“So my sister-in-law already knew that I was the one who switched the bridal sedan.”
Yue Jingque looked at her.
“I thought you were the only innocent person in this whole act.”
“Who else knows? Wei Nancheng?”
“Everyone in the Wei family knows, including Wei Xinian.”
Yue Jingque answered calmly.
Li Zhenchun was surprised.
“Even that silly Wei Xinian knows? Then why didn’t he make a scene in front of Grandmother?”
“He can’t win.”
Because of her monthly period, Yue Jingque’s face was pale, and her voice was softer than usual.
“He is only a chess piece that the Wei family pushed forward to strengthen ties with the Prime Minister’s family.”
She looked at Li Zhenchun.
“Wei Nancheng is the same. The Wei family has been a military family for generations. Every son and daughter learns martial arts. Four generations of the Wei family have served the country. There are more than eighty people in the clan, but only he chose the path of a scholar.”
For four generations, the Wei family had sacrificed countless men for Great Jin. Except for the Third Young Master stationed at the border, Wei Nancheng and Wei Xinian, and one uncle who died from illness, every other man had died on the battlefield. The people left in the capital were mostly the elderly, women, and children.
Wei Nancheng studied literature only so the Wei family would still have an heir.
Li Zhenchun lifted the carriage curtain slightly and looked at Wei Nancheng riding beside the carriage.
He still looked like a young man, yet he had already become the third-place scholar in the imperial examination and now served as Deputy Prefect of Shuntian.
He was talented, handsome, and just as she had imagined when she was a child.
Across from her, Yue Jingque noticed the lonely look that flashed across Li Zhenchun’s face after she lowered the curtain.
“Why don’t you try to like my elder brother?”
Li Zhenchun was glad she was not drinking water, or she would have spit it out.
“I…”
She swallowed with difficulty.
“Who said I don’t like him?”
Yue Jingque looked at her with obvious disbelief.
“I’m on your side. You don’t need to lie to me. I don’t like Wei Xinian. When the time comes, I will divorce him. Even if you still like Wei Xinian, it doesn’t matter. But he is not a good husband. If this continues, he will only break your heart.”
Li Zhenchun suddenly understood.
“So that’s why you asked me to study with you? You thought I liked Wei Xinian and wanted to give us more chances to be together?”
Thinking back carefully, many of Yue Jingque’s actions suddenly made sense.
Why did she always speak up for her in front of Wei Nancheng?
Why did she bring her along when trying to save Wei Xinian?
So Yue Jingque actually thought she and that fool Wei Xinian liked each other!
“No, listen to me! I don’t like Wei Xinian at all. I really don’t like someone that foolish.”
She was so anxious that her usual way of speaking slipped out.
Yue Jingque said gently,
“You don’t have to explain so much.”
“I’m not explaining! I really don’t…”
“Young Madam! We’ve arrived!”
Nan Zhi’s voice interrupted her.
Yue Jingque looked at Li Zhenchun.
“Sister-in-law, let’s get off.”
Just as Yue Jingque was about to move, Li Zhenchun suddenly grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back into her seat.
With a serious expression, she looked down at Yue Jingque and said clearly,
“I really have nothing to do with Wei Xinian.”
Yue Jingque was speechless.
Li Zhenchun immediately realized what she had done. She quickly let go and even started rubbing Yue Jingque’s shoulders.
“I didn’t mean it like that. Please don’t misunderstand. There’s really nothing between Wei Xinian and me. And I don’t have any improper feelings toward you either.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t.”
Li Zhenchun said excitedly,
“The reason I wanted to marry him at first was because I wanted an easy life. I wanted to be lazy. I was afraid that if I married Wei Nancheng, I’d have to manage the household. I can’t even read, so I was afraid people would look down on me.”
Outside the carriage, Nan Zhi and Jingxin looked at each other, then glanced at the eldest young master riding beside them.
The eldest young madam was so excited that she forgot the eldest young master was right outside.
Wei Nancheng turned to Nan Zhi and Jingxin.
“Escort the two young madams inside. I have something to do.”
By the time Li Zhenchun got off the carriage, her lips were almost numb from talking, but she still had no idea whether Yue Jingque believed her.
Only after getting off did she realize something.
“Where is Wei Nancheng?”
“The eldest young master had something to do and left first.”
Nan Zhi looked at her and quietly said,
“Young Madam, please be more careful with your words in the future. Some things would upset both the eldest and second young masters if they heard them.”
Li Zhenchun froze.
So… Wei Nancheng had heard everything?
Was the carriage really that poorly insulated?
She quickly caught up with Yue Jingque.
“I’ll sleep with you tonight.”
Yue Jingque turned around, but before she could speak, Li Zhenchun quickly said,
“I really want to sleep in Wei Xinian’s bed.”
Yue Jingque looked into Li Zhenchun’s sincere eyes and paused.
“You and he don’t even sleep in the same room. Is this really necessary?”
“I just want to sleep in his bed. It doesn’t mean anything. Please don’t misunderstand.”
