"Though risky, this plan holds great chance of success."
Wen Bai stroked his goatee, looking at his daughter with both pride and heartache.
"It's just that Chen Wanrou may not be so easily directed by you."
Wen Lingyi refilled her father's wine cup, blinked, and for once showed the charming demeanor of a young maiden. "This humble one has her own clever plan. Father need only engage in some 'casual conversation' with the ministers."
How could Wen Bai not trust his own daughter?
His Zhaozhao never spoke without purpose.
Whatever came from her lips was certain to succeed.
Wen Bai was truly at a loss.
As the Prime Minister of the nation, he couldn't even protect his own daughter, forcing her to constantly worry. That little head of hers must be exhausted from turning all day.
The key was—if she were worrying for her father alone, that would be one thing. But why should that brat Wei Zheng get the same concern?
"Hmph, so Zhaozhao must also go see that brat? Is this helping your father, or just incidentally pulling him out of trouble too?"
"Father's wisdom knows no bounds." Caught in her little scheme by her own father, Wen Lingyi neither hid nor denied it. Instead, she directly deployed the 'flattery' tactic.
Sure enough, Wen Bai raised his chin, his goatee lifting slightly. "Of course. Just look at whose father I am."
When it came to confidence, Prime Minister Wen yielded to no one.
Even when flattering The Old Emperor, he'd grumble inwardly: Ask, ask, ask—if you can't be Emperor properly, old man, let me take over!
Especially when receiving the Imperial Edict of Bestowed Marriage, Prime Minister Wen nearly blurted out: Emperor, why don't you just pass away yourself?
After twenty years of diligent bootlicking, this was the first time Prime Minister Wen considered defying an imperial decree.
Even if the Emperor decided to take him along when departing, he couldn't let his daughter marry into that den of wolves, the Yuanying Marquisate!
At that time, Wen Lingyi had dissuaded Prime Minister Wen from defying the decree with just one sentence.
"My father is the Prime Minister, second only to one person, above tens of thousands. Who would dare bully me?"
Yes, second only to one person.
Apart from the Emperor, Wen Bai feared no one. If anyone displeased him, he'd submit memorials—impeaching them to death.
As long as he lived, he could protect Zhaozhao.
Even if her husband were the Crown Prince, Zhaozhao could strut through Jingdu.
Because the Emperor needed him, willing to indulge him as long as he didn't breach the heavens.
But if he fell out of favor before the Emperor passed away…
Wen Bai dared not even think about it.
He only hated that brat for being so utterly disappointing!
"Wei Zheng is also a fool. Winning battles yet offending all the military officials at court, even making His Majesty suspicious. Since news of the victory reached Jingdu, countless people have been whispering poison about him to His Majesty…"
Winning battles was naturally good, especially against those tough barbarians.
But couldn't he have been more restrained?
Others either lost or died in battle, yet he forced back the Manzi in just two years—making it very difficult for other generals.
Wen Lingyi lowered her gaze. "He probably… has never set foot in court."
"Ah, so you mean he's an innocent little white rabbit, and your father is the big bad wolf prowling the official circles?"
Wen Bai was furious.
He wasn't truly unaware of why Wei Zheng rushed to triumph, but couldn't he have returned to the capital to report his mission more discreetly? Why make such a grand spectacle today? Afraid the Emperor's paranoia wasn't severe enough?
Never held office, yet doesn't understand the principle that the Son of Heaven harbors many suspicions?
Wei Zheng's current situation may appear glorious—flowers on brocade, fire cooking oil—but the moon wanes when full, water overflows when brimming!
Once, Wen Bai had even thought him honest and simple, worthy of entrusting a lifetime to. How Zhaozhao had sighed deeply, waiting in vain for his return.
Today, as Wei Zheng returned to the capital, Wen Bai’s anxiously suspended heart finally sank.
But Wen Lingyi didn’t think Wei Zheng was that foolish.
Perhaps he was taking the unconventional path her father had once walked, after all, he was the only template available for reference.
Her move, if well-coordinated, would add icing on the cake.
Even if she had misjudged, it could still ease the lingering resentment in the Old Emperor’s heart.
