Chapter 39 Is this "sleep aid" a legitimate sleep aid...?

Pei Jingyi finished his shift on time and returned to Jiusi Courtyard. Yan Yi came out to greet him, but the first thing she said was, "What should I do? I think I made my cousin angry."

The smile on his face, still lingering from seeing Yan Yi running out to greet him, abruptly changed the subject: "Lan Yi came looking for you?"

His voice already carried a hint of displeasure.

He had long wanted to find an opportunity to explain to Yan Yi that although he and Dong Lanyi were cousins ​​and lived in the same mansion, he had moved to the front courtyard the year she returned to the capital with her aunt. Under his father's supervision, he studied and practiced martial arts every day, and the two of them would only greet each other when they went to their grandmother's courtyard to pay their respects.

As they grew older, they needed to avoid suspicion even more. They barely exchanged a few words throughout the year; what kind of childhood sweethearts were they?

On the second day after the wedding, when they were serving tea to each other and recognizing their relatives, Dong Lanyi put on a wronged look as if he had used her and then abandoned her. At that time, he did not make a scene because of his aunt, which was already giving her face.

Now they actually dare to come to Jiusi Academy to find Yan Yi while he's not home?

Pei Jingyi's expression was cold and stern, a mixture of anger and nervousness. He said to Yan Yi, "You don't need to pay attention to anything she says. Leave it to me to handle."

"What can you solve?" Yan Yi countered. "Can you find a husband that suits your cousin's taste?"

Pei Jingyi paused, a hint of confusion appearing on his taut, handsome face.

"Is this why she came to see you?"

Yan Yi recalled their conversation and nodded affirmatively, "That should be it."

Pei Jingyi composed himself, pointed to the door, and said, "Let's go inside and talk slowly."

After speaking, his right hand naturally fell down, and he naturally took Yan Yi's hand.

Before Yan Yi could react, he had already pulled her into the house, walked her to the table, then let go of her, picked up the teapot and poured two cups of water.

Without giving it much thought, she honestly recounted their conversation from the afternoon word for word.

“I have a very good memory, and I absolutely did not twist or misinterpret her words. These are all things she said herself.”

Yan Yi, with a serious and earnest expression, emphasized this to him, then frowned slightly, revealing a hint of distress.

"I don't think I said anything wrong, but my cousin suddenly ran away crying and said that I... was going too far?"

"puff--"

Pei Jingyi sprayed the tea out and coughed, clutching his chest.

Yan Yi quickly got up and went behind him, patting his back to help him catch his breath. "Are you alright? How did you suddenly choke?"

Pei Jingyi coughed until his face turned red, and it took him a while to recover. He turned to look at Yan Yi and saw that she was still waiting for his answer with a blank expression.

"Madam, you... hahaha..."

He tried to hold back, but he couldn't help but laugh.

This was the first time Yan Yi had seen Pei Jingyi laugh so heartily. He had shed his usual aloofness and self-restraint, his upright and gentlemanly demeanor, and instead displayed a more carefree and unrestrained air.

If he weren't dressed in a proper official robe with the buttons fastened to the collar, but rather in the flowing robes and wide sleeves of a Wei-Jin literati, carrying a small wine jar in his hand, he would surely be a true scholar of refined taste.

Yan Yi secretly imagined it for a while, then realized that Pei Jingyi was still smiling at her, and a wave of embarrassment washed over her belatedly.

Was he laughing at her?

She blushed and punched him in the chest, threatening fiercely, "Stop laughing."

She genuinely didn't understand why Dong Lanyi was crying.

Is there some unspoken rule she doesn't understand?

Pei Jingyi was lightly punched by her, like a kitten being tickled. He managed to suppress his laughter, pursed his lips, and stood up to bow to Yan Yi.

“My wife came to my rescue as soon as she saw me choking on water. I even laughed at you. It was all my fault. My wife, you can hit me or scold me as you please.”

Here we go again...

Yan Yi gave a soft hum, helped him up, and said in a flat tone, "It's fine if I hit you or scold you, just tell me quickly why your cousin is angry."

