Chapter 74 : I Believe His Lies

Wen Jun came to the door of Xiaohanju and knocked politely.

The servant who opened the door saw him again and replied with a sour expression, “Young Marquis, please wait a moment.”

Zuo Yin looked ready to break the door down, but Wen Jun raised a hand to signal for patience.

Not long after, the door opened.

It was Song Ying who came out personally.

Wen Jun greeted her with a bright smile. “Song Ying.”

Song Ying frowned. “What’s the matter, Young Marquis?”

Wen Jun pursed his lips in grievance. “Why don’t you invite me in to sit down?”

Ignoring his words, Song Ying said, “Young Marquis, are you here to compensate me for my door? My mother found that door before she passed away. Every blade of grass, every brick and tile in this little Hanju was built through her painstaking effort…”

As Wen Jun listened to her boast about the hardships her mother endured to build the house, the gloom in his heart inexplicably lifted, and his smile grew even brighter.

“Alright, alright, it’s my fault. I’ll compensate you. How much do you want?”

Song Ying looked at him like he was crazy. “A thousand taels of gold?”

Wen Jun was in a good mood and began bantering with her. “That’s cheap. How about ten thousand taels of gold?”

Song Ying replied, “Sure, give it to me now.”

Wen Jun was about to flick her forehead with his finger, but Song Ying dodged.

“Greedy.”

Song Ying said, “You’re the one who said it, Young Marquis.”

Wen Jun sighed. “Seems I’ll have to sell myself to make it up to you.”

Song Ying looked him up and down. “You’re not worth that much.”

Wen Jun clutched his chest and said, “Song Ying, saying that breaks my heart. And when I’m heartbroken, I want to do something to upset you.”

Song Ying, ever sharp and perceptive, said, “You’re very valuable. Even a strand of your hair is worth a hundred taels of gold.”

Without hesitation, Wen Jun pulled out a few strands of hair and offered them to her. “Here, for you.”

Song Ying frowned in disgust and stepped back, letting the hair fall to the ground.

A breeze swept by, and the hair vanished without a trace.

Wen Jun sighed dramatically. “Song Ying, you’re so fickle.”

The door remained slightly ajar as Song Ying looked at Wen Jun with a pair of calm eyes. “I have other things to do. Please go back now, Young Marquis.”

Wen Jun stared into those eyes. They appeared innocent and harmless, but he knew once he turned his back, they could turn ruthless and merciless.

Suddenly losing the mood for jest, Wen Jun said calmly, “I’ll take you to see Yue Shaozhi.”

Bang.

The door slammed shut in his face.

Wen Jun knocked on the door again, amused. He knew Song Ying was standing right behind it.

“I only realized when I got here, you definitely weren’t waiting for me that night. If it wasn’t me, it must’ve been him.”

“I’ll take you to see him. Don’t worry, I’ll take you there then leave. I won’t eavesdrop, I won’t peek, I won’t tell anyone.”

Seeing no response, Wen Jun added, “If you don’t come with me, I’ll chop down this door. Didn’t you just say this door is made of rare wood? That it took your mother half a year to find? What do you think I’ll do with this axe…?”

The door slowly opened.

Song Ying glared at him in warning. “Not today.”

“Why?”

With a completely straight face, Song Ying said, “I have my period and feel uncomfortable.”

Even with Wen Jun’s thick skin and usual eccentricity, he was momentarily at a loss for words after hearing that.

Song Ying then looked at the axe in Zou Yin’s hand and asked, “Were you really going to chop it?”

Wen Jun smiled. “I was just teasing you. Put away the axes, don’t scare Song Ying.”

Then he said to Song Ying, “Alright, I’ll come pick you up in a few days to see him.”

Song Ying: “You really won’t tell anyone?”

Wen Jun: “I swear, if I do, may my father die a terrible death.”

Song Ying: “What about you?”

Wen Jun raised his right hand and solemnly said, “If I lie to you, you can kill me yourself. Is that enough?”

Song Ying: “I think it would be best if I killed you right now.”

Wen Jun: “Haha, naughty girl. I’ll come pick you up in a few days.”

Song Ying: “Wait.”

Wen Jun: “You want to go now?”

Song Ying: “Since I’ve already agreed, then please have your Left and Right Yin retreat and stop keeping watch near my house.”

She knew he had people arranged to monitor her, and he also knew she had been putting on an act these past few days.

Wen Jun: “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

After confirming that Wen Jun had left with the Zuo Yin and Yuo Yin, Faer ran back in relief.

Faer: “Miss, do you really plan to let the young marquis take you to see the prince regent? Will he really do it?”

Song Ying: “I believe his lies.”

She handed Faer a new set of men’s clothes.

Song Ying: “I’ll have all the servants leave the residence with you through the back gate. Act according to the situation and go find your palace maid. Second, contact your sisters and brothers spread the word that Master Yu has reached out to me. I want Yue Shaozhi to come find me on his own.”

Faer: “Understood!”

—

Meanwhile, Wen Jun was in high spirits after hearing his subordinates’ reports.

Wen Jun: “See? I knew that woman couldn’t stay still.”

Zuo Yin: “Miss Song sent all the servants out, but they were only out buying random things. Is there something wrong with what they bought?”

Wen Jun poured himself a cup of tea, his stern expression reflected in the clear liquid.

Wen Jun: “You don’t understand her. She loves to keep up appearances.”

You Yin: “Then… should we send people to follow each one of them?”

Wen Jun looked into his tea, where his own reflection overlapped with a pair of innocent-looking eyes in his memory.

After draining the cup, he said, “Forget it. I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll let her off.”

“Let’s go pay the prince a visit and see the princess too.”

Zuo Yin: “Visit the princess? Are you going to tell her? But didn’t you just swear an oath to Miss Song?”

Wen Jun: “Who do you think I am? If Song Ying actually believed what I said, she wouldn’t be Song Ying.”

—

Yue Shaozhi had just coaxed Song Ruoer into drinking her medicine when he received a summons from the palace. But as he was about to leave, Song Ruoer tugged on his sleeve.

Song Ruoer: “Husband, don’t go. Stay with me.”

Song Ruoer was beautiful, with misty, tearful eyes that stirred compassion in others.

Yue Shaozhi sighed. “I’ll be back soon.”

Song Ruoer also knew she shouldn’t hold him back but she couldn’t shake the anxiety in her heart.

She was afraid… so afraid of losing the child. Though she tried not to dwell on it, that lingering fear was not easily erased.

A servant came to report, “Your Highness, Young Master Wen is here.”

Yue Shaozhi said to Song Ruoer, “I’ll be right back.”

Song Ruoer: “Shaozhi…”

She watched him walk away without looking back, and lowered her eyes, softly sobbing.

Yunchun comforted her, “Princess, the prince has important matters to attend to. He’ll return once he’s finished.”

Song Ruoer wiped her tears. “I know… I just can’t help crying.”

Yunchun helped her cover the bowl.

Yunchun: “It’s getting cold, Princess. You must take care of yourself. Don’t let the young master get chilled.”

Song Ruoer looked down at her slightly rounded belly.

“…Mm.”

—

Yue Shaozhi first brought Wen Jun into the palace.

At that moment, the young emperor was in a foul mood, with officials kneeling all across the hall.

But when he saw Yue Shaozhi enter, his arrogance vanished. He obediently returned to his throne and spoke seriously.

Little Emperor: “Uncle, please let Auntie—no, Sister Ying come see me. I miss her.”