Chapter 71 Pei Duo: Don't be afraid, I'm here with you.

Pei Dazhao: "Wife?"

Seeing that Xie remained silent and that she was staring at Pei Duo, he squeezed her hand and teased, "Why are you always looking at Duo-ge'er? Are you reluctant to part with him? He hasn't left yet, he's not leaving until tomorrow, so he can stay with us a little longer today."

Madam Xie looked away, forcing a smile: "I really can't bear to part with it."

She must have seen it wrong just now, right?

Duoge'er's feelings for Sui Sui... are probably not what she thinks.

Xie quickly rejected the idea in her mind.

That's definitely not the case.

Sui Sui is Zhao's wife and the wife of Duo Ge'er's good friend. Duo Ge'er wouldn't be so clueless.

But just now, Duoge'er's eyes...

Ms. Xie couldn't help but recall the way her younger brother had looked at her back then.

They look so alike.

Madam Xie dared not think any further. She was led by the hand by her father, Pei, and sat down at the table.

Jiang Ninghui did not stay long. After exchanging a few words with Pei's father, Xie, she prepared to leave. Xie stood up and said, "Suihui, your aunt will see you off."

Seeing that Aunt Xie was walking towards her, Jiang Ninghui could no longer refuse.

Pei's father said, "My wife, I'll stay with you."

Madam Xie: "You sit here, I'll go by myself."

Seeing this, Pei's father had no choice but to sit down.

Just as Jiang Ninghui was about to turn around, she suddenly felt a gaze hovering over her as if it were a tangible object.

With obsession, aggression, and binding.

That gaze is so familiar!

Besides Pei Duo, there was no one else.

Jiang Ninghui's back stiffened under his gaze, filled with shame and embarrassment. She lowered her head even further, feeling truly ashamed and angry. How could he be so bold, not even restraining himself in front of her parents? Had he considered the consequences if Uncle Pei and Aunt Xie found out?

Unable to stop Pei Duo's unrestrained gaze, Jiang Ninghui had no choice but to hurriedly turn around and walk out of the house.

Once outside, with the curtain separating us, the feeling of being watched finally lessened.

Madam Xie escorted Jiang Ninghui to the courtyard. Looking at Jiang Ninghui's obedient and docile appearance, she knew that such a person must have suffered a lot under the Zhao couple. And if such a person were to win Duoge'er's heart... she dared not imagine how terrible the consequences would be.

Both in appearance and temperament, Duoge'er is exactly like his younger brother.

Everyone says that sons resemble their maternal uncles, but she hoped that her son, Duoge'er, would never inherit his younger brother's morbid and abnormal personality.

So far, things are alright.

Apart from being aloof and indifferent, and disliking social interaction, which is similar to his younger brother, Duoge'er is quite different from his younger brother in other aspects.

Madam Xie took Jiang Ninghui's cold hands and held them in her palms. Jiang Ninghui's eyelashes trembled as she looked at Madam Xie's beautiful, delicate hands, which were fair, slender, soft, and warm, completely different from her own hands. She felt that Madam Xie's hands were both beautiful and warm, the warmest hands she had ever met among the elders.

Xie: "Sui Sui, how have you been living in Qingping Town and Longchang this past year?"

Jiang Ninghui lowered her head and said, "It's fine."

Madam Xie's voice was soft and gentle, as if she were asking casually, "Has my son Duo ever bullied you? If he has, tell your aunt, and your aunt will teach him a lesson for you."

Jiang Ninghui, who was already feeling guilty, felt a sudden pang in her heart when Xie asked her that question.

She couldn't bring herself to speak to Aunt Xie no matter what she did.

They were even more unable to speak.

If she were to speak out, she would be harming Pei Duo, and she would have no face to face Uncle Pei and Aunt Xie in the future.

Jiang Ninghui gently shook her head: "Young Master Pei is a very good person and did not bully me."

Madam Xie patted her hand: "That's good. If that boy bullies you, you must tell your aunt, and your aunt will help you teach him a lesson."

Jiang Ninghui nodded: "Thank you, Auntie."

When Xie returned to the house, Pei's father quickly took her hand to check if it was cold and warmed it up for her.

Madam Xie looked at Pei Duo, who was eating across from her. The question she wanted to ask rolled between her lips and teeth, but she didn't know how to ask it. If she overthought it and asked the question, it would embarrass Duo-ge'er and cause a rift between her and her mother.

Pei's father warmed Xie's hands and then turned to Pei Duo, saying, "You must remember what I just said."

