“Since you’ve already seen it, let’s divorce.”
Half an incense stick earlier, Yan Chiyun was accompanying General Yan in the Front Hall, entertaining guests. Those sharing the table were all senior officials and important ministers who had served three dynasties.
He mostly listened, politely responding to their inquiries or flattery, his gaze inadvertently sweeping past the screen nearby—where the Female Family Members were seated.
Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen Pu Wange during the meal earlier. Why hadn’t she joined them for dinner? Thinking she might have gone to the side hall, but nearly all the other Female Family Members had taken their seats. Halfway through the meal, she was still nowhere to be seen.
Her personal maid, Siyan, was leading others in entertaining the Guests. Where had she gone?
Yan Chiyun’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Somehow, he found himself instinctively scanning the men’s seating area as well, but he didn’t see Cheng Wenque, Yan Huaixiao’s friend.
Had the two of them disappeared together?
Even though he had already told himself not to maliciously speculate about any relationship between Cheng Wenque and her—it wasn’t right—he couldn’t help but subconsciously investigate.
The evening meal was nearly over, and they were just sitting around making polite conversation. After a moment of thought, Yan Chiyun found an excuse to rise and leave the table.
Just as he rounded the screen, intending to call her personal maid Siyan over for questioning, a young maid stopped him, saying she had gone to the lakeside pavilion to watch the opera rehearsal but had accidentally sprained her ankle and needed his help.
“Is it serious?” Yan Chiyun’s frown deepened noticeably.
The young maid said it didn’t look too bad.
Pu Wange rarely troubled him or actively sought his help. For her to send a young maid to find him like this, and to have missed the evening meal, it was probably quite serious.
Yan Chiyun immediately set off, striding swiftly toward the backyard lakeside pavilion.
The Front Hall was bustling with noise and excitement, but as he passed through the covered corridor, the Chuihua Gate, and turned left through the moon gate, it grew increasingly quiet.
The thought of her with a sprained ankle, helpless and waiting for his assistance, made Yan Chiyun’s long legs move even faster, his pace quickening.
He left the young maid and attendants far behind.
But when he reached the lakeside pavilion, he didn’t see her. He searched around but still couldn’t find her. Just as he was about to call out her name—
Suddenly, he heard voices from the guest room nearby. Though faint, as a martial artist who frequented Zhaoyu Prison, his alertness was high.
The guest room had no lights on—why would there be voices? Could it be that thieves had taken advantage of the Yan Family’s celebration today? Without a moment’s hesitation, Yan Chiyun walked toward the side.
As he drew closer, the voices from the guest room grew clearer. The surrounding silence made the sounds inside gradually distinct.
A man and a woman were… talking? No, not talking—more like whispering, as if engaged in a secret affair. Could it be a servant and a maid from the household?
Though he thought this, he inexplicably felt that these two voices, especially the woman’s, sounded somewhat familiar.
For some reason, he held his breath, moved closer to the door, and listened intently.
Wan? Wan… Wan’er?
A trembling male voice called out like this. Why did it sound so much like Huaixiao’s friend, that Cheng fellow?
At this thought, Yan Chiyun stiffened instantly. Frowning, he listened again. But who could have known that this time, he would hear Pu Wange’s voice.
She said, “Louder, please?” and told him she liked his voice, urging him to call out a few more times. Then the man actually stumbled through the calls.
It was at this moment that he confirmed the man’s voice belonged to Cheng Wenque, a friend of Yan Huaixiao.
Not “Wan’er,” but “Wan’er.”
She responded to Cheng Wenque’s call, even addressing him as “Que-lang,” telling him to call her that from now on, saying she liked it very much.
The subsequent conversation gradually faded, not as much as before, but soon, he heard intermittent, highly suggestive moans and soft murmurs.
Through the door, even without seeing it firsthand, one could already imagine what the two were doing inside!
A man and a woman alone in a room—no, not just any room, but a secluded chamber.
