Chapter 182: Unbelievable Events
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Even if she found the person who drew the diagram, what could she do? Kill them? That didn’t seem appropriate. Just because someone could draw a diagram didn’t mean they deserved to die—possession of the diagram didn’t make someone a culprit. But if she didn’t kill them, the bed crossbow would inevitably be passed on, rendering her advantage since her rebirth seemingly useless.
Mingzhu drew on the table with tea water, her thoughts becoming chaotic. Su Lan briskly walked in and said, “Wangfei, His Highness has arrived. He happened to meet Master Ban Jian outside the courtyard gate and stopped him to ask questions.”
Didn’t he say he wouldn’t meddle in technical matters and artisans? What did it mean to stop Ban Jian and ask questions now? Mingzhu got up and hurried out of the courtyard, scanning around. Sure enough, she saw Yuwen Chu standing under the apricot tree in crimson attire, with his head slightly lowered, listening to Ban Jian speak. Ban Jian was gesturing animatedly, looking excited, while Yuwen Chu smiled, listening with interest.
Mingzhu rushed over like a gust of wind, smiling, “Why didn’t His Highness come in?” She warned Ban Jian with a glance, implying he shouldn’t speak recklessly.
Ban Jian smiled somewhat guiltily at her and bowed to Yuwen Chu before leaving.
Yuwen Chu saw everything clearly but didn’t detain Ban Jian, smiling and saying, “I was about to come in, but seeing a familiar face, I stopped to say hello.”
Familiar face? Well, of course, the perpetrator and the victim naturally counted as familiar faces. If he hadn’t stolen the diagram from Ban Jian, she wouldn’t have been able to casually make Ban Jian sign the contract of servitude. Mingzhu’s smile grew even sweeter and brighter as she linked her arm with Yuwen Chu’s, saying, “It’s getting late, and our family is waiting for us to start the banquet. Shall we?”
Yuwen Chu placed his hand on her shoulder, supporting her as they walked inside. “I just finished discussing matters with Father-in-law and Brother-in-law, and I came in specifically to see you. If you’re holding up, I’ll escort you to the banquet. If not, you can rest, and we’ll go home early.”
“I’m fine.” In front of so many family members, Mingzhu couldn’t pretend to be affectionate with him, so she awkwardly made room for him to walk beside her, saying, “His Highness was speaking with Ban Jian just now, and he seemed quite happy.”
“It was nothing.” Yuwen Chu replied casually, glancing at her again. “I believe you already know; we need to work together to accomplish that matter. Since he’s such a crucial person, I wanted to learn more in advance to see if he’s reliable. What do you think, Wangfei?”
How could she feel? Although she really wanted to hide Ban Jian and not let anyone know his importance regarding the bed crossbow, she couldn’t hide it from Yuwen Chu, let alone from those below him. Mingzhu said with a lack of energy, “Your Highness is very considerate, but I’m afraid you’re too considerate, making me be compared to dust. How can that be good?” He was wealthy and powerful, cunning and crafty, adept at reading people’s minds and saying pleasing words. Ban Jian could easily be swayed by him, which was unsettling to think about.
Yuwen Chu seemed to find her powerless and petty demeanor amusing. He lowered his head and lightly blew a breath into her ear, whispering, “Wangfei has keen insight. This child is an extraordinary genius. It’s such a waste for him to be a servant for you. It’s better to let him follow me. I’ll send him to the army, where he can fully utilize his talents. What do you think?”
He must be doing this on purpose! This half-joking, half-probing approach clearly indicated his desire for Ban Jian. Who wouldn’t want to control such a useful person? Apparently, although Yuwen Chu often teased her, he usually ended up yielding to her in the end. Thus, Mingzhu felt somewhat aggrieved. Unable to contain her emotions, she teared up, “Your Highness is clever, capable, and powerful. I can’t compare to you in anything. But you promised to treat me well. How can you plan and scheme against me like this? Just because I have something good, you want to deceive me and take it away. It’s outrageous!”
Instead of arguing with him, she used this move! Yuwen Chu was somewhat surprised. He earnestly scrutinized Mingzhu for a moment, confirming that she wasn’t just acting but genuinely seemed upset. He then dropped his smile, took her hand, and said, “Silly girl, where are your thoughts? What’s mine is yours.”
Was the next thing he was going to say, “What’s yours is mine too”? Absolutely not! Her things were hers, of course. Although she also wanted his things, it depended on whether he was willing. Mingzhu complained, “You asked me for him yourself, and now you’re saying it’s all my fault. You know I’m not feeling well, yet you still provoke me like this. Are you trying to provoke me to death so you can marry Jiang Shanshan? After all, she’s intelligent, considerate, generous, and virtuous, definitely not as unreasonable and petulant as I am!”
Even if she cried, made a scene, or even threw herself on the ground and rolled around, she absolutely couldn’t give in and give Ban Jian to him. She had to make him give up this idea and not dare to mention Ban Jian again. Men were creatures of habit; if you gave an inch, they’d take a mile. This time it was Ban Jian; what would it be next time? Joking around was not an option! She couldn’t ruin the conditions and rules discussed with her father and brothers!
“Fine, fine, fine, I won’t argue with you.” Yuwen Chu didn’t expect her to cry at the drop of a hat, let alone cry more fiercely, let alone bring up Jiang Shanshan. It was completely unreasonable! Feeling embarrassed, he looked around and saw the servants pretending not to see or hear anything, so he quickly turned away, wiped her tears with his sleeve, and coaxed, “Stop crying, it’s embarrassing. What’s between you and me, why involve others? If the family sees it, they’ll think I’m bullying you.”
“You are bullying me! I’m upset, you’re making me feel bad, and I can’t help but cry!” Mingzhu stamped her feet and twisted and turned like a spoiled child as she did before in front of her father and brothers. She didn’t let him wipe her tears away. “I know you’re thinking about Jiang Shanshan. Why else would Royal Mother and Fu Ning always praise her? You won’t even say a few good words about me in front of them.”
Yuwen Chu frowned, “Why do you keep bringing her up? Are you being reasonable?”
“Why shouldn’t I bring her up? If you really think I’m better than her, why don’t you say something nice about me in front of her?” Mingzhu rarely found a topic he was reluctant to bring up, so she naturally seized the opportunity to tease him. Regardless of whether it made sense, she just wanted to argue until he forgot about or dared not mention Ban Jian again.
Ask him to say good things about her in front of Jiang Shanshan? That request was truly unbelievable. Was there anything she couldn’t think of? Yuwen Chu remained silent for a long time, coughed lightly, released her hand, and solemnly bowed to the person behind her, saying, “Father-in-law, please forgive me for my rudeness.”
Even if Mingzhu was acting like a spoiled child, she couldn’t bear to twist and turn in front of her father like this, so she stood still, feeling embarrassed.
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