Longing for Love (Twice Reborn) - Chapter 6

In her previous life, Song Mo had investigated the case alone without Lu Feng’s help, visiting the Red Sleeve Pavilion by herself. To lower the suspect’s guard, she had sat in a private room, enduring half an hour of forced toasting with a courtesan.

This time, having dreamed of that bitter experience, Song Mo decided not to sacrifice herself for the nation again and brought along Lu Feng, who was most adept in such social settings.

A few drops of tea spilled from the cup. Juchen quickly wiped the table.

Song Mo watched her movements absentmindedly.

In their past life, apart from their childhood meeting at the princess’s residence, they hadn’t reunited until two years later when Song Mo was demoted.

By then, Juchen had already become an outstanding female official, though he never knew how she had walked that path.

When they met again at their peaks, they stood as equals.

He had only ever known her as an opponent, never as a friend.

They were not even friends now at most, they were bedmates.

As the main dishes arrived, Lu Feng took the wine pot to pour for Juchen, who raised her cup in response. Song Mo stopped him, “A lady shouldn’t drink outside.”

Lu Feng, belatedly realizing his mistake, righted the pot and replaced her drink with pre-rain tea, adding, “Right, my apologies. Tea would be better.”

He then filled his own cup and downed it as belated penance.

The three began eating.

Juchen kept her head down but stole glances across the table, noticing Song Mo wasn’t strictly observing dining etiquette he responded to every third remark from Lu Feng.

Noticing her gaze, Lu Feng refilled her tea and sighed, “Juchen, it’s been ages since we last met. In the same capital, yet we never cross paths. I think it was at the princess’s wedding banquet?” His tipsiness made him less tactful as he added bluntly, “You were sitting in a corner, crying your heart out.”

Juchen’s chopsticks paused. Normally unfazed by jokes, she felt uncomfortable only because Song Mo’s gaze turned to her, making her skin prickle.

“I searched everywhere for a handkerchief to give you. Next thing I knew, you already had one, then you disappeared.”

Blushing, Juchen said, “I’d had too much to drink and went to sleep…”

“Understandable. You were not the only one gone this fellow vanished too. I searched forever before finding him asleep in a west chamber the next day.”
Without looking up, Song Mo said idly, “I was drunk too. Couldn’t contain my joy for the young master and his niece’s wedding.”

“Pull the other one,” Lu Feng scoffed, noticing how Song Mo’s voice trailed off as his eyes fixed across the table.

Juchen didn’t dare look up, feeling his stare burn her scalp, her chewing slowing to a crawl.

After swallowing, she reached for more food but, flustered, picked a cherry pastry she disliked and nearly choked.

Song Mi handed her a glass of water, ignoring her look of disdain, and casually asked, “Don’t you like cherries?”

Juchen could not very well vomit in front of him, so she could only shake her head in silence, choking back tears.

Lu Feng was quicker to speak, smiling brightly as she said, “How could she not like cherries? I remember back at the princess’s residence, she was pushed into the water by a girl over a basket of cherries.”

Juchen: “…”

Lu Feng’s mind was suddenly flooded with memories, and she sighed with a laugh, “Back then, Juchen was the most eye-catching girl in the princess’s residence, with countless admirers. Even a man who was already betrothed took one look at her and insisted on breaking off his engagement.”

Juchen: “!!!”

Noticing her pale expression, Lu Feng frowned and asked, “You don’t remember?”

“Did that really happen?” Juchen touched the hair at her right temple, using her arm to block Song Mi’s icy gaze.

Though she knew she had no reputation left in his eyes, she didn’t want him to think she was inherently fickle.

Lu Feng exclaimed, “Of course it did! I remember now it was the fourth son of the Earl of Yongchang’s household. He fell for you at first sight. You arranged to meet him at the arched bridge at dusk and asked for the cherries in his hand. Without hesitation, he gave them to you, but those cherries were a gift from his fiancée one inch wide cherries, a rare tribute only the imperial family could obtain. His fiancée was so furious she stormed over to catch you two in the act and pushed you straight into the water.”

“You don’t have to make it sound so scandalous,” Juchen covered her face, pretending her eyes were itchy as she rubbed them, peeking at Song Mi through her fingers.

She regretted looking the moment she did the man seemed to sense her gaze and stared directly back at her.

“Wasn’t that exactly how it looked?” Lu Feng burst into laughter beside her.

Juchen decided he was far too drunk and urgently called for the waiter, despairingly urging him to bring the sobering soup.

“Ah, I’m fine,” Lu Feng waved her off.

Juchen insisted, “No, you’re drunk.”

The waiter, understanding the situation, promptly brought the sobering soup and informed Juchen that someone was waiting for her downstairs.

Juchen truly needed some fresh air to cool her thoughts. Without asking who it was, she nodded to the two of them and hurried downstairs.

She couldn’t bear another second of that man’s icy yet scorching gaze.

As the private room door slammed shut behind her, Lu Feng watched her retreating figure with concern. “Juchen’s memory has gotten so bad she doesn’t even remember being pushed into the water. How is she going to manage her duties by the Empress Dowager’s side?”

