Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 117: She Just Wants to Treat You Like a Little Brother
Shen Ruhui stayed in Xie Xun’s courtyard. Although they met, they rarely spoke, but Liu Xuan started coming to Duke Ping Mansion more frequently, so much so that Xie Xun had no chance to visit the brothel or drink a little wine.
Duke Ping quite liked Liu Xuan’s visits, as it made Xie Xun much more well-behaved.
Evidently, Liu Xuan was the one who could subdue Xie Xun.
However, the main reason was that Duke Ping was happy to see Liu Xuan getting closer to his great-niece.
With Liu Xuan’s abilities, if he secures his rank this time, he is bound to have a bright future in court, assisting Su Juan. Even if something unexpected happened to himself in the future, there wouldn’t be too much to worry about.
Song Qianhang visited once but left quickly. He seemed very busy lately, and even Su Juan noticed.
There were fierce struggles among the various powers in the court, with some seeking an audience with the Central Examination Officer, Marquis Wu Yuan, for a promising future for their sons, or to foster close ties with him, but all were turned away.
Who would have thought that at this venerable age, he could be reappointed by Your Majesty after years of peaceful life in the mansion.
Meanwhile, the Emperor’s birthday approached, and the Ministry of Rites was busily engaged in preparations.
Prince Han, to prepare a birthday gift that would please the Emperor, dispatched many people to handle it, and eventually brought the items back to the Capital City.
In previous years, Song Qianfan had handled this for the Prince Jing Mansion, but this year, because his eldest son had especially disappointed him, Prince Jing assigned the task to Song Qianhang.
This was a good opportunity to appear before the Emperor and win his favor.
For this reason, Princess Jing had a spat with Prince Jing again, feeling that a good opportunity for their eldest son to appear before Your Majesty and re-enter his career path was given to their second son by her husband.
As a result, Song Qianfan looked at Song Qianhang even more unfavorably.
Lately, he noticed that this younger brother went out frequently. Previously, he associated with Xie Xun and those playboys, but now he interacts frequently with those from the Imperial College.
Therefore, he arranged for two people to keep an eye on Song Qianhang, while he himself plotted how to regain the Emperor’s favor.
On the Emperor’s birthday, officials gathered for a court meeting. Originally, Su Juan’s position should have been towards the back, but for some reason, she was placed very forward, making it impossible for her to indulge in food or pretend to be absent since people constantly engaged her in conversation.
Just as Su Juan was about to put some food into her mouth, someone came to speak with her. After one conversation ended, another began, making her nearly furious. So much so that when Bai Ziling, grandson of Marquis Wu Yuan, turned around to speak with Su Juan, he saw her stuffing a large piece of pastry into her mouth in frustration.
Su Juan’s cheeks were puffed, resembling a small rabbit, which looked so cute that Bai Ziling couldn’t help but laugh.
Su Juan: "..."
[Why are you laughing at me?]
Hearing this, quite a few people looked over.
The Minister of Rites furrowed his brows; the Emperor hadn’t even arrived, yet this Vice Director was behaving so gluttonously and inappropriately!
Someone mocked loudly at Su Juan, "Vice Director, haven’t you eaten in hundreds of years?"
The way she ate was indeed like someone who hadn’t eaten for centuries.
Su Juan could hear the sarcasm in their words but ignored them. After chewing a few times and swallowing, she looked at Bai Ziling, "Who are you, and why were you laughing at me earlier?"
She looked Bai Ziling up and down affirmatively, ensuring she hadn’t seen him before.
Bai Ziling immediately introduced himself, "Miss Su, I am Bai Ziling from the Marquis Wu Yuan Mansion."
Su Juan blinked, [So he’s Marquis Wu Yuan’s grandson.]
Many people turned their attention over, as it was well known that Su Juan had caused them to copy scriptures for the Li Family’s son who committed suicide. Now, with Bai Ziling talking to Su Juan, was he here to settle scores?
Due to his mobility issues, Bai Ziling rarely ventured out and wasn’t much of a talker. His temperament was gentler than most, even a bit timid, disliking appearing in large gatherings. His presence here surprised many.
Su Juan: "I’ve heard of you."
[Didn’t expect such a small stature to have blinded Mr. Li’s son.]
If she remembered correctly, Mr. Li’s son was rather burly, or else Bai Ziling wouldn’t have been so oppressed usually.
Bai Ziling smiled, "I’ve heard of you too and find you admirable. Though a woman, you serve the court."
Especially her statements that day expressed the military generals’ grievances and defended the name of the Marquis Wu Yuan Mansion, earning gratitude from both his grandfather and himself.
While the two conversed, several pairs of eyes were fixed on them, with Song Qianhang’s gaze being the most noticeable.
Seeing the scene before him, Marquis Wu Yuan felt gratified. His grandson, born to his daughter-in-law on the battlefield, was crippled by the war, suffering from a lifelong leg ailment.
Initially, when they returned to the Capital City, his grandson was willing to go out, seeing as he had only spoken to soldiers before.
Returning to the Capital City, he thought he could finally play with peers.
But due to his disability, those peers ridiculed, ostracized, and even insulted him as a parentless bastard.
From then on, he became silent and reserved, only leaving home to buy books and refraining from deep friendships with his peers.
Despite the numerous banquets in the Capital City, his grandson never attended. Marquis Wu Yuan originally thought that as long as his grandson could live safely, that was enough, for living was already a fortune amidst misfortune.
Yet, he never imagined the event that ensued, where people demanded his grandson’s life in exchange, rendering him unwilling to leave the mansion ever again.
As a grandfather, he felt both heartbroken and powerless.
Until that day, when former subordinates arrived at the mansion with enthusiasm, recounting the events of an early morning assembly. Su Juan’s words truly articulated the sufferings of martial generals, sharply criticizing the hypocritical civil servants fanning the flames.
His grandson, from that moment, took great interest in Su Juan, frequently sending people to inquire about her, laughing as he listened to what they brought back.
Now, he was even willing to venture outside, which he assumed was to see the Su Juan he had only heard of but never met.
Marquis Wu Yuan wiped his tears, his grandson’s transformation was such joy; even if this girl had been divorced, as long as his grandson liked her, he’d approve, especially since Su Juan didn’t seem to mind Bai Ziling’s limp. He couldn’t be happier.
By this point, others had also realized that Bai Ziling was nowhere near confronting Su Juan; his eyes on her were practically glowing with affection.
Nearby, Song Qianfan’s eyes glinted coldly, a smirk on his lips. A cripple, daring to covet something belonging to the princely heir.
