Chapter 35: The Wen Family Secret
Since learning Qi Xiaojun’s true identity, the Noble Consort’s attitude had become much friendlier. She chatted with him casually, expressing sympathy for his young loss of his mother and promising to love him as her own son.
“Mother,” Chu Lianmo said with a hint of jealousy, “While I’m happy you like Ajun, I feel you like him more than me.”
“Isn’t that right?” The Noble Consort glared at her son, “You and your father are a bad influence on each other, none of you are good. The person is right beside you, why find replacements?”
Chu Lianmo felt wronged, “Those were all before Ajun and I were together.”
“Fine, now that you two understand each other, you should dismiss them all.”
“That’s doable,” Chu Lianmo had no attachment to them, “but not Awan…She did nothing wrong, I can’t rashly divorce her. Even a separation would greatly damage her reputation.”
In Chu, divorce was usually initiated by the man. While separations did occur, women suffered more.
The Noble Consort sneered, “Indeed, Awan is a good girl, she’s been wronged by you.”
“No, no!” Chu Lianmo repeatedly shook his head, defending himself.
“Before proposing to the Jiang family, I privately told her that I couldn’t give her my heart. I asked her what she wanted most in marriage. She said she didn’t want anything. Her family told her to marry whomever she would marry, as long as her husband wasn’t violent and wouldn’t abuse her.
“After the wedding, I gave her complete respect. Didn’t that fulfill her wish?
“As for the other concubines, they were mostly greedy. We agreed on terms, none of them were forced upon me.”
Qi Xiaojun understood that Chu Lianmo, while appearing domineering and promiscuous, was still kind and righteous at heart.
“But,” Qi Xiaojun spoke for his previous self, “I feel Zhou Jun truly liked you. Sometimes I feel his soul hasn’t completely dissipated, his emotions still affect me.”
“…You mean,” Chu Lianmo suddenly seemed aggrieved, “You like me because of his influence?”
“…Not really. I haven’t felt his emotions for a long time.” Qi Xiaojun found himself speaking for Zhou Jun, while Chu Lianmo’s focus was entirely on him.
Why did Chu Lianmo keep acting like a wronged puppy?
Children remained children, even when grown up.
“Noble Consort,” Qi Xiaojun finally spoke for Chu Lianmo, “I can see that Lianmo cares about you. What his father did isn’t his fault. Please be kind to him.”
“Alright, alright,” the Noble Consort laughed, “For your sake, I’ll forgive him.”
Chu Lianmo remained aggrieved, “Mother only loves Ajun, not me.”
Qi Xiaojun couldn’t help but laugh.
The Noble Consort smiled, “So what if I only love Ajun? I felt sorry for him, far from his homeland and family. I wanted to take care of him, but found him independent and strong, not needing anyone’s care…so I liked him.”
Chu Lianmo also smiled faintly, “Mother and I feel the same. I was afraid Chu Wei De would trouble Ajun, so I wanted to warn him, but found he had already been chased away by Ajun. Ajun is so powerful, worthy of my love.”
Qi Xiaojun felt warmth in his heart. He had never been alone in Chu. Many people had wanted to secretly help him.
“By the way,” the Noble Consort’s expression suddenly turned serious, “Mo’er, I care about what’s happening outside, even in the palace. Did you offend your father for Ajun the other day? Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, Mother.” Chu Lianmo said calmly, “I suspect this is a carefully planned conspiracy. Exposing it will make the perpetrator suffer the consequences. I’ll handle this myself, Mother doesn’t need to worry.”
“Alright.” The Noble Consort nodded, not asking further.
Their family atmosphere had improved significantly.
That evening, Chu Tianlin acted according to his agreement with Chu Lianmo.
He invited Wen Shan to Rui Wangfu for drinks.
“Come, come, no one annoying is here today, let’s have a good time.” Chu Tianlin personally poured a glass of wine for Wen Shan.
“You also find that Liu guy annoying, right!” Wen Shan was still affected by last night’s events, picking up his cup, “This wine is good, but too plain. Are there no beauties here to serve?”
Chu Tianlin smiled, “Fourth Uncle doesn’t like me doing that, so I’ll restrain myself here… Oh right, I forgot about your injuries. How about tea? Didn’t your father beat you hard?”
“No, just a few strokes with a ruler, it’s nothing.” Wen Shan refused the tea to save face, “I’ll drink.”
“Alright, let’s drink until we’re drunk! Here’s to you.”
Then they started playing a drinking game.
Chu Tianlin cleverly made Wen Shan drink more.
After a few rounds, Wen Shan was slightly drunk, and Chu Tianlin started probing him, “How’s your relationship with your brother? Is your father extra nice to him because he feels guilty, he won’t beat him like he beats you, right?”
Wen Shan scoffed, “He’s a bastard, how can he compare to me? Father doesn’t even bother with him.”
