Wen Lingyi’s heart felt as if it were steeped in bitter coptis water, aching with a sharp, twisting pain.
She gently wiped the tears from his face with her fingertip.
It shouldn’t be like this.
To control Wei Zheng, The Old Emperor would surely arrange a marriage for him—perhaps a princess or a noblewoman, but always someone from the royal family.
Wei Zheng had clearly just returned to the capital and couldn’t wait to seek her out for an answer.
Given time, he would come to understand.
“Let me think it over.”
Wen Lingyi’s calmness made Wei Zheng uneasy.
Following her gaze, he spotted Chen Wenli lying unconscious on the ground and gave him another hard kick to the head.
He knew the young mistress hadn’t abandoned him—she was simply forced into it.
The urge to kill this scoundrel, consequences be damned, burned stronger than ever.
But with Old Marquis Dingyuan just deceased, if another Dingyuan Marquis were to die…
Wei Zheng dreaded how others would slander the young mistress.
How unjust this world was to women.
Even if an enemy died, the blame would fall on a woman—calling her a jinx, accusing her of bringing misfortune to her husband.
The young mistress cherished her reputation above all.
Wei Zheng understood better than anyone how much she had schemed and sacrificed for it.
He thought of the legitimate wife at Zhenguo Duke’s Mansion, whose husband and sons had died in battle, yet there were still absurd rumors claiming she was born with a fate of loneliness and widowhood.
Unable to leave, unable to die—aside from becoming a concubine or an outer chamber, Wei Zheng couldn’t think of a better solution.
“Seven days. At the Qinggong Banquet seven days from now, you must give me a status.”
“If you dislike concubine or outer chamber, I’ll even settle for a bedchamber attendant.”
Seeing Wen Lingyi’s delicate brows furrow, Wei Zheng insisted, “I won’t listen, I won’t listen. Choose one of the three—I only want an answer.”
“This marquisate, filled with filth, doesn’t deserve to keep the young mistress trapped here. Tomorrow, I’ll make that old bastard in hell wear a few green hats too!”
Wei Zheng gritted his teeth in anger.
A brilliant idea took shape, stirring his restless heart.
Wen Lingyi couldn’t help but laugh.
She had never sat idle and allowed herself to suffer. For every wrong committed, she would personally settle the score, one by one.
Old Marquis Dingyuan, that hypocrite who preached benevolence and righteousness, was the source of all evil and naturally had to be dealt with first.
No one knew the old marquis’s death was connected to her.
Except for Wei Zheng.
In his presence, Wen Lingyi always felt at ease.
Very well, seven days would be enough.
Everything would become clear, everything would be understood.
She disliked impulsiveness—every matter required careful planning before action.
Wei Zheng wanted to stay with the young mistress a little longer. In the past, they had been inseparable. During his time on the frontier, he had longed to return, and several brushes with death had been endured only by clinging to the powerful belief that he would marry her.
So he gazed at Wen Lingyi with pitiful eyes. “Young mistress, may I stay for a while?”
“Don’t worry, Qingwu and the others will be fine after a good sleep.”
Wen Lingyi’s heart was in turmoil. After only a moment’s hesitation, Wei Zheng dragged Chen Wenli away by the leg.
“I won’t make things difficult for you.”
From his robe, he carefully retrieved a jade hairpin wrapped in a brocade box and handed it to her with a foolish grin.
“I promise, even the most skilled craftsman in all of Jingdu couldn’t carve a camellia jade hairpin as beautiful as this.”
Wen Lingyi lowered her gaze. Even accustomed to rare treasures, she couldn’t help but be captivated.
The hairpin was made entirely of mutton-fat white jade. At its tip bloomed a camellia flower, its six petals layered one upon another. At the center of the flower, three rubies were inlaid. Near the calyx, two tender leaves with finely serrated edges extended naturally along the jade’s grain, their veins flowing gracefully. Even the dewdrop at the leaf’s tip was carved with lifelike precision.
Silver moonlight spilled down, causing the pink-white hue of the petals to blur and spread.
"Exquisite."
Taking advantage of Wen Lingyi's momentary distraction, Wei Zheng swiftly tucked the jade hairpin into her hair.
As if afraid she might refuse it.
Wei Zheng waved his hand and dragged Chen Wenli away.
