It really did increase in the middle of the night—who on earth was losing their mind thinking about her at that hour?
“After parsing the backend data, this 1 point of Heartthrob Value came from three different people,” the system explained to her.
“Pei Shilin, the villain Song Jie, and the male lead Xiao Zhen all experienced emotional fluctuations about you last night.”
Xie Yushu was delighted.
So the person tailing her last night was indeed the male lead Xiao Zhen—he saw her?
Was he so satisfied with her Jia Ning makeup that he stayed up late wondering who she was?
Good, good, good.
A new leek could give her points even before meeting face-to-face.
She got up feeling refreshed.
Jin Ye and Yin Ya had long since risen and came in beaming to help her wash and dress.
Xizhi Mammy soon entered as well, with Madam Lianxiang, who served Mother Li Huixian, right behind her.
Xizhi approached her and whispered first, “The Shifu has sent people to invite you several times already.”
She was anxious for Miss Yushu—after all, what kind of newlywed bride rises later than her mother-in-law and needs to be invited three or four times to breakfast?
But ever since that courtyard-smashing incident, the Pei family had all been walking on eggshells around Xie Yushu.
Madam Lianxiang entered with her head lowered, speaking politely, “Missus, the Old Madam has sent me to invite you to the Shitang for breakfast.”
Xie Yushu didn’t bother with pleasantries and said directly, “I won’t be going. I ordered breakfast from Fanlou and will eat in my own courtyard. Tell Mother and my husband there’s no need to wait for me.”
Lianxiang’s face turned quite ugly, but she didn’t dare say anything more and could only agree and withdraw from the room.
As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, she saw Fanlou’s errand boy carrying basket after basket of food boxes into the Pianting’s Shitang.
She slowed her steps on purpose to take a look—sure enough, a whole table was laid out with rare delicacies.
She’d never seen such an arrogant daughter-in-law before and returned to the Shifu’s Shitang in a fury.
Seeing Old Madam Li Huixian and the young master still sitting at the table waiting for Xie Yushu, she felt it was simply absurd.
She repeated Xie Yushu’s words and added, “I saw the whole table full—never seen a family eat breakfast like it’s a banquet.”
Li Huixian was furious.
“What kind of daughter-in-law acts like that? And what kind of mother-in-law am I, sitting here meekly waiting for my daughter-in-law to eat?”
Pei Shilin, however, was too tired to get angry anymore.
He picked up his chopsticks and said quietly, “Eat. She’s not coming, so you might as well save yourself the anger.”
Even her own son wouldn’t speak for her, and Li Huixian was so angry she began to wipe her eyes, unable to swallow a bite.
“Is this a wife or a living King of Hell I’ve married into the family? Even a county princess wouldn’t be so lawless!”
Pei Shilin also felt like there was a bone stuck in his throat.
He frowned at his mother and said, “Isn’t all this thanks to your younger son? If not for saving him, would I have had to marry an illegitimate daughter and swallow my pride, watching her put a green hat on me?”
Li Huixian was at a loss for words, just bowing her head and shedding tears.
She didn’t want things to be like this, but Shibin was beaten to a pulp in prison…
She couldn’t just watch Shibin die in there.
Pei Shilin could only sigh at his mother’s state.
“I’ve thought it over. Once Shibin’s matter is resolved, I’ll divorce Xie Yushu.”
“What divorce?”
Li Huixian said angrily.
“It’s a repudiation! Let all of Bianjing know she disrespects her mother-in-law and doesn’t keep to the ways of a proper wife!”
She tried to reassure her son, “Don’t worry about Song Prime Minister taking her side. Does she really think Song Prime Minister would care about her? She’s just basking in Jia Ning’s light.”
Pei Shilin lowered his head in silence.
Yes, she was just basking in Jia Ning’s light.
If not for her resemblance to Xie Jianing, would she have ever served at the feet of the Old Madam in the Houfu?
Would she have been registered under the Marquis Consort of Yong’an?
If not for her resemblance to Jia Ning, would he have been deceived by Yong’an Marquis Manor’s “regard” for her and married her as his main wife?
A young servant hurried in from outside the Shitang, reporting that someone from the Prime Minister’s Manor was waiting at the back gate to see the Missus.
“Is it Cang Shu?”
Pei Shilin frowned.
Song Jie still wanted to summon her over?
He couldn’t even wait until daylight?
The servant shook his head, saying it wasn’t Cang Shu, but a new face, who’d met the Missus’s maid at the back gate and sent word: there was no need to go to the manor today.
