The voice was somewhat similar, yet still different from the Nobleman in her dream.
The Nobleman’s voice was also low and husky, but when he was in bed with her, doing all those shameful things, there was always a hint of teasing, even flirting a few words—unlike this man, who was as cold as ice, keeping others a thousand miles away.
Su Tanghuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She shook her head: “This humble woman seeks neither wealth nor status. I only ask that the child in my womb kowtow to his father, so the child may fulfill his filial duty.”
The man’s tone suddenly sharpened, turning even colder: “A child in your womb?”
His deep, dark eyes fixed on her flat belly, as if wishing to bore a hole through it.
How dare she tarnish his deceased elder brother’s reputation!
Ji Yan suppressed his anger, his tone icy: “When did you conceive?”
Su Tanghuan, lacking confidence, lowered her voice by half a tone.
“Six months ago, this humble woman came to Chang’an from my hometown and happened upon the Shizi, who was on the brink of death. I took him to my temporary residence to treat him. He told me he was Ji Shizi.”
After all, he had been missing for half a year, and the person had died before she even met Ji Yuan. Whatever she said now would be taken as truth.
Ji Yan frowned, a flicker of movement in his eyes.
Six months ago.
How could the person who saved him be a female swindler?
He remained expressionless: “A chance encounter, and you conceived so quickly?”
Su Tanghuan’s face flushed slightly: “Well… not too quickly. The child is only one month old.”
Under Ji Yan’s sharp gaze, a cold sweat broke out on her back.
“This humble woman spent only six months with the Shizi, but it was the happiest time of my life. Ji Shizi was the best, most considerate man I have ever met.”
Ji Yan rolled his eyes.
He sneered.
Acting!
He and his elder brother were twins.
But no one in the world knew.
For the past five years, his elder brother and he had been the same person!
Five years ago, their father unfortunately died in battle. Their mother, far away in Chang’an, heard the news and suffered heart palpitations, fainting several times.
Who could have known that, just half a month later, his elder brother also passed away due to severe injuries.
To comfort his mother, who suffered from heart palpitations, and to stabilize the Ji Family Army to deter their enemies, Ji Yan announced to the outside that the young General was severely injured and unconscious, and he would temporarily take over the Ji Family Army.
He quietly buried his elder brother and, not long after, announced to the public that the Shizi had recovered.
From then on, he played two roles. ‘Ji Yuan’ claimed to have facial injuries and henceforth wore a golden mask, continuing to charge into battle.
Ji Yan remained in the military tent as the strategist.
Only a few trusted aides who followed him knew of this matter.
The Emperor suddenly ordered him to return to the capital to serve as the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor and secretly investigate a major case.
Thus, he was stretched thin and could no longer keep the ‘elder brother’ in the role of General by his side.
After careful consideration, he decided to take advantage of his mother’s fiftieth birthday to have the ‘elder brother’ return to the capital first.
Once he also returned to the capital, the ‘two brothers’ would accompany their mother through her birthday celebrations.
He would stay by his mother’s side to ensure she would not be overwhelmed with grief, and then find an opportunity to have the ‘elder brother’ pass away from illness.
Who could have known that someone would attempt to kill the ‘elder brother’ along the way, catching him completely off guard.
To prevent suspicious individuals from noticing anything amiss, Ji Yan could only bring the ‘elder brother’s’ body back home.
Ji Yan coldly glanced at the girl putting on an act.
The girl avoided his gaze, her teary eyes turning to the portrait of his elder brother, gazing affectionately, her face filled with admiration.
“This humble woman admired the Shizi for his extraordinary bravery, and the Shizi loved my gentle and considerate nature. We were deeply in love, and in the heat of passion, we made solemn vows to each other.”
Her tone grew even softer and more tender: “After the Shizi recovered from his injuries, he left his seal as a betrothal gift, saying he would first return home to inform his Mother, then come back to marry me in a grand and glorious ceremony.”
Su Tanghuan’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Who would have thought… that once he left, we would be separated by life and death? If I had known the Shizi would encounter danger again, I would never have let him go ahead.”
The seal?
Ji Yan’s face was cold as frost, his thumb rubbing the jade thumb ring.
It was almost sparking from the friction.
That’s right.
He had fallen into an ambush, been injured, and tumbled into the raging river below the cliff. Washed ashore, he lost consciousness from excessive blood loss.
In his daze, someone bandaged the wound on his head—their hands soft and boneless, carrying a faint fragrance. He guessed it was a woman.
But the night was too dark, and his mind was hazy.
