Chapter 484 - 262: It’s Ji Yunting Who’s Stirring Up Trouble

Chapter 484: Chapter 262: It’s Ji Yunting Who’s Stirring Up Trouble

However, one thing still didn’t make sense. The Wang and Ji Families intended to form a marriage alliance, but the engagement had been progressing poorly. She knew it was because Ji Yunting was against it, but for a major alliance like this, family interests would ultimately take precedence. Ji Yunting’s compromise was only a matter of time.

Besides, given this top male side character’s terrible luck, his struggle was nothing more than a final act of defiance.

She still couldn’t find a reason for Wang Yunhua to directly target Linlang. But for a well-bred young lady like Wang Yunhua to reveal such a calculating side, it seemed the Wang Family must have gotten into some trouble, making her desperate to marry into the Ji Family.

’But what’s the point of her going after Linlang?’

"What are you thinking about?" Feng Yi asked with a smile, noticing Yun Zhao was lost in thought.

Song Yunzhao looked up at Feng Yi and gave him a gentle smile. "I was just thinking that I should congratulate you, Your Majesty, on the double blessing. Whether it’s Prince Zhenbei returning victorious to the capital or the government treasury case about to be closed, both are joyous occasions."

Feng Yi nodded with a smile. "Indeed. I’ll take your words as a good omen."

The sky grew darker. Anshun had already returned, but with the Emperor here, Yun Zhao couldn’t see him. She would have to wait for the Emperor to leave.

But as it turned out, Feng Yi didn’t leave. He was staying.

Song Yunzhao: ...

’When I want you to come, you’re too busy.’

’When I want you to go, you stay.’

Although Feng Yi stayed, he clearly had no intention of getting lovey-dovey with her, because Meng Jiuchang brought in a stack of court memorials.

Song Yunzhao: ...

’Fine, then.’

’A true workaholic emperor.’

Song Yunzhao picked up a storybook and pretended to read. The book in her hands was a new release by Xie Jinshu, delivered by Zhang Maoquan. However, she was in no mood to read it, her mind still occupied with Xie Linlang’s situation.

No matter how she thought about it, she just couldn’t figure out why Wang Yunhua would target her. There was absolutely no reason.

’The two of them are worlds apart. What reason could Wang Yunhua possibly have to target Linlang?’

She couldn’t figure it out, couldn’t make sense of it. She could only wait until the next day to see if her eldest aunt or Anshun had any news.

Feng Yi lost all track of the hour once he started on his memorials. When he finally looked up, he saw Yun Zhao had fallen asleep, leaning against a soft cushion.

He immediately rose and walked over quietly, scooping her up and carrying her into the bedchamber.

Yun Zhao was sleeping so soundly that even though she felt someone pick her up, she couldn’t open her eyes. Besides the Emperor, no one here would have the audacity. So, she simply let herself fall back asleep.

Feng Yi draped a light blanket over her and lowered the bed curtains before returning to his memorials.

Seeing a secret letter submitted by Chu Donghui, Feng Yi opened it, read it, and let out a scoff. As expected, the government treasury case had wide-reaching implications. The several officials facing the most serious charges had all sent people to seek an audience with the two Ministers.

The Right Minister refused to see anyone. After all, Feng Yi already had the secret account books of the Right Minister’s faction, so even if he wanted to save them, he wouldn’t dare.

The Left Minister’s attitude was more ambiguous. He did not appear personally, but Wang Xuanfan met with a few people.

Wang Xuanfan had always followed the Left Minister’s lead, so his appearance likely represented the Left Minister’s intentions to some degree.

Feng Yi summoned Meng Jiuchang and ordered him to find Chu Donghui at once. All those who had met with Wang Xuanfan were to be arrested and interrogated in secret.

At the crack of dawn, Song Yunzhao sensed movement beside her. She opened her eyes to see Feng Yi, already in his outer robes, lifting the bed curtains to leave. His voice drifted in, "Is there news from Chu Donghui?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Mr. Chu arrested several people and got quite a bit of information out of them. He is waiting in the front hall for an audience with Your Majesty."

