Chapter 70 Pei Duo: "Sui Sui, Sui Sui..."

Zhao Zhixue showed signs of waking up, which Jiang Ninghui did not notice, but Pei Duo already knew.

So, just as Zhao Zhixue was about to wake up, he was knocked unconscious again by Pei Duo's flick of his finger.

This person is really in the way.

Furthermore, if he finds out about his sister-in-law's affair with him, it will only be his sister-in-law who suffers.

Jiang Ninghui's mind was entirely focused on Pei Duo, and she even forgot about her unconscious husband.

By the time Steward Zhou brought the doctor to the residence, Jiang Ninghui had already helped Pei Duo back to his courtyard.

A charcoal fire was burning in Pei Duo's room, and the doors and windows were tightly closed, making the room very warm.

Pei Duo's clothes were soaked through by the rain and were still dripping wet. He leaned back in his chair with his forearm resting on the table as the doctor took his pulse and examined him.

Jiang Ninghui sat uneasily to one side, glancing at the doctor every now and then. She wanted to ask him why Pei Duo was vomiting blood, but she was afraid that speaking out would affect the doctor's diagnosis, so she could only suppress her anxiety.

The room was extremely quiet.

It was so quiet that the doctor and Butler Zhou didn't dare to breathe.

Apart from Madam Jiang, who was kept in the dark, the doctor and Steward Zhou both knew that Young Master Pei was neither sick nor injured. He was perfectly healthy; he had simply forced himself to cough up blood to gain Madam Jiang's sympathy.

The doctor knew very well how much this Lady Jiang meant to Young Master Pei.

Back then, Master Pei had him make pills for Lady Jiang every day to help her recover. Lady Jiang took the pills for three whole months before she recovered somewhat.

The doctor withdrew his hand, and Jiang Ninghui anxiously inquired about Pei Duo's condition.

The doctor made up a story: "This young man got caught in the rain and caught a cold. The cold entered his lungs, and he also suffered from a sudden attack of internal heat, which is why he coughed up blood. I will prescribe some medicine for him to take for a few days, and then I will come back to check his pulse to see if his condition has improved."

Pei Duo was indeed caught in the rain, and his clothes were soaked through.

It's only February now, and although the Lunar New Year is over, the weather is still cold. Even the healthiest person can't withstand being caught in the rain in such cold weather.

Upon learning that Pei Duo was not in mortal danger, Jiang Ninghui finally felt relieved.

Butler Zhou saw the doctor off. Jiang Ninghui gave Pei Duo a few words of advice and was about to leave when Pei Duo grabbed her wrist. He lifted her eyelids to look at her. She was wet and disheveled, looking like a drowned dog abandoned by its heartless owner on the roadside.

And Jiang Ninghui—is just like that heartless master.

Jiang Ninghui felt as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart tightly, making her feel suffocated and unable to breathe.

She couldn't stand Pei Duo's pitiful and resentful look.

It was as if she was being accused of being a promiscuous woman who heartlessly abandoned him after a night of 'enjoyment' with him.

Jiang Ninghui tried to pull her hand away, but couldn't. She bit her lip and said, "Let go."

Pei Duo clenched his fist and coughed a few more times, coughing up another mouthful of blood.

Jiang Ninghui dared not struggle anymore and quickly sat down next to him, letting him hold her wrist: "The doctor said that you coughed up blood because of anger. In your current condition, you must not get angry or upset."

Pei Duo raised his head, his handsome features flushed slightly from coughing.

He asked, "Sister-in-law, could you stay and keep me company a little longer?"

After speaking, he coughed a few more times.

Jiang Ninghui couldn't bear it, but finally agreed.

Neither of them mentioned what had just happened again. Jiang Ninghui urged him to quickly change into clean and fresh clothes; she wouldn't leave and would wait outside. But even so, Pei Duo still wouldn't let her leave the room, only allowing her to turn her back so he could change.

After he changed his clothes, Jiang Ninghui had a servant bring a dry towel to Pei Duo so he could wring out his wet hair.

The young man remained unmoved, his dark eyes fixed on her: "Sister-in-law, can you help me?"

Jiang Ninghui softened her heart again and agreed to his rather presumptuous request.

She walked over, wrapped the young man's beautiful black hair in a cloth, and gently patted away the moisture from his wet hair.

Pei Duo closed his eyes, concealing the triumphant joy in his eyes.

Look.

Your sister-in-law still cares about him, doesn't she?

Compared to that good-for-nothing, your sister-in-law feels more sorry for him, doesn't she?

My sister-in-law's heart has always been with him.

Looking at that good-for-nothing, he's still lying on the bed like a lump of mud, completely forgotten by his sister-in-law.