Li Zhenchun linked arms with her.
“Wei Xinian is in prison. I’m sad. I’m upset. I can’t sleep tonight. You’ll have to comfort me.”
Yue Jingque was speechless.
My sister-in-law truly is an extraordinary woman.
…
In Madam Fang Rushi’s courtyard…
Yue Jingque said,
“Second Brother said the dagger was kept in his private storeroom. He doesn’t know how it ended up in Miss Chang’s hands. Mother, why don’t we question all the servants who guarded the storeroom? Maybe we’ll find out who stole it.”
“No need.”
Fang Rushi answered.
Li Zhenchun became anxious.
“What do you mean, ‘no need’? This concerns whether Wei Xinian can clear his name.”
“Don’t worry, Zhenchun. It’s not that I don’t want to save him. Last night, Nancheng already brought this up. The servants have all been questioned and investigated, but nothing useful came out.”
Fang Rushi frowned deeply.
“This case is difficult. Nancheng is already contacting different officials to see if anyone can guarantee Wei Xinian’s character and buy us more time.”
“The Wei family has served the country for generations. Can’t they even protect one person?”
Li Zhenchun frowned.
So many members of the Wei family had died for Great Jin, yet now they couldn’t even save Wei Xinian.
Fang Rushi, a military general herself, looked at Li Zhenchun. Her lips moved slightly before she turned away in silence.
“Zhenchun.”
The First Madam, Chen Runiang, appeared at the doorway.
“You must not speak carelessly about court affairs.”
She walked inside gracefully.
“You and Jingque should go rest. I’ll stay and talk with my Second Sister-in-law.”
As Li Zhenchun left, she looked back at Fang Rushi.
The once lively and energetic woman now looked tired and pale.
…
In Wei Xinian’s courtyard…
Li Zhenchun hugged a soft pillow and looked at Yue Jingque.
“If Wei Xinian is really executed, won’t His Majesty be afraid of disappointing the Wei family?”
“What is there to fear?”
Yue Jingque sat before her bronze mirror while Nan Zhi combed her hair.
“The military power has already been taken back. Third Uncle Wei is only a minor commander now. In the Emperor’s eyes, the Wei family is no longer important.”
She looked down at the hairpin in her hand.
“Great Jin has a small population. Murder has always been an unforgivable crime. And Wei Xinian killed someone during the most important Spring Festival. His execution would serve as a warning to everyone.”
“As for the Wei family, even if he dies, Wei Nancheng is still here to carry on the family line.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a head suddenly appeared before her.
Li Zhenchun had somehow walked over barefoot and squatted beside her. Tilting her head, she looked directly at Yue Jingque.
“I asked you earlier if you have someone you love. You still haven’t answered.”
Yue Jingque looked at her.
Li Zhenchun slowly asked,
“You don’t love anyone, and you didn’t want to marry because you wanted to become a female official?”
She looked straight into Yue Jingque’s eyes.
“Do you know? The new Emperor has already abolished the system that allowed women to become officials. Women may still study, but studying no longer leads anywhere.”
The same was true for martial arts.
Yue Jingque remained silent.
Behind her, Nan Zhi frowned. For a brief moment, she thought she saw a sharp determination in the eldest young madam’s eyes.
“Young Madam.”
“Hm?”
Li Zhenchun was still squatting barefoot, looking up with bright, innocent eyes like a well-loved puppy.
“Were you calling me?”
At that moment, Nan Zhi wondered if she had imagined it.
How could the eldest young madam have such a sharp gaze?
She smiled.
“The kitchen has prepared bird’s nest soup. Would you like a bowl?”
Li Zhenchun immediately stood up.
“Yes! One bowl for me.”
Yue Jingque sat before the mirror and watched Li Zhenchun happily chatting with Jingxin.
Women can study, but it is useless.
Now that female officials had been abolished, women could only study for their own self-improvement. They could no longer serve the country or benefit the people.
She slowly looked away.
…
Half a month later, a heavy rain fell over the capital.
Li Zhenchun stayed in Yue Jingque’s courtyard, reaching out under the roof to catch the rainwater.
During the past half month, the Wei family had been gloomy because of Wei Xinian’s case.
She and Yue Jingque had even visited the Lian family to find Lian Chengbi, but they were told he had already left the capital and no one knew when he would return.
She leaned against the corridor railing, staring blankly at the streams of rain.
Jingxin hurried past her.
Li Zhenchun watched her, then followed her inside.
“Young Madam, as soon as the eldest young master returned, he went straight to the main hall.”
Li Zhenchun frowned.
Wei Nancheng always respected his elders. Normally, he would change into dry clothes before greeting Grandmother.
If he didn’t even have time to change, then something must have happened with Wei Xinian’s case.
As Li Zhenchun and Yue Jingque approached the main hall, they saw Granny Huang holding an umbrella while helping the Old Madam outside.
Wei Nancheng stood nearby. His dark blue robes had been soaked almost black by the rain.
When the Old Madam saw Yue Jingque, she hurried over and held her hand.
