Chapter 67. Pei Duo's mouth is always good at distorting the truth.

"Brother Pei, who is this?"

Zhao Zhixue was quite surprised. He had been away for more than twenty days. Had his younger brother Pei gotten married?

The woman was dressed in a wedding gown, but her face was buried in Pei Duo's arms, so he couldn't see her face.

Jiang Ninghui, who was originally ashamed to be seen by others, froze in fright upon hearing her husband's voice. Her fingers, which were gripping Pei Duo's clothes, tightened more and more, and her slender back almost snapped into a flexible line.

She clung closer and closer to Pei Duo, wishing she could hide herself inside his clothes.

I pray that my husband won't find out.

fine.

Fortunately, she was wearing her wedding dress, so her fiancé didn't recognize her.

If it were her own clothes, her secret with Pei Duo would be completely exposed to her lover.

Pei Duo noticed Jiang Ninghui's stiffened body and tightened his arms around her.

The young man glanced at Zhao Zhixue, but lowered his head slightly. His lips gently brushed against the top of Jiang Ninghui's hair, and his dark pupils held a hint of wicked provocation that was hard to detect.

Feeling Jiang Ninghui tremble slightly, the young man's lips curled into a triumphant smile.

He said, "She is the one I admire."

Zhao Zhixue guessed it, but was still a little puzzled by the woman's wedding dress.

Before he could ask, Pei Duo said, "Brother Zhao, my sister-in-law is chatting with the prefect's wife at the government office tonight to pass the time. She will return tomorrow. It's freezing cold, and I'm afraid my beloved will get cold. I'll go inside first."

Jiang Ninghui was so embarrassed to hear Pei Duo repeatedly mentioning the woman he loved in front of her husband that she wished she could cover his mouth and tell him to stop talking.

Zhao Zhixue nodded: "Okay."

Upon learning that Jiang Ninghui was at the prefect's residence and chatting with the prefect's wife to pass the time, Zhao Zhixue couldn't help but feel worried.

He knew Jiang Ninghui's personality quite well.

Dull-witted and pedantic, clumsy with words, she chatted with the prefect's wife to pass the time, but she was afraid of being blamed by the prefect's wife for not knowing how to speak or saying the wrong thing. Thinking of this, Zhao Zhixue could not stay still for a moment, so she turned around and got into the carriage and hurriedly asked the driver to take her to the prefect's office.

Zhao Zhixue rushed to the government office, just in time to see the prefect returning from the Zhou family's ancestral graves.

He relayed Pei Duo's words to the prefect, wanting to bring Jiang Ninghui back.

Upon hearing this, the prefect's face turned almost green.

His wife is already in her coffin, how could Lady Jiang chat with her! It's probably just an excuse Pei Duo used to get rid of Zhao Zhixue; Pei Duo is probably currently embracing Zhao Zhixue's wife and making love to her.

The prefect coldly rejected Zhao Zhixue, saying that he would send a carriage to take Jiang Ninghui back the next day, and casually asked if he could deliver the letter to the capital and if he could meet the friend who had introduced him to him.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhixue bowed deeply to the prefect to express his sincere gratitude.

It was only during his trip to Kyoto that he truly understood what prosperity, power, and noble ladies meant.

The prefect of Longchang County wielded immense power, but if placed in the capital city under the emperor's nose, he wouldn't even be worthy of carrying the shoes of those ministers. This time, he met the Vice Minister of Rites through the prefect's letter of recommendation, who was in full charge of the imperial examinations.

He never expected that the Vice Minister of Rites would treat him so generously, even inviting high-ranking officials who were on good terms with him in the past to his residence with their families, and introducing them to him. At the banquet, he saw those noble ladies, each with an elegant demeanor, graceful and beautiful, and all of them exceptionally talented.

Zhao Zhixue recalled that exceptionally talented and beautiful noblewoman, her hair swaying gracefully and her clothes exuding fragrance.

Although the two only exchanged a few words, he still remembers the noblewoman's face to this day.

After hearing Zhao Zhixue's words of thanks, the prefect waved his hand and said, "You may go back now."

Zhao Zhixue: "Yes."

When Zhao Zhixue returned to his residence, he wanted to find Pei Duo and chat with him about the affairs of the capital, but when he thought of the women in Pei Duo's courtyard, he figured that Pei Duo probably didn't have time to chat with him right now, so he gave up the idea.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, and before long, everything around was covered in a frosty white.

The charcoal fire inside was burning very brightly, making the room warm as summer.