However…
Glancing at her father’s expression, Wen Lingyi said no more.
All those flattering phrases like “Father is far-sighted, brilliant, and resourceful” failed to hit Minister Wen’s sweet spot this time.
Wen Lingyi sighed, “Father, if you weren’t the wolf king who ventured into the tiger’s den, how could you protect your daughter?”
Hiss—
Prime Minister Wen immediately perked up. Spotting Steward Zhang lingering outside the courtyard, he called him over.
From a distance, Wen Lingyi caught a whiff of that familiar, pungent smell.
She stood up, “Father, time is tight and the task is urgent. I must make arrangements as soon as possible. I’ll visit you another day.”
“Wait!” Prime Minister Wen reached out, “Finish this bowl of deer heart blood first! This was bestowed by His Majesty out of respect for your father. The old Taoist priest lost this ingredient for his elixir and even complained about your father!”
Wen Lingyi steeled herself and quickened her pace.
No, she could endure anything else, but eating brains, hearts, or livers was something Wen Lingyi truly couldn’t stomach.
She didn’t know when it started, but her dining table always featured an extra dish—pig brain prepared in various ways.
She had instructed the cook not to serve it anymore, only to learn that her father insisted on it to “nourish her marrow and brain.”
Wen Lingyi was both amused and exasperated.
If pig brains were used to describe foolish people, how could they possibly nourish the brain?
After a few days of respite, it was replaced with various animal brains.
Wen Lingyi couldn’t bear to look at them, let alone eat them.
Then, it switched to hearts…
The concept of “like nourishes like” had been taken to the extreme by the Prime Minister.
Leaving the Prime Minister’s Manor, Wen Lingyi first rode her carriage to inspect the preliminary results of her plan.
Her people, especially those regarded by many nobles as belonging to the lowest social classes, were spread throughout Jingdu City.
On the bustling Temple Street, the bluestone pavement gleamed from the constant tread of pedestrians. Shops with dark-tiled roofs stood in neat rows on both sides, their colorful banners fluttering high like festive flags.
Freshly steamed buns wafted with steam as the bun seller lifted the bamboo lid, no longer boasting about the aroma of his buns but instead burning with the spirit of gossip, his eyebrows dancing with excitement: “Exactly! That young general clearly lost his senses on the battlefield, and he hasn’t learned restraint even after returning to our Jingdu. You didn’t see it—when his horse trampled that beggar, it crushed his leg!”
Next door, a clerk from the fabric shop clutched a bolt of brocade while chatting animatedly with several women: “I saw it with my own eyes! If it weren’t for the Second Miss Chen of the Yuanying Marquisate saving that beggar, there would’ve been bloodshed right then and there!”
At the street corner, a sugar painting artist deftly flicked his wrist, shaping melted malt sugar into the delicate face of a beauty: “See this? It doesn’t even come close to one ten-thousandth of Second Miss Chen’s beauty. How could you not have heard of such a fairy-like maiden? And did you know she’s the closest friend of Wen Lingyi, Jingdu’s foremost Noble Lady?”
In taverns, teahouses, and restaurants—wherever crowds gathered—today’s hot topic was being discussed:
The celestial Second Miss Chen.
It all began when General Wei triumphantly returned to the capital today. The onlookers were so numerous that a young beggar was accidentally pushed under the hooves of a horse.
It was Second Miss Chen of the Yuanying Marquisate who intervened, saving the beggar from certain death, leaving him with only a leg injury.
The second daughter of the Chen family is named Chen Wanrou, a young lady of the Marquisate.
Ordinary folks not only cannot get close to her, but they have never even seen her face.
Yet today, Miss Chen actually personally saved a filthy beggar—truly a living Bodhisattva reborn!
What?
You don’t know Chen Wanrou of the Yuānning Marquisate?
No matter, just ask around and you’ll learn of the good deeds she has quietly performed over the years. It is said she even donated silver for every charitable act done by the Prime Minister’s daughter.
Never seen her? That’s fine too. The storytellers at Fulai Tavern and Kylin Pavilion each have a portrait of her, so breathtakingly beautiful it’s simply heart-stopping!