Chapter 56 Sulking The Marquis’ sarcastic mood.

Chapter 56: Anger - The Sarcastic Marquis Shen.

Yue Rongrong had a neck injury and some scrapes on her hands and feet, but these didn’t prevent her from going out. However, Hui Yin and Gu Yu absolutely forbade her from leaving until she had fully recovered. Even when she painted to pass the time, they wouldn’t allow her to do so for too long, and they were becoming increasingly controlling. For instance, at that moment, the three of them were sitting in the shade under the grape trellis in the courtyard.

"Miss, your tea has gone cold. Let me make a fresh pot," Gu Yu said, taking the teacup directly from Yue Rongrong’s hand with a cheerful laugh.

"The weather’s getting warmer—a little cool is fine," Yue Rongrong replied, reaching to take it back. But Gu Yu sidestepped her, making a big deal out of it.

"That won’t do. Cold tea is bad for the stomach."

Yue Rongrong swatted her lightly with a fan. "I think the two of you have gotten more bossy since leaving the Marquis’s residence. Perhaps I should send you back tomorrow to save me from all this nagging—telling me what to do, where to go, even when to drink tea."

Hui Yin grinned playfully and gave an exaggerated bow. "Then we must trouble you, Miss, to put in a good word for us with the Marquis. Perhaps he will take us back."

Gu Yu chimed in, "Yes, yes! You saying one word in front of the Marquis would be worth more than a hundred kowtows from us."

Yue Rongrong’s smile faltered. She lay back in the rocking chair, covering her face with her round fan, and said, her voice muffled, "What plea? I don’t have that kind of pull. I can’t even see him."

Gu Yu shot Hui Yin a meaningful glance. Hui Yin crouched down and said, "The Marquis is likely busy with official duties and can’t break away. Since he isn’t coming, why don’t you go see him instead?"

Yue Rongrong suddenly sat up, removing the fan from her face. "I can go out?"

Gu Yu nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes! Director Gao said your wounds have scabbed over. As long as you don’t pick at them, they won’t reopen. Later, we’ll bring you a scarf to wear as decoration."

Yue Rongrong immediately stood up and pulled them toward the room. "Then let’s get ready quickly."

Hui Yin and Gu Yu got excited, thinking Yue Rongrong was going to see Shen Jichen. But instead, the carriage headed toward Wanfo Temple...

"Miss, aren’t we going to see the Marquis?"

Yue Rongrong was silent for a moment. "I want to go to Wanfo Temple to light an eternal lamp for Brother Qu."

Gu Yu protested indignantly, "After how awful he was, treated you so terribly! Why light a lamp for him? The Marquis was being merciful just by burying him!"

Yue Rongrong gave a bitter smile. "I know he had many faults, but his past kindness to me was genuine. I lost both parents young and was often bullied—he protected me and looked out for me. He even paid for my initial painting lessons. Though I never loved him, I always saw him as my only family. Now that he’s gone..." She didn't want to dwell on it anymore.

As Gu Yu was about to say more, Hui Yin stopped her. Such matters were indeed difficult—gratitude and resentment tied to the same person.

At the Ministry of Justice.

Wen Song hurried into the study and saw Shen Jichen marking up a map of the capital. He paused mid-step. Shen Jichen glanced up without fully raising his head and said in a low voice, "Speak."

"The young lady has gone out."

His brush paused. Shen Jichen’s eyelids lifted slightly, his expression unchanged. He asked casually, "Where did she go?"

"To... to Wanfo Temple. She lit an eternal lamp for Qu Lieshan."

Shen Jichen’s brow furrowed slightly, a trace of mockery curling his lips. "She's certainly loyal to him." Suddenly, his brush halted, ink blotching the map. His brows tightened in irritation. He tossed the map aside and barked, "Bring another one!"

Assistant Minister Guo, who had just entered, stepped on the thrown map and jumped back, startled. He looked up to meet Shen Jichen’s sharp glance, hurriedly bent to pick it up, and presented the confession he was holding, his voice trembling. "Marquis, this is the confession just obtained from the accomplice in the private gunpowder case in prison."

"Get out!"

Wen Song quickly pulled Assistant Minister Guo away.

"What’s up with the Marquis? Why does he look more annoyed and impatient each day?"

Wen Song said quietly, "Being stuck with us bunch of guys all day, unable to see the one he wants to see—wouldn’t you be irritable?"

Assistant Minister Guo pondered this, then his eyes widened. "Oh! You mean Miss Yue!" He shrugged. "If he wants to see her, why not just go?"

"If it were that easy, the Marquis is fighting with himself—and with Miss Yue."

"What’s the point of a grown man fighting with a young lady? In my experience, guys always come out worse."

