Chapter 70

Chapter 70

The blushing young lady assumed a stern expression, lowered her voice, and admonished him in a delicate, coquettish voice.

"It's all your fault."

Moreover, she ordered him to confess and denounce his own misdeeds, sternly ordering him never to do such a thing again, otherwise...

He merely pinched her thigh, and she trembled, her voice choked with sobs. Her feigned bravado instantly crumbled.

"Otherwise what?" the man asked nonchalantly.

He paused in helping her into the ruqun skirt and looked up at her. "What if you want me? Still not allowed?"

Ji Wanyuan's face flushed even redder, incensed by his shamelessness. "Who wants you!"

He chuckled softly and actually traced his slender, clean fingertip against her lips. "You."

Ji Wanyuan smelled his cool, refreshing scent and... the lingering traces from earlier. Even though Wen Qiyan had wiped it clean, she hadn't washed herself yet.

"That's so dirty, you didn't wash your hands." She turned her head away, looking at him with great disdain.

Wen Qiyan: "..."

The sounds of fighting outside grew louder. After putting on her clothes, Ji Wanyuan huddled under the covers, not daring to move. Even with her ears covered, she could still hear the fierce sounds of fighting, feeling as if the entire inn was about to be overturned.

Even the bed was shaking, more violently than the commotion she and Wen Qiyan had made earlier. She kept her eyes on the man, tugging at the corner of his clothes, terrified he might suddenly leave and abandon her here.

Thinking of her earlier scolding, Ji Wanyuan couldn't help but wonder if she should say something nice to make Wen Qiyan take pity on her.

What if those assassins broke in later and he abandoned her and ran away? Although unlikely, it wasn't impossible. After all, in such a life-or-death situation, could love truly surpass life itself?

While pondering, Ji Wanyuan slowly inched closer to him. Sensing her movement, he glanced back and took her hand.

Until the fighting outside ended, none of those intruders came in.

Ji Wanyuan was hot and stifled under the covers. When Wen Qiyan released her hand, she was so frightened she tried to get up with him. "Wh-where are you going?" She was in an unfamiliar place; he couldn't leave her behind.

When she emerged from the covers, her hair was completely disheveled, her face covered in sweat, and the redness from crying at the corners of her eyes hadn't fully faded.

A kitten afraid of being abandoned.

He turned back and picked her up. "Taking you to bathe."

Ji Wanyuan thought he was joking, but it turned out to be true.

The hot bath left Ji Wanyuan feeling much more comfortable. He placed her on the round table, tidied the bedding, and let her rest.

He then went back into the inner chamber.

Hearing the sound of water from inside, Ji Wanyuan guessed Wen Qiyan was bathing.

Soon, she began to feel somewhat drowsy.

Before Wen Qiyan came out, Ji Wanyuan had already closed her eyes.

She didn't know the man had lit calming incense in the room. By now she was sleeping soundly.

By the time Wen Qiyan opened the door and came out, everything outside had been cleaned up.

He Xun and Wen Yunqin's gazes fell upon him. Seeing the man's brows and eyes suffused with relaxed languor and satiation, they couldn't help but think of what they had heard earlier. Both their expressions turned rather unpleasant.

Even though everything had been cleaned up, the smell of blood lingered in the inn.

The innkeeper and attendants were trembling with fear. The other surviving guests kept their doors and windows tightly shut, hiding and not daring to venture out.

"Since everything is handled, let's rest." After listening to his subordinate's report, Wen Qiyan murmured a faint acknowledgment.

As he stood up, Wen Yunqin called out to him. "I have something to say to you."

"What is it?" Wen Qiyan looked over.

But Wen Yunqin refused to speak, clearly needing privacy and to move elsewhere.

Yet Wen Qiyan didn't move.

His gaze was cold and deep. The aura around him appeared gentle and refined, but in reality, it was chilling and intimidating.

He Xun frowned, waved his hand to dismiss the people around them, clearing the area for their conversation.

Wen Qiyan picked up a teacup and took a sip. Wen Yunqin watched his elder brother, whose every gesture was exquisitely elegant, and spoke.

"The assassins who came this time were ruthless. Most of the skilled fighters sent by the court are dead."

