Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 191: Strolling Through the Lantern Festival (First Update)
The banquet ended early, and the Lantern Festival in the Capital is always bustling every year.
After leaving the palace, Su Juan threw the calligraphy she was holding to Duke Ping and left with Liu Miaoying, with Xie Xun and Song Qianhang following behind.
The two girls looked at the lanterns, and after a long time, they still couldn’t find one they liked.
Only then did the stall owner take out his signature lantern, intricately crafted and beautifully radiant.
Su Juan immediately liked it, her eyes lit up.
But the stall owner said, "Ladies, this lantern can only be yours if you solve all the riddles on this stall."
Someone pulled out silver, intending to buy the lantern, but the stall owner was adamant that all the riddles must be solved; he was resolute in not selling the lantern.
The group exchanged glances and then began to tackle the riddles, with many people gathering around, all having taken a fancy to this lantern.
Seeing that Su Juan liked it, Song Qianhang and Liu Miaoying started solving the riddles one by one, astonishing the onlookers with their speed, as if they were as quick as the riddle creators.
They were stumped until the last riddle.
"A small boat travels, carrying ten passengers daily, without oars or sails, busy traveling during the day across the world without water."
The crowd murmured, "What kind of boat has no oars or sails?"
"Indeed, and it doesn’t need water either."
Su Juan rubbed her chin, her eyes lighting up, "I know!"
"Shoes," a clear voice rang out from behind, prompting the group to turn and see Liu Xuan had appeared behind them, dressed in a lotus-colored robe.
Song Qianhang looked at Liu Xuan, a flicker of annoyance crossing his eyes—he had been beaten to it.
Liu Miaoying felt she could smell the gunpowder in the air again.
Just then, Xie Xun took the lantern from the stall owner’s hands and waved it in front of the group, holding it with delight. He raised an eyebrow, "What’s so great about guessing riddles?"
Aren’t these vendors out here for silver? As long as you offer enough, who wouldn’t sell?
Sure enough, the stall owner who had just insisted that the lantern was not for sale was now clutching a heavy money pouch that was unmistakably Xie Xun’s.
The group fell silent: "..."
They had wasted half a day guessing, like fools.
The stall owner chuckled, "I really didn’t want to sell it, but this gentleman offered far too much."
Consider it forging a good fate.
Su Juan tutted, "So it was not about not selling but about not offering enough."
Xie Xun showed them what it meant to use money to move even ghosts.
He stuffed the lantern into Su Juan’s hands, looking smugly at the group, shaking his fan, thinking, "Trying to impress the little lord here? Do you even know who you are in front of?"
The lord of the brothel for many years—against the young lord, you’ve got a lot to learn.
Liu Xuan looked at the lantern in Su Juan’s hands, remained silent for a moment, and said nothing.
Song Qianhang wanted to swear, it’s just silver, as if he didn’t have any.
Liu Miaoying picked a rabbit-shaped lantern from the others, then dragged Su Juan’s hand, pushing through to the theater stage, "Ah Juan, there’s a shadow play over there, let’s go see it."
The two walked away with their lanterns.
The three followed behind, with Song Qianhang speaking first, "I’ve always heard Mr. Liu doesn’t enjoy the bustle, but today he’s in the mood to join in with these things only girls like. How curious."
Xie Xun heard and thought, oh, it’s getting heated.
Liu Xuan’s tone was calm, "When in Xu State, I promised Miss Su to accompany her from now on, so today, naturally, I must join her in having fun."
Xie Xun widened his eyes, this is speaking falsehoods with open eyes—what they had actually boasted about on the loft, the young lord had heard it all, and Su Juan hadn’t said anything about accompanying like this.
He had been there and knew this, but Song Qianhang didn’t.
A trace of doubt flashed in Song Qianhang’s eyes, but seeing Liu Xuan’s expression not like someone telling lies, he felt somewhat uneasy.
"Seems Mr. Liu’s trip to Xu State really did yield quite the bounty."
This sarcastic tone made Xie Xun want to give a thumbs up.
Liu Xuan glanced at him, "Unlike Junior Minister Song, I hear he has a talented and beautiful mistress in his private residence. Congratulations."
Xie Xun immediately gave Liu Xuan a thumbs up; not bad!
Unexpectedly, Liu Xuan’s sharp retorts were no worse than others.
Song Qianhang frowned deeply, "What mistress? It’s entirely fictitious."
He merely made a deal with Xian Yun, redeeming her from courtesan service, lending her the house to live in, while in the future, he’ll arrange a prestigious marriage for her.
And Xian Yun was providing him with all the information about Song Qianfan’s movements and those he contacts via her.
On that day, armed with Xian Yun’s testimony and evidence, he went to accuse in the palace, and His Majesty didn’t say much but told him to observe and listen more at Prince Jing Mansion, to keep a close watch on Song Qianfan, leading to his promotion at Zongzheng Temple.
It was merely a transaction, nothing like a mistress, where had such rumors sprouted?
Liu Xuan saw his expression of total ignorance, understanding internally, and advised him, "Junior Minister Song believes he’s calculated others, yet the human heart is unpredictable; I’m afraid you’re the one being calculated."
Anyone who stayed by Song Qianfan’s side for years couldn’t be simple.
That Xian Yun, seeing Song Qianfan disgraced with no hope and tangled with an ex-wife, opted for the appearance of Prince Jing Mansion’s second young master, who could not miss the opportunity.
For Xian Yun, the losses she suffered with Song Qianfan would not be repeated; now that she’s transferred to a better status, she’s intent on solidifying the situation.
These rumors about having a mistress, the origin is self-evident.
Song Qianhang’s gaze immediately darkened.
Xie Xun thought, if Yu Zhong and Bai Ziling were also here, it’d be a lively scene; the four of them together could even play mahjong.
He fanned himself, observing the two girls in front, carrying lanterns and holding hands, and sighed, Su Juan keeps saying others are flamboyant, but really, she’s the most flamboyant.
Truly blessed.
...
That night, back at Duke Mansion.
Duke Ping had someone bring over sweet dumpling soup, smiling as he watched Su Juan eat.
"Girl, did you go out with Liu Xuan and Song the Second to walk the Lantern Festival tonight?"
Su Juan nodded while chewing on a dumpling, responding with a muffled "Mmm."
"Tell your granduncle, do you like this Liu Xuan or Song the Second...?"
"Cough—cough cough!"
Su Juan choked, her face turning red, "What nonsense are you talking about!?"
"What do you mean like Liu Xuan or Song Qianhang, that’s nonsense."
Duke Ping patted her back to calm her, replying with an "Oh," "Not one of them, then."
Su Juan’s temples throbbed, "I went with Miaoying instead."
"And Miaoying! Such a big person, you didn’t mention her even once!"
Duke Ping chuckled, "Then you like the Minister of the Ministry of Justice; granduncle thinks he’s quite good too."
Su Juan’s face turned black.
"I heard when you were in Xu State, Yu Zhong took good care of you; he’s older and considerate."
Su Juan: "..." Who’s spreading all this nonsense?
In the distance, Xie Xun, holding a bowl of sweet dumpling soup, sneezed several times in a row. Rubbing his nose, he wondered: Why am I sneezing so much?
Was someone thinking about the young lord?
