Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!

Chapter 249: Liu Xuan (This Life)

"Miaoqing sister, you draw bamboo so well, I really like it. I wonder if you could gift this painting to me?"

"Young Master, you misunderstood. This painting was done by Mr. Liu, Miaoqing only helped write a few lines of poetry. If you like it, why not ask Mr. Liu?"

Liu Xuan came back to his senses, his gaze fell on the painting before him, yet his peripheral vision caught the figure behind Song Qianfan. His hands subconsciously clenched beneath his sleeves, and the sounds of battle in his ears had completely faded away.

"Though it was I who painted, the poetry was assisted by Miss Liu. It is my honor that you do not disdain it, Young Master. Today, I will present this painting to you."

At that moment, Song Qianfan’s expression was very unpleasant.

Liu Xuan, however, had no time to pay him heed. By the time Su Juan served tea in front of Song Qianfan, he finally saw the woman in front of him clearly again, unable to distinguish dream from reality.

Watching as Song Qianfan berated her, and seeing her cry, Liu Xuan’s heart twisted into a knot. Had she always been tormented like this in the Prince Mansion?

Overwhelmed with emotion, he just lifted his foot when Liu Miaoying spoke up to defuse the situation.

After Song Qianfan left with Su Juan, his chaotic emotions finally settled a bit.

"What happened to you earlier, staring at the Heir Consort like that?" Liu Miaoying furrowed her brows. No one else noticed, but she understood Liu Xuan, who almost lost composure earlier.

Liu Xuan sipped a mouthful of hot tea, "I only pity her for marrying the wrong person."

Liu Miaoying was slightly taken aback but said nothing more.

Liu Xuan had never said such things before. Though Song Qianfan was not exactly a good man, Liu Xuan would never openly discuss others’ affairs.

What happened to him today?

Liu Xuan lowered his eyes and drank his tea. Though he had lived a lifetime, upon opening his eyes, he returned to this year, as if it was all just a dream last night. Yet if it was a dream, it was too vivid.

In a daze, more days passed. Outside rumors grew, saying that the Prince Mansion Heir was reprehensible, and the Heir Consort suffered grievances, but was promoted to Vice Director of Revenue by Your Majesty.

Liu Xuan increasingly felt it was all a hazy dream, for everything now happening did not match those from the dream.

But what he couldn’t ignore was the overturned pot of wine in Jing Garden, the entwined hair, the whispered love, that voice constantly echoing in his ears...

"Whose young gentleman are you, born so handsome."

"Kiss me..."

"Anyway, I don’t know you, and you don’t know me. You’re drunk, and so am I. A couple of kisses and no one will know."

The rich wine flavor lingered, teeth and lips, the wet coat falling to the ground, a chilling sensation on the back from the floor’s coldness.

If it was just a dream, a person seen once at the Lin Mansion, yet I was so out of line in the dream.

Liu Xuan involuntarily bit his lip, feeling absurdity.

...

He saw Su Juan again at the lakeside pavilion.

She had an argument with the Wu Family’s Daughter, mentioning himself.

"What nonsense are you spouting! Jing Garden is a place of elegance for composing poetry and painting, even Mr. Liu praised my poems. You can’t write poems or paint, how can you compare to me?!" Wu Ziyu shouted angrily.

Liu Xuan paused his pouring of wine, he had never praised anyone’s poetry.

Besides, composing and painting are simply pastimes, it’s fine if one can’t do them, since when did it become a competition?

Xie Xun watched him with interest, "Did you really praise her?"

Liu Xuan’s thin lips pressed lightly, "No."

At this moment, the quarrel outside grew louder, Su Juan was evidently not the type to be ridiculed easily.

"Miss Wu’s poem was even praised by Mr. Liu?"

"Miss Wu is really remarkable. I imagine Mr. Liu must really appreciate you, right?"

"Unlike me, I can’t write poems or paint, I truly envy Miss Wu."

Liu Xuan curved his lips slightly; her temperament was identical to the one in his dream.

Outside, Wu Ziyu realized she was being played, angrily spoke out, while Xie Xun beside him was the first to laugh out, "Pfft..."

"Who! Who’s laughing there?!"

Liu Xuan looked towards Xie Xun, frowning lightly.

Xie Xun, cup in hand, leisurely lifted the pavilion’s curtain and walked out, "I’ve been drinking here peacefully, and you two really are noisy!"

These words made Wu Ziyu furious, accusing Xie Xun of eavesdropping on her.

Outside, no sound from Su Juan could be heard, only Xie Xun and Wu Ziyu were arguing.

Liu Xuan’s hand rested on the wine pot, eyes fixed on the curtain before him, mind in turmoil, yet his gaze could not pierce the heavy drape... Had she left?

At this time, Xie Xun exposed Liu Xuan, "Miss Wu, if you don’t believe, ask Brother Liu, he can vouch for me!"

The moment Xie Xun lifted the curtain, Liu Xuan’s gaze had no place to hide, directly meeting the silently observing Su Juan, secretly regaining composure.

Wu Ziyu suddenly turned bashful as they stepped into the pavilion together.

Seeing Su Juan clearly, Liu Xuan almost spilled the wine. Today, her attire was identical to that in his dream, and he even remembered how slender her waist was when that outfit was removed, just right for one grip...

Liu Xuan’s throat moved, yet he couldn’t bring himself to call her ’Madam,’ let alone ’Heir Consort.’

After a long while, he spoke, "Lord Su, won’t you sit?"

His gaze fixated on the woman before him, afraid his eyes might betray too much affection, quickly retracting.

Su Juan was visibly startled but soon sat down.

Beside him, Xie Xun loved excitement the most, as if deeply interested in Su Juan, an interest even Liu Xuan, who had known him since childhood, did not understand its origin.

He remembered, in the dream, Xie Xun and his father treated Su Juan very well, even set up a separate courtyard for her in the mansion, though she only stayed a few times.

Now, the infuriated Wu Ziyu refused to let it go, bringing up Su Juan’s matters again, as well as what Song Qianfan did at the Princess Consort’s birthday banquet.

Liu Xuan couldn’t help but feel concerned, looking toward Su Juan, but saw her with a face full of sorrow and bitterness, "Yes, only married a few months, and the Young Master already took a concubine. I never imagined even Miss Wu, who rarely steps outside, would know. How will I live from now on..."

Su Juan lowered her eyes, wiping tears away.

Liu Xuan lowered his eyes and drank, using the cup to hide the involuntary lift of his lips.

Soon, Wu Ziyu was incited again. Liu Xuan found it vaguely strange but didn’t delve into it, seeing Wu Ziyu unwilling to let go of the matter, continuing to target Su Juan, he spoke in a low voice, "Why worry, Miss Su? A woman’s life has many possibilities, even if the marriage is not favorable."

When saying this, he looked at Su Juan, the same words he wanted to tell her in his dream, yet left unspoken.

"Many can write poetry and paint, but few women enter the officialdom. You now hold a temple position, at the Junior Sixth Rank, even those without rank must show you respect. The road to the court is long, the current emperor wise, so why fear the days to come?"

Su Juan was taken aback, clearly not expecting Liu Xuan to say these words.

Liu Xuan no longer looked at Su Juan, fearing his emotions might leak from his gaze.