Chapter 161 "Asking Questions, Besides being used for..."

The next morning, the two brothers met at the gate of the Marquis's residence.

I could tell from their eyes that they were both people who had to get up early for work.

Pei Jingyi glanced at him casually, then his gaze suddenly stopped.

Something seems off.

He slowed his pace, turned his head to carefully examine Pei Jinghuai, and nodded affirmatively after a moment: "You and your sister-in-law had a falling out?"

Judging from his resentful aura, Pei Jingyi had no doubt that his younger brother would be stopped by the Imperial Guards at the palace gate—what kind of monster dares to trespass into the palace?

"Hmph, isn't this all your fault!"

Pei Jinghuai seemed to have been waiting for him to say that, and once he started talking, he immediately launched into a barrage of accusations.

“Last night, A-Yue wouldn’t let me go to bed. She only allowed me to squat on the footstool and interrogated me for half the night, asking me if I had any childhood betrothals, if I had ever boasted that I would marry any pretty girl when I grew up, and if I had ever picked up any girl’s handkerchief, sachet, earring, or jade pendant when I went out with my parents to visit guests or attend banquets… Tell me, isn’t it all your fault?”

Pei Jinghuai rubbed his dark circles from severe sleep deprivation and yawned several times in a row, relentlessly accusing him.

Pei Jingyi glanced at him sideways, his tone indifferent: "Why do I feel like you're showing off?"

Pei Jinghuai opened his mouth halfway and then closed it again, "Is it that obvious?"

Pei Jingyi responded with a disdainful snort.

Pei Jinghuai chuckled, crossed his arms behind his head, and swaggered to catch up with him, shaking his head in feigned distress: "Sigh, women, they just love to overthink things, there's really no way to deal with them."

That's what he said, but look at his smug and beaming face, as if he had been given a peach by the Queen Mother of the West and was not allowed to sleep in the bed, and he even felt a sense of honor about it?

"A petty person gains power."

Pei Jingyi's words were laced with venom, his disgust overflowing. "Don't try to make a fool of me here. I've lived for over twenty years with a clean record, unlike some people who are used to being playboys and dissolute. Who knows where they've gotten into some romantic entanglements? They might come knocking on your door one day, getting their just desserts."

Pei Jinghuai made a face at him, "Hehehe, I'm not afraid at all."

He looked Pei Jingyi up and down several more times, a hint of schadenfreude in his eyes: "What, your sister-in-law didn't throw a tantrum at you? Oh, I can understand. She's always been dignified and composed; she wouldn't make a fuss over something so trivial..."

How do you know she didn't make a scene?

Pei Jingyi suddenly interrupted him, his tone resentful: "I slept in the study last night."

Pei Jinghuai: ...

After a moment of silence, he gave a thumbs up: "You are this one."

Is there really a man in the world who is willing to sleep obediently in his study?

If it were him, he would break into the house, even if it meant climbing through windows, picking locks, or tearing off roof tiles; he would stubbornly insist on staying in the same room as his wife...

Pei Jinghuai clicked his tongue, stroked his chin, and muttered softly, "I didn't realize that my sister-in-law was so hard to appease when she got angry."

Pei Jingyi felt he had won back the game, so he straightened his back a bit more and pretended to be indifferent, saying casually, "Yes, she does care about me a little more."

Pei Jinghuai stared at his departing figure and clenched his fist.

hateful!

How about I secretly take a cold shower tonight and try to get a minor illness?

If you're sick, you don't have to get up early for your shift, and you can enjoy top-notch personal care and cuddles...

...

Shen Lingyue came to Jiusi Academy to complain to Yan Yi.

"Hmph, I've already laid it all out with Pei Jinghuai. If he dares to flirt with any women outside, I'll pack my bags and go back to my parents' home immediately."

Yan Yi couldn't help but chuckle: "He didn't do anything, aren't you just taking your anger out on him?"

"No way, I think he's clearly enjoying it." Shen Lingyue's eyes darted around, and she smiled mysteriously. "It's called a little jealousy, men love that."

"Is...that so?" Yan Yi felt as if her meridians had been opened, and many things she couldn't understand suddenly became clear.

But she still found it somewhat unbelievable and subconsciously asked, "Shouldn't husbands and wives trust each other?"

