As soon as she spoke these words, the entire room erupted in an uproar.
The new bride of the young prince of Qin was truly something—ignoring her husband who had stayed out all night, she instead spent a fortune to buy a beauty by presenting flowers.
On stage, Haitang Hong was visibly taken aback for a moment but quickly smiled and bowed. "Thank you for your kindness, Second Young Madam. However, Haitang Hong sells her art, not her body. No amount of gold can buy that."
"Very well," Shen Ruojin nodded in agreement, then called out, "Where is the troupe leader?"
"Ah, I'm here," Troupe Leader Huang, who had just had new tables and chairs brought in, immediately responded. "What are your orders, Second Young Madam?"
Shen Ruojin casually lifted the household management token at her waist. "Name your price. I'm buying your Fanghua Ban."
…
Luoyi Xiang, Pei Residence.
"What? Shen Ruojin went to the opera house not only without confronting Qin Lang but also spent a fortune to buy the Fanghua Ban?"
Upon hearing the news brought back by her maid Lüluo, Mu Yunwei asked in disbelief.
"Young Master Pei tried to explain yesterday's events to her, but she wouldn't even listen, immediately telling him to behave with dignity…"
Lüluo had secretly followed Pei Jing to see if Shen Ruojin would reconcile with him for the third young lady's sake. Instead, she witnessed Shen Ruojin throwing money around to compete with the young prince of Qin for someone, so she hurried back to describe the scene to the third young lady.
Mu Yunwei was teasing a cat with a round fan. "My second sister truly lives up to her military strategy training—playing hard to get so skillfully, and not forgetting to present a gift on someone else's behalf."
Lüluo couldn't contain her anger. "Where did she get so much silver? She must have taken advantage yesterday to seize your dowry! Now she’s flaunting her status as the young princess of Zhenbei Wangfu, acting all high and mighty. If you had seen how arrogant she is now…"
"Just wait and see," Mu Yunwei said with full confidence. "Shen Ruojin won’t be able to stay proud for long. What matters now is capturing Pei Lang’s heart."
No matter how powerful Zhenbei Wangfu is, it cannot surpass the imperial family.
How could Qin Lang, the second legitimate son of an outsider prince, compare to the emperor’s own son?
No one understood why Mu Yunwei would pass up a prestigious family like Zhenbei Wangfu to get involved with a poor scholar like Pei Jing.
Only Mu Yunwei herself knew how unbearable it had been in her previous life—after marrying Qin Lang, she was neglected, spending night after night alone, day after day listening to rumors of her husband’s romantic escapades.
The most painful part was that she had made the wrong choice, while Shen Ruojin had married well. Pei Jing, a poor scholar, achieved the top three honors in the imperial examinations, not only rising to the highest official rank but also reclaiming his identity as a prince during the struggle for the throne among the three sons, eventually inheriting the empire.
While Mu Yunwei and Qin Lang’s marital discord became the laughingstock of everyone, Shen Ruojin and Pei Jing went from being a young couple to becoming the beloved emperor and empress…
Since heaven had given her a second chance, why couldn’t Shen Ruojin’s wonderful life be hers instead?
Yesterday, using memories from her past life, Mu Yunwei had lured Pei Jing away to escape the wedding, saving his adoptive mother and younger sister while also ensuring that Pei Jing and Shen Ruojin’s marriage was completely ruined.
The only thing she hadn’t expected was that Shen Ruojin would immediately remarry Qin Lang on the spot.
One was a general’s daughter raised on the frontier, the other a frivolous young prince known for his philandering. It didn’t take much imagination to know that these two would constantly clash after marriage, either arguing or fighting every day.
If they didn’t fight today, they would tomorrow.
After a brief moment of shock, Mu Yunwei quickly calmed down, focusing all her thoughts on how to secure Pei Jing’s heart.
While the master and servant were speaking, Pei Jing returned dejectedly.
As soon as Pei Jing entered the courtyard, he saw the two of them and couldn't help but frown slightly. "Why hasn't Third Miss returned to the Marquis's residence yet?"
Lüluo couldn't help but interject, "Why does Young Master Pei ask such a question? My lady also missed the wedding banquet because she was helping you save someone…"
Mu Yunwei gently interrupted, "Enough, Lüluo. Do not be rude."
Although Third Miss Mu was born of a concubine, she was deeply favored by Old Madame Mu and had been delicately raised in the Marquis's residence. Not only was her waist slender as silk and her appearance beautiful, but when her eyes reddened, it seemed as if the whole world had wronged her.
