Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Ji Wanyuan was stunned, momentarily at a loss for how to react.

Had Wen Yunqin just said that? He asked if she wanted to separate from Wen Qiyan and even said he could help her?

At first, she had assumed Wen Yunqin was going to ask about what had happened over the past couple of days.

After all, after the unpleasant scene with Mrs. Wen the other day, Wen Yunqin had been home since returning to the capital and was bound to have heard some rumors. It would be natural for him to ask, given their family ties.

But he didn't ask. Instead, he guessed that she wanted to divorce Wen Qiyan? Mrs. Wen hadn't picked up on it, and even Wen Qiyan himself hadn't initially believed she was serious about wanting a divorce.

For a moment, Ji Wanyuan remained silent.

The courage Wen Yunqin had mustered began to ebb away after speaking those words. He couldn't help the nervousness coiling inside him, waiting for Ji Wanyuan's answer.

After a long while, he couldn't help but give a soft cough. "Sister-in-law... did you hear what I said clearly?"

Why wasn't she speaking?

Was she startled by his abruptness, or... had she not heard clearly?

The turmoil in Ji Wanyuan's heart gradually subsided, but she still did not speak.

She stared fixedly at him.

Wen Yunqin didn't just cough softly, his face began to look strained.

"Sister-in-law..."

Then Ji Wanyuan noticed a faint flush on his cheek, the unnaturalness in his expression very apparent.

Wen Qiyan had said that Wen Yunqin admired her.

Yes, she had vaguely sensed it a long time ago, but she simply did not care for Wen Yunqin. It wasn't that Wen Yunqin wasn't outstanding.

On the contrary, he was remarkable. Wen Qiyan, honored as the Capital's First Gentleman, was renowned throughout Liangjing for his unparalleled handsomeness and brilliance. How could his full-blooded younger brother be any less?

But back then, her entire focus was on ensnaring Wen Qiyan; she simply couldn't see anyone else. So, she turned a blind eye to Wen Yunqin's overtures and attentions, not taking them to heart.

Wen Yunqin was Wen Qiyan's younger brother. At that time, as she was pursuing Wen Qiyan, Wen Yunqin was useful to her. Therefore, she didn't deliberately distance herself because of his secret admiration, mostly pretending to be oblivious. Fortunately, Wen Yunqin had never openly said anything that would trouble her.

Back then, she and Wen Qiyan had no real relationship. Now, while she was heavily pregnant, he was actually revealing his inner thoughts?

After all these years, he still liked her? Even Wen Qiyan had noticed.

After a pause, Ji Wanyuan did not answer directly. Instead, she smiled and asked in return, "Why does Younger Uncle ask so suddenly?"

Now that her pregnancy was more advanced, she tired easily, so she simply sat down by the lotus pond.

Wen Yunqin remarked that the jade seating was cold and summoned a servant to bring a goose-down cushion for her to sit on.

Ji Wanyuan silently appreciated his thoughtfulness.

Wen Yunqin was very tall. Ji Wanyuan sat leaning on the table, resting her chin in her hand as she looked at him.

Her gaze made him increasingly uncomfortable. Wen Yunqin simply coughed softly and sat down opposite her.

"Is it sudden?" Wen Yunqin tried his best to force himself to remain calm.

"Younger Uncle suddenly stopped me, asked if I want a divorce, and said you'll help me. Isn't that sudden enough?"

Wen Yunqin was left speechless by her counter-question. Ordinarily, he wasn't one to be at a loss for words, but every time he faced Ji Wanyuan, his tongue would tie itself in knots, as if nothing he said was right.

"It seems... perhaps... it is quite sudden." He seriously pondered her words.

Ji Wanyuan was amused by his earnest expression and chuckled.

"But I'm serious, Sister-in-law."

Before Ji Wanyuan could reply, a voice inquired from behind them. "What is serious?"

Both turned towards the sound. The moment they saw Wen Qiyan, the smile gradually faded from Ji Wanyuan's face. She rolled her eyes inwardly.

Didn't he go to the South Study with Father Wen? How did he get here so quickly?

Ji Wanyuan guessed that Father Wen had called Wen Qiyan over, most likely to question him about the last couple of days' events, to ask about the state of things between them and what, if anything, he had learned.

It probably still related to the mining industry Father wanted to develop. That place was called...?

Youzhou, right. That seemed to be it.

The man who strode over walked directly between the two.

Wen Yunqin sensed the coldness in his elder brother's eyes. But this time, his brother didn't let the coldness show on his face. Instead, he was smiling, but it was a very cold smile, one that made people afraid.

After Wen Qiyan appeared, both fell silent.

He showed no sign of embarrassment either. Turning to look at Ji Wanyuan, he gazed at her small face. Their eyes met, neither speaking. Wen Qiyan looked down. He parted her cloak, revealing her rounded belly.

Wen Yunqin naturally saw it too.

"Are you well today?"

He heard his aloof elder brother ask her, even placing his long, jade-like hand on her rounded belly. The gesture was ostentatious, a deliberate display.

Ji Wanyuan wanted to pull her cloak together and push her husband's hand away, but his hand was nimble. Before she could act, it moved to her waist, gently massaging it.

Wen Yunqin heard the girl he admired exclaim "Ah!" She glared at his brother, asking what he was doing.

"Didn't you say your waist was sore?" Facing her anger, his brother replied indifferently, "Massaging it for you."

"Who said my waist was sore?"

His brother and she spoke as if no one else was present, as if he didn't exist.

Ji Wanyuan felt Wen Qiyan's shamelessness was gradually becoming overt. In broad daylight, in front of others, in front of his own younger brother, he actually said such things and deliberately mentioned the previous few nights.