There was no need to see it with one’s own eyes; it was clear what the two inside were doing at that very moment!
From the moment he identified the two voices and confirmed their identities, Yan Chiyun felt as if struck by lightning.
He had never been so furious, so emotionally agitated that he felt on the verge of exploding. This surge of anger rushed up in an instant, making his head feel as if it were splitting apart.
Memories of his time with Pu Wange, those intimate moments they had shared, flashed through his mind like a whirlwind. Beyond the fury that left his mind blank and shattered, he felt an icy chill from head to toe, even a wave of nausea.
He didn’t know how he managed to keep listening. As the situation inside progressed further, nearing the point of no return, he finally raised his foot and forcefully kicked open the guest chamber door.
The loud noise startled the adulterous couple, making them jump like frightened birds.
When Cheng Wenque saw who had arrived, his face turned deathly pale, and his blood ran cold.
It’s over. He was finished.
At that very moment, Yan Chiyun’s dark, brooding eyes caught sight of a delicately made-up face slowly lifting to look up.
Nestled on the inner side of the bed, she gazed over with her strikingly beautiful eyes.
The moment their eyes met, through those serene, dark pupils, the last shred of hope Yan Chiyun clung to in his rage was extinguished.
It was her. Indeed, it was her. It was her!
Pu Wange, his wife, the one he had married with all proper ceremonies, the person he trusted most by his side, had actually slipped away from the crowd during his third brother’s wedding banquet, neglecting even the feast, to sneak into a guest chamber by the lakeside pavilion and engage in an illicit affair.
At this moment, Yan Chiyun wished he could strangle her. How could she do such a thing?! How had he ever wronged her?!
How could she? How dare she?!
Yan Chiyun only regretted not having a sword by his side at that moment, or he would have slain them both on the spot.
The handsome man standing by the door was utterly sinister, his aura unrestrained and overflowing. His rage and murderous intent were palpable even to a blind, deaf, or foolish person.
Cheng Wenque scrambled to put distance between himself and Pu Jinyu, panicking so much that he tumbled off the bed. He then crawled up from the floor, fumbling to put on his clothes with trembling hands, attempting to argue and explain to Yan Chiyun.
“Lord Yan, listen—”
Before he could finish, the man, consumed by dark fury, kicked him, sending him crashing into the sandalwood round table and chairs.
The round table and chairs toppled backward from the force, sending the teacups and lanterns on the table crashing to the ground with a deafening clatter.
The noise traveled through the moon gate to the lakeside pavilion, reaching the ears of Madam Yan, Madam Pu, and the other noblewomen who were hurrying over to watch the opera.
“What was that sound?” asked the Minister’s wife on Madam Yan’s left.
Madam Yan was equally puzzled, but Madam Pu, standing behind her to the right, chuckled and said, “Probably the opera troupe rehearsing.”
Another noblewoman chimed in, “Most likely. Surely the performance hasn’t started before we’ve even arrived.”
The group laughed and quickened their pace toward the lakeside pavilion.
Yan Chiyun’s kick, aimed squarely at the other man’s chest, was fueled by rage and delivered with full force. Cheng Wenque, a scholar with no physical strength to speak of, was utterly unable to withstand such a blow.
His ribs seemed to have fractured, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His vision blurred, and though he tried to speak, the pain was too intense. Before he could utter a single word, he coughed up several mouthfuls of blood.
He couldn’t get up, even with the support of the nearby furniture, and wondered if he might die here today.
The excruciating pain in his chest nearly drowned out his panic. Without needing to look in a bronze mirror, Cheng Wenque could already imagine how wretched he must appear.
Yan Chiyun looked down with contempt at this worthless man who couldn’t even withstand a single kick. The fury in his heart burned hotter, impossible to suppress or calm.
What could she possibly see in such a pathetic man?
Yan Chiyun’s disgusted and furious gaze shifted from Cheng Wenque on the floor to the bed.
