Lu Xiuyuan withdrew his hand from Pei Minxue's and pretended to be flustered as he helped Pei Minxue up.

Lu Xiuyuan asked with concern, "My lord, are you alright?"

Pei Minxue covered her head, "I think I bumped my head on something."

Pei Minxue had a sticky liquid on his hands, which he guessed meant he was bleeding.

Lu Xiuyuan apologized repeatedly, "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have invited you to my home. You've suffered so much because of me. I deserve to die."

Pei Minxue was just wondering if he had been pushed down.

But in the alley, there were only him and Lu Xiuyuan.

Given Lu Xiuyuan's flustered and apologetic demeanor, how could he possibly push him?

Besides, they didn't have any deep-seated hatred for each other.

Lu Xiuyuan helped Pei Minxue up and found a nearby clinic to give him a simple bandage.

After seeing Pei Minxue off, Lu Xiuyuan dusted off his clothes, and the respectful smile on his face disappeared completely.

The next day, Pei Zhi wrote a letter and had it delivered to the Duke's mansion.

Pei Minxue is not on duty and will rest at home for a day.

I had just finished drinking the Chinese medicine when I received a letter from the gatekeeper.

Pei Minxue didn't open the letter without permission. "Go prepare the carriage and head to the East Palace."

Pei Minxue's head was wrapped in gauze, and the swaying of the carriage made his head hurt even more.

After returning home yesterday, Pei Minxue felt increasingly uneasy.

He was holding onto the wall, so he shouldn't have fallen.

There must have been a force pushing him from behind, which is why he lost his footing.

Could it be that Lu Xiuyuan pushed him?

That doesn't make sense. Why would Lu Xiuyuan push him?

Could it be that I've seen a ghost?

Pei Minxue decided that once his injury healed, he would go to the temple to pray.

Xiao Chengci, seeing Pei Minxue's conspicuous head, asked, "What's this?"

"It's just a minor injury, nothing to worry about," Pei Minxue said as he delivered the letter.

"Pei Zhi wrote a letter to Your Highness. Please take a look."

Xiao Chengci took the letter and tore it open.

There's no need to read it carefully; it's just one sentence.

"I am already married. Your Highness is welcome to visit my home when you have time."

Why couldn't Xiao Chengci understand such a short sentence?

Xiao Chengci held the letter tightly: "She got married. Who did she marry?"

Pei Minxue stammered for a long time before finally saying, "There should be such a person."

Xiao Chengci slammed the letter on the table: "I ask you, who did she marry?"

Pei Minxue could no longer fool him. "Well... what His Highness said before, Lu Xiuyuan is not bad."

Xiao Chengci recalled the question Pei Minxue had asked him before: "You knew all along?"

Pei Minxue: "It's not that early."

Xiao Chengci leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers on the table. "So, Pei Zhi is living with Lu Xiuyuan now?"

Pei Minxue said cautiously, "Your Highness, what are you saying? They are husband and wife. If they don't live together, who will they live with?"

Xiao Chengci glanced at Pei Minxue and asked, "Did you get brain damage from being hit?"

"Let's go, we're free for a bit, let's go visit Pei Zhi!"

Xiao Chengci emphasized the word "guest" in particular.

Pei Minxue hurriedly asked, "Today?"

"otherwise?"

"Let's not." Pei Minxue thought of what happened at Pei Zhi's house yesterday.

"Yesterday, Pei Zhi's mother-in-law seemed to be planning to take a concubine for Lu Xiuyuan. There's been quite a commotion at home today. Let's wait a few days."

"Taking a concubine?" Xiao Chengci suddenly stood up. "Lu Xiuyuan married Pei Zhi, and he still dares to take a concubine?"

Pei Minxue hurriedly said, "It's not Lu Xiuyuan, it's Lu Xiuyuan's mother who wants to arrange a concubine for him, but Lu Xiuyuan has already refused."

Xiao Chengci suddenly realized something was wrong, "You went to her house as a guest yesterday?"

Xiao Chengci questioned, "You didn't even call me?"

"Your Highness, it's a good thing you didn't go, otherwise..." Pei Minxue shook his head to himself.

“Zhizhi cooks meals, wears coarse clothes, and still has to endure her mother-in-law’s curses.”

If Xiao Chengci had been there yesterday, he would have executed Pei Zhi's mother-in-law on the spot.

Xiao Chengci muttered to himself, "Am I not even as good as Compiler Lu?"

Xiao Chengci didn't understand. Did Pei Zhi think he was that bad?

Xiao Chengci's tone was full of disbelief: "Pei Zhi didn't choose me and Shang Huai, but actually found an editor?"

Pei Minxue couldn't help but pour cold water on the situation, saying, "When Zhizhi married Lu Xiuyuan, Lu Xiuyuan was just a scholar."

Xiao Chengci felt even more resentful.

“Aside from my status as the Crown Prince, in terms of appearance and knowledge, how am I not superior to Lu Xiuyuan?”

"Leaving aside me, let's talk about Shang Huai. In what way is he not better than Lu Xiuyuan?"

Pei Minxue then deeply understood a sentence.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Previously, Xiao Chengci had even wanted to kill Shang Huai.

Now that His Highness knows Pei Zhi and Lu Xiuyuan are married, he can even praise Shang Huai against his conscience. It's unbelievable.

Pei Minxue could only flatter him, saying, "Your Highness is right."

Previously, Pei Minxue might have thought that Pei Zhi had poor judgment.

But yesterday, Pei Minxue saw through Lu Xiuyuan's attitude in handling the matter that Lu Xiuyuan was actually not bad.

For an ordinary man, dealing with issues between his mother and wife inevitably leaves him feeling overwhelmed.

But Lu Xiuyuan was able to decisively choose to stand on Pei Zhi's side and not let Pei Zhi suffer any grievances.

Perhaps this is why Pei Zhi chose Lu Xiuyuan.

Xiao Chengci said angrily, "You, go find Lu Bianzhuan, give him a courtyard and a few servants, and say it's a reward for him."

Pei Minxue realized that rewarding Lu Xiuyuan was a pretense; his real intention was to prevent Pei Zhi from suffering.

Pei Minxue was happy to run errands for this, and he didn't want Pei Zhi to suffer.

After bidding farewell to Xiao Chengci, Pei Minxue found Lu Xiuyuan, who was on duty.

Pei Minxue waved goodbye to the people who came to pay their respects and led Lu Xiuyuan to a secluded spot.

"Sir, is the injury to your head any better?"

"It's nothing. I took the medicine today and I'm feeling much better."

Pei Minxue cautioned, "There's a lot of clutter in the alley. Editor Lu will be careful going home every day."

Lu Xiuyuan immediately cupped his hands in thanks, "Thank you for your concern, sir. I'm already used to it."

Pei Minxue patted Lu Xiuyuan on the shoulder, "You're used to walking like this. Where are your family?"

Pei Minxue asked with concern, "What if your wife falls and gets hurt?"

Lu Xiuyuan clenched his fist and said, "When I get home, I will definitely give my wife a lot of advice."

"I have seen how diligently you have worked in the government office these past few days. As a reward, I will give you a house that is close to the government office, making it more convenient for you to go to and from work."

Although Lu Xiuyuan had not been an official for long, he knew that there was no precedent for this.

It's always the lower-ranking officials who give gifts to their superiors, never the other way around.

Besides, he's just a lowly writer, what credit could he possibly have earned? Is he really worth a house?

Lu Xiuyuan recalled the scene of Pei Minxue getting close to Aya last night.

Perhaps the reward is a pretense, and the real intention is ulterior motives?