as it held her wrist.

He looked at her.

If it were before, Wen Qiyan would have sneered coldly and asked if she didn't know. That's exactly what he said the first time.

But now, for his plan, he couldn't do that. Moreover, he had deliberately drunk the doctored tea.

Ji Wanyuan had always been unwilling to take their intimacy further. Last time, she had cried and confessed that it was because he had been too forceful before, and she had been having nightmares ever since.

So whenever he touched her, she would shrink back in fear.

As the saying goes, it takes the one who tied the knot to untie it. Therefore, it was necessary to tackle this issue and completely eliminate her fear of him.

The man stayed quiet for a long while, still holding her wrist, the temperature in his palm getting hotter by the second.

Even without touching him, Ji Wanyuan could feel the terrifying heat radiating from him.

"Regardless... if you're unwell, I'll go call a doctor for you. Please let go of me first."

Where was Cao Xin? She would go find Cao Xin for him.

Wen Qiyan looked at her face, turning white then green with panic, and released her wrist.

Ji Wanyuan made a quick break for it, but the door was actually secured with several bolts?

At this moment, she didn't have a moment to think why the door was bolted from the inside with so many latches. In her panic, she rushed to open it, and at the same time, she heard the sound of the man approaching from behind. A chill ran down her spine, and her hands trembled slightly.

Just as Wen Qiyan was nearly upon her, Ji Wanyuan finally managed to remove all the latches. Her spirits lifted, but when she pulled the door with force, she found it wouldn't open.

Ji Wanyuan was baffled.

She pulled a few more times and realized the door truly wouldn't open. She peered through the crack—it was locked from the outside! What on earth was going on?

Not only was the door bolted from the inside, but it was also locked from the outside. Who was trying to harm her?

Ji Wanyuan immediately began pounding on the door and shouting, "Help! Somebody! Feicui! Come save me!"

But no matter how many times she screamed hysterically, there was still no response.

No one came to rescue her.

"What is my lady trying to do?"

The man had already approached. Ji Wanyuan turned around at the sound of his voice and saw his handsome face flushed with a feverish red, his voice incredibly hoarse.

"I... why is the door...?"

"I had someone lock it," he said.

"You...!"

Ji Wanyuan's first thought was that Wen Qiyan had planned this, but she couldn't have it out with him. Instead, she asked,

"Why did you have someone lock the door? Quick, open it! Didn't you say you were unwell? I'll go find a doctor for you."

The man leaned down. He didn't kiss or touch her, but simply loomed over her. Ji Wanyuan could already feel the overwhelming heat radiating from his entire body, so intense it felt like it would melt her.

The man's lips parted slightly, his voice growing even hoarser as he spoke,

"Cousin Cao had ill intentions. She drugged my tea, trying to seduce me. To avoid her, I came here, only to find you here too."

So that's what he thought?

"Ah...?" In her panic, Ji Wanyuan didn't forget to put on an utterly shocked expression.

"Cousin Cao... she's actually that kind of person!" she deliberately exclaimed indignantly.

"I... I'll definitely report this to Mother-in-law and my aunt later."

Her eyes darted around, and she began to edge to the left. But as soon as she moved a small step, the man raised his hand and slammed it against the door, blocking her path.

Ji Wanyuan froze in fright. Before she could move to the other side, Wen Qiyan suddenly leaned down and buried his head on her shoulder, resting in the hollow of her neck.

It was heavy and burning hot.

Ji Wanyuan's already unsteady breathing now rose and fell uncontrollably.

Smelling her scent, Wen Qiyan felt a moment of respite, but in an instant, the suppressed fire flared up again.

Ji Wanyuan felt as if an enormous "hot potato" had been placed on her shoulder.

"I'm really uncomfortable..." he spoke slowly to her, his tone heavy and deliberate.

Ji Wanyuan was utterly distraught, on the verge of tears.

Temporarily at a loss, she decided to get herself out of it, resorting once again to the worn-out excuse she had used countless times.

"I'm pregnant, I can't be intimate with you..."