"Is that so." Wen Qiyan's tone was indifferent. When he looked at Wen Yunqin, a faint, elusive smile curled at the corner of his thin lips. "The court's people are so useless?"

This didn't sound like he was talking about the court's people; it was more like an insinuation. "Elder Brother, what exactly are you trying to do?"

"Yun Qin can't even figure this out? How did you survive all those years fighting outside?" His tone of speech was very steady, but every word pierced to the core.

Wen Yunqin sneered. "Does Elder Brother wish I had died out there?"

"You are my younger brother. Naturally, I don't wish for that. If you died, Father and Mother would be heartbroken."

"If I died, Sister-in-law would also be heartbroken." Wen Yunqin added.

A flash of cold sharpness passed through Wen Qiyan's eyes. "Oh? Then shall we test it and see if she would be heartbroken?"

In just a few sentences, the atmosphere between the two brothers became tense and confrontational again.

"I want to know what exactly you are planning to do?" Wen Yunqin broke the stalemate first. "Sister-in-law is pregnant. You're taking her away from the capital. What if something goes wrong?"

"My wife and child are not for my younger brother to worry about." Wen Qiyan rubbed the teacup.

Wen Yunqin, "..."

Since the last incident where they came to blows, the tense, confrontational atmosphere between them had not eased; the conflict had only intensified.

After Wen Qiyan left, Wen Yunqin went to find He Xun. Just like last time, He Xun had anticipated his arrival and had already poured tea.

Wen Yunqin's expression was grim. He Xun invited him to sit and have some tea to calm his anger.

"Today's assassination attempt seems to have been planned long ago. Did you know about it too?"

He Xun raised an eyebrow slightly. "I only guessed. I didn't have prior knowledge."

This assassination attempt, they could be said to have suffered "heavy casualties," but most of the dead were those sent by the emperor—his confidants, his spies.

"These assassins probably weren't all from the same group, were they?"

He had never seen assassins so well-trained and highly skilled. Their moves even somewhat resembled his elder brother's style, as if he had trained them himself.

His men were completely outmatched by these assassins. After eliminating most of the court's men, the assassins withdrew.

Some of the captured assassins, after brief interrogation, revealed their origins—they were from the Fang family. The assassins also said they hadn't come with that many people; it was only during the fight that they realized there were many more.

If that was the case, then someone must have been fishing in troubled waters.

"Does Brother Yunqin not understand the Censor-in-chief?"

Wen Yunqin fell silent. Although he could fathom some aspects of his elder brother's temperament, he couldn't fully understand him, especially after leaving the capital these past few years. His elder brother's once spirited and ambitious demeanor had completely faded. Though he remained aloof and unapproachable, he was no longer as easy to read as before.

His emotions only wavered when near Ji Wanyuan, his feelings stirred and altered by her.

Therefore, if his elder brother had been fishing in troubled waters, it must have been because of her.

"The Chancellor once said that the Censor-in-chief is most adept at going with the flow."

Going with the flow...

Wen Yunqin pondered these words. "So, it was my elder brother's doing?"

He Xun merely smiled. He invited Wen Yunqin to drink tea, but Wen Yunqin had little patience and asked what they were actually planning.

"What about the suggestion I mentioned to Brother Yunqin earlier? Have you considered it?"

At this, Wen Yunqin grew quiet.

He Xun said, "There isn't much time left."

"What do you mean?" Wen Yunqin frowned and asked.

But He Xun said no more.

Wen Yunqin told him not to speak in such vague and confusing terms, as it was very annoying.

"Brother Yunqin is not part of our camp. If I reveal too much to you, wouldn't I be a traitor to the Ji family?"

"If you join us, you will know every plan."

If it weren't for his elder brother's obstruction, he would have already found out. Why would he need to come here and ask?

Wen Yunqin remained silent, only letting out a cold laugh. He Xun, however, had the patience to wait him out, just like last time.

"The identity of the Ji family's adopted son doesn't seem simple. He has always been at odds with my elder brother."

Mentioning Ji Lingyue, a flicker of apprehension passed through He Xun's eyes, which Wen Yunqin quickly noticed.

"You fear him?" Wen Yunqin asked.

"Brother Yunqin already said that Eldest Young Master Ji's identity is not simple. Naturally, I fear him. After all, no matter what, the Ji family is the main house that raised me."

