Aunt Xu's heart skipped a beat as she suddenly remembered the troublesome Lady Li, who was impossible to shake off once she got involved.
"You're right, it's indeed necessary to let your uncle-in-law fall ill for a while," Aunt Xu agreed. Lady Li, that shameless woman, would dare to do anything when she's in a frenzy.
Wen Ye quietly observed the situation, munching on her metaphorical melon seeds, when Aunt Xu suddenly turned her gaze toward her and said, "Speaking of which, Ye Niang, you should also be careful. My sister-in-law, who couldn't find a way into the Marquis Mansion, might come to stir up trouble for you."
Wen Ye hadn't expected to be dragged into the drama. After a moment of thought, she asked, "Is this because of what happened at noon?"
Aunt Xu replied, "You had a conflict with her earlier, and right after, Xu Yuejia arrested her son and nephew. It's hard to guarantee that she won't spread rumors that Xu Yuejia arrested them to avenge you."
Wen Ye straightened up slightly. "That's just a coincidence."
She didn't believe she had such charm to make a man known for his impartiality break the rules for her.
Aunt Xu said, "Of course, we know it's a coincidence. But there are many who are either unaware of the truth or unwilling to see it. You still need to be cautious."
Madam Lu chimed in, "I'll instruct the gatekeepers to ensure Lady Li doesn't get a chance to enter the Duke's Mansion."
Upon hearing this, Wen Ye immediately put on a sweet smile. "Then I'll trouble you, sister-in-law."
Madam Lu: "..." It seemed she was preparing to shirk responsibility again.
But Madam Lu quickly reconsidered. It wasn't Wen Ye's fault. As a newlywed, getting involved in such matters would surely damage her reputation.
After Aunt Xu returned to the mansion, things unfolded just as Madam Lu had predicted. Lady Li almost forced her way into the Marquis Mansion in her absence. Fortunately, Aunt Xu returned just in time and swiftly declared Uncle-in-law Jiang "gravely ill." With no way to plead her case, Lady Li had no choice but to slink back to the Jiang residence.
Wen Ye heard the news two days later in the west courtyard. She had sent Tao Zhi to deliver a cup of milk tea to the main courtyard, specifically to gather information from Qingxue.
After Tao Zhi finished recounting the events, she exclaimed indignantly, "This Lady Jiang is too wicked! Her son killed someone!"
Wen Ye replied thoughtfully, "Is Lady Jiang the only wicked one here?"
Tao Zhi was momentarily confused. "Who else is there?"
Wen Ye put down the novel she was reading and looked up. "It's been several days since the incident, but the only one pleading for her son is Lady Jiang."
With Wen Ye's hint, Tao Zhi immediately understood. "Madam, are you saying there's also that Lord Jiang?"
Wen Ye smiled without answering.
Tao Zhi became even more certain. "That's right! Like attracts like. If Lady Jiang is so wicked, then Lord Jiang must be no good either. Hiding behind his wife and letting her make a fool of herself—how despicable and disgusting!"
Hearing this, Wen Ye couldn't help but interrupt, "Tao Zhi, watch your words." It wouldn't be good if someone overheard and spread them.
Tao Zhi immediately covered her mouth. "This servant misspoke."
Wen Ye didn't blame her, but she thought to herself that perhaps she should let Tao Zhi read fewer novels in the future. Look at how it had "corrupted" her.
However, Tao Zhi wasn't entirely wrong. Wen Ye had inquired with Madam Lu and learned that Lord Jiang was indeed not a good man.
"By the way, where's Yun Zhi?" Wen Ye suddenly noticed someone was missing and asked.
Tao Zhi replied, "Yun Zhi went to the main courtyard to fetch Young Master Xu. The Dowager Lady of Ding'an Marquis Manor has caught a cold, and Madam Lu is worried. She decided to return to the Marquis Manor to visit. Since Young Master Xu is too young to accompany her, Madam Lu sent word before leaving for the servants to bring him here."
Wen Ye was puzzled. "Isn't there still Nanny Ji and the others?" Sending him here seemed unnecessary.
Tao Zhi hesitated for a moment before saying, "Nanny Ji is getting on in years and hasn't been feeling well lately. She can't take care of Young Master Xu."
Wen Ye: "...Alright then."
Tao Zhi tried to speak up for Xu Yuxuan. "Young Master Xu can actually be quite adorable at times."
Wen Ye nodded with a seemingly sincere expression. "Yes, so adorable that even Nanny Ji fell ill."
Tao Zhi: "..."
As soon as Wen Ye finished speaking, Yun Zhi appeared in sight, carrying Xu Yuxuan. The child was bundled up like a little ball. If it weren't for his wriggling, Wen Ye would have thought Yun Zhi had brought back an unhatched Nezha.
The little "Nezha" landed and called out to her, "Mother!"
Wen Ye responded with a perfunctory show of affection. "Ah, Yuxuan is here."
Xu Yuxuan toddled over to Wen Ye, looked up at her, and then glanced at the soft couch she was reclining on. His little feet shifted, his face clearly expressing his desire to climb up.
Noticing this, Wen Ye gestured to Yun Zhi.
Yun Zhi immediately bent down and placed Xu Yuxuan on the couch.
Once seated on the couch, Xu Yuxuan didn't seem particularly pleased. He squirmed left and right before sliding back down.
Wen Ye glanced at him, unable to decipher the child's thoughts.
She decided not to bother and went back to reading her novel.
After sliding down, Xu Yuxuan turned around, faced Wen Ye, placed his little hands on the edge of the couch, and tried to hoist one leg up onto it.
Wen Ye glanced again. Ah, so he wanted to do it himself.
Well, that made it even less necessary for her to intervene.
