Ji Junye tapped the table lightly. "Since they're so eager to see me dead, starting today, ease up on the surveillance of Yuntaishan. If she wants to send messages, let her."
Zhuiyun gave a start. "Yes!"
That "she" could only be the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager was really asking for trouble. After all these years, she still couldn't behave herself. Every year, she would pester for the King of Jin to return to the capital to visit her. Did she really think that after all those years of biding his time in his fief, the King of Jin would have the strength to fight against His Majesty?
His Majesty had shown extraordinary leniency by tolerating that mother - son pair until now. If they behaved themselves, His Majesty might even let them enjoy a few more years of prosperity. But if they were insensible...
Well, they weren't to be trifled with either.
Thanks to Ji Junye's deliberate "lenience", Shen Qing easily found out about Xu Wei's situation.
Hearing that Xu Wei had been tortured beyond recognition, everyone gasped in horror. Mrs. Ge almost fainted from crying.
She wasn't really crying for Xu Wei, but for her own fate.
After the gathering dispersed, the old matriarch asked Xu Yanchi to stay behind.
"I heard you're going to hand over the tea gardens in Fuyang County to Shen Qing to manage?"
Xu Yanchi nodded. "She's my wife. Handing it over to her isn't like giving it to an outsider."
Hearing this, the old matriarch lifted her eyelids and glanced at him. "As long as you know. The rumors outside are getting out of hand. You've seen the influence of the Duke Protector's Mansion. No matter whether you like her or not, you have to put on a good show in front of others."
If it weren't for the fact that there were no male heirs in the Duke Protector's Mansion, with its power and influence, even if Shen Qing were to become the queen, the Duke Protector's Mansion could ensure her position without a hitch.
Xu Yanchi said respectfully, "Son understands."
Seeing that he was sensible, the old matriarch continued, "She comes from a high - ranking family, so it's natural for her to have high expectations. At this time, you need to lower your stance appropriately. If I were to choose your wife, I would naturally prefer Chan'er. But since you've already married her, you can't make things too ugly on the surface, especially when we still need the power of the Duke Protector's Mansion."
"Thank you for your teachings, Mother."
He also knew that in a situation like this, if Shen Qing were to plead with His Majesty, the Xu family would be in no trouble. But Shen Qing's attitude...
Xu Yanchi bowed and left. After going out, he took a deep breath, looking extremely tired.
"Go and get the deed of the tea gardens and send it to Zhuoying Courtyard."
A Cheng hesitated. "My Lord..."
"Go and get it." Xu Yanchi rubbed his temples. "Forget it. I'll go there myself."
In Zhuoying Courtyard, Shen Qing had just finished breakfast and was reclining on the couch, reading a novel. It was a new one that Yingxiu had found for her recently, titled The Gentle Wife of the Subject Has Caught the Eye of the Tyrant and Can't Escape.
The story was about a high - ranking official who, in order to curry favor with the powerful, sent his wife to the tyrant in exchange for a prosperous future. But his wife actually fell in love with the tyrant, and they had a child. The female protagonist secretly collected evidence of the official's illegal deeds and brought him down.
When Shen Qing first got the book, she flipped through it casually and then tossed it aside. There was no other reason; both the title and the plot made her feel as if it was about herself.
The wife of a subject, the tyrant, the scumbag, revenge...
Even the details of the female protagonist's interactions with the tyrant were almost the same as hers with Ji Junye.
But not long after she threw it away, she couldn't resist and picked it up again.
She really wanted to know how the female protagonist in the book would handle all this.
Shen Qing was just reading the part where the female protagonist was pregnant but, due to her identity, didn't dare to tell the tyrant and tried to hide it everywhere. But the tyrant still found out. Thinking that she didn't want the child, the tyrant was extremely angry. He grabbed her by the neck and imprisoned her on the couch, the veins on his forehead bulging.
"You don't want to bear my child. Whose do you want to bear? His?"
"From today on, you're not allowed to go anywhere. Just stay here and have the baby. If anything happens to the child, I'll cut him into pieces right in front of you and let you watch him die a miserable death!"
At this moment, Yuzhen came in to report. "Miss, the Marquis is here. He said he's here to give something to you."
Shen Qing was so engrossed in the book that she was startled. Her hand trembled, and the book fell to the ground.
Hearing the noise, Yingxiu quickly ran out from the inner room to pick up the book. "Are you okay, Miss?"
Then she glared at Yuzhen. "Why are you still so clumsy? What if you scare the Miss?"
"Understood." Yuzhen lowered her head, unsure of Shen Qing's attitude. "Then, Miss, shall I let him in?"
"No. Just let him leave the thing."
"Yes, Miss."
Yingxiu handed the book over. "Miss, do you still want to read this?"
"No." Shen Qing's heart was beating a little fast. She felt that the words in the book were exactly what Ji Junye would say.
The details were so accurate that she now seriously suspected that the author was someone close to them. But who could it be?
Among the people around her who knew about it, besides Yingxiu and the others, there was only Xu Yanchi. Xu Yanchi wouldn't let someone write something like this to smear himself. So it must be someone around Ji Junye. Was there such a person around Ji Junye?
The novel was only in its first volume so far, and she had just finished reading the part where the tyrant got angry.
Shen Qing rubbed her temples. "Where did you buy this novel?"
Yingxiu was a bit confused. "I didn't buy it. It was Jiaolu who sent it to you to relieve your boredom last time. There's still a whole basket of them over there. Nongyun is sorting them out. Is there something wrong with this novel, Miss?"
"Take a look and you'll know."
Yingxiu flipped through a few pages doubtfully, then closed the book with a "bang" and looked at Shen Qing in disbelief. "Miss, this..."
What was written in this novel was exactly about her Miss and His Majesty! And that high - ranking official was none other than the Marquis...
"Go outside and find out when this book came out. Also, find out who this Wild Scholar is."
"Miss, should I ask Jiaolu to ban it?"
If such things were allowed to circulate in the streets and alleys, what would happen to the Miss if her relationship with His Majesty was exposed in the future?
But Shen Qing stopped her. "No. Since Jiaolu could buy this book, it must be quite famous in the streets. Not many people know about that matter. Taking action would only make people think we're trying to cover something up. Just go and ask. If there's a second volume, buy it for me."
Yingxiu didn't understand but had to follow the order.
Yuzhen also came back from outside. "Miss, he said he wants to hand it to you in person. If you don't see him, he won't give the deed."
Yuzhen sighed inwardly. The Marquis was really asking for it. Before, when the Miss invited him, he wouldn't take a single step into the courtyard, as if there was something dirty in Zhuoying Courtyard. But now that the Miss didn't want to see him, he came running.
Yuzhen didn't feel sorry for Xu Yanchi at all. He deserved it!
Seeing her indignant expression, Shen Qing knew that this girl must be scolding Xu Yanchi in her heart. The people in her Zhuoying Courtyard were always united when facing outsiders.
"Then let him in."
After all, this was her own place. Xu Yanchi had to think twice before doing anything.
Not long after, Xu Yanchi arrived.
As soon as he entered the door, Xu Yanchi smelled the odor of medicine. He frowned instinctively.
"You're sick? Why didn't you let anyone tell me?"