Oops! My Inner Thoughts Are Ruining The Plot

Chapter 91: Chapter

The heavy wheels of the carriage ground against the stone road, filling the quiet space inside with a rhythmic, heavy thrum.

Su Yueqing sat leaning against the silk cushion, her arms folded, glaring at the man sitting opposite her. Xi Wenzhe sat straight as a spear, dressed in his dark, embroidered general’s robes. His eyes were fixed on the wooden lattice window, cold and unmoving, like an iron statue carved on a battlefield.

[Look at him,] Yueqing’s inner voice rang sharp and clear right inside Wenzhe’s head, filled with pure annoyance. [’The Governor does not like late arrivals,’ he says. Cold-faced brute. He was just afraid I’d ruin his high-and-mighty General persona in front of everyone!]

Wenzhe’s hand, resting on his knee, tightened into a fist. His jaw clenched, but he kept his face completely blank. Ignore it, he told himself. Do not let her provoke you.

[He pulled my sleeve so hard I thought he’d tear the silk,] she continued complaining in her thoughts, her eyes narrowing as she glared at his broad shoulders. [If he ruined this hanfu, I should have made him wear my extra gown to the banquet. Imagine General Xi in pale pink and jade-green. The whole capital would lose their minds.]

Wenzhe nearly choked on his breath. He coughed softly into his fist, forcing the absurd image out of his head before his face could betray him.

"Does something amuse the General?" Yueqing asked aloud, her voice cold and light.

"Nothing at all," Wenzhe replied smoothly, keeping his gaze detached as he looked at her. "I was merely reflecting on how fortunate it is that Young Madam saved her dramatic temper for the carriage, rather than the gates of the estate."

"Dramatic?" Yueqing let out a faint, quiet laugh, pressing a delicate hand against her chest, looking fragile and offended. "I was practically dragged across the courtyard! Is this how a General of the Imperial Court treats his wife? Should I remind you that my health is still delicate?"

Wenzhe slowly turned his head to look at her. He took in her soft pink and green robes, her delicate, pale complexion, and the sharp, dangerous light flashing in her eyes.

"Delicate?" Wenzhe raised an eyebrow, his tone dry. "Young Madam, I have seen you throw a heavy porcelain teacup across a room without missing a beat. Your health seems remarkably robust when you are angry."

[A teacup?!] Yueqing’s inner scream flared like hot oil thrown on a fire. [This ungrateful, blind fool! I dressed up like a fairy straight out of a painting today, and he talks about teacups?!]

Without warning, Yueqing reached for a small silk bolster beside her and tossed it right at his face.

SWISH!

Wenzhe didn’t even blink. His military instincts kicked in instantly; his hand shot out like thunder and caught the small bolster effortlessly an inch from his nose. He held it in his grip for a moment before lowering it, his expression as calm as still water.

"Using force inside a moving carriage?" Wenzhe said, the faintest hint of a smirk touching the edge of his lips. "How very unrefined."

"Return that to me," Yueqing said softly, her eyes narrowing as she leaned forward to snatch it back.

Wenzhe simply held the bolster slightly higher, using his length to keep it out of reach. Yueqing reached up to grab it, but just as her fingers brushed the silk fabric, the carriage wheels hit a deep rut in the stone road.

The heavy carriage jolted violently to the side.

"Ah—"

Yueqing’s fragile balance broke instantly. With a soft gasp, she pitched forward, falling straight into Wenzhe’s chest.

Wenzhe’s arms moved on instinct, wrapping firmly around her waist to stop her from crashing onto the floor. The impact knocked the wind out of him, leaving her soft body pressed tight against his hard armor-like chest. The faint scent of plum blossoms clung to her silk dress, filling his senses instantly.

For a long moment, the carriage fell completely quiet.

Yueqing blinked, her chin resting against the dark, heavy brocade of his robes. She pushed herself up slightly, her small, pale hands resting against his chest, and looked up into his face.

Wenzhe was staring right down at her, his usual stoic, impenetrable expression completely gone. His dark eyes were wide, and a deep, crimson flush was rapidly creeping up his neck, spreading all the way to the tips of his ears.

[Wait...] Yueqing’s inner voice sounded genuinely confused for once. [Why is his heart pounding like a war drum? Is he scared of a bumpy road, or... why is his face turned completely red?]

Realizing her inner thoughts were about to analyze his embarrassment, Wenzhe quickly cleared his throat. He released her waist, helping her back onto her seat a bit too quickly, and turned his face away toward the window.

"Sit properly," Wenzhe said, his voice slightly raspy before he quickly deepened it back to his usual stern tone. "The roads near the Governor’s estate are rough."

Yueqing smoothed down her pink sleeves, staring at him with sharp, quiet eyes.

