I Transmigrated and Already Had a Wife - Chapter 58

A sense of suffocation suddenly struck Song Yinxue. Her eyes were fixed on the direction Lin Muwan had left.

Lin Muwan pursed her lips, her gaze lingering on Jiang Zhou for a moment before withdrawing it.

She had naturally heard what the person just said. She had kept silent about Song Yinxue out of respect for their past friendship—how could people around her know about it?

Lin Muwan lowered her eyelids, her long lashes casting a shadow beneath her eyes.

Who exactly was this person? Why did she know about her past? Or, did she know her from before?

Carrying these questions, she was led by Jiang Zhou to a terrace. “My wife, the Crown Prince is over here. Let’s go and greet him.”

Lin Muwan nodded without suspicion and followed beside her.

The Crown Prince, in a deep purple robe with four dragon patterns, was tall and straight, his face bearing a gentle smile—a stark contrast to the man she met in Qingzhou. He was chatting with the officials beside him, but upon seeing Jiang Zhou, he immediately burst into hearty laughter. “Lord Jiang, I have been waiting for you! Come, come, let me introduce you. This is…”

The Crown Prince smiled and introduced the officials next to him to Jiang Zhou.

Jiang Zhou humbly bowed to each of them.

“Lord Jiang, please come in.” The Crown Prince gave a look, and the Crown Princess, who was not far away, immediately understood. She stepped forward, took Lin Muwan’s hand, and chuckled, “Younger sister, you’ve arrived. I’ve long heard that you are the capital’s foremost talented woman, with both grace and beauty. It’s a pity we never had a chance to meet. Today, I finally have the opportunity.”

She opened her arms, her apricot-yellow wide sleeves hanging down, and scrutinized Lin Muwan before continuing, “Indeed, the reputation is well-deserved.”

Lin Muwan curtsied slightly, “The Crown Princess is too kind.”

The Crown Princess waved her hand. “Calling me ‘Crown Princess’ is too formal. Let’s refer to each other as sisters. Come, I’ll take you for a walk around. It’s spring, and coincidentally, a few spots in this courtyard have flowers in full bloom. Today, I invited some sisters to enjoy the flowers and drink tea. Let’s go together. Sitting here talking with these men is dreadfully dull.” With that, she pulled Lin Muwan towards another area.

Lin Muwan turned to look at Jiang Zhou. The woman’s deep peach blossom eyes were unfathomable, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking. After a moment, she nodded to Lin Muwan.

Walking past the waterside pavilion, they followed a path of flagstones lined with greenery. A faint, slightly cool fragrance of flowers wafted through the air.

Lin Muwan pursed her lips and walked alongside the Crown Princess. As they drew closer, she saw several brilliant red plum blossoms in full bloom.

The red plums were as vibrant as fire, standing out like the scorching sun amid the greenery.

Lin Muwan was momentarily stunned, as if she were transported back to the days when she was the Minister’s daughter, going up the mountains to admire the red plums in February and March.

It felt like a lifetime ago.

It wasn’t until she heard a voice nearby—”Wanwan”—that she was pulled back from her drifting thoughts.

Song Yinxue had seen Lin Muwan from afar and walked over, taking advantage of the moment when Lin Muwan was alone.

“Wanwan.”

Lin Muwan frowned, her eyes cool and distant as she looked at her. The simple cotton dress of the past could not hide her elegant demeanor, but now, the silk robes she wore looked unbearably vulgar.

“Wanwan, have you been well this past year?”

Lin Muwan lowered her gaze. “Thank you for your concern, Miss Song. I am very well.”

Song Yinxue’s eyes fell on Lin Muwan’s slightly protruding abdomen, her expression freezing for a moment. Lin Muwan used to be so glorious and refined; no man in the world could catch her eye, yet now she was reduced to being with such a man.

She recalled that man, and a chill involuntarily ran down her spine. Other than a handsome face, he had no redeeming qualities.

Song Yinxue said, “Wanwan, actually, I…”

Lin Muwan glanced at her, her tone sharp, cutting her off, “Miss Song, we are not acquainted. Please address me as Madam Jiang.”

