Chapter 137: Going Home

Leaving Zhu Chengde's residence, Ji Changge decided to return to the Dali Temple, while Wen Jing headed back to the Wen Manor.

When the steward, Zhou Quan, caught sight of Wen Jing, his face registered complete astonishment. It seemed he had never expected Wen Jing to return entirely on her own, nor had he anticipated her coming back so swiftly.

"Se... Seventh Young Mistress, you have returned. This humble servant will go at once to inform the master and the mistress," Zhou Quan said, before scurrying off toward the inner courtyards.

"Mhm," Wen Jing acknowledged. This was her home, yet why did it feel as uncomfortably unfamiliar as stepping into the house of a stranger?

Upon seeing Wen Jing's unexpected return, Wen Qiran's eyes flashed with a mixture of shock and delight.

"Qi Niang, why have you come back?"

Pouting slightly, Wen Jing lowered her gaze and sighed. "Does Father not wish to see his daughter?"

Beholding her daughter's half-pouting, half-petulant expression, Wen Qiran instantly broke into a smile, his eyes brimming with deep affection. "How could that be? Your father is merely so overjoyed that he hardly knows what to do with himself."

Madame Wen and Wen Jiuniang cast glances at Wen Jing.

"Qi Niang has been away for the better part of a month. Both your father and I have missed you terribly. Just yesterday, we were saying that once Jiuniang's marriage was formally settled, we would visit you at the monastery and bring you the news," Madame Wen said, stepping forward to take Wen Jing's hand with a bright smile.

"Mother, it hasn't been finalized yet," Wen Jiuniang murmured, casting a shy glance at Madame Wen.

"It is only a matter of time. Telling your Seventh Sister is no different from telling family; what does it matter?" Madame Wen smiled gently.

Wen Jing looked at Wen Jiuniang and smiled. "Congratulations, Jiuniang. Had I not returned, I would not have known when I might have heard of this joyous event. It seems my timing in coming back was quite fortuitous."

"Seventh Sister, please do not tease me. Nothing has been written in the stars yet," Wen Jiuniang said, lowering her head.

The smile on Wen Qiran's face faded. He was reminded of Wen Jing's engagement to the Wang family, which had nearly cost his daughter her life. He had harbored guilt over that matter for a long time, which was why he had been exceptionally cautious regarding Jiuniang's prospective marriage. He had not immediately agreed to the proposal from the Marquis of Weiyuan, wishing to avoid repeating the tragedy that had befallen Qi Niang. The annulment with the Wang family had caused people to whisper behind his back every time he walked through the Ministry of Rites, and the most awkward moments of all were those accidental encounters with members of the Wang family, where everyone's gaze would invariably converge upon him and them.

"Qi Niang, why have you returned all by yourself? Where is that dark-skinned girl, Qingliu?" Wen Qiran had just noticed that Wen Jing was unaccompanied, and the maid Qingliu was nowhere to be seen.

Hearing Qingliu's name, a slight tightness gripped Wen Jing's heart. A moment later, she smiled and replied, "Qingliu is now a disciple of the Huaqing Monastery just like myself. The Abbess had other tasks for her to attend to, so she could not return with me."

Observing that her daughter had grown noticeably slender, Wen Qiran's eyes revealed a trace of heartache. How he wished he could fetch his daughter out of the Daoist monastery! However, the scandal involving the Wang family had not yet blown over. Furthermore, ever since news of the marriage proposal from the Marquis of Weiyuan Manor had spread, the Wen family had once again become the prime subject of local gossip. Wen Qiangniang and Wen Jiuniang had been meticulously compared from head to toe, inside and out, with the prevailing conclusion being that Jiuniang surpassed Qi Niang in every conceivable way.

Even within the monastery, Wen Jing remained a frequent topic of conversation. As to who was responsible for this, Wen Jing knew all too well. Madame Wen's perpetual tactic was always to step on Qi Niang while exalting Jiuniang.

Outside the door, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed. Hearing that Wen Jing had returned, the Fifth Miss, the Eighth Miss, and the Tenth Young Master had all rushed over in a flurry.

Upon spotting Wen Jing, the Tenth Young Master flung himself forward. "Seventh Sister! It has been so long! Where have you been?!"