"Hasn't it been over three months already?" he asked.

It had indeed been over three months, but Ji Wanyuan still lied through her teeth, saying it hadn't.

"I asked Mother. She said it's been over three months for you."

"When did you ask?" Ji Wanyuan felt somewhat embarrassed at being exposed. It really had been three months.

"Some time ago."

The man buried his face in the crook of her neck, his deep, magnetic voice muffled by the slow pace of his speech.

Ji Wanyuan argued obstinately, "Mother-in-law, you're mistaken. I asked the physician just yesterday, and it hasn't been three months yet..."

"Is that so?"

The tall man pressed his weight onto her shoulder, rubbing his burning forehead against her slender neck.

Ji Wanyuan's scent was truly wonderful, and her kisses must be sweet too.

He wanted to kiss her, yet didn't dare act recklessly, because she hadn't agreed yet.

If he kissed her directly, she would surely make a fuss again, and wouldn't serve his plan.

This medicine was truly potent. Wen Qiyan felt his last shreds of rationality being scorched away. Before long, perhaps they would be utterly gone. At this very moment, beads of cold sweat had already broken out on his forehead.

As she spoke to him, Ji Wanyuan tried to push his head away with her hands.

She struggled for a bit but couldn't budge him. She tilted her head, but it was useless, because Wen Qiyan was so tall and solid, impossibly heavy.

She simply began to shift her feet again, trying to sidle to the other side.

But it was as if he had grown eyes, sensing her intention. His other hand also lifted, pressing on the doorframe right by her ear.

Ji Wanyuan was now well and truly trapped in his arms.

Couldn't someone come and save her?

She prayed inwardly.

But after waiting a while, still no one came. Ji Wanyuan realized she really was on her own.

There was only one method left now. She pretended to be buckling under Wen Qiyan's weight, her whole body sliding downward, determined to escape from under his arm.

But this time, before she could even act on it—the moment her intention became clear—he lifted his head, gripped her waist, picked her up, and carried her toward the bed.

The sight of the bed filled Ji Wanyuan with dread, unable to help but kick her legs and whimper, "Wen... Wen Qiyan, let me go, put me down! I can't go to bed with you!"

*Can't*, or *don't want to*?

He didn't listen to her, striding forward quickly.

Before Ji Wanyuan could even react, she was already placed on the bed. Touching the soft bedding, Ji Wanyuan truly didn't know what to say.

This was probably the first time Wen Qiyan had carried her to the bed, setting her down gently, not letting her fall.

Even so, Ji Wanyuan was still afraid.

She immediately scrambled to get up, but he had let the bed curtains down. Wen Qiyan stood right at the edge of the bed.

Before Ji Wanyuan could think about which side to escape from, the tall, mountain-like man leaned down and pressed over her.

She was already fearful of him, and was momentarily powerless against his movements. Her whole body was pressed into the soft bedding.

He had trapped her.

Ji Wanyuan looked at the water-colored bed curtains, her slender wrists the only barrier between them, braced against his shoulders. "Wen... Wen... Wen Qiyan, get up, please? I'll go find someone for you."

"Find who?" he asked.

The man's thin lips pressed against her ear, kissing the tip of her ear as he spoke.

His heat was overwhelming.

She hadn't been drugged, but at this moment, her whole body was growing hot from his proximity. Combined with nervousness, she began to have difficulty breathing.

"I... I'll find a physician for you!"

She originally wanted to say Cao Xin, but she didn't dare.

Ji Wanyuan didn't say it, but the man had already spoken. "Not going to find another woman for me?"

The warm, magnetic breath and voice rolled into her ear. Ji Wanyuan only felt an unbearable, tingling itch.

She had become the little lamb on the chopping block again. Was she about to be slaughtered next?

"You... what nonsense are you talking? How could I possibly go find another woman for you?"

Was he testing her? Did this sentence mean Wen Qiyan was becoming suspicious?

