Song Lianhe hadn’t expected to run into Liu Wanqing on the street.
Mrs. Liu, accompanied by Nanny Tian, entered a tavern. Although she wore a veiled hat, Song Lianhe still recognized Nanny Tian beside her.
When she had left Ling’an, Mrs. Liu had already been pregnant, but the pregnancy was unstable. Song Lianhe disliked Mrs. Liu, but a healer’s heart is a benevolent one, so she had given her a progesterone shot to secure the pregnancy, earning a re thousand taels for her trouble.
Looking at her now, her lower abdon was slightly swollen. The baby had likely been saved.
Song Lianhe, sitting in a teahouse across the street, didn’t think much of it at first; she had simply seen a person she disliked. But when Song Lianhe and Ah Jun ca out of the teahouse, Mrs. Liu was also leaving the tavern, and they t face-to-face.
Song Lianhe’s current status here was that of a "person who doesn’t exist." Mrs. Liu, too, clearly had no desire to linger and hurried away with Nanny Tian.
Ah Jun glanced over and blurted out, "That woman must be here to et her lover."
Song Lianhe was surprised. "How do you know?"
Ah Jun imdiately grew shy, his cheeks flushing as he said in a low voice, "She has the scent of Xixun Incense on her. It’s a very precious incense exclusively favored by the Southern Officials. People who frequent those places all carry this scent. Ordinary people don’t like to use it, so it eventually beca the trademark of the Southern Officials."
Ah Jun had knocked about the streets and, despite his youth, had tasted the bitterness of life and seen all its facets. He’d seen plenty of petty cris and illicit affairs.
And when he ntioned the "Southern Officials," he was talking about an establishnt on par with Peiyue Building. It was said that the four great masters of the Southern Officials had captivated thousands of young ladies and noblewon in Ling’an City. They traveled in fragrant carriages drawn by fine horses and were showered with countless flowers.
In Song Lianhe’s eyes, it was no different from manufacturing idols to fleece their fans.
She truly hadn’t expected Mrs. Liu to cuckold Song Xingfeng so spectacularly!
Just then, a man in splendid brocade robes chased after them from inside.
"Wanqing, Wanqing!"
As he passed by Song Lianhe’s side, the sa incense scent wafted from him.
He caught up to Mrs. Liu and tried to grab her hand, but with reddened eyes, she shook him off and boarded her carriage. The man followed her inside.
Nanny Tian stood a short distance away, hands folded, keeping watch for her mistress.
Moreover, four or five guards seed to appear out of nowhere. They had swords at their waists, and each one had a cold, fierce expression, looking incredibly nacing.
’No matter how you look at it, this doesn’t seem like a typical secret affair.’
Song Lianhe’s eyes darted about. She pulled Ah Jun around to the other end of the alley where the carriage was parked.
Spotting so bamboo baskets in a corner, Song Lianhe gave Ah Jun a aningful look, and they each slipped into one.
Before long, Mrs. Liu’s faint crying could be heard from inside: "Why did you chase after ? Aren’t you afraid of being discovered?"
"Sigh, you’ve misunderstood . Please, let explain..."
"I won’t listen! You promised you’d co for . How long has it been? You never ca... I think you’ve completely forgotten about !"
"How could I? You’re my sweetheart, my treasure..."
What followed were whimpering sounds that are best left undescribed.
Even the worldly Song Lianhe felt her face flush. She glanced at the young man beside her, who was also blushing beet-red and looking everywhere but at her, wishing he could bury his entire head in the ground.
Fortunately, Mrs. Liu still had so sense left and imdiately protested, "We’re on a public street! It’s nothing to you, but I still have my reputation to think of!"
"But it’s more exciting on a public street..."
Song Lianhe: "..."
’They really get this wild?!’
Alright, now she wanted to dig a hole next to Ah Jun and stick her own head in it.
"The old man ca back recently and is watching like a hawk. I can’t stay out for long; I have to go back soon. Just tell , when are you coming to get ?"
"...The situation has been unclear lately, and I haven’t received orders from my superiors. I can’t just disobey orders, can I?"
"I don’t care! The child in my belly is yours! If you don’t co take away soon, I’ll throw myself in the lake with him! It’ll be one body, two lives..."
Song Lianhe sucked in a sharp breath.
’So the child in Mrs. Liu’s belly isn’t Song Xingfeng’s!’
"Oh, Wanqing, don’t say such things in anger! Since I’ve promised you, I’ll never go back on my word. It’s just that leaving Da Cheng is no simple matter. We need travel permits, and for that, I’ll need you to steal them from that old bastard..."
"Who’s there?!"
A low shout startled the people in the carriage.
Song Lianhe trembled. She and Ah Jun slowly raised their heads as the bamboo baskets they were hiding in were suddenly ripped away. Two gleaming blades were pressed against their necks.
Hearing soone outside, Mrs. Liu absolutely did not dare to show her face. Her lover, however, imdiately lifted the curtain and stepped out.
The alley where the carriage was parked was rather secluded, and few people ca by at this hour.
Previously, when he and Mrs. Liu had their trysts outside, they had nearly been discovered several tis. So, he had co up with the idea of eting in the carriage. They could stop anywhere, and no one would follow or grow suspicious. At worst, people would just take them for a pair of lovers having a secret rendezvous.
At first, they had t in the outskirts or in the wild woods. Later, as they grew bolder, they began eting directly within the city, which was novel and exciting.
He just never imagined that soone would be eavesdropping on them today!
The man walked over and looked down at the woman and the young man.
When his eyes fell on Song Lianhe, a flash of stunned admiration crossed his face.
"Heh heh, it’s a pretty little lady."
Song Lianhe was also sizing him up. The man’s face was handso in an effeminate way, and his eyes were seductive to the bone, as if a single glance could steal one’s soul.
If she hadn’t just heard their conversation, Song Lianhe really would have mistaken him for one of the Southern Officials.
’With looks like that, he’d be the top star for sure.’
Song Lianhe glanced at the blade at her neck, then calmly pinched it between two fingers and moved it away. She stood up coolly and dusted off her clothes.
"Sorry about that, just passing through."
Ah Jun scrambled up right after her. Though the boy was timid, he still half-turned to shield her, afraid she would be bullied.
The man covered his mouth with his hand and chuckled. "If you want to listen, miss, why not co sit in the carriage? Wouldn’t you be able to hear more clearly?"
Seeing his bonelessly seductive, courtesan-like deanor, Ah Jun imdiately frowned. "My sister has no interest in listening!"
But Song Lianhe just smiled, patting his shoulder reassuringly.
"It’s fine. I don’t mind having a seat."
Ah Jun: "..."
The man was also surprised. She was quite bold!
Song Lianhe seized the initiative, pulling Ah Jun forward. "Well then, it would be rude to refuse."
The man stared at her in astonishnt, montarily unable to react.
After Song Lianhe and Ah Jun walked past the guards with the swords, she abruptly spun around, threw a handful of powder, and yelled, "Run!"
With that, she grabbed Ah Jun and bolted!
’What kind of entertainer parades through the streets with such brawny guards?’
She had heard sothing she shouldn’t have. There was no way they would let her and Ah Jun leave alive.
The two of them dashed through the alley. Thankfully, it was near a main street, so all Song Lianhe and Ah Jun had to do was run toward the crowds!
The main street was just ahead, but before Song Lianhe could even breathe a sigh of relief, she felt a numbness in her neck. Her entire body went limp, and she collapsed. With a THUD, Ah Jun fell beside her.
The man slowly walked up, lifted her chin with his hand, and examined her face from side to side. Satisfied, he let go. "Take them back."
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