Wen Song spread his hands. "I have no experience, but there’s more to this... other factors involved."

"What? Tell me, and I’ll analyze it with my experience." Assistant Minister Guo tried to sound serious, but a flicker of excitement showed in his eyes.

Wen Song gave him a look. Just then, the study door swung open. Shen Jichen strode out, holding his sword. Wen Song was alarmed. "Marquis, where are you going?"

Shen Jichen ordered coldly, "Round up the men! We’re heading to the western city to arrest the suspects!"

Assistant Minister Guo was excited. "Marquis, you’ve pinpointed their hiding spot!"

In no time, the troops assembled, standing in formation in the front courtyard, waiting for Shen Jichen’s orders.

Assistant Minister Guo, eagle-eyed, suddenly spotted a slender figure approaching the gate. His eyes lit up, and he called out, "Marquis!"

Shen Jichen frowned at the sound and followed his gaze. His dark eyes zeroed in—Yue Rongrong was standing at the gate, speaking with the guards.

Assistant Minister Guo glanced at Shen Jichen’s expression, then waved toward the gate. "Quick, let Miss Yue in!"

After saying this, he looked back at Shen Jichen. Though the Marquis frowned, he didn’t object, so Assistant Minister Guo mustered his courage and went forward. "Miss Yue! You’ve come!"

Yue Rongrong smiled at him and entered. Seeing the courtyard full of officers ready for action, she paused. She looked up and saw Shen Jichen clad in armored gear. Her heart skipped a beat, and she hurried over, asking anxiously, "Are you going into combat? Is your injury healed?"

Shen Jichen’s chest tightened. He said through gritted teeth, "Don't worry about me. Everyone, listen up!"

"No! Your wound has reopened multiple times! What if it splits again and worsens?" Yue Rongrong grabbed his arm, her eyes full of worry.

Shen Jichen looked down at her, a self-mocking look in his eyes. "Thanks for remembering to care about me after visiting Qu Lieshan."

Yue Rongrong’s expression froze. "You’re mad that I didn’t come to see you first..."

Shen Jichen adjusted his armored sleeve and sneered. "Not upset. I’ve gotten used to it."

All the officers lowered their heads, exchanging glances out of the corners of their eyes. Was the Marquis being sarcastic?

Sensing their wavering focus, Shen Jichen barked, "This arrest is critical! Everyone, give it your full attention! The slightest error will be severely punished!"

"Yes!" they responded with renewed determination.

"Shen Jichen..." Yue Rongrong tried to speak again.

But Shen Jichen cut her off coldly, "No more words! Move out!" His tone was commanding.

Yue Rongrong wanted to follow, but Wen Song quickly stopped her. "Miss, please don’t make things more complicated. Don’t worry—I’ll stay by the Marquis’s side every step of the way."

She had been too worried to think straight. This was official business. She could only stand there, her small face scrunched with worry.

Assistant Minister Guo said cheerfully, "Miss, don’t fret. Our Marquis is resourceful and powerful. He wouldn’t act without being absolutely certain. Why don’t you come in for some tea and wait?"

Hui Yin and Gu Yu also gently urged Yue Rongrong into the side hall.

Assistant Minister Guo even brought out the Ministry of Justice’s finest tea and sent someone to buy pastries that young women enjoy, attending to her with utmost care.

But Yue Rongrong was too worried about Shen Jichen to have any appetite. She waited anxiously for nearly two hours until finally, the sound of hoofbeats reached her. She sprang up and rushed outside.

The officers who had set out full of vigor now returned battered and bruised, yet their eyes gleamed with excitement as they threw down a tightly bound man: "Take him to the prison!"

Yue Rongrong quickly scanned the crowd but didn't see Shen Jichen. She anxiously asked, "Where is the Marquis?"

The leader replied, "The Marquis fought the chief culprit, reopening his old injuries and sustaining new ones. Wen Song has already escorted him back to the residence for treatment."

Upon hearing this, Yue Rongrong's face went white and she hurriedly got into the carriage, with Huiyin Guyu quickly following.

Assistant Minister Guo tutted at the scene: "What's there to get so competitive about?"

The carriage raced to the Marquis's residence. Not waiting for the coachman to bring the stepping stool, Yue Rongrong jumped down, which startled Huiyin Guyu: "Miss!" She too jumped down after her.

"Miss." Neither the gatekeeper nor the guards stopped her; she still moved freely through the Marquis's residence. Along the way, servants stepped aside and bowed respectfully upon seeing her.