Ji Wanyuan also knew she had been acting too hastily these past days, which could very likely arouse Wen Qiyan's suspicion. But right now... there were only seven months left.

She had only seven months left in her pregnancy, and only seven months left to live. If she really died, beyond all saving, many other things would not simply end in seven months.

According to the progression in the storybook, by that time, the Ji family would have already begun to be investigated.

No, it was right now. The Wen family was already secretly investigating the Ji family.

Ji Wanyuan suddenly thought: Wen's father hadn't returned home these past days. Was that a sign he was finding people to target her father indirectly?

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but panic.

She was momentarily dazed. It was the man rising up and then planting a kiss on her lips that pulled her back to reality.

Ji Wanyuan, "..."

She turned her head to avoid it, but he chased after her to kiss her. Seeing her evasion, unable to reach her lips, he kissed the corner of her mouth instead.

Wen Qiyan looked at her trembling, fragile eyelashes.

The candlelight in the inner chamber hadn't been extinguished. The bed curtains blocked most of it, yet in their closeness, the light enveloped them, casting a hazy glow that made her cheeks appear lustrous, translucent, beautiful, and alluring.

"Ji Wanyuan, do you truly still care for me?" The man's nose tip brushed against the side of her face, his kiss landing on the small red mole at the tip of her ear.

"I..." Hesitating for only a moment, she immediately answered, "I naturally care for you!"

"Is that so?" The man said this again.

The feverish restlessness was already racing through him. He was in agony. The only reason the drug-induced lust hadn't taken full control was because the face of the person beneath him revealed a look of grim, resigned resistance.

Was she truly afraid of being intimate with him, worried he would be too forceful?

Or had she already stopped caring for him, had come to loathe him?

"I... what are you thinking? I naturally care for you!" She repeated it once more.

She said this for Wen Qiyan's benefit as well as her own, to remind herself not to act on impulse so often.

"If you love me, why are you trying to set me up with the Cao family's daughter?"

"You're pushing me toward someone else."

As he said this, he pushed himself up and looked directly at her.

Ji Wanyuan was caught off guard when her eyes met his.

His eyes were so deep, reflecting her face, and Ji Wanyuan's breathing quickened.

"No... I didn't," she denied.

She could never admit it.

"Didn't?"

He turned her face back as she tried to look away and leaned down, his nose almost touching hers.

"You had the Cao family's daughter put food in my bowl, steered her toward me, casually brought up the past, talked about how our paths might cross, and even told her to deliver fish soup to my study..."

Wen Qiyan listed point by point, carefully observing her expression.

His voice was thick and hoarse, his entire body radiating heat—he was holding back to the point of pain.

Her expression turned evasive, and she panicked completely. What could she say? How could she defend herself?

Wen Qiyan was really beginning to suspect her, even pressing her for answers.

Her mind felt like it was filled with paste, unable to think of anything. She could only fall back on the old excuse, saying she was just testing whether he would feel jealous or care about her?

"Is that really the case?" Wen Qiyan scanned her face, seeing through her panic.

Ji Wanyuan must know something; otherwise, she wouldn't be acting so strangely.

Her purpose in pushing Cao Xin closer to him was definitely not just a simple test.

But Cao Xin's background was straightforward. The Cao family were distant relatives of the Wen family, making it unlikely they had any connection to the Ji family.

"It's true. Don't you believe me?" Ji Wanyuan mustered her courage and met the man's gaze.

Faced with her coquettish questioning and with the drug churning inside him, Wen Qiyan's thoughts began to slow.

He looked at her face, at her lips pouting in dissatisfaction.

As he watched, as if bewitched, he lowered his head to kiss her, but before he could make contact, Ji Wanyuan dodged again.

This time, Wen Qiyan took her chin in his fingers.

The force wasn't heavy, but it easily restrained her.

"If you truly love me, why do you always avoid intimacy with me? Before, you clearly enjoyed this very much."

So, he just wanted to sleep with her after all.

Ji Wanyuan thought that maybe she should just grit her teeth and get it over with, otherwise she really wouldn't be able to muddle through this.

