When Jun Chenyu returned to the Hall of Supreme Harmony and saw the screen, a trace of pity still lingered in his heart. Though he was furious at what Consort Shu had done, he could not bear to punish her.
"Your Majesty, Her Highness was just taken back to the Palace of Prolonged Happiness. I heard she nearly cried herself unconscious." Eunuch Lu served him tea.
Jun Chenyu's expression darkened. "The consort is too impatient, after all. It will do her good to spend these two days calming herself!"
He had still not vented his dissatisfaction with the Duke of State Protection's Residence on her.
His love for her back then had been genuine. After bringing her into the palace, he had favored many other women to maintain the balance of power. Ultimately, he felt he owed Consort Shu.
After Wen Yunmian returned, the disturbance left the entire harem considerably quieter. The consorts no longer dared to come and go freely.
The emperor spent that night in the Hall of Supreme Harmony and summoned no one to attend him.
Wen Yunmian changed her clothes. When she emerged and saw the dark clouds looming overhead, she felt a surge of emotion.
Knowing Consort Shu, that old acquaintance of hers, she feared the woman would bring disaster upon herself tonight.
In any case, all of this was the fruit of their own actions. Why should she, their victim, pity them?
She went out with Yun Yang, and the two arrived outside a secluded, abandoned palace building. Yun Yang stood guard outside.
Wen Fu'an had been waiting there for quite some time. Seeing Wen Yunmian arrive, he reluctantly rose and bowed. "This subject greets Lady Wan."
Once she entered the palace, they were naturally sovereign and subject.
Wen Yunmian sat down. "Have you been well lately, Father?"
Wen Fu'an's face darkened. The mere mention of it angered him. "Well? Just look at what you've done! The grievances between your mother and me are private household matters. Family disgrace should never be aired outside, yet you dared tell His Majesty without the slightest sense of propriety! It was entirely because of you that I was reprimanded at court!"
Wen Fu'an's barrage of scolding chilled Wen Yunmian's heart. Whatever happened, he never saw the heart of the matter, only its surface.
When she was young, she had suffered countless injustices under the schemes of the supporting female character and Madam Meng. He had only ever listened to one side of the story, chilling not only her mother's heart but hers as well.
"Do you truly believe His Majesty would reprimand you before all his civil and military officials over a woman's household affairs? Do you think your daughter already has the emperor's heart firmly in her grasp, making him disregard the greater picture merely to avenge me?"
Moonlight shone through the broken window. Wen Yunmian sat in a simple, elegant pale-blue ruqun, an air of cool detachment surrounding her.
Yet that presence intimidated Wen Fu'an.
He had only ever seen such authority in the emperor and empress dowager-the imposing dignity of someone long accustomed to high office, commanding awe without anger.
But her utterly indifferent expression displeased Wen Fu'an immensely. That face was just like her mother's, always looking down on him with cold, detached composure.
"Do you think gaining great favor in the palace gives you the right to run wild?"
"Not only have I, your father, gained no honor through you, but you've also caused your younger sister to fall out of His Majesty's favor!"
"Now you refuse to repent after doing wrong, and you still have the nerve to stand here criticizing your father?"
Wen Yunmian's brows lowered. Unwilling to listen to his lectures, she went straight to the point. "I came today to ask you just one question, Father. Grandfather rendered great service to the late emperor and paid with his life for a marquisate lasting three generations. Do you intend to let His Majesty take it back?"
Wen Fu'an's expression changed drastically. He could not believe that this stern, sharp-tongued woman before him was the reserved, quiet daughter he once knew.
Before he could rebuke her, however, Wen Yunmian cut him off. "The Duke of State Protection's Residence now basks in glory. Its eldest son, Qin Zhao, fights the enemy on the Eastern Frontier and commands two hundred thousand soldiers of the Eastern Suppression Army."
"The Duke of State Pacification has served three reigns and covers the court's sky with one hand. His daughter, Qin Shuyu, holds the rank of noble consort and enjoys unrivaled favor in the harem."
"You dare entangle yourself with a family whose achievements overshadow the sovereign? Father, do you think you've lived too long, or that the ruler's scheming runs too shallow?"
