Chapter 86: Awkward Pride

After all, this was ancient times. Without laboratories or chemical reagents, Wen Jing had no way to begin her investigation. She thought of Lin Bai—perhaps Lin Bai had encountered such a poison before, though toxins capable of dissolving bone into powder were rare. Yet she could not seek him out immediately, and Lin Bai was always wandering; even if she went, she would likely return empty-handed. Wen Jing had no choice but to set the matter aside for now.

Wen Third Mistress, due to lack of evidence, was released back home. She had dug up her own ancestral tomb; this counted only as familial hatred, not a violation of the law, and at most it was an attempted crime. As for the stolen items from Lady Wen’s grave, none were found in Wen Third Mistress’s room. Considering all circumstances, they let her go.

The Wen clan leader, following the family rules, punished Wen Third Mistress by sending her to Huaqing Temple for a year of spiritual practice, to pray for the family and atone for her sins.

When Wen Third Mistress was sent away, not a single person in the household came to see her off—except Wen Jing.

Seeing Wen Jing emerge from the residence carrying a bundle of clothes, Wen Third Mistress was dazed, gazing at Wen Jing in disbelief. Shouldn’t Wen Jing hate her more than anyone else in the household? Why had she come to bid her farewell?

“The mountain winds are cold and damp,” Wen Jing said calmly. “It will only get colder day by day. Take more clothes with you.”

Wen Third Mistress hadn’t expected Wen Jing to say such words. Putting herself in Wen Jing’s place, she knew she could never do the same. Tears welled up instantly.

“Stop crying, get in the carriage,” Wen Jing said indifferently. She still couldn’t believe Wen Third Mistress could commit such acts. If she truly had such cunning, how could she have fallen so low? They were both just fish on the chopping block.

“Seventh Lady, don’t you hate me?” Wen Third Mistress could no longer hold back her sobs.

“I do,” Wen Jing replied. “But I pity you even more. Take care.”

As Wen Jing walked away, Wen Third Mistress felt as if something struck her heart heavily. Pity… for her…

“Third Mistress, time to get in,” the coachman urged impatiently.

Wen Third Mistress gave a bitter smile and climbed into the carriage. Now, even these coachmen could trample her.

...

Wen Jing realized she hadn’t visited Wang Jue for five or six days. The Court of Justice had no major cases recently. She was troubled, so she decided to go out for some air and brought Qingliu with her out of the Wen residence.

When she arrived at the Wang estate, the gatekeepers recognized Wen Jing; they already knew their family had proposed marriage to the Wen family. Seeing her, they smiled broadly and greeted her with the reverence owed to their future mistress.

Wen Jing pretended not to notice, smiled slightly, and walked directly toward the Carp Garden, hoping to avoid the annoying young ladies of the Wang family and spare herself needless conversation.

“Seventh Lady!” called a familiar voice from afar.

Wen Jing’s expression shifted, and she quickened her pace.

“Seventh Lady, why are you walking so fast?” Wang Second Young Master caught up, panting.

Wen Jing looked at his breathless state and thought, the phrase ‘unable to even truss a chicken’ must have been coined for young masters like him—hands too delicate to carry, shoulders too weak to bear.

“Master Wang, I’m just heading to the Carp Garden to see Seventeenth Young Master Wang,” Wen Jing replied with a smile.

“I’ll go with you. I happen to have a couplet I’d like his advice on,” Wang Second Young Master said shyly.

“Very well,” Wen Jing continued smiling, though she wished Wang Second Young Master would finish his errand and leave quickly.

Before they reached Wang Jue’s door, a loud crash sounded from within.

“Seventeenth Master, what happened?” came the maid’s panicked voice.

Wang Second Young Master pushed open the door and saw Wang Jue fallen on the ground. He hurriedly asked, “Xiao Cui, what happened?”

“Seventeenth Master wanted to…” Xiao Cui answered, her voice trembling with tears.

“Silence,” Wang Jue said coldly.

Wang Second Young Master helped Wang Jue into a chair. “Let Xiao Cui handle whatever you need. Why force yourself?”

---

Wen Jing noticed Wang Jue’s slightly flushed face and guessed he was uncomfortable about something. Yet Wang Second Young Master kept pressing him, calling him a blockhead—he truly was a blockhead.

“Have you been taking your medicine on time?” Wen Jing asked.

“I have,” Wang Jue replied coolly.

Seeing his indifferent attitude, Wen Jing pressed her lips together. “That’s good. Then I’ll take my leave.”

She had barely finished speaking before turning to go.

Wang Jue’s face stiffened, his gaze growing colder. “Is this how you treat a patient? You think drinking medicine is enough?”

Wen Jing turned back with a smile. “The medicine is to clear the blood clots in your brain. For now, just take it.”

One foot already out the door, Wen Jing was stopped by Wang Jue’s sudden cry as he fell.

“Seventeenth Master, what’s wrong?” Xiao Cui shouted.

“My leg suddenly hurts,” Wang Jue said, clutching his leg.

“Seventh Lady, come quickly! Seventeenth says his leg hurts!” Wang Second Young Master called.

Wen Jing returned and studied Wang Jue’s pain-stricken face. After a moment, she said, “Take off your trousers, let me see.”

