Chapter 31 He Behind the Screen
Wen Jin’An’s flustered eyes sought help from her scoundrel father.
Seeing her apprehension, Wen Jingshu’s eyes softened with pity, reassuring her. He had indeed underestimated Wen Xueling’s capabilities. Fortunately, his son was on his side.
Wen Jingshu bowed to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince did indeed leave his calligraphy in my residence. However, after two years of wind and rain, the ink on the wall has long faded.”
“I am ashamed. Wen Xueling is usually fond of unorthodox methods. After entering the residence, she often stayed out late. Out of concern that she is my blood, I did not bear to punish her. Who knew that this time she would even attempt to slander the Crown Prince? Her crime is truly unforgivable.”
Wen Jingshu glared fiercely at her with a sinister gaze and roared, “Rebellious daughter! Why don’t you kowtow and admit your mistake!”
He actually had the audacity to utter such inverted truths. Wen Xueling clenched her fists.
She gazed coolly at her scoundrel father’s face and said unhurriedly, “But......that was the ‘Qintian Ink,’ rarely found under heaven.”
Legend had it that this ink could last for a hundred generations. When it encountered water, tendrils of ink smoke would emerge, and when exposed to sunlight on a clear day, these wisps of smoke would magically vanish.
How could such a Qintian Ink, said to be imbued with spiritual energy, fade within two years?
Hearing her words, the Emperor raised an eyebrow slightly, while her scoundrel father and stepsister, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief.
Wen Jin’An said delicately, “Sister, please don’t talk nonsense anymore.”
“That ink was given to Crown Prince Brother by Fourth Brother. Although not a rare treasure, it was Fourth Brother’s heartfelt gesture.”
“Your wild talk, wouldn’t it put Fourth Brother in mortal danger? He is your full-blooded elder brother!”
This elder brother of hers certainly didn’t have her, his sister, in his heart.
Just as Wen Xueling was about to retort, she heard a eunuch enter, bowing, saying that the Crown Prince and Wen Jinli were waiting outside the Imperial Study.
The Emperor’s face darkened, and he thoughtfully looked at the kneeling Wen Xueling, whose posture remained upright.
“Let them in.”
Wen Jinli's face was filled with anxiety. Seeing that Wen Jin’An was unharmed, he let out a sigh of relief.
He then looked at Wen Xueling on the other side, his eyes filled with disgust for her unwillingness to help his sister.
“Your son greets Imperial Father.”
Crown Prince Rong Chen had not yet undergone his coming-of-age ceremony. His face was like white jade, and his eyes held a rare clarity.
“This subject bows to His Majesty.”
Wen Jinli followed closely, yet inexplicably knelt beside Wen Xueling.
She furrowed her brow, wondering what he was up to now.
Upon hearing about the incident at the Prime Minister’s residence in the palace, Wen Jinli immediately wanted to return home. Before he even left the palace gates, he received a secret message sent into the palace by his scoundrel father, asking him to invite the Crown Prince to intervene and ensure Jin’An’s safety.
This led to the current scene.
For a moment, the Imperial Study was silent.
The Emperor's deep gaze fell upon the kneeling Crown Prince and Wen Jinli, his expression unreadable.
His voice was deep, “Crown Prince, have you ever left writing on the wall of the Prime Minister’s residence?”
The Crown Prince responded, stating that two years ago, he had indeed left writing on the outer wall of the Prime Minister’s residence, using the ink gifted to him by Wen Jinli.
Later, Wen Jin’An had gained considerable prestige among aristocratic ladies by relying on these characters from the Crown Prince.
Zhang Quan, the chief eunuch by the Emperor’s side, recounted the previous conversation between Wen Xueling and her scoundrel father. After speaking, he retreated to the side to serve.
Wen Jinli hastily kowtowed and explained, “Reporting to Your Majesty, that ink was not Qintian Ink.”
He then spoke of his gratitude to the Emperor for granting him the favor of being a companion reader in the palace, and how he knew the Crown Prince enjoyed collecting ink, which was why he presented that ink to the Crown Prince.
