Chapter 39

Qi Yu spent the entire day embroidering this small purse. As darkness fell and a lamp was lit beside her, she rubbed her eyes and began to finish.

Pei Jin handed Qi Yu a pastry and fed it to her. Qi Yu paused for a moment, thought about it, and then ate the pastry.

She had something in her hands, so it wasn't convenient for her to catch it. Fortunately, the pastry wasn't big; it was small and delicate.

Qi Yu was initially a little uncomfortable with Pei Jin by her side, but after discovering that Pei Jin could accurately identify the color of silk thread she wanted, she let him be.

With Pei Jin around, a lot of time was indeed saved.

After finishing the finishing touches, Qi Yu admired the newly made blue sachet embroidered with orchids with satisfaction. The level of craftsmanship was naturally not as good as the sachet embroidered by Zhao Wanyi, but it was the best she could make.

The embroiderer also praised her for her talent, even though she was merely copying what she was learning.

But this purse is by no means ugly.

Upon seeing this, Pei Jin's eyes darkened slightly. He touched the purse in his sleeve and then became satisfied.

Qi Yu put away the purse, and Pei Jin took Qi Yu's hand: "Madam, let's go have our meal."

"Okay." Qi Yu's tone was gentle, and she was naturally happy because she had just finished making a purse.

Nevertheless, she still subtly withdrew her hand after getting up.

Pei Jin clenched his empty hand into a fist, but after taking two steps forward, he couldn't hold back his grievances and looked at Qi Yu with a surprised expression.

At least they are still husband and wife.

He might be surprised by Qi Yu's decision to avoid suspicion.

Even though Pei Jin hadn't said anything, Qi Yu felt as if she had done something heinous to him.

After the embroiderer took her leave and Qiu Kui went to prepare dinner, Qi Yu stared at her toes and said in as even a voice as possible, "My lord, let's go back to the way we were before."

Pei Jin knew exactly what was going on. Wu Shiyan had returned to the palace and cleared away the obstacles, so he would definitely bring Qi Yu back to the palace as soon as possible, probably tomorrow.

Qi Yu naturally wanted to separate herself from him.

But he was unwilling. As soon as Qi Yu finished speaking, Pei Jin impulsively pressed her for an answer: "Why?"

How do you explain Qi Yu's name?

Just as she was at her wit's end, she heard Pei Jin ask in a slow voice, "Is it because I am not favored by Madam in bed?"

Qi Yu kept her head down and didn't notice that Pei Jin's thin lips were slightly pursed and his eyes were dull and lifeless.

As soon as he asked "why," Pei Jin regretted it. He didn't want to pressure her. He paused for a moment, then offered her a way out.

Upon hearing this, Qi Yu fell silent, a conflicted look flashing in her eyes.

She actually quite likes it.

"yes."

But if agreeing would sever Pei Jin's feelings, Qi Yu said it without any burden.

It was completely dark outside, with a bright moon and few stars. The two of them didn't say another word until they finished their dinner.

Qi Yu was quite at ease; she was not the type of person who would be constrained by such things.

After having her meal, Qi Yu took a bath and then lay down on the bed, while Pei Jin went to sleep on the couch.

Because the okra had already left, but the candles in the room were still burning, Qi Yu stared at the candlelight, unable to fall asleep.

Just as she got up to extinguish the candle, Pei Jin came in wearing only a thin layer of clothing.

Pei Jin was naturally very tall, but he was a typical scholar. People would usually only notice his refined and elegant demeanor. However, he stood out from the crowd, so it was impossible for him to be short.

Pei Jin suddenly appeared in the dim candlelight. Qi Yu met his dark gray eyes, but could only notice his figure.

Tall and slender, with a graceful and well-proportioned figure.

"Why has Your Excellency come?" Qi Yu asked in confusion.

Pei Jin walked up to Qi Yu, and Qi Yu noticed that Pei Jin's thin shirt was loose, revealing the outline of his figure as he walked.

She glanced at him a couple more times, then shifted her rather innocent gaze to Pei Jin's face.

Pei Jin bent down and hugged Qi Yu, who had sat up, holding her tightly in his arms.

He pleaded softly, "Madam, please try one more time. If you say you don't like it tomorrow, we can go back to how things were before."

Pei Jin thought despicably that his methods were neither honorable nor aboveboard; he was openly seducing Qi Yu.

Pei Jin closed his eyes, turned his head to the side, and breathed into Qi Yu's ear.

Even if he couldn't, he still managed to hug Qi Yu, and he almost treated it as the last time he would hug her.

