The Crown Prince Chases His Wife
Chapter 149 Where
In the conference hall of the Left Prime Minister Mansion.
When Prime Minister Wang returned to the mansion, the official matchmaker sent by Ji Mu had already left. Prime Minister Wang was about to ask Madam Wang, who was leisurely sipping tea in the hall, about the situation earlier when the housekeeper came in with a report, “Prime Minister, Minister Ji has arrived with the matchmaker, and… and the betrothal gifts. They are already outside the gate.”
Prime Minister Wang immediately became so furious that he blew his beard and glared.
“Ji Mu, he really dares!”
Without wasting a moment, Prime Minister Wang strode toward the gate, while Madam Wang, supported by the old maid, slowly followed behind.
After walking just a couple of steps, Madam Wang covered her mouth and coughed a few times, then smiled.
This Lord Ji really does handle things efficiently.
Well, it seems I should make a decision quickly too…
Prime Minister Wang strode to the gate and was about to unleash a barrage of anger at Ji Mu, who was dressed in a pale moon-white brocade robe. But then, he suddenly noticed the woman standing beside Ji Mu.
Wasn’t that… the one he encountered earlier in the palace? The newly appointed Princess of Huaiyin, the Seventh Madam Ji from Xuzhou, Xu Ji?
Prime Minister Wang felt a moment of confusion, but then suddenly an idea struck him!
Ji Mu… Seventh Madam Ji!
What was the relationship between these two?
Lost in thought, Prime Minister Wang watched as Seventh Madam Ji and Ji Mu stepped forward together.
Ji Mu nodded slightly to Prime Minister Wang and said, “Minister Wang.”
Seventh Madam Ji, pretending not to notice the cold look Prime Minister Wang had given her son, smiled and said,
“Minister Wang, I apologize for the abrupt visit. Please allow me to propose for my son, Ji Mu, to marry your daughter, Young Lady Wang Jingyi.”
Wang Xian!
Was Ji Mu Seventh Madam Ji’s son?
At this moment, Madam Wang, who had arrived a step later, also stepped out of the gate. She bypassed the somewhat flustered Left Prime Minister, Wang Xian, and warmly invited Ji Mu and his mother, along with the matchmaker, into the mansion for further talks.
After Wang Xian regained his composure, due to Seventh Madam Ji newly bestowed title of Princess of Huaiyin, he begrudgingly exchanged a few polite words with her. Then, the group, both Wang Xian and Madam Wang leading, made their way into the Prime Minister Mansion’s conference hall.
Less than half an hour later, Seventh Madam Ji and Ji Mu were personally escorted out of the mansion by Wang Xian and Madam Wang. Judging by their expressions, it seemed that the marriage proposal between the two families had been settled.
And indeed, this was the case.
When it came to the matter of marrying Wang Jingyi, Ji Mu and Seventh Madam Ji adopted a stance that was both humble and subtly firm toward the Left Prime Minister’s residence.
Wang Xian had no doubt that if he rejected the Ji family’s proposal, by the next day, an imperial decree from the Empress would be issued, granting Ji Mu and Wang Jingyi a marriage.
Even Seventh Madam Ji’s title as Princess seemed to be part of the groundwork laid for this match.
The Ji family from Xuzhou was financially wealthy, and Ji Mu was considered a rising star in the court. With Seventh Madam Ji holding the title of Princess, a marriage alliance with the Ji family didn’t seem beneath the Wang family’s dignity.
But Wang Xian couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease in his chest. The Wang family had been influential for many years and had never before been put in such a passive, subordinate position.
Regardless, the engagement was hastily settled.
That very day, the two families completed four of the six traditional marriage rites, proposing, asking for the names, receiving the auspicious token, and receiving the bride’s betrothal gifts. They tentatively agreed that they would finalize the marriage date after the Emperor entered the tomb in half a month.
Wang Xian’s face was far from pleasant, as he allowed Seventh Madam Ji and Madam Wang to discuss and finalize the details of the wedding arrangements.
————-
Wang Jingyi heard the news of her engagement while at the Imperial Censor Bureau, and her new betrothed was none other than the newly rising noble in the court, the Minister of Personnel, Minister Ji.
Another piece of news quickly spread across the capital.