After taking a bath, Jiang Ninghui had nothing to wear, so she had to change into the clothes that Pei Duo had specially prepared for her by the bedside.

Jiang Ninghui hurriedly put on the brand-new light green undershirt, and then put on new trousers, undershirt, and outer shirt. Just as she finished dressing, there was a knock on the door, and a young man's clear and melodious voice came through the door: "Sister-in-law, you're dressed."

The tone was not that of a question.

Jiang Ninghui's eyelashes fluttered, and she looked up in a daze at the tall and imposing figure outside the door.

Just as she was wondering how he knew she had just put on her clothes, she suddenly remembered that Pei Duo had excellent hearing.

He must have heard the sounds of her bathing and dressing.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ninghui's face froze.

If he heard everything, wouldn't he also have heard her whispering words calling him a beast?

fine.

Jiang Ninghui comforted herself.

So be it, they've already cursed.

Who told him to do such a terrible thing!

Even after taking a bath, Jiang Ninghui still felt her legs were sore and trembling, as if they didn't belong to her.

No matter how much she resisted.

He remained unmoved.

He shamelessly whispered in her ear, "Does sister-in-law like it?"

Jiang Ninghui felt her cheeks burning as soon as she thought about it, and her exposed skin seemed to be dyed with a layer of bright rouge.

She didn't want to see Pei Duo.

Especially now.

Jiang Ninghui did not go forward to open the door. She curled her fingertips and whispered, "You're dressed."

She paused for a moment, then asked, "Where am I sleeping tonight?"

Pei Duo: "You can sleep in my room."

Jiang Ninghui glanced at the bed and couldn't help but recall the day she first came to the courtyard in Qingping Town. She was lying on Pei Duo's bed in only her undergarments when he saw her. She tried her best not to think about that matter and hesitated for a long time before finally agreeing.

Pei Duo told her husband that she was chatting with the prefect's wife at the government office, and that if she went back now, it would inevitably arouse her husband's suspicion.

Jiang Ninghui said to the outside world, "Young Master Pei, I... I'm going to sleep now."

She thought Pei Duo might be unwilling and might even force her to open the door, but to her surprise, he was very agreeable: "In that case, I, Pei, will not disturb you any longer, sister-in-law."

Jiang Ninghui breathed a sigh of relief.

She lay fully clothed on the couch where Pei Duo had slept every night, the air filled with the scent of cedarwood emanating from the young man. The scent was extremely strong and domineering, penetrating every crevice of her clothes.

She pulled the quilt over herself, the soft quilt like a large, spread-out net, completely enveloping her.

Jiang Ninghui closed her eyes, trying to fall asleep.

Once you fall asleep, you don't feel uncomfortable anymore.

Perhaps because so much had happened that day, Jiang Ninghui fell asleep soon after tossing and turning.

She didn't know how long she had slept, but she seemed to hear Pei Duo's voice.

The young man's voice was no longer clear and melodious as before, but rather low and hoarse.

He seemed to be whispering in her ear, constantly—

Panting.

Jiang Ninghui felt as if she were in a sea of ​​fire, the raging flames burning every inch of her skin, her porcelain-white body covered by her clothes was covered with a layer of fine, fragrant sweat.

It's so hot.

I was both thirsty and hot.

Jiang Ninghui wanted to find a cool place to escape the scorching flames, but no matter how she tried, she couldn't escape them.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed her wrist and led her across the fiery land.

He grasped the scorching hot iron object, which was being burned by the fire.

The burning sensation instantly spread from my fingertips to my palms.

Jiang Ninghui tried to pull her hand away, but the man held it tightly, not allowing her to escape even a fraction of an inch.

Pei Duo's voice came to my ears once again.

"Sister-in-law, please help me."

"I feel so bad."

"My sister-in-law is so kind-hearted, she certainly wouldn't just stand by and watch me suffer."

The young man bit her earlobe, devouring and licking it.

He whispered shameless, lewd things in her ear.

Jiang Ninghui finally woke up from her sleep. The first thing she saw was pitch black. After her vision adjusted to the darkness, she saw Pei Duo standing close to her. He held her tightly in his arms, his usually cold and indifferent black eyes filled with scarlet desire.

Jiang Ninghui was terrified!

What is he doing here?!

The door was clearly bolted, how did he get in?!

Before Jiang Ninghui could figure it out, she sensed something was different.

The back of his hand was tightly enveloped by a powerful force!

The powerful force pulled her hand along.

