Chapter 172: Too Careless

Translator: 549690339

“I have nothing to discuss with you, step aside now or I’ll call for help!” Su Wenyue said sharply, her heart filled with genuine concern. Seeing Sikong Ling becoming increasingly presumptuous, she feared the worst, suspecting he had sent people away on purpose, confident that no one would come to her aid, and that’s why he dared to act this way.

As Su Wenyue expected, Sikong Ling was not in a hurry at all: “Haha, Madam, you must be joking. This place is so secluded, rest assured, it will be a while before anyone comes.”

“What do you mean by that? What do you mean no one will come for a while? My servant girls and maid are probably on their way to find me by now!” Su Wenyue was on guard as she waited for Sikong Ling’s next move.

“Madam is a smart person; whatever you think I mean, that’s what I mean. Don’t worry, I have no ill intentions. I just feel that fate has brought us together, and I wanted to have a chat. I won’t do anything to you, so there’s no need for such tension. Besides, you’re heavily pregnant. I couldn’t possibly be that inhumane,” he said.

“You are indeed an inhumane beast! What do you intend by blocking the way of a pregnant woman like this? You may think we have a connection, but I find you truly annoying. I do not wish to speak with a beast!”

At this time, Su Wenyue was pregnant with twins, and she had to be careful even when walking. There was no way she could run away from Sikong Ling. But judging by his demeanor, he didn’t seem to truly wish harm upon her. Perhaps, as in her previous life, he was deliberately striking up a conversation to gain favor. She relaxed a little but remained cautious as she eyed Sikong Ling.

Sikong Ling found himself somewhat helpless in the face of Su Wenyue’s defensive and hostile attitude. He didn’t even know why, as soon as he heard Su Wenyue was at the Lingyin Temple, he immediately made arrangements to follow her. All he wanted was to see her, talk to her, and seeing her struggling with her pregnant belly, he felt a pang of pity.

“Weren’t you only four months along? Why is your stomach already so large? It must be very strenuous. You should sit down and rest; don’t exhaust yourself,” Sikong Ling said with concern. He had a few pregnant concubines as well, and although he hadn’t paid much attention, Su Wenyue’s belly seemed unusually large to him.

Sikong Ling was unaware that Su Wenyue was carrying twins. Those who knew, apart from the county magistrate’s wife and their own people, hadn’t openly spread the word. Sikong Ling’s subordinates had hastily gathered incomplete information.

“That’s none of your business, and I don’t need your concern. If you really think you’re a good person, let me leave!” Su Wenyue said, aware that Sikong must have already investigated her. However, she did not intend to explain or disclose the fact that she was carrying twins to Sikong Ling.

“Then you might as well think of me as a bad person!” Sikong Ling said, his demeanor toward Su Wenyue akin to that of a child acting out of spite, filled with indulgence and pampering.

Su Wenyue, choked by Sikong Ling’s words, felt that he was shameless. She glared fiercely at him a few more times, but this didn’t make Sikong Ling back down; instead, his smile grew even brighter. She was so infuriated inside that her courage rose. She steadied herself against a tree and delivered a fierce kick to Sikong Ling’s leg.

Sikong Ling had some Kung Fu experience and wasn’t bothered by Su Wenyue’s strike: “If kicking me a few times makes you feel better, then go ahead. I have thick skin and can take the pain, just don’t hurt yourself.”

Su Wenyue had intended to kick Sikong Ling a few more times to vent her anger, but his words took the wind out of her sails. She hadn’t found Sikong Ling to be so thick-skinned before, and even though she would sometimes throw tantrums, at most she would just spout a few angry words; she would never dare to physically challenge Sikong Ling’s limits. There was an incident where a favored concubine, thinking she was special to Sikong Ling, physically lashed out during a fit of anger. Sikong Ling sold her off without a second thought, showing just how ruthless and unforgiving he could be.

Seeing that Su Wenyue was no longer engaging with him and considering that standing might be tiresome for her, Sikong Ling moved to help her sit down, but Su Wenyue clumsily dodged him.

“I’m warning you, don’t come any closer, or you’ll have me to answer to!” Su Wenyue said, already grasping the hairpin she’d pulled from her hair. Sikong Ling was about to speak when his expression suddenly changed, and he swiftly entered the forest, disappearing from sight in a few moments.

Su Wenyue was still puzzled when she heard the familiar voice of Han Yu.

“Daughter-in-law, are you alright?” Han Yu hurried over, followed by Aunt Li who looked deeply worried.

It turned out that Aunt Li had gone to change her clothes. Right after she had dressed and was about to come out, she found the door had been locked from the outside. Having come from the backyard, Aunt Li was familiar with all its paths and immediately sensed trouble. Reflecting on how the maid had bumped into her so conveniently, she grew even more suspicious that someone might be targeting her Madam. Locked in the room and unable to leave, she grew anxious, constantly knocking on the door and window until, fortuitously, a little monk passed by and let her out. She hurried back the way she came and encountered Han Yu rushing up the mountain.

After hearing the situation from Aunt Li, Han Yu didn’t pause to assign blame. Realizing he had been deliberately lured away, he felt a tightening in his chest and immediately set off with Aunt Li to find Su Wenyue. He blamed himself for being careless, for not immediately realizing Sikong Ling’s malicious intent even though his daughter-in-law had warned him. He was shocked that Sikong Ling would dare act so boldly against a pregnant woman he had only met once on the road.

“Husband, rest assured, I’m fine. Weren’t you off handling affairs? How come you’re here so soon?” Su Wenyue relaxaed upon seeing Han Yu. Her tense emotions finally eased, and she felt somewhat weak. Her hand loosened, and the hairpin fell to the ground.

Seeing his daughter-in-law standing upright and unharmed, Han Yu’s anxiety ebbed away. He was about to speak when he noticed she seemed unable to support herself, and the hairpin had dropped. Sensing something was amiss, he quickly went to pick her up.

Aunt Li also hurried over, knowing something must have happened to their Madam for her to be in such a state, blaming herself for the oversight.

“Daughter-in-law, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?” At that moment, Han Yu couldn’t care less about what had transpired; all that mattered was that his wife and child were alright.

Smiling, Su Wenyue shook her head: “I’m fine, the child in my belly is too, don’t worry. I’m just feeling a bit worn out from exerting myself. Holding me like this is good.”

Han Yu was still concerned, as this didn’t seem like everything was all right. It wasn’t possible to summon a doctor immediately on the mountain, but the little monk who was leading the way spoke up.

“If the noble gentleman is concerned, please ask the host to check on the lady. Not only is the host masterful in Buddhist teachings, but his medical skills are also very impressive.”