The couch wasn't high, and with Yun Zhi and Tao Zhi watching nervously, Xu Yuxuan twisted and turned until he finally managed to climb back up.
Xu Yuxuan climbed onto the bed, squirming left and right, causing Wen Ye to nearly drop her storybook. Her gaze finally shifted from the book to meet the child's eyes.
Xu Yuxuan's eyes were innocent and glistening as he called out in a childish voice, "Mother?"
Wen Ye paused for a moment, then simply scooped the child into her arms, saying, "Are you bored? Then keep me company while I read for a while."
Yun Zhi and Tao Zhi exchanged glances, speechless.
Xu Yuxuan quite enjoyed being held by Wen Ye. He was too young to understand much, but he felt that his mother's embrace was different from his aunt's.
This wasn't the first time the mother and son had read a storybook together, so Xu Yuxuan lay quietly in Wen Ye's arms, exceptionally well-behaved.
However, they hadn't even finished two pages when Liuya arrived.
"Madam, Madam Jiang is at the gate asking to see you," Liuya reported.
Wen Ye raised her eyes and said, "She really came."
Liuya explained, "The Duchess has instructed not to let Madam Jiang enter the manor. I'm just here to inform you, Madam."
Wen Ye closed the storybook and placed it on the side table, asking, "Is she still outside?"
Liuya nodded.
Wen Ye thought for a moment and said, "Come closer, I need to tell you something."
Liuya glanced around, seeing that Yun Zhi and Tao Zhi showed no reaction, and then slowly leaned in.
Wen Ye whispered something into her ear.
Xu Yuxuan immediately leaned in too, trying to listen with wide eyes, but Wen Ye covered both his ears with one hand.
After hearing Wen Ye's words, Liuya's expression turned slightly strange, her gaze flickering between Wen Ye and Xu Yuxuan.
She hesitated and asked, "Are you sure about this?"
Wen Ye replied succinctly, "It's a permanent solution."
Liuya had no choice but to obey, leaving the west courtyard with a complicated expression.
Two hours later, news spread throughout the noble circles that Madam Jiang had forced her way into the Duke's mansion while the Duchess was away, seeking to plead with Wen Ye, Xu Yuejia's wife. In a moment of agitation, she accidentally injured Wen Ye's head and frightened the Duke's third son, Xu Yuxuan, to tears.
The news reached the Ministry of Justice just as Xu Yuejia was stepping out of the prison cells.
It was Secretary Wen who informed him of the incident.
Secretary Wen kindly suggested, "With Old Minister Jiang here, perhaps you could take half a day off and return home to check on things?"
Xu Yuejia, who had been frowning the entire time, nodded and said, "Then I'll trouble you to inform Old Minister Jiang for me."
Secretary Wen assured him, "Of course, of course."
Xu Yuejia didn't take a carriage but rode his horse straight back to the Duke's mansion.
Upon returning, he didn't even change out of his official robes before heading straight to the west courtyard. However, he suddenly stopped at the entrance to the main courtyard.
He had caught the scent of sesame.
Xu Yuejia pursed his lips and stepped into the courtyard.
When he reached the door of the hall, he saw the mother and son sitting by the dining table, enjoying a hot pot meal with great relish. He stood there silently for a while.
It was Tao Zhi who first noticed Xu Yuejia outside and quickly reminded Wen Ye, "Madam, the master has returned."
Wen Ye looked up and, seeing that it was indeed Xu Yuejia, said, "Have you heard the news too?"
Xu Yuejia stepped inside and sat down.
"Weren't you injured?" he asked, glancing at Xu Yuxuan across the table, whose eyes showed no signs of having cried.
Wen Ye pointed to the corner of her mouth and said, "Here, see?"
Xu Yuejia looked at the small blister caused by internal heat and once again found himself at a loss for words.
Finally, he said, "If you're suffering from internal heat, you should eat lighter."
"I am eating light. It's just bone broth, no spice added," Wen Ye replied.
Xu Yuejia: "..."
After finishing the last slice of meat in her bowl, Wen Ye said, "I did let Madam Jiang in, but only had her sit in the pavilion outside the west courtyard for a while before escorting her out."
Xu Yuejia asked, "Why did you do that?"
Wen Ye replied naturally, "To avoid trouble. If I'm 'injured,' I'll have to rest at home for a while. This way, I can avoid anyone who might try to approach me as the wife of the Vice Minister."
She continued, "Moreover, if Madam Jiang hadn't provoked the Duke's mansion, would her husband, Magistrate Jiang, have stepped in to stop his wife, who had lost all decorum for the sake of their son?"
Wen Ye's words were pragmatic.
Magistrate Jiang might be reluctant to let his eldest son die, but Wen Ye believed he cared more about his own career than his son's life.
At this thought, Wen Ye suddenly turned to Xu Yuejia and asked, "You don't blame me for acting on my own, do you?"
Xu Yuejia was silent for a moment before saying, "Officially, spreading rumors is indeed wrong."
Wen Ye raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly. "And unofficially?"
Xu Yuejia: "...You did the right thing."
Wen Ye smiled more genuinely. She glanced at Xu Yuxuan and suddenly remembered something. "Oh, by the way," she turned back to Xu Yuejia, "I remember you said you'd hire a tutor for Yuxuan this spring, right?"
Xu Yuejia nodded. "That's the plan."
Wen Ye immediately suggested earnestly, "Then you must choose carefully. Even though it's just for basic education, it shouldn't be taken lightly."
Xu Yuejia, hearing her words, showed a faint trace of curiosity and confusion in his expression.
Though it was barely noticeable.
Fortunately, Wen Ye quickly added, "I don't want to be old and still have to beg and apologize to others for the misbehavior of a troublesome stepson."
"It would be too embarrassing."
Xu Yuejia: "..."
As expected... he had overthought it.