Watching her younger brother's exuberant display, Wen Jiuniang felt a twinge of jealousy; the place she held as his actual sister in Tenth Young Master's heart paled in comparison to Seventh Sister.

"Seventh Sister merely went to the Daoist monastery to cultivate herself for a time. Though we haven't seen each other in over half a month, Tenth Young Master has grown taller," Wen Jing said with a smile, patting the boy's head.

"Seventh Sister, is a Daoist monastery fun?" asked the Eighth Miss, blinking her wide eyes.

Wen Qiran cast a helpless glance at the Eighth Miss, while Madame Wen chuckled, "Since Eighth Miss finds it so amusing, why not accompany your Seventh Sister and keep her company?"

Madame Lu hurriedly interceded with a smile, "Sister jest. You know as well as I do what Eighth Miss's tongue is like. Though she is no longer a child, she still speaks without a shred of maturity—not even as sensible as Tenth Young Master."

Realizing she had spoken out of turn after receiving a sharp glare from Madame Lu, the Eighth Miss promptly clamped her mouth shut.

"Qi Niang, how many days will you stay?" Wen Qiran inquired.

"I shall rest a moment and then depart," Wen Jing replied.

"So soon?!"

"The monastery is not as free as home," Wen Jing smiled.

Wen Qiran nodded. Qi Niang was no longer a person of the secular world and had to abide by the strict rules of the Daoist sanctuary at every turn.

"Then will you be able to return for Jiuniang's wedding?" Madame Wen asked with a melancholy expression, as if she could scarcely bear to part with her.

"This... is hard to say," Wen Jing murmured, lowering her head.

The atmosphere suddenly turned somewhat desolate. Wen Qiran comforted, "It matters little if you cannot come. Jiuniang is not marrying very far away; there will be ample opportunities to meet in the future."

"Father is right," Wen Jing smiled, looking up at the blushing Wen Jiuniang and then casting a glance at Qingshuang standing beside her.

Meeting Wen Jing's gaze, Qingshuang started in alarm and quickly lowered her eyes.

"Master, Young Master Ning has arrived," Zhou Quan announced, hurrying into the room.

Everyone except Wen Jing was startled. Why had this Young Master Ning chosen to arrive so abruptly?

Wen Qiran and the others hastened out to receive him.

Ji Changge, clad in a robe of regal purple, was walking toward them. As Wen Jiuniang looked upon that familiar face, a complicated bitterness welled up inside her. She had originally set her heart on Ji Changge, only for the Marquis of Weiyuan Manor to step in and propose marriage first. While the Marquis of Weiyuan could not match the Marquis of Ningguo, given the Wen family's current standing, it was already considered marrying upwards. Realizing that entering the Ningguo Manor was as difficult as ascending to the heavens, Madame Wen had settled for the next best thing by rejecting the Marquis of Weiyuan—yet that did not guarantee a match with the Ningguo Manor either, leaving them with nothing in the end like an empty basket trying to draw water.

Wen Qiran exchanged polite pleasantries with Ji Changge. Madame Wen, studying Ji Changge's permanently smiling face—one that completely concealed his inner thoughts—mused to herself: What could possibly be his purpose for coming here today?

"Qi Niang, have you packed? It is time to set off," Ji Changge turned and said to Wen Jing.

"We may leave," Wen Jing responded.

Though Wen Qiran had guessed for quite a while, he had never imagined that Ji Changge had come specifically for Wen Jing. Madame Wen, Wen Jiuniang, and the others were even more shocked. How had this Young Master Ning learned of Qi Niang's return? Judging by his words, he had clearly come to escort her back.

Noticing Wen Qiran's puzzled expression, Ji Changge smiled lightly. "I happened to pass by the Huaqing Monastery on official business, so this was merely on the way."

Despite his explanation, with Madame Wen's suspicious nature, how could she believe such a convenient coincidence? Passing by by chance, running into Qi Niang by chance, and now "conveniently" escorting Qi Niang back.

Wen Jiuniang felt an even fiercer surge of rage. Just how many bewitching potions had Wen Jing forced down Ji Changge's throat? Wen Jing was currently nothing more than a hot potato that everyone avoided, yet he eagerly clung to her. Furthermore, Wen Jing had already become a Daoist nun at Huaqing Monastery, and still he pursued her relentlessly! Where on earth was she inferior to Wen Jing?