Madam Xie: "What did you say to Duo'er?"

Pei's father: "It's nothing, just that he must never have any physical contact with Sui Sui like that again. What if Xue Ge'er or someone else sees it? Wouldn't that harm Sui Sui?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Xie continued, following up on Pei's father's words: "Duo-ge'er, your father is right. Sui-sui is a married woman, while you are still a young man who has not yet come of age and is unmarried. The two of you should avoid suspicion and must not let others misunderstand. Otherwise, it will not only harm you but also Sui-sui."

The young man sitting opposite them didn't even lift his eyelids, and said in a calm voice, "The food is getting cold."

Then Pei's father said, "My lady, I've already spoken to him. Let's eat. This meat soup with flatbread won't taste good if it gets cold."

Xie nodded: "Yes."

Xie ate the meal absentmindedly.

At the Zhao family's house next door, Jiang Ninghui also ate her meal absentmindedly.

Tomorrow is the day Pei Duo and Zhao Zhixue will leave Xiping Village for the capital. Early the next morning, the village head led all the men, women, and children of Xiping Village to see them off, wishing the two scholars good luck in the upcoming imperial examination.

Whichever of the two of them succeeds in the high school entrance exam will be an honor for their Xiping Village.

The carriage carrying the three of them gradually drove away from Xiping Village, leaving two endless tire tracks on the road.

After boarding the carriage, Pei Duo gave Zhao Zhixue two books and two articles, instructing him to study the books and articles diligently during the eight-day journey. Zhao Zhixue was naturally grateful. Last time, for the provincial examination, Pei Duo had given him an article that was almost identical to the questions on the provincial examination, which helped him pass the examination. This time, the article Pei Duo gave him should also be similar to the questions on the metropolitan examination.

Zhao Zhixue felt that the three bowls of meat soup dumplings that his mother had Sui Sui deliver to the Pei family yesterday had had some effect.

The carriage was not spacious. Pei Duo sat in the main seat, Zhao Zhixue sat to his left, and Jiang Ninghui sat to his right.

Since getting into the carriage, Jiang Ninghui has kept her head down, but even so, she can still feel the gaze hovering above her.

It lingers.

He gripped her tightly.

Jiang Ninghui glanced at her husband, who was engrossed in his books, afraid that he might look up and see Pei Duo staring at her.

The journey was long and arduous, and the carriage ride was bumpy. Jiang Ninghui had never ridden in a carriage for so long before. After just one day, she felt sore back and stiff, and her legs were weak and sore. She was more tired than if she had worked all day. When she arrived at the post station, she ate dinner, soaked her feet, and fell asleep on the couch. Before she fell asleep, her husband was still reading at the table.

Jiang Ninghui didn't know how long she had been asleep when she felt a large hand pinch her ankle. Then, with a gentle but firm touch, it kneaded her calf, and the pleasant sensation made her sigh comfortably in her sleep.

The force was just right, gentle and soft.

She is also extremely gentle.

But the force gradually became more unrestrained, climbing over the back of the knees.

Finally, it touched her leg.

A tingling, numb sensation gradually spread from within the body, reaching every limb and bone.

Jiang Ninghui murmured softly.

Involuntarily, I straightened my calves and curled my toes, enduring the waves of undulation.

Gradually, she began to feel uneasy.

Jiang Ninghui opened her eyes groggily. The room was dimly lit, with only the soft moonlight filtering through the window.

She turned her head and saw a person slumped over the table in the dark night.

It was the young man who had fallen asleep while reading.

Jiang Ninghui suddenly shuddered!

If the one who fell asleep sitting up was the young man, then whose hand was holding her ankle?!

She sat up in alarm and saw a person sitting at the foot of the bed. The person was tall and upright, and his dark blue cross-collar robe almost blended into the night. The clear moonlight shone into the room and reflected on the young man's handsome face, dividing his features into light and shadow.

The bright side is cold and austere.

The darker side, like a ghost, with half a lip and that eye, stared at her with a sinister aura.

Jiang Ninghui had just woken up, her mind still foggy. Upon seeing this horrifying scene, she screamed in terror—

Before she could utter a sound, the young man flashed in front of her, his two thin, cool lips sealing hers, swallowing her scream and breath. Jiang Ninghui's eyes widened, filled with shock and fear.

Pei Duo held her tongue in his mouth and sucked on it contentedly for a moment.

It's been so long since I've tasted my sister-in-law's lips.

