Chapter 60 Serves Him Right

The weather was gloomy, with dark clouds pressing down overhead. The roads were damp and muddy, and the streets, big and small, were not as lively as she had imagined. Even Pei Heng and his army showed no joy. The atmosphere along the way was cold and solemn, unlike what one would expect from a triumphant return.

Xie Jianing's already bad mood worsened. She wanted to say a few words to Pei Heng, congratulate him on his triumphant return, and tell him that the Emperor would surely promote him and give him a higher rank, so he should be happy.

Pei Heng simply said coldly, "There's nothing to be happy about." As if he didn't want to talk to her anymore, he quickened his pace on his horse.

Even the soldiers behind him gave her a disapproving look.

Her mood worsened immediately. It seemed that nothing was going as she wished. There was neither the glamour she had imagined nor the excitement of being the center of attention. She even felt that everyone disliked her.

The Emperor compared her to Xie Yushu, Song Jie made an excuse not to come, Pei Heng gave her a cold face, and Xiao Dao was behind Pei Heng without even looking at him.

Even Xiao Zhen, preoccupied with his own thoughts, rode on his horse without saying a word to her from beginning to end.

Xiao Zhen had sent her pastries last night, so she didn't understand why he had become so cold today.

"Don't be so gloomy." Her sworn brother, Dugu Ming, rode up to her side and spoke to her in the local dialect: "So many people died in this battle, and perhaps half of them were someone's husband, son, or brother in Bianjing. It's hard for General Pei and his soldiers to be happy. He's not targeting you."

Xie Jianing then realized that some elderly people with white hair were wiping away tears among the crowds on both sides of the street. Perhaps... they did not live to see their sons return home in triumph.

She knew she had said the wrong thing and felt guilty, but also a little wronged. She spoke softly to Dugu Ming in the local dialect, "I had no bad intentions. I just wanted to congratulate Pei Heng and his soldiers on their victory after defending the enemy country for so long."

"I know." Dugu Ming comforted her in the local dialect, "General Pei knows too, he doesn't blame you." Then, as if to cheer her up, he whispered and joked, "I could tell you were unhappy as soon as we met today. Is it because the person you've been longing for has changed his mind? If he has, you might consider me."

Xie Jianing, embarrassed and annoyed, scolded him in the local dialect for talking nonsense. She secretly glanced at Xiao Zhen in front of her. Had he changed his mind? In the years she had been away, had he fallen for someone else like Song Jie?

She was unaware that everything had changed for her, and she had lost her sense of belonging to this familiar Bianjing and everything she knew. She felt uneasy every moment.

Even if Dugu Ming tried his best to make her happy, she still found it difficult to be happy.

Because she knew very well that Dugu Ming's words about wanting to marry her were not because he liked her, but because as a hostage, he would have a better life in Bianjing if he could marry the daughter of the Marquis of Yong'an.

She wasn't stupid; she knew why Dugu Ming had treated her like a younger sister back in the county and why he had suddenly confessed his feelings to her the night he came to Da Xun as a hostage.

This is not the kind of affection she wants.

Under the gloomy sky, only the honor guard was making a lively scene.

Upon arriving at the palace gate, Dugu Ming and Xiao Zhen simultaneously dismounted and walked towards her, extending their hands to help her.

Sitting on her horse, Xie Jianing looked at the two of them and couldn't help but wonder: Does Xiao Zhen still like her as purely as he did back in the Taoist temple? Not because he likes her as someone's daughter, but simply because he likes her as a person.

Xie Jianing helped Dugu Ming dismount, thanked Xiao Zhen, and couldn't help but ask him, "Does Your Highness have something on your mind today?"

Xiao Zhen slowly withdrew his hand, smiled and said, "I just didn't sleep well last night because I got caught in the rain."

"Did you get caught in the rain?" Xie Jianing asked in surprise, then asked, "How could Your Highness have gotten caught in the rain?"

Xiao Zhen looked at her, his gentle eyes brimming with tears, and said softly, "I went to deliver my favorite snacks to a friend I hadn't seen in a long time, hoping to see how she'd been doing all these years, but unfortunately I didn't get to see her."

Xie Jianing's heart trembled violently. Could it be that Xiao Zhen himself came to deliver the snacks last night? Did he come in person? Was it to see her? But why didn't he say so last night?

She pursed her lips, her mind in turmoil. She had been with her mother last night and thought it was just some snacks brought by his palace servants.

Xiao Zhen simply smiled gently at her, "Miss Jia Ning, how have you been all these years? You've lost a lot of weight."

A bitter feeling welled up in Xie Jianing's throat; all she wanted was a sincere word of concern.

