Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The cold autumn breeze filled the night. Dim moonlight shone on the hibiscus in front of Hibiscus Garden. The ground was tainted red by all the fallen petals.
Yuan Xuan stood on the balcony with a cigarette between his fingers. Sparks flew from the cigarette, and a gloomy expression flashed across his face. He took a long drag before he turned to look at the woman on the bed. The love bites could still be seen on her smooth shoulders.
Time had passed in the blink of an eye. They have been married for three years, but they had actually known each other for fourteen years before that. However, they had only spent less than a year together as an actual couple.
He would lose control of himself every time he desired her.
He could not stop himself from leaving marks on her body.
It seemed like he was marking his territory and declaring his dominance. This woman belonged to him!
Yuan Xuan knew why his mind was filled with worries.
Shen Muqiu’s men had already had a few conflicts with Mu Chenwu’s subordinates at the Southeast Region several times.
There was also a possibility that Mu Feng was still alive!
Yuan Xuan immediately thought of Mu Chenyan the moment he discovered this information.
Mu Feng knew that Mu Chenyan was Yuan Xuan’s weakness.
He had used his daughter as a means to manipulate Yuan Xuan in the past.
*
Wu Ze seemed to be in a good mood when Mu Chenyan contacted him. “Chenyan, you’re finally learning to ask me for help!”
Mu Chenyan’s heart was filled with warmth. She murmured, “Big Brother Wu, I hope this case doesn’t cause you too much trouble.”
Wu Ze pondered for some time. He said, “Chenyan, it’s impossible for me to prove that the accused is innocent!”
“Yes, I understand.”
“The best result we can hope for is a lighter sentence with a decrease in his jail time by a few years. Perhaps we can avoid the death penalty as well.”
Wu Ze’s tone turned serious as he continued to speak. “However, Yuan Tangzhong won’t let Zheng Shuyan off easily. After all, he murdered the only successor of the Yuan Family’s second son!”
This was also the issue that worried Mu Chenyan the most.
“Big Brother Wu, I’ll leave this to you. Please do what you think is best!”
“Don’t worry. If this case was too difficult for me, no one else in Luo Hai would be able to handle it. I’ll do everything I can to help you. It’s just that, will the pressure of the Yuan Family be too much for you?”
“Yuan Xuan will help me!”
Wu Ze chuckled when he heard that and let out a sigh. “When did Third Young Master Yuan turn into his wife’s slave?”
Mu Chenyan was slightly embarrassed when he said this.
She thought of Wen Ya when she hung up. She wanted to keep her in the loop to prevent her from getting worried.
Wen Ya was still staying in Upper Mansion. Aside from Yuan Xuan and Yuan Tian, the other members of the Yuan Family knew nothing about the relationship between Wen Ya and Zheng Shuyan. The Yuan Family’s reaction was completely different from Wen Ya’s when they discovered that the killer had surrendered himself.
Mu Chenyan did not want to see the Old Mistress. She texted Wen Ya and told her to come to the garden between Upper Mansion and Hibiscus Garden.
It was the beginning of autumn. The leaves in the garden had turned a splendid color.
Mu Chenyan wore a coffee-colored fluffy woolen sweater and waited near the colorful red and yellow leaves. Wen Ya was dressed in a white sweater. Her complexion was getting more and more pallid.
“Attorney Wu has agreed to take on the case.”
Mu Chenyan led Wen Ya to a bench and sat down. Wen Ya was so touched that she burst into tears all of a sudden. “Chenyan, I’m greatly indebted to you for this…”
“You don’t have to thank me, Wen Ya. After all, we don’t know the final verdict yet. You’re staying with the Yuan Family. It’s good that they haven’t discovered the link between you and Zheng Shuyan for now. This will prevent more problems from popping up!”
Wen Ya nodded. “Except for Qinger. She’s asked me so many questions about the case recently. She seems so interested!”
A dull pain throbbed in Mu Chenyan’s heart when Shu Qinger was mentioned. She furrowed her eyebrows and the corners of her lips curled downward. “Try your best to avoid her. She’s evil!”
Mu Chenyan had a terrible impression of Shu Qinger. She recalled how Shu Qinger had manipulated Xia Tao and attempted to get rid of her and Su Qingcheng in C City. She had even planned to kill Liang Zihan for revenge.