Qi Yu nudged Pei Jin, but couldn't move him.

Pei Jin complained in a low voice, "The bed is cold and cramped. I can't stretch my arms and legs, and my back aches from sleeping on it."

Pei Jin's words almost rang in Qi Yu's ears, like a soft whisper. Qi Yu really didn't know what kind of tone Pei Jin used to say such things.

Qi Yu hesitated for a moment. She pushed against Pei Jin's waist and abdomen, and even through a thin shirt, she could feel his firm abdominal muscles.

well.

Normally, she probably wouldn't refuse, but after spending so much time with Wu Shiyan, she was genuinely a little afraid.

If it weren't for the ointment I got from the Pei family, I don't know when the marks on my body would have disappeared.

Pei Jin: "I have to attend the morning court session early tomorrow morning. If I don't sleep well and am not attentive, I may behave improperly in the main hall."

"Madam, please show me mercy, just like you would when you're teasing a bird."

Qi Yu had switched to pointing at Pei Jin's waist with her finger; she wasn't going to eagerly let herself be abused.

How devastating would it be if she admitted tomorrow that Pei Jin's skills in bed were lacking?

But since things have come to this point...

Qi Yu's expression was indifferent. She grasped Pei Jin's thin shirt and tugged it in her direction: "Turn off the light, you stay."

Pei Jin was overjoyed. He released Qi Yu in disbelief and looked at her with slightly breathless breath.

Qi Yu glanced at him.

Pei Jin had already started laughing. He quickly got up, turned off the light, got into bed, and reached out to pull down the bed curtains.

In the dead of night, only a few soft sounds could be heard from inside the house.

Qi Yu bid farewell, and a few scattered breaths formed the melody of the night.

After finishing, Pei Jin got out of bed to rinse his mouth before returning to bed.

Qi Yu was so sleepy she was about to fall asleep, but she still managed to nudge Pei Jin, saying, "I'm not satisfied, I'm not satisfied."

After saying that, he fell into a deep sleep.

She was afraid she wouldn't wake up when Pei Jin went to court the next morning, so she spoke up in advance, shattering Pei Jin's delusion.

Pei Jin wasn't annoyed at all; he thought that the right way to put it was just a matter of interpreting the words in reverse.

The bed was dark, but his eyes shone with an astonishing gentle light.

He kissed Qi Yu's hair tenderly.

They didn't finish in the end, of course, but he felt he had taken a big step forward.

early morning.

When Qi Yu woke up, Pei Jin was indeed gone. She turned over and went back to sleep.

Well, she originally thought Pei Jin would prove himself enough in one go, but instead he kissed her very gently, enveloping her like a hot spring, making her feel comfortable and bubbly.

Even her eventual drowsiness was a natural consequence of his encouragement.

Although Pei Jin kissed Qi Yu after she said goodbye, it made her feel a little unsettled.

...She said two words of dissatisfaction, though she didn't mean them.

Fifteen minutes later, Qi Yu got up, and a maid came in to help her dress and wash.

The steward was already waiting in Hengwu Courtyard, saying that the Empress Dowager had summoned Lady Xuan to the palace, and that Lady Xuan was accompanied by Aunt Fangzi, who was by the Empress Dowager's side.

Qi Yu changed into a bamboo-green dress today, with bamboo leaves embroidered on the cuffs. Her slender waist was cinched with a pine-green belt, making it look incredibly delicate. A sachet hung from her waist.

It is truly a place of outstanding natural beauty.

Qiu Kui brought her the earrings and put them on her, and Qi Yu then realized that they were the pair Pei Jin had given her.

Looking in the bronze mirror, she saw that the clothes suited her exceptionally well, so she didn't bother to have them taken off.

A pair of earrings, one on each side, not worth much.

After everything was ready, Qi Yu was about to go to the palace with Fang Zi when Pei Jin returned from the direction of the palace in a carriage and walked quickly to her.

Pei Jin wouldn't have returned this late after court today, but His Majesty deliberately left him alone in the side hall, and the eunuchs only told him to wait, but he was not summoned for an audience.

In the end, he made an excuse that he had business at the government office, and ignoring the eunuch's composed yet conflicted expression, he left the palace and returned to his residence.

Fortunately, Qi Yu hadn't left yet.

She wore the earrings he had given her.

Pei Jin noticed this the moment he saw Qi Yu. Does this mean that she wasn't just after his body, but also had some feelings for him?

When Qi Yu saw Pei Jin, she simply nodded slightly: "My lord."

After Pei Jin finished looking at Qi Yu, he said to Fang Zi, "Aunt, I need to speak with the Madam in private."

