The Villain in the Quick Travel is My Wife

Chapter 86

Chapter 86 3.36

　　
An Shuting narrowed his eyes and scanned the crowd. "The middle-aged man in dark gray clothes with gray hair at his temples," he pointed out. "And the tall, skinny guy in black-you two have been inciting the crowd this whole time."

"Sir, there might be someone out there trying to stir things up," An Shuting added as the bailiffs brought the two individuals forward.

When Ping An appeared outside, An Shuting finally smiled for the first time that day. "Sir, it's clear that some people are scheming to create trouble not just for you, but also for the court. They may be speaking nonsense, but I have a new witness to call. Please summon him."

Li Wenxi agreed, and soon Lin Ximeng entered the courtroom. Sun Yuebai was taken aback by her presence.

Lin Ximeng, likely wearing loose clothing due to her pregnancy, looked slightly bloated and haggard, no longer the cute and lively person everyone remembered. She knelt before the court and said, "Sir, I can testify that the letter was forged by Wan Anhe. I taught him this method. He teamed up with Madam Qi and Xu Ruoshi to slander Mr. Sun."

"Who are you, and why would Wan Anhe want to slander Mr. Sun?" Li Wenxi asked.

Lin Ximeng pursed her lips, feeling the weight of many eyes upon her. She placed her slightly cool palms on her belly, drawing courage from the gesture. "Because Mr. Sun once supported and valued him, but now he feels wronged. He holds a grudge against Mr. Sun."

"Also, he feared being caught by Mr. Sun. The wife of the Qi family in Jinling promised him that if he succeeded in bringing down Mr. Sun, he would be rewarded with the position of county magistrate in Jinling."

"What evidence do you have?" Li Wenxi's expression grew serious as the case took an unexpected turn.

"Sir, I have the letter that Madam Qi wrote to him, along with the deeds for gold and silver."

"What the two of them originally said is true. The test papers they had were deliberately left for them to find."

"After the incident, Wan An and Xu Nuo could support them as long as they kept holding onto Sun Yuebai. Even if they were stripped of their honors, they would still receive salt permits, a very lucrative business that could turn their fortunes around."

Meng Chang's eyes widened in shock. "What? The question book we picked up was actually thrown to us on purpose?"

Lian Feihe couldn't accept the outcome. He felt unlucky but was unaware that they had become someone else's pawns. "It's Wan Anhe, isn't it? We're just pieces he chose to use against Mr. Sun."

Lin Ximeng remained silent, but her long pause confirmed his suspicion.

"Hahaha, how absurd! We've studied hard for decades, only to be mere stumbling blocks for someone else. But why did he choose us? We've never had any conflicts. Why would he want to harm us like this?" Lian Feihe's laughter was manic, full of resentment.

Lin Ximeng bit her lip. "Because Mr. Sun also thinks highly of you." Despite her reluctance to admit it, the man she cared for was indeed narrow-minded and paranoid-a realization that struck her only today.

An Shuting regarded Lin Ximeng with newfound admiration. He had thought her a naive girl, solely interested in romance, but now saw she was anything but vague when it came to her feelings.

Finally, Wan Anhe, who had been hiding behind others, was brought forth.

Standing in the court, facing Lin Ximeng, Wan Anhe looked incredulous.

Li Wenxi pounded the gavel. "Wan Anhe, why did you conspire with Meng Chang and Lian Feihe to frame Sun Yuebai? Were you instructed by someone?"

Flustered, Wan Anhe managed to appear calm. "Sir, I've always respected Mr. Sun. How could I frame him?"

Lin Ximeng knelt straight, looking at him with a bright smile. "Wan Anhe, you must learn to accept your fate. If you do evil, you must bear the consequences."

As evidence piled up around him, Wan Anhe slumped to the ground. "Are you insane? What good does it do you to harm me? Haven't I treated you well?"

He still couldn't comprehend how Lin Ximeng, who usually seemed naive, had gained such insight.

She coolly collected the evidence against him, delivering a fatal blow. "It's because I hate you."

Her resentment stemmed from his heartlessness, which had made her believe she was special when in reality, she was merely a stepping stone for his ambitions. The memory of him, drunk and calling out another man's name while lying beside her, made her feel sick and cold.

As Wan Anhe was led away, his expression defeated, Lin Ximeng couldn't help but smile, though it brought her no joy.

When they emerged from the court, a crowd was gathered, pointing and watching. Lin Ximeng straightened her back and walked forward with determination, but after navigating through the throngs, she stumbled.

An Shuting instinctively reached out to help her, but she pushed his hand away.

The elderly nurse, waiting nearby, rushed to support Lin Ximeng, tears streaming down her face.

Leaning against the wall to steady herself, Lin Ximeng looked at An Shuting. "You promised to help me give birth safely..."

An Shuting's expression grew complicated. "Of course, I have a villa in the suburbs where you can stay and rest during your pregnancy. I'll talk to the headmaster about your situation."

"The headmaster and his wife care deeply for their daughter. Even if they resist now, they'll eventually come around."

"Just remember, raising a child isn't like caring for a pet. Think it through."

Lin Ximeng heard the assurance she sought but said nothing more. She wanted to escape. As she passed by Sun Yuebai, she murmured a soft apology.

Sun Yuebai looked at her unsteady form, bewildered. "She?"

"After bringing her to the capital, she sought out Wan Anhe. Xu Ruoshi mentioned that her niece had ties to him."

"The headmaster has many connections, but he's distanced from the court. Given his nature, he likely wouldn't want to intervene for his son-in-law." An Shuting knew this from the original book.

In that narrative, Lin Ximeng had been entangled with Sun Yuebai while Wan Anhe prospered with support from his future father-in-law, the Minister.

Now, however, some things had changed while others remained on their predetermined course. Lin Ximeng's intense hatred led to Wan Anhe's downfall and allowed Sun Yuebai to escape.

The case of widespread exam fraud implicated many, but thankfully, Sun Yuebai emerged unscathed.

Returning home, Ping An prepared pomelo leaves for Sun Yuebai to step over, a traditional way to ward off bad luck.

"Get some rest and don't overthink things. Once you get past this hurdle, your future days will improve," An Shuting said with a comforting smile, gently pushing Sun Yuebai into the house.

Sun Yuebai looked noticeably thinner. Although An Shuting had tried his best to care for him, the journey had taken its toll.

As An Shuting turned to close the door, Sun Yuebai suddenly hugged him from behind, pressing his face against An Shuting's sturdy back. His slender fingers explored An Shuting's abdomen, and his breathing grew heavier.

An Shuting tightened his grip, then turned to meet Sun Yuebai's dark, passionate gaze. He lifted him by the waist and tossed him onto the bed. As he pulled down the turquoise bed curtains, the soft fabric fluttered around them, and soon only their muffled breaths filled the room.