Pei Shilin’s frown slowly relaxed.
So Song Jie just saw her as a Jia Ning substitute, already bored after a few days.
Li Huixian, however, was worried.
If Song Prime Minister lost interest in Xie Yushu, what would happen to Shibin?
Pei Shilin waved the servant away and told his mother, “Today we’re going to Yingguo Gongfu to celebrate the Duke’s birthday. I’ll mention my appointment to the United Kingdom Duke. For Uncle’s sake, he’ll say a word or two for me. As for Shibin’s matter, let’s hold it for now. Once I enter the Hanlin Academy, we’ll find another way.”
He’d already decided last night—
Song Jie only promised to suppress Shibin’s case for now, so he had to secure his own official career while he could.
He reminded her, “When we go to Yingguo Gongfu later, just say Xie Yushu is ill and can’t go out.”
Li Huixian instantly understood his meaning.
Yes, this was Yingguo Gongfu.
Never mind Xie Yushu’s status as an illegitimate daughter—
United Kingdom Duke’s beloved daughter was Xie Jianing’s close friend and always looked down on Xie Yushu, that counterfeit.
Taking her along would only invite trouble.
But just after breakfast, a servant from Yingguo Gongfu arrived at the gate with an invitation.
Li Huixian was surprised.
The birthday invitation had already been delivered days ago—who was this new invitation for?
Xie Yushu had already heard that the Pei mother and son were going to Yingguo Gongfu for the birthday celebration.
Yin Ya, who was now on good terms with the gatekeeper, rushed over angrily to tell Xie Yushu, “The carriage is already hitched up! Looks like the Pei family never planned to take you along!”
Jin Ye hushed her, but her heart was even more uneasy than Yin Ya’s.
She knew the Pei family hadn’t dared to bully Missus lately only because they needed her to plead with Song Prime Minister.
But just now, a message from the Prime Minister’s Manor said there was no need to go tonight.
Wouldn’t that mean the Pei family saw no more value in Missus and would start bullying her again like before?
Missus herself didn’t seem worried at all.
She even had the mind to beckon Xiao Dao over and ask, “Why is your hair still such a mess? Didn’t you let Xizhi comb it out for you?”
“He wouldn’t let Mammy touch him,” Yin Ya tattled.
“He’s really fierce.”
“I don’t like people touching me.”
Xiao Dao tugged at his tangled hair, awkwardly saying to Xie Yushu, “I washed it. It’s not dirty.”
“If you leave it knotted like that, you’ll get lice.”
Xie Yushu teased him, then sent Yin Ya to fetch a comb and waved it at him.
“Come here, I’ll comb it out for you.”
Xiao Dao froze, then heard her ask, “Even I can’t touch your hair? Did you forget all the good food you ate this morning? I paid for that.”
Of course he hadn’t forgotten.
She bought him, treated his illness, fed him well—he’d never forget.
Xiao Dao lowered his head and walked toward her.
As he got closer, he smelled the fragrance on her body and looked up into her eyes—such beautiful eyes, autumn water flowing in their depths.
He heard her say, “Turn around.”
He didn’t even know how he managed to turn.
It was like his head was spinning.
He could only feel her warm fingers untie his hairband, loosen his hair, and gently comb through it from behind. “I’ll be gentle,” she said.
Xiao Dao gazed at the trees swaying in the wind in the courtyard, his heart rustling along with them.
Her scent lingered around him.
Even though he’d just eaten, his throat and belly felt hungry again, a restlessness he couldn’t suppress, making him swallow hard…
But then, an unwelcome person arrived at the gate.
Pei Shilin was stopped by Zhao Feng at the archway and frowned as he saw his wife, Xie Yushu, standing under the corridor, combing a man’s hair.
She saw him, but didn’t pause or try to avoid him at all.
Pei Shilin truly couldn’t understand how Xie Yushu had become like this.
The former Xie Yushu was well-educated and gentle.
He hadn’t liked her, but he could clearly feel her deep affection for him.
But now’s Xie Yushu…didn’t care about him or the Pei family at all, didn’t even care about propriety!
Keeping a man in his courtyard, and now combing his hair in front of everyone—wasn’t she satisfied with how many green hats she’d put on his head?
No matter how much he told himself he’d repudiate her soon, Pei Shilin couldn’t help but get angry.
“Congratulations, Host! You’ve gained 1 Green Hat Value from Pei Shilin,” the system chimed in, “and 1 Heartthrob Value from Xiao Dao.”
Raising Xiao Dao was really worth it.