She emphasized to Pei Jingyi very seriously, "I didn't lie to her. I really want her to stay in the Marquis's mansion forever—and my sister-in-law, she definitely won't object either."

She married Pei Jingyi partly because she had to obey the imperial decree, and partly because she desperately wanted to escape the Zhou family mansion, which was not her home at all.

But Dong Lanyi didn't have so many worries. This was the home of her maternal grandmother and her uncle. As long as she was determined and could withstand the gossip from the outside world, she could live her own life behind closed doors. Even if she never got married, would Yan Yi still drive her away?

"Yes, I understand. Madam is intelligent and kind-hearted, beautiful inside and out, a good homemaker, gentle and virtuous..."

Pei Jingyi praised people as if they were free, until Yan Yi was about to punch him again, at which point he quickly stopped.

He said in a serious tone, "I also support Madam's idea. If my cousin doesn't want to get married, let her be. Anyway, the Marquis's mansion can afford to support her."

As long as she doesn't try anything with me, it's fine.

Yan Yi breathed a sigh of relief and smiled with a sense of relief.

"I knew you thought the same thing."

Although she boasted to Dong Lanyi, who could argue with the fact that Pei Jingyi was the future master of the Marquis's mansion?

She was relieved.

Pei Jingyi looked at him intently with his captivating eyes. "Of course, I'll follow my wife's lead."

"...Do you think it's because your aunt is anxious about your cousin's marriage and is urging her to go on dates?"

Yan Yi felt uncomfortable under his direct gaze and abruptly changed the subject.

Her eyes darted around, looking left and right, avoiding Pei Jingyi's gaze, and her speech quickened slightly.

"My cousin probably felt wronged, which is why she confided in me. But instead of comforting her, I made her cry... Should I go to my aunt's tomorrow to explain, so she won't misunderstand?"

“No need,” Pei Jingyi said without hesitation. “You’re not the one who made my cousin suffer. If you go, my aunt will blame you.”

Although it is true that juniors should not talk about their elders, Pei Jingyi had to say that his aunt was indeed not someone to be trifled with.

Yan Yi is still young, inexperienced, naive and innocent. She should stay away from those places, or she might be used as a pawn without even realizing it.

"Oh well."

Since Pei Jingyi said it wasn't necessary, Yan Yi felt relieved.

Actually, she didn't really want to deal with her sister-in-law, Pei Yuzhen, who seemed so difficult to handle...

However, I recently heard that she developed a rash on her face, which is swollen terribly, and she hasn't left the house for many days.

Yan Yi's thoughts wandered for a while until Pei Jingyi, who had changed her clothes and emerged from behind the screen, gently flicked the tip of her nose.

"What are you daydreaming about? It's time to eat."

...

It's time to go to bed again.

Yan Yi sat on the edge of the bed and, for the first time ever, began to reminisce about the past.

Actually, she rarely complained like Xiaoyuetian after she transmigrated, probably because she didn't have that many games she hadn't finished, or novels, comics, or TV series she hadn't finished watching.

As for the various inconveniences in terms of clothing, food, housing, and transportation, she felt they were not unbearable.

But today she suddenly missed the entire wall of professional books in her study at home.

Her father studied civil engineering, and her mother majored in mineral geology and exploration. Both of them had jobs that required them to travel around a lot when they were young, and they could only come home once every few months.

She lived with her grandparents and maternal grandparents in rotation when she was a child, until she went to high school, when her parents finally ended their busy careers and were able to sit in the office to write articles and do research.

When it was her turn to choose her major in her senior year of high school, both sets of elders advised her to avoid majors related to her parents, saying they were too demanding and involved too much travel. They believed that girls should have a more stable life and it would be easier for them to take care of their own families in the future.

At the time, she didn't have a major she really liked. She and Shen Lingyue secretly compared their college application forms and agreed that even if they couldn't get into the same university, they would still go to the same city, as close as possible.

If she had known this day would come, she should have read more of her parents' professional books...

Yan Yi was so engrossed in her thoughts that Pei Jingyi had to cough a few times to bring her back to attention.

"Why are you still coughing? Is it because you haven't coughed up the water you choked on?"

