"Miss, you mustn't let him deceive you again! No matter why he's come, you can't soften your heart!" Although eloping was Jing Yun's idea, Xiangxing still feared she might waver, and couldn't help but warn her anxiously.
Jing Yun let out a light scoff. "They say a good horse never turns back to graze on old grass—especially not a rotten bunch. No need to make a fuss. After yesterday's commotion, this young lady has become quite picky. Those rotten flowers and weeds don't catch my eye."
Only then did Xiangxing's anxious heart settle back into place a little.
Looking at her mistress's peerlessly delicate face in the bronze mirror, she couldn't help but stare blankly, always feeling that her mistress had changed…
No—to be precise, her mistress had been somewhat different ever since she woke from fainting in the bridal chamber at the Residence of the Fuyuan General yesterday.
She'd actually gone through with the elopement, just like that—that decisive, resolute manner was something Xiangxing had never seen before.
In the past, her mistress would always confide in her when something weighed on her mind, but from yesterday until now, her mistress had been sparing with words. Either she didn't speak at all, or when she did, her words carried a trace of arrogance. Even the way she looked at people and things had lost much of its gentleness; that casual gaze now held a hint of fearlessness.
Having served her mistress for so many years, this was the first time she couldn't see through her—unable to tell whether her mistress was merely sulking, or whether Du Yuanran had hurt her so deeply that her very nature had changed…
"Let's go. Let's see what else he has to say."
While she was lost in thought, Jing Yun had already risen from the dressing table and headed for the door.
Xiangxing snapped back to her senses and chased after her anxiously. "Miss…"
…
The matter of the broken engagement between the Residence of the Marquis of Anqi and the Residence of the Fuyuan General yesterday had actually spread throughout the city, but Jing Yun hadn't left her room, so naturally she didn't know how much of a sensation it had caused.
Even within the Residence of the Marquis of Anqi, everyone was in fact quite shocked, but Jing Liangyu had personally issued a harsh order forbidding anyone to gossip, and had even sent people to keep watch in secret—anyone caught with a loose tongue would be beaten to death on the spot and dumped in the mass grave.
With such a death order in place, who would dare whisper behind closed doors?
Even when Jing Yun walked out of her chambers, not a single servant dared to steal a glance at her in secret.
The fact that Du Yuanran could enter the residence meant he had naturally obtained Jing Liangyu's approval. However, today's reception of Du Yuanran was different from before—he was shown to a small side hall, and not even a servant was arranged to serve tea.
Seeing her appear, Du Yuanran grew very agitated and stepped forward to grab her hand—
"General Du, please show some respect." Jing Yun was prepared and dodged his touch in time.
"Yun'er…" Du Yuanran's hands froze in midair, and he looked at her with sorrowful eyes.
Jing Yun walked to the seat of honor, sat down, and stared at him expressionlessly.
One was cold and indifferent, the other wore a face full of pain—anyone who didn't know better would think the man was the one who'd been heartbroken…
Xiangxing stood at Jing Yun's side, unable to bear watching any longer, and asked coldly, "General Du, what brings you here today?"
Du Yuanran lowered his eyes, his deep voice carrying a hint of hoarseness. "Yun'er, I've wronged you. I shouldn't have listened to Mother and taken Tang Yingying as a concubine. I shouldn't have broken my promise to you…"
Jing Yun suddenly laughed and cut him off. "Ha! Du Yuanran, the way you put it, it's as if I demanded you defy your parents. I haven't even married into your family yet, and you've not only pinned the crime of unfilial defiance on me, but you want to pin the name of a jealous wife on me too?"
Du Yuanran looked up and hastily explained, "Yun'er, that's not what I meant. I never once thought of betraying you. It was my mother who said Tang Yingying had shown her kindness, and that Tang Yingying was living in humiliation in the Tang household. She insisted I rescue Tang Yingying… You know that I have depended on my mother since childhood—I dare not disobey her."
Jing Yun listened with a smile and said, "Over these ten years, I have paid for your tutelage, taught you to study and train in martial arts, and asked my family to smooth your path so that you could rise above others. Your mother has followed you, enjoying my care all the while. In your mother's eyes, has the kindness I have shown you counted for nothing? I am curious—how deep is Tang Yingying's kindness to your mother, that it could outweigh what I have devoted with all my heart for a decade?"
"I… My mother… She…"
"Du Yuanran, it would not be an exaggeration to say that I have given you and your mother a new lease on life, would it?" Jing Yun rose to her feet, her smiling face so beautiful it defied description. "Whether it was your mother forcing you to take a concubine, or you eating from two tables, or Tang Yingying actively seducing you—what I, Jing Yun, seek is a single outcome. If the outcome does not satisfy, then the fault lies with the person, with the attitude of the one who acts. Can dragging your mother into this deny your own wrongdoing? Even if your mother threatened death to force your hand, that is still your problem. As a son, as a man, you failed to convince your own mother—that makes you useless. As the saying goes, a woman follows her husband in marriage, and obeys her son after her husband's death. That your mother can have such a hold over you shows how unworthy a son you are. To take a concubine, your mother could coerce you into betraying me, who has given you both the grace of a renewed life. If one day your mother should take a disliking to me, would you, out of filial piety, divorce me—or even kill me?"
