Volume Three: Those Years I Was a Wangye
Jealousy
After Wen Nuan finished her bath, Xu Wenlu insisted on pulling her into a candlelit night talk1, wanting to discuss the worries that had been on her mind during this period. Then, getting too excited in her speech, she was pulled away by the Phoenix Consort who had come. Afterwards, she was subjected to a public display of affection2 and stayed overnight in the palace.
After she returned to her residence, she heard Lianqiao say that Qi Hanrong wanted to see her.
Wen Nuan was surprised, not expecting Qi Hanrong to seek her out first. She guessed that Ji Chenwei must have said something to him.
Sun-gugu had settled these two in the West Courtyard. Qi Hanrong lived in the Bamboo Courtyard, and Ji Chenwei lived in the Chrysanthemum Courtyard, their rooms adjacent.
When Wen Nuan went over, the two were sitting and talking in the pavilion in the courtyard.
Seeing Wen Nuan arrive, they immediately rose and saluted, “Greetings, Wangye.”
Qi Hanrong bowed and said, “This commoner3 has seen Wangye.”
“Rise ba.” Wen Nuan sat on a stool and looked at Qi Hanrong. “Lianqiao said you have something to discuss with me?”
Qi Hanrong glanced at Ji Chenwei, lifted the hem of his robe, and knelt on both knees, saying with utmost sincerity, “This commoner, Qi Hanrong, thanks Wangye for taking me in. For the grace of saving my life, this commoner is endlessly grateful.”
At that time, when he heard Ji Chenwei say that Xian Wang wanted to protect them, his heart was filled with shock.
At first, he thought Xian Wang had taken a fancy to him, but later he found out that Xian Wang had taken a fancy to Ji Chenwei.
Xian Wang appreciated Ji Chenwei’s talent and learning, and was willing to look after them and stand against Ji Ge. This act alone was enough to make one feel deeply grateful and unable to repay4 the kindness.
Wen Nuan looked at Ji Chenwei and smiled. “This King is not that fearlessly noble. I kept you because you have something This King needs. Just like Ji Chenwei, This King appreciates her abilities. And you, This King wants to use your skills to help This King with a matter.”
Ji Chenwei’s brow furrowed slightly. “Wangye, Hanrong is just a mere man, I’m afraid he doesn’t have any great skills to help Wangye. Why don’t Wangye tell this little one5, this little one will definitely exert myself to the utmost…”
Wen Nuan raised her hand to stop Ji Chenwei’s next words. She looked at Qi Hanrong. “You are from Zhangqing Country, and your ancestral home is Yao City, correct ba?”
Qi Hanrong looked up. “Wangye is correct. This commoner is indeed from Yao City in Zhangqing Country.”
“In Yao City of Zhangqing Country, there is a village called Yao Village. The villagers here have a peculiar characteristic: they are skilled in Huoshu6 and Gushu7, right?”
Ji Chenwei’s expression changed, and she immediately knelt on the ground. “Wangye, Hanrong, he…”
“Wangye is correct.” Qi Hanrong pressed Ji Chenwei down and said in a deep voice, “This commoner is indeed from Yao Village. I wonder how Wangye knew ne?”
He hadn’t revealed his identity, so why would Xian Wang know his true identity?
The system picked its nose: 【This male lead’s question is interesting. Does he think this system is a pushover8?】
“Yes, you’re the most awesome!” Wen Nuan couldn’t be bothered with the system’s little pride.
She looked at Qi Hanrong, bent down, and lifted his chin. “The world only knows that people from Yao Village are skilled in Huoshu and Gushu, but they don’t know the most unique characteristic of the people from Yao Village.”
Her fingertip landed on Qi Hanrong’s eyelashes. “That is, the villagers of Yao Village with the purest bloodline have a faint blue fluorescence in their pupils. Actually, you’ve disguised yourself very well, but you are also very conceited. You assumed no one knew the characteristics of Yao Village people, so you brazenly exposed your eyes, the easiest part to give you away. Because you thought no one could recognize your true identity; after all, in the eyes of others, your appearance is far more dazzling than your pair of light blue eyes.”
The world would be attracted by the male lead’s peerless beauty, thereby overlooking the flash of blue fluorescence in his eyes. Even if someone recognized his eyes, he could instantly bewitch that person, using Huoshu to make them end their own life or forget everything.
A corner of Qi Hanrong’s mouth hooked up, his eyelashes slightly lowered, the blue fluorescence in his eyes somewhat intense, sparkling like rippling water.
His voice was gentle and lingering as he said softly, “Then, can Wangye forget this commoner’s true identity ma? In Wangye’s perception, this commoner is just a weak man with no strength to truss a chicken9, alright?”
Ji Chenwei’s brow furrowed tightly. Qi Hanrong was actually using Huoshu on Xian Wang.
“Not alright.” Wen Nuan released his chin, rose, and sat up straight, looking coldly at the astonished Qi Hanrong. “Your Huoshu is useless on me. Don’t waste your effort. Besides… this kind of behavior from you is called repaying kindness with enmity10 o?”
