Just as she was about to turn around, Pei Hening happily shouted,
“Sixth Uncle!”
Buzz—
It felt like thousands of sea bees were buzzing in Xu Miaoxue’s ears. Her mind went blank. White light exploded in front of her eyes, as if the King of the Underworld had come to take her life himself. If a person could shatter in one second, that was exactly how Xu Miaoxue felt now.
—When did he arrive?
Was it when she boldly said, “He begged me to love him”?
Or earlier, when she said, “He likes women like me”?
For the first time in her life, Xu Miaoxue was caught in a lie in public.
Her scalp went numb. Her hands and feet turned cold. Cold sweat soaked her clothes and stuck to her skin. She felt like a bug trapped inside amber. She finally understood the saying “covering your ears while stealing a bell”—as if not looking would stop the truth from coming out.
Old Madam Pei stood up when she saw Pei Shuye.
“My son is here—”
She looked at him with blame and said quietly,
“Chengju, why don’t you control your new wife? She talks nonsense at the table.”
The real person had arrived. Everyone waited with excitement to see Xu Miaoxue embarrassed.
No man would allow his wife to talk so freely in public. Just moments ago, she had argued proudly and confidently. Now, she looked miserable.
But Xu Miaoxue knew this was not the worst part yet.
She wished she could disappear into the ground or turn into smoke and fly away. Sadly, she was just a normal person.
Since things had come this far, she decided to stop struggling. If she must die, she would at least die with some dignity.
Suddenly, a warm hand rested on her arm and gently pulled her closer.
A familiar voice came from above her head:
“My wife is right. I was the one who insisted on marrying her.”
…What?
Xu Miaoxue looked up in shock.
She saw a handsome man with clear skin and elegant features, as if the gods had crafted him carefully. But she should not be seeing this face here.
She had only seen him before in dark places—narrow streets, boat cabins—always hidden, always dangerous.
In the past, he wore simple clothes. His presence alone was sharp enough. But now, he wore an elegant green robe with dark cloud patterns. His hair was neatly tied with an ivory crown. Jade ornaments swayed at his knees as he moved. He looked like a noble gentleman, standing above everyone else.
Where was the dangerous “Sixth Master” now?
Why was he here?
Why was he Pei Hening’s sixth uncle?
Why was he Old Madam Pei’s youngest son?
Why was he the husband of the “Sixth Madam Pei” that she pretended to be?
Her mind was flooded with memories.
—“Sixth Master is a powerful figure in Lingnan.”
—“The top scholar was exiled to Leizhou for five years.”
There was only one answer left.
Maybe…
That Sixth Master…
was this Sixth Master…
was Pei Shuye.
Xu Miaoxue felt dizzy.
It felt like she was back in her childhood, standing outside an opera stage. Music played loudly, but fog blocked her view.
When the fog cleared, she saw Pei Shuye staring at her with deep affection. Under the lights, his face was gentle, his eyes bright, smiling as if they were truly a loving couple.
So this was what real planning looked like.
But why go through all this?
Just to trick her once?
Was this what he meant by “marriage”?
Was she really supposed to become the wife of a top scholar?
She had a thousand questions, but she was powerless. One word from him could kill her. She could only stay quiet and cooperate stiffly.
The mood at the table changed instantly. People who had mocked her before now praised them as a perfect couple.
Pei Shuye greeted people calmly and even held her hand to lead her to sit down.
Xu Miaoxue smiled until her face hurt, but under her sleeve, she pinched his hand hard.
Pei Shuye felt the pain and coughed lightly. He grabbed her hand and smiled.
“My wife, is there anything you like? I will buy it for you.”
His eyes clearly warned her.
“No, no… you’ve already bought me enough,” she said quickly.
Before she could finish, Pei Hening spoke excitedly,
“Sixth Uncle! Aunt wanted a carved incense ball earlier. I helped her buy it!”
“Oh?” Pei Shuye said meaningfully. “So that’s what you wanted.”
Nothing could escape his eyes. Xu Miaoxue hated that feeling.
She felt restless and grabbed a wine jug to pour a drink. Before she could drink, his hand stopped her.
“Too much wine is bad for you.”
He drank it for her instead.
To outsiders, they looked loving.
Only she knew she wanted to scream.
Finally, the banquet ended. Pei Shuye pulled her into his carriage.
Once the curtain closed, she shook off his hand. Her smile vanished.
He leaned back calmly, waiting for her to speak.
The carriage moved.
“Who is Xu Fei?” she asked.
He looked pleased.
“It’s you.”
Everything became clear.
The story about Pei Shuye’s secret wife was fake. It was bait—meant only for her.
From the moment she tricked him in the alley, she thought she was the hunter. In truth, she had already become the prey.
“Xu Fei” was a fake name—changing half of her “Xue” character. It was a clear hint that the person never existed.
She had walked straight into his trap.
She often said:
“If someone has never been cheated, it’s only because they haven’t met the right trap.”
Now, she understood.
It was a great humiliation for a professional con artist.
She was furious.
Anger took over. She pulled a golden hairpin and stabbed at him.
But her hair ornaments made noise. She was too slow.
Pei Shuye caught her wrist easily and twisted it. The hairpin pressed against her own neck.
She tried to kick him. He struck her leg lightly, and her body went numb.
She glared at him.
“If you have the guts, kill me! You’d be killing your legal wife!”
“What a legal wife?” he said innocently.
“Wasn’t she a wanted fraud named Bei Luosha?”
“You—!”
“Think carefully,” he said calmly.
“Do you want to be the wife of a top scholar… or a criminal hunted by the government?”
She gritted her teeth.
“I already agreed to the contract! Why trick me at the banquet?”
“If I don’t trick you,” he replied, “you’ll trick me.”
She had no answer.
Her thoughts drifted again, like watching an opera.
On stage, the clown sang:
“In March, Meng Huo rebelled again,
Seven captures, seven releases…”
It was the story of Zhuge Liang capturing Meng Huo again and again— to make him truly submit.
The carriage rolled forward.
Pei Shuye released her and handed back the hairpin.
“As Sixth Madam Pei, you can do many things more easily. You gain more than you lose.”
He offered her a deal she couldn’t refuse.
Xu Miaoxue calmed herself.
After thinking carefully, besides being angry about being tricked, this situation was not bad for her.
The banquet had shown her new possibilities. Her father’s work should not have returned here unless there was more to the story.
Maybe… those lost items still existed.
She stopped herself from hoping too much.
Using the identity of Sixth Madam Pei could help her.
She felt a little better.
But she still snapped,
“So what exactly do you want me to do? Just be your wife?”
“Yes,” he said casually.
Was he crazy?
She was about to ask more when the carriage suddenly stopped.
Outside, someone reported:
“Sixth Master, Lord Siming’s carriage is passing by. Should we greet him?”
Pei Shuye’s face turned cold.
Xu Miaoxue’s eyes lit up.
Oh? Gossip.
Lord Siming was extremely powerful. Even nobles bowed to him.
She leaned closer and asked carelessly,
“Is it true that he wrote a letter and got you kicked out of the academy?”
Pei Shuye’s expression darkened.
He said shortly,
“None of your business. Go another way.”
“Oh, avoiding trouble?” she mocked.
He hated being challenged.
“Go straight,” he said sharply.
She smiled.
Finally, she found his weak point.
She kept pushing,
“You don’t even visit him after returning to office? Not afraid of him?”
He frowned.
“Why?”
She smiled.
“Oh… I know why you needed a fake wife.”
He looked at her sharply.
“Why?”