"It's precisely because we trust each other enough that we dare to joke around on such sensitive topics."

Shen Lingyue tapped her lips. "Question: Besides eating and drinking, what else can the mouth do?"

Yan Yi opened her mouth, then asked uncertainly, "A kiss?"

Shen Lingyue: ...

She gave a thumbs-up, speechless: "You two are the ones."

Fine, Pei Jingyi, fine, Pei Jingyi, give me back the pure and obedient Yan Yan I used to be!

"...Of course, it's used to say nice things!"

Shen Lingyue covered her face and looked up at the sky helplessly. Then she suddenly realized something, quickly moved closer to Yan Yi, and whispered, "When you two are alone together in private, it's not just kissing, hugging, and being all lovey-dovey, that's not what you're supposed to say, is it?"

She stared intently at Yan Yi, watching as her porcelain-white skin flushed crimson, yet she stubbornly turned her face away to argue, "Of course not, we...we talked about many things too, literature, painting, his work, the political situation..."

"Stop it, stop it." Shen Lingyue, exasperated, interrupted her reminiscing and abruptly asked, "Did you ever say you loved him?"

Yan Yi opened her eyes slightly, her expression one of utter terror, and subconsciously turned to look at the bed.

No, she was certain that Little Moon slept soundly in Dan Yue Xuan last night, and not under her and Pei Jingyi's bed.

But why did she ask him the same question?

Shen Lingyue understood everything just by reading her micro-expressions. She put her hands on her hips, snorted twice, and had a little smugness on her face.

Pei Jingyi, no way. The person who understands Yan Yi best in the world is still her. ^_^

"Dating is something you have to do. It's not enough for two people to eat, sleep, and have children together to be in love. That's just playing house."

With the air of someone who's been through it all, Shen Lingyue said earnestly, "Although I hate to admit it, Pei Jingyi has indeed replaced me and become an indispensable and inseparable part of your life. What he wants from you is definitely more than what I want."

After being with Yan Yan for so many years, doesn't she understand her personality? The more profound and precious the emotions, the more carefully and discreetly she hides them in her heart, never letting anyone see them, as if that way she can preserve them for a long, long time.

She leaned gently on Yan Yi's shoulder, being careful not to touch her stomach. Beneath that ever-bright, lively, and endearing face, a hint of barely perceptible sadness surfaced.

“When I was little, I often said, ‘I love my mom and dad the most.’ Every time they heard that, they were overjoyed, as if I could pluck the stars and the moon from the sky…”

After they were gone, for a very long time she was unable to utter that word again, and she couldn't convince herself that there were still people in this world worthy of her love.

The older we get, the heavier the word "love" feels on our tongues. Even just thinking about it in our hearts feels incredibly solemn, as if it carries a spell that firmly binds the people on both sides of our lives together.

“My older brother once said that a man’s ears are much more useful than his eyes. He can’t see how much you’ve done for him, so you have to grab his ear and shout it out to him.”

The melancholy on Shen Lingyue's face flashed by, but she quickly regained her carefree demeanor and winked at her: "Love is something that can't be just done without being said."

Yan Yi: ...

She suspected Little Moon was driving, and she had evidence.

She silently recited "prenatal education" in her mind, covering the baby's tiny ears—which might not even exist—through her clothes and belly.

Then she told Shen Lingyue the truth about Pei Jingyi's "abnormal" behavior last night.

"So he thinks that because I'm not jealous, I don't love him enough?" Yan Yi earnestly sought advice from Teacher Shen. "Don't you think that's... illogical?"

Ha, what a scoundrel! How dare he argue with Yan Yan while she's pregnant!

Shen Lingyue silently noted Pei Jingyi's name in her heart. It seemed that she could prepare the small wooden bowl in advance and give it to her beloved nephew, niece, and godson.

Send them, send several, engrave numbers and flowers on them, so he won't eat the same thing twice in a week!

After venting her frustrations, Shen Lingyue's face remained impassive as she answered seriously, "What logic can you draw when it comes to matters of the heart? Let me ask you, if I were to meet another friend who is better than you, how would you feel?"

Yan Yi's expression changed instantly.

She had never imagined this situation... nor would she allow it to happen.