Wasn't Wen Qiyan ruled by his desires? Cao Xin was a pretty and delicate beauty—why didn't he like her?

"I... I already told you, last time you were too rough, and I'm scared! And... and you have no idea what you're doing; it always hurts me..."

Stammering this out, she added the reason of her unstable pregnancy condition.

Hearing the first part of her words, the man's eyelashes flickered slightly. He paused in silence for a moment before finally responding only to the latter part.

"The physician said that once your pregnancy stabilizes after three months, it's safe to engage in marital relations. Besides, I promised I would be gentler and not treat you like before."

He stared at her as he spoke, dismantling her excuses point by point, but when it came to Ji Wanyuan's claim that he lacked skill, he truly had no defense.

His knowledge of marital intimacy was minimal, and without practical experience, how could he improve?

"..."

Seeing him evade the main issue and counter her, Ji Wanyuan couldn't find any words to fill the silence.

After much thought, for some reason, she blurted out, "Then... Wen Qiyan, let me ask you."

"Do you love me?"

She looked into his eyes.

Desire burned through him, his spine so tense it trembled. Her question stunned him again.

Ji Wanyuan looked up, pursing her lips as she watched him, the fear on her face still present.

He couldn't quite tell whether the fear on her face was due to her dread of his closeness or her worry about hearing an unfavorable answer from his lips.

"You don't love me," she answered for him while he was still stunned.

"So, I don't want to sleep with you anymore."

Wasn't this a good excuse?

Putting on a dejected look, Ji Wanyuan felt an indescribable unease in her heart.

Not only did she feel Wen Qiyan's scorching breath, but she also sensed the dangerous pressure against her.

It was this very "weapon" that had "defeated" her last time, leaving her in tears and begging for mercy.

"Who said I don't love you?"

He lowered his head, kissing her lips as he softly whispered that he loved her.

He had thought saying these words would be difficult, but when the moment came to speak, it didn't seem so hard after all.

He was just humoring her, yet he didn't understand why he himself felt inexplicably relieved...

As if he had finally voiced his feelings to the person who wanted to hear them?

But in truth, he wasn't averse to sleeping with Ji Wanyuan, nor did he resent her foolishness and frivolity as much as before. Perhaps he had simply grown accustomed to tolerating her.

In that sense, wasn't this truly voicing his feelings?

"Do you love me, or do you just love sleeping with me?" she pressed further.

"I love both..."

It was truly unbearable; he had already restrained himself to the limit.

His voice was hoarse, trembling slightly.

A flurry of scorching kisses fell upon Ji Wanyuan's fair and tender neck.

He ached to kiss her fiercely, but he couldn't, not when she was trembling like this. He'd promised to be gentle.

He kept soothing her resistance, her feelings of apprehension.

It hadn't even begun yet, but Ji Wanyuan was already sobbing.

She was fretful and uneasy, not understanding how things had come to this.

According to the plan, the one who was supposed to end up with Wen Qiyan was her cousin from the Cao family.

How did it become her?

She felt as if she had drawn water with a bamboo basket only to come up empty, trying to steal a chicken but ending up losing the rice.

She had even aroused Wen Qiyan's suspicions. If she didn't go through with this now, leaving him in this unbearable state of frustration, who knew what might happen tomorrow.

Just consider it as being gnawed by a dog...

She closed her eyes, her lashes trembling, and clung to him, whimpering delicately. Her intermittent sobs drilled into the man's ears.

He lifted his head, knowing she had acquiesced, and kissed her lips.

His large hand moved downward, touching the soft, fragrant fullness above the young lady's heart.

He was clearly being very gentle.

Yet she still said it hurt, couldn't he be less forceful? She even frowned and asked if he was lying to her? Was he going to start bullying her like before?

Wen Qiyan stopped, patiently lightening his touch. He kissed her lips, which soon became swollen. He feared she would again whimper in pain and complain it was too rough.

So his kisses fell upon her brows and eyes, the bridge and tip of her nose, the sides of her face...