Song Yinxue lowered her head and murmured, “But we were the best of friends.”

Lin Muwan let out a soft laugh and decided not to bother with her anymore, stepping forward to join the flower-viewing crowd.

She had no interest in the topics of conversation among the officials’ families. It was all empty flattery. She preferred poetry and literature; otherwise, she wouldn’t have befriended Song Yinxue, a woman of great talent but humble background, whom she once admired.

In the end, she had only served as a stepping stone for the other woman’s rise.

Lin Muwan pursed her lips. At this moment, she missed that rascal even more.

Only barely half an hour had passed since they separated, yet Lin Muwan lowered her eyes, wondering why it felt like so long.

The corners of her mouth curved downwards. She had completely lost interest in this kind of social obligation.

The pavilion where the Crown Prince and the officials were seated was separated from them only by a waterside pavilion. From this angle, she could see that the man was chatting happily with those people. In the sunlight, his well-defined profile wore a faint smile.

Lin Muwan pursed her lips, feeling quite unhappy. She was here like a waiting stone, and that rascal hadn’t even glanced over once.

A huge sense of disappointment welled up. She couldn’t help but recall the doctor’s warning that pregnant women often experience mood swings.

Was her current state considered one of those?

Lin Muwan looked listless. As soon as the Crown Princess left, she found an excuse to slip away from the crowd. She hadn’t walked far when Song Yinxue followed her again.

This time, she wore a different expression, approaching with a tone of accusation. “Wanwan, it’s fine if you want to degrade yourself, but how could you speak about Yan’er like that?”

Lin Muwan frowned, puzzled by her meaning, but then her gaze caught sight of Li Yan’er behind Song Yinxue, and she instantly understood.

Her face suddenly darkened. She said coldly, “Miss Song, the sight of you using me as a stepping stone is truly unpleasant.”

Song Yinxue’s face instantly turned pale. She had thought Lin Muwan would let herself be manipulated, just like before, but she…

Every word struck a nerve. She stepped back, but her lower back was supported by someone. Li Yan’er stood aggressively in front of her. “Lin Muwan, how can you speak to Sister Song like that? She was only trying to help you.”

She acted as if she were defending Li Yan’er.

Lin Muwan tightened her fingers. This was not the first time Song Yinxue had slandered her in front of Li Yan’er to show loyalty.

How could she have been so blind as to consider her a friend back then?

She took a deep breath, suppressing her rising temper.

Song Yinxue, seeing that she had achieved her goal, looked as if she had more to say but was holding back, appearing pitiful.

Just then, Jiang Zhou returned. She massaged her forehead. As expected, cannon fodder couldn’t stop themselves from provoking the female lead. Without a word, she shielded Lin Muwan behind her. Due to her height advantage, she looked down at the two women and slowly began, “I’d say, Li Yan’er, you’re just an idiot. How do you think you fell into the water before?” She pointed at Song Yinxue, “It was this so-called savior of yours who arranged for someone to push you in.”

“You’re lying!” Song Yinxue’s face instantly turned white. The hand hidden in her sleeve trembled slightly. She had done that matter very carefully; no one should know. How could this person know?

Impossible!

Jiang Zhou snorted, casting a disdainful glance at the stunned Li Yan’er. “You’ve spent a lot of money on her all these years, haven’t you? Idiot.”

After speaking, she took Lin Muwan’s hand, ignoring the bewildered Li Yan’er. “Wife, let’s go back. There’s no point in wasting words on an idiot.”

She believed that as long as Li Yan’er wasn’t completely foolish, she would investigate the matter from that year. When that time came, she wouldn’t need to lift a finger; Li Yan’er would naturally take revenge for her wife.

Song Yinxue thought she had covered her tracks perfectly back then, but she had met Jiang Zhou, who possessed a cheat—she could hear Song Yinxue’s inner thoughts clearly.

Song Yinxue stared wide-eyed at Jiang Zhou. A huge sense of fear enveloped her, as if she were completely exposed, standing naked before Jiang Zhou with no secrets.