Even just thinking about it in her heart, the thought that Little Moon could be so close to others as she was with them, sharing their most private secrets, made her feel like she was being soaked in bitter water, feeling both sour and bitter, and unable to breathe.

It wasn't until Shen Lingyue snapped her fingers in front of her that her continuously sinking thoughts were pulled back to reality.

“That’s right, remember this feeling, Pei Jingyi falls for it.”

The little devil in Shen Lingyue's heart laughed wildly, hands on hips.

You, surnamed Pei, will never be as important to Yan Yan as I am, hahaha!

Yan Yi snapped out of her daze, blushed, and gently punched her, "If you keep talking nonsense like that, I won't be friends with you anymore."

Little Moon is different from him; she can still tell the two of them apart.

She gazed at Shen Lingyue with a wistful look: "You won't force me to repeatedly admit that I love you."

...How strange, why could she say that so easily when talking to Little Moon?

What exactly is the difference? Yan Yi couldn't figure it out.

"I understand, I understand, it's all in my heart."

Shen Lingyue's smile grew even brighter as she exaggeratedly patted her chest and nodded vigorously.

Love is such a complex and magical thing; it's impossible to distinguish between right and wrong, or between what's more important and what's less important.

Although Pei Jingyi is a bit annoying and eccentric, his feelings for Yan Yan are genuine; he's just constantly trying to reassure himself.

"Do you remember that really aloof big black cat that used to live on our school?" Shen Lingyue suddenly recalled, "Our club tried everything to corner it more than ten times before we finally caught it and took it to the hospital to treat its wounds."

Later, thanks to her persistent visits and feeding every day, the big black cat finally started rolling over and purring at her, revealing a side that no one else could see.

"It was really strange back then. It was rubbing against my hand nicely, and then suddenly it would bite me like crazy. It didn't hurt, but it just kept biting me, then licking me a couple of times, and then continuing to rub against me."

Shen Lingyue shrugged helplessly. "Later, I saw a theory online that said the cat's erratic behavior was similar to an anti-addiction system. It liked me too much and was afraid of being hurt because of this affection, so it forced itself to 'detach' for a while. But in the end, instinct overcame reason and chose to continue liking me."

Hearing her words, Yan Yi somehow remembered how Pei Jingyi had gone to the study alone in a huff last night, only to sneak back in the middle of the night and squat by the bed watching her.

Yes, it's definitely a feline.

She asked Shen Lingyue earnestly, "Then what can I do to make him feel more secure?"

Ask your heart.

Shen Lingyue tapped twice in the air, her eyes filled with a sense of pride, like a mother seeing her daughter grow up.

"Let go of those pressures and constraints that never existed in the first place, and it will tell you."

...

In the palace.

Today's morning assembly was no different from usual; the same old arguments were being repeated over and over again.

Pei Jinghuai yawned in the corner, lost in thought with little interest.

Thanks to Shen Lingyue, he is now able to attend court.

Although she sometimes teased him, saying he was the gatekeeper, the security guard for His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine's love.

So what if he's a gatekeeper? Countless people would kill to stand here.

Pei Jinghuai looked up and quickly spotted his father and brother among the sea of ​​heads.

The fact that three members of the same family, father and sons, served as officials in the same court was a remarkable story in Da Ye.

No wonder the once arrogant Xie family would lower themselves and shamelessly come to their door to ask for a marriage alliance.

Ugh, this is so troublesome. I wonder what other strange things might happen next...

Pei Jinghuai was lost in thought when he glanced at the plaza behind him and saw a familiar figure striding towards him. He shivered and immediately became alert.

The next second, the eunuch's shrill voice rang out:

"Announcement: Lu Donglou, the Deputy Commander of the Northwest Embroidered Uniform Guard, is here to see you—"

Pei Jinghuai stared wide-eyed at Lu Donglou as he walked past him in disbelief.

Is it really Brother Lu who's back?!

This is so sudden, could it be that there's been a change in the military situation in the north?

But now is the season when the water and grass are lush, and the Hu people are busy herding horses and sheep. They usually don't choose this time to cause trouble.

Not only did Pei Jinghuai look bewildered, but all the civil and military officials also had different expressions when they heard the name of this evil god.