Wang Jue blushed, and Wang Second Young Master and Xiao Cui were equally embarrassed.

“You two wait outside. I don’t like others around when I treat patients. Qingliu and I will stay,” Wen Jing said to Wang Second Young Master and Xiao Cui.

They nodded and left. Qingliu closed the door and stifled a laugh.

“Seventeenth Master, please remove your trousers so I can examine you,” Wen Jing said seriously.

“No… there’s no need. It seems the pain has gone,” Wang Jue looked away.

Qingliu couldn’t help but chuckle, thinking how adorable Wang Jue was. He obviously didn’t want her mistress to leave and came up with such a poor excuse—only the naive Wang Second Young Master would believe it.

“Just now, Seventeenth Master accused me of neglecting my patient. Now I offer to examine you, and you refuse. Tsk tsk,” Wen Jing teased.

Wang Jue glanced at the two, realizing Wen Jing was mocking him, and his blush deepened.

Seeing his mildly annoyed face, Wen Jing stopped teasing. There was no fun in provoking someone so proud.

She tapped Wang Jue’s knee lightly; still, there was no reflex. There had been little improvement.

“Push me out for a walk,” Wang Jue said suddenly.

Wen Jing paused. “All right.”

The Grand Academician’s estate was like an enormous garden, with pavilions, bridges, and rockeries everywhere. Wen Jing had envied it for a long time—living in such a place would surely lift one’s spirits each day. By comparison, the Wen residence seemed rather plain.

Wen Jing pushed Wang Jue slowly along the lakeside. Carp Garden was vast and tranquil, lively only for the fortnight before examinations. At other times, only servants came to clean; few people wandered here.

Wang Second Young Master watched from afar as Wen Jing pushed Wang Jue about and hurried over, suddenly remembering he’d forgotten to ask about his couplet.

“Ah!”

Qingliu suddenly screamed; she’d stepped on something slippery and collided with Wang Jue’s wheelchair. Wen Jing lost her balance and fell, landing squarely atop Wang Jue.

---

Their eyes met, and Wen Jing could almost feel Wang Jue’s breath on her face, tickling her. Both blushed; Wen Jing quickly scrambled up, about to scold Qingliu, when she noticed a pool of blood on the ground beside an animal’s corpse.

“Mistress, are you all right?!” Qingliu asked, shaken.

“I’m fine. What is that?” Wen Jing examined the corpse.

“It looks like a cat.” Qingliu had initially thought the blood was human, hence her fright, but on closer inspection, it was a cat. Its skin was missing, and it had been dead for some time, making it quite disturbing.

“Seventeenth Master, are you all right?” Wang Second Young Master ran over.

Wen Jing turned and saw Wang Jue had fainted. Was he squeamish at the sight of blood? Were men in this world truly so delicate...?

“This cat died horribly. Who would do such a thing?” Qingliu wondered.

“Probably a prank by the servants,” Wen Jing said, rising and ignoring the dead cat.

“I’ll take Seventeenth back to his room and send someone to clean up here,” Wang Second Young Master said, lifting Wang Jue back into his wheelchair.

“Mistress, let’s go back too,” Qingliu said, looking around. The vast garden was filled only with the sound of the wind and a large pool of blood—no mood for enjoying the scenery.

“All right.” Wen Jing took another look at the dead cat.

As they reached the Carp Garden gate, Wen Jing glanced up and saw Fourth Lady Wang and her companions approaching—too late to avoid them.

“Well, if it isn’t our future sister-in-law,” Fourth Lady Wang laughed.

“Indeed. She’s more familiar with the Wang estate than we are,” Sixth Lady Wang giggled.

Wen Jing glanced at them coolly, then smiled. “You’re quite right, sisters. Once you’ve left the family, this enormous Wang estate is easy to get lost in alone. Best to get familiar with it early.”

Fourth and Sixth Lady Wang’s expressions stiffened. Wen Jing’s implication was clear: she would soon be mistress here, and once they married out, they’d be like water cast away—outrageous! They’d seen shameless people before, but never anyone so brazen.

“Second Brother’s taste has really gone downhill—before, he chose women with talent and virtue. Now, tsk tsk,” Fourth Lady Wang said, looking off in the distance.

Wen Jing smiled faintly and said to someone behind them, “Second Young Master, your sisters seem unimpressed with your judgment.”

Fourth Lady Wang sneered, “That trick again? Do you think you can fool us twice?”

“Have you finished?” Wang Second Young Master’s voice came quietly.

“Ah!” Fourth and Sixth Lady Wang jumped, clutching their hearts. “Second Brother, do you walk without making a sound?!”

“Hmph. If you don’t do wrong, you don’t fear ghosts knocking at night. What are you afraid of?” Wang Second Young Master said, his face full of disdain.

Seeing his rare anger, Wen Jing felt a pang of guilt. He had helped her time and again, and she had no way to repay him—and would only hurt him further in the future. Yet, on the matter of marriage, she would not force herself. Life is but a fleeting few decades; if one cannot live with the person one loves, what’s the point of living at all?

ps:
A bonus chapter for “sky_biceng’s” golden pig~