Chapter 76
Chapter 76
After formally entrusting Dafu Zhou Jewelry to Yong Wu and San Zhang, Shengsheng prepared to leave.
Little time remained. She could already feel something inside her body straining to break free.
Xiao Ming had disappeared.
When Shengsheng searched his room, she found only a letter on the table, written in familiar handwriting.
*I do not want to become your burden.*
It was signed Siran Ming.
Shengsheng felt unsettled. She folded the paper and kept it.
After she left the room, she failed to notice an agile figure concealed in the shadows. The person silently observed her every movement while gripping brush and paper, apparently recording something.
Before her departure, every brother on Mount Liang came to see her off. Even the three dogs stolen from the neighboring Feng Mountain were carried out.
Shengsheng gazed upon the brothers she had known for such a short time and felt a little sentimental.
Whether she became a wealthy lady in the future now depended on them.
Do your best, brothers. The future of the jewelry industry rests upon your shoulders.
After one final farewell to Yong and to San–who looked both excited and reluctant–Shengsheng shouldered her bundle and descended the mountain alone.
She had wanted to bid the beauty farewell too, but had not seen her all day.
When Shengsheng arrived, San had “kindly” carried her luggage. When she left, there was no one but herself and the bundle.
Yet every step remained firm.
This was only a temporary separation.
After she reincarnated as a rich beauty, she would return!
Panting by the time she reached the foot of the mountain, Shengsheng unexpectedly found someone waiting beside the great tree.
The man wore a pale blue-green robe. Instead of his customary jade coronet, he had tied his long hair with a ribbon of the same color.
At the sight of Shengsheng, he smiled like a spring breeze.
She decided to play stupid. Feigning surprise, she hurried over with the bundle that was far too heavy for her current body.
“This servant greets Your Highness. What brings Your Highness here?”
*What inspired this complete transformation? Did you and Fusheng agree to change clothes together?*
Weiqing fell silent.
He had listened to her. Why was she still criticizing him?
Knowing she was acting, he smiled. “Does Xiaohong not wish to see me?”
His tone was gentle, but the words carried a heavy threat.
Shengsheng considered for two seconds, then shook her head furiously.
“Your Highness’s personal arrival is an immense honor. How could this servant not wish to see you?”
*Honestly, seeing you really is a pleasant surprise.*
Weiqing’s lips curved almost imperceptibly.
Then Shengsheng added inwardly:
*Now I don’t have to carry my own luggage!*
Weiqing stared.
He took a deep breath and comforted himself. It was fine. He was accustomed to this. Truly.
“The carriage seats only one. I fear Xiaohong must find her own way back.”
Shengsheng gaped at the carriage in the distance, which could comfortably hold five burly men and still have room.
*My lady, what brazen nonsense are you telling me?*
At her visibly widened eyes, Weiqing flicked his sleeves and walked toward the carriage.
Watching his “cold and heartless” back, Shengsheng complained inwardly:
*A few days ago, you kept calling me darling. What happened? It has barely been days, and now you’ve disowned your own family, Weiqing Song?*
Weiqing’s steps paused.
Only Shengsheng could pretend not to recognize him one day, then accuse him of disowning family the next.
He sighed, unsure what he was surrendering to, and walked back.
Shengsheng was still standing in a daze when the weight vanished from her back. Someone took her bundle, then lifted her into the air and seated her on Weiqing’s arm.
He carried her toward the carriage with her in one arm and the bundle in the other.
Taking advantage of her young appearance, Shengsheng smiled sweetly and wheedled, “Thank you, Your Highness. Your Highness is the best.”
Weiqing gave a soft huff.
“Are you going to come out, or do you intend to run behind the carriage?”
His voice remained mild, but it had cooled. Shengsheng had no idea whom he was addressing.
Then the bushes behind them rustled.
Held in Weiqing’s arms, Shengsheng watched a pitiful-looking beauty in red emerge.
She blurted out the woman’s name. “Meiren! Why are you here?”
Yes, the beauty’s name was literally Meiren.
Her full name was Meiren Liu.
Meiren looked beseechingly at Shengsheng. “Chief, please don’t leave this humble woman alone. Take me with you, won’t you?”
Tears gathered in her eyes.
Weiqing remained unmoved by such a stunning creature. Instead, he turned to Shengsheng with interest.
“Xiaohong has certainly accomplished much. You became a mountain chief without my knowledge.”
Shengsheng pretended not to hear his pointed remark.
Truthfully, Meiren had no useful place on Mount Liang. She possessed no practical skills and knew only how to serve others. Like a parasitic vine, she needed someone to cling to and might not survive alone.
Shengsheng directed a pleading look at Weiqing.
He stared back. “Stop acting cute. If she comes, you support her yourself.”
That meant yes.
Shengsheng nodded furiously. If not for the difference between men and women, she would have hugged Weiqing and rubbed against him.
*Your Highness may look difficult, appear respectable while actually being black-hearted, but he still counts as a good person.*
Weiqing–the difficult-looking, black-hearted man who only “counted” as good–fell silent.
That damned, familiar inner voice.
Was it too late to send the woman back?
Please give him one more chance to be a villain.
Weiqing ordinarily would not allow a woman of unknown origin to follow them. Then he noticed her red clothes and changed his mind.
The same red attire. The same exceptional beauty.
He wondered how a certain someone would react.
* * *
Shengsheng entered the carriage. She had expected it, yet the absence of the familiar man still left a momentary hollow in her heart.
Honestly, what sort of imperial consort spent his days appearing and vanishing like a ghost? He was as worrisome as that accursed bird of hers.
No. She was merely afraid he would disturb her sleep again in the middle of the night.
That was all.
She wanted to ask Meiren whether she had seen Xiao Ming, but Weiqing was present. Shengsheng did not know whether he had recognized Siran that day, so she kept silent.
Meiren cradled Shengsheng and watched Weiqing warily, as though afraid he might abduct a child.
Weiqing scoffed.
He would never lower himself to quarrel with a woman.
Half an incense stick later, he smiled without warmth.
“Miss, have you held her long enough? Children are young and playful. If you keep her trapped in your arms, she’ll grow bored.”
Fast asleep in Meiren’s embrace, Shengsheng rolled over, turned her back to him, and began snoring softly.
Meiren, who had been about to put her down, froze.