Dugu Ming looked at Xiao Zhen and smiled. This fourth prince was very good at coaxing women.

#

Pei Heng led several generals and Dugu Ming into the palace to report on their duties. Xie Jianing parted ways with Xiao Zhen at the palace gate, waiting for the victory celebration banquet that evening before entering the palace.

The sky grew a bit more overcast. Xie Jianing thought for a moment in the carriage and then instructed the driver to take a detour to the Prime Minister's residence. She wanted to see how Song Jie was doing; it seemed that he always had a hard time getting through his illnesses.

The coachman drove swiftly and stopped at the entrance of the Prime Minister's residence.

As soon as Xie Jianing lifted the carriage curtain, she saw a magnificent carriage parked in front of the Prime Minister's residence. She wondered whose carriage it was.

Why would anyone come to see Song Jie?

She helped her maid down from the carriage and asked the driver, "Whose carriage is this?"

The coachman replied, "It is Madam Pei's carriage."

"Madam Pei?" Xie Jianing asked in surprise.

The maid whispered, "Miss Yushu, the wife of Pei Shilin."

It's Xie Yushu again?

Xie Jianing frowned. Xie Yushu had actually come to see Song Jie? And was he at Song Jie's residence right now?

She had been holding her anger in all morning, so she strode to the entrance of the Prime Minister's residence, took out a jade pendant, and showed it to the guard who was stopping her.

The gatekeeper was taken aback when he saw the jade pendant. He was an old servant who had served the Prime Minister and knew very well that this jade pendant was the Prime Minister's personal possession. He also remembered that the Prime Minister had instructed many years ago that Miss Xie Jianing of the Yong'an Marquis's Mansion could freely enter and leave the Prime Minister's Mansion without reporting or being stopped.

But now... Miss Yu Shu is in the mansion, and he is unsure whether he should stop her. While he is still hesitating, Miss Xie Jianing has already bypassed him and strode into the mansion.

He dared not intervene and immediately ordered someone to report to the Prime Minister.

But just as the gatekeeper was outside the Prime Minister's courtyard reporting to Cang Shu, Xie Jianing arrived right after him.

When Cang Shu saw Xie Jianing, he was so shocked that he didn't have time to go inside and report to the Prime Minister. He directly stopped Xie Jianing at the courtyard gate.

Panpan heard footsteps, rushed out of the house, and barked as it pounced on them.

"Stop the plate!" Cangshu immediately reached out and pressed down on the plate.

Xie Jianing and her maid screamed in fright.

"Panpan!" Xie Jianing mustered her courage and called the dog's name, angrily saying, "What an ungrateful dog! I used to feed you!"

But Panpan still opened its blood-red mouth and tried to pounce on her and the maid.

"Sit down, Panpan!" Cangshu commanded, grabbing Panpan by the back of its neck.

At the same time, someone inside the room lifted the curtain and called out, "Panpan."

Panpan immediately stopped barking when it heard that person's voice.

Still shaken, Xie Jianing looked up towards the doorway.

The gloomy sky startled her, and she and Xie Yushu spotted each other.

Xie Jianing's face immediately turned extremely ugly. She saw Xie Yushu standing there wearing only a thin gauze dress, her black hair loose, as if she were in her own home, without any attempt to avoid suspicion.

Isn't she already married? How can she be like this in another man's room?

Xie Yushu showed no surprise whatsoever, as if he knew she would come, and as if he didn't care whether she came or not.

A pale face appeared behind her; it was Song Jie.

Song Jie was practically right behind her. When he saw Xie Jianing standing at the courtyard gate, his brows furrowed instantly. He instinctively grabbed Xie Yushu's arm and whispered his apology: "Don't be angry, I'll handle it right away."

What are we dealing with?

Xie Jianing was furious, as if her heart was on fire, and wanted to mock Xie Yushu and Song Jie.

Before she could speak, Xie Yushu shook off Song Jie's hand, lowered the curtain, and went back into the room, calling out, "Panpan, come here."

The ungodly mastiff actually turned around, wagged its tail, and ran into the house.

Song Jie walked out wearing only a thin nightgown, his face cold, holding a comb in his hand, as if he had just been combing Xie Yushu's hair.

"Aren't you having another episode?" Xie Jianing said sarcastically, angrily. "A dignified prime minister like yourself is keeping a woman in your room, and she's already married. Do you know anything about shame?"

"Shut up." Song Jie scolded her harshly, as if afraid that Xie Yushu inside the house would hear. He waved his hand and ordered Cang Shu and his servants to forcibly take her and her maid to a pavilion far away from the courtyard.