They are doing despicable things!

Jiang Ninghui suddenly felt her scalp tighten and her face burn, her whole body screaming that she wanted to escape.

But she couldn't escape and was forced to let Pei Duo do as he pleased.

Jiang Ninghui never imagined that one day she would help a man do such a despicable thing.

Pei Duo released Jiang Ninghui's earlobe, smiling as he looked at her. His handsome face became even more alluring and bewitching with that smile. He gazed at the woman before him with infatuation, his lips moving from her forehead to her eyelids as he sighed, "Sister-in-law, you have no idea how much I love you."

"My sister-in-law must have poisoned me, making me unable to leave you, unable to live without you."

"My sister-in-law is so good."

Hearing his shameless words, Jiang Ninghui wished she could crawl under the bed.

She quickly reached out her other hand to cover his mouth, telling him to stop saying any more offensive or vulgar things.

Unexpectedly, the young man's tall and imposing body suddenly trembled violently for a moment...

Jiang Ninghui sensed something was wrong and closed her eyes in embarrassment.

She never did anything for her husband.

Today, however, Pei Duo dragged me into doing this.

After comforting her, Pei Duo smiled in her ear and said, "I helped my sister-in-law once, and she helped me once. We'll return the favor."

Jiang Ninghui felt annoyed.

She didn't ask him for 'help'; it was clearly something he forced upon her.

His mouth is always capable of twisting the truth!

Jiang Ninghui's good sleep was thus disturbed. She covered her face with the quilt, refusing to look at Pei Duo beside her, and was forced to listen to him shamelessly spouting lewd remarks.

His appearance was completely different from when she first met him.

She never imagined that this seemingly refined and elegant gentleman would be such a person behind the scenes.

After Pei Duo finished tidying up, Jiang Ninghui quickly withdrew her hand. Still hiding under the covers, she asked with considerable shame and annoyance, "The door was bolted, how did you get in?"

Pei Duo placed a kiss on her lips: "If I want to, I can still get in even if it's locked."

Jiang Ninghui was too ashamed to face him.

Upon learning that he would be spending the night there, Jiang Ninghui was even more reluctant.

She had already done something to betray her lover tonight, and was in great distress. Moreover, her lover was in the next room, and she was forced to sleep in the same bed with another man. She was really uneasy. But no matter how much she resisted, she couldn't resist Pei Duo's silver tongue and shameless behavior.

He even threatened her that if she refused, he would invite her husband over so that he could watch the two of them fall asleep.

Jiang Ninghui was furious, knowing full well that Pei Duo was such a scoundrel that he was capable of doing such a terrible thing.

Helpless, she could only helplessly let Pei Duo hold her as she fell asleep.

She thought she would toss and turn until dawn, but to her surprise, as soon as she closed her eyes, drowsiness overwhelmed her. This was the deepest and most restful sleep she had had in a year. She slept without any dreams and did not wake up until the last minute of the next day. When she woke up, she found herself still in Pei Duo's arms.

Pei Duo held her, staring calmly at her with his dark eyes.

Seeing that she was awake, the young man smiled radiantly: "Sister-in-law is awake."

Jiang Ninghui didn't know when Pei Duo woke up or how long he had been staring at her. She felt extremely uncomfortable and struggled to get out of his arms and hurriedly got off the bed. Because she moved too quickly, she almost fell to the ground.

Pei Duo hugged her from behind, and smiled coolly close to her ear: "Sister-in-law, are you in such a hurry to leave me to see your husband?"

"It's been over twenty days since we last met. Sister-in-law, have you been missing your husband?"

"Is your sister-in-law so eager to see your husband, to make love with him, and to be entwined in passion?"

Jiang Ninghui was extremely ashamed: "You...you mustn't be talking nonsense."

Pei Duo: "How could I be talking nonsense? Sister-in-law, ask yourself honestly, Brother Zhao hasn't seen you for over twenty days. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Can you guarantee that Brother Zhao won't make love to you? At that time, will you agree or refuse?"

The young man pinched Jiang Ninghui's cheeks with two fingers and turned her towards him, forcing her to look at him.

He stared into the woman's moist almond-shaped eyes.

Look.

Such captivating eyes.

Unfortunately, those eyes held not only him, but also that good-for-nothing.

He pecked her lips, a chilling smile creeping into his dark eyes: "Sister-in-law, you're so heartless. You only stayed one night here and you're already in a hurry to go find your husband. I wonder if you ever think about how well I served you last night when you're making love with your husband?"