It turned out that Minister Ji was the young master of the Ji family, the king of ships in Xuzhou, and the only son of the one in charge of the Ji family, who had been granted the title of Princess Huaiyin.
The eldest young lady Wang was previously rumored to have been rejected by the He family, but now it seemed like she had received an even better marriage proposal, which was truly a matter worth discussing!
As soon as Wang Jingyi returned home, her mother called for her, and she was confronted with a courtyard full of boxes tied with red ribbons, which caused her eyes to sting.
Seeing her daughter’s pale face, Madam Wang knew she must be unhappy with the marriage arrangement. However, the priority now was to ensure her daughter’s safety. Moreover, from what she had observed, Ji Mu seemed to care for her daughter genuinely.
Madam Wang handed over the list of wedding gifts sent by Ji Mu to Wang Jingyi, “Take a look.”
Wang Jingyi took it, quickly glanced over it, and her expression changed instantly.
Although she came from a noble family and had been in the palace since she was young, the items on this betrothal gift list were enough to dazzle her.
Madam Wang said to Wang Jingyi, “Jingyi, as someone who’s been through it all, there are some things I can still discern.”
“Is there another man you’re interested in?”
Upon hearing this, Wang Jingyi’s body stiffened slightly, but she didn’t respond to her mother’s question. She didn’t even look up to meet Madam Wang’s gaze, keeping her eyes fixed on the densely written list of wedding gifts in her hand.
Seeing her daughter’s reaction, Madam Wang was even more certain of her guess.
After a soft sigh, Madam Wang continued, “Jingyi, you’re a girl with your own thoughts.”
“If you’ve truly taken a liking to someone, and yet neither that man nor you have made any move, it can only mean one of two things: either the man is already married, or he has no interest in you.”
“Jingyi, you also know that this is a very delicate time. The marriage with the Ji family is not to harm you.”
“Mother doesn’t know how long you’ve known that Minister Ji, or if there’s any past between you two. But look at the items on the wedding gift list. Aside from being valuable, how many of them aren’t the kind of things that can be found and prepared in just a day or two?”
“Mother guesses that Ji Mu must have been preparing for this marriage proposal for a long time.”
After saying this, Madam Wang suddenly broke into a violent cough.
She had indeed overexerted herself today, but she was deeply satisfied, and her heart felt settled.
Wang Jingyi put down the gift list and hurried over to support her mother, gently rubbing her back.
Once the coughing fit subsided and her breathing steadied, Madam Wang looked at her daughter with a soft gaze and spoke slowly, “Jingyi, listen to your mother. Don’t tire yourself out. Just live a peaceful life. Be good.”
Seeing the earnest look in her mother’s eyes, Wang Jingyi finally nodded in agreement.
———–
The day after the engagement between the Left Prime Minister Mansion and Minister Ji Mansion, another piece of news that shook the court reverberated throughout the capital city.
Madame Wang, the head matron of the Left Prime Minister Mansion, personally went to the Imperial Court of Judicial Review to charge the Left Prime Minister of corruption, collusion with merchants and seeking personal gain.
Madame Wang gave her testimony to the Court of Judicial Review, “More than a decade ago, I was with my daughter, Wang Jingyan, at a temple in Yangzhou, when thieves attacked us. We were saved by the wealthy merchant family, the Yu family of Yangzhou.”
“A high monk in the temple once said that if my daughter, Wang Jingyan, were raised by the Yu family, it could dispel her misfortune.”
“However, unexpectedly, not long after, Jingyan passed away from a prolonged high fever.”
“Afterward, Prime Minister and the Yu family discussed things, and the Yu family found another orphan girl of the same age as Jingyan to replace her and continue her upbringing.”
“Since then, the Yu family used this fake Jingyan to send vast amounts of money to the Left Prime Minister Mansion.”
“Through his position, Prime Minister also gave the Yu family a lot of information and business advantages.”
“The secret dealings between the Left Prime Minister Mansion and the Yu family were all covered up by a veil of secrecy, and that veil was the false Wang Jingyan, who was not only the legitimate second daughter of the Left Prime Minister Mansion but also the adopted daughter of the Yu family in Yangzhou.”