Fangzi had no right to stop them, so she took a step back, and Pei Jin and Qi Yu followed suit and moved aside.

Qi Yu looked up at Pei Jin, a faint smile on her lips.

Pei Jin asked, "Madam, do you like my face?"

A sense of doubt slowly rose in Qi Yu's heart. Pei Jin had called her here just to ask this question?

She followed her heart and said, "I like it."

Pei Jin smiled, looking very handsome. He took a slight step back and said, "Madam, please go to the palace and come back soon."

That's enough. Compared to His Majesty's scarred face, he still has a presentable face that Qi Yu likes.

This is yet another victory for him.

Who would have thought that the dignified Lord Pei would be thinking about this during the morning court session?

His Majesty has become shrewd, and with that scarred face, no one dares to look directly at his countenance. No wonder people are hostile to him and don't want him to see Qi Yu.

He had no idea that Qi Yu had used his ointment on Wu Shiyan's face. If he had known, he wouldn't have felt this way.

Pei Jin didn't dare to ask Empress Qi Yu about her beauty or ugliness; he only made a subtle comparison.

But if he asked, Qi Yu might not necessarily say that he was better looking than Wu Shiyan.

In Qi Yu's mind, the two men were equally handsome. Wu Shiyan and Pei Jinjun were both exceptional talents, and there was no reason why a person with a scar was not worthy of her affection.

Qi Yu walked towards Aunt Fangzi, completely bewildered. She glanced back and noticed that Pei Jin was still looking at her.

As if she had been burned, she turned her head quickly, her earring swaying slightly.

Qi Yu boarded the carriage, and Fang Zi followed behind. She asked in confusion, "Madam Pei, aren't you taking Yue Lu with you?"

Qi Yu shook her head: "The Empress Dowager summoned me, so it's inconvenient to delay any longer."

The carriage sped towards the palace gate, leaving the Pei residence far behind.

Pei Jin slowly lost his smile. Even though he knew that when he returned, it wouldn't be Qi Yu, he still waited at the mansion, determined to truly give up.

After entering the palace, Qi Yu first went to Changxin Palace to see the Empress Dowager.

Surprisingly, Wu Shiyan was also there.

Wu Shiyan had already heard that Pei Jin had left the palace, and his imposing manner became somewhat subdued.

He felt no guilt whatsoever. He had the eunuchs detain Pei Jin while he went to Changxin Palace ahead of time to drink tea and wait for others.

The Empress Dowager was flattered. The day after the Emperor recovered from his illness, she came to Changxin Palace after the morning court session. Who could not say that she was filial? Who could not say that her position as Empress Dowager was secure?

Although all of this was because of Madam Pei.

The Empress Dowager looked ahead and her gaze fell on Qi Yu, who walked into the palace against the not-so-strong light of the morning sun.

The woman was beautiful in a serene and radiant way. Even the Empress Dowager, who had seen so many women before, was immediately struck by her beauty, let alone the Emperor, whom she longed for.

Wu Shiyan gripped the ring on his hand tightly to prevent himself from grabbing Qi Yu's hand.

After bowing, Qi Yu sat to one side, her head slightly bowed, and talked with the Empress Dowager.

Wu Shiyan spoke occasionally.

The Empress Dowager looked slightly tired, and the two then took their leave.

Outside Changxin Palace, Wu Shiyan instructed the eunuch beside him, "I will have lunch at Zhaoyang Palace today."

The eunuch agreed.

Qi Yu heard this and raised an eyebrow slightly. She knew without even thinking who Wu Shiyan was talking to.

At this moment, Pei Jiu also arrived in front of Changxin Palace. After bowing to Wu Shiyan, she winked playfully at Qi Yu and said in a serious tone, "Madam Pei, the Imperial Concubine wishes to see you. Please move to Zhaoyang Palace."

Pei Jiu then said to Aunt Fangzi, "Aunt, Her Majesty will send someone to escort Madam Pei out of the palace later, so there's no need to trouble you."

Fangzi looked at Qiyu, wanting Qiyu to make up her mind. Although the Consort was known for her composure and restraint, this was Madam Pei, and she dared not be careless.

However, upon further reflection, since His Majesty was present and had not offered any advice, I should report His Majesty's attitude to the Empress Dowager.

Qi Yu nodded to Fang Zi and then followed Pei Jiu away.

Wu Shiyan watched Qi Yu's retreating figure, his body radiating a joyful aura.

His heart was finally at ease, but he still needed to send Pei Jin away from the capital as soon as possible.