Chapter 51
“What truth?”
Mu Qing felt a little lost, like she was in a fog, but her husband’s expression only grew more grave.
He hesitated for a moment, then finally seemed to have made up his mind. Staring straight into Mu Qing’s eyes, he began, “Miao-niang, I…”
He looked as if he was about to bare his heart once more, but Mu Qing had no desire to hear it anymore.
What had just been said was already emotionally exhausting. If there was more so-called “truth” coming, she truly might not be able to handle it.
With that thought, she instinctively shook her head and said, “It’s alright. If you don’t want to say it for now, I won’t press you… But Sister Yanran, how did you end up returning together with my husband?”
She smoothly shifted the topic to that Madam Yanran, deliberately ignoring the trace of disappointment and loss on her husband’s face. After all, the alarm bells in her mind were blaring loudly…
Danger! Retreat!
The more she knew about him, the more complicated things would become. Though her husband wasn’t a bad person, he was far from what she’d envisioned for herself.
Thanks, but no thanks.
This subtle resistance had actually existed from the very beginning, but this time it was especially obvious—after all, things had already come to this point. A normal person would at least listen with a smile when someone poured out their feelings.
It wasn’t as if her husband had any major flaws—whether in looks or character—but the problem was never really about him.
The one with issues was Mu Qing.
She just couldn’t accept becoming someone’s wife in this world, especially after learning about the original storyline.
And after witnessing so many cautionary tales.
She was scared.
What was wrong with being alone?
She was already the daughter of the richest man in Jiangnan. Her elder brother and younger brother both seemed capable. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live happily as a salted fish?
Why bother getting married?
Most importantly, if the fake marriage turned into a real one… would that count as a breach of contract?
As Mu Qing’s mind wandered through these disjointed thoughts, she didn’t even notice the deepening gaze from her husband. Across from them, Miss Yanran also began to look at her with growing interest, then turned and smiled at her husband.
“Ah Di, your wife really is something. But since you’re holding back, I suppose I’ll have to do the ‘no holds barred, full disclosure’ version myself.”
Mu Qing’s husband didn’t speak.
Miss Yanran didn’t mind at all. She simply kept smiling at Mu Qing.
Mu Qing had no choice but to return the smile. “Sister Yanran, you flatter me. Since you’re so frank, then I must listen carefully with gratitude.”
Hearing Mu Qing’s response, Miss Yanran’s smile grew even brighter.
But just as she had said, she really did tell the entire story from beginning to end without omitting a thing.
After all, she’d been in the information and intelligence trade for years. As the “boss lady,” Miss Yanran revealed herself to be a true professional the moment she spoke.
Not only was her narrative organized and well-paced, but it also carried a touch of humor and wit.
With such masterful storytelling, combined with her angelic face and the ever-present sweet smile on her lips…
Mu Qing instantly understood why this Sister Yanran had, upon debuting in Jinling’s flower district ten years ago, quickly risen to prominence—and then in the blink of an eye, become the head of the entire world of courtesans, a realm that in many ways played men like puppets.
Because she was simply too formidable.
Even in the modern world, she’d be the type who’d rocket to success like a motivational legend.
Perhaps because she was so impressed, Mu Qing couldn’t help but gaze at Sister Yanran with a touch of admiration in her eyes.
She thought she’d concealed it well, but both people present were experts. No matter who it was, neither of them could possibly miss such an obvious emotional shift.
Miss Yanran, as the recipient of Mu Qing’s admiring gaze, naturally noticed it right away.
But she didn’t say anything. The only change was that the smile at the corner of her lips became even more pronounced.
As for her husband, the reaction was entirely different.
Ever since Mu Qing interrupted his “emotional confession,” he’d been a little off. But since Mu Qing had actively changed the subject, with his personality and manners, he absolutely wouldn’t interrupt her and steer the conversation back.
So, he could only swallow it all down.
And sulk alone.
Yet Mu Qing not only showed him no warmth, she smiled so sweetly at Sister Yanran, his adoptive mother’s daughter…
Not only that, she was all gentle and attentive toward her, even placing such importance on everything she said.
And he had just been about to say something similar… Why didn’t she want to hear it from him… even cut him off directly… This was just…
Rarely did Chu Yu experience so many “useless” emotions at once. He didn’t know whether to find it novel or to feel depressed.
If those two in the palace knew about this, they’d probably laugh at him.
If his brothers knew, they’d definitely be indignant that he lost out to such a sibling.
Thinking about the mess in the palace, Chu Yu’s brows knit again. But since his wife was present, his gloom wouldn’t last long.
As soon as he drifted into thought, he heard his wife’s exaggerated laughter:
“Hahaha! Sister Yanran, are you serious? How did you even pull that off? You’re incredible! Ahahaha…”
She was laughing so joyfully.
Why didn’t she ever laugh like that when he spoke?
Chu Yu felt a bit wronged. He glanced gloomily at his wife, only to find that she didn’t even spare him a single glance…
His depression deepened.
And to make matters worse, every little expression of his was caught by Sister Yanran. Even while chatting cheerfully with his wife, she still had time to shoot him a teasing glance, making Chu Yu feel even worse.
Mu Qing wasn’t completely oblivious to the little “silent skirmish” between her husband and Sister Yanran.
She was just pretending not to notice.
After such an awkward interruption and such a blunt change of subject, she didn’t even have the courage to look at her husband’s outrageously handsome face.
Truly, every day they were together was a tightrope walk at the edge of emotional boundaries… They’d agreed to only talk business—if feelings got involved, things would definitely get messy. Very messy.
So, she had to stay firm.
Mu Qing forcefully cut off all the stray thoughts in her mind and listened with a straight face as Sister Yanran finished telling the full truth—sure enough, just as she expected, it really was a story packed with coincidences and outrageous twists.
The current Emperor was old, weak, indecisive, still clinging to the memory of a past love, and treated the Empress poorly. And now the harem was in chaos.
The Empress’s son, the First Prince, was dead. The Second Prince, born of the Noble Consort, was locked in a fierce battle with the Fourth Prince, who had been adopted by the Empress. The Third and Fifth Princes had each picked sides, shaping up to be a standoff between rival factions.
At this rate, it was truly a case of the city gate catching fire and the fish in the moat suffering as a result.
As Mu Qing thought about all this, she more or less figured out the mission her husband had upon returning—so in the end, he’d chosen to support the family in joining the succession struggle?
Now the only question was: which faction did he pick?
“So… we’ve chosen the Fourth Prince’s side?” Mu Qing paused in thought before finally asking.