He saw her disheveled, her long hair loose and cascading. Her pale, bare arms were starkly visible in the night, and the ties of her skirt were undone—a single gentle tug would expose her completely, revealing the alluring sight beneath.
What had she been doing, leaning over this man just moments ago?
Had she lain with him on the same bed, kissed him, touched him, done it with him?!
The urge to strangle her grew stronger, his eyes reddening with rage. Even as he tried to restrain himself, it was futile. Overwhelming anger made his chest heave, his jaw clenched so tightly his cheeks tensed.
In the face of his fury, Pu Jinyu remained eerily calm.
She met his gaze, observing his rage as if she were an outsider, as if watching a play.
Yan Chiyun couldn’t understand how she could remain so composed. She had clearly done wrong, trampling on his dignity as a man and dragging the Yan Family’s reputation through the mud.
Did she feel no remorse at all? How could she be so cold?
Yan Chiyun stared at her intently, but on that delicate face—which had once brought him joy and now filled him with loathing—he saw not a trace of regret.
Not only was there no regret, she didn’t even seem frightened, not in the slightest. How was that possible?
“Pu Wange.”
He gritted her name through clenched teeth, unaware that these three words stirred a flicker of excitement within her. Her cold, serene gaze finally wavered.
But he still couldn’t comprehend it. He couldn’t fathom why his once well-mannered, obedient, and gentle wife would betray their marriage, and in such a disgraceful manner.
Was she lonely? Which of the things she wanted to do at night had he not accompanied her in? Whatever she wanted to play, he had indulged her, even when it made him uncomfortable, always accommodating her, coaxing her, yielding to her.
What more did she want from him? Did she feel he spent too little time with her? But aside from his official duties, he had already devoted all his time to her, even setting aside a mountain of piled-up official duties to be with her just days before.
And what about her? She still sought out someone else.
Yan Chiyun recalled the recent time on the bed when they had consummated their marriage. She had been passionate, and he had felt her passion, but looking at her expression, he had been mistaken.
At the time, he felt that her passion wasn’t because she liked him and wanted to do this with him, but rather because she wanted to do this, so she did it with him.
He had even wondered inwardly: if it were someone else, would she have sought out another person to do this with? Back then, he had despised and scorned himself for even thinking that way about her.
He had firmly believed she would not have someone else, that she would not commit adultery. But the reality? The reality was that it was no illusion at all! He had caught her in bed!
“Why did you have to do this?!”
After a moment, the woman on the bed finally moved. Faced with his stern questioning, she remained unmoved, leisurely dressing and stepping down from the bed.
Once she had barely put herself together, she looked coldly and mercilessly into his eyes—those beautiful pupils he found so clear and serene, the ones he loved.
Lightly, she said to him, “Since you’ve already seen, let’s divorce.”
Was that her answer? Her explanation?
Yan Chiyun looked at her face, meticulously adorned with rouge and powder, and was so furious he let out a cold, dark laugh.
Gazing at the side profile of his wife, as serene and radiantly beautiful as gardenia, he narrowed his eyes slightly.
At that moment, he suddenly realized she seemed so unfamiliar.
So unfamiliar that it seemed he had never truly known this woman.
The atmosphere was deathly still. After the intense pain had passed, Cheng Wenque managed to regain some strength. He realized the two were in a standoff, and this was his best chance to escape.
He had already been caught by Yan Chiyun, who was in a towering rage. No matter what he said, it would be impossible to explain clearly.
So, carefully, clutching his chest and wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he began to crawl out.
He thought he was being stealthy, but both Yan Chiyun and Pu Jinyu noticed.
Yan Chiyun sneered coldly, laughing at Pu Jinyu as if to make her see for herself: the man crawling on the ground like a stray dog was the one she had been intimate with—what a disgraceful sight! What did she see in him?!
Cheng Wenque’s wretchedness and ugliness would surely embarrass or disappoint her.
