Pei Minxue said, "Why bother getting angry with him? If you really upset him, we might not even be able to go back."

Xiao Chengci said sarcastically, "I don't know if I can go back, but he certainly won't do anything to Brother Min."

Pei Minxue sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation: "Your Highness, can we please stop fighting amongst ourselves?"

"Whether you believe it or not, I have never thought of not giving her a formal title," Xiao Chengci reiterated repeatedly.

Xiao Chengci never considered being irresponsible.

He hoped that Pei Zhi could enter the Eastern Palace so that he could see Pei Zhi every day.

“I believe what Your Highness says.”

Pei Minxue recalled the words Xiao Chengci had spoken to Pei Zhidu after Pei Zhidu agreed to marry Shang Huai.

At the time, Pei Minxue also said that His Highness the Crown Prince was really tolerant of Pei Zhi.

Even if Pei Zhi said in front of everyone that she wanted to marry Shang Huai.

His Highness was still willing to compromise and repeatedly made concessions, reserving the position of concubine for Pei Zhi.

After learning that Pei Zhi had faked her death, Pei Minxue roughly understood the situation.

Xiao Chengci's so-called giving Pei Zhi a title and making her a concubine seems like a favor to other women in the capital.

But for Pei Zhi, that was not what she wanted.

Therefore, Pei Zhi was able to fake her death decisively, even abandoning her status as the legitimate daughter of a duke.

Pei Zhi declared her intention to marry Shang Huai in front of everyone, which was actually a way of taking revenge on Xiao Chengci.

If Pei Zhiruo were truly willing to become Xiao Chengci's concubine, she would no longer have any contact with Shang Huai.

Pei Minxue said with a wry smile, "It's just a pity that Zhizhi doesn't have that blessing."

Xiao Chengci replied, "The one who lacks fortune is me, not her."

He was the one who was not fortunate enough to spend his life with Pei Zhi.

He was left all alone, to live a life of regret.

“Minxue, I couldn’t understand before how a man could become neither human nor ghost for the sake of a woman.”

Xiao Chengci looked at his palm and said, "Only after experiencing it myself did I believe that it really happened."

Pei Minxue couldn't bear to listen to these sarcastic remarks, and he also couldn't empathize with them.

After all, only he knew that Pei Zhi was still alive.

Therefore, when Pei Minxue saw Xiao Chengci still grieving, he was not only not moved, but also felt like laughing.

"Your Highness, shall we discuss important matters? What are your plans regarding General Shang?"

They came here this time to negotiate.

Xiao Chengci composed himself. "Since the bandits are Xiongnu, Shang Huai must have had dealings with them in private."

"Try to get a meeting with the General of the Northern Garrison. He hates evil and will definitely not let Shang Huai off once he finds out that Shang Huai has been in contact with the Xiongnu."

It's easier said than done, but they didn't know that the General Who Guards the North had been placed there by Shang Huai.

Beicheng is Shang Huai's territory, and they didn't bring many troops with them, so it will be quite difficult.

Pei Minxue shook his body; the charcoal in the stove was almost out, and no servant came in to refill it.

Pei Minxue couldn't help but complain, "General Shang's hospitality is rather crude."

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

Shang Huai changed his clothes and wore a warm smile.

"The meal is ready, let's go and eat."

Pei Minxue quickly stood up. "Quick, quick, I'm hungry too."

Shang Huai gestured for Xiao Chengci to step forward, and Xiao Chengci put on a cloak and walked in front of Shang Huai.

The three sat down in the dining room, and Shang Huai asked the other two if they wanted to drink.

Pei Minxue was afraid that drinking would cause him trouble, so he quickly declined.

These two can fight like this even when they're not drinking.

Once they drink, who knows what they'll become?

Shang Huai took the serving chopsticks and placed a piece of grilled fish on Pei Minxue's plate.

"Brother Minxue, how about trying the grilled fish?"

Pei Minxue was surprised to find that there was actually grilled fish on the table.

Pei Minxue picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and looked up to see Xiao Chengci and Shang Huai staring intently at him.

Saying it's not tasty will offend Shang Huai.

Saying it was delicious offended Xiao Chengci.

Pei Minxue dodged the question, saying, "I haven't eaten much grilled fish, so I can't make a comparison. The taste is acceptable, acceptable."

Shang Huai readily agreed, "Then it must be a problem with the fish, unlike what I did for Zhizhi before..."

Pei Minxue quickly interrupted Shang Huai, "General Shang, what's on this pot? I don't think I've ever seen it before."

"A hot pot of meat is very warming in the cold north."

Shang Huai picked up the bowl and personally served Pei Minxue some water.

There was meat, vegetables, and tofu in the bowl.

Pei Minxue tried a little, and it tasted pretty good.

After Pei Minxue finished eating, he filled another bowl.

Seeing Pei Minxue eating happily, Shang Huai said, "I used to worry that if Zhizhi came to the North with me, she might not be used to the living conditions or the food."

“Minxue and Zhizhi are siblings. Now that Minxue is eating it well, Zhizhi will probably like it too.”

Pei Minxue stopped chewing. He realized that Shang Huai was doing it on purpose.

The reason they kept mentioning Pei Zhi was to provoke Xiao Chengci.

Pei Minxue put down his bowl, looked at the other dishes on the table, and hesitated to start eating.

Pei Minxue was truly afraid that if he took another bite, Shang Huai would say something else.

Pei Minxue could only reply perfunctorily, "The food is fine; Zhizhi has never been a picky eater."

"Brother Min, does Zhizhi have any other hobbies?"

Shang Huai's tone was somewhat melancholy, "Thinking back on it carefully, every time I met Zhizhi, we were out having fun, but I never had time to really get to know her properly."

If Pei Minxue hadn't been mindful of the occasion, he would have really wanted to ask, "What's the point of Shang Huai asking about the preferences of a 'dead' person?"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!