"Young Master Pei, please don't misunderstand. I will leave now. I was only worried that you might not be able to explain clearly to Second Sister, so I thought I'd wait for you to return and ask one more question before leaving. It was presumptuous of me. I'll go now…"
Mu Yunwei's tears were already welling up in her eyes at this moment, yet she pretended nothing was wrong and turned to leave.
"Wait." Pei Jing felt somewhat remorseful and quickly hurried forward to stop her.
Mu Yunwei stopped but did not turn around.
Lüluo spoke quickly, "Young Master Pei, you are truly strange. As soon as you returned, you asked why we haven't left yet. Now that my lady is about to leave, you won't let her! What exactly do you want?"
"That's not what I meant."
Pei Jing was torn internally. Having just been coldly rejected by Shen Ruojin, he was in the worst mood. Seeing Mu Yunwei so aggrieved, he remembered that yesterday she had indeed been forced to flee the wedding to help him save someone.
Shen Ruojin had already made up her mind to attach herself to the Prince's household, and her marriage to Qin Lang was a settled matter.
If Mu Yunwei returned to the Marquis's residence now, not only would she lose her marriage, but she would also face severe punishment for yesterday's events.
"Then what does Young Master Pei mean?"
Lüluo pressed on, somewhat aggressively.
"Young Master Pei, do you want me to go and explain to my sister?" Mu Yunwei said softly, "Very well. You alone truly cannot explain yesterday's events clearly. I should also go before my sister to beg for forgiveness. I… I will go… plead for her understanding, beg her to change her mind."
Pei Jing quickly said, "I did not mean that. Third Miss, you need not humble yourself like this."
"It's no hardship. I'm used to it. Although Sister has never liked me, she is a reasonable person. As long as we explain properly, she will surely understand somewhat." Mu Yunwei lowered her head, her voice unusually gentle.
Before Pei Jing could speak, Mu Yunwei continued, "Besides, Grandmother has always doted on me. I doubt she will punish me severely. Without a husband, at most I'll just cut my hair and become a nun. Young Master Pei need not trouble himself over this."
Hearing this, Pei Jing finally seemed to make a decision. "I will escort you back."
Mu Yunwei continued her strategy of retreating to advance, "There's no need to trouble Young Master Pei—"
Pei Jing said, "Third Miss lost her husband because of me, and her reputation is ruined. I must pay a visit to explain clearly on your behalf."
Mu Yunwei still did not raise her head, her voice choked with tears. "With rumors spreading throughout the city, I'm afraid no amount of explanation from either of us will suffice."
"Then… I will marry you."
After saying these words, Pei Jing suddenly felt a secret, vengeful pleasure toward Shen Ruojin.
From now on, there would be no possibility between him and Shen Ruojin.
Yet they were destined to meet often and interact regularly. He would rise higher and higher. He would treat Mu Yunwei very, very well. One day, Shen Ruojin would regret today's choice…
"You want to marry me?"
Mu Yunwei abruptly looked up at Pei Jing, overjoyed in her heart, yet tears streamed from her eyes at that moment.
She thought to herself: Shen Ruojin, oh Shen Ruojin, your mother’s judgment truly was excellent.
The husband arranged through a childhood betrothal is indeed a gentleman, but now… it’s my gain.
"If the young lady does not mind, I am willing to marry you," Pei Jing said solemnly. "Making it official is the best way to put an end to the rumors."
Mu Yunwei pretended to consider it, counting to ten before agreeing in a roundabout way: "Then I’ll trouble Young Master Pei… to escort me back."
On this side, Pei Jing escorted Mu Yunwei back to Linyang Houfu.
Over at the theater, Shen Ruojin’s statement, "I’ll buy Fanghua Ban," stunned everyone present.
If money couldn’t sway Haitang Hong, she’d simply buy the entire troupe.
With such a lavish spending style, she and Qin, the young prince, were truly a match made in heaven.
This time, even Qin Lang, who cared least for wealth and riches, couldn’t help but glance her way. "You’re really going all out, Shen Ruojin. Are you so willing to spend money for my sake?"
Shen Ruojin let the jade pendant hang down at her waist and said casually, "After all, it’s your money I’m spending."
Qin Lang was both annoyed and amused. "So you’re spending my money to amuse yourself at my expense?"
"You could say I’m amusing myself at your expense," Shen Ruojin suddenly shifted her tone. "Or you could say: I’m spending a fortune just to bring a smile to your face."
It all depended on which version the young prince preferred.
As she spoke, a smile played on her lips, and her phoenix eyes gleamed, captivating without her even realizing it.
Qin Lang gazed at the person before him, his breath catching slightly for a moment before returning to normal. He asked her, "Shen Ruojin, are you trying to seduce me?"