But he miscalculated again. Her expression remained as unreadable as ever.
Cheng Wenque left the inner chamber and was nearly at the door, about to grab the doorframe and pull himself up, when he suddenly noticed a shadowy figure moving ahead.
Looking up, he saw the steps below filled with the noblewomen and officials’ wives who should have been chatting in the front hall.
Cheng Wenque froze in shock, his blood running cold again and again, his soul nearly leaving his body.
The Minister’s wife, who had just been speaking with Madam Yan and Madam Pu, asked, “What… what happened here?”
All the noblewomen and officials’ wives present were experienced. Seeing Cheng Wenque disheveled and clearly beaten, who wouldn’t understand?
The door was wide open. What was happening inside?
The crowd pressed forward to peer inside. By the lantern light from the corridor and the faint moonlight, some had already caught sight of the tall, slender figure in crimson-purple robes standing in the Inner Chamber.
Yan Chiyun had always been the center of attention, and his attire was constantly observed. Today, he was indeed wearing crimson-purple Brocade Robes, and judging by his stature, it was likely… him.
If he was inside, it wasn’t hard to explain who had kicked and beaten Yan Huaixiao’s friend into such a state. And the woman whose figure he was shielding—could it be…?
Though no one spoke, many turned their gazes toward Madam Pu, the unspoken implications in their eyes all too clear.
Weren’t they supposed to come to the lakeside pavilion’s rear courtyard to watch a play? Was this the play they were meant to see?!!?
Madam Pu stood frozen in place, her face shifting through a range of expressions, hardly daring to believe what she was thinking.
Had that little wretch Pu Jinyu taken a lover? And not just any lover—she had done it in the Yan Family’s home, and even been caught! Had she used her daughter Wange’s face and reputation to carry on this affair??
No! It absolutely could not be what she was thinking, it couldn’t!
“Who knows what’s going on here? Perhaps the Yan Family has been burgled?” Madam Pu’s face twitched as she struggled to maintain her composure, turning to remind Madam Yan, who stood silently ahead.
Madam Yan’s heart was pounding just as fiercely, for she had been walking at the front and had briefly glimpsed Pu Wange’s face before Yan Chiyun blocked the view.
There was almost no need for an investigation—this scene clearly indicated…!
But with all the Guests present, whether it was true or not, it simply could not be.
Suppressing her panic and anger, Madam Yan gave a meaningful glance to the elderly maidservant beside her.
The maidservant immediately stepped forward to support Cheng Wenque. “What happened to you, Young Master Cheng?”
“Could it be that there was a thief in the rear courtyard, and you came to investigate, only to be injured by the culprit?” The maidservant laid out an excuse for Cheng Wenque to take.
Cheng Wenque was in excruciating pain. Supported by a young maid, he steadied himself and haltingly accepted the maidservant’s explanation, saying there had indeed been a thief. He had been taking a stroll here when he heard a noise and came to investigate—
But before he could finish, a woman’s anxious cry suddenly came from inside. She called out, “Wenque! Are you alri—”
Pu Jinyu’s words were cut off as the furious man seized her by the neck, covered her mouth, and pinned her against the bedside.
The man’s grip was so powerful that she instantly choked, her vision darkening. She believed that with just a slight squeeze from Yan Chiyun, snapping her neck would be as easy as crushing an ant.
The suffocating sensation of dying during childbirth in her previous life washed over her. A tear slipped uncontrollably from the corner of her eye, dampening her thick lashes. She tilted her head back, lips parted, her gaze vacant and hollow as she stared at the man before her.
Seeing her like this, as if on the verge of death, Yan Chiyun gritted his teeth and loosened his grip slightly.
But he hadn’t expected that the moment he relaxed, she would struggle fiercely, whimpering and even lashing out at him with kicks and punches, desperate to reach Cheng Wenque and expose everything to the crowd!