"Father, Mother, your daughter will come back to visit you in a few days," Wen Jing said, looking at Wen Qiran before shifting her gaze to Madame Wen, thinking to herself that the next meeting would not be too far off.

"Very well, take care on the road," Wen Qiran offered no further admonitions. Having Ji Changge provide an escort put his mind completely at ease, even though lingering doubts remained. Such a privilege—being personally escorted by the Young Master himself—was not something afforded to just anyone. What exactly was the current relationship between the Young Master and Qi Niang?

In the past, he had not wished for Qi Niang to become overly intimate with Ji Changge. However, ever since the incident where Qi Niang was abducted, his perspective on Ji Changge had vastly improved, so he had no intention of intervening prematurely and preferred to wait and observe the outcome.

Watching Wen Jing board the luxurious canopied carriage of the Ningguo Manor, Wen Jiuniang stamped her foot in frustration and stormed off. Madame Wen glanced after her with a slight frown.

Madame Lu observed Madame Wen and Wen Jiuniang, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. It was rare to witness such expressions on their faces. She then reflected that although Wen Jing appeared to submit at every turn, she was clearly becoming more formidable by the day. Just when it seemed Madame Wen and Jiuniang had won, Wen Jing had turned the tables once more. Neither Madame Wen nor Wen Jiuniang could hold a candle to her alone. Glancing back at her own foolish Eighth Miss, Madame Lu could not suppress a sigh.

Madame Wen entered Wen Jiuniang's bedchamber and found Qingshuang frantically sweeping up the shards of a shattered teapot while dripping wet with tea, causing her brow to furrow even deeper.

Noticing her mother's arrival, Wen Jiuniang hastily curtsied. "Mother."

"What are you doing?" Madame Wen asked with displeasure.

"It is not the Mistress's fault; this servant's hands slipped and the teapot broke by accident," Qingshuang blurted out.

Madame Wen emitted a cold snort. She knew the temperament of her own daughter far too well, though Qingshuang was indeed a sharp-witted girl.

"You may leave first," Wen Jiuniang instructed Qingshuang.

Once Qingshuang had retreated, Wen Jiuniang stepped up to Madame Wen. "Mother, you saw it too just now. Qi Niang has already gone to a Daoist monastery, yet why does that Young Master still buzz around her like a fly? You always claimed the Ningguo Manor was beyond our reach, but is Qi Niang somehow worthy of scaling such heights? She is nothing more than a cheap discarded toy rejected by the Wang family!"

"Silence!" Madame Wen snapped angrily.

Ignorant of what she had said wrong, Wen Jiuniang felt tears well up in her eyes under the harsh rebuke.

Seeing her daughter's distressed state, Madame Wen softened her tone. "Do you truly believe Qi Niang remains the same person willing to be slaughtered at will? She is no longer that Qi Niang. Since this Young Master fancies her, what can your mother do? Besides, was the Marquis of Weiyuan Manor lacking? Mother did this for your own good, lest you end up with an empty basket trying to draw water."

"Then it is all Father's fault! If Father were still the Junior Vice Minister of the Ministry of Punishments, that match would have succeeded! I am not resigned to this!" Wen Jiuniang cried out.

Madame Wen sighed. "You have been like this since childhood; whatever you desire, you must have. If you cannot have it, you would rather destroy it so that no one else may have even a fraction of it. But this Young Master is not some inanimate object; he is a living man."

"Mother only knows how to think of herself! Have you ever considered your daughter's happiness? Are we to simply watch idly as Qi Niang marries into the Duke's Manor, becomes a Lady of the First Rank, and lords over us for the rest of our days?" Wen Jiuniang wept.

Madame Wen's expression stiffened. Having labored for so many years, she was merely a Lady of the Fifth Rank. If Qi Niang were truly to become a Lady of the First Rank, would she not be required to bow and pay respects to Qi Niang every single time they met in the future?

The mere thought made Madame Wen's skin crawl. The humiliation she had once suffered as a concubine came rushing back. No! She would never allow the daughter of Chu Zhuolian to trample upon her head again!