Chapter 486 - 264: Now There’s a Good Show to Watch

Chapter 486: Chapter 264: Now There’s a Good Show to Watch

Song Yunzhao saw the First Madam out. The information still needed to be verified, so she had to wait for the First Madam’s news.

However, thinking of Wang Yunhua’s behavior, Song Yunzhao called Anshun over and gave him a few instructions.

’Wasn’t Wang Yunhua trying to steal Ji Yunting away?’

’Now I’ll give her a chance to show her true feelings. Let’s see if she still agrees to this marriage once she learns that Ji Yunting has injured his vital parts!’

’Knowing the Wang family’s disposition, Wang Yunhua would never jump into this pit of fire!’

’Whether Linlang agrees to the marriage is beside the point. At the very least, that proud Madam Ji needs to see Wang Yunhua’s true colors!’

’I’ve always been fiercely protective of my own. I can’t just let the matter of Linlang getting slapped slide.’

Not even the news of Prince Zhenbei arriving at the traveling palace with Li Kuisheng in custody could suppress the bombshell report about Ji Yunting’s critical injury. Suddenly, Wang Yunhua found herself being held over the flames.

She claimed to be truly in love with Ji Yunting, didn’t she? And wasn’t she in a frantic rush to get engaged? Well, now was her chance to prove her devotion.

When the news got out, Madam Ji nearly fainted. How would her son ever properly marry a good woman now?

Wang Yunhua, upon hearing the news, actually fainted. After all her meticulous planning, who would have thought a bolt of lightning would strike her down? How could she marry a man who couldn’t produce children? Without an heir, what standing would she have in the world?

She did like Ji Yunting, but she loved herself more.

’If only I had known this a day sooner! I would never have humiliated Xie Linlang at the Marquis Wuxin Mansion’s banquet. I would have just let that Xie Linlang marry him!’

’That hateful Madam Ji! To think she would hide such a huge secret from our Wang Family! If I had married him without knowing the truth, wouldn’t my entire life have been ruined?’

Wang Yunhua threw a tantrum at home, refusing the marriage alliance with the Ji Family. Unfortunately, this was happening just as Wang Xuanfan was becoming deeply implicated in the government treasury affair. The Ministry of Justice had summoned him for questioning. Although they were very polite, it was a clear signal.

Mrs. Wang was worried sick about her husband and fraught with anxiety over her daughter. In just a few days, she had become utterly exhausted.

At such a critical juncture, Mrs. Wang absolutely could not allow her daughter’s whims to lead to an outright rejection of the Ji Family marriage. Since Madam Ji hadn’t made a move yet, Mrs. Wang decided to stall for time.

’If my husband gets into trouble, the only person who can save him is the Left Minister.’

’If we offend the Left Minister over this marriage, what will happen to my husband?’

’If my husband falls, the Wang Family will truly be finished.’

The First Madam came to the traveling palace once more. She said to Yun Zhao, "They’ve summoned an Imperial Physician to treat young Lord Ji. We haven’t been able to get any specific information, but our people watching the Ji Family say that Madam Ji has been in a terrible mood for the past two days, crying constantly. Even the Left Minister has taken leave from court."

Song Yunzhao already knew about that part. At the palace banquet welcoming Prince Zhenbei, the Left Minister had also left early. When Feng Yi returned, he had mentioned to her that the Left Minister had seemed to be in extremely poor spirits lately.

’I can’t let the Ji and Wang families use Linlang in their schemes. I really don’t want her to end up marrying into that family, but it’s an undeniable obligation, since Ji Yunting was injured saving her.’

’Besides, the Xie family is no match for the Ji Family in terms of power. I could forcibly intervene for Linlang, but even if I managed to stop her from marrying into the Ji Family, I’m afraid she would never find a good match in the Capital City afterward. If the Ji and Wang families decided to retaliate and spread rumors back to Xuanzhou, Linlang wouldn’t be able to find a decent husband even if she went home.’

’In this day and age, a woman’s reputation is everything.’