When Lu Donglou returned to the capital last time, he exposed a series of traitors who colluded with the royal family of the northern deserts, resulting in a massacre at Caishikou where heads rolled and blood flowed like rivers, plunging the world into darkness.

Afterwards, he left lightly, without taking a trace, leaving behind only the terrifying legend that it could stop children from crying at night.

As he strode into the hall, some of the more timid officials began to close their eyes and silently chant Buddhist prayers.

Emperor Qingxi leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Lu Donglou without blinking, and asked urgently, "Donglou, why did you suddenly return? Is everything alright in Mobei?"

Lu Donglou meticulously performed the formal court etiquette between the emperor and his subject, then stood up and answered in a measured tone: "Your Majesty, I have returned to the capital to report a tragic loss—General Liang Xian, the garrison commander of the northern desert, was seriously wounded in an attack during the defense of the city last winter. He was bedridden for several months, struggling to stay afloat, but unfortunately died in the line of duty 25 days ago."

The entire court was in uproar!

Emperor Qingxi stood up in even greater surprise, "Liang Xian is dead?"

At this moment, the sentiments of the entire court reached a high degree of consensus—with Liang Xian gone, who would guard the first line of defense against the southward advance of the Hu people and the northern border?

Guarding the border is a thankless and arduous task. The military generals exchanged glances silently, while the civil officials also had their own thoughts. Beneath the silence of the hall, undercurrents were surging.

Only Lu Donglou stood still, as steadfast as a mountain peak and as immovable as a pillar of strength amidst turbulent waves.

Emperor Qingxi was the first to recover from the grief of losing a valiant general, his brows furrowed.

"No, I remember that last winter when the Hu people raided the south, the battle report sent back from the north clearly stated that it was a great victory, but it didn't mention that General Liang was attacked and wounded. How could he have passed away so suddenly?"

Lu Donglou bowed and replied, "It was General Liang who, fearing that the morale of the army would waver, deliberately concealed the bad news. Even though he was seriously injured, he still had to stand on the city wall to boost morale. He thought that he would recover after a period of rest, but the Hu bandits are treacherous and cunning. In the early spring when food was scarce, they sent small groups of cavalry to harass us repeatedly, causing panic among the border people and making it impossible for General Liang to rest in peace."

Emperor Qingxi's eyes welled up with tears, and he gripped the armrest of the dragon throne tightly, sighing, "Liang Xian, my loyal minister and general. Did he write a will before he passed away, or recommend a successor to guard the border?"

Lu Donglou took out a memorial from his bosom, and Chief Steward Huang jogged down to take it with both hands and then presented it to Emperor Qingxi.

Emperor Qingxi eagerly opened the book, only to see the first line in trembling, soft handwriting: "As I am critically ill, I write this from my pillow." His nose stung with tears again.

He quickly composed himself and continued reading, but as he looked, his expression changed slightly. His eyes showed surprise and uncertainty, and there was also a hint of dark and unclear anger.

The courtiers, who stood with their heads bowed below the imperial steps, were all experts at reading micro-expressions. They stared at Emperor Qingxi's ever-changing expressions, feeling as if a hundred claws were scratching at their hearts, making them extremely anxious.

What exactly did Liang Xian write in his will that made His Majesty so conflicted?

Soon, Lu Donglou satisfied their thirst for knowledge.

"Your Majesty, during General Liang's illness and recovery, all border military affairs were handled by General Liang's daughter, Liang Saijin. This includes the several victories, large and small, that were reported back to the capital in February and March of this year. All of them were due to Lady Liang leading troops out of the city to defend against the enemy, killing more than a hundred barbarian heads, protecting the peace of the border, and winning the deep support of the army and the people."

He ignored the hints from Emperor Qingxi that he should stop him from continuing, and raised his voice slightly.

"As the Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I have the responsibility to supervise and oversee. I humbly request Your Majesty to grant General Liang's last wish and allow his daughter, Liang Saijin, to inherit her father's military position, command the border troops, and defend the land and protect the people!"

-----------------------

Author's Note: [Moon Child: Me, the Master of Relationships [Sunglasses]]

Yan Yan's daily life is as follows—

Husband's heart has strayed: Let's part amicably.

Best friend's betrayal: murderous intent rises