The case of a failed scholar attempting to murder his wife quickly became a hot topic of gossip for those who had nothing better to do.
Wancheng was not far from Sheng Jing, and Madam Deng's parents arrived in the capital within a few days of hearing the news.
As rumors spread, even without Wen Ye informing them, the Lu family and the eldest aunt had already pieced together the 'inside story.'
The scholar, Xu Muzhi, had coated pastries from Caiyun Pastry Shop with a blood-activating and stasis-dissolving medicine, intending to cause Madam Deng to miscarry and die, resulting in two deaths. However, Madam Deng's wet nurse discovered the plot in time. Xu Muzhi panicked and tried to flee but was eventually captured by the Capital Prefecture Office's constables.
The case was resolved swiftly. Xu Muzhi was stripped of his scholarly title, sentenced to exile, and barred from taking the imperial examinations for three generations.
Some argued that the Capital Prefecture Office's verdict was too harsh, as Madam Deng was still alive, even though she had lost the child. After all, Xu Muzhi was a scholar who might have passed the spring examinations the following year.
Others believed that Xu Muzhi, despite his scholarly status, had committed an act of moral depravity by attempting to poison his wife and child to seize his in-laws' property. They argued that the verdict was not excessive, as such a man was unfit to hold office.
The only pity was for Caiyun Pastry Shop, which had only recently opened. It was said that Xu Muzhi had purchased the pastries from them, and the scandal led to widespread criticism of the shop's owner, forcing it to close temporarily.
Tao Zhi had been frequenting the city these past few days and had quickly gathered all the details of the case.
From start to finish, Wen Ye had not heard any mention of the 'Xue family,' which could only mean one of two things: either Xu Yuejia was toying with her, or the true details of the case had been concealed.
Wen Ye leaned toward the latter, as her limited understanding of Xu Yuejia suggested he was not a man who indulged in frivolity.
Tao Zhi was skilled at gathering information. After finishing her tea, she added, "Second Madam, there's something else I've heard, but I'm not sure if I should tell you."
Wen Ye, who was filing her nails, replied casually, "Go ahead."
Tao Zhi lowered her voice and said, "The victim, Madam Deng, has a daughter who is only six or seven months old. The child she lost was already five months along and was a boy."
When Tao Zhi first began investigating, she only felt pity for Madam Deng. But as she dug deeper, she began to feel a sense of unease.
Wen Ye sat up straighter and looked at her. "Are you saying Madam Deng became pregnant again right after giving birth?"
Tao Zhi nodded and continued, "I also heard that her husband deliberately timed their relations to ensure she would conceive again, intending to weaken her body and make the 'accident' more believable."
Tao Zhi had helped find the recipes, and while she wasn't afraid of any repercussions, she was worried about Wen Ye's future.
Wen Ye understood Tao Zhi's concerns. If Tao Zhi could uncover these details, then those involved in the case must know them as well. Wen Ye no longer felt like filing her nails and set aside her plans to experiment with new nail polish.
Xu Yuejia was a clever man, and Wen Ye didn't think he would fail to connect the dots.
Wen Ye had no intention of hiding her decision about having children forever, but until she could find the most suitable solution, she hoped to keep it a secret for as long as possible. After all, she hadn't harmed anyone's body.
She had merely consumed foods that were unfavorable for pregnancy and rarely shared a bed with her husband.
Her menstrual cycle was regular, and her health was robust. If she couldn't conceive, it wasn't entirely her fault—it could just as easily be his. Still, the Duke's residence was far better than she had initially imagined, and Xu Yuejia was no exception. If Xu Yuejia insisted on having more children, Wen Ye wouldn't mind finding him a concubine.
Whether he preferred beauty, virtue, or intellect, she could find him whatever he desired—as long as he didn't force her to bear children. However, Wen Ye knew that once the truth came out, she would face consequences. She was simply trying to minimize the impact on herself. After a moment of silence, Wen Ye suddenly spoke, "Go and tell Nanny Ji that I miss Xuan'er."
Tao Zhi was momentarily confused. "Huh?"