Ji Wanyuan's scent was completely enveloped by his cool, clear breath.

Soon, he began moving downward again.

Ji Wanyuan endured the sounds of his kisses against her breast.

Wen Qiyan seemed to greatly enjoy her softness.

He lingered there repeatedly, left and right, neglecting neither side.

Ji Wanyuan looked down, only seeing the man's handsome face pressed into the place above her heart, "..."

Not only that, was he doing this to please her?

He even lowered his head to kiss further down.

Last time, he hadn't even kissed her mouth. This time, he was kissing her waist and abdomen.

To overthrow her Ji family and complete the imperial decree for promotion and rank, he really could stoop to this.

Hmph!

Ji Wanyuan's toes couldn't help but curl. She let out a delicate, pitiful cry, a sound that made one's ears and heart grow warm.

Wen Qiyan wasn't like their first time together; he was very patient.

Because he knew well how delicate, how small Ji Wanyuan was.

He kissed her, "coaxing" her for a long time.

First, he used his long, jade-like fingers to test the waters.

He prepared the place that hadn't been visited for so long, waiting until the stream washed through the spring scenery courtyard.

Only then did he brace against the rain curtain, stepping onto the muddy path to enter the courtyard bright with spring colors.

Even so, because no outsider had visited for so long, the flowers, leaves, and butterflies in the spring garden were terribly frightened. They scattered and huddled in fear, even launching attacks against him, attempting to drive this intruder out.

"Relax a little, don't be so tense, alright..."

Even though he had anticipated it, in this battle where force couldn't be used, he found himself struggling for the first time.

Being rejected and driven out made his expression grim, his forehead covered in cold sweat, veins bulging.

Yet he couldn't use too much force to counter it. It was truly an indescribable predicament.

Ji Wanyuan felt miserable. Her small face buried in the soft pillow, she cried bitterly, her long hair clinging to her neck. She simply didn't want to listen to him, showing clear resistance.

She was completely letting him have his way, hoping it would end sooner so she could rest sooner.

Wen Qiyan truly felt he might die here.

Was Ji Wanyuan sent by heaven to be his undoing?

Ever since he'd met her, he'd suffered daily torment. Yet he couldn't hit or scold her. Before, when there was no connection, he could at least reprimand her coldly and drive her away.

Now, he couldn't say a single harsh word. He had to coax her, even humble himself.

Wen Qiyan tilted her face up from the pillow. Seeing her tears, he kissed her brows and eyes.

"It hurts that much?"

Compared to the previous two times, it was indeed much better, but it was still uncomfortable.

It wasn't just uncomfortable being intimate with him; her heart ached too.

How had things developed into this state?

Half an hour ago, she had been happily thinking that if Wen Qiyan touched Cao Xin, she might still have a way out—to go home and make a scene.

She could say Wen Qiyan had just promised her mother, Mrs. Ji, that he would never take a concubine in this lifetime, yet here he was in her courtyard, feigning compliance while secretly carrying on with his cousin. If she made a fuss then, demanding a separation, perhaps it would work?

This marriage was bestowed by the Emperor, and her status was relatively noble. If Wen Qiyan made a mistake, and her father sought justice for her, perhaps it could be done?

Now, it was all for nothing.

The one being 'handled' had become her.

Why was she so stupid? Nothing she schemed ever succeeded.

Thinking of this, she cried even more sorrowfully, not wanting to hear anything he said, only wishing he would finish quickly.

But he was moving slowly, even pausing at times.

Why do you have to ask!

He was so annoying.

She had never found Wen Qiyan so detestable before.

His hard abdominal muscles pressed against her, making her ache. Hitting him only hurt her, too.

Not wanting to respond, she pulled her hand away and buried her face back into the soft pillow, refusing to answer.

The man, however, pressed on, "What's wrong?"

He saw her crying heavily, the soft pillow already soaked with her tears.

"Can you stop asking?" she said, urging him to hurry.

"If I really hurried, wouldn't you cry again and say I bullied you?"

