Chapter 12 Wen Xueling’s Clever Plan
After leaving the rear courtyard of Fu’an Temple, Wen Xueling sensed that the Empress Dowager’s people were following her.
Fortunately, all of this was within her expectations.
Wen Xueling did not immediately return to Warm Fragrance Garden. Instead, she switched to a carriage identical to Wen Jin’an’s and headed straight towards the Prime Minister’s Estate.
As the year-end approached, the markets in the capital were much livelier than usual.
The Empress Dowager’s guard following her was bumped into by an old man. He scolded in a low voice, “Watch where you’re going!”
The old man grabbed his sleeve: “You little brat, you clearly bumped into me! If you don”t compensate me ten copper coins, this matter won't be over today!”
In the time it took for this distraction, Wen Xueling’s carriage had already turned into a small alley.
When the guard shook off the old man and caught up, he happened to see the carriage drive into the Prime Minister’s Estate. He immediately returned to Fu’an Temple to report to the Empress Dowager.
Wen Xueling stood at the alley entrance, watching the guard’s retreating figure.
Before leaving, she turned and glanced from afar at the Prime Minister’s Estate’s plaque.
Wen Xueling had calculated the time precisely, sending her own people to delay the guard so that he would just happen to see Wen Jin’an’s carriage entering the mansion.
The two carriages were identical, thus creating the perfect misplacement.
The Empress Dowager liked to bestow rewards openly, and the best way for a subject to remember the imperial favor was to hold a banquet to announce it to the world.
Within three days, the news of the Empress Dowager being saved by the Prime Minister’s daughter would surely spread throughout the capital.
Based on her understanding of Wen Jin’an in her previous life, even if this good deed wasn’t hers, she would remain silent and take credit for it.
When others discovered the truth, she would even cry and feign grievance, claiming she had never admitted it.
Next, the Prime Minister’s Estate was in for a good show!
She would definitely make her mother rightfully and splendidly enter the Prime Minister’s Estate!
Returning to Warm Fragrance Garden.
Wen Xueling accompanied Mu Qingyu for dinner, then personally brewed medicine for her to drink. Seeing her mother’s complexion gradually improve, the burden on her heart finally eased a little.
“Mother, after a few more doses of medicine, your body will be completely healed.”
The journey north to the capital had already exhausted all their travel funds. Mu Qingyu knew that Wen Xueling’s early mornings and late nights were all for her.
She looked at her daughter’s thin body and said with a pained heart, “Mother has burdened you.”
Wen Xueling shook her head, grasping her hand. “Mother, don't say that. You gave birth to me and raised me for over ten years. I’ve only taken care of you for a few days. How can that be considered a burden?”
With just a meeting of eyes, Wen Xueling saw through her worries.
She smiled, “Mother, do you know about the Liang family army?”
The Liang family army had been stationed in the Northern Frontier for over ten years, dedicating themselves to the people. Naturally, they, living in Huaxi County of the Northern Frontier, knew about them and trusted them immensely.
“Mother, Ling’er heard that the General Zhenguo's Estate is heavily seeking talented people to create weapons of war. So I drew some blueprints and sent them over to try my luck.”
“Unexpectedly, one arrow blueprint was chosen by General Liang.”
“Our current residence is arranged by them for their own people. Mother, you know Ling’er’s talent in this area, so you can stay without worry.”
Her words were well-reasoned and grounded, and Mu Qingyu believed her.
After all, Wen Xueling had enjoyed tinkering with knives, spears, and arrows since childhood. Every time Mu Qingyu went into the mountains, she would bring the weapons she made for their self-defense.
Wen Xueling deeply knew that what she had to do next was extremely dangerous.
Therefore, this time, she did not ask the Empress Dowager for the title of County Princess. Instead, she requested a jade pendant to ensure her mother's safety.
Seeing the jade pendant was like seeing the Empress Dowager.
Even Wen Jingshu could not inflict harm upon the holder of the jade pendant.
In less than two days, news spread from the palace.
The Empress Dowager’s long-standing illness, which had not been cured for decades, was healed by the Prime Minister’s daughter at Fu’an Temple. The Emperor was greatly pleased and specially set up a winter banquet in the warm pavilion of the palace, inviting all officials and their families to celebrate together.
Wen Xueling, her face veiled with white gauze, carried a wooden box in her hand, listening to the discussions around her.
“The Prime Minister’s daughter is truly a blessed person! Her father is the Prime Minister, and she has four older brothers who spoil her rotten. Now she has saved the Empress Dowager. This is truly a destiny of wealth and glory for life!”
“Don’t forget, her mother is the God of War of the Xie family, and the Xie family army’s prestige is far-reaching. Even the engagement with Marquis Ding’an’s Estate was a good match set by the Emperor for the Xie family’s descendants.”
Wen Xueling slowed her pace, listened for a few more sentences, then quickened her steps and left the bustling market.
In the past few days, the visiting cards sent to the Prime Minister’s Estate had never stopped. Wen Jin’an’s close friends also called on her one after another.
Even the noble young ladies who had secretly mocked her in the plum forest earlier sent people with invaluable famous paintings and calligraphy, as well as silks, satins, rouge, and jewelry—items beloved by young ladies—hoping to establish a connection with her.
Wen Jin’an accepted them all, her face full of smiles, tacitly acknowledging that she was the one.
But Wen Jinli knew very well that after they left the pavilion, they returned to the capital by carriage, and did not save anyone along the way.
His father only had two daughters; if it wasn’t An’an, then it could only be Wen Xueling.
He guessed that Wen Xueling had unintentionally saved the Empress Dowager. When the Empress Dowager asked for her identity, being so vain, she would inevitably associate herself with the Prime Minister’s Estate.
Everyone in the capital knew that the Prime Minister’s Estate only had one daughter, which was An’an.
Thus, everything made sense.
Wen Xueling was indeed scheming, wanting to force their father to acknowledge her identity and wanting to humiliate An’an.
No, he couldn’t let the kind-hearted An’an suffer any grievance. Regardless of whether it was An’an who saved the Empress Dowager, the one who ultimately received the Emperor’s commendation could only be An’an!
Wen Jinli’s eyes suddenly turned cold. He summoned the guard beside him, “Quickly investigate Wen Xueling’s whereabouts!”
Even if he had to turn the entire capital upside down, he would protect his gentle and innocent An’an.
Wen Xueling had just returned from outside when she saw the person waiting at the alley entrance.
Wen Jinli saw her and immediately frowned, retreating two steps, his face full of disgust.
She glanced around. The alley was already surrounded by people from the Prime Minister’s Estate.
Not knowing what stupid thing he was going to do again, Wen Xueling’s gaze towards Wen Jinli held not a trace of warmth.
Wen Jinli asked her, “Five days ago, did you save someone in the plum forest of Fu’an Temple?”
Her eyes were neither cold nor warm “What does that have to do with you?”
But he suddenly grabbed her wrist and threatened, “I advise you to rot this matter in your stomach. If anyone asks you in the future, you are not allowed to say a single word, do you hear me?”
She smiled, not mocking but rather sarcastic, “Why should I?”
Wen Jinli really disliked her stubbornness. Thinking of An’an, who needed her brother’s protection even more, his eyes flashed with malice.
“Just because......the Prime Minister’s Estate will only have one Miss, and that’s An’an!”
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