Chapter 52: As Long as I Apologize to Her, She Will Forgive Me

Who with?

With Grand Tutor Pei?

Jiang Shiyuan with Pei Che?

Zhou Jingshen stood frozen, mouth agape, eyes wide open, unable to make a sound for a long while.

Jiang Shiyuan wasn’t joking, was she?

He stared at Jiang Shiyuan, his suspicion growing. His gaze suddenly caught the sachet at her waist. Though the design was a little different, the embroidered cornel branch on it was unmistakable.

A flash of realization struck Zhou Jingshen like a bolt of lightning.

So, that day at Tianxiang Pavilion, he hadn’t mistaken it— the person going upstairs was Jiang Shiyuan.

The ‘wife of the Grand Tutor’ dining with Pei Che upstairs that day was Jiang Shiyuan!

Zhou Jingshen’s mouth opened wider, his mind spinning in shock.

Jiang Shiyuan had already walked away, but he was still rooted to the spot.

How could Jiang Shiyuan be with Grand Tutor Pei? They had never interacted before.

No, but Jiang Shiyuan was going to marry Grand Tutor Pei. What about Shen Luchu?

Shen Luchu was still burning the midnight oil, deeply focused on his studies, thinking about marrying Jiang Shiyuan after the imperial exams.

Thinking of this, Zhou Jingshen quickly turned to look for Shen Luchu.

Shen Luchu was still standing outside the main door, wearing a black cloak. Princess Wenhe had already left.

Zhou Jingshen let out a sigh of relief. Just now, he had thought that Princess Wenhe would go inside and join the banquet.

“Luchu! Jiang Shiyuan…”

Zhou Jingshen opened his mouth, but as soon as he met Shen Luchu’s gaze, he froze. The words were stuck in his throat, unable to escape.

The Shen Luchu before him looked haggard, his eyes dim and lifeless, like a lonely night with no trace of light.

The two had known each other since childhood, and Zhou Jingshen had always seen Shen Luchu full of spirit, full of vigor.

He had never seen him look so defeated and despondent.

Was it because of Jiang Shiyuan?

Zhou Jingshen’s headache returned. He really wanted to slap himself!

Why was he so curious? Why was his curiosity so strong?

It would have been better if he didn’t know!

“What happened to Jiang Shiyuan?” Shen Luchu snapped out of his thoughts and looked up to ask.

Zhou Jingshen looked at him, his mind torn. Should he speak or remain silent?

Suddenly, the cold, sinister face of Princess Wenhe flashed through his mind.

“Jingshen, Luchu is different from you. Don’t seek him out for anything other than studying from now on, okay? If he goes astray, Aunt Wenhe will be angry.”

When they were young, Princess Wenhe had pulled him aside and warned him in a whisper, and those words echoed in his ears now.

Zhou Jingshen swallowed hard, his eyes darting around, and muttered, “It’s nothing. I was just wondering if Jiang Shiyuan is really getting married.”

“To Pei Ziye? Impossible.” Shen Luchu denied it without hesitation.

Zhou Jingshen nearly went crazy. Was Su Liluo doing this on purpose? Deliberately confusing the truth and spreading false rumors?

Pei Ziye was impossible, but Grand Tutor Pei was quite possible.

If he were a woman, between Grand Tutor Pei and Shen Luchu, he would have chosen Grand Tutor Pei without hesitation.

But he couldn’t say that, and he certainly couldn’t let the news about Jiang Shiyuan marrying Grand Tutor Pei slip from his mouth.

Because he wasn’t sure how Shen Luchu would react. Recently, Shen Luchu had been acting erratically, and if he made a mistake, he couldn’t bear the wrath of Princess Wenhe.

Princess Wenhe had always been prone to shifting the blame. All his childhood playmates had distanced themselves from him because of her.

The more he thought about it, the more his head hurt. He had said he wouldn’t get involved, so why was he even caring about this mess?

He regretted it—why had he come to this banquet? He wished he didn’t know anything.

After much hesitation, Zhou Jingshen finally said, “Jiang Shiyuan is inside. If you have any questions, why not ask her directly?”

After all, she was right there. If Shen Luchu wanted to know, he could just ask.

“Mm.”

This time, Shen Luchu didn’t say anything else and simply nodded in agreement.

