There was already some warmth emanating from his body, and the face pressed against her neck was damp, indistinguishable as sweat or water.
Xie Yushu felt him holding her tightly, his palm pressing against her soaked inner garment gradually heating up with burning warmth.
He must be half-asleep, half-awake, mistaking her for Xie Jianing, which is why he nestled into her neck, whispering like a plea, “Hold me a little longer…just a bit…I’m so cold…”
Xie Yushu lowered her face, deliberately speaking softly beside his flushed ear, “That will cost extra—five thousand taels.”
Sure enough, Song Jie heard her.
His closed eyes and furrowed brows tightened, then he struggled to lift his eyelids, opening them slowly through the steaming heat.
His unfocused eyes met Xie Yushu’s lowered face, indistinct in the haze except for a small mole on the tip of her nose that wobbled slightly.
“Awake?”
Xie Yushu struggled slightly in his arms, trying to pull away.
“Xie…”
Song Jie instinctively called a name, tightening his arms to hold her firmly.
She gasped for breath under his grip, her warm palms pushing against his shoulders in displeasure.
“Be more clear-headed, Prime Minister Song, I am not Xie Jianing.”
His gaze gradually cleared, finally seeing the face before him.
She wore no makeup, her face clean and bare, with narrow, cold eyes that contrasted strikingly against his heat-flushed face—a contradictory cold beauty.
Her whole body was soaked through; the outer robe weighed down by water almost slipping off her shoulders, revealing her flushed collarbones and neck.
Her black hair stuck wetly to her face, breathtakingly beautiful, like a ripe peach ready to be gently squeezed, oozing sweet juice.
Did he really think she was going to call her Xie Jianing?
He certainly knew she was Xie Yushu.
Who else in this world only talked about money all the time?
Besides, in this moment, she looked nothing like Jianing.
Under the steaming heat, his cold and hardened heart softened and moistened.
Had she come to him on her own?
Had she heard from the Pei Mansion’s servants that he was looking for her?
Such a late hour, she appeared by his side, risking her reputation and safety to save him.
He remembered clearly how she had been holding him, rubbing his back, warming his hands with her arms…
“Host, you have gained 1 point of Heartthrob Value from Song Jie,” the system notified.
Xie Yushu was surprised.
She definitely didn’t look like Xie Jianing right now, did she?
It turns out people are most vulnerable when they need saving.
Song Jie only liked the person who saved him.
At that time, even if it was a stray cat or dog, as long as they warmed and healed him, he would have fallen for them.
Speaking of dogs—
Panpan suddenly rushed in from behind the screen, excitedly resting her paws on the edge of the bathtub and nudging Song Jie’s head.
“Has the Prime Minister woken?”
Cang Shu asked from outside the screen.
“Awake.”
Xie Yushu brushed off Song Jie’s hands and got out of the bathtub.
Song Jie’s gaze followed her, watching water trickle down her robe.
The blue-green robe clung to her, steam rising, making her look like a mountain goddess.
Jin Ye hurriedly grabbed a cloak to wrap around her, turning sideways to block Song Jie’s view.
Only then did Song Jie seem to sober up fully, remembering that she was Madam Xie, another man’s wife.
He averted his gaze and weakly ordered, “Cang Shu, get a set of inner clothes and outer robe that I haven’t worn for Madam Xie…”
Then added, “You should leave too.”
He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but the water in the tub seemed to cool as soon as she left.
“Yes.”
Cang Shu turned to the wardrobe to fetch a set of inner clothes and outer robe unused by the Prime Minister, placing them on the side couch outside the screen.
He said gently, “Madam Xie, the clothes are here. The size is quite large, so please bear with it for now.”
Song Jie frowned.
Since when had Cang Shu become so talkative and considerate?
It was just fetching clothes—was all this talk necessary?
He then heard Xie Yushu thank Cang Shu softly, “Thank you very much.”
Song Jie felt inexplicably uncomfortable.
Shouldn’t she be thanking him?
The clothes belonged to him, and he was the one who ordered the clothes to be brought for her—not Cang Shu.
The room door closed.
