Chapter 27: The Su Estate

"I have not been to see her for a long time," Su Yun said with a gentle, smiling voice.

Song Xirui feigned surprise. "In that case, you have neglected Yun'er."

"My lady, what are you saying? Compared to you, she is not even worth mentioning," Su Yun replied with a laugh.

Both were wearing metaphorical masks as they spoke, maintaining a superficial peace.

—

The carriage arrived at the Su estate.

After Song Xirui returned to her room to rest for a moment, a maid from Su Yun's courtyard came to report. "My Lady, the Master and the Young Master have prepared many fine dishes to celebrate your return. They invite you to grace them with your presence."

Song Xirui’s lips twitched, and she nodded slightly. "I shall come at once."

"..."

Half a cup of tea’s time later.

"Rui'er, you really must not act so petulantly in the future," Madam Li said, a smile plastered on her face, though her tone was sharp with reprimand. "Tell me, ever since you returned to your maiden home, your husband has been impeached in the imperial court again. By causing such a scene, you have harmed him terribly! A woman who has married should follow her husband; you cannot simply run back to your parents' house at the slightest grievance!"

Su Yun sat to the side, picking at his food, feigning total ignorance of the situation.

*What a dog of a man,* Song Xirui cursed silently. *Why is he silent now? He doesn't dare stand up for himself, so he has learned to let his own mother handle his dirty work.*

Song Xirui set down her chopsticks and put on a look of deep grievance. "Mother-in-law, if Luo Yun'er had not been truly excessive, how could I have returned to my maiden home? It is spread all over the capital that she is the one Su Yun truly loves in his heart, and that I was only married for the sake of his career! My heart is full of bitterness!"

As she spoke, tears welled up in her beautiful eyes.

Madam Li was stunned. "I only said a few words, why are you crying?"

"My father pampered and spoiled me since I was a child; when have I ever suffered such slights?" Song Xirui was now fully immersed in her performance. "Every time I see my husband and Luo Yun'er being intimate, an indescribable sense of injustice churns within me!"

"If being a proper wife means suffering like this, it would truly be better to just die!"

Madam Li stammered, "Y-y-you..."

*This Song Xirui has become so formidable!* She had intended to accuse her of disrespecting her mother-in-law, but now the tables had turned, and she was the one in the wrong.

"Mother!" Su Yun, sensing the situation going awry, stepped in immediately. He placed some food into Song Xirui's bowl. "Xirui, do not be angry. Mother is old and spoke without thinking. Please, do not hold it against her."

Only then did Song Xirui quiet down, replying softly, "Yes."

Madam Li was so furious she nearly bit through her chopsticks.

—

For a time, Song Xirui and the people in the household lived in relative peace.

However, when night fell, Su Yun came to her room.

"Xirui, we are husband and wife. When I welcomed you into my home, I was filled with joy." Su Yun’s gentle words were laced with impatient calculation. "Look, tonight, shall we... be together?"

He was confident in his abilities; he believed that as long as he won Song Xirui over, she would be pregnant within three months. Before she had returned from the Marquis's estate, he had already discussed it with Madam Li. Once Song Xirui returned, they had to keep a tight grip on her. Tonight was the most crucial move in his scheme. Once he succeeded, Song Xirui would never be able to leave again.

"Husband, I am not feeling well, so I am afraid it is not convenient," Song Xirui said, a wave of nausea rising in her throat.

*Does Su Yun not hate me to the bone? To think he would even have such intentions.* It was clear he wanted to use this to shackle her. *Truly, he is utterly shameless.*

Su Yun grew restless, his brows furrowing slightly. "We are husband and wife; why does my lady resist so much?"

"I am truly exhausted. Husband, you had best leave," Song Xirui said with a cool expression, her heart filled with extreme loathing.

The mere thought that she had once been intimate with such a man made her want to retch. In this second life, she would never have any contact with Su Yun again. Well, with the exception of the day she would kill him.

Su Yun remained persistent. "Consummating our marriage is only a matter of time. We might as well cast aside this barrier early and be a happy couple."

He was well aware of her feelings for him; he believed she was merely acting out, playing the temperamental young lady to make him dote on her more. *Women are such a nuisance.*

"Husband, I only just returned from my maiden home today; I truly have no heart for this. You are a gentleman; why must you make things difficult for me?" Song Xirui said with biting sarcasm. "If I do not agree, do you intend to take me by force?"

Yet, despite her repeated refusals, Su Yun did not lose his temper, nor was he swayed. He shamelessly lingered in her room, refusing to budge an inch.

Song Xirui’s eyes turned cold, and the small paper charm in her sleeve stirred slightly.

Just then, Su Yun seemed to have made a decision and suddenly lunged toward her.

In response, Song Xirui kicked him hard.

Su Yun was sent sprawling onto his back, like a turtle flipped over.

"Song Xirui, you dare kick me!" Su Yun clutched his leg and glared at her, only to see Song Xirui clutching her mouth with a deathly pale face!

—

Red Bean, who was nearby, hurriedly brought over a spittoon.

Song Xirui frowned tightly and actually threw up the lunch she had eaten!

Su Yun felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow. The strings in his mind snapped. She had actually vomited in response to his affection! She found him so repulsive! How could this be? It was impossible.

Beyond the overwhelming humiliation, a deep sense of crisis flooded his mind. If Song Xirui truly felt such loathing for him, his life would be difficult indeed.

With this thought, he struggled to crawl to his feet, his face pale as he said, "Since my lady is so unwilling, then I shall leave!"

With that, he departed with a dark expression.

After he left, Red Bean helped Song Xirui to a chair and patted her back, blaming herself. "My Lady, are you feeling better? It is all my fault! I didn't realize the Young Master was going to act so brazenly!" *The Young Master is not worthy of my Lady; it would be better if the Lady divorced him sooner.*

Song Xirui sipped some tea and finally recovered. She looked at Red Bean and shook her head gently. "How can I blame you? He is a beast by nature; it was my own momentary carelessness."

As she spoke, a figure vaulted through the window.

He was dressed in a black brocade robe, with handsome features and a faint smile on his face.

Song Xirui was already used to his habit of entering through the window. She frowned slightly. "General, why have you come again?"

"I have been here for a while. I just watched quite a good show. Your ability to punish a man’s heart is truly exquisite, Madam Su." Xiao Yunci’s voice carried a touch of mockery, and he was clearly in a very good mood.

Song Xirui glanced at him coldly and said nothing.

"After being rejected by you like that, the top scholar will certainly feel immense shame and will not dare to trouble you for some time," Xiao Yunci said as he slowly walked over and sat down.

Before he could finish his planned remark about how "this plan of yours is quite brilliant," he looked up and noticed the color of Song Xirui’s face.

Beneath her pale skin, there was a flushed tint; she was truly feeling unwell.

His expression turned icy in an instant. "Did he really disgust you that much?"