Chapter 152: Settling Old Scores

Returning to the Wen residence.

Wen Jing looked at everything familiar around her and slowly walked inside.

"Congratulations on your promotion, Seventh Young Mistress. Eunuch Li already sent someone to deliver the rewards just now," Zhou Quan said with a beaming smile.

Looking at Zhou Quan's face, which was plastered with smiles, Wen Jing gave only a faint smile. "Take three hundred taels and distribute it among the staff."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Quan was overjoyed. "This old servant will make sure it is distributed evenly to everyone."

Flattering the high and trampling the low was something these people were most adept at. If it were the former Wen Jing, she certainly would not have done this. However, ever since Qingliu died, she had resolved to carefully plan her life. Everything that rightfully belonged to her, she would seize back with her own hands. Servants who loved money were easier to command; servants who were incorruptible were the difficult ones to handle.

"Father, Mother, your daughter has returned late." Wen Jing walked in and said.

"It's no matter at all. When your father said you were back, I didn't believe it, thinking he was tricking me. It's truly wonderful now. Jiuniang won't have to nag in my ear every day, asking whether Seventh Sister could come back after getting married," Madam Chu said, walking forward with a full smile.

"Mother..." Wen Jiuniang said, her face flushing crimson as she gave a coy, spoiled pout.

"What's there not to say? The date is already set, what are you still shy about? Could it be that a cooked duck might fly away?" Madam Wen teased.

Wuniang and Banniang exchanged a glance with Wen Jing, thinking to themselves that Mother was truly touching upon a sensitive subject. Seventh Sister had already sat in the bridal sedan chair, only for the marriage to fall through all the same. Yet, seeing that Wen Jing still wore a smile without the slightest hint of displeasure, the two couldn't help but marvel that Seventh Sister was truly different from before. If it were in the past, she probably would have covered her face and run off in tears.

"Oh my, look at this clumsy mouth of mine. Qiniang, I wasn't referring to you, please don't take it to heart," Madam Wen said, her face full of apology.

Wen Jing smiled faintly. "Mother should rather not take it to heart. Your daughter has never thought that way. How Mother treated me from childhood to adulthood, how could Qiniang not know?"

Meeting Wen Jing's sparkling eyes, Madam Wen beamed with joy, yet a faint trace of worry welled up in her heart for reasons unknown. For some strange reason, ever since Wen Jing returned from the Huaqing Temple, she felt as though tremendous changes had taken place in her. In the past, Wen Jing's gaze was always cold and detached, seemingly indifferent to anything at all. Yet this Qiniang before her eyes, although appearing extremely affectionate toward her, always left her with a somewhat uncomfortable feeling in her heart. Perhaps she was simply overthinking it.

"Master, Mistress, the meal has been prepared."

"Let's all go dine, stop chattering like a couple of old women," Wen Qiran said.

Wen Jing glanced at Wen Qiran's displeased expression and knew in her heart that he was unhappy, likely blaming her for not saying a single word about it during her last visit home.

Throughout the meal, everyone else was simply overjoyed, surrounding Wen Jing to ask questions about this and that, all concerning the case at the Huaqing Temple. Although Wen Qiran remained silent, he kept his ears pricked up to listen.

"Seventh Sister is amazing, cracking another major case. Even more impressive than Dad was when he was in the Ministry of Punishments," the tenth young master, Wen Shilang, said happily. As soon as he finished speaking, he realized something was amiss. Glancing back at his father's face, which looked like the bottom of a wok, he immediately lowered his head and began shoving rice into his mouth.

"What nonsense are you babbling about? This case was solved by Lord Ji, and besides, Father solved so many cases in the Ministry of Punishments—you were too young back then, so naturally you wouldn't know." Wen Jing finished speaking and cast a sidelong glance at Wen Qiran's complexion, discovering that the old man seemed to have hardened his heart this time, still wearing an iceberg face. It seemed he was truly angered.

Banniang and Wuniang also hurriedly nodded in agreement.

