“You’re very angry?”
Wang Zhong asked with a light laugh, looking directly at Zhu Zhuyun, who was glaring at him.
“What do you think!”
Zhu Zhuyun crossed her arms, her cleavage becoming even deeper, almost bottomless.
Wang Zhong merely shook his head at this and calmly retorted, “Indeed, my words had an ambiguity that any normal man would find unbearable.”
“However, what kind of response do you think would have been best for me to give in that situation?”
“Explain? Apologize? Deny? Admit fault? Tell me, what kind of attitude would he have had if I had done any of those things?”
The calm voice, posing rhetorical questions, actually calmed the furious Zhu Zhuyun. She followed Wang Zhong’s train of thought.
“He wouldn’t listen, nor would he believe.”
“He would stubbornly believe you were covering up, and the end result would be you getting beaten and thrown out of the carriage!”
Zhu Zhuyun sighed, expressing helplessness at such a potential outcome.
If she had encountered such a scene, she would have fought back desperately. But with the Wang Zhong before her, Zhu Zhuyun was unsure. At least during their journey so far, he had shown no soul power at all, appearing to be an ordinary person.
Yet, the golden soul coins in her embrace seemed to prove something.
The consequences of a soul master physically assaulting an ordinary person were obvious.
Although she somewhat understood, Zhu Zhuyun still retorted in annoyance, “Wang Zhong, have you forgotten that you are a friend invited to our home by me and my sisters? How could we sisters stand by and watch that happen!”
These words, however, caused Wang Zhong to cross his arms and return a knowing smile, his face clearly conveying, ‘Are you sure you want to reconsider what you just said?’
This expression caused Zhu Zhuyun’s eyes to tremble. She wasn't foolish! She also considered the consequences of doing that.
Davis would become even more certain of his suspicions, and the misunderstanding would only deepen, never to be resolved!
Zhu Zhuya and Zhu Zhuyi also realized this, looking at Wang Zhong with expressions of disbelief, their small mouths slightly agape.
Had he thought of all this in such a short span of time!
“The outcome would have been no different, and the misunderstanding would have only intensified, right?”
Gently stroking Zhu Zhuqing’s long hair, who was like a curious baby in his arms, Wang Zhong said with a smile.
The three nodded in unison, affirming his words.
“Instead of trying to explain, it was better to detonate the misunderstanding at that very moment, bringing it into the open.”
“Furthermore, with your presence, the confrontation between the two of them, and with sisters Zhuya and Zhuyi as witnesses, there would have been no further developments.”
“However, I underestimated that man’s possessiveness, or perhaps your charm, to such an extent that he would speak so carelessly.”
At this point, Wang Zhong sighed with a sense of helplessness, unsure if it was for his flawed plan or for the irrepressible charm of someone.
With a blend of flattery and subtle criticism, Zhu Zhuyun, despite being furious earlier, suddenly burst into laughter.
Some well-understood praises brought more joy than direct and shallow compliments.
She tilted her head to look at Wang Zhong, her red lips pursed, her bright eyes filled with a deep smile, and mischievously said, “Even though you’re blaming yourself with that sentence, for some reason, I’m very happy.”
“However, a little praise isn’t enough to make me forget my anger!”
“Just like Zhuqing, I’m not easily appeased!”
Zhu Zhuya and Zhu Zhuyi exchanged smiles and gently shook their heads, finding the development quite amusing.
“Ha, so you brought this upon yourself!”
“Alright, I don’t have a gift.”
“However, His Highness Prince Davis should be sending you a gift of apology soon. How about we consider that as my gift!”
Wang Zhong shamelessly gave Zhu Zhuyun a truly astonishing answer.
“No, why should Davis’s gift to me be counted as yours?” Zhu Zhuyun rolled her eyes at Wang Zhong, speechless at his brazen remark.
“Because, his mistake was one I deliberately made him commit, so his apology can naturally be considered my gift.”
Wang Zhong’s words, filled with amusement, made all three women giggle.
After going in a roundabout way, they had returned to the starting point!
“Wang Zhong, you’re so cunning!” Zhu Zhuyun laughed uncontrollably.
“Yes, too wicked!” Zhu Zhuya nodded in agreement.
“Honestly, that’s your sister’s fiancé, and you actually schemed against him like this!” Zhu Zhuyi, for once, spoke a fair word, but her eyes were also full of laughter.
“Oh, right.”
“Zhuyun, if you feel one gift is too little, you can present the gift Davis gives you in front of him to Zhuya and Zhuyi, or even Zhuqing.”
These words completely made the three women unable to suppress their laughter any longer, laughing so hard they were in tears.
They could all imagine how anxious Davis would be after witnessing that scene.
Accompanied by laughter all the way, the carriage driven by Old Uncle Wei arrived before a magnificent mansion. Its vermilion gates and towering walls hinted at courtyards and pavilions hidden within, truly grand.
Zhu Zhuyun alighted first, followed closely by Zhu Zhuya and Zhu Zhuyi. Finally, Wang Zhong, holding Zhu Zhuqing’s hand, stepped out of the carriage.
“Old Uncle Wei, here’s the agreed-upon carriage fare!”
Zhu Zhuyun took a bag of golden soul coins, prepared earlier, from a nearby guard and handed it to him.
Then, she glanced at Wang Zhong again, her eyes twinkling, and said, “Old Uncle Wei, you can return the way you came.”
“Regarding Wang Zhong’s trip to Gengxin City, we will escort him personally when he wishes to go.”
The old driver was stunned for a moment, then chuckled and agreed. Under Wang Zhong’s surprised gaze, he drove the carriage away.
Wang Zhong rubbed his forehead with a helpless expression, feeling as though the matter of Gengxin City was becoming increasingly distant.
Zhu Zhuyun cast a smug glance at Wang Zhong, as if to say, ‘You can scheme against me, and I can scheme against you too.’
Seeing Wang Zhong’s expression, Zhu Zhuyun turned and walked towards the mansion with satisfaction.
Amidst respectful welcomes, the three Zhu sisters entered together.
Wang Zhong, holding Zhu Zhuqing’s hand, followed behind, walking on the long crimson wooden corridor. He looked around at the mansion’s layout as they walked.
Indeed, it was worthy of the Empress’s lineage of the Star Luo Empire. The entire mansion was grand and imposing, exuding utmost nobility and luxury. Various pavilions and towers stood as independent courtyards, complete with clear springs, rockeries, flowers, willows, and ponds with lotus flowers.
It was not only noble but also elegant.
From these aspects, it seemed the current head of the Zhu family must be a scholar who appreciated literature and possessed refined taste.
Thinking of the names of the four Zhu sisters – Zhuyun, Zhuya, Zhuyi, Zhuqing – the characters Yun, Ya, Yi, Qing formed a collective desire for elegance, which made sense.
“Ladies, and this guest, please follow me.”
“Master and Madam are waiting in the main hall.”
A beautiful attendant stepped forward, gesturing for them to follow, and said respectfully.
“Alright, we understand.”
Under Zhu Zhuyun’s reply, the maid led the way, bringing the five of them to another side of the corridor.
About a quarter of an hour later, they arrived at a serene and elegant independent courtyard. A man and a woman were seated opposite each other, playing chess.