He shouldn't think she didn't understand.

First revealing her belly, then mentioning the previous few nights—what exactly was he trying to tell Wen Yunqin?

The process of how the child in her belly came to be!

Before, he had said she was wanton and frivolous. Now, he should look in the mirror. How was he any better than her?

"Younger Uncle is still here. Mind your words."

"Oh, Younger Brother Yunqin is still here." Wen Qiyan turned around, his broad, tall shoulders completely obscuring the young lady's petite and delicate figure.

Confronting his younger brother, who bore a similar face, the man's handsome countenance held a faint, almost imperceptible mockery in his half-smile.

Wen Yunqin felt the pressure his elder brother was exerting on him. With Ji Wanyuan present, it was inappropriate to say more. He simply stated, "Since you and my sister-in-law have matters to discuss, I won't disturb you any further."

After speaking, he wanted to look at Ji Wanyuan, but Wen Qiyan blocked her completely. Wen Yunqin had no choice but to give up and turn to leave.

But just as he turned around, he heard the man behind him call out, "Yunqin."

Wen Yunqin's steps halted.

As he turned back, Wen Qiyan happened to stand up.

Wen Yunqin's gaze instinctively fell behind his brother, but he still couldn't see Ji Wanyuan's face, only the hem of her skirt and her cloak.

He met his elder brother's aloof and indifferent expression.

"There are proprieties to observe between a younger brother and his sister-in-law. In the future, if you have any messages for your sister-in-law, come to me to relay them. Avoid meeting privately."

With words spoken to this extent, it was almost spelling things out.

Had his brother heard what he said earlier?

Listening, Ji Wanyuan felt a flutter of nervousness, but more than that, she felt composed.

She wanted the Wen family to fall into chaos, ideally with brothers turning against each other. That would benefit the Ji family.

If Old Master Wen had to deal with the discord and strife between his two sons, he would surely be too preoccupied.

Ji Wanyuan wanted to speak up, but for a moment, she wasn't sure what to say. Although she had a rough idea, putting it into words was another matter. The main thing was not to be too blatant; she had to measure her words carefully.

"My relationship with my sister-in-law is entirely proper, never overstepping any bounds."

Wen Yunqin looked at the coldness in his brother's eyes and raised a faint smile. It seemed playful but was actually a provocation.

"Brother, saying such things out of the blue... is it that you distrust my sister-in-law, or that you lack confidence in yourself?"

Wen Qiyan narrowed his eyes slightly.

The pent-up resentment in Wen Yunqin's heart eased a little with these words.

After a long while, Wen Qiyan also smiled, but it was a cold, chilling smile, even more menacing than before.

He called out "Yunqin" again. "You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Are you deliberately testing my patience, seeking death before me?"

Hearing this, Ji Wanyuan's heart instantly sank. She wanted to speak but the words died in her throat, not daring to say anything more.

Because although Wen Qiyan, dressed in his moon-white brocade robe, appeared as gentle and refined as jade, his presence was sharp and formidable.

It seemed she hadn't even done much to sow discord, yet the two brothers were already at each other's throats.

Ji Wanyuan wanted to watch coldly from the sidelines, but she felt a pang of fear.

"Brother intends to take action against me?" Wen Yunqin retorted.

"That depends on which *wine* you choose to drink." Wen Qiyan's words were meaningful.

Just as Wen Yunqin was about to speak, a servant approached, saying Old Master Wen requested his presence in the South Study for important matters.

After the tense standoff between the brothers for a while, Wen Yunqin turned and left.

Long after he was gone, the atmosphere around the bamboo grove and lotus pond hung tense.

Ji Wanyuan felt somewhat afraid.

Because Wen Qiyan turned around, looming over her, his handsome face clearly etched with coldness.

She wanted to remain composed but found it hard to steady herself. When she spoke, her confidence was lacking, though her voice was indeed loud.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Ji Wanyuan."

He called her name coldly, all trace of the low, lingering tenderness from when he had kissed her not long ago gone from his tone.

"I'm not *that* magnanimous." He warned her to stay away from Wen Yunqin, saying this was the last time.

Ji Wanyuan was irritated by his oppressive manner. Even if she was afraid, she had to resist. "What madness are you on about now?"

"I can't even talk to your younger brother?"

"Talk?" The man narrowed his eyes, grabbing her wrist and pulling her up. "If it were just normal conversation, why would you need to send people away and come to this secluded spot?"

"I..." For a moment, Ji Wanyuan found herself at a loss for words, stammering slightly.

Wen Qiyan continued with a cold laugh, asking, "What were you talking about with him? Smiling so sweetly at him?"

"What, having me isn't enough? You think Yunqin is better than me? Want to divorce me and be with him?"

He lifted her chin, scrutinizing her face.

Innocent yet alluring, adorable yet detestable.

Seeing the dark turbulence in his eyes, Ji Wanyuan was momentarily speechless.

She didn't dare confront Wen Qiyan head-on and spoke more evasively.

"Not long ago, you told my father and mother you would treat me well. And now?"

"Have you forgotten the pain once the wound healed, Wen Qiyan?"

A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips. "Who exactly is the one who forgot the pain once the wound healed?"

There were some things he could not yield on, not even for his own brother, but she didn't seem to understand that.

She wanted to watch the drama of brothers turning against each other, but when it actually happened, she was too frightened to utter a word. And he had only said a few words.

The two fell into silence for a while. Ji Wanyuan, unable to get the upper hand in the argument and not wanting to remain in this stalemate with him, wanted to leave.

But Wen Qiyan didn't let go, instead stroking her wrist.

"Behave yourself. Otherwise, I don't know what I might do."