He really did have something to ask.

He wanted to ask if there was still a chance for him.

He regretted it a bit.

“Then let’s go. Let’s hurry inside.”

Zhou Jingshen urged, pulling Shen Luchu into the grand hall of the banquet. From afar, they saw Jiang Shiyuan sitting quietly.

Shen Luchu also saw her and was about to walk up—

“The night is beautiful. Thanks to all the talented scholars and graceful ladies who have come to the banquet, join this prince in admiring this rare and precious jade.”

Prince Xie Jinghuai walked in, holding a jade bi in a symbolic gesture, and stood beside Shen Luchu.

“Oh? Young Master Shen is here too? How rare. Then you’ll have to drink a few more cups later,” Xie Jinghuai said teasingly, his gaze lingering on Shen Luchu, clearly still irritated by his rejection that day.

The entire hall stood and paid their respects. Shen Luchu had no choice but to look away from Jiang Shiyuan and turn to pay his respects to Xie Jinghuai.

Once the banquet was over, he would find Jiang Shiyuan.

He had made up his mind—he would apologize to her in person.

If he apologized, she would surely forgive him.

She had always been so soft-hearted.

Perhaps it was because he had finally made a decision, Shen Luchu felt his heart relax, and a glimmer of hope returned to his eyes.

He could apologize, whether it was for the things he said on the ninth day of the ninth month or the lies in the other manor—he could apologize.

They would return to the way they were before.

While bowing to Prince Xie, Shen Luchu thought about it.

Xie Jinghuai, seeing Shen Luchu bowing, patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction and whispered, “I’ll show you a good show later.”

Shen Luchu’s heart tightened. He looked up at Xie Jinghuai, only to see a sinister smile on his face.

“Let’s take our seats. This prince can’t wait to start the banquet,” Xie Jinghuai announced loudly, stepping up to the top seat.

The men sat to the left and the women to the right, with seats arranged according to their rank.

On the lower sides, to the left of Xie Jinghuai, sat the Ninth Princess, Xie Ruoruo, and to the right sat General Lu’s son, Lu Yuansi, Xie Jinghuai’s cousin.

Others sat according to their rank. Whether intentional or a coincidence, Jiang Shiyuan and Su Liluo were seated together, though at different tables, separated only by a small aisle.

Su Liluo was particularly quiet today.

Pei Ziye had glanced at her several times.

“Miss Yang, you should eat less. Look at how fat you’ve become. While men like women with a bit of flesh, they don’t want someone as bulky as you.”

Just as Miss Yang had picked up a pastry and was about to eat it, Xie Jinghuai’s mocking words came unexpectedly.

The hall fell silent. Miss Yang’s face turned pale and red. She bit her lip tightly, placing the pastry back down.

Jiang Shiyuan looked over. Miss Yang’s round face was just a little fuller than others.

“What’s wrong? Are you going to cry now? This prince was just joking. Eat, eat! Someone, bring ten more plates of pastries for Miss Yang, so she doesn’t cry and go home to complain that she didn’t eat enough. Your old father, the censor, might report me to the emperor,” Xie Jinghuai laughed loudly.

His words were followed by a chorus of laughter.

Miss Yang lowered her head, gritting her teeth, holding back the tears.

Jiang Shiyuan furrowed her brows. Xie Jinghuai was truly unrepentant. Back in the palace, from Princess Xie Ruoruo to the maids, no one was spared from his nasty tongue.

“Why is no one speaking? Ah, this prince was wrong, it’s my fault for speaking too quickly. I’ll drink a cup as punishment,” Xie Jinghuai raised his cup with a smile.

Although he said it was self-punishment, no one dared let him drink alone. They all raised their cups, offering compliments, even making Miss Yang, who had “misbehaved,” join in for a toast.

Miss Yang had no choice but to pick up the cup with trembling hands, her eyes red.

Everyone drank, and the mood was lively, but no one seemed to notice that Jiang Shiyuan had not touched her drink.

“Miss Jiang, why aren’t you drinking?” Xie Jinghuai turned his gaze towards her, challenging.

“She can’t drink, Fifth Prince.”

Almost simultaneously, Shen Luchu and Pei Ziye stood up and spoke in unison.