Chapter 839 - 797: Too Deep a Misunderstanding (3 Updates)

Chapter 839: Chapter 797: Too Deep a Misunderstanding (3 Updates)

If Mrs. Li initially refused to believe that Feng Chuan would arrange for someone to humiliate her without reason, she completely fell silent after listening to Xu Jia’s words.

Because the fact that the palace had stopped the funds to her mother-in-law was undeniable, and the Ministry of Industry had brought people to dismantle several parts of their house was also true. Her father-in-law’s business was greatly affected, compounded by various restrictions during the national mourning, many businesses could not proceed, and the Feng family was now short of money everywhere.

Mrs. Li was aware of the financial troubles. She had even planned to inventory her dowry and sell what could be sold, exchanging it for silver to help her father-in-law in emergencies.

However, she never expected that while she intended to sell her dowry for silver to support her husband, her husband wanted to divorce her for a new influx of silver.

In an instant, Mrs. Li felt as if the world had collapsed.

"Feng Chuan is preparing to submit a petition to the office for justice, seemingly to restore your honor. In reality, he just wants to make the matter public. By then, Grandma, how will you manage yourself? Should it come to that, a divorce letter might be the best outcome. The real fear is that he will use deceitful words to plunge you into deep remorse, making you feel guilty towards him, so much so that you can’t bear to live. If you succumb to suicidal thoughts, it would only benefit the Feng family."

Mrs. Li listened with increasing alarm, "How could it be... Mr. Feng has always treated me well."

Xu Jia sneered, "That was before your interests clashed with his."

Mrs. Li still found it hard to believe, yet the masked woman’s words were logically flawless, leaving her without any counterarguments.

"You have just tonight to decide," Xu Jia reminded, "By dawn, the Injustice Bell at the Shuntian Prefecture Government will be sounded by the Feng family. Once the court session starts, there’s no turning back, Grandma Feng. Do you wish to gamble on Mr. Feng’s marital feelings for you, or risk trying to emerge unscathed from this ordeal?"

Mrs. Li wrung her hands in distress, pacing back and forth, deeply conflicted.

She couldn’t believe that her husband would dishonor her for money, but she dared not gamble. As she joked back in her maiden days, merchants never rise early without profit. Perhaps her husband, when desperate, truly plans to swap her out for a Jiuli woman.

The more she thought about it, the deeper Mrs. Li furrowed her brow.

Ultimately, she decided to protect herself and asked Xu Jia, "If I want to retreat without harm, how can you help me?"

"I can’t help you," Xu Jia replied, "The one who can help you is Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, Mr. Li, your biological father. I can at most deliver a message for you."

"My father?"

"Your father is a Third-rank Official; he certainly would not stand idly by while his daughter suffers such humiliation."

Mrs. Li pursed her lips, "Then what should I do?"

Xu Jia said, "Write down your grievances and attach a token. I’ll take it to the Li Mansion for you."

Glancing at the dark night outside, Xu Jia urged, "It’s getting late, hurry up, or I won’t make it in time."

In fact, she was worried that Yun Huai, waiting on the rooftop, would be impatient.

Thinking that her reputation might still be salvageable, Mrs. Li immediately set paper to ink, hastily writing a letter to her father, and took off the Jade Pendant she wore closely, placing it inside to hand over to Xu Jia. "The pendant was given to me by my father on my birthday before my wedding. Once he sees it, he will understand."

At this point, Mrs. Li hesitated and glanced at Xu Jia, "We’ve come this far, yet you refuse to tell me who you are?"

"You don’t need to know who I am." Xu Jia did not want trouble, "You just need to know I’m not here to harm you, and that’s enough."

Grabbing both the letter and the token, Xu Jia quickly exited the main house, leaping onto the rooftop while the guards outside were still unsuspecting.

Seeing Yun Huai sitting on the ridge watching the stars, the corner of Xu Jia’s mouth twitched, "I’ll go to the Li family in a bit; I may not be able to return right away."

Yun Huai heard her voice, turned to glance at her, his gaze falling on the envelope in her hand.

Xu Jia explained, "This is a letter from Mrs. Feng, intended for her father. Mr. Li is a Third-rank Official, and once the Feng family brings this to court, he surely won’t stand by. As long as the two families clarify this matter, my brother will naturally be proven innocent."

