Chapter 20 "It seems to me that Song Jie is the one pestering Xie..."
"Host, you have gained 1 point of cuckold value," the system suddenly said. "From Song Jie."
Xie Yushu, arm in arm with Pei Shilin, had just stepped out of the Duke of Ying's mansion when she heard the system notification: "Do you think Song Jie is crazy? He still suspects that she's hiding Xiao Zhen in his room?"
"That's right, host." The system confirmed her guess through backend analysis.
Xie Yushu almost rolled his eyes. What exactly was Song Jie's role in forcibly cuckolding him?
As soon as the birthday banquet ended, carriages lined up outside the Duke of England's mansion to pick up the guests.
Upon seeing the Marquis of Yong'an and his wife emerging from the mansion, Xie Yushu released Pei Shilin's arm and called out with a smile, "Mother."
Pei Shilin frowned subconsciously and turned his head to look. He saw that Duke Zhang Yunkai of England was personally seeing off the Marquis of Yong'an and his wife. Xie Yushu greeted them warmly like a true daughter. He could almost imagine how disgusted the Marquis of Yong'an and his wife would look. Just like when they returned to their parents' home, the Marquis's wife, as the matriarch, directly made an excuse that she was not feeling well and did not even show her face.
Marquis Yong'an did give him some face by meeting his new son-in-law and Xie Yushu, but when Xie Yushu mentioned that the Pei family wanted to ask him for a favor, he said with a cold face, "I have important matters to attend to, and your mother is not feeling well, so I won't keep you for dinner."
They directly asked them to leave.
There are no parents in the world who act like this. Even their own parents look down on their mistress, how can they expect the Pei family to value her?
As expected, Pei Shilin saw that the Yong'an Marquis and his wife, who had been smiling as they bid farewell to the British, lost their smiles after seeing Xie Yushu.
"Shilin, you should go too," Pei's mother, Li Huixian, urged him softly as he went to say goodbye to the Marquis of Yong'an and his wife.
Pei Shilin really didn't want to end up like Xie Yushu, offering his warm welcome only to be met with a cold shoulder. But since Xie Yushu had already gone, if he didn't go, he would inevitably be criticized. So he had no choice but to follow along and greet the Marquis of Yong'an and his wife with a smile.
"This is the cherry jelly I mentioned to my mother in the West Garden." Xie Yushu took the dried fruit wrapped in kraft paper from Yinya and personally handed it to Lady Meng Min, the wife of the Marquis of Yong'an: "This is the best in Bianjing. Mother, try it. If you like it, send someone to tell me, and I will send someone to buy some more for you."
How could Lady Yong'an Marquis possibly accept such meager dried fruit?
Pei Shilin frowned, wanting to smooth things over for Xie Yushu, but unexpectedly, Lady Yong'an Marquis reached out and took the package of dried fruit.
Meng Min glanced at the shop name on the package of dried fruit: Liu's Dried Fruit Shop on Wuyi Street. In the West Garden, Xie Yushu had reminded her to be wary of Xie Zhian bringing back his illegitimate child, and then suddenly mentioned this dried fruit shop. Now, he had come over specifically to deliver dried fruit. The implication was too obvious.
"It's too hot. Let me see Mother to the carriage." Xie Yushu smiled and took Meng Min's arm, then bowed to the Duke of Yingguo and took his leave.
Meng Min looked up at her. Although she was not used to her intimate gestures, she did not shake off her hand. She nodded and let her help her into the Yong'an Marquis's carriage. She then heard her hold her wrist and whisper, "The weather is hot. Mother, you must be patient in everything."
Be patient.
Meng Min looked at Xie Yushu with great surprise; it seemed that every word she said today was meaningful.
"Why is she everywhere?" Zhang Youwei stood next to her father, staring at Xie Yushu, and muttered in dissatisfaction. How come she didn't know that the Lady of the Marquis had become so intimate with Xie Yushu?
Even Marquis Yong'an, Xie Zhi'an, was surprised. Didn't the lady always dislike Yu Shu? She usually wouldn't allow Yu Shu to call her mother. Was the sun rising in the west today?
He then heard the lady in the carriage instructing the maid, "Go and call Meng Tingchun to the mansion to kneel."
This is clearly a pretext to punish Tingchun for offending Yushu today.
