“Since you are already here, why shout so loudly? Don’t frighten Sister Zhu’er—especially with the Crown Prince present." Wen Yansheng muttered discontentedly.
"Third Brother, how can you say that! Sister won’t mind, will she? Third Brother has always been straightforward since childhood."
Wen Mingzhu sat beside the Crown Prince in the upper seat; her voice was pleasant, crisp yet tinged with charm.
"Where did I say anything wrong? Second Sister is kind‑hearted—she clearly arrived first but was the last to enter." Wen Yansheng stuck out his tongue.
"Xiao Sheng, do not be unruly." Wen Yansheng’s words made Minister Wen’s face burn hot, and he rebuked aloud.
Only then did Minister Wen remember: upon seeing the Crown Prince’s carriage, he had left his eldest daughter and son‑in‑law aside.
He naturally also knew that his eldest son‑in‑law was now a Marquis, because at morning court the Emperor had personally written the decree in public.
But his younger son‑in‑law was the Crown Prince; before the heir apparent, a lame Marquis counted for nothing.
Though this matter was somewhat unscrupulous, he had already done it and wished to let it pass.
Who would have thought his foolish son would blurt it out face‑to‑face!
"Why did I enter last—do you truly not know in your hearts?" Wen Qingwan’s voice was icy, like snow and frost covering all.
It wasn’t that she was deeply sad—without hope there is no disappointment—but she absolutely refused to be Wen Mingzhu’s stepping stone.
Xiao Jin saw that his little girl’s eyes were filled with grievance, like a wronged kitten.
He reached out to hold her small hand, asking with his eyes: My dear, do they usually treat you this way?
Wen Qingwan had meant to shake her head, but she recalled how the Wen family’s eyes had always shown calculation and malice toward her, never once concealed since childhood.
The man before her was no fool nor blind; she could only nod silently, speechless.
Madam Wen, seeing her eldest daughter embarrass her husband, reproached discontentedly: "Wan’er has always been sensible—why quarrel with your younger brother today?"
"Hmph!" Xiao Jin let out a cold laugh.
"Crash—" He suddenly smashed the teacup in his hand; on the ground no shards could be seen, only a heap of powder.
"We did nothing—why does Madam Wen accuse my wife? If you dislike us, just say it outright; why speak to veiled insinuations?"
Xiao Jin’s voice was low, carrying a chilling cold that made the Wen family’s hearts tremble.
After speaking, he rose to his feet; the look he cast at the Wen family made them shiver, its sharpness and edge impossible to conceal.
The hall fell into complete silence.
Someone was so terrified their legs trembled, their trousers soaked through, eyes filled with horror—as if the next moment, a head would roll.
"Wan’er, how can you let your husband cause trouble in the Wen household? Do you mean to abandon your natal family?"
Madam Wen glared angrily at Wen Qingwan, scolding in a low voice; fortunately, with so many people present today, she dared not go too far.
Wen Qingwan rubbed the teacup, unable to say she was happy, yet not exactly sad either.
She only thought: if no outsiders were present, her mother would surely beat and scold her.
She still remembered: at five years old, Wen Mingzhu snatched her hair ornament. When she complained to her mother, her mother punished her with thirty strikes on the palm.
Her mother took the ruler and struck her personally. At first she thought it was to protect her—if her mother did the beating, surely it wouldn’t hurt much.
But she was disappointed—her mother struck her fiercely thirty times, and she cried, begging for mercy.
Her mother snarled: "A single hair ornament—can’t you give it to your younger sister? Can’t you just behave yourself?"
At that time she was deeply upset, wanting to defend herself: it was Wen Mingzhu who stole her hair ornament—how was she not being obedient?
But her mother’s gaze frightened her so much that she dared not utter another sound, nor shed a single tear.
By the time the ruler strikes were finished, her lips were bitten through, and her palms swollen high.
"Father, Mother, since childhood your daughter only learned: unmarried, obey the father; married, obey the husband; be diligent and frugal, treat her husband kindly, honor her elders. But she was never taught how to handle conflict between her husband and her natal family."