Shu Qinger was gradually becoming a permanent member of the Yuan household now. Mu Chenyan realized that Shu Qinger was rotten to the core when that woman tried to push her into the pond.
“Yes, I know. But I realized that she had really changed when she returned this time.”
A doubtful look flashed in the depths of Wen Ya’s eyes.
Mu Chenyan had wanted to say that the Shu Qinger they had interacted with in the past was just a fake personality she created to trick everyone in the past. To tell the truth, she had always been like this.
However, she quickly changed her mind. After all, this matter did not have anything to do with Wen Ya.
“Chenyan, you should still be wary of Qinger though…”
Wen Ya hesitated for a moment. Her hesitation indicated that she had something else in mind.
Mu Chenyan could sense a hint of uncertainty in Wen Ya’s wavering gaze.
“Don’t worry, I trust Yuan Xuan!” Mu Chenyan said firmly.
She had never considered Shu Qinger as a rival because of her faith in Yuan Xuan.
Wen Ya nodded. “You may say that, but…”
She could not bring herself to continue. If Mu Chenyan trusted Yuan Xuan so much…
“Wen Ya, tell me what you heard!”
Mu Chenyan had a bad feeling about this.
“Before Yuan Zhe’s murder, the Old Mistress had thought about getting Yuan Xuan to file a divorce with you…”
Wen Ya stopped halfway and observed Mu Chenyan’s expression. Mu Chenyan’s heart dropped when she heard this. She pursed her lips, but her gaze was empty.
“The Old Mistress has disliked me for a long time. She didn’t know that Qinger was alive then, so she could never force her grandson to marry a woman who had a heart transplant. But everything changed when she found out that the woman was Qinger. Naturally, she’s not going to let that opportunity pass now!”
Wen Ya heaved a sigh. She continued, “The Old Mistress is just being silly. You and Yuan Xuan are a match made in heaven. Why is she meddling with your relationship?”
“The Old Mistress single-handedly raised Qinger, and Yuan Xuan happened to be there at that time as well. They kept her company ever since they were children. Watching them grow up together gave the Old Mistress an idea. She wanted them to marry each other in the future so that they would remain with her.”
Mu Chenyan sneered coldly. “But Yuan Xuan focused his attention on me after we met each other. The Old Mistress couldn’t bear that her relationship with Yuan Xuan was now strained!”
Wen Ya noticed that Mu Chenyan had analyzed this with a rational mind. She was highly in awe of her intellect.
“The Old Mistress has mentioned this numerous times since I had moved into Upper Mansion. You’ve probably guessed the reason as well.” Wen Ya sighed after saying that. “I never gave birth to any children despite being married to Yuan Zhe for several years. Now that devil has been punished for his crimes…
“A few days ago, the Old Mistress told Yuan Xuan that the Yuan Family line might end if they didn’t hear any good news from you soon!”
Mu Chenyan could imagine the scene when she heard Wen Ya’s description. She simply sneered. However, she could not confess to Wen Ya that she was secretly using birth control pills all along.
“What did Yuan Xuan say?” Mu Chenyan valued Yuan Xuan’s opinion highly.
Wen Ya thought that it would be better to lie, but she was worried for Mu Chenyan’s future. “Yuan Xuan merely said that he’d wait and see…”
Mu Chenyan’s heart sank.
She had initially assumed that it did not matter whether she had a child with Yuan Xuan. Mu Chenyan thought that Yuan Xuan would simply tell the Old Mistress that he would always stay loyal to her.
Apparently, he had yet to make up his mind!
She felt a stabbing pain in her heart. His tender affections toward her instantly turned into insults.
Their lovemaking sessions every night were nothing but missions that needed to be accomplished now…
Mu Chenyan’s expression darkened. Wen Ya realized that she had been saying more than she needed. “Chenyan, don’t let this bother you. I was merely reminding you to be prepared for everything!
“Our circumstances are completely different. Yuan Zhe and I never loved each other. Now that he’s dead, I have no choice but to leave the Yuan household. I don’t belong here and I don’t plan on taking anything with me.”
Wen Ya held Mu Chenyan’s hands as she spoke. Her words were undeniably sincere.
“Don’t act rashly. Your mother is still in the hospital. Make sure that you have an edge over the Yuan Family in case they decide to treat you cruelly in the future! Do you understand?”
