Wen Zilong came from a humble family and rose to officialdom. In the Great Ye or any other dynasty, it was extremely rare for someone from a humble background to make a name for themselves. Therefore, he also represented the side that was out of tune with the noble class.
Despite Wen Zilong's painstaking efforts to squeeze into the circle of the aristocratic families, most of them didn't really appreciate it. On the contrary, when they saw the slightest thing about Wen Zilong that they could use to make fun of, they would never let it go.
"I heard that Lord Wen and Lady Wen are deeply in love. Now that Lord Wen has been promoted, why doesn't Lady Wen hold a celebration banquet for him? I've even prepared my congratulatory gift, but now I can't give it. This is really..."
"Lord Wen doesn't look too well. Did you not sleep well last night? Oh, Lord Wen has been married for six years, but Lady Wen still hasn't conceived. I'm sure Lord Wen is anxious. Maybe he's been working hard every night. He must be exhausted."
"Lord Wen, where's your noble wife? The eldest daughter of the Lan family back then was incredibly beautiful. Whether in the capital or in the Jin region, how many young talents came to propose marriage. But in the end, she married Lord Wen..."
"Lord Wang, don't say that. What's wrong with Lord Wen? Although Lord Wen comes from a humble background, he's already a second - rank official at a young age. It'll take us until our hair turns white to reach Lord Wen's level. It shows that Lady Wen has excellent judgment."
At this moment, a teasing voice came from the door. "If that's the case, Lord Xiao, the chief censor of the Censorate, was already a second - rank official three years ago. Miss Lan should have chosen Lord Xiao back then!"
"She just had bad judgment and chose a good - for - nothing."
Everyone turned around and saw Sheng Jiangli standing behind them. His scarlet robe with small single - flower patterns made his face look like a jade crown. The lions on his robe seemed about to roar out.
Sheng Jiangli was extremely good - looking, but the words he said were like poisonous needles.
Gong Qingliang and the others didn't understand why this man, who was the deputy commander of the Capital Garrison and the commander of the Hu Cavalry, suddenly had a beef with the Minister of War. But seeing his sharp and cutting eyes, they all smartly slipped into the imperial garden.
Wen Zilong was so angry at Sheng Jiangli's straightforward sarcasm that he was practically foaming at the mouth.
Wen Zilong recognized Sheng Jiangli. They both served the Crown Prince, but they were worlds apart. One was outside the pass, and the other was in the capital. They had nothing to do with each other.
"Lord Sheng, what did you mean by that just now? Have I offended you?" Due to their "alliance", Wen Zilong tried his best to ask calmly.
"Nothing. I'm just sighing that your wife has bad judgment."
Sheng Jiangli looked at Wen Zilong with disgust.
After the Lan family's accident, he had secretly sneaked into the capital several times to do things for the Crown Prince. Naturally, he would also take the opportunity to check on how Lan Jinqin was doing. As a result, he found that the man who had publicly declared his love for Lan Jinqin in the whole capital was not as affectionate as he claimed. He even found out that this man had long been on the same side as the Crown Prince.
He got close to Wen Zilong under the guise of an "ally" and got the truth out of him when Wen Zilong was drunk.
It turned out that Wen Zilong had long been eyeing the Lan family's background. So he bribed local bandits to rob and assault Lan Jinqin on her way back from praying. Then he played the role of the heroic savior.
If it was just a heroic rescue, Lan Jinqin might not have settled for him. But Wen Zilong also rolled down the hillside with her and they both fell into the river.
Lan Jinqin couldn't swim. She fainted after falling into the river. When she woke up, she was in a cave with Wen Zilong, and her clothes had been taken off by Wen Zilong to dry. In other words, Wen Zilong had ruined Lan Jinqin's innocence.
But it was hard to blame him for ruining the girl's reputation. After all, if her clothes hadn't been dried in time after she fell into the water, she might have died of illness in the wilderness.
But Lan Yuanyi had been in the military for years and had also been in the officialdom. He was not only bold and unrestrained like a soldier but also had a pair of sharp and clear eyes. Although Wen Zilong's reason for saving the girl was justifiable, if he were a real gentleman, he could have let Lan Jinqin dry her wet clothes by the fire in the cave instead of taking them off.