The beast, starving for days, lost its senses the moment it tasted meat. Its body and soul were completely absorbed into the warm flesh and blood, unable to extricate itself. As the beast savored the fresh meat, its tongue plunged deep inside, invading every inch of its mouth.

He greedily and with relish swallowed the saliva from the woman's mouth.

It smells so good.

I really want to just drift away and fall into a relationship with my sister-in-law.

Jiang Ninghui's heart was in her throat, pounding violently like a drum!

The young master was in the room, facing the bed. He could see this scene as soon as he opened his eyes.

On the bed, Pei Duo kissed her from the front.

And his hands—

Jiang Ninghui suddenly trembled and pressed her knees together tightly.

They held the young man's unruly hand tightly, preventing him from acting recklessly any further.

But her strength was like an ant trying to shake a tree compared to Pei Duo's.

The waves of stimulation made Jiang Ninghui weak and forced her to fall down, only to be pulled into Pei Duo's arms.

The young man chuckled innocently in her ear: "Sister-in-law, you can't blame me this time. I was only thinking of you."

Jiang Ninghui was afraid that the noise she made with Pei Duo would wake her husband, so she could only glare at Pei Duo with shame and indignation.

Yet, the lingering afterglow left her cheeks flushed, her almond-shaped eyes moist, and her lips slightly parted as she breathed heavily. This appearance didn't seem like shame or anger, but rather like a reluctant acceptance of pleasure.

“You…” Jiang Ninghui bit her lip, glanced at her sleeping husband, and then looked at him angrily, whispering, “Don’t talk nonsense. You broke into my husband’s and my room at night and did such a despicable thing to me in front of my husband. How can you say it in such a high-sounding way!”

Pei Duo placed his hand on Jiang Ninghui's lower back and gently massaged it.

Jiang Ninghui stiffened, and then the soreness in her lower back gradually eased.

The young man whispered in her ear: "During the day, I saw that you were restless in the carriage. I figured you must have been sitting in the carriage all day and your back was sore. So I thought I would go into your room at night and massage you to relieve your fatigue. But when I massaged your leg, you grabbed my hand and I couldn't get it off. How can you blame me for this?"

Upon hearing Pei Duo's words, Jiang Ninghui felt her body burning with shame and anger!

He then said, "My sister-in-law suddenly woke up, sat up and started shouting at me. My hands were occupied, so I had no choice but to use my lips to cover her mouth to prevent her shouting from waking up Brother Zhao. It would be bad if Brother Zhao saw us."

"How can my sister-in-law blame me for thinking so much about me?"

"Sister-in-law, this is far too unreasonable."

Jiang Ninghui nestled softly in Pei Duo's arms, her head resting on his firm, trembling chest, listening to his twisted and false accusations.

She had long seen through his true colors.

They are adept at distorting the truth and making false accusations.

She couldn't argue with him, and he often led her astray.

Ever since that day when she renegotiated the terms with Pei Duo, she has been avoiding him at all times, refusing to let him touch her no matter what.

After holding out for a month, I never expected that Pei Duo would find an opening tonight.

Jiang Ninghui was terrified, afraid that her husband would wake up. She struggled to get out of Pei Duo's arms and pushed him away, wanting him to leave. Pei Duo, however, was too lazy to leave and pulled her into his arms again: "Sister-in-law, you are so heartless. You want to send me away after you've used me."

Jiang Ninghui's cheeks were completely flushed, and even the pitch-black night couldn't hide the blush on her cheeks.

She quickly covered Pei Duo's mouth: "Don't talk nonsense!"

Pei Duo raised his hand, his dark eyes smiling as he looked at her, indicating that she should see for herself.

Then, Jiang Ninghui noticed that the young man's jade-like joints were wet.

She hurriedly turned her head, her ears and neck turning bright red.

Pei Duo whispered in her ear, "I'll massage your waist and legs, and help you relax before I leave."

After saying that, before Jiang Ninghui could refuse, he had already started to act.

Jiang Ninghui kept her eyes closed and refused to look at Pei Duo, ignoring his attempts to coax her and his crude remarks.

There are at most two months left until the end of the palace examination. Once the palace examination is over, she and Pei Duo will have no further connection.

This was the promise he made to her again that day at the mansion.

Because Pei Duo had massaged her back, the soreness in her back was greatly relieved. After Pei Duo left, she quickly tidied herself up before going to the table to call for her husband, but no matter how many times she called, he did not respond.

Jiang Ninghui couldn't help but recall the scene that day when the young master in the mansion suddenly fainted and lost consciousness.