Wen Fu'an froze. "What do you mean by that? Do you think just anyone can attach themselves to the Duke of State Protection's Residence? You know the Marquis’s Residence has fallen on hard times. If I don't secure ties with the duke's household, how can the Marquis’s Residence return to its former glory?"
Wen Yunmian drew a deep breath. She had never thought her father could be so stubborn. "Do you think His Majesty punished you merely because you mistreated your first wife? In truth, he was killing the chicken to frighten the monkey, using your reprimand to warn the Duke of State Pacification."
"Father, I'll tell you plainly: the Duke of State Protection's Residence will not last. Throughout history, who has ever threatened a sovereign without knowing when to rein themselves in and met a good end? The Duke of State Pacification even dares oppose and reject His Majesty's decrees. Have you forgotten?"
Wen Fu'an suddenly felt he could no longer understand this daughter of his. He frowned. "You know nothing about court affairs. Stop meddling in them. Your main task is to compete for favor in the harem and make His Majesty value me because of you. That is what will benefit the Marquis’s Residence most!"
Wen Yunmian's voice was level, but her gaze was cold as she looked straight at him. "Have you ever considered why the Duke of State Pacification is willing to associate with you?"
Just as Wen Fu'an was about to speak, Wen Yunmian continued, "Because of your mediocre abilities? Or the talent that failed to earn you a jinshi degree after six attempts? Or the Marquis’s Residence behind you, so fallen that its fortune is almost exhausted?"
Wen Fu'an's face turned livid, but Wen Yunmian's words also instantly pulled him out of his impulsive anger.
Wen Yunmian said bluntly, "Because Grandfather's support before his death made you commander of the Capital Northern Gate Military Command. You have the capital's Golden Guards under your authority and can deploy them to defend the capital."
"If the Duke of State Pacification rebels one day, Qin Zhao's frontier troops will be distant water that cannot quench an immediate thirst. That is when the Golden Guards you can mobilize will prove useful."
Wen Fu'an shuddered. "Shut your mouth!" he cried. "What nonsense are you talking about? Rebellion? How could that be possible? If you want to throw your life away, don't drag the Marquis’s Residence to its death with you!"
Wen Yunmian's eyes were icy. "Father, if you listen to me and keep your distance from the Duke of State Protection's Residence, ceasing your dealings with them, I can guarantee you wealth and honor."
The moonlight made Wen Yunmian's delicate, fair face look even more like jade and snow, but her pale eyes held an inexplicably compelling authority.
As though spellbound, Wen Fu'an stared at his daughter, who was only seventeen. "You can guarantee me wealth and honor?"
"There is an opportunity right now."
Wen Yunmian looked steadily at him. He was her father, after all. If the Marquis’s Residence gained power, it would support her as well, so she was willing to tell him the truth.
"Ten days from now, Cloud City will suffer flooding. The local authorities will collude with bandits to profit from the chaos, assassinate the river governor, bury his corpse, and conceal it from the court."
"Five days from now, volunteer at court to go to Cloud City and control the flooding, while secretly apprehending the bandits. When the time comes, I will give you a clever plan tucked in a brocade pouch, telling you how to expose the local officials' actions and save the river governor."
Wen Fu'an's eyes widened like bronze bells. He stammered for a long while. "Y-you've gone mad! What nonsense are you spouting? Can you predict the future now?"
Wen Yunmian regarded him earnestly. "You are my father. I will not harm you. If you want to be valued, gain promotion and riches, and restore the honor of the Marquis’s Residence, then I am placing this opportunity in your hands."
"All you need to do is follow what I just told you. I guarantee that upon your return, you will be promoted to chief commander of the Five Cities Military Command."
Wen Fu'an swallowed nervously. What Wen Yunmian said was far too uncanny. Both his hands trembled on the table, but inwardly, he was wavering. "One careless mistake while suppressing bandits could cost me my life."
"You are a military officer, and you once followed Grandfather onto the battlefield. What are you afraid of? Besides, you won't be going to war alone."
Wen Fu'an's eyes betrayed his cowardice. "I only survived back then because your grandfather protected me. The battlefield is too dangerous."
Wen Yunmian was speechless.
"So, will you agree or not?"
Wen Fu'an considered it for a moment. "Let me think about it."
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