Yan Yi was still concerned about him. "If it doesn't work, why don't we call a doctor to take a look? It would be troublesome if he coughed up lung disease."

Pei Jingyi: "...No."

He frowned slightly, rubbing his temples with some distress. "I read a lot of official documents at the Ministry of War today, and my head is still spinning."

Pei Jingyi pointed to his forehead, "It still hurts a little here."

His tone was low, and he seemed uninterested.

Yan Yi understood; she also experienced headaches during the intense review period of exam week.

At times like this, I miss ibuprofen even more...

"Then you should go to bed early tonight and stop reading."

Sometimes Yan Yi felt that Pei Jingyi was also very pedantic. He was busy at the Ministry of War all day, and when he got home at night, he was still reading profound and obscure ancient Chinese texts, the kind without even punctuation marks.

Without a word, Yan Yi picked up a book that he had placed beside him, closed it, and put it on the desk a dozen steps away. As if afraid he would peek, she placed it at the bottom and added a blue stone paperweight on top.

Pei Jingyi watched from afar as she busied herself at her desk, carefully hiding books around. A sly smile played on one corner of his lips.

He quickly suppressed his anger the moment Yan Yi turned to walk back, rubbing his forehead and frowning in one smooth motion.

Yan Yi stopped in front of him, leaned down slightly, and asked with concern, "Are you still feeling unwell?"

Migraines can be really agonizing when they strike, making you feel dizzy and disoriented.

She reached out her hand to Pei Jingyi, "Let me help you to bed."

"Thank you for your trouble, Madam."

Pei Jingyi immediately put his hand on her, using Yan Yi's strength to get up, putting most of his weight on her, and slowly walked towards the bedside.

Yan Yi half-supported and half-carried him, and sensing that Pei Jingyi was intentionally holding back, she said, "It's okay, you can lean on me."

Pei Jingyi rested his head on her shoulder, his thin lips close to her earlobe, and said slowly in a breathy voice, "I don't want to tire out my wife."

The breath that escaped from his mouth gently brushed against her ear, making her feel both itchy and numb.

Fortunately, the bedside table was not far from the bed, just a few steps away.

Yan Yi put the man down with a sigh of relief, watched him slowly lie down, and even covered him with a blanket.

After thinking for a moment, she suggested, "My sister-in-law gave me some spices, saying they can calm the mind and soothe the nerves. Would you like to try them?"

Without ibuprofen, aromatherapy is the only way to relieve the discomfort.

Pei Jingyi had already closed his eyes. "Okay, I'll do whatever you say."

Yan Yi went to the wardrobe, opened the middle drawer on the left, took out the spices, recalled the operation method, lit a small piece and threw it into the incense burner.

Soon, a fresh and delicate fragrance slowly wafted out.

Yan Yi took a deep breath and felt completely refreshed.

Yao Niang is truly a genius.

With a mysteriously peaceful smile on her face, she returned to the bedside, half-squatting down to ask Pei Jingyi in a low voice, "Can you smell it? How does it feel?"

Pei Jingyi's tightly furrowed brows relaxed a little, and he nodded slightly.

"Not bad, it has a bit of the flavor of 'Huang Taishi Halal Incense', and it seems to be an improvement on the original incense recipe, adding a touch of exquisite Zen."

Pei Jingyi opened his eyes and asked her, "The spices your sister-in-law gave you? Did she know some master of incense?"

Yan Yi shook her head. "She's a friend of ours. She...she's very capable, and could have been even more capable."

Pei Jingyi nodded and didn't ask any further questions, only agreeing, "He is indeed a master of incense."

People with headaches need quiet, so Yan Yi didn't linger. She tiptoed to the cubicle to wash up, changed into her nightgown, and returned to her bedroom.

However, she was stumped when faced with Pei Jingyi, who was sleeping on the outside of the bed.

How is she supposed to get up there?

In the past, she would get into bed first and lie down, and Pei Jingyi would just come over and lie down.

He lay down first today, his tall and big body taking up half the bed, blocking the entire space from head to foot... Did he expect her to crawl over him?

But asking a patient whose headache has finally eased up to sit up again to make room for her seems rather inhumane.