Jin Ye helped Xie Yushu into the inner chamber, deliberately lowering the curtain before assisting her in changing into the new inner clothes, undergarments, and outer robe—all much too large.
Luckily, Xie Yushu carried a sewing kit in her pouch and quickly sewed a couple of stitches to tighten the fit.
Just as she finished dressing and was about to dry and tie her wet hair, the sound of water came from behind the screen.
Song Jie coughed hoarsely and stepped out from behind the screen.
Xie Yushu turned her head to look at him.
Barefoot, he wore only a purple outer robe, with wet inner clothes and undergarments underneath.
His pale face revealed a similarly pale chest.
Despite his frailty, he still had visible chest and abdominal muscles.
“Our lady hasn’t finished getting ready yet,” Jin Ye hurriedly said.
Song Jie sat wearily on the bed, clutching his chest as he coughed painfully.
“The water’s cold.”
He couldn’t last even a moment?
Xie Yushu thought to herself.
Obviously, the Prime Minister was just trying to sneak a peek at Madam Xie!
Jin Ye frowned in annoyance, then lowered the bed curtain.
“Then Prime Minister, please sit inside and warm yourself.”
Xie Yushu smiled, looking up at Jin Ye with an approving raise of her brow—such a clever girl.
She expected sarcastic remarks from the sharp-tongued Song Jie but was surprised by his utter silence.
With the curtain between them, it was hard to make out much.
Song Jie sat damply at the edge of the bed, only able to see her silhouette by the window.
She wore his robe, head bowed slightly, letting the maid comb her long black hair smoothly.
Her fingers twisted a hair ribbon back and forth.
Panpan squatted by her feet, fascinated by the ribbon in her hands.
The bitter medicinal smell was gone, replaced by her floral fragrance filling the room.
He suddenly felt a surreal peace, as if after a lifetime of hardship and sacrifice, he had finally attained a dreamlike happiness—a gentle yet somewhat spoiled new bride sitting before him, combing her hair, with Panpan wagging its tail at her feet.
She would soon stand, lift the curtain, and laugh at him, “Get up quickly, you’ve soaked the bed…”
Unfortunately, Xie Yushu turned her face and asked him plainly, “Ten thousand taels of gold—Prime Minister Song, pay now or send it to the Pei Mansion another day?”
His dream shattered instantly.
For a moment, his heart felt as if it were breaking.
He was speechless and asked, “Ten thousand taels of gold? You came over because of ten thousand taels?”
She suddenly appeared at his residence, disregarded her reputation, embraced him in the bathtub, warmed him, took care of him…all for ten thousand taels of gold?
“Otherwise? It’s so late, I came over and took care of you like this, ten thousand taels is just my hardship fee. You were unconscious at the time, and it was Cang Shu who begged me to save you, so I agreed to the ten thousand taels,” Xie Yushu said with a frown.
“You won’t tell me you can’t afford it, right?”
Gold.
He laughed—laughed at his own foolish sentimental delusion a moment ago, and laughed at how quickly she changed her face.
At this moment, he had no doubt that if he said he couldn’t produce ten thousand taels of gold, Xie Yushu would make a scene so loud the whole of Bianjing would know he owed her money.
How ridiculous.
What was he dreaming about?
She was not his new bride but Pei Shilin’s.
She wouldn’t come to him without reason, nor accompany him through hardships without raising her price and grabbing a hefty profit.
That was exactly the kind of Xie Yushu she was.
Song Jie was fully awake now.
He lifted the bed curtain and looked coldly at her, inspecting carefully.
The red mark on her neck had turned into a faint bruise.
Such a money-hungry Xie Yushu would pretend to be Jianing’s counterfeit for money, and of course she would go to Xiao Zhen as well—as long as the price was right.
“Cang Shu,” Song Jie called coldly.
When Cang Shu came over, head lowered, Song Jie raised his hand, “Bring the Silver Note box.”
Cang Shu immediately understood and brought the silver box prepared for the evening, handing it to the Prime Minister.
The silver box opened to reveal a thick stack of Silver Notes and Jin Chao.
Song Jie pulled out a—ten thousand taels gold Jin Chao and handed it to Xie Yushu, seeing her eyes light up noticeably.
