23: The Yandere Warlord's Substitute Bride 23

At this moment, Wen Yan was slumped on the cold stone floor, her mind in a chaotic daze.

"Why?" She clutched her disheveled hair, her nails drawing streaks of blood on her scalp. "He loved me so much in my previous life."

It was all because of Wen Ci.

She wanted to kill Wen Ci.

Only then could everything be resolved.

Duan Lin, who arrived to see her in this state, had already expected it. He didn't understand why Wen Yan was so confident in herself.

Wen Ci was at least ten times more beautiful than her, and it was clear that General Fu's gaze towards Wen Ci was definitely not, as Wen Yan claimed, to deliberately provoke her.

General Fu clearly loved his wife very much.

But why did Wen Yan always believe that General Fu liked her?

Perhaps it was an inexplicable self-confidence.

Duan Lin no longer thought about Wen Yan's matters. His mind was filled with Wen Ci's face and the alluring figure outlined by her qipao.

She was truly a beauty, truly exceptional.

Once he overthrew General Fu, such a peerless beauty would be his, and he could play with her however he wished. The thought alone was exhilarating.

*

Wen Father and Wen Mother were shocked and disbelieving when they learned that the stunning beauty who had captivated everyone at the Lantern Festival was Wen Ci.

They had, of course, also heard how much General Fu doted on his new wife.

But they were still reluctant to believe it. In their impression, Wen Ci was just a timid little girl, not even comparable to a single toe of their Wen Yan. How could she possibly catch the eye of the General?

On one hand, they wanted to go to Fu Residence to investigate and see how Wen Ci was really doing. On the other hand, their family business had been rapidly declining recently for some unknown reason, as if someone was secretly manipulating everything, causing them considerable distress.

So, they thought of seeking General Fu's help. After all, by their reckoning, they were his in-laws, all part of the same family.

If there was a problem, the General, even out of consideration for Wen Ci, would surely not refuse them.

After all, they had painstakingly raised Wen Ci for so many years.

At noon.

Wen Father and Wen Mother stood before the main gate of Fu Residence. Although their robes were newly made, they couldn't hide their vulgar, impoverished air. Wen Mother rubbed her hands, her eyes darting around, scrutinizing the carved beams and painted rafters of the mansion, while Wen Father incessantly adjusted his collar, as if that would make him appear more presentable.

This was their first time visiting the General's mansion, and all their nervousness surged out uncontrollably.

Speaking of which, their family's ability to form a marriage alliance with General Fu was thanks to General Fu's father's interactions with them when he was alive, leading to an early engagement.

Who could have known that the seemingly ordinary man back then would have such an imposing son, even becoming a dignified General, causing the entire Fu family to rise in status?

They all became beings they could no longer aspire to.

However, fortunately, the engagement still went through.

At this moment, the old couple deeply regretted why they had listened to Yan'er's words and let Wen Ci marry him. Otherwise, wouldn't this immense good fortune have fallen upon them long ago?

If Yan'er had become the General's wife, their Wen family would have prospered long ago. Not to mention, Yan'er wouldn't be asking them for jewelry that they couldn't afford. By then, she would have whatever she wanted.

The more they thought about it, the more they regretted it.

"We are Wen Ci's parents. We've come to see her today."

"Please wait. We will inform the Madam." The maids' expressions didn't change when they saw the two. After speaking, they closed the door.

Wen Father and Wen Mother's smiles froze on their faces. They had thought the maids would let them in directly, knowing their identity, but they hadn't expected such a cold reception. Their hearts immediately felt uncomfortable.

If their Yan'er were the General's wife, these maids would surely be enthusiastically welcoming them in now.

Thinking it over, they still blamed that girl Wen Ci. She didn't know how to be filial to them at all. She had been married for so long and hadn't come back to visit or contact the family, nor had she asked if they lacked money.

She was utterly senseless.

Just as they were thinking, the door opened, and several maids coldly led them into the courtyard.

Upon seeing the languid figure in the courtyard, Wen Father and Wen Mother felt a surge of anger, but they still suppressed it.

"Ci, Ci'er." Wen Mother squeezed out a fawning smile, her voice cloyingly sweet. "Your parents have come to see you."

Wen Ci leaned back in a soft chair under the veranda, her dark long hair flowing down. Her fingertips held a crystal-clear grape, which she fed into her mouth, not even bothering to lift her eyelids.

Wen Father and Wen Mother approached a little closer, but were coldly stopped by several maids. "You may not approach the Madam. This is General Fu's order."

Their faces stiffened, but they still forced a smile and nodded, "Haha, alright."

However, they had already seen Wen Ci's face, and at that moment, they felt their breathing stop.

They couldn't believe it.

This stunningly beautiful woman before them, was it really Wen Ci? Was it that perpetually dirty girl?

But now, whether it was her appearance or the temperament she exuded, she was completely different from before!

They simply couldn't believe this was Wen Ci.

Wen Ci glanced at the expressions on their faces and slowly opened her mouth, "I didn't realize when I ever had parents?"

Wen Father and Wen Mother's faces paled. Hearing that familiar voice, they finally believed that this person really was Wen Ci.

How did she become so beautiful?

No wonder so many people had been discussing her recently; she was simply a vixen.

Wen Mother gritted her teeth, then forced another smile. "This child, how can you talk like that? After all, we raised you for so many years, so how are we not your parents?"

"Raised me?" Wen Ci chuckled lightly, finally raising her eyes to look at them. The coldness in her eyes made Wen Father and Wen Mother unconsciously take half a step back. "Did you raise me by locking me in the woodshed, or by treating me like a maid?"

Their faces flushed red, but they still bravely took a step forward. "Ci'er, let bygones be bygones! Now that you've climbed up, you can't just forget all the kindness we've shown you over the years..."

"Kindness?" Wen Ci interrupted him, lightly tapping her cheek with her fingertips, her smile sweet but with a sinister, meaningful undertone. "How could I forget? I will definitely repay you two old folks well."

Wen Mother felt a chill run down her spine from her words. She swallowed and said, "Ci'er, General Fu is so good to you, you should help out your family more."

"Go back and wait." Wen Ci's expression was indifferent. She lay back down, lazily peeling and eating grapes.

Wen Father and Wen Mother looked at the grapes in her hand and couldn't help but swallow. These were very expensive; they couldn't even afford them. They hadn't expected Wen Ci to actually be living such a good life now.

Rich and leisurely, and General Fu was so good to her.

Really, such a good thing should have belonged to their Yan'er.

They wanted to say something more, but the maids were already very forcefully ushering them out. "Please return, both of you."

Wen Father and Wen Mother felt a surge of exasperation. They had come all this way, hadn't even sat down once, and were being driven away. How was this the treatment for in-laws? Anyone who didn't know would think they were enemies!

But they didn't dare to say anything more, because the temperament Wen Ci had displayed just now was completely unlike the timid girl they used to manipulate. She actually possessed an awe-inspiring aura.

It just goes to show how money and power can change a person. Even such a timid little girl had gained such an demeanor after marrying here.

How much more outstanding would their Yan'er be?

The old couple eventually left. It wasn't that they wanted to leave, but rather they were directly escorted out by the maids.

It was simply a great humiliation!

But this was the General's residence, and they dared not cause trouble, so they could only slink away.