"Too much?" Mu Sheng sneered with a cold laugh, "I have yet to show you what’s more excessive!" With that, he bent down to kiss Pei Yunshu’s neck.
Pei Yunshu was startled, filled with humiliation; she struggled fiercely when suddenly, Mu Sheng’s movements stiffened.
Looking up, she saw a dark long knife resting against Mu Sheng’s neck, the blade cold and chilling—colder still was the gaze of the man holding the knife.
"...Deputy Envoy Xiao?"
The newcomer was Xiao Zhufeng.
Mu Sheng, sensing the murderous intent behind him, quickly raised his hands. With a stern expression, Xiao Zhufeng kicked him, sending Mu Sheng tumbling to the ground, where he sat with a thud.
"Is there a problem?" Xiao Zhufeng asked with a frown.
Pei Yunshu, still shaken, shook her head and then looked at him, "How come you’re here?"
"I was passing by, heard your voice, and came to check."
The two conversed as if no one else was there, which, in Mu Sheng’s eyes, looked entirely different. He observed the man with the knife emanating a cold aura, yet speaking to Pei Yunshu with a caring and gentle tone.
Jealousy, unwillingness, and anger mixed together, and Mu Sheng had a sudden epiphany. Enraged and embarrassed, he accused his ex-wife, "No wonder you acted so chaste and virtuous just now; it turns out, you’ve already clung to higher branches—a pair of adulterers, shameless!"
Pei Yunshu was furious, "Shut your mouth! You are spouting nonsense!"
"Where am I wrong?" Mu Sheng looked up, struck by the man’s robust figure and handsome appearance, which only irritated him further. He blurted out spitefully, "You whore, for all we know, you might have been consorting with him back when you were at the Prince’s Mansion. And your daughter, it’s unclear whether she’s even mine, you slut!"
It was one thing for him to berate her undeservedly, but the way he insulted Treasure Bead was simply too shameless; Pei Yunshu trembled with rage.
With a "whoosh," the long knife pressed again against the throat of the man on the ground. Mu Sheng tensed up, as the man glared at him with a murderous look in his eyes.
"Shut up."
The cold edge of the blade on his neck helped to cool his previous anger somewhat. Regaining his senses, Mu Sheng started to feel a bit regretful.
After marrying into Prince Wen’s Mansion, Pei Yunshu hardly ever set foot outside, which meant it was indeed impossible for her to have an affair, and Treasure Bead was indeed his daughter. However, he was just resentful. Why should Pei Yunshu find a younger, more handsome man after their divorce? Why should she still lead a better life? She should be haggard and in pain, weeping daily, and upon their reunion, she should be unwilling to let go of him.
Instead, here she was, looking down on him, while he was in a pitiable state. This was not the scenario he wanted to witness.
Mu Sheng stared at Pei Yunshu, after a moment, he suddenly burst out laughing.
Pei Yunshu frowned, "What are you laughing at?"
"I’m laughing at how foolish you are," Mu Sheng dropped the smile, his voice harsh, "A divorced woman with a child, which respectable family in Shengjing would dare to take you in? Either they’re after your money, or they’re just toying with you. Pei Yunshu, don’t think you can really climb up the social ladder. Be careful that in the end, you won’t get anything and become a laughing stock!"
As soon as these words came out, the knife pressed closer, and a trickle of fresh blood seeped from beneath the blade. Mu Sheng flinched and instantly held his tongue.
Yet Pei Yunshu slowly walked up to him.
"Whether others are after my money or toying with me, it has nothing to do with you."
Resisting her fury, Pei Yunshu glared at him, "Being married to you has been the most repulsive thing I’ve done in my life."
"You!" Mu Sheng clenched his teeth, "Don’t forget, I am Treasure Bead’s father. When you think of remarrying, which man would want to play father to another man’s daughter?"
"I would."
Suddenly, someone spoke.
Both Pei Yunshu and Mu Sheng were taken aback.
The man who had been silent spoke in a calm voice, repeating slowly, "I’m willing to treat her as my own daughter and take care of her sincerely, so you can get lost."
"If you don’t leave," the knife edged slowly to Mu Sheng’s mouth, "I’ll cut your tongue out."
The man’s expression was cold and impassive, not chaotic like when Mu Sheng made threats. Yet within that calm lay hidden danger, and Mu Sheng suddenly felt an eerie realization that the man might actually have the guts to cut out his tongue.
He glanced at Pei Yunshu one last time, climbed up from the ground with a heart full of bitterness, and took his leave in a huff.
As Mu Sheng’s figure disappeared from the alley, Pei Yunshu turned her gaze to Xiao Zhufeng.
He sheathed his knife and looked up, meeting her eyes directly.
All was quiet around them, and for a moment, neither spoke.
After a while, Xiao Zhufeng explained, "His disrespect towards you just now...I blurted out those words in a moment of urgency, Miss Pei, you shouldn’t take them to heart."
"Those words" referred to the ones about treating Treasure Bead as his own daughter.
Pei Yunshu was silent for a moment, then she began to smile, "I know."
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