Chapter Eighty: Tea Tasting Master Song Yunmo

“So, the more I meddle, the less you meddle? Just now you were still urging the Princess to divorce me—Mr. Song, you truly set a fine example as a teacher.” Yes, indeed, I appointed you as a tutor, but I never permitted you to seduce my wife under that pretense.

“It’s not that serious—when things work out, stay together; when they don’t, go your separate ways. That’s simply the way of Heaven and of human hearts,” Song Yunmo replied, utterly unashamed.

“Heaven, my foot. From now on, just teach, and teach only in the new academy I’ll establish. Do not set foot in the Hall of Tranquil Grace.” Such shamelessness—truly, utterly shameless. Xiao Jingxuan felt he might explode with fury.

“Little Luo, will you come to the academy?” Song Yunmo turned to look at Su Jingluo, who was dazing off behind Xiao Jingxuan.

“She will not,” Xiao Jingxuan took another half-step, blocking Song Yunmo’s line of sight.

“That won’t do. You bully her all day long; surely she needs someone to talk to? If this goes on, she’ll fall ill from bottled-up anger,” Song Yunmo now looked every bit the picture of a neighborhood matron.

“I have never bullied the Princess, and besides, this is none of your business.” Xiao Jingxuan gritted his teeth, glaring at Song Yunmo. How had he never noticed this man’s brazenness before?

“Not bullied her? Weren’t you just now tangled up with Lin Wanwan? You already have a wife, and she is unmarried, yet you two were carrying on together without a shred of shame.” Song Yunmo, upright and unyielding, pointed at Xiao Jingxuan and at Lin Wanwan, who was still trembling and whimpering softly inside the room.

“Yunmo, please don’t speak of my cousin like that. It’s all my fault. I know my behavior was improper and made the Princess misunderstand him. But my face… I really was frightened, and I never meant anything else.” At this, Lin Wanwan quickly stepped forward and gave Song Yunmo a deep bow.

“If you knew it was improper and still did it, your intentions are suspect. Surely you did it deliberately for Little Luo to see, so that a rift would grow between her and Xiao Jingxuan?” Song Yunmo showed her no mercy. Though he had known Lin Wanwan since childhood, what he detested most was such pretentiousness.

A master at exposing hypocrisy—if Xiao Jingxuan had even a tenth of Song Yunmo’s skill, Lin Wanwan wouldn’t have thrown herself at him so easily. Su Jingluo tilted her head and slipped out from behind Xiao Jingxuan, giving Song Yunmo a thumbs-up. Song Yunmo immediately perked up, ready to enter battle at a moment’s notice.

Lin Wanwan had not expected Song Yunmo to be so direct and cutting. She was at a loss for words, glancing helplessly at Xiao Jingxuan. But Xiao Jingxuan had no time for her now; seeing Su Jingluo’s small gesture with Song Yunmo irked him, and he quickly stepped to block Su Jingluo’s face once more.

Su Jingluo, seeing Lin Wanwan still looking so pitifully at Xiao Jingxuan, felt her patience snap; the more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

“Hey, Lin Wanwan, stop pretending. What are you really here for? Seeking your cousin’s help to cure your illness? Then go ahead—let him treat you, even in his bed for all I care. There’s only one thing he can heal, and I won’t interfere. Just don’t come crying to me later. There’s no logic in seducing someone else’s husband and still expecting help from his wife, all while playing the innocent victim. To act the harlot and still expect to be called a saint—your shamelessness knows no bounds.” Su Jingluo’s initial impression of Lin Wanwan hadn’t been bad; after all, beautiful people are often forgiven without question. But if a beauty tries to take advantage of you and treats you like a fool, then it’s time to fight back with everything you have.

“You, you, Princess, you…” Su Jingluo’s words were sharp enough to wound to the core. Lin Wanwan had never suffered such humiliation before; shame and anger overwhelmed her, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably, clutching Xiao Jingxuan’s sleeve.