Jiang Ninghui wrung out Pei Duo's wet hair and poured him a cup of hot tea: "How are you? Are you feeling better?"

Pei Duo coughed a few times: "I still feel unwell."

His discomfort continued until Steward Zhou brought over the prepared herbal medicine.

Jiang Ninghui knew that her husband was still lying in the house and that she could not delay any longer, so she insisted on going back.

Just as she was about to leave, Pei Duo grabbed her wrist.

Jiang Ninghui frowned slightly, somewhat annoyed.

Before she could speak, he said, "When Brother Zhao wakes up, have you thought about how to tell him?"

Jiang Ninghui was stunned, and the anger in her chest was instantly replaced by a deep sorrow.

Pei Duo led her to sit down: "In that case, sister-in-law, why don't you listen to my idea?"

Jiang Ninghui placed her hands on her lap and nodded gently.

.

The rain didn't stop until the very end of the 5-7 PM.

Zhao Zhixue only slowly woke up at the beginning of Hai hour.

He felt dizzy, stuffy, and painful. His memory was also chaotic. One moment he was studying at the prefectural school, the next he was talking to the prefect, and then he was in the examination hall in Linzhou with his brother Pei.

He even...

They even overheard Pei's brother saying some disgusting and nauseating things to his wife.

It's ridiculous and laughable.

How could someone as proud, aloof, and indifferent as Pei Duo utter such disgusting words?

It must have been just a wild dream he had.

Zhao Zhixue turned his head and looked over. He first saw the dim candlelight, then he saw his wife sitting at the table with a coarse cotton coat draped over her lap, her hands holding a needle and thread as she worked on the coat.

She wore a traditional Chinese hairpin, with a few stray hairs falling loosely from her temples, lightly touching her beautiful face.

Because she had her head down, a section of her snow-white nape was exposed to Zhao Zhixue's view, instantly pulling him back to his memories before he fainted. He seemed to be carrying his wife to the bed to make love, and for some reason, he had a headache and fainted. He woke up again now.

"My wife."

Zhao Zhixue sat up, feeling even more dizzy.

Upon hearing her husband's voice, Jiang Ninghui shuddered, the needle pricking her fingertip and drawing a drop of blood. Ignoring the blood, she put down her clothes and went to Zhao Zhixue, guiltily asking him how he was feeling.

Zhao Zhixue: "What's wrong with me?"

Jiang Ninghui didn't dare look at her husband. She lowered her head to smooth out the wrinkles on his sleeves and said to him in the words Pei Duo had taught her: "Your sudden fainting scared me. I went to Steward Zhou to ask a doctor to treat you. The doctor said that you fainted because you hadn't slept for a long time and were too tired. He also said that you were suddenly too excited and that's why you fainted. The doctor told us not to disturb you and to let you get some rest so that you can feel better."

Zhao Zhixue understood.

To be honest, he hadn't slept for a long time.

In just over a month, it will be the spring imperial examination. These days he has been studying day and night at the prefectural school, wanting to work harder and harder, and he must pass the imperial examination with top honors.

For those twenty days, he almost forgot to eat and sleep.

Zhao Zhixue did not doubt Jiang Ninghui's statement.

He slept all day but still felt sleepy, so he got up, ate something to fill his stomach, and went back to sleep.

Jiang Ninghui breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that her husband believed her and did not suspect anything.

The imperial examination for spring will be held on the tenth day of the third lunar month this year.

The imperial examinations were held in Kyoto, so students participating in the spring examinations had to arrive in Kyoto in advance.

The journey from Longchang County to the capital by carriage would take at least eight days. Zhao Zhixue proposed setting off half a month earlier and planned to have Jiang Ninghui accompany him and Pei Duo to the capital. As his parents had previously said, if his wife were too far away, she wouldn't be able to benefit him, which would affect his performance in the imperial examinations.

Just in case, bringing your wife along is the best course of action.

Two days before their departure, Zhao Zhixue took Jiang Ninghui back to Xiping Village, and Pei Duo accompanied them.

The Zhao couple were overjoyed to learn that Zhao Zhixue had returned.

The elderly couple held Zhao Zhixue's hand and showed him concern through sign language. Although they couldn't speak, Zhao Zhixue saw the love in their eyes. He took their hands and led them into the house, where he told them about their trip to Kyoto the day after tomorrow.

The three members of the Zhao family were having a heart-to-heart talk inside the house.

Jiang Ninghui is preparing dinner for her family in the kitchen.

At the Pei family's house next door, Pei's father was also talking to Pei Duo about their trip to the capital in two days.

The father and son were talking on the chairs, with the father doing most of the questions and Pei Duo responding.