[Fascinating,] she thought, a small, sly smile playing at the corner of her lips as she watched him try to regain his dignity. [The mighty General of the Xi family gets flustered over a tiny bump. How very interesting.]

Wenzhe kept his gaze fixed stubbornly outside, silent and rigid, silently praying for the carriage to reach the Governor’s gates before his wife drove him completely out of his mind.

...

The carriage slowed to a crawl before coming to a complete halt outside the towering wooden gates of the Governor’s grand estate.

Outside, the grand entrance was already crowded with a long procession of carriages belonging to the capital’s elite. Noble families, high-ranking officials, and wealthy scholars were all lined up, patiently waiting for their turn to alight.

However, the moment the Governor’s head steward spotted the grand carriage bearing the prestigious silver-and-black crest of the Xi Dukedom, his eyes widened. He immediately gestured for the imperial guards to part the crowd, personally hurrying forward to greet them with extreme deference.

"Welcome, General Xi, Young Madam Xi!" the steward bowed low, his voice full of obsequious respect. "Your presence honors the Governor’s humble estate. Please, right this way!"

Wenzhe stepped out of the carriage first, his posture tall, straight, and imposing. The moment his boots touched the stone ground, the surrounding crowd fell into a hushed murmur. The cold, dangerous aura of the young General of the Xi family was enough to make even the most arrogant young masters step back respectfully.

Turning back, Wenzhe extended a firm hand toward the carriage door.

Su Yueqing stepped out into the evening light, placing her small, pale hand gracefully onto his palm. Clothed in her soft pink and jade-green hanfu, her hair adorned with delicate pearl pins, she looked like a picture of soft, fragile elegance the complete opposite of the sharp-tongued villainess living inside her head.

[Tch, look at all these fake smiles,] Yueqing’s inner commentary immediately started up, sending her chaotic thoughts straight into Wenzhe’s mind. [Every single lady here looks like she spent three hours painting her face just to compete for attention. And that steward bowing so low... if he bows any further, his nose is going to scrape the dirt.]

Wenzhe’s eyelids twitched slightly, but he kept his expression as stoic as a mountain. He gently closed his fingers around hers, leading her forward with practiced, noble poise.

"Hold your head up and act like the Young Madam of the Dukedom," Wenzhe muttered under his breath, his voice low enough so only she could hear.

[Act like the Young Madam? Please, I look like an absolute goddess today,] Yueqing scoffed mentally, giving his hand a subtle, petty squeeze. [You should be thanking your lucky stars that I’m walking beside you, General. Otherwise, people might mistake you for a lonely, terrifying guard.]

Wenzhe swallowed hard, forcing himself not to react to her commentary as the guards escorted them through the main archway into the sprawling, brilliantly lit courtyard of the estate.

Just behind them, Zi Han’s carriage pulled up, the silver crest of the Top Scholar attracting another wave of excited whispers from the crowd. Zi Han stepped down with effortless grace, offering his hand to Lanyin as she stepped out, looking lovely and serene.

The Governor’s Youth Banquet had officially begun and the peaceful atmosphere was not going to last for long.

Led by the maids, the four of them walked through the illuminated stone paths toward the open-air banquet grounds. The party was held entirely outside under the night sky, with red lanterns hanging from the trees, soft music floating in the air, and tables arranged around the grand garden courtyard.

The second they stepped onto the main grounds, the whole place went completely dead silent.

Every single head turned to look at them.

Wenzhe and Yueqing walked in first. Wenzhe looked tall, cold, and serious in his dark general robes. Right beside him, Yueqing moved softly, looking like a total angel in her pale pink and green hanfu. Her hair was done up nicely, and she looked so gentle and fragile that people could barely believe it was her.

Right behind them were Zi Han and Lanyin, looking like a perfect pair from a storybook. Zi Han was calm and handsome in his silver scholar robes, and Lanyin walked beside him looking quiet and pretty.

The nobles sitting at the outdoor tables started whispering like crazy.

"Is that General Xi and his wife?"

"She looks so soft tonight... what happened?"

"Wait, why is Master Zi Han with Lady Lanyin?"

Listening to all the chatter, Wenzhe let out a long, tired sigh. He looked down at Yueqing, who was smiling so sweet and fake to the crowd, while her fingers were secretly touching the laxative packet hidden inside her sleeve.

[Look at these idiots staring,] her mind was already screaming in his head, full of evil excitement. [Enjoy looking while you can, because by the end of the night, half of you are gonna be crying behind a bush.]

Wenzhe pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed again.

He honestly didn’t know if he should be worried about his wife, or if he should be worried for the people at this banquet. Because looking at the crazy glint in her eyes, Su Yueqing definitely didn’t come here to play.