The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity

Chapter 903 - 858: Entering Yanjing (Part 2)

Fu Zichuan’s eyebrows tightened slightly, "The Commandery Princess flatters herself too much."

Thinking again about using her marriage as an excuse?

Wen Wan was still smiling, "I’m worried you’ll get lost in beauty and degrade yourself."

Fu Zichuan’s hand gripping the reins was pinching them tightly.

To be honest, when he first saw her outside the Meridian Gate, he was captivated.

Later, upon learning that she had been married for years, and not only that, she had two children, he felt full of disdain.

Yet, this woman seemed poisonous; despite his disdain, there was still a hint of unwillingness deep inside.

Especially now, seeing her prefer to share a carriage with a lowly servant of humble status and unattractive appearance rather than speak properly with him, he was even more infuriated, feeling as if his eyes could turn into daggers and pierce the man on the carriage to take his place.

The more he thought, the more disdainful Fu Zichuan became; the more disdainful, the more unwilling he was.

Was he really inferior to a servant?

In just a moment, Fu Zichuan’s face grew dark and unsightly, and just as he was about to find an opportunity to lash out, a voice suddenly called from behind, "Young Master..."

It was Li Yuan calling him.

Fu Zichuan abruptly came to his senses, snorted coldly, turned his horse, and walked towards Li Yuan.

After nurturing with fine medicine for so long, Li Yuan’s injuries were almost healed, her complexion restored about seventy to eighty percent, today’s attire was unchanged from before, her beautiful face was disguised to become ordinary, she wore a grey robe and rode a chestnut horse, with a sword at her waist.

As Fu Zichuan arrived, she lowered her voice, somewhat displeased, "Why do you go provoke her again?"

Fu Zichuan resolutely refused to admit that it was because he was unwilling after seeing her share a carriage with another man, replying, "Didn’t the Imperial Concubine always want to know what was so special about that woman? I was just probing a little earlier."

"Did you find out anything?"

"Not yet."

Li Yuan wore an unsurprised expression, her gaze drifting to the grand, luxurious carriage at the front, "The one who boarded earlier, is that the Little Prince of the Western Border?"

Fu Zichuan said, "I observed closely earlier, indeed the features are those of Jiuli people, should be no mistake."

Li Yuan also saw, muttering, "Indeed, he looks like."

"Looks like who?" Fu Zichuan blurted out.

Li Yuan clearly wouldn’t answer this question of his, "Let’s set off!"

...

In the evening, the delegation entered the post station.

To avoid conflict, the Chu Country delegation and the Beiyang Delegation ate and rested separately.

After dinner, Amuer wanted to play in the snow, and Su Qing personally accompanied him downstairs.

Li Yuan happened to come down for some matters, just then seeing the little figure bending over, clumsily rolling a snowball, Su Qing stood watching beside him.

Li Yuan’s thoughts stirred, she stepped forward a few steps, respectfully saluted Su Qing, then smilingly asked, "Is this our Imperial Concubine’s dear nephew, the Little Prince of the Western Border?"

Su Qing had already learned from Wen Wan that the attendant was the Imperial Concubine in disguise, he didn’t expose her, nodded, "Indeed."

"Truly adorable." Li Yuan laughed, then said she had a matter to attend to, and walked away.

Su Qing watched Li Yuan’s departing figure, his brows furrowed imperceptibly.

Soon after, he heard someone speaking behind him.

"How’s it going?"

Su Qing turned around and saw the person was Wen Wan, he cupped his hand, "Commandery Princess."

Wen Wan’s gaze fell on the little fellow enjoying his time in the snow, asking Su Qing, "What did she just say to you?"

"It was mostly to confirm Amuer’s identity." Su Qing said, "She praised him as cute and left."

Wen Wan squatted down, grabbed a handful of snow, squeezed it into a ball, and sighed gently, "I don’t know if she truly likes this child, or if she has another purpose."

In short, Li Yuan gave her a very strange feeling.

Perhaps influenced by rumors, Wen Wan previously had a fixed impression of Li Yuan, feeling the Imperial Concubine was just a seductive enchantress, and later seeing Li Yuan’s portrait, it indeed matched her thoughts, her looks were indeed enchantingly beautiful, like Daji reborn.

Yet who would have thought that such a person, twenty years ago, was the commanding West Mountain Female General on the battlefield.

One was a valiant female general, the other a ruthless favorite concubine in the harem, Wen Wan could not, no matter what, merge them into the same person.

...

The further north they traveled, the colder the weather became, and the less vegetation could be seen. Wen Wan was so cold she wished she could stay buried under her blankets every day and not come out.

Besides guarding against the cold, she also had to guard against the Imperial Concubine’s potential revenge.

However, to Wen Wan’s surprise, she hadn’t anticipated any misfortune on the way. She wondered whether it was because of Amuer’s presence that the Imperial Concubine was lenient and hadn’t acted, or if the Imperial Concubine was conserving her strength, preparing for a bigger plot.

