Chapter 71 "Sir, is this how you got your bad reputation?"

Ye Mingzhu: "..."

Her face flushed red; Sheng Yunche's gaze was so intense that it made her feel uncomfortable.

Since the night she started menstruating, her relationship with Sheng Yunche seems to have changed again.

Although they didn't take things further, his gaze towards her became increasingly blatant, no longer concealed. It often made her blush and her heart race, giving her a sense of tension, as if a dam could not hold back a raging flood, and that the floodwaters might burst at any moment.

She wanted him to tone it down, but she didn't know how to bring it up. Once she did, she was afraid he would take advantage of her and she might not be able to control herself.

never mind……

He... he's not a bad person.

Anyway, we'll be consummating our marriage soon.

Once they consummate their marriage and experience the pleasures of intimacy, he probably won't be so curious anymore.

He won't be like he is now, staring at her all day long like a vicious dog with eyes gleaming with greed because it can't get a bone.

...

On the day that Sheng Yunche was on leave, it happened to be the day after the rain had stopped and the weather was much cooler than before.

Ye Mingzhu instructed Baozan and the others to prepare the necessary items and carriage for their trip in advance. As dawn broke, the group set off in their carriage from the side gate of the Duke of Wei's mansion, heading towards Jing'an Temple outside the city.

Another half hour later.

A simple two-wheeled mule cart stopped in front of the side gate of the Sheng Mansion. An old woman carrying a bundle got off the cart, glanced at the plaque above the side gate of the Sheng Mansion and the high and long courtyard wall, and walked to the gate with a smile to talk to the gatekeeper.

"Please go to Qinghui Garden and inform your mistress that I am her wet nurse, my husband's surname is Chen, and I have come here specifically to serve her."

The young gatekeeper frowned as he sized up the old woman in front of him.

She was just an old woman with gray hair, dressed in plain blue clothes, and she was looking for someone from Qinghui Garden. Given the state of Qinghui Garden, it was likely a wasted trip with no reward.

He was about to find fault when suddenly a money bag was stuffed into his hand. Looking at the old woman's smiling face, he felt much better.

"You're quite sensible. Wait at the door, I'll go and inform them." The gatekeeper weighed the money bag in his hand, his face showing even more satisfaction.

"Yes, yes, thank you for your trouble," said Granny Chen with a smile.

After waiting for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the gatekeeper finally came out and gestured with his chin: "Come on, follow me."

Granny Chen immediately smiled and followed, carrying her bundle.

Upon arriving at Qinghui Garden and seeing Liu Rumei lying in bed recovering from her illness, Granny Chen choked out, "My young lady," and rushed to the bedside, bursting into tears.

Liu Rumei remained silent and waited quietly.

After Granny Chen stopped crying, she coldly told the two maids serving in the room to leave. Then, with tears in her eyes, she softly called out "Granny," successfully making Granny Chen hug her and cry again.

"Who are those two maids?" Granny Chen asked.

Liu Rumei said, "My mother-in-law was worried that there would be no one to take care of me here, so she specially sent it over."

Granny Chen frowned and asked, "Is he spying on you?"

Liu Rumei looked at her with tears in her eyes and nodded.

"This Sheng family is simply..." Because the two maids were in the outer room, Granny Chen only cursed a couple of times in a low voice before asking about Liu Rumei's health.

Liu Rumei smiled weakly, "The manor has invited a doctor to examine me, and I feel much better after taking the medicine."

"When your wife comes, she will definitely take good care of you and do everything she can to ensure your health."

"Thank you for your trouble, Granny."

"..."

After talking for a while, Granny Chen asked, "Miss, what do you want me to do for you this time? To compete with those two maids outside? Oh, by the way, the things you asked your aunt for, she also asked me to bring them over."

As she spoke, Granny Chen took out a small bundle and handed it to Liu Rumei.

Liu Rumei didn't look at what was in the bundle; she simply placed the items beside her pillow.

She said softly, "The thing I need to trouble you with the most is to keep those two in check. As for when and how to keep them in check, I will tell you later."

"Alright," Chen Mama readily agreed, looking at her with concern. "You seem exhausted, why don't you sleep a little longer?"

"Mmm," Liu Rumei responded, lying down and closing her eyes.

She was already planning what would happen in the future.

Jia placed Jinzhu and Yinzhu in her room to keep an eye on her. She couldn't just guard against them all the time; she had to think of a way to bring them under her control.

Granny Chen is most skilled at making medicinal cuisine. She not only wants Granny Chen to help her improve her health, but also wants to use Granny Chen to... get rid of Madam Jia.