Wen Qingwan’s voice was pleasant, her tone unhurried, yet her volume was quite loud.
The Crown Prince saw the eldest daughter of the Wen family, her bright red dress setting off skin as fair as snow, her brows and eyes like a painting.
Her beauty was on par with Zhu’er’s, yet the Wen family’s eldest daughter carried not only elegance but a stronger air of boldness.
Seeing Wen Qingwan’s cold words and frosty demeanor, the Crown Prince’s gaze darkened slightly, and a faint tremor stirred in his heart.
He gave Wen Qingwan a gentle smile, radiant as a blooming flower: “It is said Miss Wen is learned and courteous—today I see it is indeed true.”
Wen Qingwan’s embroidered brows knit slightly. What are you smiling for? There’s a vegetable leaf stuck on your teeth—it looks awful!
Xiao Jin immediately pulled his little girl into his arms. “Many thanks for Your Highness’s praise. My wife is indeed wonderful. Since the Wen household does not welcome us, we shall take our leave.”
Xiao Jin had intended to deal with the Wen family before leaving, but when he saw the Crown Prince’s gaze toward his little girl, he decided it was wiser to leave first.
As for the Wen family, he could deal with them anytime.
Wen Mingzhu saw the abusive man tenderly holding Wen Qingwan as they walked toward the door—how could this be allowed!
Her true intention was to make Wen Qingwan provoke the anger of both the Wen family and the Crown Prince, so that everyone would come to despise her.
Ideally, the abusive man would kill her outright in public. Wen Mingzhu never dreamed the Crown Prince would praise her, nor that Xiao Jin would defend her.
In her previous life, didn’t the Crown Prince utterly hate Wen Qingwan?
Isn’t Xiao Jin the abusive man?
Married only at twenty‑six, yet not knowing how to cherish his wife—beating her eighteen times a day!
Wen Mingzhu thought of how, later, the Crown Prince made Wen Qingwan Empress—could it be that he actually liked her?
The so‑called abusive man married Wen Qingwan, and instead of violence, he turned gentle?
As the saying goes, a tough man’s tender heart is what countless women dream of—and such fortune actually fell to Wen Qingwan?
As soon as the thought surfaced, Wen Mingzhu shivered, her back turning cold with fear.
She whimpered tearfully: “Your Highness~ it’s all Zhu’er’s fault~ I shouldn’t have come back with elder sister~ I made her leave without even eating.”
As she spoke, she began to sob, her fox‑like eyes brimming with tears, which spilled cheaply and without end.
The Crown Prince’s heart ached deeply. “Zhu’er, don’t cry. Your tears shatter my heart. For me to accompany you back to the Wen household is their honor.”
“Wan’er, stop! Stay and eat with Zhu’er before you leave.” Lord Wen bellowed at the sight of his eldest daughter’s departing back.
Xiao Jin turned, furious, and slammed his palm onto the big table—instantly the sturdy round table split into pieces.
His fingers turned white from the force, and his hair bristled upright with rage.
“Lord Wen, how dare you scold a Marquis wife? If I don’t show my power, do you take me for a pushover?”
“Marquis? Aren’t you just the heir apparent?” Wen Yanting asked in fright, for his current rank was still high enough to attend court.
“My apologies. I only received the imperial edict this morning and haven’t had time to inform you yet.”
His face darkened instantly, brows knotted, a spark of fury flashing in his eyes. “But the Wen household is not worthy to know.”
“My Lord Marquis, please stay. It’s already lunchtime—would you eat before leaving?” Wen Shilang asked obsequiously.
Seeing her father’s ability to bend and yield, Wen Qingwan tugged the man’s hand, signaling him to agree.
🐇♡🐇♡🐇♡🐇
Turns out Xiao Jin wasn’t a “soft persimmon” at all—he was more like a durian: spiky, explosive, and guaranteed to clear the room. The Wen family learned two things that day: never underestimate a Marquis, and always eat before the furniture gets involved.
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