Chapter 23 Scheming Against the Scumbag Father
“How could you come here in such cold weather?”
Hearing her scumbag father’s tenderness towards Xie Siyu, Wen Xueling turned to look at Mu Qingyu’s tightly closed door, which was now silent.
Her fingers curled into her palm. She used all her strength to suppress the raging hatred in her heart, and quickly rose to her feet.
Xie Siyu gave him a reproachful look. “It’s all An’an’s naughtiness, coming to bother people so late. And Husband, you too……”
“Xueling is a young lady nearing her age of marriage. Whether she goes out to meet people or handle affairs, as long as she returns safely, why must you resort to family punishment, flaunting your Prime Ministerial authority before the child?”
Her words seemed to be defending Wen Xueling, but in reality, she was, like Wen Jin’an, subtly mocking her for having a secret rendezvous.
As soon as Wen Jin’an saw her, she happily ran over, hugging Xie Siyu’s arm and whining playfully, “Mother, you’re teasing me again.”
Her expression was arrogant as she glanced towards Wen Xueling.
Wen Xueling had no interest in their hypocritical display and turned to walk towards Mu Qingyu’s room.
After her mother’s angry shout just now, there had been no further sound, and she was somewhat worried about her mother’s health, fearing she couldn’t withstand such emotional fluctuations.
Her scumbag father’s rebuke came from behind her ear, “Stop!”
The coldness on her face receded, replaced by a facade of strength deliberately shown to him. She feigned a choked voice, “Does Father have any other instructions?”
Wen Jingshu frowned. “Come and greet your mother.”
“You’ve been in the Prime Minister’s Estate for so long, have you ever gone to Qingxin Courtyard to pay respects to your mother? In this regard, you lack the understanding of proper etiquette that your four older brothers possess.”
Wen Xueling turned, her eyes fixed on him, filled with forced tears, biting her lip, not speaking.
“Enough, it’s just a title. Don’t force the child.”
Xie Siyu gave her a kind smile, her voice carrying an air of disappointment and sadness at not being accepted by her, but from an angle her scumbag father couldn’t see, it was filled with contempt for Wen Xueling.
Her gaze swept past Wen Xueling and landed on Mu Qingyu’s room door, an indistinguishable expression in her eyes catching Wen Xueling’s attention.
Hmm?
How could she detect a hint of apprehension in that look?
By the time Wen Xueling looked again, Xie Siyu had put on her false smile, suddenly covering her lips with a handkerchief and coughing. Her scumbag father immediately grew tense, supporting her and asking with concern, “Are you alright?”
“Cough cough, my old injury always flares up in winter. It’s an old problem, nothing serious. Taking medicine will suppress it, cough cough......”
Wen Jingshu glared at Wen Xueling, furious at her disrespect towards Xie Siyu.
He said sharply, “Kneel in the courtyard for the duration of one incense stick.”
The moment Wen Xueling looked up, her gaze clashed with the woman leaning in her scumbag father’s arms. A disdainful curve appeared on her lips.
It was this same tactic of feigning retreat to advance.
Seeing her not move, Wen Jingshu angrily shouted, “Still not kneeling!”
Wen Jin’an watched her suffering with schadenfreude, but in the next instant, she realized Wen Xueling was quietly staring at herself.
In her previous life, she had knelt too many times.
In this life, she would never kneel before anyone in the Prime Minister’s Estate.
“Father, do you still remember the Winter Banquet? Do you still remember the laws of Rong Kingdom…?”
Wen Jingshu’s brow furrowed. He recalled the Empress Dowager’s affection and protection towards Wen Xueling, and the law of Rong Kingdom that forbade a legitimate daughter from kneeling before a concubine. He wanted to continue scolding her, but feared she would escalate the situation.
Wen Xueling sneered inwardly. Although the Prime Minister’s Estate now had two “madams,” her mother’s marriage to her scumbag father was registered in Huaxi County, a proper and legitimate marriage, making the first wife the original one.
As for Xie Siyu, she only gained favor from the Emperor due to the Xie Family Army, resulting in an ambiguous decision.
If things truly broke down, no one would benefit!
Xie Siyu’s calm expression stiffened, and her false smile could no longer be maintained.
She feigned thoughtfulness, saying, “Never mind, Husband. It’s cold in winter, and I wish to return to rest.”
Seeing her frustrated but unable to speak, Wen Xueling felt no sense of triumph. This much was not even a thousandth of what she had suffered in her previous life.
She wanted Xie Siyu to have no peace, ever!
Seeing her scumbag father and Xie Siyu leave, Wen Jin’an stomped her foot and quickly followed them.