No one had ever been able to break his Huoshu. Qi Hanrong froze, his heart filled with astonishment and incomprehension.
Ji Chenwei also hadn’t expected Wen Nuan to break Qi Hanrong’s Huoshu. She immediately pleaded for mercy, “Wangye, Hanrong didn’t mean to repay kindness with enmity. He was just too scared. With his identity revealed by you piece by piece, he panicked and thus used Huoshu on you. Please, Wangye, forgive Hanrong this once ba? He really didn’t do it intentionally…”
Qi Hanrong’s body trembled, and he kowtowed. “Wangye, this commoner knows my crime. I beg Wangye to show mercy11.”
“Alright, you two get up. Considering you had no intention of harming This King, this instance of insubordination12 will be forgiven. If there is a next time,” Wen Nuan abruptly snapped open her fan, the sharp sound of it cutting through the air exploding beside their ears, “This King will definitely not let you off lightly.”
“Thank you, Wangye… Thank you, Wangye…” Ji Chenwei pulled Qi Hanrong up, and the two stood before Wen Nuan.
Ji Chenwei remembered Wen Nuan had just said she wanted Qi Hanrong to help her with something, so she asked, “I wonder what Wangye wanted Hanrong to do just now?”
Wen Nuan waved her fan. “Since you are Baixiaosheng, how about I give you a hint, and you guess what I want Qi Hanrong to do?”
Ji Chenwei nodded. “Wangye, please speak.”
“One year ago.” Wen Nuan took a sip of tea. “Guess ba?”
Ji Chenwei looked at Wen Nuan, pondered for a moment, then said, “Could it be that the secret affair between Wangye and Eldest Miss Lin from a year ago actually has another side to the story?”
Wen Nuan clapped. “As expected of Baixiaosheng, you guess correctly every time.”
“Wangye jests. If Wangye’s hint wasn’t so obvious, this little one wouldn’t have been able to guess it,” Ji Chenwei said with a grin.
Wen Nuan looked at Qi Hanrong. “I need your Huoshu to make someone tell the truth.”
Clear my name.
That person, Fang Yongsi, is full of lies and insatiably greedy, like a leech. Once he latches onto you, he wishes he could suck you completely dry.
She could make Fang Yongsi tell the truth, relying on her power as Xian Wang, using coercion and bribery to get the truth out. However, Lin Tinghan might not believe it. If Lin Tinghan then mistakenly thought she had tortured Fang Yongsi and forced him to give false testimony, that would be bad.
Currently, the most reliable method was to have Qi Hanrong find an opportunity to bewitch Fang Yongsi and make him tell the truth himself.
At nightfall, Wen Nuan specially assigned a personal attendant to Qi Hanrong. Ostensibly, it was to take care of Qi Hanrong’s daily needs, but in reality, it was to have this attendant check if there was a scar on Qi Hanrong’s chest.
Study room.
“Wangye, this servant has checked. Young Master Qi has no scar on his chest,” the attendant said in a low voice, hidden in the shadows where the moonlight couldn’t reach.
“Good, you may leave ba.” Wen Nuan looked up. “If word of this matter gets out, you know the consequences, don’t you?”
The attendant knelt on the ground in terror, his voice trembling, “This servant will definitely keep my lips sealed13.”
Wen Nuan propped her hands on the table and lifted her chin slightly. “En.”
The attendant left the study room, trembling with fear.
Wen Nuan slumped weakly in her chair and let out a sigh. “The male lead is not ‘her’.”
The system said silently: 【I detect a hint of relief in your voice.】
“….Is there ma?” Wen Nuan suppressed the curve of her lips and touched them. “There isn’t ba.”
System: 【……】
Saying one thing and meaning another14.
Having confirmed that the male lead was not “her,” Wen Nuan prepared to confirm the female lead’s identity. Although she already had an idea in her heart, she still wanted to verify it.
She had Ji Chenwei inquire about Lin Tinghan’s itinerary for the past few days. It seemed she was ill and had been recuperating at Lin Manor for the last two days.
“She’s ill?” Wen Nuan said in surprise.
Ji Chenwei nodded. “According to the shopkeepers of the various shops under Lin Manor, Young Miss Lin hasn’t come out to check the account books of each shop these past few days. It seems she’s quite sick and has been resting and recuperating at home.”
Wen Nuan recalled Lin Tinghan seeming quite robust when she saw her that day. How could she suddenly fall ill after just a few days?
【Probably angered by you?】the system guessed. 【People ma, they always easily damage their health through anger.】
Wen Nuan: “….My fault la?”
The system nodded: 【En, your fault. Be glad, it’s good enough that your blackening value didn’t increase.】
Wen Nuan: “…..”
Truly shameless boasting!
One day, Wen Nuan took Qi Hanrong to Lin Manor to visit. Ji Chenwei had been sent off by her to do other things.
Currently, Lin Tinghan had Fang Yongsi under watch. If she insisted on seeing Fang Yongsi, it might make Lin Tinghan detest and resist her even more. Therefore, she could only employ a roundabout strategy: have Ji Chenwei sneak into Lin Manor, deliberately inform Fang Yongsi that Xian Wang had come to Lin Manor to take him away, thereby provoking Fang Yongsi and forcing him out. Then, Qi Hanrong would find an opportunity to bewitch Fang Yongsi and make him tell the truth himself.