Xie Yushu looked over at Pei Shilin, in a good mood, and had Zhao Feng let him in, handing the comb to Xiao Dao to finish the last bit himself.
Xiao Dao took it, then suddenly blocked Pei Shilin with his arm as he tried to approach Xie Yushu.
“If you have something to say, say it here.”
Ignorant mutt!
Pei Shilin was even angrier and said coldly to Xie Yushu, “Xie Yushu, don’t forget you’re my newly wedded wife. We haven’t divorced yet—teach your servant some manners!”
To his surprise, she replied, “What are you saying, husband? I never thought about divorcing you.”
Pei Shilin stared at her innocent face and laughed in disbelief.
“We’re already like this, and you say you never thought of divorce?”
Xie Yushu blinked and asked knowingly, “Like what? I think we’re doing fine. We’ve had some disagreements, but now we’ve found a way to get along, haven’t we?”
Pei Shilin’s face turned green with anger.
Her so-called way of getting along was to keep a man in her courtyard and make the entire Pei family swallow their pride?
He didn’t want to tear things apart in front of so many servants.
She might not care about her reputation, but he still did.
So he gritted his teeth and said, “Get yourself ready within half an hour and come with me to Yingguo Gongfu.”
Jin Ye and Yin Ya looked at Xie Yushu in shock.
Xie Yushu herself was a bit surprised.
Why was Pei Shilin suddenly taking her along?
Then Pei Shilin handed her an invitation from Yingguo Gongfu.
“Zhang Xianzhu sent an invitation for you to attend the birthday celebration.”
Zhang Xianzhu?
Xie Yushu took the invitation and opened it, seeing Zhang Youwei’s name.
Zhang Youwei was the second daughter of United Kingdom Duke Zhang Yun Kai, granted the title of Xianzhu by His Majesty.
She was also the heroine Xie Jianing’s close friend.
In the original story, she looked down on Xie Yushu—why would she suddenly, specifically, send her an invitation?
It was as if she was afraid the Pei family wouldn’t bring Xie Yushu, so she sent a separate invitation.
How strange—specifically inviting someone she didn’t like.
Either it was to set her up, or there was some unavoidable reason.
Even Xizhi Mammy noticed something was off and quietly advised as she helped Xie Yushu change, “Missus, do you really want to go? I have a bad feeling. Zhang Xianzhu never liked you. Could this sudden invitation mean she wants to cause trouble for you?”
Of course I’m going.
What a great social opportunity—got to use it to cultivate more leeks.
“She wouldn’t go out of her way to invite me just to make trouble, especially at her father’s birthday banquet,” Xie Yushu reassured Xizhi.
“If a dignified Xianzhu wanted to make things hard for me, she wouldn’t need to do it herself.”
Xie Yushu glanced at her 9 points of Heartthrob Value, guessing that the male lead, Fourth Prince Xiao Zhen, would also attend the birthday celebration.
After all, at 7 Heartthrob Value, he’d already followed her.
Last night, the male lead missed her so much he couldn’t sleep, contributing another point of Heartthrob Value.
He should really want to meet her in person today, right?
Then she had to go—she wanted to see what 9 points of Heartthrob Value could do.
She didn’t deliberately wear the same clothes as Jia Ning, opting instead for a proper, narrow-sleeved ruqun.
She carefully drew her brows and painted downward-tilted eyeliner, making her eye makeup more like Jia Ning’s, but kept the mole on her nose.
Today was the United Kingdom Duke’s birthday banquet—
Jia Ning’s mother and father would surely be there, and she’d meet people who really knew Jia Ning.
She felt it was best not to imitate the “form” too much, lest it look forced. Just capturing the “spirit” was enough.
She remembered that in the original story, Song Jie also attended this birthday banquet because the United Kingdom Duke’s eldest daughter, Zhang Youyi, was now the most favored Guifei.
She was also Song Jie’s most brilliant piece placed beside His Majesty, so he attended despite being ill to present gifts.
Then, the Duke’s second daughter, Zhang Youwei—
Zhang Youyi’s younger sister—confessed to him…
That’s right, in the original story, the villain Song Jie liked the heroine Xie Jianing, Xie Jianing’s friend Zhang Youwei liked Song Jie, and even more dramatically, Zhang Youwei’s Guifei elder sister liked the male lead Xiao Zhen, while Xiao Zhen only saw both her and the heroine as pawns.
She wondered if the plot had changed and whether she could secretly witness Zhang Youwei’s confession to Song Jie today.