"But you don't seem to fear my elder brother." Moreover, you're helping him oppose my elder brother and even plan to team up with him against him.

He Xun raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "I do fear him."

"Your elder brother can suppress Eldest Young Master Ji. Comparing the two, I fear your elder brother more."

"You fear my elder brother, yet you still dare to act against him. You have quite the nerve." Wen Yunqin sneered.

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Faced with Wen Yunqin's mockery, He Xun responded calmly.

"The court is unstable, and the land has already begun to descend into chaos." He Xun stated.

This was indeed the case. Wen Yunqin had received a letter from his father delivered by carrier pigeon today. His father said that the emperor had not attended court for a long time, but recently suddenly summoned all officials to discuss increasing taxes again and even began training troops.

On the surface, it seemed like an attempt to pressure the restless noble families, but it more resembled preparations for external warfare.

Given the current situation, a conflict between the Ji family and the court is inevitable.

However, even though the court is gradually showing signs of decline, its military forces remain strong. Even if the Ji family has followers everywhere and can gather talents from across the land, relying solely on the mining industry currently being exploited is likely insufficient. How can they break this impasse and contend with the court?

And what role will his elder brother play in all this?

Ji Lingyue is a Wuhuan person. Could it be that they intend to leverage the power of Wuhuan? But with just Wuhuan alone, how can they contend with the ruler of the Central Plains?

His elder brother appears confident of success. What exactly is he planning?

Wen Yunqin couldn't figure it out, but He Xun continued to urge him.

"Brother Yunqin concealed Miss Ji's whereabouts to protect her and turned a blind eye to our efforts to eliminate the court's forces. Perhaps I should have already considered you an ally?"

Wen Yunqin sneered, "Everything I do has never been for the Ji family."

"But Miss Ji's surname is Ji."

Wen Yunqin felt somewhat unsettled. His father had always been working with his elder brother for the court's affairs. Did he even know that his elder brother had switched sides?

After his elder brother left the capital, his father became so busy, hardly having a moment to rest. It was likely that his elder brother had a hand in stirring things up as well.

Was the Fang family's assassination attempt active or passive? Regardless, he dragged the Fang family into this. What exactly is he trying to do?

"I want to know, if the Ji family succeeds, who will become emperor?"

The court is unstable, with constant internal strife. The Ji family's side appears powerful and vigorous, but it is also a mixed bag.

Not to mention Chancellor Ji, just consider Ji Lingyue and his elder brother—neither of them is someone easily suppressed. Now, with the addition of He Xun, is this one an easy person to deal with either?

Wen Yunqin looked at his face. "You also want to be emperor."

He Xun merely smiled. "That's something to consider after success."

"If we don't make things clear now, what? After the Ji family succeeds, will there be more fighting and internal strife?"

"Brother Yunqin doesn't want to be emperor?" He Xun retorted.

"What's so good about being emperor?"

Being that busy, constantly being watched, worrying about assassination attempts, unable to make a single mistake in word or deed.

That Dragon Throne symbolizes supreme power, but isn't it also a form of confinement?

He Xun saw his disdain for the throne and lightly tossed out some bait. "But being emperor would allow you to stand by Miss Ji's side and become her man."

"Doesn't Brother Yunqin want that?" He was well aware of Wen Yunqin's feelings for Ji Wanyuan, accumulated over the years, no less than Wen Qiyan's.

Sure enough, the man's handsome expression showed signs of wavering.

"It seems Brother Yunqin still needs some more time to think. That's fine. We still have some days before we reach Youzhou. During this time, you can think it over carefully."

He Xun smiled and said no more about it, simply inviting him to have some tea.

Wen Yunqin shot him a look and walked straight out.

After the man left, the smile on He Xun’s face gradually faded.

Wen Qiyan returned to the room, where Ji Wanyuan was sleeping soundly under the influence of soothing incense.

Looking at her peaceful face as she slept, he reached out and gently brushed her soft cheek.

“…”

When Ji Wanyuan woke up, they were already on the road. The carriage bumped along, yet she had slept deeply.

Waking up groggily, she thought she was still dreaming until the man beside her asked, “Awake.”

