Chapter 21 (Combined Chapter 21) "Come here, I'll take your place..."
Xie Yushu didn't get enough to eat at the banquet, so he ordered his driver Zhao Feng to turn off at Fanlou halfway there, where he had a full meal before heading back to the Pei residence.
As soon as she entered the manor, she saw Pei Shilin waiting for her in the courtyard with a cold expression. Upon seeing her, he asked, "Where have you been?"
"Let's eat at Fanlou." Xie Yushu replied in a good mood, helping Jinye and Yinya into the house.
"Even if you go to Fanlou for a meal, you should at least say hello! My mother and I have been looking for you for ages!" Pei Shilin angrily blocked her path, clearly smelling the alcohol on her: "You've been drinking?"
Before Xie Yushu could get angry, Xiao Dao suddenly flashed over and slapped Pei Shilin away, sending Pei Shilin staggering back several steps and nearly falling flat on his back.
Pei Shilin became even angrier. He steadied himself by holding onto the stone table, his face flushed with embarrassment. He pointed at Xiao Dao and roared, "Wasn't it him who injured the Duke's son and Meng Tingchun in the Duke's mansion today? Wasn't it this dog you raised?!"
"Did I give you face?" Xie Yushu pressed down on Xiao Dao's shoulder and looked coldly at Pei Shilin: "Pei Shilin, do you not want to have a single good day? Zhao Feng, Wang An."
Her two burly guards stepped forward and grabbed Pei Shilin's arms on either side, pressing him face down onto the stone table.
Pei Shilin groaned in pain, but the humiliation was even harder to bear than the pain. This was their Pei family home, and even if Xie Yushu rebelled, she was still his wife! Throughout history, no wife had ever dared to lay a hand on her husband!
He was no longer willing to endure this humiliation, and angrily shouted, "What are you all doing standing outside the courtyard gate! Come in and tie up this poisonous woman, Xie Yushu!"
Today he'll teach her a lesson about what it means to be obedient to one's husband after marriage!
The servants and young men outside the courtyard gate stormed in, startling Jin Ye and Yin Ya into tightly protecting Xie Yushu.
"What are you doing at the Pei residence!" Granny Xizhi shouted urgently, dragging her ailing leg as she rushed out to block Xie Yushu, trembling with anger.
Xie Yushu gently placed his hand on her trembling shoulder, watched as Xiao Dao swiftly swept away several servants, and said calmly, "Zhao Feng, dislocate Pei Shilin's right hand."
“Yes, Madam,” Zhao Feng replied.
A very clear sound of bones breaking was heard, and Pei Shilin's screams seemed to pierce the sky.
The servants and young men were all terrified. They never expected that the lady would actually hurt the young master. They didn't care about tying up the lady and rushed to save the young master.
The courtyard instantly descended into chaos.
Pei's mother, Li Huixian, rushed over and was horrified by the scene. Her face turned deathly pale. When she saw her son lying on the ground, clutching his arm and about to faint, she was both shocked and anxious. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she shouted at Xie Yushu, who was standing idly watching the commotion, "What are you doing! What are you doing! He is your husband! Are you trying to murder your own husband! What good will it do you to kill him!"
"It wouldn't be bad for me to be a widow if he died," Xie Yushu replied with a smile. "Once your second son dies in prison, your Pei family will be without an heir. Then all your Pei family's assets will belong to me, won't they?"
Li Huixian stared at her in disbelief, never expecting her to utter such vicious words: "Poisonous woman! Shilin really made a mistake in marrying a poisonous woman like you! What sins did our Pei family commit to marry you and bring such harm upon us!"
"Don't you know what sins you've committed?" Xie Yushu sat in the chair, looking at the mother and son coldly. "Fortunately, I'm a wicked woman. If I were even a little weak, you two would have taken advantage of me and used me until I died."
Standing beside her, Granny Xizhi trembled all over, her eyes reddening again and again. Yes, who had turned the kind and gentle Miss Yushu into this? Wasn't it these people? Miss Yushu was sent to the Prime Minister's residence by her husband on the third day after marrying into the Pei family... If Miss Yushu had been even slightly weaker, she probably wouldn't have survived.
“Divorce…we’ll get a divorce tomorrow…” Pei Shilin said, his eyes bloodshot as he held on to his last breath.
"Dream on," Xie Yushu sneered. "You want a divorce after you've used me? There's no such thing as a free lunch."
How can she accumulate "cuckold points" after the divorce?