“For many years, I kept this secret in order to preserve the reputation of the Left Prime Minister Mansion, and never spoke a word about it.”
“But after my eldest daughter, Jingyi, went to the Imperial Censor Bureau, she often returned home to discuss certain cases with me, which made my conscience increasingly uneasy. As a result, I have decided to report my husband, Wang Xian, to the court. At the same time, I, as his wife, also bear the responsibility for concealing the truth, and I ask the officials to punish me severely.”
After Madame Wang arrived at the Imperial Court of Judicial Review, she was immediately detained, and Left Prime Minister Wang Xian was summoned for questioning, causing a stir in the entire court.
Naturally, Wang Xian denied all of Madame Wang’s accusations. He insisted that his wife, having suffered from long-term illness and medication, had become mentally confused and her memory disordered, and everything she said was pure nonsense.
Of course, the case at the Imperial Court of Judicial Review didn’t yield any clear conclusions, as there was no solid evidence, and the only witness was from the Left Prime Minister Mansion. It was true, as Wang Xian had said, that Madame Wang’s mental condition was not good.
However, on the day that Wang Xian was detained, the Minister of the Imperial Court of Judicial Review, Peng Du, with a troubled expression, conveyed the will of the Taizi Mansion to Wang Xian, “The evidence in the case of Madam Wang’s accusation against the Left Prime Minister is not sufficient, but there has indeed been a long-standing large financial exchange between the Left Prime Minister Mansion and the Yu family of Yangzhou. Simply supporting the claim that the Yu family supported the adopted daughter Wang Jingyan is not convincing enough. What Madam Wang said may indeed be true. This case will be concluded as the Left Prime Minister Mansion’s collusion with the Yu family of Yangzhou for official and business benefits.”
“Now, this case has spread widely, and the public is well aware of it, causing severe negative impact.”
“Therefore, it is ordered that Left Prime Minister Wang Xian to resign, that Wang Jingheng be demoted to Xuzhou, and that the assets of both the Left Prime Minister Mansion and the Yu family of Yangzhou be confiscated and forfeited.”
“Since Madame Wang’s decision to report the case was influenced by her eldest daughter, Wang Jingyi, the Imperial Censor Bureau has promoted Wang Jingyi to the position of Fourth-Rank Junior Censor as a reward.”
Upon hearing this, Wang Xian instantly collapsed to the ground.
It didn’t even require concrete evidence to reach a conclusion. Even if Madam Wang’s accusations were just one-sided or fabricated lies, they were enough for the Taizi’s faction to use them to their advantage.
The Left Prime Minister Mansion was done.
———–
The corruption case involving the Left Prime Minister Mansion began and concluded incredibly swiftly, and its final resolution was both shocking and regretful.
When the matriarch of the family personally reported the case, the matter was swiftly settled. The entire Left Prime Minister Mansion family was raided and their assets confiscated, the Left Prime Minister was dismissed from his position, and the eldest young master Wang was banished from the court.
However, if this had truly been a corruption case pursued in earnest, the outcome would not have been limited to merely dismissing officials and confiscating property. When the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, An Binghuai, was caught in corruption, not only was his entire family’s property confiscated, but the male members were exiled, and the female relatives were forced into becoming official courtesans such a disastrous outcome.
This case, however, seemed more like a pretext for the Taizi to push the Left Prime Minister out of the court.
As the Left Prime Minister Mansion experienced this great upheaval, only the eldest daughter of the Left Prime Minister Mansion, Wang Jingyi, emerged with a promotion, advancing to the position of Fourth-Rank Junior Censor, which was the second-highest position in the Imperial Censor Bureau, a highly influential role among the officials.
While it was said to be a reward for Wang Jingyi, it appeared more like the last bit of compensation for the fall of the Wang family.
The trial of the Liang Wang case had not yet begun to be tried, and Madame Wang’s decision to report the Left Prime Minister Mansion was far from just an act of filial piety.
According to Madam Wang, the current legitimate second daughter of the Left Prime Minister Mansion, Wang Jingyan, was not her biological daughter, but a replacement. So, with the Liang Wang having married Wang Jingyan as his primary wife, the relationship between the Left Prime Minister Mansion and the Liang Wang had become even more distant. This significantly reduced the likelihood of the Left Prime Minister Mansion being implicated through their connection to the Liang Wang.
