Wen Xinglu asked this question, but it was because his uncle had taught and cared for him a lot over the years, and he still held a sliver of hope that he would say something. Unfortunately, all he got was a sigh.
Wen Xinglu's heart turned completely cold. He chuckled twice, looking mockingly at the father and son of the Wen family, and walked towards the backyard with a dejected expression.
Wen Yuwei was in the courtyard at that moment, checking the injuries on her face in a bronze mirror. The doctor had given her a new scar-removing ointment, and the effect seemed good.
As the scars faded day by day, and even had the effect of nourishing the skin, her complexion became even better than before. She looked radiant, as if reborn.
Just as she was feeling happy, she saw her brother walk in, looking lost. "Brother? What's wrong?"
She reached out to help him sit down, but Wen Xinglu's legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, pulling Wen Yuwei down beside him.
"Brother, what's wrong?"
Wen Yuwei panicked. It was the first time she had ever seen her brother like this.
After shaking him for a long time, he showed no reaction, just sat on the ground, crying and laughing intermittently.
Ever since they came to Dongdu City, her brother had been her only relative. Although her uncle and cousin were related by blood, they were from a different branch.
Seeing her once ambitious brother reduced to this state, she wanted to know what had happened, but she didn't want to pressure him. She could only quietly stay by Wen Xinglu's side until nightfall.
The underfloor heating was on, so it wasn't cold.
After sitting for nearly an hour, Wen Xinglu's emotions slowly calmed down.
He said to Wen Yuwei, "Yuwei, when you've recovered, go home. Dongdu City is a place that devours people whole. The longer you stay here, the more suffering you'll endure. I don't want you to end up like me, at the mercy of others, to be slaughtered at will."
Wen Yuwei was confused. Lately, her brother had been restless, saying these nonsensical things to her, completely unlike his eager anticipation when they first came to Dongdu City. "Brother, what exactly happened? Why do you think this way?"
He let out a sneer and laid everything bare.
"The eldest princess of Changlin has taken a liking to someone from the Wen family. Uncle wants me to marry her as a consort, in exchange for his own bright future."
"What!"
Wen Yuwei naturally knew the consequences of becoming a consort. She quickly grabbed Wen Xinglu's sleeve and said, "It can't be. There must be some misunderstanding. Uncle has always treated you very well, hasn't he? He treats you like his own son? How could he?"
"Treat me like his own son? But he's not my own father. If I refuse, it will be Wen Mengsheng who goes. Do you think I have any other choice?"
Wen Xinglu said calmly, devoid of the anger and pain from before.
Once some things are understood, one knows they must be done. Securing the greatest benefits for oneself and those around is the choice of a wise person.
He clasped Wen Yuwei's shoulders tightly and said to her with unprecedented seriousness, "Uncle is not easy to deal with. After your accident, I overheard him in his study planning to give you to Prince Yu as a token of appeasement. That's why he was so concerned about your injuries. If you want to live a comfortable life for the rest of your days, go home. I have a way to send you away."
Prince Yu?
Wen Yuwei was shocked by his words. Prince Yu was old enough to be her grandfather. How could her uncle bear to do such a thing? And how could he dare?
But when she saw the determination in Wen Xinglu's eyes, she finally understood that she too was just a pawn.
Holding Wen Xinglu's hand, she said with a hint of tears in her voice, "Brother, let's leave together. I don't want this wealth. Let's go home. You can marry a wife you love, and I'll find a stable husband. We'll just live a peaceful life as a family."
He reached out and stroked the hair by her temples, saying with a bitter smile, "The imperial decree has been issued. Brother has no way out, but you still have a chance. I wish you a smooth life in the days to come."
Since the Wen father and son wanted to use him to pave their way, he naturally had to set some conditions, the first of which was to send Wen Yuwei back to their hometown.
Thinking of this, as if it were a final farewell, he took a deep look at Wen Yuwei and left the courtyard, heading towards Wen Jingsong's study.
In the study, Wen Xinglu's gaze towards Wen Jingsong held no trace of familial affection. His address also changed from "Uncle" to "Lord Wen," cutting off all their past ties.
"Lord Wen, I agree to become a consort, but I have three conditions that you must agree to. Otherwise, I will risk my life and not let you father and son succeed."
"You..." Since Wen Mengsheng had already fallen out with him, he naturally didn't want to pretend to be brotherly anymore. But at this moment, he couldn't truly anger him, otherwise, if he died, wouldn't he have to become the consort himself? Suppressing his dissatisfaction, he stared at him sinisterly, waiting to hear his conditions.
Wen Jingsong felt somewhat guilty towards him. He was powerless to change anything due to his low position and minor office, so he could only agree to his demands.
"Xinglu, speak. If it's something I can do, I will not refuse."
Wen Xinglu cut to the chase and laid out his demands one by one.
"First, send Yuwei back home and never plot against her again. Let her live out her life peacefully."
Wen Mengsheng frowned. They had already discussed the matter of Wen Yuwei with Prince Yu in private. Prince Yu had promised many benefits to the Wen family. If they didn't send her, wouldn't they offend him?
"Doesn't Yuwei want to stay in Dongdu City? If she goes back, the future glory and wealth..."
"Glory and wealth? Young Master Wen, you'd better keep them for yourself. Yes or no? Give me a definite answer!" Wen Xinglu didn't want to waste time with Wen Mengsheng and looked at Wen Jingsong.
After a moment, Wen Jingsong agreed, "It's not possible at the moment. Prince Yu already knows about Yuwei's matter, so I need some time to plan. However, I promise you that I will not send her to Prince Yu's mansion."
His attitude was somewhat sincere, so Wen Xinglu temporarily believed him.
"Second, all the properties of the Wen clan outside Dongdu City, including ancestral properties and sacrificial fields, shall be handed over to me."
"You... You're going too far! You want the ancestral properties and sacrificial fields too? Why don't you just say you want the entire Wen clan to serve you!" Wen Mengsheng shouted indignantly.
Although the Wen family was not comparable to the noble clans in Dongdu City, they were not insignificant either. The clan's power was managed by the clan leader. The core was the ancestral properties and sacrificial fields. Wen Xinglu demanding these things from the outset was tantamount to him being determined to secure the position of the next clan leader.
Currently, the clan leader was his father, Wen Jingsong, so Wen Mengsheng had always believed that he should be the next Wen clan leader. He never expected that Wen Xinglu would have such a large appetite.
Wen Jingsong frowned, looking at Wen Xinglu, not understanding his intentions.