Chapter 46: Jiang Shiyuan, I know you’re inside. I saw you.

“Mm…”

Out of nowhere, a hand appeared on her waist and pulled her back, causing Jiang Shiyuan to fall into a broad embrace.

Pei Che’s left hand held her waist, while his right hand reached around the back of her neck. His long, defined fingers slid into her hair, lifting her head.

Jiang Shiyuan was forced to tilt her head back, enduring the overwhelming emotions that came crashing at her.

Their lips met, and their breaths intertwined.

It felt as if time had stopped. Jiang Shiyuan stared with wide eyes, frozen in place, her heart pounding loudly, one beat after another, each thumping like a drum, drowning out the sounds coming from outside the carriage.

“Jiang Shiyuan, I know you’re inside. I saw you.”

Shen Luchu stood outside the carriage, staring intently at the window.

He had just seen a figure coming out of Ruyi Pavilion and getting onto this carriage. That figure resembled Jiang Shiyuan.

Almost instinctively, he followed, certain it was her.

They weren’t wrong. Jiang Shiyuan liked him so much that if he spoke to her properly, she would come back to him.

Besides, even if he gave up, Jiang Shiyuan wouldn’t easily give up either.

She had always been a stubborn person, once she decided on something, no matter the dangers, she wouldn’t back down. Like when she said she wanted to create fragrances and open a perfume shop.

She had spent countless nights surrounded by different spices, nearly losing her sense of smell, but still hadn’t given up.

And that time when the snow blocked the mountains, Jiang Shiyuan crossed the snow to find him, falling off the horse, her legs going numb, but she still managed to reach the other manor to find him.

They had been through so much. How could Jiang Shiyuan easily give up?

So, Shen Luchu thought for a moment. Instead of letting them stay in a deadlock and make both of them unhappy, it would be better to resolve things sooner.

“Jiang Shiyuan, my promise still stands. I will study hard, and after next spring’s examination, I will persuade my mother to marry you, so stop making a scene, okay?”

“As for the matter at the other manor, I can apologize…”

Shen Luchu was interrupted midway as the curtain of the carriage was lifted. Behind it, a handsome and mischievous face appeared.

Shen Luchu froze, staring at that face as if he didn’t recognize it.

How is it Pei Che? Is this Pei Che’s carriage?

Pei Che’s lips curled into a slight smile, his gaze playful, unlike before.

“Master Shen, you’re blocking the way.”

Shen Luchu snapped back to reality, looking around before hesitantly glancing at the window again.

He had definitely seen Jiang Shiyuan’s figure. He wouldn’t have mistaken it.

“Oh? Master Shen is looking for someone?”

Pei Che seemed to notice his confusion and lifted the curtain further.

Shen Luchu could now see clearly that there was indeed someone in Pei Che’s arms.

That person’s figure was delicate, hiding her face in Pei Che’s embrace. Shen Luchu only saw a blood-red ear.

Though she was dressed in men’s clothes, she was undoubtedly a woman.

Last time, Pei Che openly hugged someone, and now this? Pei Che was also into these loose, frivolous displays?

He seemed to enjoy it quite a lot.

This is the so-called noble and upright Pei Che? Hah, laughable.

Shen Luchu was at a loss for words, and after a long pause, he finally regained his composure.

So, he had been mistaken. The person who just got into the carriage was Pei Che’s wife?

Shen Luchu had never doubted his eyesight, but seeing the scene inside the carriage, he felt shaken.

It must be because he hadn’t rested well lately, and it was late at night, causing him to see things wrong.

He found an excuse for himself.

After all, wasn’t that woman who repeatedly embarrassed Pei Taifu in public… Jiang Shiyuan?

Impossible.

Shen Luchu tried to pair Jiang Shiyuan with Pei Che in his mind, but couldn’t even begin to imagine it.

They were from entirely different worlds.

Shen Luchu gave up, taking a step back. “Apologies, I must have mistaken someone.”

Not knowing whether it was his imagination playing tricks on him, Shen Luchu noticed a fleeting look of disinterest and disappointment on Pei Che’s face as he said those words.

Pei Che was indeed no longer interested. He averted his gaze, a cold smile curling on his lips.

“Master Shen, some things won’t disappear just because you fear them. Some people won’t always wait where you think they will, even if you think they won’t leave.”

After speaking, Pei Che dropped the curtain, and the carriage wheels rolled away, disappearing into the night.

