Duft erhebt sich zum Tanz

Kapitel 38

“Huan’er…” Shi Wuji said in a low voice.

"Get away from me! I don't want to see you! Don't try to be all crocodile tears!"

Huan'er had always been sweet and playful with Shi Wuji, so this cold remark was unprecedented. Aside from Leng Gang and his wife, who were completely baffled, Shi Wuhen and Shi Wujie were secretly horrified! Huan'er was furious! Once they realized it was all a scheme, she'd probably make their lives miserable. If the two brothers were suffering, Shi Wuji was probably even worse off; he couldn't bear Huan'er's cold treatment!

Huan'er was just feeling wronged! She was angry at Shi Wuji for not showing any affection for her as husband and wife. She hoped that she could also make him feel heartache! Of course, there was a lot of spite involved. But her feelings for him were surprisingly deep! She was most angry at herself for not being able to harden her heart to hate him even after he threw her into the dungeon.

"You may all step back," Shi Wuji told everyone to leave.

Huan'er, who dared to criticize and ridicule him, made Shi Wuji realize that he couldn't treat her the same way he would treat ordinary people. Other women would never interfere in their husbands' affairs, silently enduring everything and remaining content with their lot. But Huan'er was different; she would repay others tenfold for any treatment they received. Although everything was done with her protection in mind, Huan'er had her own set of principles. Being blunt wouldn't earn her gratitude, but rather a good scolding. She was active, highly independent, and intelligent, handling many things single-handedly. Her marriage to Wuxia was a prime example; from planning their union to arranging the wedding, she would seek advice from all sides until she understood, refusing to rely on others. This clearly demonstrated her principles; she wasn't the kind of woman who would hide behind a man for protection, but rather a unique woman unlike any other. Her petite frame contained boundless energy; she would shoulder any burdens herself. When facing enemies, she would fight alongside family and friends, proving herself equal to any man, even with her small stature.

Shi Wuji wasn't unaware of these things, but as a man with such a petite, beautiful, and seemingly frail wife, his protective instincts were uncontrollably overwhelming. Everything revolved around her safety, even if it caused her temporary misunderstanding. He admired Huan'er's character, but he couldn't let her get involved in this plan to exterminate her family. This was a man's matter; saying too much would only cause Huan'er worry. Besides, she was pregnant; how could he put her in danger? Admiring her was one thing, but protecting her out of love and a desire to prevent any harm was another—there was no compromise.

Seeing Shi Wuji's thoughtful and melancholy expression, Huan'er's heart softened against her will, and she pushed his hand away, glaring at him.

“I’m asking you! What are your plans now? If you insist that I betrayed you, then don’t touch me! I’m telling you solemnly, I did not betray you. If you’re so stubborn and don’t believe me, then so be it. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life. You’ll even frame me when I’m about to die.”

Shi Wuji straightened a pillow so she could lean against it, and frowned as he faced her.

"Nonsense! Who said you were about to die?"

Huan'er had no intention of changing the subject.

"Do you believe me or not? I'm telling you, those ledgers are fake!"

“And you did that to save your mother.” He said the words she hadn’t yet uttered.

This greatly displeased Shi Wuji. She refused to consult him, intending to handle everything herself, without considering that the matter was somewhat troublesome and required considerable manpower and resources—something she couldn't manage alone. Humph! She was so independent that she could practically discard her husband. Did he think he would just stand by and do nothing? What did she take him for? She simply didn't understand that this was an insult to him.

Huan'er was stunned for a while, then understood. Given Wuji's shrewdness and understanding of Su Guangping, it wasn't difficult to deduce what was controlling her. Having realized this, Huan'er cried out:

"Then why are you treating me like this? Shi Wuji, you're truly despicable!"

"Likewise! Likewise!" he retorted. His face no longer held any anger, but rather a hint of hidden joy.

"What do you mean? What did I do to offend you? To end up in jail! Sleeping on a cold, hard stone bed! It's a pity I didn't freeze to death so you can regret it and feel guilty for the rest of your life." Strangely, as soon as his anger flared up, his dizziness disappeared.

Shi Wuji grabbed her accusing little fist and held it in his palms.

“I’ve always known why you married into this family, and I’ve been waiting for you to tell me yourself, which would show your trust in me. But you want to handle this yourself. Some things require manpower, especially getting your mother out. Huan’er, you are my wife. Don’t you trust your husband? This displeases me. As for that night in the prison, I stayed with you until dawn. You didn’t freeze to death because I couldn’t bear to leave you, not because God took pity on you. Do you have anything else to say? If not, I’ll continue.”

Huan'er was secretly delighted and somewhat happy, but she still had to say some things with a straight face.

"Of course I have! Why did you hurt me last night? And I won't let those two accomplices, Wuhen and Wujie, get away with it. It's not that I don't trust you; I was planning to tell you today, but you hurt me so badly last night that I was furious. Putting me in jail is an exaggeration. Shi Wuji, you owe me at least this much."

“Su Guangping wants to take you away, to send you to the general's mansion as a concubine, hoping to use you to gain an official position. I met with him today; he used your mother's serious illness as an excuse to take you back to Jiangnan. I refused. He will come again tomorrow; I think he will send someone to sneak in and snatch you away in the middle of the night.” Shi Wuji gently stroked her cheek with some pity. “No matter what means they use, no one will touch my woman. And Ke Zhengming, I will not let him go.”

Ke Zhengming? An enemy? Huan'er doesn't care for now.