Wen Ning was silent for a moment before speaking gravely: “I don’t believe the Protector will concern himself with the affairs of the inner court…”
The original owner may not have seen clearly, but Wen Ning, with her inherited memories, understood more. Her “cheap husband” had lived twenty‑four years with a reputation for purity, untouched by women. Before conquering Fenglin, he had not even kept a maid to warm his bed.
How could such a man suddenly transform into a lecher? In truth, when he first seized Fenglin, the great clans had thrust many women upon him. He kept only five, all daughters of powerful families. It was obvious: he accepted them not out of desire, but to secure alliances while his position was still unstable. Now, two years later, he stood firmly at the pinnacle of Jin’s power, even beginning to weaken the clans themselves. Those five women were mere tools, and he had never once stepped into the inner court.
Whether they betrayed him or not, Wen Ning believed he would not care.
But Chunxi misunderstood, horrified: “Impossible! Madam means—even if the Protector knew Concubine Cheng betrayed him, he wouldn’t care? Could it be… could the rumors be true, that the Protector has some problem with women?”
Wen Ning: “…”
In modern times, a twenty‑six‑year‑old virgin might be rare but not shocking. In an age of early marriage and childbearing, however, such a man was like an antique fit for auction.
No wonder people speculated.
Chunxi babbled on: “They say someone once tried to please him by sending pretty boys, but he threw them out in fury. So he doesn’t have that taste. If not that, then perhaps he has some hidden illness?”
Would Madam then be doomed to live as a widow in all but name? Chunxi had dreamed that once the Protector returned, Madam might be favored, and she herself would rise with her.
Seeing the girl’s despair, Wen Ning’s lips twitched. “Enough. Is this the time to worry about such things? Concubine Cheng is watching us like a hawk. Better to protect ourselves than rely on a man who may never return.”
She had no spare lives to waste. Her eyes flashed cold. She needed a way to cut the root entirely.
Chunxi, sobered, muttered: “Madam, we’re too weak. How can we fight her? Perhaps we should beg Master Wen…”
Wen Ning frowned. “No.”
The Wen family was no refuge. As an unloved concubine’s daughter, they would never oppose the Chengs for her sake. And she had no proof of Cheng’s adultery.
Chunxi sighed. “Then what? Concubine Zhao and Sixth Young Master? They can’t help either…”
Concubine Zhao was her mother, and the Sixth Young Master was her brother—both powerless. When Wen Ning was sent to the Protector’s mansion, they could only weep.
Wen Ning thought hard, then said: “First, quietly gather information.”
She needed evidence of Concubine Cheng’s affair. Without leverage, she was trapped.
Fortunately, Chunxi’s chatter hid sharp social skills. By afternoon, she returned: “Madam, I learned that Concubine Cheng’s visitors are mostly her family. Her mother and elder brother come often. Her mother brings only female servants. Her brother, though accompanied by men, never enters the inner court—he meets her in the front, where guards abound. And she rarely leaves the mansion, always with other concubines.”
Wen Ning frowned. This suggested her lover was not an outsider. The original had seen only a tall man’s back. But tall men were countless.
Chunxi pouted. “That’s all I could learn…”
Given the mansion’s size and each concubine’s private courtyard, it was already impressive that she had found so much.
Wen Ning praised her: “You’ve done well.”
Still, no breakthrough. She resolved to bide her time. Tomorrow, Concubine Cheng would bring the physician skilled in “women’s health.” Wen Ning would act her part and stall. Step by step, she would survive. If necessary, she would use extreme measures—life was too precious to waste. That night, she forced herself to sleep. But with danger hanging over her, she could not. Just as drowsiness came, a sharp *crack* split the silence.
It was from the window. Someone was picking the lock.
Wen Ning snapped awake. Through the gauze canopy and moonlight, she watched the window slowly open. A tall figure appeared, backlit so she could not see his face. But that silhouette was disturbingly familiar.