Yan Yi stood by the bed, her expression unconsciously serious, her eyes lowered in deep thought.

Pei Jingyi simply closed his eyes to rest; he didn't sleep at all.

He only sensed Yan Yi enter, walk to the bedside, and then stop moving.

After waiting for a long time, he finally opened his eyes helplessly: "Isn't Madam coming up?"

Yan Yi hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, "How am I supposed to get up there?"

Pei Jingyi looked down and said, "..."

He coughed lightly, his tone deliberately casual: "Just come straight up."

Yan Yi forced a response, trying to make her expression more natural. She slowly bent down, put her hands over Pei Jingyi's calves, supported herself on the mattress, and then lifted one leg to step forward.

She tried very hard to avoid touching Pei Jingyi, her body almost arched like a bridge.

Pei Jingyi narrowed his eyes, then suddenly gently tugged at the blanket with his hand that was under the covers.

The silk quilt cover was soft and smooth, and Yan Yi's elbow slid forward with it.

"Madam, please be careful—"

Pei Jingyi called out to warn her, but it was too late. Yan Yi's hand slipped, and she fell forward due to inertia, landing on top of him.

Pei Jingyi groaned, his fair face quickly flushing red, and his brows twitched slightly.

It wasn't that Yan Yi pressed down on him, but rather that her hand accidentally pressed down on...

Yan Yi was as flustered and helpless as a startled deer. She quickly raised her misplaced left hand and scrambled to the innermost part of the bed until her back was pressed against the wall and the distance between them could not be increased any further. Only then did she cautiously ask, "Are you... alright?"

Pei Jingyi closed his eyes, opened them, and then closed them again.

He took several deep breaths to make sure his expression wouldn't distort before turning to Yan Yi with a slight smile: "It's nothing."

Yan Yi breathed a sigh of relief.

She didn't want to bear the guilt of causing the Marquis's family line to end...

Her face was flushed red, and she said softly, "Should I turn around so you can check yourself? If there's anything wrong, we can't delay; we need to get a doctor here right away..."

Pei Jingyi said with mixed feelings, "Does Madam think of herself as Xiang Yu, the mighty Hegemon of Chu? Or are you deliberately heading in that direction...?"

"Of course not!"

Yan Yi quickly retorted, practically swearing to the heavens, "I really just accidentally slipped."

Pei Jingyi continued to smile: "That's settled then. You know your strength, and I know my body. It's alright, everything is normal, all functions are intact, there's really no need to call a doctor."

"That's good, that's good." Yan Yi quickly tucked herself into the blankets, rolled up, and closed her eyes with her back to him. "You should go to sleep. You have to work tomorrow."

Pei Jingyi looked at the huge gap that had reopened between the two of them and silently withdrew his hand.

Isn't this a case of him reaping what he sowed?

...

Whether it was because Yao Niang's spices were too effective, or because Yan Yi was too embarrassed and just wanted to get a good night's sleep, she didn't know.

So much so that even when Pei Jingyi was about to leave the house the next morning, she was still lying in bed.

Pei Jingyi had no choice but to give up the idea of ​​having Yan Yi see him off, and left alone with a sullen face.

Si Xiang, who was passing by, was startled and whispered to Dian Cha, "What's wrong with the young master today? He looks terrible."

Diancha thought for a moment and said seriously, "It must be because there are too many troublesome things to do at the yamen, so the young master is in a bad mood whenever he thinks about going out to work."

Yan Yi slept until the morning, and when she woke up, she was startled. She quickly changed her clothes and rushed to Tanghua Garden.

"Mother, please forgive me for being late today."

A while ago, she and Xiaoyueliang went to the princess's mansion every day, and the housekeeping duties fell on Meng Wanyin's shoulders.

Yan Yi was a little annoyed at herself for oversleeping, even though she had promised to come early to help today.

Meng Wanyin didn't care at all. "Young people, it's normal to sleep a little longer. When I was your age, I also felt like I could never get enough sleep."

Moreover, they were newlyweds, enjoying a blissful and loving relationship.

If you don't sleep well at night, you'll have to make up for it during the day.

