Chapter Three: The Prejudice in One’s Heart Is a Mountain
Prime Minister’s Residence.
The eastern wing.
“What?!”
Upon hearing the news that Li Yunjie had gone to Drunken Moon Pavilion, Su Qingmeng slammed her palm down, shattering the table to pieces.
“Speak! What was he doing at Drunken Moon Pavilion?”
The red-armored official before her was so frightened by her outburst that he instinctively stepped back.
“Miss, the young master… he paid a hefty sum to reserve the entire Drunken Moon Pavilion, and took all the women into the private chambers…”
Su Qingmeng trembled with rage at these words, her long hair swirling around her as if caught by an invisible wind.
“And—what—happened—next!” Su Qingmeng spat out each word through gritted teeth.
“An hour later, the young master… he went to the Music Bureau.”
“He’s looking for death!” Su Qingmeng growled, biting her molars. “That lecherous scoundrel! Useless, irredeemable trash!”
“Today, I’ll cripple him myself!”
With that, crimson energy surged from her, her eyes turning bloodshot with murderous intent.
“Where is he?!”
The red-armored official broke into a cold sweat, wiping his brow as he answered, “The young master just returned to the residence and is currently in the main hall.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than Su Qingmeng took off in a flash, a crimson shadow smashing through the carved wooden door.
In the blink of an eye, she stood before Li Yunjie.
A sword’s cold gleam flashed—steel rang from its sheath.
“Again?!” Li Yunjie only glimpsed a sliver of icy light before feeling that all-too-familiar chill.
“Li, son of the late Prince, since you have married into my Su family, you are now our son-in-law!” Su Qingmeng’s voice was frigid and emotionless.
“My family intended to accept you, to give you shelter.”
“And you? Not only are you ungrateful, but you persist in disgraceful behavior!”
“First, you humiliated my younger sister. Now, you openly frequent brothels and sully our reputation!”
“Today, I will kill you!”
Faced with her accusations, Li Yunjie remained calm.
“My dear, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding.”
“I was investigating a case today.”
“Nonsense!” Su Qingmeng spat, “What sort of case could you possibly investigate in a place like that?”
Li Yunjie paused, saying nothing more.
The wretched reputation of his predecessor was deeply entrenched in Su Qingmeng’s mind. No matter how he tried to explain, to her it was nothing but excuses.
He smiled wryly and sighed, “Indeed, the prejudices within the human heart are like an immovable mountain.”
“What?” Su Qingmeng, her mind clouded by anger, barely caught his words.
“Nothing,” Li Yunjie replied, waving his hand dismissively.
He turned, looking past Su Qingmeng to Su Ming at the front of the hall. “Father-in-law, I have reported all my findings for today.”
“If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave.”
Su Ming nodded, “Go.”
---
“Father!” Su Qingmeng called out as she saw Li Yunjie about to depart, “This man is cunning and devious—he cannot be trusted!”
Su Ming lifted his gaze, his look brooking no argument.
“I have granted him three days. Three days, no more.”
“After three days, you may deal with him as you wish.”
With that, he turned on his heel and strode away.
Su Qingmeng watched Li Yunjie’s retreating back, grinding her teeth in hate. She raised her sword and struck at him, sending a gust of sword energy that split the peach tree beside him clean in two, scattering petals across the ground.
Li Yunjie paused, casting a pitying glance at the unlucky peach tree.
“Young master,” Eleven complained, recalling Su Qingmeng’s earlier actions. “Why is the eldest Miss Su so unreasonable?”
“She’s merely a warrior,” Li Yunjie scoffed. “All brawn, no brains!”
“Once I discover the truth, I’ll be rid of that shrew for good!”
“Young master,” Eleven corrected him, “You’re the son-in-law here. If anyone is to be rid of, it’s her sending you away.”
Li Yunjie rolled his eyes. “Thank you for the reminder!”
“You’re welcome, young master,” Eleven replied, scratching his head awkwardly.
Li Yunjie nearly choked on his own frustration.
He patted Eleven’s shoulder, smiling with narrowed eyes, “Eleven, I’d like to take a walk to clear my head. Could you go back to your quarters for now?”
