Chapter 62: Madam, Your Acting Needs Work

“It’s getting late. I’ll take my leave now and come visit the Princess another day.”

Su Xiangwan gave a graceful curtsy, then turned her gaze to Xiao Qingrong, who was sitting off to the side. “Husband, would you like to return with me?”

Xiao Qingrong examined her for a moment, then stood up. “It seems His Highness still has matters to attend to. We’ll be leaving first.”

He could tell that with all this commotion, Pei Ji’s mind was no longer focused here. There was no point in staying — better to leave.

Besides, he found himself growing more curious about Su Xiangwan.

“Let’s go.”

Su Xiangwan smiled faintly and nodded. The two of them left together, walking side by side.

Shen Yanli, having listened to everything just now, felt he had learned a great deal. “I’ll take my leave as well.”

He needed to find A Shang and win her heart sincerely.

After everyone had left, He Lan stood up gracefully and brushed off his robes. “Everyone’s gone, even that little girl left.”

“Do you think the prince will regret it?” he asked absently.

He Lan looked at him in disbelief and silently raised a brow. “Pei Ji, that’s something you should ask your own heart. If you’re really afraid of regretting it, then treat her better. As the saying goes, ‘Leave a line of kindness in all things — you never know when you’ll meet again.’”

“Stop with that bad habit of yours — always wanting to strangle or kill someone at the drop of a hat. No woman is going to like that.”

Pei Ji met his teasing gaze, his thin lips parting slightly. “Get lost.”

“Fine, I’m going.” He Lan muttered, and on his way out, he even took the plate of grapes he had just been eating.

---

Su Xiangwan left the prince’s residence with Xiao Qingrong, and thanks to him, she didn’t have to walk home.

As the carriage rolled along slowly, she looked at the man sitting upright across from her, unable to suppress her curiosity about his relationship with Pei Ji.

Sensing her gaze, Xiao Qingrong spoke slowly, “If you have something to say, just say it.”

“Husband, how did you come to know the prince?” she asked carefully.

Hearing her call him husband, Xiao Qingrong paused for a moment before replying, “You care about him that much?”

“You’re reading too much into it, Husband. I’m just curious. After all, from an outsider’s perspective, it seems like you and the prince have no connection.”

In fact, not only did they have no connection, but their relationship appeared to be hostile.

Her maternal family, the Su family, was aligned with Jiang Jingchen’s faction — constantly opposing Pei Ji.

With a family like the Su household as his in-laws, Xiao Qingrong and Pei Ji should’ve been on opposing sides. Yet somehow, the two men seemed to share a deep bond.

And Xiao Qingrong had even faked his death to help Pei Ji.

---

“If you wanted to run away, why do you still call me husband?” Xiao Qingrong poured himself a cup of tea, his voice gentle.

Su Xiangwan looked at him, hearing him bring this up again.

She thought to herself: this man really has a knack for saying the most awkward things.

“I’ve already explained it to you — I didn’t intend to run away. Besides, you are my husband. What’s wrong with calling you that?”

Xiao Qingrong took a sip of tea. “Regardless of the reason, I wrote a divorce letter after we got back. You can leave once it’s done.”

This marriage had never been what he wanted. He had married her purely as a matter of expedience.

If she truly wanted to leave, he would let her go.

When he mentioned the divorce, Su Xiangwan’s heart skipped a beat.

Right now, she still hadn’t found a way to help Yueya. Her current identity as a general’s wife was still useful. If they divorced, she’d have no place to return to — the Su family wouldn’t take her back.

And if Pei Ji ascended the throne and took Yueya into the palace, without any status or identity, how could she follow her in?

Thinking this through, Su Xiangwan pinched herself hard on the thigh. Pain surged through her, and her eyes welled up with tears.

“Husband, are you really going to abandon me? I can’t go back to the Su family no matter what. If we divorce… I really don’t know what to do.”

Xiao Qingrong held his teacup, staring at her tear-filled eyes and delicate, vulnerable expression.

And wouldn’t you know it — he had just seen her pinch herself. How amusing.

He let out a knowing chuckle without exposing her:
“So, according to Madam, what should I do?”

Su Xiangwan bit her lip.
“Husband, don’t drive me away, alright? I’ve already married you. If you no longer want me, how am I supposed to live from now on?”

She lifted her gaze to meet his eyes, speaking with heartfelt sincerity.

Xiao Qingrong leaned in slightly, and suddenly the distance between them closed sharply.

Su Xiangwan’s eyelashes trembled, and she couldn’t help but think—Is he going to kiss me? Just like that? So sudden?

“Madam, your acting is lacking,” he said, his eyes calm, his tone tinged with amusement.

Compared to her bold and righteous remarks at the Prince Regent’s residence earlier, this performance now was truly unwatchable.

Su Xiangwan hadn’t expected him to be so sharp—seeing through her in an instant. Was her acting really that bad?

“I don’t know what you mean, Husband,” she said, eyes lowered, continuing the act.

“Heh—” Xiao Qingrong let out a short laugh, pulled back, and sat down again.

Su Xiangwan stayed silent, suddenly understanding a little of what Yueya must’ve gone through. These ancient men really are difficult to deal with.

---

In the study.

Pei Ji sat on a chair, flipping through a scroll in his hands, his features cold and severe.

“Did she say anything?”

Mo Ying: “…………”

Ever since that day, the prince had locked the princess in a dark prison, and even went so far as to have interrogations take place near her cell—clearly a deliberate tactic.

They’d assumed a pampered young lady like her would be terrified and beg to see the prince.

But to their surprise, she had been eating, drinking, and living her days quite contentedly.

“Nothing.”

Pei Ji’s eyes grew even colder. He threw down the scroll in his hand.
“Clean her up and bring her to me.”

So she’s got backbone. It’s been several days, and still not a single plea for mercy.

---

In the dungeon, Jiang Huaiyue sat curled in a corner, hugging her knees, her gaze calm as she watched rats and cockroaches scurry about the floor.

She silently thought—This place really does feel like that poem Xiao Yanzi wrote:

Enter a room, surrounded by walls.
Look up—see rats.
Look down—cockroaches crawl.

She sighed. Is Pei Ji really going to keep me locked in a place like this forever?

I wonder how Qiu Chan is doing. And Wanwan… I hope she’s alright.

The cell door creaked open. Jiang Huaiyue looked up—it was Mo Ying.

“Princess, please.”

Jiang Huaiyue was confused, but who would want to stay in this hellhole? She got up quickly and followed him out.

After leaving the cell, Fuyao and a few maids brought her back to her room, cleaned her up, and then took her to Shuixie Pavilion.

She entered and froze for a moment upon seeing the man seated on the chaise by the window.

It had only been two days since they last met, but the events of that day still played vividly in her mind. In the past, she’d always put on a performance in front of him.

But now, with her mask torn off, she didn’t know how to face him anymore.

Pei Ji heard her enter and looked up.

“Not coming over? Or are you waiting for this prince to invite you?”

Jiang Huaiyue frowned slightly. Hearing the door shut behind her, she hesitated for a moment before walking over.

When she came to stand not far from him and made no further movement, Pei Ji grew displeased.

“It’s been two days. You have nothing to say?”

“What does Your Highness want me to say?”

After all, what she wants has never mattered to him. What difference does it make whether she speaks or not?