Madam Xie held the teacup in both hands, gazing intently at the golden-red charcoal burning in the brazier. Outside, a light rain fell, just like the chilly spring rain of that year when they parted, and the man, tall and elegant, stood in the rain, holding an oil-paper umbrella, gazing at her with longing.

"Sister..."

"Sister..."

Those repeated calls of "Sister" often plunged Xie into a nightmare from which she could not wake up.

Although they shared the same blood, his personality was completely different from that of the rest of the Xie family; he was so mad and sickly that she was terrified.

"My lady, my lady." Pei Dazhao raised his hand to hold Xie's hands, squatted down to look at her, "What are you thinking about, my lady? Why are you so engrossed? I called you several times but you didn't hear me."

Madam Xie snapped out of her reverie, raised her eyes to look at her husband who was standing close by, then looked past him at Duo-ge'er opposite her: "Have you finished talking?"

Pei Dazhao: "We're done talking."

As parents, we cannot and should not interfere with Duoge'er's thoughts.

This child has had his own ideas since he was a child, just as he told his wife, even if Duoge'er wants to go to the capital, they can't stop him.

Since that's the case, let him be.

Pei Dazhao laughed and said, "Wife, could you write a few letters for me later? I'll have Duo'er take them to the capital and give them to my friends there."

Ms. Xie: "Okay."

Pei's father stood up: "Alright, you two have a chat, I'll go prepare dinner for you."

Pei's father got up and left, leaving only the mother and son in the room.

Madam Xie put down her teacup, stood up and walked to Pei Duo. Her gentle and beautiful face was adorned with a tender smile: "Brother Duo, let your mother take a good look at you. After you leave the day after tomorrow, I don't know how long it will be before I see you again."

Pei Duo let his mother's gaze linger on his face. He calmly looked directly at his mother, and even though she hid it well, he could still see that her eyes were looking at someone else through him.

He knew.

His features were remarkably similar to that person's.

Madam Xie raised her slender hand to help Pei Duo straighten his not-so-disheveled clothes and smooth out the non-existent wrinkles on them: "In the blink of an eye, our Duo-ge'er has grown up so much. In two more years, he will be of age to come of age. Will Duo-ge'er be able to come back then so that Mother can perform the coming-of-age ceremony for you?"

Pei Duo: "Okay."

Madam Xie smiled, her eyes glistening with tears.

She let go, chatted with Pei Duo for a few more words, and then prepared to go to the kitchen to find Pei's father.

Just as Madam Xie lifted the curtain, she heard Pei Duo say, "Uncle is well, Mother, you don't need to worry."

Madam Xie suddenly paused, as she had always known that Duo-ge'er frequently associated with that man.

She couldn't stop it, nor could she prevent it.

That man was Duoge'er's maternal uncle, and it was only natural for an uncle to see his nephew.

Without saying a word, Xie hurriedly lowered the curtain and went out.

The rain lasted for a day and a night, making the roads wet and muddy. In the morning, Xiping Village was shrouded in a thick fog, and the damp, cold air made people's hands and feet feel cold.

Tomorrow we'll be leaving for Kyoto, so Li went to the butcher's to buy half a pound of pork. She then used sign language to tell Jiang Ninghui to make her signature meat soup dumplings and send them to the Pei family.

She learned from her brother that last year, her neighbor, Duo, had given her an essay that was roughly the same as the essays for the provincial examination. Therefore, she thought of winning over the Xie family before leaving so that Duo could help her son again.

Both Zhao's father and Zhao Zhixue understood Li's intentions, but Jiang Ninghui did not quite understand.

However, since her mother-in-law had said so, Jiang Ninghui did as she was told.

At lunchtime, Jiang Ninghui prepared meat soup and pancakes in the kitchen. Li Shi came in and glanced at her. She took a tray out of the cupboard and placed it on the cutting board. She then ladled out three bowls of meat soup, just the right amount, and placed them on the tray, along with a plate of pancakes, indicating to Jiang Ninghui to take it to the Pei family.

Jiang Ninghui had no choice but to nod: "Daughter-in-law understands."

She picked up the tray and walked out of the kitchen. The yard was muddy, and she walked carefully, afraid of slipping and dropping the tray. When she reached the Pei family's gate, Jiang Ninghui hesitated for a moment, then carefully stepped into the muddy ground.

As soon as I stepped into the Pei family's gate, I heard a clear and melodious voice coming from ahead.

"sister in law."

Jiang Ninghui's eyelashes trembled uncontrollably. Before she could look up, the heavy tray in her hand was taken away by a long, slender hand. The faint scent of cedar wafted from the young man, and his tall and imposing figure enveloped the person in front of him.

The young man was very close to her.

They were so close, only half a step apart.