That's so weird.
Xie Zhian took a few more glances at his daughter, whom he had raised outside the home. Unlike the timid and cowardly daughters of ordinary families, she was poised and confident, showing no stage fright whatsoever. She truly resembled a noble lady from a wealthy family.
He couldn't help but exchange a few words with Pei Shilin.
Pei Shilin immediately adopted a respectful demeanor and was about to see Xie Zhian onto the carriage when he suddenly heard someone call out, "Madam Pei, please wait."
The Prime Minister's carriage stopped directly in front of Xie Yushu. Cangshu jumped down from the carriage and walked over, bowing to Xie Yushu in front of everyone, saying, "Your Excellency has ordered me to return your sandalwood fan to you."
He held out a sandalwood fan with both hands, the fan adorned with crane feathers and jade beads.
Pei Shilin immediately recognized it as Xie Yushu's fan. How did her fan end up in Song Jie's hands? And why was Song Jie returning it to her in public like this? Did he have no shame at all?
Before he could speak, Zhang Youwei asked angrily, "How did your fan end up with Prime Minister Song?"
She walked up to Xie Yushu in a few steps, looked at Song Jie's carriage, then at Xie Yushu, unable to suppress the grievances and anger in her heart. At the banquet, as soon as Xie Yushu left, Song Jie followed. She had just heard from the servants that Song Jie and Xie Yushu were resting in the west hall together. Even if there were servants, how could Xie Yushu, a married woman, not be discreet at all!
Now Song Jie has actually returned the fan to Xie Yushu. How could such a personal item, which is held in one's hand and kept in one's sleeve, have fallen into the hands of an outsider?
All eyes fell on Xie Yushu.
Xie Yushu heard the system's voice: "Host, you have gained 2 points of green hat value, from Pei Shilin."
This is the first time that his green hat value has increased by two points directly. It seems that being publicly cuckolded is more likely to provoke Pei Shilin.
That's true; even though he's a coward, he's still concerned about his image.
Xie Yushu lowered her eyes and smiled. Song Jie was probably just sitting in the carriage watching the show, wasn't he? Didn't he just want everyone to think she was unfaithful?
Unfortunately, she doesn't possess that kind of thing at all.
"Yes, how did my lost fan end up in Prime Minister Song's hands?" Xie Yushu frowned and asked, "Did Prime Minister Song find it or steal it?"
Everyone was stunned by her words.
Zhang Youwei spoke first: "Xie Yushu, what nonsense are you spouting? Why would Prime Minister Song steal your fan? Who do you think you are?"
"Then we'll have to ask Prime Minister Song." Xie Yushu looked at Zhang Youwei and said gently, "Only close people would recognize a fan. If Prime Minister Song found it, how would he know it's my fan? I'm just the wife of a lowly scholar, and I'm not familiar with the famous Prime Minister Song."
She silenced three people with a single sentence.
Pei Shilin's face darkened.
Zhang Youwei was also speechless. Yes, with so many women at the banquet holding fans, how could Song Jie have recognized Xie Yushu's fan as Xie Yushu's after picking it up if he hadn't carefully looked at and played with it?
Her thoughts were completely led by Xie Yushu, and she stared at her but couldn't say anything to refute her.
The person inside the carriage sneered, their voice slightly hoarse: "Madam Pei, have you forgotten? The fan was left behind in the west hall when we were together."
Zhang Youwei's face turned completely pale. She hadn't expected Song Jie to be so open about getting involved with Xie Yushu, a married woman... Wasn't he afraid of being misunderstood? Didn't he feel it was inappropriate to be in the same hall as a married woman?
"Host, you have gained another 2 points of cuckoldry value." The system's voice was somewhat surprised: "From Pei Shilin."
Great, great! It's much more efficient to do things in public.
Xie Yushu glanced at Pei Shilin, whose face was almost green with rage, and said knowing when to stop, "In that case, thank you for your kindness, Prime Minister Song. I don't need the fan." She didn't even take the fan, and said directly to Cangshu, "Throw it away. I won't use such a personal item again after someone else has touched it."
Cangshu paused, remembering that when she gave him the handkerchief, she had said: "Throw it away."
It turns out, she found him disgusting, not just because he was dirty, but also because she disliked the Prime Minister...
Song Jie coughed again inside the carriage.