Was Madam Wang’s action, then, a calculated move to abandon a piece on the chessboard to protect the general?
Of course, the Left Prime Minister Mansion’s use of an unidentified fake daughter to form a marriage alliance with the imperial family could also be seen as deceiving the emperor, but that is another matter for discussion.
———-
Wang Jingyi met Ji Mu, her current fiancé, in the reception hall of the Ji Mansion.
Wang Jingyi did not take a seat but went straight to the point, “I already know that you met with my mother.”
“Did you make her go to the Imperial Court of Judicial Review?”
Ji Mu looked at the woman in front of him, whose usual composure was now replaced with an unmistakable sense of frustration and anger.
Ji Mu stood up and walked toward Wang Jingyi, who was standing in the hall.
Wang Jingyi continued, “Ji Mu, did you already know that the Left Prime Minister Mansion would never truly fall? You tricked me into marrying you, you…”
Before she could finish, Ji Mu, now standing right in front of her, pulled her into his arms, and a passionate kiss met her lips.
After the kiss, their lips parted, and Ji Mu looked at Wang Jingyi’s dark eyes, which were glistening slightly from having held her breath, and spoke softly, “Madam Ji, I look forward to your guidance for the rest of our lives.”
———–
Wang Jingyi sat in the carriage returning to the mansion, still feeling a bit warm on her face.
Ji Mu was truly despicable!
But now that the Left Prime Minister Mansion’s fate had been sealed, she no longer had to live in fear of being shattered by the turmoil in the court every day.
As the carriage rocked, Wang Jingyi suddenly remembered the words her mother had spoken to her earlier when she had helped her mother settle into bed before leaving the mansion, “Jingyi, your household registration has been moved to the Ji family. Your dowry and the betrothal gifts sent by the Ji family have already been delivered to their house. They are all under your name, and they are your private property.”
“I’m sorry, Jingyi. I’m sorry I couldn’t let you marry grandly.”
Wang Jingyi had been too eager to confront Ji Mu earlier, so she hadn’t thought too much about her mother’s expression and tone. But now, recalling them…
“Quickly, return to the mansion!” Wang Jingyi instructed the driver urgently.
The driver whipped the horse hard, and the carriage quickly went to the Left Prime Minister Mansion.
Wang Jingyi in the carriage was getting more and more anxious, her mother…
What you fear will come true. When Wang Jingyi returned to the mansion, the whole mansion was filled with crying.
Madam Wang committed suicide by taking poison.
The entire Left Prime Minister Mansion was shrouded in the mourning of the death of the mistress and the destruction of the family. The Left Prime Minister Wang Xian had been locking himself in the study, and the mansion was temporarily managed by Wang Jingheng and Wang Jingyi.
Fortunately, due to the sudden death of Madam Wang, the Imperial Court of Judicial Review postponed the confiscation of the family until Madam Wang’s funeral, and the entire Left Prime Minister Mansion was slightly relieved.
Another piece of news shocked the entire court.
The Left Prime Minister Wang Xian was dismissed from court and resigned, and the current Minister of Personnel Ji Mu took over as the new Left Prime Minister.
Everyone in the capital city exclaimed again.
This new Left Prime Minister Ji Mu is the prospective son-in-law of the former Prime Minister Wang Xian.
And Wang Jingyi, the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister Mansion, although no longer a young lady of the Prime Minister Mansion, has become the Prime Minister’s wife.
Young Lady Wang’s fate is something that ordinary people dare not even imagine, tut tut…
————–
Xuzhou.
Upon receiving the urgent military order from the Ministry of War, Marquis of Guannei immediately led his troops toward Lingnan.
At the same time, the Marquis of Guannei learned that the Liang Wang had been defeated, the Taizi had safely returned to the capital, and his daughter, Han Shuangling, had even been promoted to the rank of General and was sent to Lingnan as an overseeing military officer for the three armies.
Marquis of Guannei, Han Shiyan, didn’t seem to care much about the role of the three-army commander-in-chief nor about leaving his stationed base. The only consolation in this unfortunate situation was that the Marquis of Guannei Mansion would not be implicated due to the Liang Wang affair.
