Chapter 16 — Lying
Su Zhan’s handsome face darkened slightly. He lifted a hand, dismissing the servants.
Xu Shengnian moved closer, and the two men walked side by side toward the temple gates.
“Miss Xue? You mean Xue Ning, the Northern General’s daughter?”
Su Zhan answered calmly, “Mm.”
Xu Shengnian chuckled teasingly. “Isn’t she your child bride? I’ve heard for years that she’s hopelessly devoted to you—wants to stick to your side every waking moment. Didn’t expect the rumors to be true. It’s at least an hour from the capital to Zhenguo Temple, yet she rushed all the way here. Came even earlier than you did.”
Su Zhan’s expression turned cold. He shot Xu Shengnian a frigid sideways glance.
“Watch your words, Brother Xu. Between her and me, there is only the affection of siblings.”
The man carried an overwhelming presence. Just one icy look from him was enough to make others uneasy.
Xu Shengnian worked under Su Zhan and naturally knew how to read the room.
The moment he realized Su Zhan disliked hearing the words child bride, he understood that the man had no feelings for Xue Ning at all. So he smoothly changed his tune.
“I was only joking, Su-xiong, don’t take offense. Besides, the Northern General’s estate has long fallen—only an orphaned daughter remains. How could she compare to Prince Yi, whose power now burns brighter than the midday sun?”
Su Zhan pressed his lips together without speaking.
He only felt that Xue Ning truly lacked sense.
Following him around in private was one thing.
But today’s Dharma assembly was attended by the most powerful nobles in the capital.
What was a young girl like her doing here, making a spectacle of herself?
At the thought, he frowned and summoned his attendant, Mo Bai.
He ordered him to find Xue Ning immediately and settle her somewhere discreet, making sure she did not appear casually at the assembly and cause any embarrassment.
Mo Bai bowed respectfully. “Yes, Shizi.”
Then he turned and entered the side hall beside the Grand Buddha Hall.
—
Xue Ning knelt before the memorial tablets of her parents and elder brother. Eyes red, she bowed deeply three times, each kowtow heavy and sincere.
Only after silently pouring out years of longing to them in her heart did she rise and carefully wipe the dust from the tablets. Then she arranged fresh flowers and fruit before them.
The side hall was quiet except for the soft crackle of burning candles.
Outside, snow fell endlessly.
Xue Ning knelt upon the prayer cushion, chatting softly with the only family she truly had left.
“Father, Mother, Brother… don’t worry. Your daughter is doing well now.”
“I came of age this year. Once I marry and leave the Marquis of Xuanyi’s estate, once I finally have a home of my own, I’ll bring your memorial tablets back and place them in our family shrine.”
“Madam Jiang treats me like her own daughter. Mother, your kindness to her back then wasn’t wasted after all.”
“Mother, don’t worry about me. I’m very happy by Madam Jiang’s side. You and she were once as close as sisters… In some time, I’ll formally acknowledge her as my mother. You would agree too, wouldn’t you?”
Her slender fingers brushed gently over her mother’s name. She smiled like a child.
“No matter what… you all have to bless Ah Ning so I can find a good husband soon.”
In her previous life, her marriage had been too bitter.
That was why she had never managed to bring her family home.
This time, she would live for herself.
Baochan stood guard outside the side hall. Hearing her young mistress murmuring to her deceased family inside, her chest ached unbearably. Tears slipped down her cheeks as well.
She had just wiped the corners of her eyes when she suddenly saw Mo Bai appear from nowhere, his expression cold and severe.
The moment he saw her, his brows furrowed.
“Is Miss Xue here?”
Like his master, Mo Bai was not someone with a pleasant temperament. He spoke little and carried a sharp, icy air.
Startled by his abrupt voice, Baochan shivered.
“She… she’s inside.”
Mo Bai shot her an impatient look. “Where exactly is Miss Xue?”
Baochan had just opened her mouth to say she was in the inner hall when Xue Ning herself stepped out.