Shen Luchu stood rooted to the spot, his face darkened.

This tone of preachiness and mockery again!

Pei Che’s look clearly showed disdain.

A fire of unnamed rage sparked in Shen Luchu’s chest. His desire to surpass Pei Che reached its peak at this moment.

For Jiang Shiyuan’s sake, and for his own, he must win the top position in the spring examination this year.

“Master Shen, my lord has been waiting for you upstairs for a while.”

Shen Luchu was still in a daze when a guard stepped forward to invite him upstairs.

Shen Luchu snapped out of it and followed the guard into Ruyi Pavilion, going up to the innermost private room on the second floor.

“Master Luchu, why did you make me wait so long? Why so late?” The Fifth Prince, Xie Jinghuai, stepped forward with a warm greeting as soon as he saw him.

Shen Luchu gave a faint smile and respectfully greeted him, “Greetings, Fifth Prince.”

Although they were relatives, they were not very familiar due to differing ambitions.

The Fifth Prince’s ambitions were obvious, and had it not been for his status, he would never have agreed to meet with him.

Shen Luchu’s attitude was indifferent, but Xie Jinghuai didn’t mind. He became even more enthusiastic.

Coincidentally, while he had been waiting upstairs, he had seen the “confrontation” between Shen Luchu and Pei Taifu downstairs.

Even if a man didn’t want a woman, it was uncomfortable to see her fall into someone else’s arms.

Especially when Shen Luchu had just seen Pei Taifu and Jiang Shiyuan acting intimately, it was perfectly normal for him to be displeased.

That was the reason he had insisted on inviting Shen Luchu out today.

“It seems, Master Luchu, you still can’t forget Jiang Shiyuan,” Xie Jinghuai teased.

Shen Luchu didn’t understand why Xie Jinghuai suddenly brought up Jiang Shiyuan. He felt uncomfortable being pried into and exposed.

“We’ve known each other since we were children. Naturally, our bond is different. We’re fine, no need for the Fifth Prince to worry,” Shen Luchu replied.

Xie Jinghuai was slightly taken aback.

Jiang Shiyuan was already betrothed to someone else, and Shen Luchu still clung to the past?

Xie Jinghuai wasn’t sure if Shen Luchu’s words were a sign of magnanimity or a form of self-preservation.

But it didn’t matter. That wasn’t his goal here.

His goal was to break up the marriage between Pei Che and the Jiang family. Pei Che’s family could not be an ally of Xie Jinghuai.

And Shen Luchu was clearly his best helper.

“If Master Luchu likes Jiang Shiyuan, I could lend a hand to help you win her over,” Xie Jinghuai laid out his bait.

Shen Luchu quickly reacted. Almost before Xie Jinghuai finished speaking, Shen Luchu responded.

“I don’t need it.”

Shen Luchu rejected him without hesitation, his tone firm and decisive.

“If the Fifth Prince has nothing else, I’ll take my leave. The imperial exam is approaching, and I still need to study. Farewell.”

After saying that, Shen Luchu turned and left the room.

The Fifth Prince sat there, seething with rage, and smashed his wine cup.

“Refusing a toast and insisting on a punishment drink, what does Shen Luchu mean by this?”

Shen Luchu stepped out of the room and heard that roar, sneering.

What did it mean?

Xie Jinghuai was just trying to gain a little advantage and pull them into his camp.

Who would fall for that?

Moreover, did Shen Luchu need someone else’s help to win Jiang Shiyuan? Ridiculous!

Shen Luchu left without a second thought, striding out of Ruyi Pavilion.

Upstairs, the Fifth Prince’s anger hadn’t subsided. Everything seemed to be going wrong lately. His father had secretly summoned the Third Prince back to the capital, and now the Jiang family was using Jiang Shiyuan to get close to Pei Taifu. Even Shen Luchu dared to show him attitude.

He was just a step away from the Eastern Palace, and he could not afford any mistakes.

The marriage between the Jiang and Pei families must be broken.

If it couldn’t be undone, then he’d destroy it!

If Shen Luchu wouldn’t cooperate, he’d find another way.

There were plenty of methods to ruin a woman.

Xie Jinghuai’s eyes flashed with malice, and he summoned his subordinates. “Is everything arranged?”

The guards bowed and responded, “It’s all set. His Majesty has already notified Pei Taifu to leave the capital for an inspection.”