Remembering how he had carried her here earlier, Xu Jia felt a bit uneasy, "Well, going to the Li family doesn’t require hiding. I’ll just find a horse to ride over. It’s late already; perhaps Master Yun should go rest first?"

Yun Huai remained seated, his eyes deepening, "Using people and then discarding them, is this your hobby too?"

Xu Jia thought of his previous remark that her hobby was sneaking around with a brick, now twisted to imply she uses people only when needed. She felt wronged.

She was genuinely concerned the night was too late, fearing Yun Huai’s usual schedule would make it hard for him, and thus asked him to return, not intending to discard him.

Furthermore, she was too shy to have him hold her again.

Previously, the embrace had made her heart pound outside her chest, and Xu Jia did not wish to experience that inexplicable thrill once more.

Thinking of this, she replied softly, "I didn’t."

"Didn’t? So you want to keep using me."

"..."

Yun Huai’s candid remark left Xu Jia speechless. Perhaps due to worrying about her brother, she temporarily couldn’t think straight and felt herself tangled by his words. Yes, that must be it.

...

With her arms around Yun Huai’s neck, carried effortlessly by him using Qinggong towards the Li Mansion, Xu Jia dared not open her eyes, fearing she would accidentally meet Yun Huai’s gaze. She thought for a moment and explained, "I just feel that someone as pure as Master Yun, carrying a divorced woman back and forth at night might seem inappropriate."

Had she known earlier that summoning him would mean traveling like this, she would have come alone!

Upon asking this, Xu Jia sensed the atmosphere becoming peculiar, and she closed her eyes tighter, yet couldn’t conceal a subtle expectation, anticipating how he might respond.

However, Master Yun, pure and untouched, always focused on points Xu Jia never expected. He was silent for a long time before asking, "Using ’pure and untouched’ to describe a man, which teacher were you following at the time?"

"..." She shouldn’t have spoken!

...

Upon arrival at the Li Mansion, Xu Jia found a secluded spot to remove her night attire, then approached to knock on the door.

Soon, the gatekeeper peered out and asked who it was.

Xu Jia held up the letter and Mrs. Li’s token, "I’m the sister of the Heir of Duke Zhenxi, and this letter is personally written by your family’s grand-aunt. The token is also hers, please deliver this to Mr. Li."

Mentioning the Heir of Duke Zhenxi, the gatekeeper’s expression changed.

Earlier today, when the master returned from the Lower Court, he had already heard about the incident at the Princess Qing Shui Mansion. Upon learning the grand-aunt’s dishonor involved the Western Marquis Mansion, the master was so furious he skipped dinner, and now he’s venting in his study, threatening to go to the Western Marquis Mansion at dawn for justice.

At this time, why has the sister of the Heir of Duke Zhenxi come?

While the gatekeeper was dazed, Xu Jia had already placed the envelope and token beside the door and left.

She believed that Vice Minister Li would know what to do after reading the contents of the letter.

As for herself, there was no need to meet the Li family’s people.

On the return trip, upon Xu Jia’s suggestion, they rented a carriage, openly heading back.

Inside the carriage, Yun Huai, like Xu Jia, had also removed his night attire, returning to his usual snow-white robe.

Xu Jia glanced at him for a moment, suddenly expressing thanks.

If not for Yun Huai, she could not have completed tonight’s affairs so smoothly. Although he waited outside, he actually shielded her from many troubles.

Yun Huai, his eyes slightly closed, leaned against the rear wall. Hearing this, he opened his eyes to glance at her, his gaze holding deeper meaning, and then slowly said, "Our Yun Family has a rule not to speak vain words."

Xu Jia realized she had thanked him multiple times without offering anything tangible, yet was it really appropriate to so blatantly ask for compensation? She chuckled, "I thought your Yun Family was kind-hearted, eager to help without expecting recompense."

Yun Huai said, "You deeply misunderstand the Yun Family."

Xu Jia considered the treasures in her small storeroom, pondering which one would be suitable to gift him, when she saw Yun Huai draw out his sword and gently wipe the blade with a snowy white cloth, seeming to talk to himself, "It seems being away too long has made the sword tassel old."

Xu Jia shuddered, "How about I make a new sword tassel for you?"

Yun Huai: "Would that be difficult for you?"

Xu Jia: "Not at all, haha." Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?

Just earlier, Xu Jia suddenly realized, Yun Huai’s personality is exactly like this. What he wants he never says directly—his words can curve dozens of angles, leaving anyone not quick-witted utterly puzzled.