Chapter 46: Chapter
Wenzhe did not let go of her wrist until they were deep inside the quiet corridors of the Northern Courtyard, far away from the noisy banquet and the judging eyes of the guests.
The moment his grip loosened, Su Yueqing pulled her hand back, rubbing her wrist with a huge, dramatic pout on her face.
"Do you have a personal grudge against pastries, Dear husband?" Su Yueqing grumbled out loud, crossing her arms tightly. "I was just about to eat but I can’t even get a single sugar cake?"
Wenzhe turned around to face her, his tall figure blocking the doorway. He looked at her lively, annoyed face, his own expression a mix of disbelief and sheer exhaustion.
"You just threw a minister’s daughter into a freezing mud pit," Wenzhe said, his voice flat. "The entire high society of the capital was ready to skin you alive. My sisters were fighting for your reputation, my mother was silencing the crowd, and you were standing in the corner complaining about bitter tea cakes. Do you truly have no sense of danger at all?"
Su Yueqing internally rolled her eyes, completely unbothered by his lecture.
[Danger? Please. The only danger here is me dying of low blood sugar,]
She snapped inside her own mind, glaring at his handsome forehead.
[And why did you even help me anyway? You’re the male lead! You’re supposed to hate my guts, throw me in the woodshed, and sign the divorce papers! Why are you suddenly acting like a protective husband? You’re totally ruining my peaceful exile plan, you giant block of wood!]
Wenzhe’s brow twitched violently as her loud, chaotic thoughts echoed perfectly in his mind. He closed his eyes for a brief second, trying to control the urge to massage his temples. Hearing her call him a "giant block of wood" while demanding a divorce just so she could go sleep in a shed was driving him insane.
"I did not defend you because I give a damn what happens you," Wenzhe said smoothly, stepping a bit closer to her. "I defended you because the Xi family does not allow outsiders to insult our people. Even if..." He paused, his voice dropping a bit lower. "Even if that person is an annoying, impulsive wife."
Su Yueqing blinked, her eyes widening slightly in surprise.
[Oh? Did he just call me ’our people’?]
She thought, her mind suddenly filling with suspicion.
[Nine! Check the system files! Is the male lead experiencing a software glitch? Did he get hit on the head by a falling roof tile while I was asleep?]*
[Host, my system data shows his brain is functioning perfectly. However, your villain ranking is currently a total mess. You were supposed to be isolated and hated, but right now, your mother-in-law, your sisters-in-law, and your husband are all protecting you like a national treasure. You are failing your villainess duties spectacularly.]
[Hey, don’t blame me!]
Su Yueqing argued back in her head, feeling deeply frustrated.
[I literally shoved a girl into a swamp! How much more villainous do I need to be?! It’s not my fault these people have a weird sense of justice!]
Wenzhe stared at her as she stood there, perfectly silent on the outside but having a full, frantic argument with the invisible voice in her head. A strange, rare flash of amusement passed through his dark eyes, though he quickly hid it behind his usual cold mask.
"Go inside and change your clothes," Wenzhe ordered, gesturing to her plum silk robes, which had a few tiny drops of muddy pond water near the hem. "And stop thinking about snacks. I will have the kitchen send a proper meal to your room."
Su Yueqing’s eyes lit up instantly at the mention of a proper meal.
"A real meal? With the sweet lotus pastries?" she asked eagerly, completely forgetting her anger from a moment ago.
"Yes," Wenzhe sighed, feeling completely defeated by her appetite. "With the pastries."
"Fine," Su Yueqing muttered, giving him a quick, half-hearted bow before turning on her heel and marching happily toward her bedroom.
[Excellent. Food is coming,]
[The villain plot might be completely broken, but at least the food benefits in this estate are top-tier. Good job, block of wood. I’ll let you off the hook for dragging me away.]
Wenzhe stood alone in the hallway, watching her bedroom door slam shut.
"Crazy woman!"
....
As evening arrived, the sun was already setting, painting the sky in deep shades of orange and purple. The ladies’ banquet was finally drawing to a close. Most of the guests and noblewomen were already departing, their carriages lining up outside the main gates of the Xi estate.
Duchess Lin Meiyun and Xi Ronghua stood near the courtyard entrance, politely bidding farewell to the last few departing families.
Just then, a handsome young gentleman walked into the courtyard with smooth, graceful steps. It was Zi Han, the son of Madame Zi and the Prime Minister. He was a highly respected scholar in the capital, but more importantly, he was the exact man Su Yueqing had previously revealed in her thoughts to have deep, hidden feelings for Xi Lanyin.
The young gentleman stopped before the elders and offered a perfect, elegant bow.
"Greetings, Duchess Lin, Aunt Ronghua," Zi Han said, his voice calm and polite. He then turned slightly to his own mother. "Mother, I came to escort you back to our residence."
"Ah, you are always so thoughtful," Madame Zi smiled proudly, clearly pleased by her son’s timely arrival.
While the elders spoke, Zi Han’s gaze naturally shifted toward the side. His eyes landed straight on Xi Lanyin.
Lanyin was currently standing behind her mother, trying to hide her blushing face. Her sister, Xi Qianqian, and her cousin, Gu Yue, stood right beside her, nudging her elbows and teasing her with silent, knowing looks.
Zi Han and Lanyin stared at each other for a long, quiet moment. The air between them felt completely different from the chaotic energy of the banquet, filled with a shy, unspoken tension.
Lanyin’s heart raced as she remembered Su Yueqing’s internal spoilers about this very man loving her in secret. Feeling her cheeks grow incredibly hot under his intense gaze, Lanyin quickly averted her eyes, looking down at her shoes to hide her embarrassment.
The young scholar let out a very soft, disappointed sigh, but he kept his composure.
Watching this silent interaction from a distance, Duchess Lin and Xi Ronghua shared a secret, stunned look.
So Su Yueqing’s thoughts were completely right again!’ the Duchess thought, her eyes widening slightly as she watched Zi Han’s obvious affection for her daughter. He really does have feelings for Lanyin!
