With the help of the crown prince, Wen Zilong finally got the opportunity for promotion.
The Lan family fell from grace due to the crime of treason, but he defied the odds and was promoted directly to the third - rank vice - minister.
Now, he has finally been promoted to the second - rank minister!
Over the years, he resented his father - in - law, Lan Yuanyi, for being upright and his elder brother - in - law, Lan Guangling, for the sarcastic remarks that showed their contempt for him.
"Hehe!"
Wen Zilong looked down at his hands and murmured to himself, "Father - in - law, elder brother - in - law! The man you despised has now become a second - rank official, while you... can only live in this world like rats in the gutter, being spurned by the world."
"Do you regret looking down on me back then?"
Lan Jinqin let Liuli loosen her hair bun and looked at her as beautiful as ever in the bronze mirror. Liuli couldn't help but praise:
"Madam is truly beautiful. It's a pity that the master doesn't know how to cherish you. Back then, the master waited outside the marquis's mansion in the capital every day, attending to your every need. Who would have thought that he would change his attitude within a year? Men in this world are all heartless!"
Heartless?
Lan Jinqin suddenly remembered the glint of darkness in Xiao Rencheng's eyes outside the mansion tonight.
Would Xiao Rencheng be like Wen Zilong, not knowing how to cherish once he got what he wanted?
Liuli asked, "Madam, are you really going to bring that Peilan and her child into the mansion?"
Lan Jinqin curled her fingers slightly on the earrings and sneered:
"We mustn't bring her in when she's pregnant. Wen Zilong has never seen Peilan's true colors. He still thinks she's a pure and innocent white flower."
"That Peilan is very troublesome. If she comes in while pregnant, she might use the child as a bargaining chip. She might even try to frame me with the unborn child."
Liuli said angrily, "Madam has thought it through. The master has taken medicine for years and is no longer capable of having an heir. Peilan has been infertile for years. In desperation, she got pregnant with another man's child in an attempt to enter the mansion."
Lan Jinqin nodded, "If she comes in while pregnant, she might not even keep the child. Instead, she'll try to frame me and make me the scapegoat for her miscarriage..."
"She wants to get me divorced by the Wen family and take my place. In her dreams!"
The beauty in the bronze mirror curled her red lips slightly, "How could I let her have her way? She must give birth to the child! After she enters the Wen mansion, I'll find a way to expose her scandal."
Liuli smiled, "By then, the master will also experience the embarrassment of wearing a cuckold. Peilan will surely be driven out of the Wen mansion... People will laugh at the master for raising another man's son."
"Humph! Evil people will surely get their just deserts!"
Lan Jinqin's heart skipped a beat.
Evil people will surely get their just deserts?
Then why hasn't that evil Wen Zilong received his punishment?
When Wen Zilong pushed open the door, Liuli blocked his way, "Master, Madam has already gone to bed. Madam has always had trouble sleeping. How about I serve you in the side room?"
Wen Zilong's face darkened, "What? Can't I even sleep on my own wife's bed now?"
He pretended to walk inside, but Liuli stopped him, "Master, Madam finally relented today. Why do you have to upset her? It will take time for the two of you to reconcile. Please be patient, Master."
Wen Zilong glanced at Liuli and asked arrogantly, "I'm a second - rank official now. Do I need to reconcile with her? It's only natural for a wife to serve her husband. Is she putting on airs?"
Liuli said, "The love between you and Madam has been praised by the current empress herself. You're a role - model official in the Great Ye. Don't you still need Madam to maintain your image in the court? Why ruin the chance of reconciliation today and go back to square one?"
Mentioning his future in the court, Wen Zilong finally came to his senses.
He could ignore everything, but his future was more important than his life.
Wen Zilong took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and turned around to leave the bedroom.
In the darkness, Lan Jinqin quietly opened her eyes and let out a sigh of relief when she saw the closed door.
She didn't want to have any relationship with this hypocritical and vicious man.
