She stumbled into a thin embrace and looked up to see Xiao Zhen’s face, a half-smile playing on his lips.
Under the dim light, the right side of Xiao Zhen’s fair face bore a bright, clear red palm mark.
Looking closer, it was a rash, matching the red patches on his Adam’s apple and chest—a strangely beautiful bruising.
This special constitution seemed perfectly suited to be abused.
“The Fourth Prince actually breaks out in hives from my slaps,” Xie Yushu said, running the back of her finger over his swollen cheek.
Xiao Zhen seized her hand, twisting it behind her back.
Seeing her wince in pain, the fire in his heart eased slightly.
“Where’s the Jade Hairpin?”
He wanted to retrieve the hairpin first and then properly discipline Xie Yushu.
Her brow didn’t soften as she looked at him.
“If the Fourth Prince acts like this, I might go back on my word.”
Xiao Zhen was too surprised.
“Xie Yushu, how can you say you’ll go back on your word so openly?”
“The Fourth Prince dares to repay kindness with ingratitude; why shouldn’t I?”
Xie Yushu retorted sarcastically.
“Repay kindness with ingratitude?”
Xiao Zhen laughed.
“What kindness do you think I ever showed you?”
“If it weren’t for me covering for you and keeping your secret in the side hall, you’d have been caught by Song Jie. How else would you have the chance to argue with me here?”
Xie Yushu said, raising her eyes to meet his.
Her eyes shone remarkably in the dim carriage, sparkling like gems.
Xiao Zhen smelled her fragrance again, hard to identify—some floral notes mixed with agarwood.
The conflicting scents were like a solemn temple invaded by enchanting, mischievous spirits.
He noticed she was still wearing the thin gauze from the day, her arm pressed against his, her delicate collarbone and skin as white as snow.
On her neck was a faint red mark.
Was it from him pinching her in the side hall?
So she had only a sharp tongue but not a soft one.
“You can turn black into white with your words. If not for Madam Pei, why would I need you to cover for me?” he said, loosening his grip.
She pulled back her arm, her intoxicating scent fading as she slipped out of his embrace.
Xiao Zhen suddenly felt the emptiness.
She shook her hand by his knee and took a Jade Hairpin from her waist pouch, handing it to him.
It was his Bao Xiang Lotus Jade Hairpin.
She really had kept her word.
Xiao Zhen looked at her in surprise and reached out to take it.
She retracted it and beckoned to him, “Come here, let me put it in for you.”
Xiao Zhen was truly bewildered by her.
Despite being so licentious, frivolous, and shrewdly worldly, she smiled charmingly and beckoned him, making him want to lean closer to see what trick she had up her sleeve.
He couldn’t help but lean in, his head approaching hers.
She reached out and pinned the hairpin into his slightly open collar.
The cold jade hairpin pressed against his ticklish skin.
He immediately pulled back, and the hairpin slipped down inside his clothes, resting against his abdomen.
“So sensitive,” she teased with a smile.
Hearing her soft laughter, Xiao Zhen glared at her in irritation.
She deliberately tilted her head, giving a mischievous look.
“Xie Yushu!”
He was teased again.
He lunged forward to grab her neck.
Suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves came from outside.
“Shh.”
Xie Yushu raised her hand to cover his mouth.
His hand fell on her shoulder as he lost balance and pressed her onto the blanket.
She frowned but didn’t release his mouth.
Her warm scent wafted from her palm to his nose, surprisingly hot.
The horses stopped outside the Pei Mansion’s back gate, and Cang Shu’s voice came through: “Prime Minister requests Madam Pei to come to the mansion.”
Song Jie?
Xiao Zhen looked at Xie Yushu in surprise.
Song Jie was actually here to pick her up again?
What was their relationship?
Did Song Jie really dare to openly send Cang Shu to the Pei Mansion to get her?
Xie Yushu hadn’t expected Cang Shu to arrive so promptly.
If Song Jie found her in Xiao Zhen’s carriage, would she still be able to exploit Song Jie’s resources?
Luckily, the two servants at the back gate were under her influence and, although not very smart, didn’t expose her immediately.
“Our Madam is not in the mansion,” a servant answered nervously.
“Not in the mansion?”
Cang Shu asked, “At this hour, where would Madam Pei be if not in the mansion?”
The servant stammered, “I-I don’t know.”
Then Xie Yushu heard a familiar cough.
After that, they heard Song Jie’s muffled voice outside the gate, “Cang Shu, don’t waste time arguing with them. Go ask Pei Shilin where his wife went this late.”
Xie Yushu and Xiao Zhen exchanged looks.
Xie Yushu knew what Xiao Zhen’s surprised and mocking expression meant: he was amazed Song Jie would personally come for her and dare to boldly ask her husband about her whereabouts.
Honestly, she was a bit surprised too.
Was it because her 12-point Heartthrob Value was active, or had Song Jie predicted she would probably refuse him tonight and turn to Xiao Zhen’s camp?
So Song Jie came to block her.
“Host, you have gained 1 Heartthrob Value point,” the system whispered mischievously, “from male lead Xiao Zhen.”
Hah, men really are sick—what they can’t get is what they find most attractive.
Xie Yushu looked at Xiao Zhen.
