Chapter 4: Affair

Here, Pei Xingju strode out, followed by Chen Yi.

When he reached the carriage, Pei Xingju stopped and said, "If you have something to say, just say it."

Judging from the tone of his voice, someone who didn't know would think that someone owed him some money.

Chen Yi asked, "What's going on? Are you really having an affair with Miss Zhuang?"

"What do you think?" Pei Xingju asked unhappily.

"Hiss... How should I know about you? Besides, you never let us know what you do on a daily basis. Maybe... you really do have a lover."

Pei Xingju said coldly, "Can't you tell she's just talking nonsense?"

Even though he had lost his memory, he still had a clear idea of ​​his preferences in women. Zhuang Wan was not his type at all.

Chen Yi glanced at him with disdain. "I thought you were being bewitched by a honey trap. How could I not see through such poor acting? I just noticed that you were acting strangely, so I couldn't figure it out."

He continued, "With your personality, you shouldn't be manipulated by a woman, but you just..."

Pei Xingju's behavior just now was truly bizarre. Miss Zhuang's words were clearly full of traps. Of course, such traps were nothing compared to those old sly men in the court. How could Pei Xingju, who lived deep in the court, not know how to deal with them?

Yet, as if he had fallen into a trap, he let the woman succeed. If these remarks were to get out, it would only benefit her family, and Pei Xingju's reputation would be affected.

I'm afraid that within a day, everyone in the world will know that Pei Xingju, the imperial tutor of the Great Zhao Kingdom, has a lover, Zhuang Wan, the daughter of the former Chief Censor Zhuang.

Speaking of which, Lord Zhuang and Pei Xingju were political enemies. Lord Zhuang often impeached Pei Xingju for confusing the emperor in the court. Once, he even joined forces with the entire Censorate to impeach Pei Xingju and force him to lose a good job.

With such an "old grudge", he didn't believe that Pei Xingju would be willing to help Miss Zhuang.

"So..." Chen Yi asked in confusion, "Why are you like this?"

Pei Xingju's brows darkened and he whispered, "She knows my name."

"Everyone in the world doesn't know your name, what good is that..."

Thinking of something, Shen Yi suddenly stopped, his expression gradually changing from puzzled to serious.

"What did you say?" he asked, "Does Miss Zhuang know your identity?"

"Let's discuss this matter when we get back home." Pei Xingju didn't want to talk any more here and got on the carriage.

"Hey...you..."

He always did this, stopping at the crucial point, making those around him anxious and itchy. Shen Yi sighed helplessly and also climbed onto the horse.

.

Zhuang Mansion.

After Zhuang Wan gave a heartfelt performance, she covered her face and ran into the house, listening carefully to the noise outside the yard.

Soon, she learned that Pei Xingju had left, and Zhou Wanyi changed his attitude and became polite to the people in the Zhuang Mansion. Even when he searched the house, he tried not to disturb the people inside.

Zhuang Wan knew that her bet had succeeded.

When she came to her senses, she saw Mrs. Zhuang sitting beside the couch, looking at her without saying a word.

"Mother." Zhuang Wan walked over and asked, "Did I scare you?"

Mrs. Zhuang shook her head.

She asked wearily, "I heard everything you said outside just now. I'm asking you...is that all true?"

Zhuang Wan was nervous.

She was able to act in front of Pei Xingju because she knew that he was suffering from amnesia. Madam Zhuang, being the original person's mother, knew every move of the original person, so it would be difficult to deceive him.

Moreover, for some unknown reason, Zhuang Wan did not want to deceive this poor woman who had lost her husband and daughter.

"I can't hide it from my mother..." After thinking it over, Zhuang Wan said honestly, "What I said outside the courtyard just now was just nonsense."

Mrs. Zhuang was not surprised. Instead, she asked calmly, "You are using him like this today. Aren't you afraid that this will put you in a more disadvantageous position?"

"Won't."

"Why are you so sure?"

"Because... he can't remember anything from the last few years."

Mrs. Zhuang took a deep breath and looked at her daughter who had come back to life again, frowning slightly.

"How did you know he had lost his memory?"

"My daughter accidentally found out a few days ago."

Zhuang Wan added, "It's just that Pei Xingju's amnesia is a secret. Mother, don't tell anyone."

"Of course I know, but..." Madam Zhuang said, "Master Pei may not believe your words."

"Wan'er..." Worry crossed her gaunt face. "I'm afraid you're not fleeing disaster today, but jumping into a fire pit. You probably don't know that this Lord Pei and your father have different political views, and he's risen to a high position at such a young age, which shows how resourceful he is. If you mess with someone like him, do you think you can escape in the future?"

Zhuang Wan was of course also aware that using someone like Pei Xingju was like trying to get the skin of a tiger, and that he had to be cautious with every step.

But she had no choice.

Her figure and appearance were already a source of trouble. How could anything good happen to her after she went to the Jiaofangsi? Zhou Wan's motives in coming to arrest her today were not pure. Perhaps if she and Zhou Wan stepped out of this door, what awaited her was a quagmire and abyss.

So, she had no choice but to do this.

"Don't worry, mother," Zhuang Wan reassured her, "I know what I'm doing and I'll be careful."

"But he clearly doesn't believe you." Madam Zhuang asked, "What else can you do?"

"Then try to make him believe it!"

Now that she had made her choice, she couldn't afford to back down. She had revealed his real name today, and with Pei Xingju's suspicious nature, he would definitely investigate thoroughly.

.

Sure enough, the fact that Pei Xingju had an affair with the daughter of the Chief Censor was like the heat in a steamer that could not be contained. Within half a day, the whole capital knew about it.

The most excited people were the servants in the Zhuang Mansion. They were all whispering to each other, and even the two maids beside Zhuang Wan were scratching their ears and cheeks out of curiosity.

"Miss, how did you get together with Master Pei? How could I not know since I'm always by your side?"

Qiu Tan asked this question.

Zhuang Wan was unwilling to hide the truth from Madam Zhuang, but he tried to hide it from these people no matter what. In order to stir up public opinion, he even made up a story that Tan Lang and Xie Nu fell in love at first sight.

Here’s what she said:

One beautiful, sunny morning, she was excited to go out for a walk when, along the way, a carriage was startled. Just as she panicked, a figure in a fabulous black dress descended from the sky and rescued her. Their gaze was instantly captivated, and passion surged. Pei Xingju, captivated by her ethereal beauty, began a secret and passionate pursuit of her. On countless dark and stormy nights, he scaled the wall to meet her, composing poems and offering sweet nothings until he finally won her over. He then promised to love and protect her, dedicating his life to her alone.

I don’t know whether others believed it or not, but the servants in the Zhuang Mansion believed it because they saw with their own eyes Zhuang Wan hugging Pei Xingju’s thighs, and Pei Xingju smiled gently at Zhuang Wan.

Yes, believe it without a doubt.

However, when these words reached Pei Mansion, Chen Yi spit out a mouthful of tea and wet the paper and ink, and Pei Xingju's mouth twitched.