Yan Chiyun, consumed by rage earlier, hadn’t noticed anyone approaching until the Minister’s wife’s questioning voice echoed from outside, causing him to stiffen abruptly.
Before he could decide how to respond, she had recklessly exposed herself again, loudly calling out “Wenque!” as if afraid no one would know she was involved with that despicable man.
“Shut your mouth!”
Yan Chiyun leaned in close to her face, growling in a low voice, tightening his grip on her neck.
The suffocating feeling that had just dissipated surged back. Pu Jinyu’s face twisted in pain, unable to utter another word, “…”
Even if it was just a brief form of address, the voice and the way it was spoken were enough to reveal an intimate connection.
The scandal to be witnessed in the backyard today was actually the affair of the Young Mistress of the Yan Family, Pu Wange!
Heavens! This…
Today was supposed to be the auspicious day of the third son of the Yan Family’s wedding. Were they taking advantage of the crowd, thinking no one would notice, to sneak into the backyard of the lakeside pavilion?
The expressions of everyone present changed. Some had already begun whispering the name “Pu Wange.”
Madam Yan felt her vision darken. She staggered, startling the women behind her, who rushed forward to support and comfort her.
The old nanny by Madam Yan’s side was, after all, a capable person. She quickly stepped forward and said, “There has been a disturbance with intruders in the backyard. Please, all esteemed ladies, move to the flower hall for a moment.”
With that, she instructed the maids to escort the noblewomen to the flower hall, away from the scene.
Madam Yan and Madam Pu, however, did not leave. Cheng Wenque, who had just tried to stand, slumped back to the ground. His belt was still on the bed in the Inner Chamber, and no matter how he tried to adjust it, he couldn’t straighten his clothes. Moreover, his chest ached terribly.
After the noblewomen had left, Madam Yan took a deep breath, ordered someone to keep an eye on Cheng Wenque, and led the remaining old nannies into the room.
Candles had been lit, revealing the Inner Chamber in complete disarray. Tables, chairs, and benches were overturned and broken, while tea and lanterns lay scattered on the floor.
Yan Chiyun was gripping Pu Wange’s neck and covering her mouth.
Madam Yan had never seen her son so out of control. He had always been calm and composed, but now he was consumed by rage, even resorting to restraining her.
She truly had betrayed him! The moment Madam Pu saw Pu Jinyu, she felt as if struck by lightning. How dare she?!
This wretched girl! Was she trying to ruin the Pu Family? Just like her despicable, shameless mother!
Madam Pu was filled with regret. She should never have allowed this wretched girl to take her daughter’s place and marry into the Yan Family to enjoy wealth and luxury. For so many years, she had lived in comfort, dressed in fine Brocade Robes, slept on soft pillows, and even won the heart of the finest gentleman in Jingcheng.
Yet she remained unsatisfied! How could she openly commit adultery in the Yan Family, using her own daughter’s appearance and reputation to seduce another man and engage in such shameless acts!
Overwhelmed, Madam Pu rushed forward and, taking advantage of Yan Chiyun’s distraction, dragged Pu Jinyu from his grasp. The moment she pulled her close, she struck her.
Madam Pu hit her too hard. The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the room. Pu Jinyu fell to the ground, her hair flying from the force of the blow, and even her Silk Shawl slipped off.
She sat on the floor, covering her face, her long hair obscuring her features. A trickle of blood slowly dripped from the corner of her mouth.
But Madam Pu was not satisfied. She rushed forward again, cursing Pu Jinyu and threatening to beat her to death. “How could the Pu Family produce such a shameless creature! Have you gone mad?”
She no longer referred to Pu Jinyu as her daughter. She truly intended to kill her. If she died, the Pu Family might still preserve its reputation for strict discipline and avoid utter ruin.
But just as she grabbed Pu Jinyu’s hair and tried to slam her against the wall, someone intervened and pulled them apart.
It was Yan Chiyun, who had stepped in front of Pu Jinyu.