"Aren't you bullying me?" She was utterly annoyed, her spoiled young miss's temper flaring, her tone sharp and impatient, refusing to mince words.

Faced with her impatience, the man fell silent once more.

A sense of defeat washed over Wen Qiyan; he truly didn't know what to say.

His brow furrowed, and he couldn't help but reflect—was his skill in bed really that terrible?

Ji Wanyuan's coldness toward him had begun after their first two times together. She avoided him everywhere, stiffening even when he tried to hold her.

Thinking of this, he lowered his gaze to look, examining himself.

It didn’t seem too bad, did it?

Yet she wouldn’t even look?

But Wen Qiyan also understood that even with favorable conditions, if he didn't perform, it was indeed... quite poor.

With this in mind, he began to move slowly, easing the throbbing pain the medicine brought him, yet feeling no pleasure—both because of her lack of cooperation and because of the words Ji Wanyuan had spoken.

"..."

She really was a crier.

He hadn’t known before; the soft pillow was soaked, yet she kept crying.

The corners of her eyes were red, pitifully so, looking utterly drained.

He leaned down to kiss her, but she avoided him, sniffling with her equally reddened nose, telling him not to kiss her.

No matter how he looked at her, she seemed so delicate.

"Are you almost done?" she asked intermittently.

"Can’t you feel it?"

It seemed she had adapted. The flowers, leaves, and butterflies in the Spring View Garden realized they couldn’t drive away this foreign "giant" and had no choice but to accept its presence.

So, they were reaching a consensus, but it would take time.

She could feel it; she just wanted to urge him on.

Seeing through her little game, he didn’t feel annoyed. Instead, the corners of his thin lips lifted slightly, a small curve he himself hadn’t noticed.

"Is this okay?" he asked.

Ji Wanyuan didn’t want to answer.

She slapped his hand, which was resting over her heart, telling him not to touch her there.

Before he could ask what was wrong, the pampered Eldest Miss Ji had already started crying out in pain.

Realizing she might be doing it on purpose, he still obediently withdrew his hand.

Watching the sight sway before his eyes, rippling like waves yet never dispersing like water, it tormented him—she was truly alluring.

Wen Qiyan leaned down and tentatively kissed her there.

Seeing her lift her eyelids to glare at him slightly, he withdrew after just one kiss.

"..."

About an hour later, Ji Wanyuan said she truly had no strength left, adding that she felt she might have hurt the baby and needed a physician to check, forcing Wen Qiyan to stop.

He let out a long sigh and complied, withdrawing as she wished.

The heat within the bed curtains hadn’t faded, and both their breaths remained uneven.

Ji Wanyuan was genuinely exhausted; she was pregnant, after all.

Wen Qiyan, however, felt unsatisfied, left hanging.

He watched her lying lazily, eyes closed, her clothes not properly arranged, marks from him visible on the side of her neck—she was feigning sleep.

It was over, and she wouldn’t even look at him.

He supposed she must have been dissatisfied with this encounter too; otherwise, she wouldn’t have called for it to end so quickly.

Throughout, she had resisted and refused, forbidding this and that.

Even so, when Wen Qiyan carried her to wash up, he still had to ask, "How was it?"

The moment the words left his mouth, they felt inappropriate, especially making him feel awkward as he looked at Ji Wanyuan, eyes closed in the bathtub, waiting for him to wipe her down.

He felt like a male courtesan from the Youxian House, waiting for a patron’s review after the act.

Thinking this, his expression shifted slightly, turning somewhat unpleasant.

Naturally, Ji Wanyuan didn’t notice at all.

She didn’t even seem to hear him, or pretended not to.

Unexpectedly, Wen Qiyan asked again, even pinching her ear.

She looked up and saw the man’s face, still tinged with lingering desire but already regaining its usual cool composure.

"...It was okay," she replied reluctantly.

"What was okay? What wasn’t?" he pressed again.

Ji Wanyuan didn't understand why he was so persistent, digging to the bottom of it and pressing her for details.