On the day they entered Yanjing, it was a rare sunny day.

Nevertheless, the climate in Bei Yan was cold, especially now in the twelfth lunar month; even with the bright sun shining, there was little warmth to be felt.

New Year’s Eve was approaching, and the streets were bustling with citizens rushing to prepare New Year’s goods for their families. Upon seeing the delegation entering the city, they stepped aside to make way.

Peeking out from the curtain, Wen Wan chuckled, "I thought the people of Yanjing would have prepared a grand gift for the delegation from Chu Country, but it turns out they’re busy with their New Year’s shopping."

Upon entering Yanjing, Fu Zichuan became the minister receiving the Chu Country delegation. He rode beside the carriage and, hearing this, mockingly said, "It seems to be the first time the Commandery Princess has visited Yanjing."

Wen Wan raised her brows in confusion and asked him from behind the curtain, "What do you mean by that?"

Fu Zichuan continued sarcastically, "The Commandery Princess has only been in Chu Country, naturally assuming all citizens are as uncivilized and ill-mannered as those in Chu Country."

Wen Wan did not get angry, "The citizens of Chu Country express their true feelings. Towards people from enemy countries, it is only natural to shout and curse, showing loyalty to their homeland. Prince Liang leading troops to attack Chu Country, the Princely Heir being Prince Liang’s own son, being cursed is normal."

Fu Zichuan kept a stern face, "Sophistry!"

Wen Wan leaned lazily against Song Wei’s embrace, feeling a bit sleepy, and decided not to bother with him further.

When Fu Zichuan didn’t hear any response, a gust of wind lifted the curtain, and he saw Wen Wan tenderly nestled against the house servant, who was of lowly birth and plain appearance. He was instantly enraged, "You!"

To be shamelessly affectionate with a servant in public, how disgraceful!

Wen Wan didn’t leave Song Wei’s embrace because of his action, making a sleepy noise, "I said if the Young Master is jealous, he can come over and replace Sanshun from our house. Since you’re unwilling to replace him, yet forbid me from being intimate with him, how dominant and heartless!"

"This is Yanjing!" Fu Zichuan reminded her coldly, "Commandery Princess, please pay attention to your image."

"Alright." Wen Wan yawned and fell asleep nestled in Song Wei’s arms.

Fu Zichuan knew that this heartless woman must still be tangled up with that house servant, and his liver ached from anger.

From Chu Country to Bei Yan, Li Yuan kept witnessing Fu Zichuan drive himself to rage, leaving her speechless, and she didn’t bother to manage Fu Zichuan; as long as Fu Zichuan didn’t cross any boundaries, it wouldn’t impede anything.

The place where Bei Yan hosted the delegation was called Huitong Hall.

When they arrived, Wen Wan had napped until she was half-full.

Song Wei got off first, helping her set up a footstool, and only then did Wen Wan leisurely lift the curtain and step out of the carriage. She immediately felt Fu Zichuan’s cold gaze upon her from not far away. He had already dismounted, and his horse was being led to the stable by the attendants of Huitong Hall.

Once Wen Wan’s carriage was unloaded, he walked over, his tone stiff, "The accommodations for all the esteemed guests have been arranged. Please follow me inside."

Wen Wan smiled and said she was grateful for his efforts, then walked towards the gate of Huitong Hall alongside Minister Xue and other attendants.

Bei Yan valued strength over culture, and their architectural facilities were simple and crude, lacking the delicacy and charm of Chu Country.

The structure of Huitong Hall was a courtyard in the shape of a square, with a few green plum blossoms planted in the central garden, ready to bloom.

Amuer, being of noble status, was assigned the best room, accompanied by Su Qing.

Wen Wan had the second-best room, and the rest of the attendants were assigned rooms in descending order.

Sanshun, being a servant, stayed in the servant quarters.

Once the arrangements were complete, Fu Zichuan said to Su Qing, "Everyone must be weary from the journey. Rest for the next two days, and the morning after, enter the palace to meet the emperor."

He then turned to Wen Wan, "The Commandery Princess didn’t bring any personal aides along, there are a few available in the hall, if you find them unsatisfactory..."

Wen Wan thought Fu Zichuan might offer to bring some attendants from Prince Liang Mansion to serve her if she were dissatisfied.

However, Fu Zichuan looked coldly at Sanshun beside Wen Wan, a smirk of vengeful delight on his lips, "If you find them unsatisfactory, then bear with it!"

Ha, quite a vinegar jar he is.

Wen Wan was accustomed and tired of Fu Zichuan’s quirks by this point, so she pretended not to hear or see him, summoned Song Wei, and went inside to move her belongings.

Once more ignored, Fu Zichuan snorted coldly and led his men back to the palace to report.