Xie Jianing had never been treated like this by Song Jie before. Her eyes immediately reddened, and she said angrily, her voice trembling, "Song Jie, are you Xie Yushu's dog? Why are you so obedient to her, afraid of making her angry! You can like whoever you want! Just because she looks like me?"

"Xie Jianing," Song Jie called her by her full name.

The wind was cold in the pavilion. He coughed twice, pressing his chest, and said coldly, "Don't talk nonsense. I like her because she is Xie Yushu, and it has nothing to do with her appearance or you."

He admitted that he liked Xie Yushu.

Xie Jianing's throat trembled even more violently.

He defended Xie Yushu in every word, saying, "Don't say anything offensive to her anymore. Respect her, and respect yourself too."

respect?

Xie Jianing thought it was a joke, but when she looked down, she realized that Song Jie was barefoot. Was he in such a hurry to come out and "deal with" her? Was he afraid that Xie Yushu would be angry?

Her anger gradually turned into disappointment and resentment. "Does Song Jie care about Xie Yushu that much? Was Xie Yushu with you when you had your attack last night? Were you together the whole time? She's already married..."

"These are none of your business." Song Jie didn't want to answer her questions; he just wanted to resolve things quickly. He stretched out his hand and said, "Give me back the jade pendant. From now on, don't come and go from my residence at will."

Clutching the jade pendant, Xie Jianing trembled with anger as she asked him, "Song Jie, are you trying to sever all ties with me?"

“Yes.” Song Jie said to her very firmly, “I should have made it clear to you a long time ago. I am very grateful for everything that happened in the past, but let bygones be bygones. You have returned safely and have your own life. Now I just want to stay by Xie Yushu’s side. I don’t want her to be angry about these things from the past anymore. Let’s cut ties cleanly.”

Xie Jianing's tears finally fell. "Cut it off cleanly... Song Jie, you have no conscience."

Song Jie clutched his icy chest, coughed a few times, and smiled, saying, "Didn't you know I was a despicable and vicious person when you distanced yourself from me? You saw through me long ago and distanced yourself from me, so why bother now? Miss Jianing, I know you don't like me, so let's end it here and give me back my jade pendant."

With red eyes, Xie Jianing raised her hand and forcefully slammed the jade pendant to the ground.

The jade pendant shattered at her feet. She stared at Song Jie and said, "You think it's over so easily? Song Jie, I saved you back then, and you said you would repay me. Now it's your turn to repay me. I only need you to do one thing, and after you do it, we'll be even."

Song Jie looked at the broken jade pendant. It was the only thing Aunt Yuping had left behind. He had given it to Xie Jianing. Now that it was broken, so be it. It was his fault. It was something he was supposed to give to her.

Serves them right.

How can someone as awful as him deserve to be liked?

He deserved it all. He didn't expect anyone to forgive him, nor did he expect Xie Yushu to accept him. He just wanted to cherish every day he spent with Xie Yushu before he died.

So he knelt down, picked up the broken jade pendant, and asked, "What is it? I hope you will keep your word."

Xie Jianing wiped away her tears and said to him resolutely, "At the victory celebration banquet tonight, I want you to ask the Emperor for a decree to grant us a marriage, and to ask him to betroth me to you."

Song Jie stood there, stunned, frowning as he stared at him, finding it all absurd.

Xie Jianing gave a sarcastic laugh and said, "Don't worry, I don't like you, and I will never marry you. You are not worthy of me. I will reject you at the celebration banquet."

Song Jie seemed not to understand her words: "You want me to ask for a marriage decree, just so you can reject me in public?"

"Yes." Xie Jianing told him, "I want to humiliate you in public. Tonight's celebration banquet will be attended by Pei Heng's family, and I think Xie Yushu will be there too. I want you to propose to me in front of her, and then be rejected by me. I want her to understand that she is just picking up what I don't want."

Every breath Song Jie took was cold. He suddenly understood why Xie Jianing had come to find him. In Xie Jianing's eyes, he was like this unimportant jade pendant. She didn't like it, but she believed it belonged to her. She could do without it, but she wouldn't allow anyone else to take it away.

I'd rather smash it than allow it.

He really wanted to ask Xie Jianing if she had ever considered him a friend, or even a person.

But then he felt it was unnecessary; hadn't he been like this since birth?

Even his own parents despise him and wish he were dead. Who can he expect to treat him like a human being?

It doesn't matter how Xie Jianing sees him or how the world sees him.

He just wanted to thank Yu Shu and ask her not to be angry with him anymore.

A light rain began to fall again, and he was so cold that he could hardly stand. He just wanted to get back to Xie Yushu's side as soon as possible.

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Author's note: This story is so chilly, I'm giving you all a hug!