“Ah?” Chu Tianlin feigned surprise, “Isn’t he your full brother? Why is he a bastard?”
“…” Wen Shan fell silent.
“Actually, Liu Jun is right, your brother is the eldest son. I advise you not to say he’s not your brother in front of others. Your father will beat you, and maybe your brother will too. It’s natural for brothers to fight.”
“He dares!” Wen Shan blurted out, “What brother, he’s a fake!”
“Fake?” Chu Tianlin quickly asked, “What’s going on?”
“…Hey, I’ll tell you a secret, don’t tell anyone else.” Wen Shan lowered his voice, “He’s not my lost brother, the reunion was a show. Father told me that once he’s useless, he’ll find some excuse, and the title and inheritance will be mine.”
“Audacious!”
Wen Shan heard a stern voice behind him, startled, and turned around.
A man in yellow robes walked out of the bushes.
“Your whole family dared to deceive the Emperor!”
“…Your Majesty?!” Wen Shan sobered up immediately, terrified, kneeling and kowtowing, “I’m guilty!”
“Speak!” Emperor Chu Wen sternly questioned, “Why did you falsely claim Yin Mei was your family member?!”
“I don’t know! I don’t know anything!” Wen Shan kept kowtowing, “Father only told me he wasn’t my brother, I really don’t know anything else!”
“Father,” Chu Lianmo walked out from hiding, “I think this boy really doesn’t know anything, let’s interrogate his father.”
“Good, men!” Emperor Chu Wen ordered, “Immediately arrest Wen Yuanru and Yin Mei, and have the Ministry of Justice interrogate them for deceiving the Emperor!”
Knowing the Minister of Justice was a supporter of the Crown Prince, Chu Lianmo requested, “Father, I want to personally handle this interrogation. The mastermind might be targeting me.”
“Good, you’re in charge.” Emperor Chu Wen agreed.
“Thank you, Father.”
Chu Lianmo interrogated Wen Yuanru that night.
Wen Shan was stunned for a moment, then yelled at Chu Tianlin, “You deliberately tricked me, right! I considered you a friend, why did you ruin my father, even my whole family?!”
“…” Chu Tianlin was stunned.
Chu Lianmo had emphasized that this was a small matter, he hadn’t expected the Emperor to be hidden here, and the matter of whether Yin Mei was a real brother involved the serious crime of deceiving the Emperor.
“I… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to!”
“Even as a ghost, I won’t forgive you!” Wen Shan said angrily, crying and running away.
Qi Xiaojun comforted Chu Tianlin, who was also crying, “It’s okay, Lin’er, it won’t be that serious, the Wen family is the Empress’s maternal family, the Emperor will be lenient.”
“Did you all treat me like a fool?!” Chu Tianlin cried, questioning him.
“…” Qi Xiaojun admitted that he and Chu Lianmo hadn’t fully considered Chu Tianlin’s feelings.
But things are rarely perfect.
“Lin’er, maybe you won’t understand now, but I want to tell you that Lianmo and I were deliberately framed, we’re victims, we can only protect ourselves.
“If you want to blame someone, blame the mastermind.”
“…Then…” Chu Tianlin looked at Qi Xiaojun with red eyes, “Who is the mastermind?”
“I can’t conclude until Lianmo finishes the interrogation.”
Chu Lianmo was torturing the human trafficker.
The trafficker confessed: “I told Minister Wen that his eldest son cried incessantly along the way, and I accidentally killed him. As for why he later asked me to lie about selling his son to a brothel, I don’t know!”
Yin Mei insisted that Wen Yuanru had orchestrated everything, he only followed orders.
They confessed quickly.
But Wen Yuanru was not so easy.
Initially, he denied deceiving the Emperor.
Chu Lianmo reminded him, “Minister Wen, think carefully – your son said in front of the Emperor that Yin Mei isn’t his brother. If you didn’t deceive the Emperor, he did.”
“…It’s me! I deceived the Emperor!” Wen Yuanru immediately changed his statement, “Please spare Shan’er! He really doesn’t know anything!”
Chu Lianmo said calmly, “As long as you confess your crimes and reveal the mastermind, I won’t harm your son, and I’ll ask the Emperor to spare you.”
However, although Wen Yuanru admitted Yin Mei wasn’t his son, he insisted, regardless of the torture:
“I didn’t want to admit that my son I’d searched for was dead, so I treated Yin Mei, who was also trafficked, as my son. I didn’t intend to deceive the Emperor!”
The reason sounded far-fetched.
But he refused to reveal the mastermind, and Chu Lianmo was helpless. He couldn’t torture the Empress’s brother excessively.
Author’s Note:
Is anyone still reading? No one commented on yesterday’s chapter, woo woo
_________________
I felt sad for the author, I hope he’s found readers… I’ll leave him a comment right now!