The mountain temple wind was bitterly cold. Snow swirled through the air.
Against the white landscape, the beauty standing beneath the temple lanterns looked almost unreal—red lips, pale teeth, delicate as a peach blossom in spring.
Xue Ning frowned slightly in surprise, clearly not expecting to see Mo Bai here.
If Mo Bai was at Zhenguo Temple…
Then Su Zhan was here too?
Her expression changed instantly. Her lips trembled faintly.
“Mo Bai… were you looking for me?”
Mo Bai stared at her. “What do you think?”
“I—”
“The Shizi said that Miss Xue should remember to behave with propriety and good sense. Don’t recklessly run before him and let outsiders witness it. You’ll disgrace the Marquis estate.”
Mo Bai pressed his lips thin, disgust nearly spilling from his eyes.
Xue Ning was undeniably beautiful.
But no matter how beautiful someone was, constantly haunting the Shizi like a ghost would inevitably become irritating.
Not to mention, she frequently visited Mingyue Pavilion, while his master clearly wanted nothing to do with her.
And whenever she couldn’t find Su Zhan, she would come asking for his whereabouts instead.
In the end, the ones suffering were always the servants beneath him.
Xue Ning parted her pale lips slightly and stared blankly at Mo Bai, suddenly unsure how to explain herself.
Mo Bai impatiently cupped his fists in farewell. But seeing her pitiful expression, he still added with reluctant sincerity,
“I’m begging you, Miss Xue. Please be more sensible. Stop troubling the Shizi.”
So even in Mo Bai’s eyes, everything she had done over the years amounted to nothing but burden and annoyance.
Xue Ning’s heart clenched painfully, tightening until she could barely breathe.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but the freezing wind lodged in her throat, sealing away every word.
Just as Mo Bai was about to leave, another cold voice sounded behind them, sharp with questioning.
“When did you arrive?”
Xue Ning’s small face turned deathly pale. She looked up toward Su Zhan, who had appeared without her noticing, and the blood in her body seemed to freeze solid.
The mountains were far colder than the city.
The north wind howled through the temple grounds, snow striking painfully against her cheeks.
The cold seeped inward like threads of ice, slipping into the gaps between her bones.
Hidden inside her sleeves, her chilled fingers curled tightly.
She didn’t know whether it was the weather that was cold—
or her heart.
“I—”
Before she could explain, the man interrupted in a hard voice.
“Zhenguo Temple is remote, and the snowstorm is worsening. Did you not know that?”
Baochan’s eyes reddened. She wanted to defend her mistress.
But Xue Ning shakily lifted her gaze and saw the frostlike coldness on Su Zhan’s face. Her heart nearly stopped beating.
Quietly, she reached out to stop Baochan.
After a long moment, she finally found her bitter voice.
“I knew.”
Su Zhan stepped closer. His brows drew tight, his abyss-dark eyes falling mercilessly upon her pale face.
Xue Ning had always looked delicate. Even standing straight, she barely reached his chest.
Now, standing alone amid the wind and snow, flakes dusting her hair and shoulders, she looked so fragile she might collapse at any moment.
“You knew, and still followed me here so recklessly.” His expression darkened further. “Have I spoiled you too much?”
His merciless accusation made Xue Ning sway slightly.
It was her own fault.
In the past, she had used too many excuses to follow him around.
How could he possibly believe her now?
Like the boy who cried wolf, no matter what she said, he would only think she was lying again.
She forced herself to hold on.
“I didn’t… I came to Zhenguo Temple today to pay respects to my parents and brother.”
Su Zhan clearly did not believe her.
The Xue Ning of the past had done too many things like this, told too many lies like this.
His gaze lowered slightly, his tone edged with cold mockery.
“Since childhood, you’ve always lied.”
“She’s not lying!”
Baochan suddenly stepped forward, her voice already thick with tears.
“If the Shizi doesn’t believe her, then go into the inner hall and see for yourself! The memorial tablets of the master, madam, and young master are all inside!”