Jiang Ninghui lowered her head, not daring to look at Pei Duo, her fingers nervously tugging at her sleeve hidden in her sleeve.

They were currently in the Pei family's courtyard, next to the Zhao family's. She was afraid that if Pei Duo suddenly made any inappropriate advances towards her, it would be troublesome if others saw it. Therefore, after explaining to Pei Duo why she had brought the meat soup and cakes, she was about to leave when Pei Duo called out to her, "Sister-in-law, what's the rush?"

He lifted his eyelids, glancing at the woman's black hairpin, then at the section of her snow-white nape exposed as she lowered her head.

Delicate and fragile.

Every time his hand stroked the back of her neck, he used extremely light pressure.

Fearing that even a slight increase in force would break the fragile neck bone.

Pei Duo: "Since you're bringing us food, why only leave it at the door? Come in and sit for a while."

After saying that, he turned to the side, exposing the woman's petite body to the courtyard.

Just then, Pei's father heard the noise, lifted the curtain and saw Pei Duo and Jiang Ninghui in the courtyard. He only glanced at the tray in Pei Duo's hand and understood why Jiang Ninghui was in the courtyard. He smiled and said, "Suihui is here. Come in and sit for a while. Your Aunt Xie has not seen you for quite some time and misses you very much."

Madam Xie peeked out from beside Pei's father and said gently with a smile, "Sui Sui, come in and warm yourself up."

Both Mr. Pei and Mrs. Xie were calling her, so Jiang Ninghui couldn't refuse any longer.

Pei Duo lowered his eyes, a smile unseen by others, and said in a voice only Jiang Ninghui could hear, "Suihui, your parents are calling you."

Jiang Ninghui's cheeks suddenly flushed red, and even the tips of her ears turned a blush of embarrassment.

How could he call her that, and say such misleading things?

If others overheard this, they would surely become suspicious.

Because Uncle Pei and Aunt Xie were watching, Jiang Ninghui didn't want to correct Pei Duo's words, so she lowered her head and carefully stepped onto the bricks that Pei's father had specially laid in the yard. Pei Duo walked behind Jiang Ninghui, watching the woman carefully step over each brick, her slender and exquisite waist swaying in front of him.

Just like before, she was only wearing a small coat and he held her as she sat on the table.

He knelt down, pressed his hand against her waist, and pressed his lips against her lower abdomen.

A light kiss.

Lick | lick.

Finally, it gradually moves downwards.

I tasted all of her flavors.

Unfortunately, ever since that day she stood up for herself and renegotiated the terms with him, she refused to let him touch her no matter what.

These days, whenever I'm with him, I treat him like a thief.

She wouldn't let him hug her, wouldn't let him kiss her, let alone taste her scent.

The young man's gaze was fixed on Jiang Ninghui as if it were a physical presence, making her scalp tingle and her hair stand on end. She wanted to escape Pei Duo's gaze as soon as possible, so she quickened her pace, but she accidentally slipped and fell backward.

Jiang Ninghui gasped in fright, her face turning deathly pale with panic.

The young man following behind her scooped up the woman who was about to fall and pulled her into his arms.

The young man's arms were strong and powerful. He loosened his grip on Jiang Ninghui's waist, pulling her body close to his. The softness in his arms made the young man, who hadn't tasted sweetness for quite some time, greedily savor her fragrance.

Jiang Ninghui was still in shock, and remembering that she was in the Pei family at the moment, she must not let the Pei couple find out anything. She quickly struggled to get out of his arms and lowered her head as if she didn't know him well: "Thank you for saving me, Young Master Pei."

Pei Duo lowered his eyes, parted his thin lips slightly, and uttered four words: "It's no trouble at all."

Witnessing this scene, Pei's father frowned slightly. With Duo'er's skills, he could have easily helped Sui Sui regain her balance by supporting her arm when she fell. Why... why did he need to carry her?

Moreover, Sui Sui already has a husband. If this boy hugs her like this, and other people or the Zhao family see it, it's one thing for him to be a man, but Sui Sui is a woman. How will she be able to stay in the Zhao family and Xiping Village in the future?

Wait a minute, Mr. Pei thought for a moment. This boy has disliked physical contact with others since he was a child, not even with his own parents...

Before Pei's father could think it over, Pei Duo and Jiang Ninghui had already arrived at the door.

Pei's father conceded and hurriedly let Jiang Ninghui in.

He noticed that his wife seemed absent-minded, so he gently pulled her aside and asked in a low voice, "Wife, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Without saying a word, Xie looked up absently at Pei Duo, who was placing the food plate on the table.

Pei Duo lifted his eyelids, his gaze passing over Jiang Ninghui and also looking at Xie Shi at the doorway.

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Author's note: Update before 10 PM tomorrow night~