He suddenly moved his lips inside her palm and almost whispered, “Are you nervous?”
His warm breath and cool lips pressed against her palm.
She frowned and withdrew her hand, wiping her palm on his shoulder’s robe with disdain.
Her hand was grabbed again by Xiao Zhen, who almost pressed his whole body down on her, eyes gleaming with the joy of finally teasing her.
His lips mouthed silently: Are you also afraid Song Jie will find us in my carriage?
Xie Yushu twitched at being held but didn’t pull away.
She immediately slapped him with the other hand.
He was stunned by the slap but then grabbed her other hand.
He expected her to struggle more so he could suppress her.
If she dared to shout, he would find other ways to silence her.
Get up.
How humiliating.
But outside came Song Jie’s hurried cough.
Xie Yushu stopped struggling and looked toward the carriage curtain, seemingly listening to Song Jie’s cough, her brows lightly furrowing.
Xiao Zhen felt a sudden blockage in his chest.
Did she care so much about Song Jie?
Could they really have some kind of consensual “affair” relationship?
Why did Song Jie always have the upper hand, even over Xie Yushu, right under his nose in the carriage?
“Wow, Host.”
The system suddenly appeared again with surprise.
“You gained 1 green hat value point from Xiao Zhen.”
Huh?
Xie Yushu was genuinely surprised.
Song Jie was one thing, but what kind of position did Xiao Zhen have to compete for this ‘green hat’?
Did he have a cuckold fetish?
She had no mood to keep teasing Xiao Zhen.
She heard Cang Shu entering the Pei Mansion and Xiao Dao’s voice.
She feared a fight would break out, but fortunately, Cang Shu quickly came back out and reported to Song Jie: “Prime Minister, Madam Pei is indeed not in the mansion. It seems she had a quarrel with Pei Shilin and left.”
“A quarrel? Did Pei Shilin try to discipline her?” Song Jie asked.
Cang Shu hesitated. “It seems so…Madam Pei ordered her people to break Pei Shilin’s arm.”
Song Jie laughed.
Xiao Zhen in the carriage was also surprised to see Xie Yushu dare to break her husband’s arm.
Then he thought, if she dares to strike me, the Fourth Prince, how could she not dare to act against a mere Pei Shilin?
Xie Yushu heard Song Jie cough and casually comment, “She really takes no losses.”
“Did you ask the Pei family where she went?”
Song Jie asked.
“Pei Shilin is unconscious now. The Pei Mansion is in chaos,” Cang Shu replied.
“I asked the Pei Eldest Lady. She was crying and said a man came to the gate saying he wanted to return money to Madam Pei, and then Madam Pei left.”
“Returning money? A man?”
Song Jie paused in confusion and ordered, “Send someone to the palace to check if Xiao Zhen has returned.”
Then he broke into a severe cough.
Cang Shu quickly said, “Prime Minister, please return to the mansion first. I will definitely find Madam Pei tonight.”
Song Jie coughed as if he could barely speak.
The sound of hooves came again.
Xiao Zhen held his breath, not daring to move.
Xie Yushu listened to the hooves pass and pushed Xiao Zhen away with one knee.
Sitting up, she lifted the carriage curtain to look outside.
She saw Xiao Zhen’s attendant clutching Jin Ye as she dropped down from a rooftop—they had been hiding in a nearby courtyard.
Jin Ye’s face was pale with fright as she rushed to the carriage to check on her.
“I’m fine,” Xie Yushu reassured Jin Ye, then looked back at Xiao Zhen.
“The Fourth Prince must be more nervous than I am right now.”
Xiao Zhen had lost all desire to argue with her.
Song Jie’s men would soon discover he didn’t return to the palace tonight.
Song Jie already suspected he was with Xie Yushu, and if they found out he wasn’t in the palace, they would suspect even more and likely connect all the events from the Duke of England’s Residence today.
He also feared Xie Yushu would betray him.
Xiao Zhen looked at Xie Yushu, his gaze devoid of any humor—cold and venomous like a snake.
Xie Yushu felt his murderous intent.
He was a snake who would surely bite the hand that fed him, though she wasn’t exactly his benefactor either.
“You want to kill me and also my trusted people and servants who all know I came out to see you,” Xie Yushu said with a smile.
“You heard it, Song Jie won’t give up until he sees me tonight.”
She reached out to Xiao Zhen again.
“Five thousand taels of silver to cover for you one more time and keep the secret again.”
Xiao Zhen frowned in shock and curiously asked with a hint of laughter, “Xie Yushu, are you really that short of money?”
“Who isn’t short of money in this world?” she thought bitterly.
Since she couldn’t be the emperor, she had to rake in the riches, become a billionaire.
A rich woman returning to the modern world—her time travel wouldn’t be in vain.
Xiao Zhen didn’t lack five thousand silver taels.
He was simply intrigued by Xie Yushu and curious about her.
“Fine.”
He reached out and grabbed her wrist, pressing it down.
Leaning in, he looked carefully into her eyes.
“I’m really curious—what’s your relationship with Song Jie? Why does he get so anxious when he can’t see you at night?”
Xie Yushu smiled and stretched her other hand under his gaze.
“Twenty thousand taels of gold. I’ll tell you the secret between me and Prime Minister Song.”
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