Oops! My Inner Thoughts Are Ruining The Plot

Chapter 73: Chapter

Su Yueqing swept out of the gloomy courtyard, her mind buzzing with the sudden, chaotic weight of her newly acquired target status. Two hundred favorability points? It was a disaster. If she kept this up, she would be unmasked as a fraud of a villainess before the week was out.

Stepping back into her own brightly lit pavilions, she immediately summoned her personal attendants to finish preparing her for the evening’s ride.

[I need a look that screams ’I might trampling you with my stallion if you look at me wrong,’] Su Yueqing grumbled to herself as the maids frantically adjusted her dark leather riding gloves and pinned back her stray hairs.

[No more soft-hearted slip-ups. Wenzhe is a sharp guy; if he catches me looking even mildly sympathetic about his little brother, my reputation is done for. Absolute haughtiness is the only path forward.]

Once the silver buckles on her riding boots were polished to a mirror shine and her crimson cloak was draped perfectly over her shoulders, a firm knock echoed at the chamber doors.

Dong Li stepped inside, bowing deeply with his usual flawless, unreadable military posture. "Young Madame, the horses have been prepared at the eastern stables. The Young Master is already waiting and sent me to escort you."

Su Yueqing adjusted the high collar of her tunic, her expression instantly turning into a picture of cold, aristocratic boredom. "About time," she drawled, sweeping past him without a second glance. "Let us not keep him waiting too long. I would hate to miss the sunset merely because the stable hands are slow."

Dong Li followed half a step behind, his eyes fixed on the stone path, entirely unaware of the dramatic battle for villainous supremacy currently waging inside his mistress’s head.

As they approached the eastern stables, the crisp evening air carried the scent of fresh hay and polished leather. The golden rays of the setting sun painted the courtyard in warm, amber light.

Su Yueqing rounded the corner, her haughty reprimand already forming on her tongue, but the words died instantly in her throat.

Standing beside a magnificent, jet-black stallion was Wenzhe.

He had completely shed his heavy, formal bureaucratic robes from earlier. Instead, he wore a form-fitting, midnight-blue riding tunic embroidered with subtle silver thread along the cuffs, paired with tall, dark leather boots that accentuated his long legs. His usually loose, flowing hair was meticulously gathered up, packed neatly into a high, polished silver bun wrapper at the crown of his head.

The clean style highlighted the sharp, flawless angles of his jawline, the elegant slope of his neck, and the piercing clarity of his dark eyes. The entire look made him look utterly striking... effortlessly charming and incredibly regal.

Su Yueqing completely froze in her tracks, her breath catching for a split second. On the outside, she quickly narrowed her eyes, forcing her expression into a picture of cold, aristocratic boredom.

But inside her head, the villainess facade fractured into a million pieces as her inner mind went into full, hysterical system failure, booming straight into Wenzhe’s consciousness.

[OH MY GOD?!] Su Yueqing’s internal voice shrieked, her mental voice echoing with absolute clarity inside Wenzhe’s mind. [Who permitted him to look like that?! Is that even legal in this dynasty?! Look at that hair bun! Look at those shoulders! He looks like a top-tier visual from a triple-A historical romance game! Nine, my eyes! I am being attacked by high-grade male beauty! How am I supposed to act like a cruel, detached villainess when my husband looks like a literal walking temptation?! Stand firm, Yueqing! Do not drool!]

Wenzhe, who had just been adjusting his horse’s reins, nearly choked on his own breath. Hearing her loud, unadulterated mental panic, a sudden, heavy hit of amusement washed over him. He carefully schooled his expression, though his dark eyes danced with a dangerous, deeply pleased glint. So, his wife found him tempting, did she?

He turned his head fully toward her, taking in her striking crimson riding outfit. His lips parted into a soft, remarkably charming smile that he now knew exactly how to use against her.

"You’re late, wife," Wenzhe said, his deep voice carrying a playful, smooth undertone as he stepped forward, deliberately letting his eyes linger on her face. "I was beginning to think you had changed your mind about riding with me this evening."

Su Yueqing quickly snapped out of her daze. She forced a cold, proud frown onto her face to hide her embarrassment.

"Hmph. Late?" she scoffed out loud, crossing her arms tightly. "A true noblewoman does not rush for anyone, Wenzhe. If you cannot handle waiting for a few minutes, you lack patience. Now, stop wasting my time. Where is my horse?"

Wenzhe’s lips twitched as he held back a laugh, his ears still burning slightly from her earlier hidden thoughts about his looks.

Right then, two male servants walked out of the stable doors, leading a magnificent, snow-white horse. The horse had a flawless, shiny coat that seemed to glow in the sunset, a beautifully braided silver mane, and proud, bright eyes. It was a perfect, graceful animal.

The moment Su Yueqing’s eyes landed on the horse, her mind went completely blank. Her cold frown vanished, replaced by pure wonder.

Inside her head, her inner voice completely forgot about Wenzhe and screamed with wild excitement right into his mind.

[OH MY GOD! LOOK AT HER!] Su Yueqing’s mental voice yelled in total joy. [She is an absolute angel! Look at that shiny mane! Look at those long, elegant legs! She looks like a magical unicorn! Forget the husband, this horse is the best thing in this entire estate! I am completely in love!]

Outwardly, Su Yueqing stepped right past Wenzhe. She completely ignored him as she reached out her gloved hand to gently pet the horse’s soft nose.

"Beautiful," Su Yueqing murmured softly to the horse. Then, she shot a sharp, mean look back at Wenzhe. She lifted her chin and said with total disdain, "Honestly, Wenzhe, this horse is way more good-looking than you could ever hope to be. It’s a shame I have to look at your face every day instead of hers."

Wenzhe stood frozen by his stallion, feeling deeply embarrassed. He had just been feeling proud because of her intense mental compliments about his looks, only to be totally defeated and replaced by a farm animal.

The guards and stable hands quickly lowered their heads, trying hard not to laugh at the sight of the powerful Young Master being insulted in favor of a horse.

Wenzhe rubbed the bridge of his nose, a helpless smile tugging at his lips as her loud inner thoughts continued to praise the horse.