The woman's almond-shaped eyes widened in shock, her delicate and beautiful face flushed with a seductive blush.

He smirked and asked maliciously, "Sister-in-law, who do you think serves you better, me or your husband?"

Jiang Ninghui turned away from him, her slender, pale hands weakly covering the young man's indiscreet mouth: "Stop talking!"

The more he talked, the more she felt that she was utterly promiscuous.

Every word he uttered was a constant reminder to her.

She's a heartless harlot; she did something to betray her husband; she deserves to be condemned by everyone.

Pei Duo pulled Jiang Ninghui's hand away, peeled back her thin skin, and continued, "Sister-in-law, do you still remember what I said to you at the gate of the mansion that day? I don't mind repeating it again—wherever your husband touched you, I will make up for it one by one, so that you can treat everyone equally."

"Therefore, sister-in-law has thought it through."

“If your husband goes once, I will go once too.”

"Let your sister-in-law ponder carefully: between me and your husband, who do you prefer?"

Jiang Ninghui lowered her head, biting her lip tightly, unable to utter a single word.

Pei Duo released her hand and forced her to look up at him again.

He continued to test her limits: "I have a way to ensure your future well-being."

Jiang Ninghui stared at him in a daze.

The young man's lips moved to her ear, and he smiled coldly, "I'll help you kill Brother Zhao. With Brother Zhao dead, you'll have no more worries. Is that alright?"

Jiang Ninghui froze abruptly, her tear-streaked face filled with terror.

She watched as Pei Duo slowly raised his head to look directly at her, his dark, cold eyes filled with a sinister and chilling killing intent.

Jiang Ninghui thought of the prefect's wife, whose fate was unknown last night.

Now he's saying these words again.

Jiang Ninghui shuddered.

His face turned deathly pale in an instant.

She had no doubt that if she dared to nod, Pei Duo would really draw his sword and kill her husband.

Jiang Ninghui shook her head repeatedly, her teeth chattering, unable to utter a single coherent sentence.

She was terrified.

I was really terrified!

The word "murder" came out of his mouth lightly, as if it were not a human life, but an ant, to be crushed at will.

Pei Duo smiled as he looked at her, tracing the shape of her trembling lips with his fingertips.

"Sister-in-law can't bear to part with him?"

It took Jiang Ninghui a long time to find her voice, and only two words escaped her lips: "No..."

Pei Duo's smile faded: "What is there about Brother Zhao that makes you so reluctant to part with him? He doesn't understand you, doesn't cherish you, and doesn't know your unspeakable suffering. Why don't you look at me? I love you, protect you, cherish you, and please you. I can give you anything you want."

The young man tenderly cupped the woman's damp face in his hands, gazing at her with almost obsessive affection.

“Sister-in-law, I am smarter than your husband, younger than your husband, and I understand what you want better than your husband. I care about you more than your husband does.”

"Sister-in-law, please, take a look at me."

The five fingers that were cupping her face tightened more and more, domineeringly and stubbornly forcing her to meet his gaze.

Jiang Ninghui thought Pei Duo must have gone mad.

Otherwise, why would he say such things?

He must be insane!

He had said that he would leave after the palace examination and would no longer disturb her and her lover.

He cannot break his promise!

She absolutely could not let him kill her husband!

Although her husband did not treat her as well as Pei Duo, he was still her husband. Everyone in Hongshan Village and Xiping Village witnessed her marrying into the Zhao family and saw him lead her into the house. She and her husband were an open and aboveboard couple.

She thought about her future with her husband.

The couple is a perfect match, and they will have a child in the future. Their lives will only get better and better.

Her relationship with Pei Duo was only a brief and ill-fated one.

Once this ill-fated relationship ends, they will have no further connection.

Jiang Ninghui pushed Pei Duo away with all her might. The young man was probably not expected by her to do this, and he was pushed back two steps. Seeing this, Jiang Ninghui retreated again and again, looking at him with her almond-shaped eyes full of tears.

She said, "I can't bear to part with my husband. Even if he wasn't very attentive to me, he is still the person I will spend my life with. If you kill him, I will go with him and never live alone!"

Pei Duo stared at Jiang Ninghui, listening to her small mouth uttering extremely unpleasant words.

What a wonderful promise of a lifetime together.

What a fine way to say it, to go with him.

The young man lowered his eyes, a cold smile creeping across his gaze.

He guessed right from the very beginning.