"Let’s go."

Yun Zhao heard Feng Yi’s voice deepen slightly—his tone when he was displeased.

’Chu Donghui?’

’Arresting people for the Emperor?’

’It seems he’s highly valued by the Emperor, now that he’s even doing the work of the future Embroidered Uniform Guard—arresting, investigating, and interrogating people.’

’He has a bright future.’

The thought of Chu Donghui, with his lazy yet righteous-looking face, having to do this kind of shady work made her want to laugh.

’It really doesn’t match his character profile from the book.’

Feng Yi left in a hurry. Yun Zhao had lost the desire to sleep and was about to get up, but then she heard him instructing Xiangxue and the others not to disturb her, so she lay back down.

’Better to wait until the Emperor is gone before I get up.’

Such instructions were always comforting. At least they let her know that the Emperor’s affection for her wasn’t just superficial.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Yun Zhao finally called for her attendants to help her wash up.

By the time she was ready, Anshun was already waiting outside.

Yun Zhao called him in and asked, "Have you found out anything?"

Anshun immediately replied, "This servant inquired all over yesterday but didn’t find any useful information. Miss Wang and Miss Xie don’t interact, so it’s difficult to find any clues connecting them."

Song Yunzhao knew that. That was precisely why she couldn’t figure it out. Why on earth would Wang Yunhua target Linlang?

"This servant paid to speak with an errand-runner from the Wang Family’s kitchens. All I learned was that Miss Wang has been going out frequently with Mrs. Wang recently, mostly to visit the Left Minister’s Mansion. I also heard that after the incident with the startled horse, Miss Wang didn’t leave her home at all. Her visit to the Marquis Wuxin Mansion was her first time going out since then."

Song Yunzhao frowned. News that the Wang and Ji Families wanted to form a marriage alliance had been circulating for a while. But for Mrs. Wang to take Wang Yunhua to the Left Minister’s Mansion so frequently... wasn’t that being a bit too eager?

During marriage negotiations, the bride’s family should always act in a way that preserves her dignity, by being more reserved.

’But her visit to the Marquis Wuxin Mansion was her first time out since the horse incident?’

The Wang Family and the Marquis Wuxin Mansion didn’t usually interact, yet she attended a banquet at their home. That was a bit strange.

Song Yunzhao looked at Anshun and asked, "Do you know why Miss Wang visited the Marquis Wuxin Mansion?"

’There must be a reason.’

"This servant was incompetent and couldn’t find out," Anshun said, lowering his head. "I ran around everywhere but couldn’t find the reason, so I went to visit the Eldest Madam. As it turns out, I got some news from her."

Song Yunzhao’s eyes lit up. She knew her eldest aunt was a capable woman. "What did she say?"

Hearing this, Anshun hesitated for a moment.

Seeing his troubled expression, Song Yunzhao said, "Just tell me the truth."

Only then did Anshun reply, "The news from the Eldest Madam is that Lord Xiao Ji doesn’t agree to the marriage alliance with the Wang Family. He also said... he also said he wants to marry Miss Xie."

What?

Song Yunzhao was stunned!

"Say that again!"

Hearing the sharp edge in his mistress’s voice, Anshun couldn’t help but flinch, and repeated himself.

Song Yunzhao was completely dumbfounded. ’Ji Yunting wants to marry Xie Linlang?’

’Has he lost his mind, or has this book world gone insane?’

With someone like Madam Ji, who values reputation more than life itself, how could she possibly agree to her son marrying the daughter of a merchant family?

Ji Yunting must know his mother’s temperament, yet he still dared to propose this. Isn’t this just pushing Linlang into a pit of fire?

Look, Madam Ji hadn’t even made a move yet, and Wang Yunhua had already struck.

No wonder she couldn’t figure out why Wang Yunhua was targeting Linlang. It was all because Ji Yunting was stirring up trouble!

’This is infuriating!’

She just didn’t get it. She had already tried so hard to pull Xie Linlang and Ji Yunting apart, so why did the two of them always end up entangled?

’Don’t tell me it’s really fate?’