Ji Wanyuan blinked. “You…”

“You’ve been asleep for a long time,” he said, helping her sit up.

It took Ji Wanyuan a while to gather her thoughts. “Are we already on our way?”

“Yes, Qi County is no longer safe.”

Seeing her slow, clumsy efforts to sit up, Wen Qiyan put down his book, wrapped an arm around her waist, and helped her up.

Unexpectedly, Ji Wanyuan let out a startled cry. She looked nervously at the man’s profile. “Wen… Wen Qiyan, I… I think I might have hurt the baby!”

Hearing this, the man stiffened abruptly and pulled her into his embrace.

Ji Wanyuan didn’t dare move, curling up like a little shrimp.

Wen Qiyan watched her for a moment, asking where she felt uncomfortable. She only said her stomach was moving.

The man placed his large hand on her rounded belly. “…”

“You didn’t hurt him—it’s just the baby moving.”

Ji Wanyuan suddenly remembered. Before leaving the capital, her mother had mentioned that it wouldn’t be long before the baby in her womb started moving.

So this was fetal movement.

Although she had occasionally felt something before, that sudden kick felt as if the baby inside was striking her, scaring her half to death.

The man’s large hand rested on her abdomen, and her gaze fixed on his slender, jade-like fingers.

Perhaps because of his proximity, the baby stopped moving.

The carriage continued to jolt, yet Wen Qiyan’s embrace felt incredibly steady.

Just as she grew bored and was about to sit up, the baby kicked again—right where Wen Qiyan’s fingers were resting.

She lifted her small face nervously and asked him, “Did you feel that? He’s moving.”

The man’s brows relaxed slightly. “I felt it.”

Ji Wanyuan and his child—a vibrant new life.

She said it was a boy. Was it true? And what would he look like?

They waited a while longer, but this time there was truly no movement.

Noticing her clothes weren’t drab, she quickly asked, “Didn’t you disguise me?”

As she spoke, she reached up to touch her cheek, feeling soft warmth—her own skin, not the texture of a disguise.

It was a pity there was no bronze mirror here to see her true appearance.

“If you don’t disguise me, won’t people recognize me?”

“We’ll be traveling for the next couple of days. Stay inside the carriage and don’t show your face. Nothing will happen.”

Her skin was too delicate, especially during pregnancy. Even the finest disguise paste had left noticeable red marks along the edges of her cheeks, looking quite alarming.

So, Wen Qiyan decided not to disguise her for these few days.

“Really?” she asked, still worried.

The man leaned down and pecked the tip of her nose. “Mm.”

Ji Wanyuan reacted strongly, covering the spot he had kissed and glaring at him, scolding in a low voice,

“Who told you you could kiss me?” She called him shameless.

The man being scolded raised an eyebrow and smiled.

“Have we already passed Qingzhou?” She wanted to lift the carriage curtain to look but didn’t dare, afraid of exposing herself.

“We have.” Wen Qiyan let her rest in his arms, pausing as he flipped through the book. “There will be another assassination attempt in a few days.”

Hearing the words “assassination attempt,” Ji Wanyuan choked back a gasp, recalling the chaotic commotion outside during their previous indiscretion.

She was about to ask if he had handled it, but… since they were already on the road, it must have been dealt with. Wouldn’t asking be redundant?

Since becoming pregnant, she realized she could not only eat and sleep well but had also grown much duller.

Wait. “How do you know there will be another assassination attempt in a few days?”

“Because I arranged it.” Afraid of startling her again, he decided to mention it in advance.

Ji Wanyuan, “?”

“You arranged it?”

“Why would you arrange an assassination attempt?” Did he find the journey too peaceful, or was her pregnancy too stable?

Ji Wanyuan couldn’t help but grumble inwardly.

“There were already assassination attempts planned along this route. I’m just going with the flow to eliminate the people the emperor sent.”

A phrase popped into Ji Wanyuan’s mind. “Is this… using another’s blade to kill?”

Hearing this, he raised an eyebrow in surprise, a faint smile playing on his lips. “The Eldest Miss Ji is so clever—she even knows about using another’s blade to kill?”

Hmph, wasn’t this just a tactic she’d seen Lin Nianxi use countless times in those storybooks?

Mentioning this, she asked again, “You said there were already assassination attempts planned. Whose family was it? The Lin family?”