"Qiniang, there is something I, as your mother, don't know whether I should say or not. For a young lady like you to take up an official post in the Ministry of Punishments is ultimately rather inappropriate. Sandwiched between a crowd of men, what kind of decorum is that? In the future, finding a good family to marry into won't be easy either," Madam Wen said with a worried expression.

Wen Jing also sighed and said, "What Mother says, your daughter naturally understands. But now that the imperial edict has been issued, are we supposed to resist an imperial decree?"

"That is true as well."

Wen Qiran glanced at Wen Jing and couldn't help muttering inwardly, *I think you were more than willing.*

"Seventh Sister, don't go doing dangerous things anymore in the future. It scared people to death—to think someone actually wanted to kill you! Fortunately, the Young Marquis possesses formidable martial arts skills. Once you go to the Ministry of Punishments in the future, there won't be anyone protecting you by your side, so you must keep your wits about you," Wen Shilang couldn't help chiming in again.

Wen Jing glanced at Wen Shilang and smiled. "Our Shilang has truly grown up, knowing how to care for Seventh Sister. I'll listen to Shilang; I won't go to dangerous places anymore."

Wen Shilang nodded, beaming with smiles.

After the meal, Wen Qiran stood up without uttering a word and left, leaving everyone staring at one another in dismay.

"What's wrong with Father? He nagged about Seventh Sister every day, but now that Seventh Sister is back, he doesn't say a word instead. Which of you made him angry? Shilang, was it you?" Wuniang asked.

Wen Shilang immediately bounded up. "Fifth Sister, you mustn't wrong people! I did not make Father angry at all."

"Hmph, besides you, who else could it be?" Wuniang said indifferently.

"Stop bickering, it was me," Wen Jing said.

Having said that, Wen Jing walked toward the study. Wen Qiran was bound to be in there.

Zhou Quan was holding a teapot, preparing to enter the study. Wen Jing took the tray from Zhou Quan's hands, pushed the door open, and walked inside.

"Just set it down," Wen Qiran said without raising his head, holding a scroll of books in his hands.

"Father..." Wen Jing called out softly.

Wen Qiran raised his head and, seeing it was Wen Jing, didn't say a word, continuing to read the scroll.

"Is Father still angry with your daughter?"

"Is your father that petty? Do you know that because of what you did today, you nearly lost your life, and might have even implicated the entire Wen family?" Wen Qiran put down the book in his hand.

"I know. But how did Father know your daughter had no certainty of success?" Wen Jing raised her head and looked at Wen Qiran.

Certainty? A flash of confusion crossed Wen Qiran's eyes, and then understanding dawned upon him.

"You mean all of this was arranged by you?" Wen Qiran asked in astonishment.

"Not entirely. Your daughter hasn't figured out the Emperor's temperament yet, it was merely a coincidence of fate," Wen Jing smiled.

Wen Qiran nearly choked with rage. *Not entirely* meant that a portion of it was indeed planned by her! When did his daughter grow so bold? She even dared to pull off something like deceiving the Emperor? That was a crime punishable by the extermination of the nine clans.

Seeing the look of lingering fear on Wen Qiran's face, Wen Jing thought to herself that fortunately she hadn't told him, otherwise her cover probably would have been blown from the very beginning.

"Father, next time..."

"There's a next time?!" Wen Qiran dimly felt that his life expectancy was shortening, wondering when he might be sent to his grave by Wen Jing.

"No, your daughter meant there will definitely be no next time."

"That's more like it. From now on, behave yourself in the Ministry of Punishments and don't try to stand out. The Dali Temple still had the Young Marquis to protect you, but the Ministry of Punishments is far more perilous than the Dali Temple. Fortunately, the Minister of Punishments has always had a good relationship with me. When the time comes, I'll go have a word with him, so he shouldn't make things too difficult for you," Wen Qiran sighed and said.

"Thank you, Father."

"It would still be best to marry you off sooner rather than later, saving your old father from having to worry about you every day. I think the Young Marquis is quite a good match," Wen Qiran said, stroking his chin.

The corners of Wen Jing's mouth twitched twice. *You want to marry me off again? And who was the one who said earlier that the Young Marquis was absolutely unacceptable to marry? This attitude changes way too fast, doesn't it?*

"That's a matter for later. Once Jiuniang's wedding is concluded, it will be your turn. Rest assured, this time your father will definitely pick a fine match for you," Wen Qiran stroked his beard and said.

