Chapter 16 Half Naked

"Old Concubine Qi allowed me to rest for a few days without having to work. I can go back the day after tomorrow."

Pei Zhouwu didn't reply, but became more curious about what had happened to her.

But I was afraid of making her sad, so I never dared to ask.

"Or...if Uncle Pei doesn't want me to stay here, I can leave."

After hearing her words, Pei Zhouwu replied softly: "Look, you always belittle yourself like this. If I had any dislike for you, I would have thrown you into the pond and left you to die."

"yes."

Liu Fuying seemed to burst into laughter and his tone became much more relaxed.

"Uncle Pei is a good man."

Her relaxation also eased Pei Zhouwu's tension, and his movements of swinging the clothes back and forth became much more natural.

"I'm afraid you're the only one in this world who thinks I'm a good person," he said.

"How could that be? Your family and relatives must believe in you."

"It's one thing to believe or not, and it's another to blame or not."

"Then..." Liu Fuying hesitated and asked the question she had always wanted to know, "You don't want to escape from here, is it for your family?"

Pei Zhouwu did not answer immediately. He lowered his eyes and seemed to be carefully checking the clothes in his hands, fearing that she would fall into the fire.

In fact, I'm afraid my mind has drifted away.

"You should know that too." He said calmly, and continued, "I am imprisoned here awaiting the results of a thorough investigation. If I escape, it means that I am guilty and have proven my rebellious intentions. Then..."

At that time, his family, parents, queen and prince will all be implicated.

Liu Fuying thought to herself, as expected, it was just as she had guessed.

He would rather suffer himself so that his family would not suffer.

"I don't believe you would commit treason. Someone must have wronged you."

Liu Fuying's words were full of determination, as if she had already seen the truth. If the other words were just a show for him, then this one came from the heart. She truly felt that someone like Pei Zhouwu would not do anything to betray his king and his country.

"Are you so sure?"

Although he asked this, Pei Zhouwu's sidelong glance revealed anticipation.

"Of course." Liu Fuying did not hesitate and firmly trusted him. "If you were a vicious traitor, why would you bother to save me? What good would it do to save me? If people found out that I was here, it would only cause you trouble. Not only did you save my life, but you also sent me out safely and innocently."

"I don't believe what they say."

Pei Zhouwu's eyebrows were like stars. He did not respond and only said: "You are still weak. You need to rest well."

"well."

Liu Fuying said yes repeatedly, and a triumphant smile slowly appeared on his face as he turned his back.

Although he didn't say anything, she could feel the relationship becoming closer.

If this trend continues, the baby will be born soon.

When Pei Zhouwu finished drying his clothes and tentatively turned back, he saw that Liu Fuying had already pulled the quilt to cover her body.

Looking closely, there was only softness between his eyebrows.

Pei Zhouwu had seen enough of her half-naked appearance just now. If he saw it any more, it would be counterproductive.

So, she pulled the quilt over herself in a timely manner.

The clothes were dried, and Pei Zhouwu's face was covered with sweat. He was sitting by the fire, and it was hot and unbearable even at night. But from beginning to end, he never complained or asked for credit, and just did his job silently.

From the looks of it, Liu Fuying had fallen asleep.

In fact, I sigh in my heart all the time.

It was still the same sigh, how happy she would be if Pei Zhouwu was in Shen Xiu Nian.

Soon, Pei Zhouwu left with the charcoal tray.

The candles were blown out and the door was closed, leaving only the rustling sound of bamboo leaves outside the window in the night wind.

Liu Fuying found a comfortable position and fell into a deep sleep.

This time, I slept particularly soundly.

When she woke up in the morning, she did not see Pei Zhouwu in the yard, nor by the pond in the backyard. She guessed that he was probably in the big house in front, which gave her the opportunity to leave.

After entering the water, the clothes that Pei Zhouwu had worked so hard to dry last night were soaked again.

She returned to Changming Temple.

By the time Pei Zhouwu stood in front of the bedroom door holding the bowl, there was no one inside.

He knocked on the door several times, but there was no response.

I wondered in my heart, was she really cold last night?

He knocked twice more loudly and deliberately, but there was still no response. He was certain that she was ill. When he pushed the door open, he saw that the bed was empty. After putting down the bowl, he immediately turned around and looked for her.

When he arrived just now, he knew that there was no one in the yard, so he went to the deep pool first.

The lake is silent and the shore is empty.

I also looked in the bamboo forest behind the house. It was very small and there was no other place to hide people.

The only possibility is that she went out.

And...he left so suddenly again.

But then he suddenly remembered something. Last night she said she had placed a trap in the woods. Maybe she had gone out to look for prey. He also said that he would rest for several days and would go down the mountain and leave the city the day after tomorrow.

If that's the case, she will come back.

He returned to his bedroom and sat in front of the window as he had done in countless quiet days before, but only his mood had changed.

When there is someone waiting for you, life is not so hard.

She waited for the bowl of porridge on the table from being steaming hot to the bottom of the bowl being cold, waited for the sun to move to noon, waited for the guard to bring in lunch, but she still didn't come back until noon passed.

Pei Zhouwu didn't eat a single bite of the food.

So much time has passed, it would take more than climbing a mountain, why hasn't she come back yet?

Pei Zhouwu's shadow was reflected in the water in front of the pond, and water vapor was floating on the surface of the pond, which showed how strong the afternoon sunlight was. However, he stood here motionless for a long time.

Did she have an accident when she went to check the trap, and fell off the same cliff as last time?

Or, was he taken back by people from the palace?

The strong sense of uneasiness made Pei Zhouwu extremely anxious. He finally took a step forward, but suddenly stopped when he stepped into the water.

He turned his head and looked towards the front of the yard.

There is a large pendulum hanging in front of the guard camp outside. As soon as it is discovered that he is missing, the bell will be struck. Its sound can be heard down the mountain and into the entire Shangjing City. Then the imperial guards in the city will probably surround the entire Pei family very quickly.

Thinking of this, he silently retracted his leg.

But his expression didn't show any relief.

"Su Yueying."

"What on earth is the matter with you?"

"You make me pity you and miss you, but you also make me feel uneasy every time."

He raised his head, squinted at the sun, and then stepped into the water again with determination.

This was his third time going out to this pond.

The first time was when he quietly discovered her and went out to take a look, the second time was when he sent her out last time, and this time was the third time.

Fortunately, the chains on his hands were not as short as those on his feet, so he had more room to maneuver. He was also a good swimmer, otherwise he would not have been able to get through this deep underwater passage.

I finally got out of the water again, but my first reaction was not to breathe.