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Join the ServerThe next day, Yan Huaixiao led his new wife to serve tea to Madam Yan and General Yan.
Not seeing Pu Jinyu, he asked why his sister-in-law wasn’t present?
As soon as the words fell, everyone’s expressions turned unpleasant, but they quickly covered it up.
Madam Yan said she was ill and couldn’t receive guests temporarily, that not receiving this cup of tea didn’t matter.
Since Yan Chiyun was present, Yan Huaixiao suspected nothing and didn’t question further.
Li Jingxia, however, noticed that the expressions of the Yan family members weren’t quite right, but she didn’t say anything.
After serving tea, they all had breakfast together.
After breakfast, Yan Chiyun went to the government office.
He had too many official duties and couldn’t get away, especially the underground gambling den matter couldn’t be delayed, let alone all those various troublesome matters that had been uncovered.
Yan Huaixiao had originally wanted to go to the academy, but Madam Yan ordered him to stay home and accompany his new wife, saying there was no rush.
So, he had to remain at home.
Although the two had already consummated the marriage, they had little interaction before and still weren’t very familiar.
Being together was awkward.
Yan Huaixiao read in the study, while Li Jingxia sat drinking tea and eating snacks.
Suddenly, she suggested, why not go visit sister-in-law?
Yan Huaixiao had no objection.
They brought some tonics, and Li Jingxia specially prepared some specialty rouge and powder to give to Pu Wange.
But neither of them expected that before they even reached the door, they were stopped.
“Is sister-in-law that seriously ill?”
To refuse visitors.
Moreover, Yan Huaixiao noticed that the people guarding the door were all his elder brother’s trusted personal guards.
“Yes, the master instructed that the young mistress needs quiet rest and is temporarily not receiving guests.”
Yan Huaixiao asked what illness it was?
Had a physician been called?
The guards still didn’t answer directly.
Sensing something was off, Li Jingxia tactfully stopped Yan Huaixiao.
They left the visiting gifts and departed.
On the way back, walking along the covered corridor, a young maid beside Madam Yan invited Li Jingxia over for a talk.
The couple then separated.
Li Jingxia thought Madam Yan wanted to talk about Pu Wange’s illness, but instead, Madam Yan wanted to hand over the household management to her.
“This… wouldn’t this be…”
Too sudden?
This was only her first day in the household!
Madam Yan wanted to give her the authority to manage the household?
Although it showed regard, but the Yan family’s estate was so large, how could she manage it?
And without knowing Pu Wange’s situation, if she took over managing the household as soon as she arrived, wouldn’t that antagonize Pu Wange?
Was Madam Yan testing her?
Li Jingxia speculated about Madam Yan’s intentions in her heart, weighing her words, “Daughter-in-law has just arrived, I’m afraid I can’t manage the household affairs.
If I fail to live up to mother-in-law’s important trust, and besides, sister-in-law was managing quite well, wasn’t she?
The entire capital praises sister-in-law’s virtue and competence nonstop.”
Mentioning Pu Jinyu, the disgust in Madam Yan’s heart immediately surged, but she still maintained a smile on her face.
She understood Li Jingxia’s concerns very well and smiled, “It was actually your sister-in-law who recommended you to manage the household.”
“Sister-in-law recommended me?”
But she and Yan Huaixiao hadn’t even seen Pu Wange’s face today, let alone talked.
They had reached the door, and not a word came from inside.
“Yes, she is very ill and temporarily cannot manage the household.
I have to take care of your father-in-law and don’t have that much time.
You’ve just arrived; I know handing such a heavy burden to you will be very tiring, but I hope you won’t refuse.
Now that you’ve entered the Yan family, you are a part of the Yan family.”
“Mother-in-law, your words really overwhelm me.
Since it’s your and sister-in-law’s wish, daughter-in-law will naturally obey.
But if I manage poorly, please don’t blame me, Mother-in-law.”
“That’s fine, that’s fine.
If there’s anything you’re unsure about, just come to me.
I will also send capable people to help you.
It’s just that your sister-in-law is truly very ill, and the physician said she needs to rest quietly.
Just don’t disturb her.”
Yan Chiyun hadn’t made a decision yet, so Pu Wange was confined for now.
If she still had any sense of shame or self-awareness, she should kill herself to preserve the reputation of both families.
The fewer people who knew about this matter, the better.
Madam Yan didn’t plan to tell Li Jingxia.
“Sister-in-law… she…”
Li Jingxia hesitated, then tentatively asked what illness Pu Wange had.
Madam Yan said, “Alas, the physician couldn’t say either.
Yesterday, after managing the wedding banquet, she fainted and hasn’t woken up since.
She needs rest and recuperation.”
Li Jingxia was about to respond, but Madam Yan interrupted her, “Let’s wait and see when she’s better.”
“You taking over managing the household counts as helping her too.”
“…Okay.”
Although Li Jingxia still had questions, she knew when to stop and didn’t ask further.