Wen Jing smiled and expressed her gratitude. She remembered that Jiuniang's fiancé seemed to be Gu Liansheng, the legitimate grandson of the Mighty and Far-Reaching Marquis's Estate. For the Gu family to take a fancy to Jiuniang, it must be because of Jiuniang's long-standing good reputation in the capital, and that good reputation had been exchanged at the expense of ruining her own reputation and contrasting with her bad name.

"Qiniang?" Wen Qiran watched as a half-smile appeared at the corners of Wen Jing's mouth, seeming lost in deep thought about something.

Wen Jing snapped back to her senses, looked at her father and said, "If Father has no further instructions, your daughter will retire to rest."

"Go ahead." Wen Qiran looked at his daughter with paternal affection, yet felt somewhat conflicted in his heart. The former Qiniang wore a worried expression all day long and was timid and submissive to the point of annoying him, while the present Qiniang was overly independent to the point that even he could not guess what she was thinking.

As Wen Jing walked outside, she couldn't help shrinking back from the cold. Suddenly, a cloak was draped over her shoulders, and a familiar voice sounded by her ear.

"Seventh Young Mistress, the evening chill is heavy. Quickly take this hand warmer." Qingshuang handed over a hand warmer.

Wen Jing took the hand warmer from Qingshuang's hand and suddenly thought of Qingliu. How wonderful it would be if Qingliu were still here; there was always something lacking in Qingshuang's eyes.

"Did Mother send you?" Wen Jing asked.

"Yes. Madam said that since Qingliu is no longer here, this maid used to serve the Seventh Young Mistress and knows her dietary preferences, so she had me come and continue serving the Seventh Young Mistress," Qingshuang smiled and said.

Dietary preferences... Wen Jing smiled and asked, "Then what about Ninth Young Mistress's place?"

Qingshuang hurriedly replied, "Madam has already assigned a few other people to serve Ninth Young Mistress over there. Ninth Young Mistress is getting married in just a few days, and this maid alone wouldn't be able to handle everything either, so Seventh Young Mistress need not worry."

"That's truly a bit of a pity, otherwise you could have followed Jiuniang to the Mighty and Far-Reaching Marquis's Estate, and perhaps you might have been given official status as a concubine in the future," Wen Jing looked at Qingshuang and said.

Qingshuang's expression changed, and she quickly lowered her head, saying, "Seventh Young Mistress, please don't tease this maid. Qingshuang only wishes to serve the young mistresses forever and has no such lofty ambitions."

Wen Jing smiled faintly, said no more, and walked toward the Bamboo Garden.

Returning to her room, Wen Jing lay down sideways on the couch. She felt utterly exhausted, and as soon as she lay down, her eyelids glued themselves together.

In a haze, she saw Qingshuang walking over holding a bowl of medicine, prying open her mouth.

"Seventh Young Mistress, drink it. Once you drink this, your illness will get better very soon." Qingshuang's face magnified before her eyes.

"I won't drink it, take it away," Wen Jing said loudly, but she felt completely devoid of strength.

"Drink it whether you want to or not!" Qingshuang suddenly turned ferocious, forcefully shoving the bowl of medicine into her mouth.

"Get away! You all want me dead! I refuse to let you have your way!"

Wen Jing exerted force and woke up with a start, only to discover it was a dream!

*Clatter!*

The sound of porcelain shattering suddenly came from outside the door.

"Who is it?"

The door opened, and Qingshuang walked in. "I'm sorry, Miss, the mutton soup was too hot and this maid accidentally dropped it on the floor. I'll go and fetch another bowl right away."

Qingshuang squatted down to start cleaning up, but suddenly felt an icy chill at the back of her neck.

"Don't make a sound, I only have a few questions for you," Wen Jing said in a low voice, holding a surgical knife.

Qingshuang was struck with great terror. Following Wen Jing's footsteps back into the room, she had no idea why the Seventh Young Mistress was suddenly treating her this way.