“Son-in-law, why… why are you stopping me?” Madam Pu asked, confused.
The anger on Yan Chiyun’s face had not yet faded, making him look quite intimidating. He was clearly furious himself, so why was he preventing her from putting this little wretch to death?
“Yun’er!” Madam Yan called Yan Chiyun’s name loudly, signaling him not to interfere in this matter.
As his mother-in-law, it was not appropriate for her to intervene directly. If Madam Pu were to beat Pu Wange to death, the reputations of both the Yan Family and the Pu Family could still be preserved.
But why was Yan Chiyun blocking her? Could it be that he wanted to handle this himself? Madam Yan could think of no other explanation.
After all, this was someone from the Pu Family. Letting Madam Pu take action would keep the Yan Family’s hands clean of blood.
The affection Madam Yan once held for Pu Wange had now turned into utter disgust. Recalling how she had praised her in front of others earlier that day, she felt nothing but nausea.
So many guests had just witnessed this disgrace—this was how Pu Wange had shamed her, her own mother-in-law! And after all these years of treating her well, entrusting her with the management of household affairs and granting her considerable authority.
“Mother-in-law, let’s discuss this calmly,” Yan Chiyun said coldly.
Madam Pu was momentarily speechless, unable to find a response. She vaguely sensed that Yan Chiyun was protecting Pu Jinyu.
Remembering Yan Chiyun’s previous visit to the Pu Family—ostensibly to inquire about her health but in reality to see that little wretch—Madam Pu couldn’t help but wonder: even now, at this point, was he still shielding her?
No. So many people had just witnessed it. Pu Jinyu had already tarnished the Pu Family’s reputation. She absolutely could not let the matter of the substituted marriage come to light. Therefore, beating her to death was the only way—only the dead could not speak.
“Good son-in-law, step aside. Our Pu Family has raised such a daughter, truly a disgrace, bringing shame upon our ancestors. It is my fault and her father’s for failing to teach her properly, causing the Yan Family to suffer as well. Let me beat her to death, to give an account to both our families.”
Madam Yan remained silent. She agreed with Madam Pu’s reasoning and approach. Only Pu Wange’s death could preserve the dignity of both families.
Pu Jinyu sat slumped on the ground, her neck aching, her face even more so. She knew that with things having escalated to this point, it was highly unlikely she would escape unscathed.
But she had no choice. She had no power, no one to back her. Alone, she could not shake the Pu and Yan Families. She had already died once—she was not afraid.
“This matter, I will decide,” Yan Chiyun said, his peripheral glance sweeping over the person behind him.
She sat disheveled and motionless, no longer making a scene.
His anger was barely suppressed, but seeing her like this, remembering her indifferent, cold-hearted words, made his blood boil once more.
“Mother, there are still guests in the front hall. Please go attend to them first. I will join you shortly.”
With him speaking thus, what could Madam Yan say? Indeed, placating the guests was the priority; the news must not spread.
For prominent families, face was always paramount. Dealing with Pu Wange was inevitable, and there was no need to rush it at this moment.
Without acknowledging Madam Pu, Madam Yan left with her old maidservant. As she passed by Cheng Wenque, she no longer maintained her previous courtesy. Coldly, she ordered him to be taken away, locked in the woodshed, and given neither food nor drink.
In an instant, Cheng Wenque had fallen from honored guest to prisoner, dragged away in humiliation. Regret flooded his heart, but it was too late for remorse.
Before the Yan Family dealt with him, he had to devise a plan. Perhaps he could shift all the blame onto Pu Wange—after all, she had called out to him so openly in front of everyone, showing concern for him.
“Mother-in-law, you should return as well,” Yan Chiyun said coldly.
“Good son-in-law, how do you intend to handle this?” Madam Pu refused to leave, even proposing to take Pu Jinyu with her.
“Having done such a thing, she is nothing but a scourge remaining in the Yan Family. Let me take her back. In a few days, I will give your Yan Family a satisfactory resolution.”