If Zhao Zhixue is killed, it will only leave an irreplaceable place in his sister-in-law's heart, making her think about him for the rest of her life. Even if he forcibly keeps him by his side, she will always have that good-for-nothing in her heart!

It was because Zhao Zhixue married her first that she became so devoted to him.

Pei Duo never regretted anything in his life, except for one thing: he didn't meet Jiang Ninghui before Zhao Zhixue.

Therefore, the person Jiang Ninghui is wholeheartedly following today is him, not that good-for-nothing!

No rush.

Take your time.

He wanted to make his sister-in-law completely despise Zhao Zhixue, so that she would never think of him or miss him again.

He wanted his sister-in-law to accept him willingly.

The young man lifted his eyes, his dark eyes smiling as he looked at her: "I was just joking with you, sister-in-law. Why did you take it so seriously?"

He walked towards her.

Jiang Ninghui retreated shakily, but ultimately couldn't dodge and was pulled into the young man's arms.

He buried his face in the crook of her neck and nuzzled her, his tone very intimate: "I promised my sister-in-law that I would leave after the palace examination and would never disturb you and Brother Zhao. How could I possibly kill Brother Zhao? The Pei and Zhao families have been friends for over ten years, and Brother Zhao and I have been friends for over ten years. I would never do such a thing."

Hearing that he was just joking about killing the young master, Jiang Ninghui couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

But he said that he would leave after the palace examination and would not bother her anymore.

For some reason, Jiang Ninghui felt a sudden, subtle, aching pain in her heart.

Ignoring the strange feeling that had arisen inexplicably, she still asked with unease, "Are you really joking?"

Pei Duo: "Indeed."

Reassured by his confirmation, Jiang Ninghui said, "Then let go of me now, I should go back."

Fearing he might overthink it, she paused, then added, "I promise you, I will not share a room with my husband..."

The young man's handsome features were tinged with a smile.

My sister-in-law gave in.

How well-behaved!

He would make his sister-in-law continue to give in to him until she had nothing left to give in.

Pei Duo stopped provoking her: "Brother Zhao should be at the academy right now. You won't be able to see him even if you go back. My sister-in-law has just woken up and hasn't eaten yet. Why don't you eat before you leave? Consider it my sister-in-law's pity for me and have another meal with me today."

Jiang Ninghui bit her lip and agreed.

After washing up and having her meal at Pei Duo's place, Jiang Ninghui returned to the courtyard next door.

At the beginning of Shenshi (3-5 PM), Steward Zhou led over Sister Mu, who looked anxious.

As soon as Mu Hua entered the door and saw that Jiang Ninghui was safe and sound, she rushed over and hugged her tightly. She talked for a while before asking her where she had gone yesterday. Jiang Ninghui, following what Pei Duo had taught her, said that she had been invited to the mansion by someone sent by the prefect's wife, and that was why she hadn't had time to tell her.

Upon hearing this, Mu Hua finally felt relieved.

After discovering that Jiang Ninghui was missing yesterday, she was terrified and rushed to the mansion. When she couldn't find Pei Langjun and Zhao Langjun, she had no choice but to tell Steward Zhou about Jiang Ninghui's disappearance.

Mu Hua: "It's good that you're alright."

Mu Hua made a special trip to Longchang County today to see if Jiang Ninghui had returned safely.

Now that everyone was safe, she felt relieved and left.

Jiang Ninghui stayed in her and her husband's room all day without going out. As dusk fell, she opened the door to see if her husband had returned, only to find that she was still wearing the clothes Pei Duo had prepared for her.

Jiang Ninghui panicked and quickly closed the door, took her clothes from the closet, and went to the bedside.

She took off her outer garment, inner garment, and undergarment. As she put on her undergarment and was about to put on her inner garment, she looked down and suddenly noticed patches of bruising spreading across her skin.

She knew exactly what it was.

Jiang Ninghui's face froze. She looked down and examined the scene closely, becoming increasingly ashamed, indignant, and angry.

When exactly did Pei Duo leave these marks on her body?

She didn't even notice!

Jiang Ninghui hurriedly went to look at other places to see if Pei Duo had also left his mark.

She had just pulled down the hem of her inner garment when the closed door was suddenly pushed open from the outside, and her husband's voice came in: "Wife, when did you return from the prefect's residence?"

Zhao Zhixue walked in and saw Jiang Ninghui with her back to the door, wearing only a white undergarment, the hem of which was pulled down to her shoulders, revealing her fair and rounded shoulders.