Chapter 11 Humiliating Wen Jin’an
Wen Jinli thought he had already compromised a great deal.
Didn’t she just want more compensation? He would speak well of her in front of their father, but all of this was predicated on the day's events not affecting An’an’s reputation.
Wen Xueling’s eyes were clear, and she said, “In. Your. Dreams.” every word deliberate.
Wen Jinli was angered into shame, scolding in a low voice, “Ling’er, she’s your sister! How can you, as an older sister, be so heartless?”
Older sister?
Heh! He really knew how to add luster to a concubine’s daughter.
“Then do you dare to tell her my identity? Do you dare?”
“You don't dare.” Wen Xueling exposed his hypocrisy right to his face.
Hearing her tone, Wen Jinli felt a deep disgust. He didn't understand why she always had to push him, without any of An’an’s thoughtful consideration.
He coldly set his face and ordered the guards, “Seize her.”
Seeing through what he was about to do, Wen Xueling didn’t struggle. He was indeed of the same vile character as in her previous life.
Wen Jinli was determined to make her the scapegoat.
Hearing his plan to have Wen Xueling take the blame, Wen Jin’an’s lips curved upward.
As his gaze came over, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief, feigning an appearance of being deeply moved by Wen Jinli’s actions.
She was surprised by Wen Xueling’s outstanding beauty, which seemed vaguely familiar, and was intertwined with jealousy.
Meeting those dark, almond-shaped eyes, she guiltily looked away, knowing full well the truth of today’s events.
After a long while, Jiang Furong arrived with her people.
Wen Jin’an smiled and stepped forward to greet her, “Sister Jiang, this woman is the one who was secretly trying to sneak away just now. My brother and I caught her, and now she's yours to deal with.”
Cheng Yuting, who had hurried along, sighed in relief when he saw she was fine. His gaze fell upon Wen Xueling, and he was stunned by her beauty.
He received Wen Jin’an’s glance and quickly said, “Furong, she’s the woman who tried to seduce me in the pavilion.”
“But my heart is only set on my engagement with you, and I would never engage in such frivolous and lowly behavior as a private meeting. You must believe me!”
Cheng Yuting was skilled at sweet-talking and deceiving, but in reality, he was illiterate and a good-for-nothing who only sought pleasure. He hadn’t even realized that his words just now had also insulted Wen Jin’an.
They sang in chorus, splashed dirty water onto Wen Xueling. If it had been anyone else, they would probably have lost their composure long ago.
Wen Xueling calmly met Jiang Furong’s thoughtful gaze.
In a daze, Jiang Furong calmed down and asserted with certainty, “It's not her.”
Wen Jin’an anxiously pressed, “If it’s not her, who else could it be? My brother and I caught her directly, Sister Jiang, are you seeing things?”
Hearing this, Jiang Furong stared at her meaningfully, but Wen Jin’an dared not meet her gaze.
While others remained silent, only Wen Xueling understood the meaning in her eyes, silently twitching her lips.
Anyone who wasn’t blind knew who was in the pavilion, but everyone unanimously chose silence.
Power truly was a good thing. Even though they knew who the secret lovers were, they couldn’t directly point it out.
But Jiang Furong laughed, breaking the silence of the plum forest.
“The woman in the pavilion was four feet five inches tall, wearing an apricot-pink silk dress, with a cross-shaped bun, and a bell at her waist...”
As soon as she said this, Wen Jin’an’s eyes immediately flickered with panic. She quietly moved her body, hiding behind Wen Jinli.
Just then, a gust of wind blew, and the bell at her waist jingled, plunging the surroundings into an even deeper silence.
The noble young ladies realized they had witnessed this scandal. They all made excuses about admiring plum blossoms and went to other parts of the plum forest.
The current Prime Minister was the Emperor’s favorite official.
Ultimately, it was someone else’s family affair, and they wouldn’t interfere.
Having encountered such a distressing incident, Wen Jin'an no longer had any desire to admire plum blossoms. She quickly found an excuse and hastily departed, her face flushed.
Wen Jinli, worried she would be in a bad mood, immediately quickened his pace to follow her.
As he walked past Wen Xueling, he glared at her.
It was all because of her that An’an lost the desire to admire plum blossoms. She was truly a killjoy.
