Chapter 219: What Happened To The Scholar’s Arrogance?
In her previous life, Sun Chengye also had a concubine, and Lin Tingting came back crying several times.
The Lin Family even secretly found someone to check it out and discovered that Sun Chengye was infertile. But how did Lin Tingting’s child come about now?
It seems things have become interesting.
Jiang Ruanxi’s lips curved in a smile.
Yushui investigated and found out in the afternoon.
“Crown Princess, this servant has found out. Heir Apparent’s Wife’s child was conceived half a year ago, shortly after the Heir of Yongning Marquis passed away. They originally wanted to kill her, but somehow, it was Marquis Yongning’s main wife who died instead. She was found to be pregnant with the Heir of Yongning Marquis’s child, and she happened to be with the heir during that time, so the Sun Family had no suspicion and spared her life.”
So that’s how it is.
Jiang Ruanxi’s expression deepened, her fingers tapping back and forth on the desk.
This child is not from the Sun Family, but Lin Tingting was truly pregnant then, so whose child is it exactly?
“What else did you find?” Jiang Ruanxi continued to ask.
Yushui looked hesitant, unsure whether to speak.
“Just say whatever it is.”
Yushui paused, then spoke anyway, “I heard that after Heir Apparent’s Wife gave birth, Censor’s young master seemed to visit several times, but he came under Censor’s name to visit.”
Jiang Ruanxi was stunned.
She had heard of this young master of the Censor.
He seemed to have placed third in the imperial examination and secured a minor job at the Hanlin Academy.
Back when the Lin Family had not yet lost their noble title, he had proposed marriage, but Lin Tingting looked down on him, and the matter ended without resolution.
Lin Tingting was set on marrying up. Although the Censor was a third-rank official and one of Emperor Qin’s confidants, he was still far inferior to those prestigious noble families.
Jiang Ruanxi smiled faintly, suddenly seeming to understand, and instructed Yushui, “Take guards with you and secretly kidnap Censor’s young master for me. This palace wants to interrogate him personally.”
Yushui was puzzled but followed her orders.
Yushui had just brought the person into the Crown Prince’s Manor when Lin Tingting arrived.
Panic flashed in Yushui’s eyes as she looked at the sack, “Crown Princess, what do we do? If Heir Apparent’s Wife sees him, how do we explain?”
Jiang Ruanxi said carelessly, “What’s there to explain? Did this palace ever say she could see me?”
Yushui looked at her in confusion, momentarily not understanding her meaning.
Jiang Ruanxi straightened her clothing and stood up, “Isn’t she Concubine Li’s sister-in-law? Then let Concubine Li entertain her. This palace has no time.”
Jiang Ruanxi looked at the struggling traces from the sack and the muffled sounds, frowning instinctively.
Yushui thought it made sense. Seeing her gaze on the sack, she awkwardly scratched her head and explained, “Young Master Qi refused to submit even facing death. This servant had no choice but to have them knock him out and carry him back. He’s probably awake now.”
Jiang Ruanxi smiled instead, “He has some scholar’s backbone, but it’s a pity—such backbone is utterly worthless in the face of power.”
“Take him inside.”
In the dark room, Qi Wu’s mouth was freed, and he cursed loudly, “Who are you people? How dare you kidnap this official? Do you know who I am? In broad daylight, you dare kidnap a court official. I will surely petition His Majesty and have you all executed.”
Jiang Ruanxi behind the screen frowned slightly at the noise, and Yushui stepped forward to scold, “If you don’t want to die, shut up.”
Qi Wu huddled in the corner, trembling in fear, his speech stammering, “You… who exactly are you? Why kidnap this official?”
“Sir Qi need not fear. We invited you here because there is a matter we need to ask about.” Jiang Ruanxi’s voice came from behind the screen.
Qi Wu’s mouth twitched.
The words sounded polite, but this was how they “invited” people.
Furious enough to forget his fear, he cursed outright, “Release me at once, or else my father will never let you go.”
Jiang Ruanxi said gloomily, “Oh, is that so? What do you think the Yongning Marquis Manor would do if they knew the child born by their Heir Apparent’s Wife was actually from your Qi Family?”
Qi Wu’s face instantly turned pale, “You… what nonsense are you spouting?”
“Oh, it’s not true?” Jiang Ruanxi smiled, “In that case, how about I have the Heir Apparent’s Wife of Yongning Marquis Manor brought here to confront you?”
“You… you dare.”
“Pa…”
As soon as the words fell, Yushui slapped him, “Sir Qi, in your current state, what gives you the confidence to threaten?”
“No matter. If Sir Qi wants the Sun Family to know, then telling them is fine. It’s just a pity for that innocent child. Perhaps Censor Qi, seeing the child’s innocence, might save it, but as for that Heir Apparent’s Wife of Yongning Marquis Manor, I’m afraid she would surely die.”
Qi Wu’s face tightened, “No… please don’t harm Heir Apparent’s Wife. This matter is all my doing, it has nothing to do with her…”
Jiang Ruanxi’s eyes flickered. So he admitted it?
Yushui’s mouth also twitched. She thought this Qi Wu would be hard to deal with and not easily speak, but with just a few words from Jiang Ruanxi, he confessed?
Where was the scholar’s arrogance?
“Continue interrogating him and make him tell the full truth.” Jiang Ruanxi paused, and before leaving added, “Oh, right—tell Censor Qi about this. I believe he will handle it well.”
After hearing this, Qi Wu thought of his stern and impartial father and instantly went weak in the legs.
**
Eastern Palace.
When Lin Tingting arrived, she did not see Jiang Ruanxi, only Sun Tina here, which displeased her greatly.
No longer pretending, she sat down with a dark face, “Does she think avoiding me will get rid of me? Only someone guilty at heart would fear seeing me.”
Sun Tina had long disliked Lin Tingting and could not help retorting, “Sister-in-law, the Crown Princess is busy with myriad affairs daily; she must have been delayed by something.”
“What do you know? No matter how busy she is, doesn’t she have time to see me?” She then glanced at her belly, “You’d better make your belly work hard too and get pregnant with the imperial grandson soon. If you bear the eldest grandson, no matter how formidable she is, she will have to obey you.”
At the mention of the child, Sun Tina unconsciously touched her belly, yearning in her heart.
But thinking of recent events, she felt inexplicably irritated.
Though Wei Chang had been staying in her room frequently lately, she had no idea what happened at night.
Every time she lay down, she felt very sleepy and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Even silently telling herself not to sleep could not stop the drowsiness.