If it weren’t for the urgent need to break camp and march, Han Shiyan would have definitely opened a few jars of old wine to celebrate.
His daughter truly brought him honor!
The army of Marquis of Guannei marched south in light gear at a rapid pace, meeting up with the Chifeng Army before arriving at the camp of the Count of Pingnan in Lingnan.
Meanwhile, Princess Xinyue, the regent of the Southern Xinjiang, also received news from within the Great Xia realm.
After sitting quietly for a moment while incense burned, Princess Xinyue ordered the complete withdrawal of Southern Xinjiang forces back beyond the old border with Great Xia.
However, the newly formed coalition of Great Xia’s southern border troops was not so easy to deal with. Could the Southern Xinjiang army come and go at will?
The three armies of Great Xia’s southern region exerted heavy pressure on the retreating Southern Xinjiang forces and, with momentum on their side, pursued them relentlessly, compressing nearly a third of Southern Xinjiang’s territory. The Lancang River, a treacherous natural border, became the new demarcation line between Great Xia and Southern Xinjiang.
The Southern Xinjiang was forced to sign a surrender agreement.
————-
Princess Xinyue’s heart burned with resentment. She had initially sent troops to Lingnan to tie down the southern forces of Great Xia, hoping to assist Liang Wang in his efforts. But in the end, it turned out to be a complete failure and Southern Xinjiang had become a huge joke.
“Princess, the Liang Wang has arrived,” a palace attendant reported to Princess Xinyue.
Princess Xinyue raised her hand, and shortly after, Liang Wang Feng Yi, wearing only a simple robe, entered her chamber.
Princess Xinyue, Shiyue, looked at the man walking toward her.
Feng Yi seemed to have just bathed, still carrying the dampness of the water on him.
Liang Wang Feng Yi and Taizi Feng Zhan were half-brothers, who shared the same father but had different mothers. Their faces bore some resemblance, yet their temperaments were worlds apart.
Shiyue quietly thought to herself, next time, perhaps she should drink a little before having Feng Yi over so that she might be less clear-headed, and perhaps it would be harder to tell the difference.
For now, she would make do.
The ambiguous sounds gradually filled the palace hall, and after the rain stopped and the clouds dispersed, the two of them retired to their separate bedroom to bathe.
In the bath, Shiyue closed her eyes and relaxed her body. When the man’s breath drew near, she suddenly opened her eyes. The gaze that met him was devoid of any hint of desire.
Feng Yi sensed Princess Xinyue’s rejection. He silently exited the bath, dressed in his inner robes, and left on his own.
Shiyue truly had lost her interest. She leaned back against the stone wall, her mind already drifting far away.
The Taizifei of Great Xia, Qin Yan, was truly fortunate to have captured the heart of Taizi Feng Zhan, a man who excelled in every way.
Taizi Feng Zhan… If only she could sleep with him just once in her life, it would be worth it.
————
Outside the palace, Liang Wang stood in the cool breeze with icy eyes.
Now, he was forced to rely on others, living under their protection, and had to use his appearance to please others just to barely survive in Southern Xinjiang.
Princess Xinyue had practically treated him as a male concubine, and when she withdrew her troops, she even sent people to kill his legitimate wife, Wang Jingyan, and his secondary wife, Lin Miao. She was truly cruel beyond measure!
But defeat was defeat.
Feng Yi had been lying in wait for many years, preparing thoroughly when he led his troops to the capital. Yet, in the end, everything had fallen apart.
Years of careful planning had been ruined in an instant, but the Taizi was too powerful. Unless there was another opportunity to act during the northern border conflict, it seemed there would be no other chance.
The Taizi had managed to return so quickly from the northern border victory, something that seemed almost impossible. How had the Taizi pulled it off?
Then there was Xie Changyuan, every sign pointed to the fact that Xie Changyuan was still in love with his former fiancée, Qin Yan. Yet, he still stood with the Taizi!
As for Jin Wang, who was timid and afraid of conflict and had refused to go to the capital—fine. But Ning Wang had worked with him many times in the past, and they shared a deep bond. This time, however, Ning Wang had made no move!
The latest news from Qingzhou reported that Ning Wang was not even at his Ning Wang Mansion in Qingzhou.
So… where had Ning Wang gone?