In the following days, Yan Chiyun didn’t return home.
***
Although the accounts of the underground gambling dens weren’t fully sorted yet, the surface-level gambling dens in the capital had been thoroughly investigated.
The number of officials implicated was countless.
There were officials involved in tax evasion and human trafficking, even high-ranking officials like the Minister of Revenue.
The list of implicated officials was shockingly long, and the corresponding tax evasion amounts were terrifyingly large.
Yan Chiyun had always handled cases with decisive force, but this time he was exceptionally cold and detached.
Even if people were connected to the Yan or Pu families, he showed no consideration.
Especially regarding the Pu family, specifically Madam Pu’s maiden family.
When they went to investigate and arrest people for the Northern Administrative Office Prison, they completely disregarded that it was his mother-in-law’s family.
Seeing this, the people in the capital dared not utter a word.
They only felt he was truly an impartial and merciless harsh official, a merciless judge.
The official wives and noble ladies who had witnessed that scandalous scene at the Yan family’s lake pavilion naturally understood that Yan Chiyun’s actions were because of Pu Wange’s betrayal.
So they dared not speak, fearing their own families would also be implicated.
Because not long after returning to the front hall that day, Madam Yan arrived late.
Although she made excuses to cover up the scandal, it was already set in stone.
Who didn’t know Pu Wange had taken a lover?
Shortly after, Yan Chiyun also arrived.
His face was dark with suppressed anger, and everyone fell silent, not uttering a word.
He didn’t waste words either, cutting to the chase, asking everyone to see it and forget it.
He also laid down the law: if a single hint of the lake pavilion incident leaked, it would be tantamount to being an enemy of the Yan family.
He would investigate thoroughly and absolutely not let any clue slip.
So don’t entertain any wishful thinking.
Thus, the noble ladies who had witnessed the scene at the lake pavilion dared not gossip when they returned home, fearing that if the news spread, Yan Chiyun would seek revenge.
After all, the Yan family ranked first among the capital’s prestigious families.
Making an enemy of them was truly asking for trouble.
Facts proved that keeping silent was the right choice.
Look at Madam Pu’s maiden family, how thoroughly it had been investigated.
Wasn’t that still revenge?
It must be because Pu Wange’s affair had publicly humiliated Yan Chiyun and made him lose face.
Indeed, Madam Pu failed to teach her daughter properly, so she deserved it.
After the list was submitted, batches of officials were punished, imprisoned, and had their property confiscated.
The Emperor wanted to kill the chicken to warn the monkey, to intimidate the masterminds behind the underground gambling dens, so the punishments were severe.
Madam Pu’s maiden family wasn’t actually deeply involved, nor had they evaded taxes.
It was just that a nephew in the family had forcibly occupied two outsider women.
Unexpectedly, this was reported in the memorial about human trafficking.
The relatives pleaded with the Pu family, asking Madam Pu to speak to the Yan family.
They were all relatives; why be so ruthless?
Madam Pu agreed on the surface, but after they left, she angrily swept the tea set off the table.
Did Yan Chiyun do this because that little slut Pu Jinyu’s affair had trampled his masculine dignity and disgraced the Yan family?
Or was it because she had slapped Pu Jinyu and wanted to kill her, indirectly getting even for that little slut?
Thinking back to Yan Chiyun’s protection of Pu Jinyu that day, it was probably the latter!
An old maid cleaned up the broken tea set pieces on the floor, coaxed Madam Pu with a few words, and suggested she use this as an opportunity to visit the Yan family, probe their intentions and see what they meant.
“Why should I go humble myself and grovel and beg favors?
Even if someone goes, it should be Pu Mingdong!”
If she really went to the Yan residence, she’d probably have to tolerate that little slut again.
Now, whenever she saw Pu Jinyu, she just wanted to strangle her.
Anyway, her own daughter was dead.
The one left was that slut’s daughter, and that slut’s daughter was also Pu Mingdong’s daughter.
These past two days, Pu Mingdong had been showing tender care to that slut Concubine Ruan.
Was he that afraid the slut’s face would be ruined?
Madam Pu laughed coldly, saying she absolutely refused to go.
Seeing her anger hard to dissipate, the old maid didn’t dare persuade further.
***
Although Pu Jinyu was confined and couldn’t go out these days, it didn’t affect her at all.
She still had three meals delivered, and they were good meals.
The Yan family didn’t seem to intend to deprive her, so she ate and slept as usual.
Madam Yan had removed her household management duties and given them to the new daughter-in-law.
Did they think this was punishment for her?
She didn’t know how relaxed it was; it was clearly a reward.
She could even enter Yan Chiyun’s study to find books to read.
On the antique sandalwood bookshelf, she saw a map of the capital and also maps of prefectures and counties.
She tried to find a topographic map of the village where she used to live, but that village was too small.
Even after scouring all the maps in Yan Chiyun’s study, she couldn’t find any trace of the village’s existence.
