In the alley, Pei Yunshu glared at the person before her.
She and Fangzi had gone out to buy some items, while Qiong Ying stayed at home with Treasure Bead. When they left the food store, they realized they had forgotten something inside, so Fangzi went back to retrieve it while Pei Yunshu waited downstairs, never expecting to run into Mu Sheng.
Mu Sheng, Prince Wen, her former husband, the man who had once shared her pillow.
Originally, due to Meng Xiyang’s "childish worries" incident, Pei Yunshu and Mu Sheng divorced. At first, Pei Yunshu hadn’t anticipated such a smooth process because marriage between two surnames sometimes involved not only the couple but also two families.
But Mu Sheng didn’t say anything, didn’t come looking for trouble, and even let her take Treasure Bead away. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
It was only later that Pei Yunshu found out that Pei Yunmeng had paid Mu Sheng a visit once, though she didn’t know what they had discussed.
To silence Mu Sheng, Pei Yunmeng must have had a hold over his lifeline. At the time, Pei Yunshu was preoccupied with Treasure Bead and wanted to avoid any entanglements, only wishing to quickly escape from Prince Wen’s Mansion, that den of jackals and tigers.
After the divorce, Pei Yunmeng had also arranged a residence for her, guarded by escorts, and she had not seen Mu Sheng since.
The sight of her long-unseen ex-husband before her eyes, vastly less refined than before, his countenance haggard and his clothing, along with his attendants, not as impressive as in the past, made his once high-and-mighty pride seem vanished.
Upon seeing Pei Yunshu, Mu Sheng’s eyes lit up, and he called out "Madam" before grabbing her wrist and swiftly pulling her into a side alley.
Pei Yunshu struggled for a long time before she finally shook off his hand, "What are you doing?"
"Madam," Mu Sheng scrutinized her with a somewhat peculiar look, "It’s been a while since we last met, and you truly are quite different from before."
Back in Prince Wen’s Mansion, Pei Yunshu didn’t care to interact with him, indifferent and aloof every day, not a bit gentle or considerate, boring just like all the other high-born ladies. Unexpectedly, after so long apart, the divorced Pei Yunshu was wearing bright and fresh dresses, her eyes sparkling with life, seemingly a completely different person from before.
"I am no longer your wife," Pei Yunshu said coldly, "Commandery Prince, please behave yourself."
The more she responded this way, the more uncomfortable Mu Sheng felt inside.
Since the divorce from Pei Yunshu, and being blackmailed by Pei Yunmeng, he had had to let her go, which turned him into a laughingstock throughout the Capital City. And now, with the New Emperor’s ascension, his position as an "old subject" became precarious. Seeing the unfavorable tide, all the fair-weather friends in Shengjing shunned him like a scourge. With no real talents of his own and previously relying solely on the title bestowed by his ancestors, his status now diminished with the title being stripped, it wouldn’t be long before the Mu Family would completely fall from grace.
When a man is down and out, suddenly seeing his radiant ex-wife, especially when the ex-wife seems to be living well, tends to stir up a certain unwillingness deep within him.
He smiled feignly, "Yunshu, we once shared marital affection. Why do you speak so coldly?"
As he stepped forward to take Pei Yunshu’s hand, she immediately retreated a step.
Mu Sheng’s hand grasped at air. Looking up at Pei Yunshu, he switched to a more affectionate tone, "Yunshu, how is our daughter doing? I heard you named her Treasure Bead, such a lovely name... Since her birth, I, as her father, haven’t even had the chance to hold her. Where is she now? I would like to go see her..."
Pei Yunshu’s expression changed, "Stay away from Treasure Bead!"
"Why should I stay away from her? I am her father," Mu Sheng replied with a smile, "Yunshu, truthfully, concerning the matter of ’childish worries,’ it was indeed due to my negligence. I apologize for that. The regret has weighed on my mind ever since... We share Treasure Bead, and she needs a father. How about we reconcile and mend our broken relationship..."
"Mend our broken relationship?"
"Yes, a couple shares a bond of a hundred days of grace for one night’s marriage; we do have our past affection... "
Pei Yunshu stared at the face pretending deep affection before her, finding it both ridiculous and disgusting.
During their time in Prince Wen’s Mansion, Mu Sheng rarely showed her any kindness, and their marriage had nothing to do with "affection." Pei Yunshu was also clear in her mind that Mu Sheng’s persistence to renew their ties wasn’t for the sake of past love. Instead, it was because his title was stripped, and the Mu Family was in decline, while her own brother was still prominent at the Imperial Court, with a bright future ahead, so he wanted to reattach himself to her family.
"I’m sorry," Pei Yunshu said coldly, "I am not in the least bit interested in reconciling with you. My maid is waiting for me downstairs; please leave."
Facing rejection twice, and with Pei Yunshu’s resolve evident, Mu Sheng’s face began to darken.
"I am Treasure Bead’s father; what right do you have to tell me to leave?" he snarled as he grabbed Pei Yunshu’s hand again, gripping so hard that her wrist turned blue. Pei Yunshu, unable to break free, angrily retorted, "Let go of me, Mu Sheng, don’t go too far!"
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