Her eyes shone as she looked at them: "I'll make myself clear today. Although you, Pei Shilin, are not good enough for me, I'm currently quite comfortable being Mrs. Pei. Until I get tired of it, I'll only lose my husband, not get a divorce."
There is only the loss of a husband, not divorce.
Pei Shilin and Li Huixian were so shocked by her words that they were speechless. After a long while, Pei Shilin managed to squeeze out a sentence through the pain: "How could there be such a vicious woman as you in this world..."
Xie Yushu laughed: "I didn't have that before, but I do now. Now that my husband and mother-in-law know how wicked I am, they should serve me well from now on, and we can live peacefully together. Otherwise, this wicked woman has plenty of vicious methods."
Li Huixian was furious. Her eyes were red, and she stood up through gritted teeth: "This is outrageous! I'll make a scene at the government office today and let everyone in Bianjing know the true face of this wicked woman!" Like a bull that had lost its mind, she charged towards Xie Yushu.
Zhao Feng reached out to stop her.
Suddenly, a swift and cold wind ripped through the night and struck Zhao Feng's hand with a "smack".
Zhao Feng cried out in pain as a pebble fell to the ground, leaving a bloody crater on the back of his right hand.
"Who goes there!" Xiao Dao jumped up and rushed towards a certain direction outside the courtyard wall.
Li Huixian was stunned.
As Xie Yushu stood up, he heard the system say in his mind: "Host, a [romantic character] has appeared nearby."
Who is it?
It couldn't have been Xiao Zhen or Song Jie; they had no reason to save Li Huixian.
Which important romanceable character will save Li Huixian?
Could it be...?
Her face turned cold as she watched Xiao Dao's retreating figure. He seemed to have been fighting with someone on a large tree outside the courtyard wall, and was suddenly pulled down from the tree as if he were at a disadvantage.
"Xiao Dao, come back!" she shouted immediately, ordering Zhao Feng and Wang Anquan to rush out.
Fortunately, Zhao Feng and Wang An returned to the courtyard with Xiao Dao not long after they climbed over the wall.
Xiao Dao clutched his right wrist, his face pale, and said to her with his head down, "I'm sorry, I couldn't catch that person."
"Are you hurt?" Xie Yushu reached out his hand.
Xiao Dao stared at her hand for a moment, then looked up at her.
"My right wrist, let me see," Xie Yushu said, frowning.
Xiao Dao felt a warm sensation in his chest for some reason. He had never been cared for like this before, and stood there blankly, saying, "I'm not injured, it's just that an old wound was aggravated..."
Her warm hand went straight to his arm and lifted his right wrist, which he was pulling.
Xiao Dao's heart was pounding rapidly in his chest. He secretly looked at her and thought: She really is different from everyone else. She won't hit him or scold him. She doesn't know who he is, yet she feeds him and pays attention to him and cares for him at the first moment...
The gatekeeper rushed in from outside the courtyard gate, and was stunned at the gate. He stared blankly at the young master Pei Shilin lying on the ground and the old lady Li Huixian with her hair disheveled, and didn't know who to report to.
"What's wrong?" Xie Yushu looked up and asked him.
The gatekeeper instinctively replied, "Madam, someone is looking for you outside the gate. They say they've come to pay some money and ask you to come to the gate to see them."
Did Xiao Zhen pay the bill? Tonight is going to be quite lively. It would be even more fun if Song Jie came too.
Xie Yushu released Xiaodao's hand, instructed Yinya to find a doctor to examine him and Zhao Feng, and then whispered to Jinye.
※
An inconspicuous carriage was parked in the alley outside the Pei residence, and Xiao Zhen was still waiting inside.
His servants waited at the gate of the mansion for Xie Yushu, who had come to collect the money.
A moment later, Xiao Zhen inside the carriage heard a servant's voice: "Where is your wife?"
Xie Yushu didn't come out?
Xiao Zhen lifted the carriage curtain and looked out. He saw that the person leaving the mansion was Jin Ye, the little maidservant who was by Xie Yushu's side. She reached out to the servant and said, "Just give me the silver notes. Our lady has already retired for the night."
How could we possibly rest? So many people jumped out of the backyard just now, it was quite a lively scene.
"Our master wants to see your lady and personally hand over ten thousand taels of gold to her," the servant said.
The maidservant actually said, "Do you think you can just see our mistress whenever you want?"
His arrogant demeanor was exactly like Xie Yushu's.
“Give me the silver notes, and our lady will return what your master wants to him.” Jin Ye added, “If your master really wants to see our lady, he will need to pay an additional five thousand taels of silver.”