It was like her childhood memories, gradually fading away.
Ever since she stepped into the Pu family as a child with her mother and was forced to become Pu Wange, her past as Pu Jinyu had been completely erased.
She wondered how her adopted brother, mother, and sister were doing.
The day she left, her adopted mother and sister had cried bitterly.
Her eyes had reddened too, and she promised them she would return to visit.
But in her previous life, she never returned until she died.
They must have blamed her, right?
Would they hate her for breaking her promise?
Thinking of this, her expression was somewhat dazed.
In this life, she wondered if she could see them again.
Just as she was pondering, the door was knocked.
It was the attendant delivering meals.
Pu Jinyu put the map back, hid her emotions, and walked over to eat.
In the main hall of the Yan residence, the family was also eating, but it was very quiet.
With Pu Jinyu absent, Yan Mingxi also had no appetite.
She looked listless, unlike her usual lively self.
Yan Mingxi didn’t know what had happened in the family.
What was going on?
Suddenly, her sister-in-law was ill, no longer managing the household, no longer receiving guests.
Cheng Wenque had also left without saying goodbye and even transferred academies.
She didn’t believe it and specially went to the academy to find him.
But who knew?
He wasn’t at the academy.
Others said he had transferred schools.
She asked her fourth brother, and he said Cheng Wenque hadn’t contacted him either.
After eating only a few bites, Yan Mingxi stopped.
She excused herself and left the table.
Madam Yan watched her lonely back with concern and sent a young maid to bring her food later, trying to coax her to eat some.
After the meal, Li Jingxia reported the household accounts to Madam Yan.
Soon, a servant reported that Yan Chiyun had returned home and gone to General Yan’s place.
Madam Yan immediately raised her hand, saying it was getting late, and told Li Jingxia to stop for today.
Then she also went to find General Yan.
When Madam Yan arrived, Yan Chiyun had just finished discussing official matters with General Yan.
General Yan brought up the Pu family matter, advising him not to be too ruthless, to stop at a reasonable point.
“Your son knows his limits,” he replied indifferently.
Madam Yan timely interjected, “How are you going to deal with Pu Wange?”
It had been a long time, and he still hadn’t decided.
Yan Chiyun looked at Madam Yan, “How does Mother want your son to decide?”
Madam Yan didn’t quite understand his meaning, but seeing him hesitate, she couldn’t help asking, “You don’t mean to keep her, do you?”
Just mentioning this matter made Madam Yan angry, and her voice involuntarily raised.
General Yan frowned and clicked his tongue, “If you have something to say, say it properly!”
Madam Yan reluctantly suppressed her anger, sat down, and sipped two mouthfuls of tea.
But before her second sip was fully in her mouth, she heard Yan Chiyun say, “Your son is also at fault in this matter.”
She was so shocked she choked, nearly coughing embarrassingly.
Before the old maid could wipe the tea stains from her clothes, she urgently asked, “Yun-ge’er, are you crazy?”
“How is Pu’s affair your fault!?”
He was clearly the victim.
Yan Chiyun frowned, really not wanting to hear the words ‘affair’, because whenever he heard them, he involuntarily thought of her ambiguous entanglement with Cheng Wenque.
“Your son didn’t treat her well enough, didn’t cherish her enough.”
Busy as he had been recently, he had also thought carefully during his free time.
Over the years, he had indeed failed Pu quite a bit.
If he had cherished her more, she surely wouldn’t have looked for someone else, right?
Since ancient times, if a man kept a mistress, everyone said the woman in the inner courtyard couldn’t keep her husband.
Conversely, if Pu looked for someone else, it was also his fault for not keeping her.
So he was also wrong.
Hearing this, Madam Yan truly didn’t understand.
She laughed in anger.
“Even if you can’t bear to let Pu Wange go, you shouldn’t blame yourself.
She acts wantonly and disregards female virtue.
What does it have to do with you?”
He must have been crazily busy lately to say such nonsense!
Madam Yan snorted, “Anyway, she absolutely cannot stay in our Yan family.
You may be able to swallow this humiliation, but I, your mother, cannot.”
“Write the divorce papers and send her away!”
She deserved a letter of repudiation!
But in the end, they had to save face, lest the Yan family become a laughingstock.
Madam Yan had already thought it through.
If they couldn’t divorce her on grounds of improper conduct and adultery, they could say Pu Wange had been barren for years, and the physician diagnosed her as truly unable to bear children, and divorce on those grounds.
“There are plenty of noble ladies in the capital.
Now that your official career is going well, why worry about families willing to marry their daughters to you?”
Even the second branch often came to inquire.
Would the main branch have trouble finding someone?
Once he divorced Pu Wange, the threshold of the Yan residence would probably be worn down by matchmakers.
“Mother.”
In the face of Madam Yan’s angry rebuke, Yan Chiyun’s voice was equally firm,
“Your son will not divorce her.”
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Read : Crow's Golden Fragment
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