The person she worried about now was not only the woman in front of her but also the overbearing Li Yan’er.

She didn’t know what she would have to face.

At that moment, she deeply regretted approaching Lin Muwan again. She had already gotten what she wanted. Humans are indeed insatiably greedy.

Jiang Zhou turned her head and raised an eyebrow, meeting Lin Muwan’s slightly smiling eyes. Her heart stirred, and only one thought remained: let them fight among themselves. She had a very important matter to attend to.

Without giving anyone a chance to react, Jiang Zhou quickly led Lin Muwan out of the Crown Prince’s residence.

Back in the carriage, Lin Muwan immediately understood the intention behind the woman’s hasty departure. She was instantly at a loss for how to describe her mood. Looking at the enlarged face before her, she silently closed her eyes, allowing the rascal to have her way.

After a long while, Jiang Zhou seemed satisfied, released her, and shifted the person in her arms to a different position. “Is my wife still angry?”

Lin Muwan looked at her, knowing that if she said she was angry, this rascal would kiss her immediately, and it would truly never end. Her expression was obscured.

She stared for a moment, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. “It’s not worth it.”

“My wife is right. It’s not worth getting angry over people like that. Let them fight amongst themselves. I believe with Li Yan’er around, Song Yinxue has a lot of misery coming her way.” As she spoke, she gave Lin Muwan a loud kiss on the cheek.

“A reward for my wife.”

Lin Muwan lowered her eyes, not wanting to talk to her, and simply closed her eyes to rest in the warm embrace.

Jiang Zhou chuckled, gave an instruction to the outside, and the carriage slowly drove away.

As soon as they returned to the manor, Jiang Zhou took Lin Muwan straight into the room and said mysteriously, “Wife, I observed carefully at the Crown Prince’s residence today. Your father’s case has nothing to do with those people.”

Lin Muwan frowned and looked at her.

Jiang Zhou: “…”

Receiving Lin Muwan’s questioning look, Jiang Zhou suddenly realized she had said the wrong thing and quickly tried to compensate: “I tested them, and their reactions didn’t suggest they were involved in your father’s case, so I…”

She couldn’t tell Lin Muwan that she had a cheat that allowed her to hear other people’s inner thoughts, could she? She forced herself to complete the lie.

It was strange, though. Some of the officials on the list were there today. Why couldn’t she detect any problems in their inner thoughts when she tested them? Could the list be fake? Was someone deliberately trying to lead the blame towards the Crown Prince?

Who was this person?

Everyone on the list belonged to the Crown Prince’s faction. If something happened to them, who would naturally benefit?

The Emperor had twenty-three sons. Excluding those who were underage or had passed away, only the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, and Ninth Princes remained.

Oh, wait, the Seventh Prince should also be excluded, Jiang Zhou pondered. That person was trustworthy, as he was a reborn person who had come back to change his destiny. Of course, Jiang Zhou was shocked for a while when she learned Xiao Qi was reborn, but as a transmigrator, she quickly adapted to Xiao Qi’s identity.

After listening to Jiang Zhou, Lin Muwan’s eyes darkened slightly. She pursed her lips, knowing that the woman was hiding something from her. Since she wouldn’t say, she wouldn’t ask. Following Jiang Zhou’s line of questioning, she asked, “Does Husband have anyone you suspect?”

Jiang Zhou habitually scratched her eyebrow. When it came to suspects, there were quite a few. She listed all the people she suspected one by one.

Lin Muwan nodded, pondered for a moment, and said, “The Fourth Prince also knew about the Crown Prince’s affairs in Qingzhou, but there isn’t a single person from the Fourth Prince’s faction on the list.”

Jiang Zhou was startled. Why hadn’t she thought of that? When she listened to Zhao Mao’s inner thoughts, both the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince were involved in many things. Why was there no one from the Fourth Prince’s faction on the list? That was very strange!

She excitedly gripped Lin Muwan’s hand, her eyes curving with joy. “My wife is truly clever!” This was accompanied by a loud, exaggerated kiss on the cheek.