"Another five thousand taels?" The servant was so surprised that his voice rose a little.
Xiao Zhen was speechless and then sneered in the carriage. He had never seen a woman like Xie Yushu who was so obsessed with money. He now suspected that she was also going to Song Jie’s residence disguised as Xie Jianing in order to make money.
Unable to make the decision himself, the attendant came over to the carriage to ask for his opinion.
"Give it to her." Xiao Zhen wanted to see how far she would go for money: "But she has to come to me in person to get it."
The servant went back to tell Jin Ye, who didn't seem surprised at all, and said to him, "Tell your master to wait at the back gate of the Pei residence."
It was as if Xie Yushu had already predicted that he would make this choice and answer this way, so she had instructed the maid in advance on what to say.
Xiao Zhen frowned, his anger rising to his throat. He loathed the feeling of being manipulated.
If she acts this way, he needs to tame her and make her his obedient pawn.
Xiao Zhen instructed his servants to drive the carriage to the back gate of the Pei residence, but stopped in another alley opposite the back gate to prevent anyone from discovering his whereabouts and his lingering at the back gate of the Pei residence.
This time, Xie Yushu arrived very quickly.
Supporting Jin Ye, she followed Xiao Zhen's attendants to the carriage in the alley across the street, and said in a sarcastic tone, "Fourth Prince, you are too cautious. Anyone who doesn't know better would think I'm having an affair with you."
"Come up." Xiao Zhen didn't want to argue with her.
The attendant lifted the carriage curtain and invited her to get in.
Xie Yushu stretched out his hand and said, "Give me the silver notes first."
Xiao Zhen's face was hidden in the darkness. He stared at her, both angry and amused, and gestured to the servant to give it to her.
The servant took out a stack of silver notes and handed them to her.
Jin Ye took it from her, quickly counted it, and nodded to her. It really was ten thousand taels of gold and five thousand taels of silver.
Xie Yushu then helped Jin Ye into the carriage. Before they could even adjust to the light, a hand grabbed their shoulder and pulled them away.
She stumbled into a thin embrace, and when she looked up, she saw Xiao Zhen's face, which had a half-smile on it.
In the dim light, a very obvious handprint was visible on Xiao Zhen's fair right cheek. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a rash. Together with the red marks on his Adam's apple and chest, it gave off a kind of beauty that suggested he had been bullied.
This special physique is just too perfect for being tortured.
"So even a slap from the Fourth Prince can cause hives." Xie Yushu raised his hand and brushed his swollen face with the back of his fingers.
Xiao Zhen grabbed her hand and twisted it behind her back. Seeing her wince in pain, his anger subsided a little: "Where's the jade hairpin?"
He wanted to retrieve the jade hairpin first before dealing with Xie Yushu properly.
She looked at him with a furrowed brow and said, "If the Fourth Prince continues with this attitude, I may have to go back on my word."
Xiao Zhen was extremely surprised: "Xie Yushu, how could you have the nerve to directly accuse me of breaking my promise?"
"If the Fourth Prince has the nerve to repay kindness with enmity, what do I have to be ashamed of?" Xie Yushu retorted sarcastically.
"Tit for kindness?" Xiao Zhen laughed. "What kindness have you done for me?"
"If I hadn't covered for you and kept your secret in the side hall, you would have been caught by Song Jie. Would you still have the chance to argue with me here?" Xie Yushu said, looking up at him.
In the dimly lit carriage, her eyes shone exceptionally brightly, sparkling like jewels.
Xiao Zhen smelled her fragrance again, an indescribable floral scent mixed with agarwood. The two conflicting fragrances were like alluring demons and monsters that had escaped from a solemn temple.
He then noticed that she was still wearing the thin gauze she wore during the day, and when she was held in his arms, her arms were pressed against his arms. Her delicate collarbone and skin were as white as snow, and there was a faint red mark on the side of her neck.
Was it sculpted by him in the side hall? It turns out she only had one mouth, hard and sharp.
“You can make black seem white. If you weren’t Madam Pei, why would I need you to cover for me?” he said, but still let go of her hand.
She pulled her arm away, and her fragrant body also left his embrace.
Xiao Zhen suddenly felt an emptiness in her arms, so she waved her hand at his knees and took out a jade hairpin from her waist pouch and handed it to him.
It was his jade hairpin with the lotus flower design that made her actually keep her word.
Xiao Zhen glanced at her in surprise and reached out to take it.