As for Wen Xueling, she looked at the fox fur coat that had been taken from her, a profound meaning flashing in her dark eyes, quietly awaiting what would unfold next.
Folding Willow Courtyard returned to silence.
Wen Xueling didn’t even glance at the wooden box on the ground; it was merely a prop for the act.
Mu Qingyu’s room door was locked from the outside.
As the guard took out the key, Wen Xueling snatched it, quickly unlocked the door, and rushed inside.
Seeing her mother unconscious on the bed, her heart tightened.
“Mother!”
Seeing the guard leave, Tangchun and Tangxia also stopped feigning weakness. With a flick of their wrists, the ropes binding them immediately snapped.
Nanny Su quickly spoke to comfort her, “Miss, Madam merely fainted from excessive anger; she will wake up soon.”
Wen Xueling’s fingertips trembled as they rested on Mu Qingyu’s wrist. After checking her pulse, she found that it was indeed as Nanny Su had said.
She sank down by the bedside, coldness gathering in her eyes like sharp blades. It was still too slow; she couldn’t sit back and do nothing anymore.
Mu Qingyu felt much better after the earlier spitting of blood. This time, she woke up quickly.
As soon as her eyes opened, she immediately sat up and clasped Wen Xueling’s hand, asking with concern, “Ling’er, did that scoundrel hurt you?”
Wen Xueling: “Mother, I’m fine.”
She personally brewed a soup to clear the heart and moisten the lungs. After Mu Qingyu drank it, Wen Xueling dismissed everyone, and the mother and daughter began to exchange information.
“Ling’er, it’s fortunate you were prepared in advance this time.”
When her scumbag father left the capital, Wen Xueling had felt a vague unease, so she had made specific preparations, which fortunately came into use.
In truth, tomorrow was not Mu Qingyu’s birthday at all.
It was the day her scumbag father had left Huaxi County.
Gambling on a heartless man's sincerity was inherently an uncertain matter, but Wen Jingshu was always indecisive.
Their plan was to exploit his hesitant nature.
“Mother, will he truly believe what we said?”
Wen Xueling felt somewhat uncertain. In her previous life, her scumbag father had shown no softness towards her; he might not change in this life.
“Ling’er, you’re still young and don’t understand men’s ridiculous self-satisfaction and hypocrisy, nor their vile desire for illicit affairs beneath a facade of deep affection.”
Mu Qingyu designating the day her scumbag father left as her “new birthday” would give him an immense sense of satisfaction, making him feel that he was her entire world.
Judging by his interactions with Xie Siyu, this feeling was something he couldn’t find with her.
She truly didn’t understand men, but she trusted her mother.
Since her rebirth, Wen Xueling could clearly perceive her mother’s change in attitude towards her scumbag father, and she was happy for her from the bottom of her heart.
“If that’s the case, then we must quickly proceed with the next arrangements.”
Mu Qingyu’s eyes gleamed with a decisive, make-or-break resolve as she schemed, “Since that Xie family woman cares so much about him, then we shall turn his infatuation into a complete joke.”
“Mother means……he sleeps on the floor again tonight?”
She had thought her mother would see through her scumbag father, but she never imagined it would happen so quickly.
Mu Qingyu nodded, “Mother will handle him here, Ling’er, you focus on your own affairs.”
“Once they face their retribution, Mother will take you and your brothers away, far from the capital’s troubles and complexities.”
Hearing this, Wen Xueling’s eyes dimmed for a moment, but she quickly composed herself.
“……Okay, I’ll listen to Mother.”
She couldn't bring herself to tell her mother about the actions of her four older brothers in her previous life.
The next morning.
Wen Xueling rose early, busy in Folding Willow Courtyard’s small kitchen. Since it was declared a “birthday,” the act had to be complete.
The silver hairpin from last night had been taken by her scumbag father, and after a night had passed, he still hadn’t sent anyone to return it.
She only learned after having her hidden guards investigate that her scumbag father was originally supposed to deal with corrupt officials, but who knew that particular household had suffered a brutal massacre, with no one from the entire family surviving.
Due to this unexpected turn of events, her scumbag father’s itinerary was delayed, which led to his sudden raid on Folding Willow Courtyard last night.
As the day grew later and there was still no sign of her scumbag father, just as Wen Xueling thought he wouldn’t come, the courtyard’s back gate was opened from the outside.
Wen Jingshu walked through the snow, holding an umbrella.
She slowly curved her lips, exchanging a glance with her mother.
That night.
Wen Jingshu once again spent the night on Folding Willow Courtyard’s……floor.
Meanwhile, in Qingxin Courtyard, when Xie Siyu learned of this from her informant, she furiously smashed the vase beside her.
She……could no longer remain passive.
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