The so-called 'confession details' circulating about Xu Muzhi's attempted murder of his wife had been deliberately leaked by Wang Sheng.
If the truth had been kept hidden, those eager to know the full story would have dug deeper, and it would have been troublesome if they uncovered the full extent of the case.
It was better to let people believe it was just an ordinary case of attempted murder.
In the Capital Prefecture Office's prison, Wang Sheng handed a new interrogation transcript to Xu Yuejia and said, "All the waiters from Caiyun Pastry Shop are here. I've checked, and their ancestors were all locals of Sheng Jing. However, the pastry chefs who fled—their backgrounds are unclear."
When Wang Sheng realized this might be a plot targeting the royal family, he immediately sent people to search Caiyun Pastry Shop. The shopkeeper, Zou Quan, was brought back but died of poisoning within two hours.
Zou Quan had taken the poison himself, as if he knew the authorities would come for him. The poison was designed to take effect after two hours, likely to buy time.
The most popular pastry at Caiyun Pastry Shop was the one that caused Madam Deng's miscarriage. Normally, this pastry was only sold to regular customers, and someone of Xu Muzhi's status wouldn't have been able to purchase it. That day, a waiter had made a mistake, leading to the subsequent chain of events.
Although the pastry wasn't poisoned, imperial physicians discovered it contained an addictive substance.
Ordinary people who consumed it regularly would gradually grow weaker and become increasingly dependent on the drug.
It seemed that the princess's accidental visit to Caiyun Pastry Shop was no coincidence.
For pregnant women, the effects were even more severe. Madam Deng's body was already weak, and after consuming the tainted pastry, she couldn't keep the fetus. It was a miracle she survived.
After reading the transcript, Xu Yuejia fell silent for a long time before saying, "Xu Muzhi's attempt to implicate the Xue family has been thoroughly investigated. Since this involves Vice Minister of Rites Xue and his family, His Majesty has ordered that this must not be disclosed."
Wang Sheng quickly assured him, "I will not breathe a word of this to anyone."
Speaking of this, Wang Sheng couldn't help but feel exasperated. Xu Muzhi had somehow convinced himself that he was worthy of the daughter of a third-ranking official.
Even if he had succeeded, the Vice Minister of Rites would never have risked his career for a son-in-law. The imperial examination system of the Great Jin Dynasty was extremely strict, and no Vice Minister of Rites could have covered up such a scandal.
For a plan that had no chance of success, Xu Muzhi had spent over half a year scheming. First, he ensured his wife, who had just given birth, became pregnant again 'accidentally.' According to Xu Muzhi's plan, Madam Deng's miscarriage was supposed to occur a few days later, on a day when her trusted wet nurse and maid would not be present.
Xu Yuejia returned the transcript to Wang Sheng and added, "Make sure to handle the rumors about Madam Deng, Wang Sheng."
Wang Sheng bowed and replied, "I understand. As for the parts of the confession implicating the Xue family, they have already been removed."
Since becoming a capital official, Wang Sheng had often worked with the young Vice Minister of Justice on difficult cases. Over time, he had come to understand Xu Yuejia's approach.
Take Xu Muzhi's case, for example. If Wang Sheng had been in charge, Xu Muzhi's attempt to implicate the Xue family would have become public knowledge. Even if the Xue family was proven innocent, rumors would still circulate.
A young girl who had not yet come of age, unfairly tainted by such accusations, would likely struggle to find a good match. Wang Sheng, who had a daughter of his own, could empathize with Xu Yuejia's actions. However, understanding didn't mean he would have thought of such details on his own.
"Continue investigating Caiyun Pastry Shop's background, as well as its connections to influential families in Sheng Jing," Xu Yuejia instructed.
In the western courtyard of the Duke's residence, several servants were building a small swing next to the existing one, as per Wen Ye's instructions. The small swing, designed specifically for Xu Yuxuan, was smaller and differently shaped from the larger one.
It was tailored to Xu Yuxuan's size, ensuring his feet could touch the ground when seated. Additionally, the swing had protective barriers on all sides, making it impossible for him to fall out unless the swing flipped completely.