She withdrew her hand and beckoned to Xiao Zhen: "Come here, I'll insert it for you."
Xiao Zhen was truly bewildered by her. She was clearly so wanton, frivolous, shrewd, and mercenary, yet she sat there smiling and beckoning to him, making him want to get closer and see what tricks she had up her sleeve.
He couldn't help but lean towards her, resting his head against hers.
She reached out and inserted the jade hairpin into his slightly open collar.
The cold jade hairpin pressed against his itchy skin, and he immediately pulled back, the stimulation causing the hairpin to slide from his chest into his clothes and hang down on his abdomen, pressed against his skin.
"So sensitive, huh?" she said with a smile.
He heard her soft laughter, and angrily looked up to glare at her. She deliberately smiled and tilted her head, giving him a teasing look.
"Xie Yushu!" He had been teased by her again!
He lunged forward and reached out to grab her neck.
Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves came from outside the carriage.
"Shh." Xie Yushu raised her hand and covered his mouth.
His hand landed on her shoulder, and he unsteadily pushed her down onto the blanket. She frowned, but her hand didn't loosen its grip on his mouth. The fragrance wafted from her palm to his nose, and her palm was unusually hot.
The sound of horses' hooves outside the carriage seemed to stop at the back gate of the Pei residence, and Cang Shu's voice came over: "The Prime Minister invites Madam Pei to the residence."
Song Jie?
Xiao Zhen looked at Xie Yushu in surprise. Song Jie had come to pick up Xie Yushu again? What was their relationship? Was Song Jie so bold as to send Cang Shu directly to the Pei residence to pick someone up?
Xie Yushu didn't expect Cangshu to arrive so soon. If Song Jie knew that she and Xiao Zhen were in the carriage, she wondered if she would still be able to take advantage of Song Jie.
Fortunately, the two servants at the back gate were people she had bribed; though not very clever, they didn't immediately expose her.
"Our lady is not in the manor," the servant replied guiltily.
"Not at home?" Cang Shu asked, "Where has Madam Pei gone at this hour?"
The servant trembled even more: "I...I don't know either."
Then Xie Yushu heard a familiar muffled cough.
Then they heard Song Jie's muffled voice outside the mansion gate: "Cang Shu, no need to waste words with them. Go in and ask Pei Shilin where his wife is so late."
She and Xiao Zhenquan looked at each other.
Xie Yushu knew what Xiao Zhen's surprised and mocking expression meant. She was amazed that Song Jie would come to pick her up in person and even dare to openly go in and ask her husband for someone.
To be honest, she was also a little surprised. She didn't know if it was because of her 12 points of popularity that had worked, or if Song Jie had calculated that she would most likely reject him tonight and go to do Xiao Zhen's business.
So Song Jie came to intercept her in person.
"Host, you have gained 1 point of 'charm' value." The system's voice also became furtive: "From the male lead, Xiao Zhen."
Ha, men are all crazy; the more unattainable something is, the more attractive it seems.
Xie Yushu looked at Xiao Zhen.
He suddenly moved his lips in her palm, almost whispering, "Are you nervous?"
His warm breath carried his cool lips to her palm.
She frowned, withdrew her hand, and wiped her palm on the robe on his shoulder with disgust.
Xiao Zhen grabbed her hand again, pressing his body down almost entirely. His eyes held a smile that suggested he had finally gotten his way, and he mouthed, "You're also afraid of being discovered by Song Jie in my carriage, aren't you?"
Xie Yushu tried to pull his hand away from being grabbed but couldn't, so he immediately slapped him with his other hand.
He was stunned by the blow, then grabbed her other hand. He thought Xie Yushu would continue to struggle so he could continue to suppress her. If she dared to scream, he would use other methods to shut her up.
But then came Song Jie's rapid, muffled coughing from outside.
Xie Yushu paused and stopped struggling. He looked up at the outside of the carriage curtain, as if listening to Song Jie's cough. His brows furrowed slightly.
Xiao Zhen felt a sudden tightness in her chest. Did she care about Song Jie that much? Could it be that she and Song Jie were still having a consensual affair?
Why does Song Jie always outshine him in everything? Even Xie Yushu, who is currently in his carriage and right in front of him, seems to care more about Song Jie.
"Wow, host." The system suddenly appeared again in amazement: "You have gained 1 point of green hat value from Xiao Zhen."
ah?
Xie Yushu was genuinely surprised. Song Jie was one thing, but what right did Xiao Zhen have to snatch this green hat? Did he have a cuckold fetish?