Cheng Yuting, knowing he had lost face, had no intention of lingering either.
The surroundings fell silent.
Wen Xueling turned her back, her wrist expertly twisting, and the fine ropes instantly fell off, though they still left a red mark.
Jiang Furong asserted, “That paper ball was given by you, wasn't it?”
She rubbed her aching wrist, not denying it.
Out of consideration for Jiang Furong having once covered her with an outer robe when she was poorly clad in her previous life, Wen Xueling reminded her, “Cheng Yuting is not a good match”
Just as she turned, Jiang Furong’s voice came from behind her.
“I know you are sincerely advising me. In the future, if you need any help, you can come to Jiang Manor to find me.”
Turning back to meet the gaze of this only daughter of the Grand Judge, Wen Xueling nodded.
Everything she had done just now was for that one sentence.
Wen Xueling quickened her pace, rushing to the place where the Empress Dowager had an incident in her previous life!
This was largely due to the show-off Wen Jin’an, who had repeatedly brought up the details of saving the Empress Dowager in her previous life, allowing her to find the spot so quickly.
Everything was overlapping with her previous life.
However, this time, the person who saved the Empress Dowager finally became Wen Xueling.
She administered the precious medicine to the Empress Dowager, whose body quickly showed improvement.
The patches of hives on the Empress Dowager’s face were not unfamiliar to Wen Xueling, because she also had them.
Once, during an outbreak in the Slave City dungeon, she learned from the person who taught her how to make gunpowder that this symptom was called allergies.
Wen Xueling said anxiously, “The Old Madam cannot be exposed to wind now. Quickly, bring a sedan chair and take the Old Madam out of the plum forest.”
The two old nannies accompanying the Empress Dowager exchanged glances, quickly had a sedan chair brought over, and returned to Fu’an Temple on the mountain peak.
The Imperial Physician was already waiting in the back courtyard.
This was not the Empress Dowager’s first time experiencing these symptoms. When severe, it had caused difficulty breathing, and it took half a year of conditioning in the palace before it showed effect.
But the cause of the illness remained undiscovered.
This was the fastest time the Empress Dowager had recovered.
After the hives on her body subsided, she had Wen Xueling invited into the room.
Separated by a folding screen, the Empress Dowager asked her, “How do you know about this condition?”
Wen Xueling knew that the Empress Dowager was already suspicious of her.
Although everything was within her expectations, she still dared not let down her guard.
She glanced at the old nanny guarding the door, rolled up her sleeve, and said, “Because......I also have this symptom.”
On her fair arm, patches of pink hives were particularly noticeable.
After the old nanny approached to examine them, she nodded to the other old nanny behind the screen.
“I once met a traveling divine physician who said this condition is called allergies, and it appears when in contact with certain specific things.”
“Some people are allergic to pollen, some to certain foods. Different body types will have different symptoms.”
“And I am allergic to plum blossoms.”
The Empress Dowager was not entirely convinced by her words and retorted, “Since you know you are allergic to plum blossoms, why did you still come to the plum forest?”
Wen Xueling looked at the screen and said, “To test the medicine.”
“Bold! How dare you give our master......” The old nanny's words were cut off before she finished by the person behind the screen.
How could someone who had reached the Empress Dowager’s position be without brains?
She smiled and said, “The medicine you gave me to take was not the one you intended to test, was it?”
Wen Xueling explained that the medicine she gave her was a life-saving medicine given by the divine physician.
There was only one such pill in the world.
These words were not false. Her mother had only refined three pills in total, and the one given to the Empress Dowager was the last one.
“Do you know my identity?”
“I didn't know when I saved you, but I understand now that your identity is noble. Administering medicine presumptuously was due to my overwhelming concern. I hope you can forgive......my rashness.”
“The medicine was used by me. What will you do?”
“I have already produced a medicine with similar effects......”
When she left the room, Wen Xueling’s back was damp with sweat.
Even with her memories from her previous life, facing someone of the Empress Dowager’s status, she was still afraid of saying the wrong thing and losing her head.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly.
Inside the room, the Empress Dowager held a rosary and smiled.
“This girl clearly guessed my identity, yet she remained so composed. No wonder Prime Minister Wen hid his daughter in the mansion for over ten years. She’s quite a match for the legitimate son of Marquis Ding’an.”
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