When Xu Yuxuan was brought to the western courtyard by Nanny Ji and learned about the swing, he was ecstatic. He asked Wen Ye repeatedly, "Is it really for Xuan'er?" pointing earnestly at his little chest. Wen Ye assured him, "Of course!"
Xu Yuxuan happily threw himself into Wen Ye's arms, giggling with joy.
Wen Ye gently embraced him, her smile warm and tender.
Nanny Ji, who was standing nearby, watched the scene with a sense of contentment, though she couldn't shake a faint feeling that something was amiss.
The change in the second madam seemed quite significant.
While waiting, Wen Ye brought out the small bamboo horse she had bought from the son of Chen Village Head for Xu Yuxuan to play with.
The little bamboo horse was just the right size for Xu Yuxuan to sit on, his toes barely touching the ground.
Xu Yuxuan happily rocked back and forth on the bamboo horse, thoroughly enjoying himself.
Wen Ye occasionally asked him, "Are you happy?"
Xu Yuxuan tilted his little chin up and replied, "Happy~"
The small swing was soon ready, padded with soft cushions inside and out to ensure Xu Yuxuan's delicate skin wouldn't be scratched by any splinters. Wen Ye personally helped him onto the swing.
This was the first time Xu Yuxuan could swing on his own without needing someone to hold him. He touched the swing curiously, his eyes filled with wonder.
Wen Ye then instructed Tao Zhi to place a small bamboo table next to the swing, matching the bamboo horse. On the table, she placed two of Xu Yuxuan's favorite snacks and a pot of warm water.
Except for the absence of a storybook, the setup was almost identical to her own.
However, to maintain appearances, Wen Ye placed one of his father's books on the small bamboo table as a decoration.
Once everything was ready, Wen Ye subtly dismissed Nanny Ji.
Under the corridor, only the mother and son remained, along with Tao Zhi.
Wen Ye began, "Does Mother treat you well?"
Xu Yuxuan nodded, "Yes!"
Wen Ye continued, "How so?"
Xu Yuxuan took a bite of the snack he was holding and said, "Like New Year's!" Children express their emotions so plainly.
Wen Ye: "..."
Regaining her composure, Wen Ye asked, "Yuxuan, if your father and I were to argue, would you stand by me?"
Xu Yuxuan looked puzzled, "Argue?"
Realizing he might not understand the concept of arguing, Wen Ye gave an example, "If your father already has a plate of pastries but still asks me to make more for him, and I don't want to, would you stand by me?"
However, Xu Yuxuan only heard the word "pastries." He nodded eagerly, "Make them! Yuxuan will eat them!"
Wen Ye: "..."
The swing had been made in vain.
Xu Yuxuan swung his little legs, munching on his snack as if he hadn't a care in the world. Wen Ye watched him and realized his posture looked familiar. It took her a moment to realize he was a smaller version of herself.
Oh well, she couldn't count on the little guy. Wen Ye sat back on her own swing, sipping tea, reading her storybook, and nibbling on snacks.
She would deal with whatever came her way.
When Xu Yuejia returned to the west courtyard and entered the main house, he immediately noticed the changes under the corridor: a smaller swing, a smaller table, smaller snacks, a smaller teapot, and a smaller person.
Tao Zhi, noticing his sudden appearance, quickly bowed and whispered, "Madam, the master has returned."
Wen Ye quickly removed the storybook covering her face, her drowsiness vanishing instantly. She looked at the approaching figure and greeted him calmly, "Husband."
Xu Yuejia walked over, glanced at Xu Yuxuan, who also had a book covering his face, and paused before removing it. Xu Yuxuan was momentarily confused, but upon recognizing who it was, he murmured, "Father?"
Xu Yuejia held the book and said, "Your tutor will arrive in three days."
Xu Yuxuan didn't understand and looked bewildered. Wen Ye quietly watched the scene unfold, amused.
After addressing Xu Yuxuan, Xu Yuejia turned his gaze to Wen Ye, his expression slightly cold. "Come inside with me. I have something to ask you."
Wen Ye met his gaze, and perhaps due to the tacit understanding born of their shared life, she could sense what Xu Yuejia wanted to ask.