She had no interest in teasing Xiao Zhen anymore. She heard Xiao Dao's voice after Cang Shu entered the Pei residence, and she was afraid that Xiao Dao would get hurt if she fought with Cang Shu.
Fortunately, Cangshu soon came out of the Pei residence and reported to Song Jie: "Prime Minister, Madam Pei is indeed not in the residence. It seems that she had an argument with Pei Shilin and then left the Pei residence."
"Did they have a fight? Did Pei Shilin discipline her?" Song Jie asked.
Cangshu hesitated before answering, "It seems that... Madam Pei ordered her men to break Pei Shilin's arm."
Song Jie chuckled.
Xiao Zhen, who was inside the carriage, looked at Xie Yushu in surprise. She never expected that Xie Yushu would be so audacious as to break her husband's arm.
But then she thought, if she dared to hit even the fourth prince, how could she not dare to make a move against a mere Pei Shilin?
Xie Yushu, hearing Song Jie cough, took the time to comment on her: "She really doesn't suffer losses for anyone."
"Didn't you ask the Pei family where she went?" Song Jie asked again.
“Pei Shilin is currently unconscious, and the Pei residence is in complete chaos.” Cang Shu replied, “I asked Old Madam Pei, and she tearfully said that a man was outside the mansion gate saying he wanted to return the money to Madam Pei, so Madam Pei left the mansion.”
"Pay back the money? A man?" Song Jie paused in confusion and then ordered, "Send someone to the palace to check if Xiao Zhen has returned."
Then he couldn't stop coughing violently.
Cang Shu hurriedly said, "Prime Minister, please return to your residence first. I will definitely find Madam Pei tonight."
Song Jie coughed so hard he seemed unable to speak.
The sound of horses' hooves soon rang out, and Xiao Zhen held his breath, not daring to move.
As Xie Yushu heard the sound of hooves approaching, he kneed Xiao Zhen away, sat up, and lifted the carriage curtain to look outside.
Xiao Zhen's servant was seen grabbing Jin Ye and falling from the rooftop. It turned out that they had hidden in the courtyard of a house in the alley.
Jin Ye turned pale with fright and rushed to the car to check if she was alright.
"It's alright." After reassuring Jin Ye, Xie Yushu turned to look at Xiao Zhen: "The Fourth Prince must be even more nervous than I am right now, right?"
Xiao Zhen had no desire to argue with her at all; Song Jie's men would soon find out that he hadn't returned to the palace tonight.
Song Jie already suspects that he is with Xie Yushu. If he finds out that he is not in the palace, he will definitely suspect even more. He might even connect everything that happened in the Duke of Ying's mansion today.
He was also afraid that Xie Yushu would betray him.
Xiao Zhen stared at Xie Yushu, his eyes devoid of any smile.
It was as cold and gloomy as a venomous snake.
Xie Yushu sensed his murderous intent. He was a venomous snake that would always turn on its benefactors, even though she wasn't exactly a benefactor.
"You're not only going to kill me, but also my trusted confidants and servants. They all know I came out to see you." Xie Yushu smiled and said, "You heard it too, Song Jie won't rest until he sees me tonight."
She reached out her hand to Xiao Zhen again: "Five thousand taels of silver, to cover up your past and keep your secret one more time."
Xiao Zhen frowned at her in shock, then asked with a mixture of amusement and curiosity, "Xie Yushu, are you short of money?"
"I'm short of money, who in this world isn't?" Xie Yushu thought to herself. Since she couldn't be the emperor, she had to make a fortune and become a trillionaire before returning to the modern world, so that her time-traveling experience wouldn't be in vain.
Xiao Zhen didn't lack the five thousand taels of silver; he just couldn't see through Xie Yushu, and he was too curious about her.
“Okay.” He reached out and grabbed Xie Yushu’s wrist, pressing it down. He leaned closer and looked carefully into her eyes, asking, “I’m really curious, what’s your relationship with Song Jie? Why is he so anxious if he can’t see you for just one night?”
Xie Yushu smiled and held his other hand up to his eyes: "Twenty thousand taels of gold, and I'll tell you this secret between me and Prime Minister Song."
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Author's Note: I wanted to update two chapters at once, so it's a bit late! Sorry, sorry! There will be a 6 AM update tomorrow, and I'll be giving out red envelopes for everyone on both this chapter and tomorrow's! Hope you enjoy reading!
[Shy] I had a lot of fun writing this, but I was also worried that my female lead would seem out of place in a heterosexual romance.
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