Chapter 13: You Don’t Have Any Leverage Over Him, Right?

“Tsk~ The King of She Prefecture is still so ruthless,” He Lan clicked his tongue lightly, shaking his head with admiration.

Then he glanced at Shen Yanli beside him, who had already finished a whole jar of wine and looked rather breathless.
“I’m telling you, Shen Yanli, it’s just a woman who ran away. Is it really necessary to be so desperate?”

Since entering the room, this guy had been sitting here drinking and now looked totally bewitched by a woman.

“You don’t understand,” Shen Yanli narrowed his eyes, anger rising at the memory of that heartless woman.

“Hmph, I don’t understand? You can’t even keep a woman. Only after she leaves do you regret it,” He Lan sneered. Although he wasn’t sure exactly what happened, he could guess a bit.

After all, Shen Yanli had some fame in the Jianghu world. His story of spending a fortune in Yangzhou to redeem a beauty was well known.

“He Lan, are you asking for a beating?” Shen Yanli put down his wine jug and casually flicked a grape from the plate.

The grape flew toward He Lan’s hand; he caught it and raised an eyebrow as he popped it into his mouth.
“So, are you annoyed because I hit a nerve?”

Pei Ji watched the two men joking and playing around, quietly leaning to one side, eyes lowered, lost in thought.

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General’s Mansion

As soon as Jiang Huaiyue arrived, a servant led her into the courtyard. This was her first time visiting the General’s mansion; last time had been too rushed to look around.

Though the mansion was not as grand as the King of She Prefecture’s, it looked quite comfortable.

Artificial hills and pavilions were arranged neatly, lush pine trees stretched over the walls, and faint pine fragrance drifted in the air, enchanting anyone’s heart.

Thinking about it carefully, Wanwan lived alone in such a large house — no mother-in-law to serve, no husband to answer to, with servants attending to her — truly a life of luxury.

Jiang Huaiyue sighed. Why didn’t she have such luck? Why hadn’t she transmigrated after Pei Ji died, so she could inherit his estate directly?

Lost in such thoughts, she was led into Su Xiangwan’s courtyard.

At the entrance, she saw someone bowing over a stone table, painting and drawing. She quickened her pace and called out,
“Wanwan, what are you doing?”

Su Xiangwan looked up at the sound:
“You’re here! Come quickly, look at the designs I drew.”

Jiang Huaiyue lowered her eyes and saw sheets of paper covered with various styles of dresses—each one beautiful and eye-catching.

She picked one up in surprise:
“You’re going to sell clothes?”

“Yeah, I found a shop, starting with a trial run. What do you think?” Su Xiangwan’s gentle face responded softly.

Jiang Huaiyue sat on a stone stool and carefully flipped through the drawings one by one:
“Honestly, besides everything else, your designs are gorgeous. They make people want to wear them right away.”

Even a modern person like her found it hard to resist these styles, not to mention women from this ancient time.

“Wanwan, suddenly I realize being an intangible cultural heritage blogger is really useful. Now that I’ve transmigrated, it perfectly fits my skills. I can do everything.”

Su Xiangwan smiled lightly:
“It’s all knowledge from the ancients. Besides, you’re not bad either.”

They had both graduated from university, just with different majors—Su Xiangwan studied fine arts, Jiang Huaiyue music.

“I only know how to play musical instruments. In this era, a woman relying on that won’t have much future,” Jiang Huaiyue said with some frustration.

“Paths are made by walking. When we leave here safely, you can do whatever you want,” Su Xiangwan put down the brush after the last stroke, gently blowing on the wet ink.

Jiang Huaiyue rested her chin on her hand and tilted her head, saying, “So, what can I do to help you?”

She couldn’t just do nothing and wait around to be fed.

“For now, I don’t need your help. How are you handling your affairs?” Su Yanwan asked softly, worry evident in her eyes.

She was alone in the Prince’s mansion, facing Pei Ji, unable to do much except wait.

But waiting was the most powerless thing in the world.

“What else could I do? It’s just as it is. Yesterday night I entered the palace and met Jiang Jingchen,” Jiang Huaiyue said, pouting.

Su Yanwan put away her drawings and furrowed her brows slightly. “How did it go? Did anything happen?”

“Jiang Jingchen wanted me to stay overnight in the palace. You don’t even have to guess what he’s plotting. I was afraid Pei Ji would suspect me more, so I refused Jiang Jingchen right in front of him.”

Thinking back, Jiang Huaiyue had to admire her own courage — to lie so calmly in such a situation.

Looks like her acting skills were really improving.

For some reason, Su Yanwan felt uneasy. “Doesn’t that mean you’ve completely torn things with Jiang Jingchen? Do you have any weaknesses that might be held against you?”

In the original script, Jiang Huaiyue was willing to obey Jiang Jingchen because she liked him. But now, since the current Yueya doesn’t like him, she naturally wouldn’t do anything for him.

Still, it was hard to be sure Jiang Jingchen hadn’t left some backup plan. After all, stories and dramas always go that way.

Hearing this, Jiang Huaiyue couldn’t help but suspect too, racking her brain for a long while.

The original’s memories didn’t include any scenes of Jiang Jingchen threatening or coercing her.

“Probably not,” she said uncertainly, her gaze drifting.

Su Yanwan was silent for a moment, then gently patted her hand to comfort her. “Forget it, maybe I’m just worrying for nothing. Jiang Jingchen is the male lead after all; he probably wouldn’t do anything despicable. I’m just overthinking.”

“There’s always a way forward,” Jiang Huaiyue said, “I’m hungry — is there any food?”

She looked at Su Yanwan with big eyes like a little begging kitten.

Su Yanwan laughed at her. “What, is Pei Ji such a stingy lord that he won’t even feed you?”

Saying that, she turned to order Ning Xiang to prepare the meal in the kitchen.

“Don’t even mention it. When you live under someone’s roof, you have to keep your head down. Even eating requires watching their mood,” Jiang Huaiyue recalled the only time she had sat at the same table with Pei Ji, which almost made her suffocate.

At the table, no sound was allowed. But the silver chopsticks made unavoidable noise, and Pei Ji was as picky as a little bird’s stomach, treating her like a pig.

Su Yanwan’s eyes flashed with sympathy. “I told Ning Xiang to prepare the food. Eat more later. Once this shop opens, we’ll open a restaurant.”

“Mmm~ My dear bestie, it has to be you,” Jiang Huaiyue said, moved, holding Su Yanwan’s hand, not knowing what else to say.

Su Yanwan, a bit overwhelmed by her clingy behavior, pulled her hand back. “Alright, sit quietly and wait for the food.”

“Okay,” Jiang Huaiyue obediently sat down. “By the way, where’s the shop you picked?”