Several times when Shen Lingyue came over to pet the cat, Meng Wanyin noticed several red marks hidden under her collar.

Ugh, just thinking about it gives me a headache. Huai Zhou isn't even a dog, so why does he love biting people so much?

Thinking of this, Meng Wanyin's gaze involuntarily drifted over Yan Yi.

Hmm, the eldest brother is more dignified; perhaps he's hiding it all under his clothes...

Meng Wanyin discreetly raised her handkerchief to pat her face, and said to her, "There are still two accounts left to read. Go and check them for me. If there are no problems, you can go back."

"yes."

Yan Yi quickly went to her private room to "do her homework".

After she finished checking the accounts and reported that everything was correct, Shen Lingyue also came out of the cat-lover's courtyard, changed out of her clothes which were covered in cat hair, and went straight to Yan Yi.

"I went to Jiusi Courtyard to look for you this morning, but the maid said you hadn't woken up yet. Why are you so late today?"

She was starting to suspect that Yan Yi had been drugged.

Thinking of last night, Yan Yi blushed, and the heat spread to her ears.

She explained in a low voice, "I had a bit of insomnia last night, so I used the spices that Yao Niang gave me, and they worked really well... Um, you can try them sometime."

"So it's for helping you sleep?" Shen Lingyue muttered, then waved her hand dismissively, "My sleep quality is very good, I don't need it for a while."

The two chatted with Meng Wanyin for a while longer, discussing topics such as whose banquet they were going to attend, what gifts they needed to prepare in advance, and the daily social interactions within the Marquis's household.

Although Shen Lingyue doesn't have to manage the household, she still needs to listen to these basic common sense rules, lest she lose her manners when going out, which would ultimately affect the reputation of the entire Marquis's mansion.

Besides, how can she and Yan Yan gossip about things if she doesn't gather more information about various people in the capital?

Meng Wanyin also noticed that her second daughter-in-law was always working extra hard at this time, with a thirst for knowledge shining in her eyes.

"Mother, please tell me more."

Meng Wanyin: "...Mother Qi, you speak."

She doesn't really enjoy interacting with outsiders; when she goes out to visit someone, she just smiles, nods, and waves.

Fortunately, she is now the Lady of the Marquis, and the Marquis is highly regarded by His Majesty. No one outside would dare to make things difficult for her, let alone try to get close to her.

It wasn't until Qi's mother had talked until her mouth was dry and she couldn't say anything more that Shen Lingyue reluctantly pulled Yan Yi away.

"Mother, Aunt Qi, please reminisce a bit more tonight, and I'll come back to listen again tomorrow!"

Meng Wanyin felt a wave of dizziness upon hearing this.

Aren't all those little pups in the Tanuki House enough for you to play with?

*

Pei Jinghuai isn't home today; he said he went out to visit some friends.

Shen Lingyue breathed a sigh of relief upon returning to Danyue Pavilion.

My husband is handsome, but he's clingy.

My husband has a great physique, but he's clingy.

My husband is great in bed... but he's clingy!

After experiencing the taste of meat, Shen Lingyue deeply suspected that everything Liu Bei had said was false.

Oxen won't die from overwork, but the land will definitely get ruined QAQ

Isn't it said that men easily lose interest in new things? How come her man never gets tired of her?

Shen Lingyue picked up the small mirror on the dressing table, looked at herself, winked at the beautiful girl in the mirror, and said in a high-pitched voice, "Magic mirror, magic mirror, who is the fairest of them all?"

"Of course it's you, my lady."

A voice came from behind the mirror, startling Shen Lingyue so much that she almost threw herself out.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Qingchan standing by the window, peeking in with a grin. "Miss, didn't you say you wanted to take a bath before you left? The hot water is ready."

"...You scared me!" Shen Lingyue glared at her, put down the mirror, and ran to the next room.

Take a bath! Take a bath!

Taking frequent baths can help relax muscles and relieve soreness.

Shen Lingyue soaked in a large wooden tub, closing her eyes to rest.

No, we really need to find a way to stop that big dog's terrible behavior.

Why don't we find him a class to attend?

But he still has to go home after get off work in the evening...

Or are there any jobs where you only get to go home once every ten days or two weeks?