Precisely because the situation was so thorny, Yun Zhao was hesitant about how to proceed. She sent Xiangxue to secretly meet with Linlang and pass on a message, but Linlang’s only reply was to tell her not to worry, that she had a plan of her own.

That "plan" made Yun Zhao’s heart sink.

’In my past life, Linlang willingly became Ji Yunting’s concubine for the sake of the Xie family. I’m so afraid she’ll sacrifice herself again, both for her family and to repay this debt of gratitude.’

"So, what’s the latest from the Wang Family?" Song Yunzhao asked, looking at the First Madam.

’The Ji Family certainly won’t make the first move, and the Wang Family can’t afford to wait.’

’Once Prince Zhenbei’s welcome banquet is over, the government treasury issue will be back on the table. The Wang Family doesn’t have much time.’

’If I were Madam Ji, I would definitely prefer to have Wang Yunhua as a daughter-in-law and wouldn’t want Xie Linlang to join the family.’

’So the key now is Wang Yunhua.’

Hearing Yun Zhao’s question, the First Madam’s expression immediately brightened. "I hear Miss Wang has fallen ill, and quite seriously, too. Her illness certainly is... timely."

How could Song Yunzhao miss the sarcasm in the First Madam’s tone? She nodded with a perfectly straight face. "Indeed. One day she’s full of life, slapping people around, and the next she’s gravely ill and bedridden. It’s truly incredible."

The First Madam chuckled, amused. She looked at Yun Zhao and said, "The news was leaked by someone in Wang Yunhua’s own circle."

"Which means Mrs. Wang didn’t know about it?"

The First Madam nodded. "How could Mrs. Wang dare let such news spread? Vice Minister Wang still hasn’t pulled his foot out of the mire."

Song Yunzhao was delighted. "Now this is going to be a good show."

Song Yunzhao’s guess was correct. At that very moment, Wang Yunhua’s face was stinging from a slap delivered by Mrs. Wang. A vivid red, five-fingered handprint stood out on her pale skin, a shocking testament to the force of the blow.

The slap sent Wang Yunhua stumbling onto a chaise lounge. Tears instantly welled up. Clutching her face, she sobbed, "Mother, how can I agree to this marriage? If I marry him, my entire life will be ruined!"

How could Mrs. Wang not feel heartbroken for her daughter? But her husband also had to be saved.

"If you don’t marry him and something truly happens to your father, our entire family will be dragged down into the mire with him! What kind of good marriage prospects will you have then?" Mrs. Wang demanded angrily.

"How could anything happen to Father? The Ministry of Justice summoned him for questioning, but they let him come home, didn’t they?" Wang Yunhua was incredulous, believing her mother was just trying to trick her.

’She’s just trying to coax me into this marriage for Father’s career, my sister’s status, and the Wang Family’s fortune.’

’I’m the only one who’s insignificant in this family.’

The more Wang Yunhua thought about it, the more heartbroken she became, and her sobs grew more intense. Seeing her daughter in such a state, Mrs. Wang’s heart softened. Clutching a handkerchief, she sat down nearby and began to weep as well.

"If... if the Ji Family doesn’t bring it up again, then we can let the matter of the marriage go," Mrs. Wang said softly. "But, without the tie of marriage, if your father really... The Ji Family will surely stand by and do nothing. And Madam Ji is the type who holds a grudge."

Wang Yunhua shook her head. "She wouldn’t. I’ll go and beg Madam Ji. I’m sure she won’t be so heartless."

Looking at her daughter’s pitiful state, Mrs. Wang wished for nothing more than for Madam Ji to simply let the matter drop.

’But she was afraid that wasn’t possible.’

Meanwhile, the Ji household was in complete chaos. Madam Ji had fainted five or six times in two days, and when the Imperial Physician’s diagnosis came, she felt her world go dark.

Although the Imperial Physician said there was still hope, she could tell they were merely empty words of comfort.

’My son... how could his fate be so cruel?’

’My son was already in such a pitiful state, and now the news was spreading everywhere. All the more reason I must secure a good wife for him. I won’t let people look down on him.’

’This marriage with the Wang Family—I am going to see it through!’