“Jingque… the Wei family has wronged you.”
Li Zhenchun’s heart sank.
Has Wei Xinian’s sentence already been finalized?
Yue Jingque frowned slightly.
“Grandmother, please don’t say that. The second Brother is still alive.”
“My good child, come with me. We are going to see the Empress Dowager.”
The Old Madam held Yue Jingque’s hand tightly.
“I want to ask her what the Wei family has done wrong to Great Jin!”
“Second Brother’s grandfather, father, and several uncles all died for Great Jin. And now Great Jin wants the Second Brother to die!”
The Old Madam led Yue Jingque toward the courtyard gate.
At a time like this, Li Zhenchun no longer cared about avoiding Wei Nancheng.
She walked up to him and looked at his rain-soaked forehead.
“How is Wei Xinian?”
“The sentence has been decided.”
Wei Nancheng’s voice blended with the rain.
“He will be executed in one month, to serve as a warning to others.”
Inside the hall, Fang Rushi was being held back by several people while loudly cursing.
Hearing her voice, Li Zhenchun clenched her fists.
Wei Nancheng also left the residence. Li Zhenchun didn’t know where he was going.
She turned to Hongxiu.
“Go tell Uncle He to prepare the carriage. I’m going out.”
…
At a restaurant…
Xie Weian looked at Li Zhenchun.
“Why are you alone? Where is Jingque?”
“Stop thinking about another man’s wife.”
Li Zhenchun looked at him.
“Is there still any chance to overturn Wei Xinian’s case?”
“I have to say, the tone between your first and second sentences is completely different.”
Xie Weian gently waved to his fan.
“No.”
“This year is the first year of the new reforms. His Majesty has ruled for eleven years and has just begun carrying out his new policies.”
“Wei Xinian came from a powerful family, yet he lived carelessly and recklessly. Making an example of him is the perfect way to warn everyone.”
“This case is complicated. More than one powerful group is involved. It is almost impossible to overturn the verdict.”
“Go back and persuade Jingque. While Wei Xinian is still alive, she should ask him for a divorce letter. Once she returns to the Prime Minister’s residence with the divorce papers, she will still be the Prime Minister’s daughter.”
Li Zhenchun was speechless.
He wasn’t even pretending anymore.
“Wei Xinian slept on the floor for an entire month.”
She said seriously.
The fan in Xie Weian’s hand stopped.
He slowly looked at her.
“They never shared a marriage bed.”
Xie Weian’s lips slowly curved into a smile.
“Really?”
“I guarantee it.”
His tone immediately softened.
“Why are you telling me this?”
Seeing the smile he couldn’t hide, Li Zhenchun resisted the urge to complain.
“Jingque said that when the time comes, she will divorce him. But because of the Second Madam of the Wei family, she must save Wei Xinian.”
Before Xie Weian could speak, Li Zhenchun raised her hand to stop him.
“I guarantee it’s true.”
His smile grew even wider.
“Jingque has always valued loyalty.”
Remembering how cold Yue Jingque had been toward him, Li Zhenchun reluctantly admitted that was true.
“If she wants a divorce, she can’t become a widow first. So you have to help save Wei Xinian.”
She looked at Xie Weian sincerely.
“You’ll help save him, won’t you?”
Xie Weian fell silent.
“So you told me all this just to get me to help you save him?”
He wasn’t stupid. Of course he understood what she was trying to do.
“I’m not asking you to help us. I’m asking you to help yourself.”
“As long as Wei Xinian stays alive, Jingque can divorce him and return to the Prime Minister’s residence.”
“But if Wei Xinian dies, with Jingque’s personality, she might spend the rest of her life as his widow.”
“You know her as well as I do.”
“What she wants isn’t a man.”
“She wants freedom.”
“And a widow… is the freest woman of all.”
Li Zhenchun spoke with complete seriousness, trying to persuade him.
Xie Weian rubbed his chin.
“Actually, I think it would be nice to have a secret affair with her after Wei Xinian dies.”
Li Zhenchun stared at him.
“…Could you say something that I, as his sister-in-law, can actually listen to?”
Xie Weian smiled playfully as he waved to his fan.
“But having an affair with her while Wei Xinian is still alive sounds even more fun.”
“Watching him get so angry that he jumps around… that would be entertaining.”
That was a kind of enjoyment Li Zhenchun simply could not understand.
Xie Weian looked at her.
“We can’t overturn the case openly, but we can delay it.”
“What do you mean?”
Li Zhenchun asked.
“Spend some money.”
“Find a few people willing to give false testimony in court. Let them say they saw Miss Chang run into Wei Xinian’s knife herself.”
“Or find the greedy Boss Chang and pay him enough money to change his testimony.”
Li Zhenchun sighed sincerely.
“No wonder officials are so good at using tricks.”
“Shh.”
Xie Weian raised a finger and smiled carelessly.
“Keep your voice down.”
“This won’t completely clear Wei Xinian’s name, but once there is new testimony, the case can be delayed for a while.”