Their gazes met.

After a moment of silence, Ji Wanyuan didn't answer directly. Instead, she said, "Why are you asking this?"

"To reflect," the man tossed the words at her.

Her skin was truly delicate and soft. Even though he had been extremely gentle, many marks had already appeared on her body.

"I can't really say," she refused to tell him.

"If you don't say, how am I supposed to improve?"

Ji Wanyuan took a sharp breath, almost blurting out... did he intend to sleep with her again in the future?

She absolutely did not want that.

There would be no next time!

But she couldn't say such words to Wen Qiyan, in case he went crazy again.

"I'm rather tired," she said.

Seeing she wouldn't answer, Wen Qiyan didn't press further. He just watched her evasive expression for a while.

"..."

After tidying up, he carried the drowsy Ji Wanyuan back to the main house.

The maids, matrons, and attendants waiting outside witnessed this but didn't dare utter a word, bowing their heads even lower.

While Wen Qiyan went to bathe, Ji Wanyuan secretly called for Feicui and asked her, "Where is Cao Xin?"

Feicui looked troubled. "Miss Cao has returned to her own courtyard. She didn't look too well."

With the plan falling through, who could possibly look good?

"Miss... you and the young master, are you..."

Fighting?

But it didn't seem like it.

When Wen Qiyan left from the other side of the study, Feicui had bumped into him.

The man's face was dark as he asked her where Ji Wanyuan was.

Feicui didn't dare to say, but Wen Qiyan's expression was so frighteningly stern that she had no choice but to tell him.

After getting the answer, Wen Qiyan left. Feicui wanted to follow, but Wen Qiyan's subordinates detained all of them.

Feicui was very worried something would happen.

But who would have thought, it didn't seem like anything bad had happened. Instead, the two seemed to have had an intimate encounter...

"Don't mention this matter again!" Ji Wanyuan gritted her teeth angrily.

"I can only count myself unlucky!" But she would absolutely not capsize in the same ditch a second time.

That dog man Wen Qiyan, using both soft and hard tactics—even if she didn't want to admit it, she had to concede she was no match for him.

It seemed she still needed to think of other methods. If all else failed, she could go home and call for reinforcements.

"This servant notices the young master seems to have changed his attitude towards you quite a bit, Miss. Perhaps you should stop making trouble..."

Ji Wanyuan glared at her, and the clueless Feicui immediately fell silent.

After glaring for a good while, Ji Wanyuan sighed heavily. "You simply don't understand."

She wasn't making trouble; she was trying to save her life.

"Miss—"

"Alright, I want to rest. You may leave." Ji Wanyuan pulled the brocade quilt over her head.

Feicui saw the fresh kiss marks on the back of her neck but ultimately said nothing. She added some incense and left.

Ji Wanyuan pondered how to proceed next, but she was truly exhausted from the ordeal. As she thought, she unconsciously fell asleep.

By the time Wen Qiyan came out, she was already sound asleep.

Even when he got onto the bed, embraced her, and pulled her into his arms, she barely struggled, just shifting a few times.

Seeing her so docile, it seemed today's "taking advantage of the situation to get closer" had some effect.

After bathing and taking the medicine prescribed by the physician earlier, the emotions stirred by desire on the man's face completely faded, returning to an expressionless state.

He looked at the person in his arms, thinking about her unusual behavior today.

Perhaps a long time ago, he had already overlooked something.

Setting aside recent events for now, to figure out if Ji Wanyuan knew something.

After much thought, tracing back further, he recalled another incident: when the Emperor bestowed the marriage.

Chancellor Ji entered the palace to see the Emperor, requesting His Majesty to retract the decree, stating that the two families were truly unsuitable for marriage.

He had thought at the time that Chancellor Ji was unwilling to form this alliance. But now, thinking about it...

Perhaps it wasn't Chancellor Ji. It might have been Ji Wanyuan...

Did she not want to marry him even back then?

At this thought, the man's cool eyelashes flickered slightly, and the color in his eyes gradually deepened.