No, that's too long an interval, she'll start craving meat too.

After thinking it over for a long time, Shen Lingyue finally decided to use the old method—drug!

(crossed out)

Try using the spices that Yao Niang gave you?

If it can make Yan Yi sleep until almost noon, it must be effective for Pei Jinghuai too, right?

Without further ado, after taking a bath, Shen Lingyue began rummaging through drawers and cabinets.

Shuangxu came in, looking puzzled: "What is Miss looking for?"

"The wooden box I brought back a while ago, the one that contained spices."

Zhao Lan prepared a large and varied dowry for her, making it difficult for Shen Lingyue to find anything. She could only turn to Zhao Lan's living ledger for help.

"Oh, I'll keep it."

Shuangxu thought for a while, then deftly opened the box, moving it around layer by layer for a long time before taking out a wooden box. "Is this it?"

Shen Lingyue opened the wooden box, picked up a small piece, and smelled it; it tasted sweet.

Yan Yi said this can help with sleep, is that true or not?

Never mind, her best friend is absolutely right!

Shen Lingyue placed the wooden box where she could see it, and when Pei Jinghuai returned in the evening, she secretly lit three incense sticks and threw them into the incense burner while he was taking a bath.

That's right, she added two more pills to double the effect.

After Pei Jinghuai finished washing himself clean, he effortlessly jumped into the bed curtains, then suddenly sniffed, "What's that smell?"

Shen Lingyue quickly chuckled and said, "It's a new moisturizer I used today. Does it smell nice?"

Pei Jinghuai leaned closer to her and sniffed, then said seriously, "It's a little faint through the clothes, I need to sniff it more carefully."

As he spoke, he began to unbutton his shirt, snapping it open one by one with practiced ease.

Shen Lingyue wanted to wait until he fell asleep, so she quickly pressed down on his head, "Wait a minute, wait a minute, it's still early. We haven't seen each other all day, let's chat for a bit..."

Pei Jinghuai mischievously whispered in her ear, "Precisely because it's still early, we might be able to sleep a little longer tonight."

Shen Lingyue tapped him on the head and said angrily, "You said the same thing last night!"

"Really? I forgot."

...

The sweet fragrance in the air grew stronger and stronger, and even Shen Lingyue noticed it, taking a deep sniff.

Looking across at Pei Jinghuai, his eyes were slightly red, and his expression was somewhat dazed.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned closer, whispering in her ear, "What did you wear today? It smells so good..."

Shen Lingyue also started to feel dizzy, and mumbled, "I'm using this... to help me sleep..."

Before she completely lost consciousness, all she wanted was to return to daytime and ask Yan Yi one more question—

Is this sleep aid you're offering a legitimate one?

*

The next morning, Yan Yi didn't oversleep. She politely saw Pei Jingyi off and, after thinking for a moment, decided to go to Dan Yue Xuan.

Usually, it's Little Moon who comes to visit her, but today it's her turn to stretch her legs.

Yan Yi strolled leisurely to Dan Yue Xuan, but it was Qing Chan who opened the door.

She explained apologetically, "Young Madam, my young lady... hasn't gotten up yet. She said she's not feeling well today, so she won't be going to Tanghua Garden."

Yan Yi became anxious upon hearing this, "What's wrong with her? Is she sick?"

But Qingchan still blocked the doorway, showing no intention of letting her in to take a look.

Under Yan Yi's insistence, Qing Chan finally had no choice but to stammer an explanation: "Last night... I called for water a little more frequently..."

Yan Yi realized what was happening, and a wave of heat quickly surged through her body.

She coughed twice and turned her face away to cover it up.

"Then let her get some rest. I'll be going now."

Qingchan blushed as she saw Yan Yi off as he fled in disarray, and yawned several times as she closed the door.

No, she needs to go back to her room and catch up on some sleep...

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

Author's Note: Pei Da: He brought this on himself [cracks]

Pei Er: Enjoying meat so much! [starry-eyed]

Haha, who would have thought that our Yuezai would be the first to use this magical little spice? [doge][doge] So handy! [sunglasses]

Extra chapter tomorrow!