He was clearly angry.
Xie Yushu was also helpless; there was nothing she could do about it since the guy was so eager to come and annoy her.
She took Pei Shilin's arm and said, "Let's go, husband, it's time to go back to the manor."
Pei Shilin trembled slightly as her warm hand touched him. It was rare for her to call him "husband" so gently. At least she was still willing to give him face in public. His anger subsided a little. Ultimately, it was because of the Pei family that she was targeted by Song Jie. It was Song Jie who was relentlessly pursuing her, demanding the return of her fan.
He responded, bid farewell to the Duke of Yingguo and the Marquis of Yong'an, and helped Xie Yushu into her carriage.
Zhang Youwei was furious and went back to her residence where she cried bitterly.
Seeing her daughter so heartbroken, Zhang Yunkai helplessly advised her, "I told you long ago that Song Jie is not a good match. I saw him being ambiguous with that Madam Pei today, so just give up on him."
"What do you mean by unclear! It was Xie Yushu who deliberately approached Song Jie because she resembled Jia Ning!" Zhang Youwei retorted, "Look at how arrogant she was today! We shouldn't have invited her! I don't know why you insisted that I invite her, sister!"
Yes, why would Youyi suddenly invite Xie Yushu?
Zhang Yunkai also found it strange. Youyi had been a concubine in the palace for many years. When she entered the palace, Xie Yushu was still being raised outside. She didn't know Xie Yushu at all. How could she suddenly send a message from the palace asking them to invite Xie Yushu?
Could it be... that this was Prime Minister Song's idea?
The Zhang family and Song Jie have always had a mutually beneficial relationship. Youyi has done a lot for Song Jie. At this birthday banquet, if someone hadn't specifically instructed her, she wouldn't have noticed the little Xie Yushu.
He then recalled Song Jie's behavior today. It seemed that he stayed in the mansion after seeing Xie Yushu, and left the table after Xie Yushu left as well. The two of them went to the side hall one after the other, and then came back to return the fan at the mansion gate...
"I think Xie Yushu is just trying to climb the social ladder by marrying Prime Minister Song Jie!" Zhang Youwei became more and more angry as she thought about it: "It wasn't enough that she used her face to get brought back to the Yong'an Marquis's mansion and marry Pei Shilin. Look at how she looked down on Pei Shilin today, as if the third-ranked scholar was not good enough for her! Does she also want to be matched with the Prime Minister or a prince!"
"This is getting more and more absurd," Zhang Yunkai frowned and scolded his daughter. "It sounds more like Song Jie is pestering Xie Yushu."
The Fourth Prince also acted strangely today.
He looked up and asked his attendant, "When did the Fourth Prince leave the residence and return to the palace?"
The attendant replied, "We just left the mansion."
Just now? Didn't the Fourth Prince leave his banquet long ago to return to the palace? Why did he stay in the mansion until just now?
※
An inconspicuous carriage was parked in an alley not far from the back gate of the Pei residence.
Sitting in the carriage, Xiao Zhen looked at his right cheek in the mirror. The handprint on his cheek had not faded; instead, it had developed into a rash.
He recalled the floral scent on Xie Yushu's body, hands, and fan, which was probably perfume and cosmetics made from some kind of pollen that she had smeared on his face when she slapped him.
How could he return to the palace looking like this? How could he face anyone?
He was furious and slammed the mirror shut. He then asked the servant, "Has Xie Yushu's carriage returned to the manor?"
The attendant outside replied no.
He lifted the curtain and saw the setting sun losing its color; it was almost dark, and Xie Yushu still hadn't returned home.
"My lord, shall we wait any longer?" the attendant asked.
Xiao Zhen lowered the curtain and ordered, "Go and fetch a silver note for ten thousand taels of gold."
Xie Yushu wanted gold, didn't he? Tonight he was determined to see her, take the jade hairpin from her, and get his revenge for that slap!
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Author's Note: Song Jie: What a coincidence! I'm also meeting Xie Yushu tonight. [doge emoji]
First update since I started paying! There will be two more updates this afternoon at 6 PM~ I'll be giving out red envelopes (cash gifts) in this chapter and the next two chapters. Thank you all for supporting me and subscribing! I'll continue to give out red envelopes as soon as I earn some money, lots of them! [Heart][Heart]
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