He had finally understood—when it came to matters of the heart, the young mistress was not as decisive and swift as she was in handling other affairs.
So, he wouldn’t ask, to avoid putting her in a difficult position.
Wen Lingyi watched him leave, standing outside the door for a long time.
She thought of searching for the broken jade hairpin, but remembered he had already taken it away.
He left behind the marriage certificate.
And gave her a new camellia jade hairpin.
Wen Lingyi didn’t even realize she was smiling at that moment.
A genuine smile, one she hadn’t worn in a long time…
The next day, news of the Young General of the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion returning triumphantly to the capital spread throughout Jingdu City.
The women of the Marquisate normally wouldn’t go to join in the excitement.
Not because they didn’t want to, but because the Old Madam wouldn’t allow it.
But this time, Chen Wanrou dressed especially dazzlingly and approached Wen Lingyi, who had just stepped out of the courtyard gate.
"Dear sister, please don’t be angry with me anymore. When Mother punished you by sending you to the ancestral hall, you ran back to Shanchun Courtyard to sleep, and I didn’t even report you. Let’s make peace and let bygones be bygones, alright?"
"I don’t blame you for hitting me, and you shouldn’t blame me for being in a difficult position back then. Yesterday, you got your revenge—Mother really did consider sending me to the imperial selection." She pouted, looking extremely displeased.
On the day Wen Lingyi married into the Marquisate, Chen Wanrou had also held her hand like this, seeking reconciliation, even claiming she had resorted to such measures only to become family with her forever.
Wen Lingyi had slapped her, her nails scratching Chen Wanrou’s face until it bled profusely, leaving scars on her cheek that still couldn’t be concealed to this day.
Since then, Chen Wanrou had rarely come to bother her.
Today was unusual.
Wen Lingyi had no interest in knowing what she was up to and simply turned to leave.
Chen Wanrou stomped her feet anxiously. "Lingyi, why are you so petty, refusing to forgive me? My brother has admired you for a long time, and you have feelings for him too. After all, marrying anyone is… just marrying…"
Wen Lingyi stopped in her tracks.
Though the corners of her lips were curved in a smile, Chen Wanrou shivered.
"Marrying anyone is just marrying? Then why don’t you marry into Cheng Wang’s mansion? With your beauty, even as a concubine-born daughter of the Marquisate, you could still become a consort."
At the mention of Cheng Wang, Chen Wanrou’s face instantly darkened.
"Wen Lingyi! How dare you compare that lecherous old man Cheng Wang to my dashing and elegant brother? You know how much I despise him!"
"Oh." Wen Lingyi gently touched the dazzling camellia jade hairpin at her temple and asked with a smile, "The current Emperor, the Son of Heaven, should satisfy you, right? The chance to enter the palace as a consort is something many beg for but never receive. Shall your sister-in-law help you secure it?"
The camellia bloomed too brilliantly.
Wen Lingyi’s originally pale and elegant face was now accentuated, glowing with radiant beauty.
Chen Wanrou’s gaze was completely captivated by the jade hairpin, but she snapped back to reality upon hearing these words.
"Are you insane?! The Old Emperor is already fifty, the same age as my grandfather. I treat you like a sister, so why would you push me into a pit of fire?"
Truthfully, if she could truly enter the palace and enjoy endless wealth and honor, Chen Wanrou would be willing.
But Da Zhou practiced Human Sacrifice Burial!
Who knew when the Old Emperor might pass away? She had no desire to be buried alive before even enjoying a life of luxury.
"Since we’re sisters, it’s only fair to reciprocate." Wen Lingyi’s smile was bright. "You’d better choose carefully, Wanrou, or else your sister-in-law will decide for you."
"No!" Chen Wanrou grabbed Wen Lingyi’s hand, speaking urgently. "I’ve made my choice—the Young General of the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion!"
"I heard he is the illegitimate son of the Old Duke Zhenguo, only called back to the Duke's estate after all the legitimate male heirs had died. With such a background, noble ladies in Jingdu would surely keep their distance—this is the best match I could hope for."
"Lingyi, as a concubine-born daughter, I cannot attend the palace banquet alone. In seven days, at the Qinggong Banquet, will you take me with you?"
"Today, help me take a good look as well. If that young General seems passable, I'll marry him."