It was only natural that this would infuriate Big Wu.
Young Master Nan also knew that Wu Jinliang had once defied Gong Shaoci for Duan Xiangmei's sake, which was why he had intervened to protect her.
And Wei Mo had made sure Wu Jinliang knew that Duan Xiangmei would be executed first if Shi Chun failed to surrender precisely because he had learned that Wu Jinliang had fallen out with Gong Shaoci over her.
Since Duan Xiangmei meant something to Wu Jinliang, having her in his hands naturally made Wu Jinliang a useful ally in pressuring Shi Chun.
Sure enough, Wu Jinliang bristled the instant he read it. He wanted to send a warning back, but knew he could not, or he would lose all room to maneuver.
The reasoning was simple. Once the other side confirmed that they had reached him, they might use the vulnerable spot they held in their grip to force him to show himself immediately.
For now, he could only pretend he had seen nothing. Only uncertainty over whether he had received the message would slow their actions.
But holding it in was truly unbearable, which was why he had smashed the Mother-Child Talisman down in fury.
Seeing this, Shi Chun raised a hand and drew the Mother-Child Talisman off the ground into his grasp from a distance, reading its contents before they faded.
His breathing caught as well. He had been there when Wu Jinliang fell out with Gong Shaoci, so naturally he understood the reason.
He sighed softly. "If you liked her, then you liked her. Why did you have to show it? You and I came from the Land of Exile. Swallowing humiliation to stay alive was as normal as eating. Would one more time have made a difference? I told you