Eleven shook his head firmly. “Young master, if I leave, who will protect you?”
Li Yunjie glanced at the chipped kitchen knife at Eleven’s side, a thousand curses running through his mind.
“Eleven, with my luck, nothing will happen to me.”
“Besides, Lord Su has given me three days’ grace. Nothing can threaten my life in that time.”
“Don’t worry.”
As he spoke, he gently pushed Eleven away.
Unable to resist any longer, Eleven muttered a warning to be cautious and left, looking back every few steps.
“Finally!”
Li Yunjie drew in a deep breath, the air seeming fresher at once.
He wandered until he reached the eastern wing.
Inside Su Xiyan’s room, candlelight flickered, casting a graceful silhouette upon the wall.
“Oh no!”
Li Yunjie hurried forward, about to open the door, when a maid blocked his way.
“Sir, have you lost your way? This is the Second Miss’s room!”
“Step aside!” Li Yunjie shoved the maid aside, shouting, “Someone’s life is at stake!”
With that, he kicked open the door.
As expected, a white silk sash was hanging from the beam, Su Xiyan suspended from it, her delicate feet flailing helplessly in the air.
“Why would you do this?!”
Li Yunjie, exasperated, rushed to lift her up.
Her icy feet pressed against his face, carrying a faint scent of lotus.
“This girl is heavier than she looks!”
Straining, Li Yunjie called out to those outside, “Why are you all just standing there? Hurry and help!”
The maids, frightened out of their wits, finally stumbled into the room.
Together they managed to untie Su Xiyan from the sash after several clumsy attempts.
In the confusion, Li Yunjie lost his balance and fell to the floor.
---
Su Xiyan toppled with him, landing squarely on his chest.
A softness spread across his chest, so tangible he could almost feel her delicate skin through his shirt.
A faint jasmine fragrance drifted from her hair to the tip of his nose.
Three thousand strands of black hair brushed Li Yunjie’s handsome face.
Whether from lack of air or shy embarrassment, Su Xiyan’s cheeks were flushed crimson.
A single hot tear rolled from her bloodshot eyes, falling onto Li Yunjie’s left cheek.
Thump-thump.
He could not tell if it was his heart or Su Xiyan’s pounding so fiercely, echoing through his chest and into his soul.
“Xiyan!”
Su Qingmeng’s anxious voice shattered the moment.
Li Yunjie snapped back to himself and quickly helped Su Xiyan to her feet.
“Are you all right?!” Su Qingmeng shoved Li Yunjie aside and asked urgently.
Su Xiyan bit her lip in grievance, her willow brows tightly knit together.
She buried herself in Su Qingmeng’s arms, shoulders shaking with sobs.
“Don’t be afraid.”
“With me here, no one will hurt you.”
Su Qingmeng comforted her sister with gentle pats, all the while glaring daggers at Li Yunjie.
“I wasn’t bullying her!” Li Yunjie pointed to the maids, explaining, “Ask them if you don’t believe me.”
“Miss,” one maid hurriedly bowed and stammered, “Just now, Miss Xiyan tried to hang herself…”
“If the young master hadn’t intervened…”
“Fools!” Su Qingmeng cut her off with a snarl.
“I told you to watch over Xiyan. Is this what you call watching over her?!”
Her shout sent both maids trembling to their knees.
“Spare us, my lady! We know our mistake!”
“Forgive us!”
“Out!” Su Qingmeng barked.
She then shot a cold glance at Li Yunjie. “You, too! If not for you, why would Xiyan seek death?”
Li Yunjie said nothing.
He had indeed been wrongly accused.
And he had indeed compromised Su Xiyan’s reputation.
The taste of injustice stuck in his throat.
Helplessly, he brushed off his sleeves and turned to leave.
Perhaps out of gratitude for saving Su Xiyan, or perhaps from a sense of justice, Su Qingmeng suddenly called after him, “Both guards found dead at Prince Qiyang’s mansion bore the seal of Taihu Academy.”
“I wounded the assassin’s left arm during our fight.”
Li Yunjie paused, looked back at the Su sisters, and murmured his thanks…