He muttered to himself, lost in his own worries, not expecting an answer.

After a moment of silence, Song Mi tapped the table. “Your sobering soup is getting cold.”

Juchen lifted her skirt as she descended the stairs. Li Wanyu stood below, and for the first time, Juchen didn’t find her face quite so irritating.

But recalling the earlier events, Juchen felt utterly defeated.

Li Wanyu claimed to be looking for her, but her eyes kept darting upstairs.

“Elder Sister, what are you doing here? Who’s upstairs? Didn’t Third Miss Lu invite you?”

Juchen glanced at her. Li Wanyu straightened her back. “I didn’t deliberately track you down. I just happened to see the Lu family’s carriage at the entrance. So, who’s up there?”

“Second Young Master Lu. We were reminiscing.”

“And what else?”

Li Wanyu kept glancing at the man beside Lu Feng. Juchen sneered, “Weren’t you attending the palace banquet? Why are you back so early?”

“…” Li Wanyu opened her mouth but couldn’t speak.

“What? Did the Crown Prince Song not take a liking to you?”

Li Wanyu immediately retorted, “It’s not just me he didn’t favor!”

At tonight’s palace banquet, Song Yun hadn’t even shown up.

Li Wanyu drooped her head, her gaze involuntarily drifting upstairs again.

Juchen had no patience for further conversation. She waved a hand before Li Wanyu’s eyes, blocking her view. “It’s getting dark. A young lady like you shouldn’t be wandering outside. Go home.”

Li Wanyu pouted, never one to accept Juchen’s lectures. If she was wandering, then Juchen was dining with an unrelated man at night!

If not for the increasingly liberal customs of the Great Liang Dynasty and the Empress Dowager’s repeated policies promoting gender equality, her elder sister’s behavior would have been outright scandalous.

But Juchen ignored her completely and walked away.

Li Wanyu couldn’t very well follow, so she could only huff at her retreating back. Strangely, her usually haughty elder sister’s fluttering silhouette seemed somewhat dejected.

Ascending the steps, Juchen took a deep breath, gradually calming her emotions. Well, her reputation had indeed been poor before. She’d just have to work on improving it slowly.

Forcing a smile, she returned to the private room to find Lu Feng already asleep at the table.

After drinking the Drum Tower’s special sobering soup, the first effect was deep sleep.

Song Mi pulled out a chair again, inviting her to sit and eat some more.

Seeing he would already set down his chopsticks, Juchen declined, saying she was full.

Song Mi did not press her. Hoisting Lu Feng over his shoulder, he went downstairs and paid the bill before Juchen could.

No sooner had they stepped outside after settling the bill than Lu Feng opened his eyes. Were he not genuinely from an aristocratic family, Juchen might have suspected he had feigned sleep to avoid paying.

A carriage already waited at the entrance, its lantern bearing the Lu family insignia.

As Song Mi helped Lu Feng aboard, Juchen followed behind. When Lu Feng bent to enter the carriage, she bid him farewell.

Lu Feng hastily drew aside the window curtain, his handsome face appearing as he invited her, “Let me take you home.”

Before Juchen could respond, Song Mi leisurely extended an arm between them.

“I’ll see her home.”

Lu Feng was astonished he had never imagined Song Mi would volunteer for such kindness.

“Perhaps I should take her,” Lu Feng reconsidered.

His friend had never been comfortable sharing a carriage with women, and he didn’t want to impose because of his own affairs.

Song Mi said, “You’re drunk. It wouldn’t be safe.”

Lu Feng couldn’t help laughing. “I never knew you worried about me.”

Frowning slightly, Song Mi pointed at Juchen. “I meant she wouldn’t be safe.”

Lu Feng: “…”

Just then, another carriage arrived behind them.

The white horse at its front stood tall and noble, needing no guidance from the coachman. Its bright eyes fixed on Song Mi, glanced past Juchen, then turned away, completely ignoring Lu Feng.

Lu Feng couldn’t resist scoffing. “Zhengzhi, we’ve known each other over ten years, yet Xiao Bai still acts like he doesn’t recognize me. Did you fail to teach him properly? Though, it seems he’s learned to appreciate beauty now.”
Song Mi said calmly, “He never looks at beauties.”

He only ever looks at her.

Lu Feng was momentarily stunned before shaking his head with a wry smile.

“The lady is still here, can’t you show some courtesy? Juchen, don’t mind him.”

No sooner had he spoken than Lu Feng turned to see Juchen already deftly lifting the carriage curtain behind the white horse. Meeting his gaze, she blinked and offered a faint smile, saying, “Be careful on your way.”

Lu Feng: “…”

It just goes to show the better looking a man is, the more tolerant women become.

Lu Feng insisted that Song Mi escort Juchen home safely without a scratch.

Song Mi gave the coachman’s horse a pat to hurry him along. “As if you needed to tell me.”

The carriage wheels creaked as they rolled slowly down Vermilion Bird Street.

Whether it was Juchen’s imagination or not, the white horse tonight seemed unusually leisurely so much so that it felt less like taking her home and more like strolling under the moonlight with the two of them.