“Young Miss, Xian Wang has come to visit you.”
A trace of surprise flashed in Lin Tinghan’s eyes. “Why is she here?”
“Xian Wang said she heard you were ill and came specially to see you.”
Lin Tinghan had indeed been suffering from a cold these past few days, feeling dizzy and muddle-headed. If it were in the past, she wouldn’t have cared about such a minor ailment; it would have seemed like making a fuss over nothing15.
But these past few days, she had used this as an excuse to stay in the manor and rest, not going to the various shops to check accounts.
Though it was recuperation, it was actually… avoidance.
She had been thinking that once she recovered, she would find a good time to see Wen Nuan. Unexpectedly, by a strange twist of fate16, Wen Nuan had come to find her instead!
Lin Tinghan looked at Ruilin’s expression and frowned. “Why do you have that look on your face?”
Ruilin’s face stiffened, and she hesitated to speak. “Xian Wang… Xian Wang didn’t come alone.”
“What do you mean?” Lin Tinghan’s eyes narrowed. “Who is with her? Lianqiao or Sun-gugu?”
Ruilin pursed her lips. “It’s… it’s the Hualang Xian Wang bought at the auction that day.”
Pa—
The writing brush in Lin Tinghan’s hand actually snapped in two.
Her face fell, and she said in a cold voice, “Xu Wen Nuan—”
Just who are you degrading?!
Wen Nuan and Qi Hanrong were led by a servant of Lin Manor to the reception pavilion by Clear Heart Lake.
Along the way, Wen Nuan felt that the decorations within Lin Manor hadn’t changed much, but many small details had altered significantly. For example, the flowers and plants they had planted before were all gone, the two koi carp kept in the lake were also gone, the lake water was greenish-black, and the surface was covered with duckweed, looking as if no one was taking care of it.
The entire Lin Manor felt lifeless and gloomy17, as if enveloped by a black fog, making it hard for the people in the manor to breathe.
“The duckweed in Clear Heart Lake is covering everything, don’t you clean it?” Wen Nuan asked.
The servant respectfully said, “Young Miss doesn’t allow us to touch Clear Heart Lake.”
“She doesn’t let you touch it, why?” Wen Nuan asked in surprise.
If this lake water wasn’t managed, it would definitely become stagnant and smelly. Then the lake would have to be filled in, which would ruin the Fengshui18 of Lin Manor.
Back then, the layout of Lin Manor was specially arranged by a great master Wen Nuan had found to help set up the formations19, especially this Clear Heart Lake, which was considered a vital part of Lin Manor’s Fengshui.
Now that this lake was becoming increasingly dilapidated, it would affect Lin Manor’s fortune.
“I don’t know. Young Miss gave the order, and we just follow it, not daring to ask much,” the servant replied in a low voice.
Presumably, no important information could be obtained from this servant, so Wen Nuan let him leave.
Qi Hanrong looked at Clear Heart Lake through the veil of his conical hat and said faintly, “The layout and Fengshui of Lin Manor are of excellent quality. But this lake water is becoming increasingly filthy. If this continues, it will become stagnant water, muddy and unclear, silted up and blocked. The filthy qi will not be able to disperse. Over time, it will not only be harmful to Lin Manor’s fortune but also, I’m afraid, to Young Miss Lin’s health.”
Wen Nuan said in surprise, “You also understand Fengshui ne?”
Qi Hanrong chuckled lightly. “I know a little. If Ji Chenwei were here, she would explain it more comprehensively than I.”
Ji Chenwei knew many things. For those who roamed the Jianghu, one could never have too many life-saving unique skills.
A gentle breeze came slowly20, rippling the lake’s surface.
The light gauze swayed with the wind, brushing against the hairpin on Wen Nuan’s head and getting caught.
“I’m sorry, Wangye,” Qi Hanrong said hurriedly, raising his hand to take off the white gauze, but then, thinking that the person before him was a Prince, he didn’t dare to be too presumptuous.
Wen Nuan raised her hand, untangled the white gauze, and tied it properly for Qi Hanrong, smiling. “It’s nothing.”
Just as Lin Tinghan walked over, she saw the warm scene of the two in the pavilion looking at each other and smiling.
Her hands clenched tightly, her body trembled slightly, and a dark glint flashed in her eyes.
【Ahhhhh—】the system roared.
Wen Nuan was startled by the system. “Wha… what’s wrong la?!”
The system said in horror: 【The blackening value has risen! The female lead’s blackening value is now as high as 9.4!!】
Wen Nuan: “…..”
The author has something to say:
Wen Nuan, extremely flustered: I’m going to die, I’m going to die!
Female lead, sharpening her knives: That’s right, you’re dead meat!
(Wen Nuan can seek stability and try to lay low, after all, she doesn’t dare to joke around with the blackening value. Although in her heart she feels the possibility of the female lead being “her” is very high, she still needs to confirm it to be more assured.)
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