As he watched his master, who had been full of vigor just moments ago, suddenly transform into a delicate flower, Longdan’s mouth gaped wide enough to fit an egg. “Ma-master—”

What are you doing?!

“Shut up!” Yu Jin warned in a low voice.

Leng Ying was tight-lipped, and he worried most about Longdan saying too much.

Longdan dared not ask further and supported Yu Jin while calling out, “Old Wang, open the door.”

The ordinary black-lacquered wooden door creaked open. Erniu squeezed past Old Wang and rushed out, circling Yu Jin and whining.

Yu Jin had missed Erniu after not seeing him for three days, but his future wife was more important than Erniu. He secretly pinched Longdan, signaling him to hurry and help him inside.

While Longdan was still being slow-witted, Leng Ying unexpectedly supported Yu Jin’s other arm and walked in without any expression.

Old Wang was startled: “What happened to you?”

Jiang Si, who had been sitting under a tree in the courtyard, had already stood up.

She hadn’t expected to run into Yu Jin.

At this moment, Miss Jiang’s feelings were somewhat complex. On one hand, she was curious about Yu Jin’s situation; on the other hand, she felt that coming here every day and running into him might lead to this person’s wild imagination.

If only she had known, she would have come at a different time.

Just as Jiang Si was thinking this, she saw Yu Jin, disheveled and covered in blood stains.

In that instant, all her conflicted thoughts vanished. Jiang Si couldn’t help but walk quickly towards him, asking, “How did you get injured?”

The corner of Yu Jin’s mouth turned up slightly.

He seemed to see concern in Si’er’s eyes!

Hehe, he knew using this trick of feigning injury wouldn’t be wrong.

“It’s… it’s nothing…” Yu Jin said weakly, his face pale as he urged Longdan, “Help me sit down first…”

Longdan had gotten into character by now and choked out, “Master, please go slowly, don’t strain your wounds…”

“What exactly happened?” Jiang Si frowned.

Hadn’t Yu Seven just sealed off King Yan? It should have been his moment of glory, so how did he end up coming back covered in injuries?

Without an imperial edict, who would dare to abuse a prince?

Yu Jin raised his head and smiled weakly at Jiang Si: “It’s nothing serious, I just offended someone with connections. That person bribed some people in the yamen to give me a hard time. But I’m tough, these are just surface wounds, please don’t worry…”

Hmm?

Jiang Si narrowed her eyes.

Something seemed off about what she was hearing.

Wasn’t Yu Seven locked up in the Imperial Clan Court for brawling? Would people in the Imperial Clan Court be bribed to physically punish a prince who was about to be enfeoffed?

At first, she didn’t know what had happened to Yu Seven, but after these three days, she learned about it from her father.

What Yu Seven was saying was completely different from what her father had told her, and his injuries didn’t make sense logically.

Jiang Si was certainly not foolish. At first, when she saw Yu Jin’s pitiful state, she felt some concern clouding her judgment, but after regaining her composure and thinking it through briefly, she understood what was going on.

This scoundrel was trying to gain her sympathy by feigning injury!

Miss Jiang maintained a calm expression, but inwardly she was sneering: How impressive, using such a trick on her! At least pretending to be a romantic suitor showed some self-respect, but this act of feigning injury – did he have no shame?

“Did those people torture you?” she asked.

Yu Jin nodded with difficulty: “Just a few lashes, it’s nothing for someone trained in martial arts like me, cough cough cough—”

“Then why are you so weak?” Miss Jiang put on a concerned expression.

Yu Jin was pleased inwardly: Si’er is soft-hearted, and pretending to be ill and weak wasn’t a mistake. Thankfully, his thick skin could handle it.

“Cough cough cough, it wouldn’t have been a problem, but I barely ate for three days and then caught some wind, so I’m feeling a bit unwell…” he explained.

“They didn’t even feed you?” Longdan chimed in from the side, “That’s too much! You’ve always had a problem with getting dizzy and weak when you’re hungry, you must have suffered greatly!”

Jiang Si’s mouth twitched.

What an honest statement – who wouldn’t get dizzy and weak when starving? These two, master and servant, had planned this act in front of her. She wanted to see how far they would take this performance.

“Longdan, don’t talk nonsense,” Yu Jin reprimanded, revealing an expression of not wanting to worry Jiang Si.

“But Master, you need to eat something. I’ll go make you some porridge,” Longdan offered.

Yu Jin frowned.

Longdan slapped his forehead: “Oh right, my cooking skills are too poor. In your current state, you probably can’t eat anything I make—”

As he spoke, he glanced at Jiang Si.

Yu Jin was quite satisfied with Longdan’s response. Although he wanted Si’er to personally make him a bowl of porridge, if she went to cook, he wouldn’t be able to talk to her.

Comparatively, it was better to talk more with Si’er.

“It’s fine, you go make the porridge. I’ll eat a bit to regain my strength. Leng Ying, go to the medical shop and get some medicine for reducing swelling and dispersing bruises,” Yu Jin dismissed Longdan and Leng Ying, then raised his hand to his forehead. “The sun is quite strong. Miss Jiang, could you help me inside to rest?”

“Alright,” Jiang Si smiled and extended her hand.

The young woman’s wrist was as white as snow, and as he neared her, he could smell an enchanting fragrance.

Yu Jin’s heart raced and his feet felt light, as if he were in a dream.

He didn’t know how many nights he had dreamed of being with Si’er, sometimes they were worshipping heaven and earth in marriage, entering the bridal chamber—

Ahem, he couldn’t think further. How could he, as an upright gentleman, always think of such beautiful scenarios?

Inside the room, it was bright and clean. Yu Jin slowly sat down against the chair, revealing a weak smile: “Thank you, Miss Jiang.”

“It’s nothing,” Jiang Si said. Although she wanted to expose this scoundrel’s true face, she felt that once exposed, it would surely lead to pestering. So she said, “Master Yu, rest well. I’ve been out for a long time and should head back now.”

How could Yu Jin bear to let Jiang Si leave so soon? He quickly coughed a few times and said pitifully, “Miss Jiang, could you pour me a cup of water to drink?”

Jiang Si’s gaze fell on Yu Jin’s lips.

His thin lips with their beautiful contours were moist and glossy, paired with his chiseled jawline, giving an inexplicably cool and indifferent feeling, which seemed to particularly set a woman’s heart aflutter.

She didn’t see any sign that he was thirsty at all.

Despite this, Jiang Si silently poured a cup of water and brought it over.

She wanted to see how long this guy would keep up his act.

Yu Jin raised his hand to take the cup, but suddenly let out a muffled groan, his face showing a pained expression.

Jiang Si’s hand holding the water cup paused.

Yu Jin smiled helplessly: “My arm is injured—”

Jiang Si raised an eyebrow: “Do you want me to feed you?”

“I’m sorry, then I’ll have to trouble Miss Jiang,” the young man’s ears slowly turned red as he looked at Jiang Si with a gentle smile.

Jiang Si put the teacup down on the table with a thud and sneered, “How long are you going to keep up this act?”

“What?” Yu Jin looked innocent.

He knew exactly what an injured and weak person should look like, how could he have given himself away?

Jiang Si pressed her lips together tightly, staring at the unrepentant man.

No matter how convincing his act was, there was one thing he couldn’t have anticipated: she already knew his true identity.

Just this one point was enough to expose him, no matter how well he acted.

Miss Jiang reached out and lifted Yu Jin’s sleeve, saying coolly, “Master Yu, the wound on your arm was just made, wasn’t it?”

Yu Jin looked down at his arm, then back up at the young woman’s tense face. In his mind, there was only one thought: It’s over!