He raised an eyebrow, smiling kindly, signaling the maid to take it away.
Then he pulled out another one thousand taels silver note and handed it to her again.
“One thousand taels per question. I ask, you answer—no lies.”
Xie Yushu hesitated briefly—one thousand taels was a bit too little.
But she was always one to take what she could get.
Tonight Song Jie had already spent ten thousand taels gold.
If she raised the price now, he might be like stingy Xiao Zhen and refuse to ask.
So she said, “One thousand taels silver, I choose which questions to answer.”
Song Jie laughed with amusement, looking at her clever face, then had no choice but to ask, “Where did you go tonight?”
“Had a fight with Pei Shilin, then went to my mother’s place,” Xie Yushu replied casually, then signaled Jin Ye to take the money.
Jin Ye immediately took the silver note.
“Yong’an Marquis Manor?” Song Jie asked with suspicion.
“That’s the second question,” Xie Yushu said without answering.
Song Jie felt a pang in his heart, so he pulled out another one thousand taels silver note for her.
She then answered, “Not Yong’an Marquis Manor, but my birth mother, Qiao Bao’er’s place.”
Qiao Bao’er?
Her mother from an extramarital relationship.
Song Jie planned to investigate whether she had indeed been there tonight.
He pulled out another one thousand taels silver note, asking, “When you were at the Duke of England’s Residence, did the Fourth Prince look for you?”
“Yes,” Xie Yushu answered, “He sent one of his attendants to find me, asking me to meet him at the Duke of England’s Residence gate. But you just happened to come, and his attendant panicked and jumped out the window, so I didn’t go.”
She added, “That was when you came to the west side hall to look for me.”
Song Jie frowned, half-believing, half-doubting her.
“If you lie…”
“Struck by lightning,” Xie Yushu swore directly.
Song Jie looked at her, thinking how absurd it was—a person who lies all the time swearing on a god—could even the immortals trust her?
Still, he handed the silver note to Jin Ye, then pulled out another two thousand taels silver note.
“Why didn’t you tell the truth when you were at the west side hall?”
Song Jie asked.
Xie Yushu replied boldly, “I have no obligation to tell the Prime Minister the whole truth, do I?”
Song Jie was speechless. When Jin Ye reached for the silver note, he took it back and said, “Final question.”
He supported himself with Cang Shu and walked to her side.
Looking at her face tilted up to meet his gaze, he wanted to reach out and touch her.
But in the end, he just tapped her bruised neck with the silver note.
“How did this red mark happen?”
Xie Yushu scratched and shrank her neck slightly, thinking: Obviously he doesn’t believe it was a mosquito bite—no way to fool him.
So she lowered her eyes, covered her neck, and said, “Pei Shilin pinched me.”
Song Jie was stunned for a moment, thinking carefully—she didn’t have this mark when he saw her outside the Duke of England’s Residence, right?
At the banquet, she was somewhat far away, so he couldn’t see that side of her neck…
“You deliberately spoke to me at the gate of the Duke of England’s Residence. Wasn’t that openly putting a green hat on him? He was already upset that I sent you to his residence,” Xie Yushu snapped, glaring at him.
“How could he let me off easily after entering the residence?”
So Pei Shilin pinched her neck after he entered the residence?
Song Jie’s heart tightened.
“Are you satisfied now?”
She crossed her arms, annoyed, and snatched the two-thousand-taels silver note back.
Song Jie grabbed it back, surprised, and asked, “Pei Shilin dared to pinch your neck? I heard you sent someone to break his arm tonight.”
Xie Yushu looked up at him, blinking, then stood up and said, “Of course I got so angry because he hurt me first. If he hadn’t dared to fight me, how would I have dared to hurt my own husband?”
She yanked the silver note away forcefully.
Song Jie looked at her completely unconcerned expression and wanted to laugh.
“Oh? I didn’t know you truly admired Pei Shilin?”
“Of course,” she replied, ignoring his question, and handed the silver note to Jin Ye for safekeeping.
“Since Prime Minister Song is fine now, I’ll be going. My husband is seriously injured, still waiting for me at the residence.”
Song Jie pulled out another ten-thousand-taels gold Jin Chao and waved it under her eyes.