Seeing Madam Pu’s fierce slapping stance just now, how could Yan Chiyun not understand what this “handling” meant?
Indeed, it should be exactly so—she had humiliated him, humiliated the Yan Family, and she deserved to be killed.
But… in just a moment of stunned hesitation, she, restrained by him, had been dragged over and slapped.
Hearing that crisp slap, watching her beaten to the ground, half-dead and listless.
He actually felt a throbbing vein on his forehead, his heart heavy and stifled, even tinged with a ridiculous sense of self-blame.
[Author’s Note]
Here it is! There will be another update tomorrow. This chapter randomly drops a Luck-piecing red envelope～[Rainbow fart]
Pushing my other completed novel “Dreams in Ripples, Jade Sandalwood Depths”: Foolish Beauty vs. Aloof Gentleman, please add to your collection.
Ji Wanyuan, the cherished daughter of the Prime Minister, born with stunning beauty, had been doted on since childhood, living a life of extravagance and indulgence, her temperament molded into arrogance and willfulness.
She adored Wen Qiyan, the foremost gentleman of Jingcheng, known for his moon-like purity and orchid-like elegance, chasing after him relentlessly for years. To gain his favor, she even stooped to humble herself.
Unfortunately, he never regarded her, ignoring her advances with complete indifference.
It didn’t matter. Whatever she desired had to be hers. If the proper way didn’t work, she’d take the crooked path; if soft tactics failed, she’d resort to force.
Ji Wanyuan had someone procure the strongest aphrodisiac. She finally got her wish, sharing a spring breeze with Wen Qiyan.
In that moment of wild abandon, as her soul seemed to leave her body, she eerily realized she was merely a vicious, foolish supporting character living in a storybook.
Wen Qiyan’s true purpose in marrying her was to get close and use her, to help the Emperor eliminate remnants of the rebel faction. Her powerful father, the Prime Minister, was the first target. Within two years of marriage, the Ji Family crumbled, and she died in childbirth from hemorrhaging.
By handling the Prime Minister’s case, Wen Qiyan secured his footing before the Emperor, rising as a new powerful minister, increasingly prominent.
The following year, he married his beloved white moonlight, also her arch-rival, into his household. The two lived harmoniously till old age, while her son suffered neglect and bullying, eventually dying young!
The moment she became aware, Ji Wanyuan broke into a cold sweat. Looking at the man’s aloof profile, her face turned deathly pale, her entire body feeling as if plunged into an ice cellar.
“…”
Wen Qiyan despised Ji Wanyuan. She was frivolous, ignorant, foolish, and dull, with nothing to offer beyond her pretty face.
If not for carrying out the Emperor’s decree, gathering evidence of the Ji Family’s corruption, uprooting the Prime Minister’s faction in one stroke, and incidentally… dealing with the “consequence” that arose from their accidental entanglement, he would never have been forced to marry such an utterly wanton woman.
He expected this latent marital union to be chaotic and unbearable.
Yet, to his surprise, she shed her former detestable arrogance and willfulness, becoming understanding and even avoiding conflict.
Perhaps… it was just another one of her little tricks to divert his attention, he scoffed mockingly.
But when his mother proposed bringing his cousin into the household,
Wen Qiyan imagined Ji Wanyuan would cry, make a scene, throw a tantrum, even resort to every means as before to stop him from taking a concubine.
He never expected her to smile and nod in agreement.
She actually… agreed with a smile?!
Upon hearing this, Wen Qiyan was stunned, abruptly snapping the brush in his hand, frowning as his face darkened.
[Love-struck mind awakens, the superior succumbs]
Article Reading Guide:
The aloof, ascetic noble scion from a prestigious family vs. the fair-skinned, voluptuous yet naive beauty (the arrogant, domineering female supporting character who once humiliated and abandoned him—now awakened from her love-struck delusions).