She even felt nauseous when Wen Zilong got close to her!
Meanwhile, Caiyu was carried into the Prince of Yan's mansion by Song Yinghuai in big strides. When Qingqing saw Song Yinghuai's solemn and cold face, she quickly grabbed Han Fen who was following behind and asked:
"What's going on? What happened to Sister Caiyu?"
Han Fen hesitated for a moment but still briefly told her what had happened.
Qingqing stood there stunned for a while, then quietly curled her fingers, "Is General Sheng... seriously injured?"
Han Fen glanced at her and said proudly, "His Highness has profound internal energy. Anyone hit by his palm will surely be seriously injured. But General Sheng Jiangli is also a brave man. He managed to take a palm from His Highness. His skills are quite remarkable."
Qingqing suppressed her restlessness and turned to walk towards the bedroom.
From inside the room came Caiyu's voice still tinged with sobs, "I'll change my clothes myself. Your Highness needn't worry."
Song Yinghuai straightened his back and stared at the little figure curled up in the corner of the bed, covering her buttocks. His thin lips tightened slightly.
She was still angry.
He was angry too, but when he saw her curled - up body, he couldn't help but feel worried.
"Turn around. Let me take a look," Song Yinghuai said in a low voice, trying to suppress his anger.
Caiyu had a stomachache, and her delicate nature got the better of her, "I won't let you."
"... Why?"
"I'm ugly."
"What?" Song Yinghuai didn't expect her to be bothered by this. He couldn't help but smile, "Have I not seen you at your ugliest?"
Caiyu: ...
That's true. He had seen her in a complete mess when she was kidnapped.
Caiyu had no choice but to turn her face away. Her pale little face came into Song Yinghuai's view.
Song Yinghuai took a deep breath. She was in so much pain.
Just then, he saw Qingqing peeping at the door.
Song Yinghuai said, "Come and change Caiyu's clothes. Then ask someone to boil some ginger soup..."
He paused for a moment and added, "Remember to add brown sugar."
Caiyu blinked and thought the request sounded familiar.
That's right.
She remembered that once when she had a high fever and was delirious, she drank the ginger soup brought by Song Yinghuai and arrogantly demanded sugar.
Her heart skipped a beat, and her anger seemed to dissipate.
After Song Yinghuai left, Qingqing helped Caiyu change her clothes and said enviously:
"Sister Caiyu, His Highness treats you really differently."
Caiyu was stunned for a moment and seemed to agree with Qingqing.
Qingqing murmured, "I think even if there's a mistress in the mansion in the future, Sister Caiyu's position in His Highness's heart won't be shaken..."
Caiyu was stunned again, and her heart suddenly felt blocked...
The reason she came to the capital was very simple.
She wanted to find an opportunity to meet the crown prince in person, negotiate with him, and try to rescue her family by herself.
She did this because she wanted to tear down the veil of hostility between her and Song Yinghuai and have an honest relationship with him, hoping for a good outcome.
However, things didn't go as she wished.
Before she could even start, Concubine Lü, the white moonlight, appeared.
That was okay. At least the white moonlight was already married. Even if she was a threat, she had to keep her distance from Song Yinghuai.
But Qingqing's words reminded her -
The Prince of Yan's mansion will have a mistress.
She was just a low - born maid now. Even if she could feel Song Yinghuai's cherish for her, so what?
How many men in this world are willing to go against the world for a woman?
Especially someone like Song Yinghuai, a member of the royal family.
His marriage was not up to him.
The emperor and the empress would surely find a woman of a suitable status to be the Princess of Yan.
She, as the daughter of a criminal official, couldn't even use her real identity. She could only live under the identity of the daughter of a criminal from the Yangzhou Escort Bureau.
A woman like her would not be tolerated by the royal family, let alone a common family as a wife.
So what was the use of all her efforts to come to the capital and the little time she managed to spend with Song Yinghuai?