Chapter 537 - Chapter 537: Chapter 544: Being Smart by Oneself (2/2)
Even though Su Wenyue’s comment was subtle, her facial expression said it all, revealing her inner thoughts. Sikong Ling felt that the title of gentleman didn’t quite suit him: “Fine, so I’m a nasty person, what’s wrong with that? Drop the disdainful look. Compared to those hypocrites who present one face and harbor another, I’d rather be who I am. At least I’m living truthfully!”
Seeing Su Wenyue’s comfortable demeanor after he admitted it, Sikong Ling felt uncomfortable, a sly smile forming on his lips: “But speaking of which, don’t you think your husband is a complete hypocrite? Outwardly, he seems upright and honorable, but when it comes to tactics and strategies, he’s far superior to the likes of me, a nasty person. After all, how could a mere farmer like him have come so far if not for the things he’s done in secret, unbeknownst to you? I admit I am a nasty person, but compared to Han Yu, no one is more innocent.”
Su Wenyue could be very protective, and hearing Sikong Ling say this made her unhappy: “You’re the hypocrite, your entire family is full of hypocrites! Don’t you slander Han Yu. I know exactly what kind of person he is. Even if he’s cunning and scheming, he does so with overt stratagems, not engaging in sinister and vile actions. Don’t you smear his name. You’re the one who’s sinister and vile, and yet you try to drag others down with you. What kind of person does that make you?”
“Look how protective you are. I’m just speaking the truth. Han Yu is your husband, and I don’t believe you’re completely unaware of his affairs outside. Though his overt tactics prevail, he hasn’t shied away from using covert means, and he can be incredibly cunning. Even I concede defeat to him.”
As Sikong Ling spoke and saw Su Wenyue glaring at him, he raised his hands helplessly: “Alright, enough, I won’t talk about your precious Han Yu anymore, is that okay? After all, everyone knows what they’ve done. Speaking of which, those secret guards, they don’t just crop up without special training. Your Han Yu has cultivated such a group too, hasn’t he? You can’t deny that.”
“Ha, and I wondered why you had so much free time. Apparently, you didn’t gain an advantage with Han Yu, so you’re here to fish for information from me. Do you really think I’d tell you about Han Yu’s affairs? Forget it, I’m not like those foolish women in your backyard. Don’t try to play your little games on me,” Su Wenyue said, with a look that suggested she saw right through him.
Facing Su Wenyue’s scrutiny, Sikong Ling felt slightly uneasy. He hadn’t intended to play mind games with her; he was just casually probing for information. This seemingly naive little girl could be quite sharp when it mattered, picking up on his intentions almost instantly.
Sikong Ling was forthright, and seeing that Su Wenyue had caught on, he didn’t bother to hide it, admitting openly: “You’re pretty astute. I’ve barely entertained the thought, and you’ve already detected it. That Han Yu is really too cunning. Dealing with him is exhausting, so I thought I’d make a breakthrough with you, see if I could find out something. Turns out I was discovered right away.”
Su Wenyue felt a sense of accomplishment inside, but she didn’t show it outwardly, displaying only a mocking smile: “Pfft, trying to pull such trivial tricks in front of me, I’d spot your intentions in a minute. I might not have bothered with you on normal days, but you know what they say, ‘Ignorance is bliss.’ But sometimes, I just can’t be bothered to expose your crass maneuvers. I can see through you, Sikong Ling, in just one glance.”
“So it seems. The saying ‘Ignorance is bliss’ does make sense; it’s something a Smart Person would do,” Sikong Ling’s smile deepened, nodding emphatically as if he agreed with Su Wenyue’s words wholeheartedly, if not for the hint of mockery in his eyes.
“So stop trying to act clever in front of me. I could puncture your little schemes at any moment,” Su Wenyue said, growing more smug, though she felt a tinge of guilt internally, but boasting a bit on the surface felt good.
“However, I’ve heard another saying: smart people don’t flaunt their intelligence. Those who think they’re very smart are usually just deluding themselves. I think there’s a lot of truth in that. What do you say, Lady Yue? Does this saying make sense?”