This time, it's probably Pei Duo's doing again.

She was afraid that her husband would be harmed by Pei Duo.

Jiang Ninghui wanted to help her husband to the bed, but the unconscious man was so heavy that she couldn't lift him no matter how hard she tried. In the end, she could only take a quilt and cover him with it.

The next morning, Zhao Zhixue woke up feeling stiff and aching all over.

When he got up, he realized that he had fallen asleep while reading.

Zhao Zhixue glanced at the quilt draped over him, then at his wife who was still fast asleep on the bed. He tiptoed over, placed the quilt at the foot of the bed, and did not wake her. He woke her up when it was time for breakfast. After the three of them had breakfast, the coachman brought out the carriage, and they continued on their way.

As soon as Jiang Ninghui got into the carriage and sat down on the couch, she suddenly realized something was wrong.

The couch seems much softer than yesterday, and it doesn't hurt my bottom when I sit on it anymore.

She was slightly surprised and glanced at Pei Duo, only to bump into the young man looking up at her.

Pei Duo raised his sparse eyebrows slightly: "Sister-in-law last night—"

The young man suddenly stopped, Jiang Ninghui's heart jumped, and even Zhao Zhixue looked up.

Pei Duo then asked, "Did you sleep well with Brother Zhao and his companion?"

Jiang Ninghui felt as if she had just walked on the edge of a cliff. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, loosened her grip on her sleeve a little, and, afraid that her husband would notice something amiss, quickly lowered her head to avoid Pei Duo's gaze, and whispered, "It's alright."

Zhao Zhixue laughed and said, "I don't even know when I fell asleep last night while reading. I slept on my desk all night, and my body is still a bit stiff." He then asked, "Did Brother Pei sleep well last night?"

Pei Duo: "Very good."

Because they were in a hurry, the carriage hardly stopped along the way, only resting at a post station for one night.

The journey, which was originally planned to take eight days, took twelve days to reach Kyoto.

With only thirteen days left until the imperial examination, Zhao Zhixue became increasingly nervous as the time drew closer. This nervousness was evident on his face, and his expression became much more serious after the carriage entered the capital. Jiang Ninghui knew that her husband was anxious and worried that he might fail the imperial examination.

She glanced at the books and articles on the table; they were all gifts from Pei Duo to her husband.

He kept his promise, helping his beloved and also helping her overcome the calamity left for her by the fortune teller.

After the provincial examination comes the palace examination, and once the palace examination is over, she will truly have to part ways with Pei Duo.

The day was finally approaching. Jiang Ninghui not only felt a sense of relief, but also a strange, faint bitterness spreading through her heart. She ignored this inexplicable bitterness and got off the carriage with Pei Duo and her husband when it stopped.

Zhao Zhixue had been to Kyoto before and was quite familiar with this street.

He exuded a sense of superiority as he led Pei Duo and Jiang Ninghui to find a landlord to rent a reasonably priced, independent courtyard house.

In fact, upon arriving in Kyoto, Zhao Zhixue had considered taking Pei Duo and Jiang Ninghui to the residence of the Vice Minister of Rites to find a place to stay.

However, after hesitating for a long time, he finally gave up the idea.

He didn't want others to know that he had an illiterate, mediocre wife. If he could pass the imperial examinations with flying colors, it would be one thing if others found out that his wife was just a village woman who was not good at any of the arts, but couldn't even write her own name. Wouldn't that make his colleagues laugh their heads off?

The bustling city of Kyoto was a sight to behold, and the people on the streets, both in their clothing and manner of speaking, were different from the pedestrians Jiang Ninghui had seen in Qingping Town and Longchang.

Occasionally, passersby would glance at Jiang Ninghui. She looked down at her coarse cotton coat, which had a few patches on it and looked out of place with the fine fabrics worn by the other pedestrians.

Jiang Ninghui lowered her head in embarrassment. Because she was new to this bustling and unfamiliar place, she couldn't help but feel a little panicked. She wanted to stay close to her husband and find some sense of security from him, but he walked very fast and she couldn't catch up no matter how hard she tried. Just when she was so helpless that she wanted to cry, a hand grabbed her wrist.

It was just spacious and warm.

He slid into her palm, squeezed between her fingers, and intertwined his fingers with hers.

Pei Duo's clear, deep voice reached her ears: "Don't be afraid, I'm here with you."

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Author's Note: There's a red envelope in this chapter! Update will be before 4 PM tomorrow!