When Lan Jinqin was sent back to the Lan family, Lan Yuanyi immediately asked, "If you don't like that Wen Zilong, father will reject the marriage for you. Our Lan family is powerful. Today, not to mention that he just took off your clothes. Even if you were defiled, father will protect you! Our Lan family can support you for the rest of your life. Just stay at home. See who dares to gossip about you behind your back!"
Elder brother Lan Guangling even said coldly, "He's just a poor scholar. If he fails the imperial examination, our Lan family can just give him some silver. If he passes, our Lan family will pave a smooth path for him as a reward... If he refuses, I'll be the bad guy. I'll cut out his tongue and then apologize to the world!"
After being rejected like this, Wen Zilong realized how protective the Lan family was. But he was also a scheming man. From then on, he made opportunities to meet Lan Jinqin every day and showed his deep affection.
Since he was her savior, Lan Jinqin didn't dislike Wen Zilong. She didn't want her father and brother to be bad guys for her sake. So she still went to the appointments when Wen Zilong invited her.
Wen Zilong was extremely obedient and selfless when pursuing the beauty. What woman in the world wouldn't be touched?
After persistent efforts, Wen Zilong finally got what he wanted. On the day when Wen Zilong passed the imperial examination with flying colors, there was a story about Lan Yuanyi choosing him as a son - in - law right after the list was announced. In fact, it was to cover up why Lan Jinqin suddenly got together with Wen Zilong.
After Sheng Jiangli learned the truth that day, he took advantage of Wen Zilong's drunkenness, put a sack over his head, and beat him up. But it was already too late. Lan Jinqin had already been married for three years.
Wen Zilong said with a straight face, "General Sheng, although you're the confidant of the emperor and the Crown Prince, I'm on equal footing with you now. You should at least show me some respect. If it weren't for the fact that we're on the same side..."
Out of the corner of his eye, Sheng Jiangli saw Song Yinghuai and Caiyu coming. His eyes flickered slightly.
The rain - silk brocade clothes on Caiyu were simple yet noble, making her look just like Miss Lan San back then...
It seemed that Qingqing hadn't lied to him. After Caiyu went back, the Prince of Yan really didn't make things difficult for her.
He immediately interrupted Wen Zilong's words. "Excuse me!"
Wen Zilong said, "You..."
He angrily flicked his sleeves and followed Sheng Jiangli into the imperial garden. Then he found a seat and sat down to drink his sorrows away.
Gong Qingliang quietly came over again.
The question of why Lan Jinqin didn't come to the palace banquet had been bothering him. He couldn't help but ask, "Lord Wen, you're drinking alone? The emperor and the queen haven't even come yet, and you're already drinking. Did you have a fight with your wife at home?"
Wen Zilong knew that Gong Qingliang was well - known for being persistent. He had to put down his wine cup and smile.
"Lord Gong, you're joking. My wife tripped over the threshold and fell when she was about to leave home. She can't attend the palace banquet. I'm extremely worried and concerned about my wife's injury at home now."
Song Yinghuai, who was walking not far from Wen Zilong with Caiyu, paused for a moment and squinted his eyes slightly.
Tripped and fell...
Song Yinghuai inexplicably remembered that Caiyu used to trip and fall all the time.
Sure enough, they were sisters. Even their ways of lying were the same.
He curled his lips in a half - smile and looked into the distance.
Caiyu had already found a corner and stood in the dark.
Ever since she saw Wen Zilong, she had felt uncomfortable. She wasn't afraid of being recognized by Wen Zilong. In fact, four years ago, after she was rescued by the Crown Prince's people, the first person she saw when she woke up was Wen Zilong.
She thought she had been rescued by her relatives. But who would have thought that Wen Zilong's words would push her into hell.
"My sister - in - law has such a beautiful face. Your eldest sister is the most beautiful woman in the capital, and your second sister is the most beautiful woman in the Jin region. But who would have thought that Miss Lan San is actually the most beautiful beauty embryo?"