"Yun'er!" Du Yuanran suddenly shouted, his handsome face flushing dark purple with rage.
It was no wonder he was so agitated, for the Jing Yun he knew had never spoken to him like this!
Jing Yun not only showed no fear but laughed aloud. "Hehe, Brother Du, have I said something wrong?"
Du Yuanran glared at her with fierce eyes—the first time he had ever shown her such open anger.
Yet truly, his reaction was less fury born of shame than sheer inability to accept it. Ten years—they had known each other for ten years. He knew better than anyone how gentle and kind this woman before him was. She had never once mocked or taunted him, had never even raised her voice—much less spoken with such venom-laced, blade-edged cruelty. That was simply unthinkable…
And yet, the person before him, a head shorter than he, was precisely in such a state. Not only were her words sharp enough to carve out one's heart and lungs, even her incomparably beautiful smile had grown unfamiliar—like a poison-dipped flower: the more beautiful its bloom, the stronger its poison.
He even noticed now that she had changed her attire and ornaments today. On ordinary days, she favored elegant embroidered ru skirts in delicate floral patterns, paired with simple hair accessories, radiating a gentle, refined air from head to toe. But today she wore a crimson dress with a purple jacket, a fine jade pendant swaying at her waist, and an exquisite pearl hairpin in her coiffure that dazzled the eye.
That graceful, soft-spoken girl was gone. In her place stood someone alluring, proud, noble, resplendent…
Like a spirit descended from the heavens—one that dared not be touched!
Jing Yun followed his gaze and looked down at herself, then her beautiful eyes lifted slightly toward him. "General Du, do you find me beautiful like this? In the past, to spare your feelings and to make people think we were well matched, I had to dress plainly and keep a low profile. Now I've realized that this is my truest self, and only this is worthy of the identity of the legitimate daughter of the Residence of the Marquis of Anqi."
Even a deaf person could hear the mockery and sarcasm in her words toward Du Yuanran, yet Du Yuanran comforted himself that she was saying these things only because she was too angry…
"Yun'er, I've wronged you. Can you not be like this?" Retracting his fury and sharp gaze, his face was full of pain and pleading. "I shouldn't have carried on with Tang Yingying behind your back. It's all my fault. I broke my promise to you. Give me one chance to make it up to you properly, will you? I swear to you, I won't look at any other woman again. Even if Tang Yingying becomes a concubine, I won't touch her again! Although she's carrying my child, once she gives birth, I'll have the child adopted under your name and have the child acknowledge you as its mother. I absolutely won't give Tang Yingying any chance to threaten your position!"
Jing Yun's smile, though unfriendly, was at least still a smile. But after hearing him finish, her smile froze instantly, then her face fell, as if someone had force-fed her a bowl of excrement, making her nearly gag.
Being asked to share a husband with another woman was disgusting enough, and now she was expected to raise someone else's child…
Damn it!
This was like putting Sichuan peppercorns at a neighbor's door—numbing the hell out of the neighborhood!
"Yun'er, what will it take for you to forgive me? I truly know I was wrong. As long as you can forgive me, I'd be willing to die!" Du Yuanran declared with heartfelt anguish.
"Then go die," Jing Yun said without mercy, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly.
"I…" Du Yuanran's eyes went wide.
"Heh!" Seeing his incredulous shock, Jing Yun smiled again and took two steps closer to him, leaning in slightly. "Brother Du, I'll be waiting for you to visit me in my dreams."
With that, without even glancing at Du Yuanran's alternating pale and red face, she lifted her chin and walked out of the small hall without looking back.
In the small hall, not only was Du Yuanran frozen in place, but even Xiangxing was stunned and unresponsive for a long time. Because not only had Du Yuanran never seen such a proud and cold Jing Yun, even Xiangxing, who had grown up with Jing Yun, had never seen her so sharp-tongued.
But compared to Du Yuanran's inability to accept it, Xiangxing was thoroughly relieved, knowing that her young mistress had truly come to her senses and would no longer be deceived by Du Yuanran.
"General Du, please leave. Forgive me for not seeing you out." Coming back to her senses, she glared coldly at Du Yuanran, then picked up her skirts and chased out of the small hall.
Du Yuanran stood with his mouth open, staring at the empty doorway, feeling his mind was a complete mess, with no idea what to do.
Ten years—were their ten years of affection gone just like that?
No!
He didn't believe it!
She liked him so much. For him, she had endured others' mockery and even sworn she would marry no one but him. How could she possibly stop liking him just like that?
All her sharp, biting, and heartless words earlier were because she was angry…
Yes! She was furious beyond measure, that's why she spoke so recklessly!
It must be so!
…
Having just left the small side hall, Jing Yun was about to return to her room when she suddenly saw A Li, the young servant attending Jing Liangyu, coming to find her.