“…...But that ink was indeed ordinary ink. It was only due to its unique pine fragrance that I presented it to the Crown Prince.”
The Emperor merely sat on his dragon throne, already exuding an endless aura of authority, his dark eyes unfathomably deep.
“Wen Xueling, do you have anything else to say?”
After hearing Wen Jinli’s words, a hint of self-mockery flashed in Wen Xueling’s eyes. So, he had long forgotten that she was the one who gave him that ink.
The more they tried to suppress her, the more she would refuse to yield!
Wen Xueling raised her head, her voice firm, “Replying to His Majesty, this subject......does!”
Upon hearing that the ‘Qintian Ink’ was given to him by her, Wen Jinli immediately retorted without thinking, “Don't talk nonsense!”
“You did give me a piece of ink, but you yourself said it was just an ordinary piece of ink.”
She sneered, “If I hadn't said that, would my elder brother have kept it for himself, instead of selling it for money?”
Wen Jinli, whose secret was exposed, flushed with embarrassment. He tried to speak several times but couldn’t utter a word.
However, he still couldn’t believe that the ink was the priceless Qintian Ink.
Just then, Wen Jin’An interjected, “Sister, how can you determine that ink is Qintian Ink? And how did you obtain such an item?”
She looked pitifully towards the Crown Prince, speaking in a subtly manipulative tone, “After all, even Crown Prince Brother doesn't have......”
The Crown Prince offered a wry smile. He indeed didn’t have it, but being told this to his face, why did he feel like he was being targeted?
Wen Jin’An saw the Crown Prince frown, and her lips curled upward as she said, “Sister, why aren’t you speaking?”
“Fourth Brother has such sincere devotion to the Crown Prince, yet now he is being slandered by Sister. How heartbroken he must be.”
Having just been rendered speechless by Wen Xueling, and then hearing her stepsister’s concern, Wen Jinli felt a sense of comfort, as if only Jin’An truly cared for him.
The Emperor remained silent, merely observing the composed young woman.
The Crown Prince also looked at her with great curiosity. Beneath those clear, cool eyes, was she truly as venomous as Wen Jinli claimed?
Even if Wen Jinli knew that the Tianshan Mountains were a place of bitter cold, and how rare the ink she gave him was, he still chose to stand with Wen Jin’An.
Wen Xueling clenched her hands, her eyes fixed on the Emperor, filled with an unyielding determination.
“……That Qintian Ink was made by this subject.”
If no one protected her, she would protect herself.
After she finished speaking, a venomous and sharp gaze shot from not far away. Wen Jingshu exclaimed in furious indignation, “Utter nonsense!”
“Don't you know that the method for making ‘Qintian Ink’ was lost a hundred years ago? How dare you speak such grand lies here? Who gave you such audacity?”
Wen Jin’An quietly fanned the flames, “Sister, do you truly wish to put me, Father, and Fourth Brother to death before you are satisfied?”
She looked at her with tear-filled, wronged eyes.
As if making a firm decision, Wen Jin’An adopted a righteous demeanor and declared loudly, “Alright, I admit it! The Mingzhu Courtyard was the one hit by the thunderous roar, and it was also where the fire started......Is that enough?”
“Sister, Jin’An is willing to confess on your behalf. I only ask that you show more filial piety to Father in the future and do not hurt Fourth Brother’s heart. Once a person’s heart is wounded, it is difficult to heal.”
After Wen Jin’An finished speaking, she lowered her head and remained silent, tears continuously dripping onto her arm.
Seeing this, her scoundrel father and foolish brother looked heartbroken.
Wen Jinli said emotionally, “Jin’An, this matter has nothing to do with you. Even the heavens couldn’t stand it, sending thunder to eliminate this bane that disrupts the harmony of the residence.”
Beside him, her scoundrel father also said with a pained expression, “Jin’An, blame Father for not teaching you to be so kind-hearted, and unaware of the wickedness of human hearts.”
He wished he could drag Wen Xueling out and give her a good beating.
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