Chapter 181: Finding Leverage
The most heartbreaking thing about being a parent is knowing your child is on the wrong path, yet still helping them walk it.
Madam Jiang wasn’t unaware that her daughter was being foolish, but since she couldn’t change it, she could only indulge her wishes, at least to prevent her from weeping endlessly or threatening to end her life.
“That one surnamed Wen must be extremely cunning. You are no match for her. Don’t confront her openly, as that will only put you at a disadvantage,” Madam Jiang said to her daughter in a gentler tone. “You should think carefully about how to make her disliked by the Grand Princess and Prince Changliu.”
“I certainly wish I could, but she’s a favorite of the Grand Princess right now, everyone knows that,” Liu Huanchun said dejectedly. “If I had a way, wouldn’t the Grand Princess have favored me long ago?”
“Ways are thought up by people. No one is perfect, and Wen Mingqian is no exception,” Madam Jiang said. “We must now rack our brains to find leverage on her, and if we can’t find any, we’ll have to fabricate one.”
“I understand. She threatened me with her reputation before. If we can ruin her reputation, won’t that suffice?” Liu Huanchun seemed to see a glimmer of hope.
“The most important thing is to make the Grand Princess and Prince Changliu believe she is not a good person,” Madam Jiang advised her daughter. “Therefore, we must remain in the shadows. Otherwise, even if we uncover something, people will suspect us of framing her.”
As she spoke, she called the butler over. “Investigate Wen Mingqian’s background thoroughly. If you find anything, report it to me immediately.”
The butler quickly agreed.
Meanwhile, Wen Mingqian had attended several banquets in the past few days, still wearing that Spring Water Jade.
On the surface, everyone was cordial, but in private, they couldn’t help but gossip.
Although there was no definitive conclusion, the rumors spread wider and wider.
Finally, the news reached Ying Wuchou.
“Your Highness, many people in the Capital City are gossiping about County Princess Liu and Wen Mingqian,” a follower reported to Ying Wuchou upon returning from outside. “They say the two of them are vying for your favor.”
“Hasn’t the Liu family married her off yet?” Ying Wuchou said with a headache. “Do they not understand what I’ve said? Haven’t I already stated that it’s absolutely impossible?”
“Well… a woman’s infatuation is the most terrifying thing. Once they’ve set their heart on someone, they’ll never turn back, even at the cost of their lives,” the follower said, suppressing a smile. “That County Princess Liu has waited until she’s an old maid. She’s like a gambler who’s lost all their money and is unwilling to leave the table.”
“And what is Wen Mingqian up to? Isn’t she someone who practices pure cultivation year-round? Why is she so fond of stirring up trouble?” Prince Changliu rested his hand on his forehead. “I think she embodies both the traits of a woman and a petty person; she’s truly difficult to deal with.”
“Then Your Highness, who do you think is more difficult to deal with between the two of them?” the follower asked curiously.
Ying Wuchou was stunned by his question, then said angrily, “Are you still asking me? Aren’t you supposed to be finishing the tasks at hand and leaving here quickly, so I don’t have to stay in the Capital City to be a go-between for them?”
“Mother, why has that Liu Huanchun been so quiet since she came here to make a scene that day?” Sang Er asked while folding clothes.
“Yes, it is rather unusual,” Wen Mingqian said, sketching a pattern. She was making two spring outfits for Gong Changan.
“Logically, she shouldn’t have given up so easily,” Sang Er said. “After all, she’s deeply infatuated with Prince Changliu. Even if she left that day out of caution, she shouldn’t have truly gone quiet.”
“That’s why I say, she’s likely resorted to underhanded tactics,” Wen Mingqian smiled. “Just wait and see!”
“What… what kind of underhanded tactics would she use? She wouldn’t hire assassins to kill us, would she?” Sang Er asked, covering her chest in fright.
“It hasn’t reached that point yet,” Wen Mingqian said. “Human lives are serious matters. She could hire someone to kill us, but she’d have to consider the consequences. Her father is a Prince, and there are many people watching them! She wouldn’t take such a risk lightly.”
“Then what else would they do? Can we guard against it?” Sang Er was still a little uneasy.
“We’ll deal with it as it comes!” Wen Mingqian leaned down and continued sketching the pattern with concentration. “Be careful and mindful in everything you do daily. If you notice anything amiss, pay extra attention to it.”
In the blink of an eye, the Lantern Festival passed, and the banquets continued in every household.
On this day, the Liu family’s butler returned from outside, a hint of joy on his face.
“Master, I’ve found something regarding that Wen Mingqian,” the butler reported to Madam Jiang.
“Tell me about it,” Madam Jiang waved her hand, dismissing the maidservants.
“This Consort Wen has always been close to the First Madam of the Zhou family. Last year, when the Zhou family wanted to divorce her, it was Wen Mingqian who earnestly persuaded several Imperial Ladies to intercede with the Zhou family, which prevented Madam Liu from being divorced…” the butler recounted.
“What exactly are you trying to say?” Madam Jiang grew impatient. Her daughter had been unable to eat or sleep for the past few days, her temper unusually volatile.
What outsiders didn’t know was that Liu Huanchun, due to her unfulfilled desire to marry Prince Changliu, had developed a psychological illness.
When it wasn’t acting up, she was fine, but once it manifested, she would be like someone possessed, crying and making a scene, and in severe cases, she would even attempt suicide.
“Please be patient, Master. This matter must be explained in detail,” the butler said. “Wen Mingqian vouched for Madam Liu, allowing her to remain in the Zhou family. A few months later, Madam Liu became pregnant, but I’ve learned that the child is not the Zhou family’s…”
“What did you say?” Madam Jiang’s eyes lit up. “Continue!”
“The child Madam Liu is carrying is not the Zhou family’s. Zhou Jing San has long been physically weak and unable to perform. The child Madam Liu is carrying is likely from Sang Sanyang, the owner of Sang Ji Silk Shop,” the butler chuckled. “What’s more, this Sang Sanyang is none other than the maternal uncle of Wen Mingqian’s beautiful maidservant, Sang Er. You can see, isn’t it obvious…”
“So that’s how it is!” Madam Jiang’s face lit up with joy. “Wen Mingqian, in order to help Madam Liu maintain her position, actually acted as a pimp for her and facilitated an affair! If this gets out, Wen Mingqian will be ruined.”
“Exactly! Such matters are highly taboo. The Zhou family is a family with noble titles. Although their reputation has been tarnished, they still value their face. She instigated Madam Liu to disgrace the family and have an affair with an outsider,” the butler said with a smile. “Anyone who hears this will say Wen Mingqian has a malicious heart and deserves to die.”
“While that may be true, we need to catch them in the act,” Madam Jiang said, her joy fading as she became troubled. “It would be great if we could catch them red-handed, but that’s too difficult.”
“Indeed. Madam Liu’s belly is getting bigger, and she hardly goes out anymore,” the butler also looked troubled. “But we can’t wait!”
“That Liu Cuiyi is a weak and timid person,” Madam Jiang said, her eyes darting around. “As long as we let the Zhou family know, and they interrogate and scare her a bit, she’ll likely confess.”
“Yes, yes. The mother and son of the Zhou family already looked down on Madam Liu. Now that we’ve handed them a knife, they have no reason not to use it,” the butler nodded repeatedly.
“Precisely. We just need to hide behind the stage,” Madam Jiang smiled faintly. “At the crucial moment, give it a push, and won’t the fire then burn the one surnamed Wen?”
