Such a good Su Mu, if she had married into the Xie family, his mother and father would probably have thanked all the gods and Buddhas. He would have taken Su Mu far away, lived their own little life behind closed doors, and while they were young, given her several children to tie down her heart, loving each other for a lifetime, growing old together.

Su Mu was amused by his indignant appearance: “You’re so angry?”

“Of course I’m angry, I’m about to die from anger.” Su Mu had saved the Yan family, yet still had to endure this anger. Just thinking about the humiliation Su Mu had endured before, Xie Yi felt deeply distressed: “Fortunately, Sister Mu divorced him and doesn’t have to suffer anymore. Yan Jiyue will definitely regret it… No, he already regrets it. That day when he beat me, he came to reconcile with you, right?”

Su Mu nodded: “Yes.”

“Don’t agree to him.” Xie Yi excitedly grasped Su Mu’s hand.

Su Mu smiled gently: “I won’t remarry, never in this life.”

“You told her everything?” In the cold night, Yan Jiyue stood alone by the lotus pond, a solitary lamp beside him, illuminating his beautiful yet lonely figure.

Xiao Ping nodded: “Yes, I bribed a servant in Scholar Li’s household to inform the young mistress.”

“When doing things, one must do them thoroughly. Can that servant be trusted?” Yan Jiyue grabbed a handful of fish food and threw it into the water. Several large red koi fought over the food, then hid under the lotus leaves, disappearing from sight.

Xiao Ping hurriedly said: “Young master, please rest assured. This person is trustworthy. He was previously driven out of Scholar Li’s mansion. After completing this task, I arranged for him to return to his hometown. So even if the young mistress wants to investigate and becomes suspicious, she won’t be able to trace him.”

“That’s for the best.” Yan Jiyue laughed lightly. In the silent deep night, his voice was cool with a hint of smugness: “Let’s see how long that slut can remain smug. Once this matter is exposed, Su Mu will never tolerate such a slut by her side.”

“But…” Xiao Ping’s expression was troubled.

“But what?” Yan Jiyue turned around, his gaze cold.

Xiao Ping lowered his head: “But that servant came back and told me that the young mistress didn’t seem as furious as imagined. Instead… instead, she seemed very calm. Young master, do you think the young mistress might have known about this all along?”

“Impossible!” Yan Jiyue said sternly: “Su Mu definitely doesn’t know. She is so pure and self-disciplined that even when she had to entertain at brothels for social obligations over the past ten years, she never touched those songbirds and painted ladies. She thought they were dirty! They were lowly! She wouldn’t even touch those people, how could she accept Xie Yi… Xie Yi…”

As he spoke, Yan Jiyue’s stern voice gradually lost its confidence.

In the previous life, Su Mu had greatly favored Xie Yi. Although she didn’t take him into her chambers, his status was almost on par with his own. If it weren’t for Su Mu’s consideration of her father saving her, Xie Yi might have even ridden roughshod over him.

In the previous life, Xie Yi’s status was already so transcendent… Su Mu might really make an exception for him.

Realizing this, Yan Jiyue’s body swayed, and he had to support himself against a nearby tree to barely stand.

“Young master, when I came back, I specially stood in Luoyan Lane for a while, but I didn’t hear any commotion. If… if the young mistress is determined to protect that slut Xie Yi, what should we do?” Xiao Ping knelt and came forward: “…Why don’t we just make this matter public, let the whole city know. This way, even if the young mistress wants to protect that little slut, she won’t be able to keep him by her side.”

“Shut up!” Yan Jiyue said sternly: “This matter must not implicate Su Mu. She’s still preparing for the imperial examinations. If this matter becomes public, even if she passes the scholar examination, she might be dismissed by the education official.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Xiao Ping nodded repeatedly, wondering how he could have forgotten about this.

Yan Jiyue had been acting strangely lately. Before the divorce, he was indifferent and extremely sarcastic towards Su Mu; after the divorce, he suddenly acted as if he had fallen head over heels in love.

Even though he hated Xie Yi to the core, he wouldn’t use severe methods, fearing it would implicate Su Mu and tarnish her reputation.

If he had known it would be like this, why divorce in the first place?

If they hadn’t divorced, perhaps she would be pregnant with his child by now.

So you see, men should be content with their place, not read too many books. Usually, reading some male virtue and male teachings is enough. Yan Jiyue read too many outside books, making his ambitions soar higher than the sky, looking down on this woman and that woman.

Ending up in this sorry state, no wonder Yan Zhujun had started to arrange new marriage prospects for Yan Jiyue behind his back.

Although Yan Jiyue had been married before, he was still a virgin. Most women have a virgin complex. Although they like to play with those flirtatious ones in brothels, when it comes to marriage, they must find someone with a clean background.

Yan Jiyue hadn’t been deflowered, his family background was not bad, and his appearance was exceptionally beautiful. There were quite a few women in the city who were eager to marry him.

However, a second marriage is still a second marriage. Unless he becomes a concubine, he can only marry into a family of secondary status, unlike someone of Shen Yuxue’s family background.

Even secondary families might be picky, and after marrying, he would inevitably have to follow new rules. It would be impossible to be as arrogant as he was in the Yan family… Hmph, he might be tormented to death by his mother-in-law.

In the end, it’s all his own doing! He deserves it! Let’s see how long he can remain proud!

As much as Xiao Ping internally scorned and looked down on Yan Jiyue, he outwardly showed equal respect. He knelt beside Yan Jiyue’s feet, raised his head, and cautiously asked, “Then, young master, what should we do now?”

Yan Jiyue’s nails scraped the old, mottled tree bark. His eyes flashed coldly as he spoke, “Su Mu may protect him, but there will always be times when she can’t.”

“Young master, you…” Xiao Ping, seeing Yan Jiyue’s chilling gaze, suddenly had a bad feeling.

Yan Jiyue glanced at him and said coldly, “I heard you have a cousin who frequently visits brothels. Didn’t she get beaten by a madam recently because she couldn’t pay?”

Xiao Ping shuddered, “Yes… I understand.”

Previously, he had been relieved that although Yan Jiyue was willful, he wasn’t as vicious and cruel as Scholar Li’s husband. Now he realized that when men become jealous, they’re all the same, their methods becoming increasingly poisonous, like mad dogs.

To be loved by such a man, the young mistress was truly unfortunate.