It had been some time since they last met. Knowing he had been busy lately, she hadn’t disturbed him.

Now that they’d crossed paths by chance, Juchen couldn’t suppress the urge to talk to him. But she couldn’t think of a good opening line, only recalling that Song Mi had paid earlier. Embarrassed, she said, “I’m sorry for making you spend just now.”

Song Mi glanced at her, his lips quirking in a half-smile. “Are you saying it wouldn’t have been spending if Lu Feng paid?”

Juchen paused, belatedly realizing what a poor conversation starter that had been.

Truth be told, Lu Feng’s earlier accusations had not been unfounded. Juchen did indeed have a way with men. She had long recognized from the unwavering gazes fixed on her face that she had been blessed with extraordinary beauty.

She had also quickly learned which smiles and precisely measured glances could captivate a man’s heart neither coy nor overly bold, yet devastatingly effective.

Even when merely flirting, she had always been unstoppable. Yet for some reason, around him, she always ended up tongue-tied.

After fumbling for words, Juchen finally managed to explain that she truly hadn’t expected such a setup the invitation had genuinely come from Lu Yun.

Song Mi had heard that Third Miss Lu shared her brother’s temperament, always meddling where she should not. That she would play matchmaker so recklessly didn’t surprise him in the least.

But the fact that Juchen was involved rubbed him the wrong way.

A flicker of displeasure crossed his mind, and though barely noticeable, Juchen caught the subtle shift in his demeanor. Mistaking his coolness for indifference, her heart sank.

Recalling the scene at the drum tower earlier, Juchen couldn’t help but feel disheartened.

Their one night dalliance in the past certainly had not left the best impression she did not need to think twice about that. She had resolved to turn over a new leaf, to be gentle and refined, hoping he might gradually realize she was only like this with him.

But now he’d heard all about her past misdeeds.

Should she explain? Would he think she was making excuses? It was all her fault for being so willful before, leaving behind such a tarnished reputation. Now there was no smoothing things over.

Li Juchen, you have made your bed now lie in it.

Suppressing an inward groan, Juchen maintained a polite smile and said understandingly, “Actually, you didn’t have to go out of your way to escort me. Second Brother Lu is drunk he’s the one who’s less safe.”

She assumed Song Mi was worried about his good friend Lu Feng.

Song Mei raised her eyes. “Second Brother Lu?”

Juchen was taken aback and quickly waved her hands. “I didn’t mean to act overly familiar that’s just what I called him when we were children.” After a moment’s thought, she realized how that sounded and stammered, “No, I mean, I….”

Why did it feel like the more she explained, the worse it got?

Juchen opened and closed her mouth several times, her teeth chattering in hesitation before she finally slumped in defeat. “We really weren’t that close…”

Seeing her near tears, Song Mei wondered if he had been too stern and frightened her. His tone softened. “He’s a regular at Hongxiu Pavilion. The alcohol there won’t be a problem for him.”

Juchen nodded meekly.

Song Mei glanced at her. “Today, when I went to Hongxiu Pavilion.”

Juchen, knowing he was there on secret imperial orders to investigate a case, didn’t want him to violate the emperor’s command by revealing confidential matters. She cut him off, “No need to explain. I understand.”

“You understand?”

Juchen’s expression was firm, her gaze sincere as she looked at him. “These things are perfectly normal.”

“Perfectly normal?”

Juchen nodded emphatically.

Second Brother Lu had already ruined her image today she had to appear more magnanimous now. She couldn’t let Song Mei think she was improper, nosy, and troublesome, or he might refuse to associate with her in the future.

He really didn’t owe her any explanations.

Song Mei gave a curt hum in response, his expression cooling instantly as he withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes, massaging his temples with a finger.

The night was quiet and cool, the carriage enveloped in silence save for the steady rumble of wheels beneath them.

Juchen stole a glance at his face his brow was slightly furrowed, as if troubled and weary.

Noticing the shadows under his eyes, she held her breath, unwilling to disturb his rest, even minimizing the sound of her breathing.

Yet her gaze kept drifting back to his face, unable to resist.

No matter how slowly they traveled, the journey would eventually end.

The white horse came to a gradual halt at the corner of Baoning Lane.

No matter how handsome he was, she had to look away. Juchen exhaled silently and prepared to disembark.

But he remained seated on the side, eyes still closed, his long legs blocking her path.

She considered asking him to move but couldn’t bring herself to wake him.

After some deliberation, she carefully lifted her skirt, intending to step over his legs.

The soft rustle of fabric brushed past him, the faint fragrance from her sleeves drifting near his nose.

Song Mei’s eyes flew open. His arms, previously folded across his chest, shot forward abruptly.

Juchen gasped in surprise the next moment, she found herself seated on his lap, her slender waist gripped firmly in his hands.

Outside, the night was cold as water, but not as icy as the man’s expression.

Song Mei’s gaze was inscrutable. One hand slid slowly downward while the other rose to grasp her chin. “Tell your family you’ll be studying in the library tonight.”