Wen Qiyan shook his head. “The Lin family won’t make a move at this critical juncture. It’s the Fang family.”

The Fang family, that profligate son Fang Chao?

"I thought it would be the Lin family."

"The Lin family doesn't have the guts." Lin Jie's approach, to put it nicely, is cautious; in reality, it's just hidebound—he doesn't dare to take risks.

Actually, this would be the best time for their Lin family to strike. Even if the emperor suspects them, he would likely suspect someone is trying to frame them, especially since the Lin family is currently in the emperor's good graces, and Wen Yunqin was recommended by them. But Lin Jie doesn't dare.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have been suppressed by the Ji family for so many years. If not for the current turbulent situation, they wouldn't even measure up to the Fang family.

"Will there be any trouble?"

Ji Wanyuan was very worried.

"I won't let anything happen to you," Wen Qiyan said.

Even after comforting her, the frown didn't leave her brow. He asked her what she meant, "Are you worried about someone else?"

As their eyes met, Ji Wanyuan seemed to sense he was about to get jealous again and quickly shook her head, "I'm not!"

"I just think if a fight breaks out, someone might die."

"Although Yunqin is not very capable, he is still my brother. I won't let him die here."

"..." She knew exactly what he was going to say.

"I didn't even mention him, why are you like this?" She was getting scared.

Wen Qiyan sneered, "During the last assassination attempt, Yunqin mentioned something. He said if he died, you would be very sad."

"Ji Wanyuan, would you?"

The question caught her off guard, and she actually thought about it for a moment.

If Wen Yunqin died...

To be honest, she would be quite sad.

After all, he was a good person and always protected her.

Besides, he burned paper offerings for her after she died. If Wen Yunqin died, she would definitely burn some for him too.

While Ji Wanyuan was distracted, Wen Qiyan had already understood what she meant.

He gently but firmly moved her aside, his expression turning unpleasant.

"You're angry."

"You're so devoted to each other, why would I be angry?"

Devoted to each other...

Ji Wanyuan couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth, "I'm not sad. I was just thinking, if my husband's younger brother died, whether I should burn some paper money for him."

Wen Qiyan ignored her, flipping through the reports his subordinates had recently gathered about Wuhuan's documents.

But Ji Wanyuan was mentally drained. How could he be so prone to jealousy?

Nowadays, she didn't even dare to mention Wen Yunqin, yet he was the one bringing it up himself.

Could it be that he wanted her to coax him?

If they were in the capital, Ji Wanyuan definitely wouldn't coax him. After all, Wen Qiyan was a complete jerk, and why should she have to coax him?

In the storybooks, she had been eaten up with jealousy over him and Lin Nianxi.

But now, being under someone else's roof, she had to lower her head.

She leaned over, about to wrap her arms around his, but unexpectedly, he pushed her away, saying, "Get away from me."

Ji Wanyuan puffed out her cheeks and glared at the man's handsome, broad back. Swallowing her anger, she crouched down and crawled under his arm, using her hands and feet to burrow against him.

"Wen Qiyan, are you hungry?"

He avoided the question, not looking at her, "There are prepared hot meals and pastries in the hamper beside you."

Ji Wanyuan understood they were for her.

She took the jade pendant hanging from the man's waist and played with it, "I was asking about you, not me."

He ignored her again.

Ji Wanyuan wasn't used to lowering herself to coax someone. When she first married into the Wen family, she had already been submissive enough. If it weren't for being frightened day and night by him and the storybooks, she wouldn't have been so timid and oppressed.

Even now, though she was at a disadvantage, she didn't want to appear too soft.

So, in a sudden move, she snatched the scrolls and letters from the man's hands and threw them on the ground. She boldly straddled his lap, wrapping her slender wrists around his neck.

Meeting the man's cool, deep eyes, Ji Wanyuan forced down the panic in her heart and lifted her small face.

Not only that, she even arrogantly lifted his chin, "Wen Qiyan, I want you to kiss me."

If he was unhappy, she might as well give him a little treat. After all, she still needed him to do things for her, so letting him kiss her wasn't a big deal.

The man's palm rested on her slender waist, his tone low and dangerous, "So this is what you meant by asking if I'm hungry?"