Chapter 55

Chapter 55

My heart skipped a beat.

Yun Sheng?

I immediately looked over and saw a thin monk walking toward us from a distance.

As he stepped into the Flower Hall, I could see his features more clearly. He appeared to be in his early twenties.

I had always assumed that as Li Yuanheng’s favorite male companion, this man would possess a certain seductive, feminine air.

But he didn’t. Yun Sheng had a clean, handsome face, though a scar marked his left cheek. He wore a thin, tattered grey monk’s robe; his impoverished and frail appearance was completely out of place in the magnificent Marquis Manor.

I stole a glance at Yuan Heng. He was clearly shocked.

“Hey, Li Yuanheng.”

Yun Sheng asked with a smile, “Am I not welcome?”

A wave of nausea washed over me.

What was this? A mistress coming to flaunt himself in front of the legitimate wife? No wonder Meng Huaiqing said this person was disgusting.

I pretended to be oblivious and asked Yuan Heng, “Who is this Little Master?”

Yuan Heng ignored me entirely. He stood up hurriedly and snatched the cloak Cuinong was holding.

He sniffed it, then tossed it back into Cuinong’s arms. Instead, he stripped off his own brocade robe, walked over quickly, and draped it over Yun Sheng’s shoulders, chiding him softly, “It’s so cold outside. Why are you running around blindly?”

Yun Sheng, however, took off the brocade robe and tossed it aside. He sat down grandly in front of me, smiling as he blinked at me. “I know you. You are Li Yuanheng’s new wife, Ye Qingqiu. As for me, my dharma name is Minghui, and my secular name is Yun Sheng. I suppose I’m a friend of your husband’s.”

I pressed my palms together and smiled. “Master Minghui.”

Internally, I cursed. This man truly was… shameless!

Yuan Heng frowned and tried to dismiss me. “Qing Qiu, you go back first.”

I was about to stand up when Yun Sheng grabbed me.

I pulled my hand back in dissatisfaction, feeling an instinctive loathing for him. My tone turned sharp. “Little Master, please show some respect.”

Yun Sheng simply smiled at me. “Eh? Lady Ye, don’t you think our features are two or three parts similar?”

Yuan Heng tried to pull Yun Sheng away, speaking gently. “You’ve seen her now. My wife is ill, and her rash is contagious. You are already sickly; how would it be good if it spread to you? Come, I’ll take you to the study. I recently acquired some paintings and calligraphy by famous masters…”

Yun Sheng pushed Yuan Heng away in annoyance, looking slightly piqued. “I am speaking with Lady Ye. Can you stop interrupting? You’re so annoying!”

I secretly thought this boded ill. Given Yuan Heng’s perverse nature, he would likely get angry and retaliate.

To my surprise, Yuan Heng looked utterly helpless. He tugged at Yun Sheng’s sleeve and gave a bitter smile. “Look at you, throwing a stubborn fit again. There are so many people here; you really aren’t giving me any face at all.”

Yun Sheng tilted his head slightly but didn’t spare Yuan Heng a glance. He sneered, “I have already made a vow before the Bodhisattva. If you do not finish copying the Earth Store Sutra a hundred times, I will not speak to you. Go away.”

Yuan Heng pursed his lips and smiled. He leaned in close to Yun Sheng and asked intentionally, “Is that so? Then who is the Little Master speaking to right now? It seems you’ve broken your precept.”

I watched the exchange between the two of them in silence, feeling both horrified and miserable.

I had thought that in front of so many people, Yuan Heng would at least put on an act-at the very least, he wouldn’t let people see that he loved men.

But I realized that when someone is truly loved to the bone, it cannot be faked or hidden.

From the moment Yun Sheng entered the Flower Hall, Yuan Heng’s eyes had been glued to him, never wavering for a second.

Yun Sheng looked at me and smiled. “Lady Ye, you haven’t answered me yet.”

I felt extremely uncomfortable.

Looking closely, it did seem that my face shape and features were somewhat similar to Yun Sheng’s. This only further proved that my face had been precisely selected.

Suppressing the resentment in my heart, I smiled faintly. “The Little Master must be joking. You are a man; how could this concubine look like you?”

Yun Sheng nodded understandingly. “True. You look like my younger sister.”

My interest was piqued. “How so?”

Yun Sheng seemed to think of something sad. His eyes reddened, and he picked at the skin on his face as tears welled in his eyes. He sighed, “If my sister had been able to grow up, she would probably look like you, My Lady.”

I was even more bewildered.

At that moment, Yun Sheng picked up the wine cup in front of me. Just as he was about to drink, Yuan Heng snatched it away.

The two of them struggled over the wine, causing it to splash over their hands and sleeves.

Yun Sheng gripped the cup tightly, staring at Yuan Heng without letting go.

Yuan Heng sighed and waved for Steward Li to come clean up. He lamented, “Aren’t you a monk? Can you even drink lamb wine?”

Yun Sheng stared at the cup in his hand and shook his head with a smile, saying hollowly, “It seems you treasure this wine very much.”

Yuan Heng hurriedly said, “If you want to drink, I’ll have it changed to non-alcoholic wine for you immediately.”

“I won’t drink it. I’ve lost interest.”

Yun Sheng tossed the wine cup onto the table casually. When he turned back to me, he wore a gentle, smiling face. “Ye Family Younger Sister, are you happy in the Marquis Manor?”

Of course not.

I gave Yuan Heng a bashful look and nodded. “Of course. I have met the best husband in the world.”

Yun Sheng looked at Yuan Heng and feigned a punch. “Did you hear that? Treat your wife well from now on, or I won’t let you off!”

Yuan Heng gave a dry laugh. “That goes without saying.”

Yun Sheng rested his chin on his hand and asked me, “By the way, Ye Family Younger Sister, do you have any wishes?”

I looked at Yuan Heng.

Yes. To kill him.

Yuan Heng smiled and nodded. “The Little Master is asking you. Why are you looking at me?”

I feigned deep affection, saying words that disgusted even myself. “This concubine was able to marry a good man; my life is already complete. I only wish for my husband and me to be of one heart…”

Yun Sheng interrupted me. “That’s a poor wish. Li Yuanheng is no devoted, good husband. Ye Family Younger Sister, tell me what you want most.”

What I wanted most?

I thought for a moment. “When I was young, my mother left me to seek the Impermanence. Before she went, she made a plate of red bean cake for me. Unfortunately, I was too young then, and I’ve forgotten what it tasted like.”

Seeing my mother one last time had already become an impossible dream.

Yun Sheng gazed at me deeply. He suddenly grabbed my wrist and led me toward the exit. “Come. I’ll make it for you!”