Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Pei Heng was stunned.

He couldn’t quite believe that I had just dumped him like that.

However, he was far too busy tracking down the assassins, using the opportunity to eliminate rival factions, and playing the victim in front of the Emperor and the Crown Prince to have any time to come looking for me.

Meanwhile, I was busy rushing between poetry circles, banquets, and flower festivals. I attended ten events in just three days, all for the sake of distancing myself from Pei Heng.

Before long, all the noble ladies knew that Pei Heng and I had a falling out and were in the process of breaking off our engagement.

“What’s the reason? What’s the excuse? Prince Rui is such a wonderful man.”

I dabbed at the corners of my eyes with my handkerchief, sobbing softly.

“He… he actually resented me for not taking a blade for him. But I’m just a weak woman who was frightened out of her wits…”

Realization dawned on everyone, and their expressions quickly turned to disdain for Pei Heng.

Later, Pei Heng cornered me in a secluded spot, gritting his teeth.

“Is this how you’ve been spreading rumors about me out there?”

I blinked innocently.

“Does this mean you would never ask me to take a blade for you?”

“Of course. I am not that kind of man,” Pei Heng said proudly.

I continued to press him.

“And you wouldn’t make me block a sword for you?”

“Naturally!”

“Take poison for you?”

“Never!”

“Take the fall for your crimes?”

“No!”

“Kneel in the snow for you?”

“I! Am! Not! That! Kind! Of! Person!”

I still didn’t quite trust him.

I asked tentatively, “Then could you take a blade, a sword, or poison for me? Could you take the fall for me or kneel in the snow for me?”

Pei Heng was speechless.

“Song Yuhui, how on earth do you plan on offending so many people?”

“Well, I don’t want a man who can’t have my back.”

A woman has to find a man with real capability.

I turned to leave.

Pei Heng grabbed my arm and spoke with absolute certainty.

“I can!”

“Then you can take the blame for this current mess. I’m afraid of people badmouthing me.”

I was completely in the wrong, yet I spoke with total confidence.

Pei Heng looked me up and down, feeling helpless.

“You weren’t like this before.”

I sneered inwardly.

The old me was mediocre and unremarkable.

The current me is a girl doted on by her sister who has seen both transmigration and a System.

Pei Heng took the fall, tacitly admitting that he was angry because I hadn’t taken a blade for him and that he intended to break off the engagement.

When the Emperor heard of this, he gave him a harsh scolding and told him to get lost and reflect on his actions at home.

Pei Heng sent a letter: “Look at what you’ve done.”

I burned the letter.

Let the past turn to ash.