The Consort of Prince Ke frowned, thinking she was being overly cautious, her demeanor a bit too hesitant.
Just as she was waiting for her to speak of her own matters, she unexpectedly heard this.
"What this subject's daughter wishes to speak of is related to Wen Jingsong, the Vice Minister of Personnel. That day, I went to the study to deliver food to my uncle and unexpectedly overheard him and my cousin discussing the imperial examinations..."
As Wen Yuwei spoke, Consort Ke listened.
The speaker was careful and cautious, not daring to omit a single detail.
The listener was greatly shocked; if she hadn't seen much of the world, she might have been scared to death.
After Wen Yuwei had laid everything out, she even swore a solemn oath.
"This subject's daughter knows the gravity of this matter, and Your Highness may not believe me, but this subject's daughter dares to swear upon her own life and the lives of her family that if even one word is untrue, may my entire family perish without a burial place!"
Her attitude was resolute, and her gaze was serious, unlike the gentle and weak woman she was before.
Consort Ke fell silent.
After a long while, she said to her, "Miss Wen, do you know that your words could cost the lives of the Wen family, and even the entire Wen clan?"
Wen Yuwei was startled by the latter part of this statement, but it was too late to regret it. Since it had come to this, she hardened her heart and decided to take a gamble.
"Your Highness, since I dare to come today, I have naturally put my life aside. Wen Jingsong has done such a thing; if I were to pretend nothing happened, I fear the impoverished scholars of this world would have nowhere to turn to seek justice. My Wen family may not be a prominent household, but we also understand propriety and shame. If we are truly harmed by him, then let the lives of my Wen clan atone for those impoverished scholars who were replaced."
Her words were indeed filled with righteous indignation, and Consort Ke believed some of her sincerity.
So she stepped forward to help her up and spoke to her frankly.
"Sister Wen is truly a person of great righteousness. If the timing were not so inconvenient, I would be willing to befriend you. This matter is of great importance, and it is not easy to give you a reply in a short time, but rest assured, since you have sought help from His Highness, you must know that His Highness has always been a person who distinguishes clearly between right and wrong. You were not involved in this beforehand, and you have come forward to report them now, which is naturally good. We will certainly find a way to help you protect the lives of your entire clan."
This statement essentially gave Wen Yuwei a promise.
"But if in the future..."
"Your Highness, please rest assured, if I am needed to confront them face to face, I will not flinch!"
"Good, that is all that matters. Then please stay in the manor and recuperate, how about it?"
Having learned such a big secret, it was naturally not good for her to stay outside. Now, using the excuse of recuperating from an injury would not arouse suspicion.
After all, she was just a woman of the inner chambers with no future prospects, unlikely to cause much trouble.
Meanwhile, Wen Jingsong and his son Wen Mengsheng, who were toasting and drinking with everyone in the front hall, had no idea that their end was near.
When Mama Li personally informed them that Miss Wen was injured and would be staying in the manor to recuperate, they were even delighted.
"It is Yuwei's good fortune to receive the Consort's care. Please, Mama, help her out a little more."
They still had to put on a good show. Father and son exchanged glances, both admiring Wen Yuwei.
She knew how to find a powerful backer for herself!
However, Prince Ke's manor was indeed a good destination!
It could not only withstand the aggressive advances of Prince Yu but also add some strength to the Wen family.
Although he had now thrown his lot in with the Wei family, the matters of the court were complex. By hedging his bets on both sides, it provided more security for the Wen clan!
Thinking of this, he felt that this niece had finally found a use for herself.
In the future, he would have to find a way to send her some good things, and the sooner she could win over Prince Ke, the sooner they could feel at ease.
Each side was scheming in their own way,
Yet they did not know that Wen Yuwei was now intent on seeing them perish without a burial place!
The hundred-day banquet was grand and exquisite. Emperor Qi and the Empress specially left the palace to visit Prince Ke's manor.
The entire feast reached its peak of liveliness.
Everyone was saying that this Imperial Grandson was greatly favored by Emperor Qi and would likely inherit the throne in the future.
This naturally made the Empress and the faction of the First Prince beam with joy. However, those who depended on the Ninth Prince and the Wei family did not think so.
They were all waiting for the Ninth Prince to return victorious, to once again focus all glory and attention on him.
The Liang family was the same. However, at this moment, Liang Luo, who most eagerly awaited the Ninth Prince's return, was ordered by Wei Lanxuan to be beaten twenty times with a stick.
The punishment was not too severe, but it made Liang Luo cry out in pain.
Unfortunately, Wei Lanxuan was now in charge of the entire Liang family. The servants who served them either had been taken to Jinling City by Liang Quanbin or had long been replaced by her confidantes.
Did she not take so many people from the Wei family just to live a comfortable life in the Liang family?
Therefore, no one dared to intercede for Liang Luo when she was beaten.
Even Liang Luo, while being beaten, cried out for Wei Lanxuan to show mercy, instead of cursing as she usually would.
"Hmph, I thought you would restrain yourself when you were about to get married. I repeatedly warned you before you left not to cause trouble, but look at you. How long have I been gone before you could offend Consort Ke? If I had been two steps later, you would have disgraced the entire Liang family. At that time, let alone the Ninth Prince, even a common peddler would not want you if you wanted to marry them!"
These words were spoken in a hurried and harsh tone, scolding Liang Luo to the point of worthlessness.
But she herself knew that it was indeed true.
If Wei Lanxuan had not rescued her in time, she would have been too ashamed to live in this world.
"Sister-in-law, I'm sorry. I lost my temper. You've beaten me and scolded me. Can you intercede for me with the Noble Consort? I'm afraid that if she finds out about today's events, she won't let me be the Ninth Prince's secondary consort."
She said this while crying.
For her, nothing else mattered now; the most important thing was to appease Noble Consort Wei, otherwise, wouldn't all her efforts be in vain?
Wei Lanxuan had no particular obsession with the Ninth Prince.
If Liang Luo could successfully marry into the Ninth Prince's manor, it would be a good thing for the Liang family, and she would be happy to see it.
But if Liang Luo remained this foolish and brainless, even if she became the principal consort, wouldn't she still be easily manipulated and potentially bring disaster to the Liang family?
Therefore, for a time, she was not too optimistic about this marriage.
Seeing that her expression was unyielding, Liang Luo truly panicked.
She no longer cared about her aching backside and rolled off the stool, crawling towards Wei Lanxuan.
"Sister-in-law, you love me, don't you! You won't abandon me, will you!"
Wei Lanxuan felt a pang of sympathy.
Her sister-in-law was indeed good at causing trouble, but she had to admit that she had always been sincere towards her, especially since she married into the Liang family. They had always gotten along well. Seeing her plead so pitifully, she did not want to make things too difficult for her.