"Sixth Miss, the Marquis requests your presence in the front hall."
"Is something the matter?" Jing Yun asked.
"In reply to Sixth Miss, Prince Yu has arrived." A Li smiled.
"…"
The image of that bewitchingly handsome and wicked face surfaced in her mind, and Jing Yun couldn't help but press her lips together.
Toward Prince Yu, Xia Yanli, she felt the same lack of fondness as the original body's owner. Never mind that the original owner disliked such a philandering man—even she found Xia Yanli far too slick and greasy.
Still, yesterday she had been able to leave the Residence of the Fuyuan General smoothly and with ease, and Xia Yanli had indeed been a great help. She understood the ways of the world; no matter how unreliable Xia Yanli might be, she had to properly thank him.
Compared to Du Yuanran, who was being coldly treated in the small side hall, Xia Yanli, seated in the front hall, was directly honored as a distinguished guest—servants poured tea, maids fanned him, and even Jing Liangyu accompanied him in conversation with a beaming smile. Though Xia Yanli's friendship with the Residence of the Marquis of Anqi was not poor, Jing Yun clearly sensed that Jing Liangyu's enthusiasm toward Xia Yanli today was different from before.
"Yun'er, you've come." Seeing her enter the hall, Jing Liangyu beckoned to her affectionately.
Jing Yun understood his meaning and walked directly to stand before Xia Yanli, curtsying with a bend of the knee. "This humble one pays respects to Prince Yu. Yesterday, thanks to Prince Yu's assistance, this humble one will never forget your great kindness and virtue."
She wore a purple-red dress, as though transformed from an ugly duckling into a noble and elegant swan—impossible for anyone not to take notice.
Xia Yanli stared at her transformation, his eyebrows arching several times in succession.
"Sixth Miss, rise."
"Many thanks, Prince Yu."
Jing Yun straightened up.
Because of her silence, the hall grew especially quiet, and for a moment it seemed to carry a hint of awkwardness.
"Ahem!" Jing Liangyu suddenly cleared his throat. "Yun'er, Prince Yu has come on the Crown Prince's behalf to see you. Since you have nothing else to do, why not accompany Prince Yu for a walk in the garden."
"…" Jing Yun couldn't help but look toward him, her two willow-leaf brows knitting tightly together.
Come on the Crown Prince's behalf to see her?
What did that cousin the Crown Prince intend to do?
And this father's attitude—hadn't he previously disliked Prince Yu approaching his daughter? How had he suddenly changed?
Having received another's kindness, though she was unwilling in her heart, she still complied with Jing Liangyu's words and invited Xia Yanli to the garden.
She walked in front, Xia Yanli behind, and they followed two small paths in succession without a word.
Nor did Xia Yanli, as he had yesterday, take the initiative to make conversation. He admired the garden scenery along the way, as though he had simply come to the Residence of the Marquis of Anqi to tour the garden.
Just as they were about to reach a pavilion, Du Yuanran's voice suddenly came from the side.
"Yun'er!"
Jing Yun's expression instantly darkened, and she looked toward him with cold eyes.
He still hadn't left!
Du Yuanran ran up before her, his eyes fixed straight on Xia Yanli behind her. "May I ask what important business Prince Yu has at the Marquis's residence?"
The hostility in his eyes Jing Yun could read, and Xia Yanli, being a man himself, could hardly fail to understand it.
But before Xia Yanli could speak, Jing Yun said coldly, "Prince Yu is a guest at the Marquis's residence—is it your place to question him?"
"Yun'er…" Du Yuanran couldn't bear her attitude and continued his earlier desperate pleading. "Can you not be like this? I know I was wrong. You can hit me or scold me however you like, just please don't ignore me! When I return to my residence, I'll send Tang Yingying away elsewhere, and I guarantee you'll never see her again!"
"General Du, there is a distinguished guest present today. Please conduct yourself with dignity—after all, we are all people of status. Don't let others laugh at us."
"Yun'er…" Du Yuanran reached out to grab her.
But every time he made such a move, Jing Yun acted as if feces were approaching her, instinctively recoiling in disgust.
Du Yuanran grabbed at empty air once again—both embarrassed and unwilling to accept it. Then, for reasons unknown, he suddenly dropped to his knees before Jing Yun with a thud, his eyes reddening as he looked up at her, choking out, "Yun'er, I'm willing to accept whatever punishment you choose, as long as you'll let go of your anger!"
Jing Yun's face was covered in black lines.
She turned her head toward Xia Yanli and saw him leaning against a tree, arms lazily crossed, his grinning mouth so wide it had contorted his face out of shape.
She was even more at a loss for words. She had already guessed the intent of the Crown Prince Cousin and her father—they must have known Du Yuanran wouldn't give up, so they'd deliberately brought this Prince Yu along to act as her "shield against misfortune."
Yesterday, when no one was around, this Prince Yu had teased her like some street ruffian, yet today, when she actually needed him, he'd gone and behaved himself!