Only after Jia Shi died could she truly thrive in this backyard, no longer needing to be constantly cautious.

...

Jing'an Temple.

Ye Mingzhu climbed the ninety-nine steps and stood on the left side of the railing in front of the temple gate, gazing into the distance. Her fair cheeks were flushed, and a few strands of hair on her forehead were damp with sweat, making her almond-shaped eyes appear even brighter.

She gripped the railing with both hands, panting heavily, clearly exhausted, but her smile was bright and radiant, like peach blossoms on a branch in March.

Sheng Yunche stared intently at her, his large hand, hidden beneath his wide sleeve, roughly squeezed her palm. After receiving a reproachful glare from her, he chuckled with pleasure.

"Are you tired?" he asked.

"Mm." Ye Mingzhu nodded.

"Since you know you're tired, next time don't just think about walking yourself." Sheng Yunche said slowly, "I'm not in good health and can't overwork myself, so please take care of me too."

Ye Mingzhu glared at him again, clearly annoyed.

She thought he was concerned about her, but it turned out he was concerned about himself.

"Control yourself a little." Grabbing her chin and turning her face to the side, Sheng Yunche cleared his throat and said, "This is a sacred Buddhist place. Don't keep exchanging flirtatious glances with me."

Ye Mingzhu: "...?"

Is she trying to flirt with her eyes? She's clearly trying to kill him with her gaze!

But before she could voice her protest, Sheng Yunche's low, amused voice rang in her ear again: "Play along, smile."

Ye Mingzhu: "...Hmm?"

"In the carriage, didn't you say you hadn't figured out how to act with me and make outsiders believe we were a loving couple? Now we're putting on a show for everyone."

Ye Mingzhu immediately understood.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that many worshippers would pause their gaze on her and Sheng Yunche as they passed through the front square on their way to Jing'an Temple.

Perhaps because they had witnessed her interaction with Sheng Yunche, some of the young women even showed knowing and envious smiles.

Ye Mingzhu awkwardly looked away, touched her tied-up hair, and her earlobes turned red unintentionally.

Some people's "countermeasures" seem to be quite effective.

"So what do we need to do now?" she asked.

Sheng Yunche looked at her intently, his Adam's apple bobbing, his voice husky with a hint of desire: "A pure Buddhist temple, what do you want to do with me? We can do it when we get home."

As he spoke, he took her hand.

When Ye Mingzhu realized what nonsense he was talking about, she tried to break free from his hand, but he calmly and slowly inserted his fingers between hers, interlocking their fingers so that she couldn't break free at all.

As she struggled, his little finger seemed to casually scratch her palm, sending a tingling sensation through her heart. He lowered his voice and whispered in her ear, "If you keep making a fuss, I'll take you to the back mountain of Jing'an Temple."

Ye Mingzhu: "..."

She took a deep breath and became obedient.

After offering incense at Jing'an Temple, the two descended the mountain and arrived at Huixianlou outside Zhengyangmen.

Huixianlou was a magnificent restaurant, a favorite haunt of noble sons and wealthy merchants.

Ye Mingzhu sat down in a private room upstairs and overheard a group of spoiled young men in the next room discussing the Zhang family's property being confiscated, and they also mentioned Wei Ji.

"Wei Ji's Ghost Face Army is so arrogant, why doesn't His Majesty care?"

"Do you think Wei Ji would dare to confiscate the property of the Minister of Rites without an imperial decree?"

"That's not what I meant. It was the Ghost Face Army under Wei Ji's command that committed heinous acts and defiled Zhang Shuheng's younger sister!"

"I heard that Zhang Shuheng's younger sister is incredibly beautiful, so much so that I feel sorry for her. The Zhang family originally wanted to send her to the palace, but she was ruined by Wei Ji?"

"Wei Jizhen is a disgrace!"

"Disgusting!"

"Wei Ji is ruthless and enjoys using torture to extract confessions, often making prisoners wish they were dead. Anyone who falls into his hands is incredibly unlucky!"

"No way, Wei Ji could do something so beastly to Zhang Shuheng's sister? I heard he's impotent, which is why he's so vicious and cruel, venting his inability to be a man on prisoners."

"What? Wei Ji is impotent and enjoys torturing women?"

"..."

Ye Mingzhu overheard the birth of the rumors and suddenly understood why Wei Ji's reputation was so terrible, and then she thought of Sheng Yunche.

She looked at Sheng Yunche beside her with sympathy and asked curiously, "Master, is this how you got your bad reputation?"

Sheng Yunche looked at her intently, then asked coolly, "I have a bad reputation? What bad reputation?"