She rushed to the main courtyard and saw maids coming and going, carrying basins of water stained with blood. She shuddered. Entering the room, she caught sight of Shen Jichen sitting upright at the bedside, his upper body bare, bandages swathing half his torso. His cold expression was slightly pale, his brows tightly furrowed in pain. Director Gao stood before the bed, unable to hold back his scolding: "If the Marquis continues to be so careless, these wounds will never heal!"

Yue Rongrong felt a tightness in her chest, her eyes welling up. She bit her lip, rushed over, and stared blankly at his wounds.

Shen Jichen seemed surprised to see her. After a moment of stunned silence, he frowned and snapped, "Who let her in? Get her out of here—"

Yue Rongrong interrupted with a strained, tearful voice, "You don’t need to drive me away. If you don’t want to see me, just have Wen Song order that I’m not allowed to set foot in the Marquis’s residence!"

Shen Jichen was left speechless, suppressing his anger as he glared at her, words stuck in his throat. But when he saw two lines of tears streaming down her face, his pupils contracted. He turned away, his voice cold and hard like stones clashing: "Why are you crying? I’m not going to die."

Ignoring his words, Yue Rongrong turned to Director Gao and asked, "What precautions should be taken?"

Seeing this, Director Gao quickly explained all the necessary precautions to Yue Rongrong—after all, only Miss Yue might be able to manage the Marquis now! Yue Rongrong listened carefully, committing each detail to memory.

Wen Song escorted Director Gao out. Yue Rongrong picked up clothes to help Shen Jichen dress, but he said coldly, "Let Wen Song do it."

Tearfully, Yue Rongrong looked at him and whispered, "Can’t I do it?"

Shen Jichen pressed his lips together and said nothing. After a long pause, he held out his arms. A flicker of joy crossed Yue Rongrong’s face. She moved with extreme gentleness and care, taking care not to touch his wounds. Her cautious demeanor made Shen Jichen pause for a moment.

After helping him into his clothes, Yue Rongrong leaned in to smooth out his hair, her arms encircling him. Her neck brushed close to his nose, stirring a wave of emotion in Shen Jichen’s heart. But when he caught a glimpse of the faint scars beneath her scarf, his gaze darkened.

He let out a bitter laugh and said coldly, "Should I thank Qu Lieshan? Only with him gone do you come to care for me."

Yue Rongrong froze, stepping back to look at him: "Must you always be so sarcastic?"

"Isn’t it the truth? In the matter of Qu Lieshan, when did you ever trust me? I gave you chances time and again, but what about you? In your heart, Qu Lieshan’s safety always came first. What am I to you?" He sneered, a trace of bitterness at the corner of his mouth. "During that time you stayed by my side, was there even an ounce of sincerity? Wasn’t it all for Qu Lieshan?"

Yue Rongrong lowered her head.

Shen Jichen looked up at her, waiting: "Don’t you have anything to say?"

She replied, "I was concerned for Qu Lieshan’s safety because his life was hanging by a thread. I couldn’t just stand by and watch him die..."

Shen Jichen suddenly stood up: "Then these past two years you spent by his side, did you ever develop feelings for him?"

"No!" Yue Rongrong said firmly. "I know the difference between gratitude, guilt, and love!"

"Then are you here now because you misunderstood me and hurt me, so you feel guilty too?" he pressed step by step.

Yue Rongrong answered honestly: "Some, but—"

"But what! Are you going to tell me that besides guilt, there’s also a pitiful shred of sincerity? Save it, Yue Rongrong!" A sharp pain pierced Shen Jichen’s heart, the corners of his eyes reddening. "I, Shen Jichen, least of all need anyone’s guilt! Especially yours! Your guilt-tainted sincerity—I want none of it! Keep it to mourn your Brother Qu!" The thought of her staying by his side while worrying about Qu Lieshan, the memory of her desperately defending Qu Lieshan without a care for his feelings—it drove him mad, truly mad.

His sharp words wounded Yue Rongrong too. She stared at him, tears welling: "I know you’re angry with me..."

"Yes!" Shen Jichen’s voice was firm. "If you hadn’t found out Qu Lieshan was no good, would you have run off with him without a backward glance?"

Yue Rongrong’s heart shook. This, she had no retort, nor did she wish to lie: "There were many reasons..."

She didn’t even deny it! Shen Jichen cut her off roughly: "I don’t want to hear your helpless excuses! Get out!"

Yue Rongrong’s eyes were filled with tears, her eyelashes fluttering uncontrollably. Unable to bear it any longer, she turned and left. Shen Jichen paused, almost chasing after her, but after two steps, a searing pain shot through his chest. In a rage, he smacked his palm against the screen, causing it to shudder.

Wen Song had just stepped into the room and witnessed the scene. He thought to himself, This injury probably will take a year or more to heal...

Author's Note: Wen Song: Finally got her to come, only to yell at her until she ran off...