So he gave her his elder brother’s seal, intending for her to take it to the Ji Residence to send word.
The people at the Ji Residence would surely come looking for him upon seeing the seal, but before he could finish speaking, he lost consciousness.
Who would have thought that woman would never return?
If not for his sheer luck in surviving against the odds, he would have been nothing but a pile of bones by now.
Leaving aside whether the woman before him was the one who saved him, but to claim the seal as a betrothal gift, seek a grand marriage, and even be pregnant?
Could she spin a more outrageous tale?
Nothing but lies!
Ji Yan’s gaze turned icy as he looked at the woman.
He swept his black robe aside and took a proper seat.
“Where is the seal?”
Su Tanghuan was prepared. “Upon hearing of the Shizi’s passing, I rushed here in a panic and left the seal at home.”
Ji Yan stared coldly at the deceitful woman.
Recalling that night, the woman who had overcome her fear to save him in the pitch-dark forest must have had good character.
The hands that applied medicine to him were gentle and careful, yet skilled. She used a handkerchief to bandage the wound, but it seemed she knew proper bandaging techniques.
How could such a kind and virtuous woman be this deceitful, cunning liar before him?
Surely, the girl who saved him had mentioned the seal in passing during their conversation, and this liar had overheard it.
Where was the woman who saved him now?
Ji Yan issued a calm order.
“Someone, throw her out.”
The servants were about to act when they suddenly heard the sound of a woman wailing.
“Where is Yuan’er’s widow? Where? Let me see her at once.”
Lady Ji, trembling and unsteady, was hurriedly supported by maids and elderly servants as she arrived.
Ji Yan frowned.
He glared coldly at the servants, who felt chills run down their necks under his gaze.
Such sensational news naturally spread quickly, and those eager to curry favor had already rushed into the inner hall to report it.
Seeing her savior, Su Tanghuan scrambled up and rushed toward Lady Ji, throwing her arms around her waist.
She knelt with a thud, burying herself in the woman’s embrace, crying out, “Mother, your daughter-in-law has brought your grandson to kowtow to you.”
Ji Yan was furious.
Calling her “Mother” already?
Shameless!
The three words—Mother, daughter-in-law, grandson—warmed Lady Ji’s heart, filling the void left by the loss of her eldest son.
She finally had a daughter-in-law and a grandson!
Lady Ji was so moved that tears streamed down her aged face as she reached to help Su Tanghuan up. “Good child, rise quickly, rise quickly.”
As she touched Su Tanghuan’s icy hands, she noticed her soaked dress and exclaimed, “Heavens, why are you drenched? And covered in so much mud?”
Su Tanghuan was about to explain—that she had braved the heavy rain to see the Eldest Young Master one last time—but before she could speak…
Lady Ji pulled her into her embrace. “Good child, did you risk your life just to see the Eldest Young Master one last time? How it pains this mother’s heart.”
Feeling the warmth of Lady Ji’s embrace, Su Tanghuan felt a pang of guilt.
She wanted to buy time, lay low, and evade the pursuit from Zheng Fu.
If only she could coax Grand Tutor Ji into helping her obtain a Household Registration. If that proved impossible, she would wait until she had regained her strength before considering escape methods again.
Unable to resist, she reached out to return Lady Ji’s embrace, tears streaming down her face. Her frail body trembled slightly, her expression timid.
“Lady Ji, calling you ‘Mother’ was presumptuous of me…”
Lady Ji declared firmly, “No, call me Mother.”
Ji Yan was both angry and amused.
He glared furiously at the sky.
How dare she deceive his mother—she deserved to be torn to pieces!
Lady Ji, tears in her eyes, scolded angrily, “What are you all standing around for? Hurry and help the eldest young mistress to my courtyard to bathe and change her clothes. Prepare ginger sugar water to drive away the cold for the eldest young mistress.”
At the mention of “eldest young mistress,” the servants’ gazes toward Su Tanghuan shifted instantly, and they immediately sprang into action.
The maids hurried into the inner courtyard to prepare the bathwater, while the maidservants supported Su Tanghuan and guided her inside.
As Su Tanghuan passed by Ji Yan, his icy, dagger-like eyes swept over her, as if wishing to pierce her into a sieve.
She quickened her pace.
Grand Tutor Ji was terrifying!
Seeing her stumble, a maidservant quickly steadied her. “Eldest young mistress, be careful not to slip.”
Su Tanghuan’s mind raced with countless thoughts.
For now, there was no room for her to scheme—she could only take one step at a time.