Pei Zhi was just thinking about how to reject Xiao Chengci, but Xiao Chengci didn't give Pei Zhi that chance.

Pei Zhi snorted and slapped Xiao Chengci's shoulder hard.

"Go ahead and hit me. If you're angry, hit me harder. You can even bite me. Just don't get yourself all worked up."

Pei Zhi was forced to be woken up by Xiao Chengci, and in the early morning, she had another training exercise.

This training exercise was longer than the previous two combined.

Finally, Pei Zhi couldn't take it anymore. She tilted her head slightly and whispered some reckless words in Xiao Chengci's ear.

Xiao Chengci paused for a moment, then grabbed Pei Zhi's wrist tightly, preventing her from pushing him away.

Pei Minxue and Madam Pei were reunited after a long separation.

Pei Zhi and Xiao Chengci went too far.

So, breakfast in the morning is served in the kitchen, which is kept hot and warm.

After reheating it twice, fearing it would affect the taste, I quickly threw it away and made it again.

The kitchen made breakfast four times.

Seeing that it was already noon and no one was up yet, the kitchen could only start preparing lunch.

After what happened yesterday, the kitchen staff were naturally afraid that something else might go wrong.

Besides, His Majesty is still in their residence.

We would rather waste some than dare to neglect His Majesty.

Pei Zhi was actually woken up by hunger. She was still sleepy, but her stomach was already rumbling with hunger.

Pei Zhi opened her eyes and met Xiao Chengci's lingering gaze.

Pei Zhi remembered what happened yesterday and this morning, and her hand moved faster as she tried to push Xiao Chengci away.

Pei Zhi swore that she only wanted to push Xiao Chengci away.

As a result, Pei Zhi's hand was too fast, and she slapped Xiao Chengci across the face.

Pei Zhi was somewhat taken aback, and Xiao Chengci's head was also turned to the side after being hit.

Pei Zhi was somewhat frightened and was just about to explain that she hadn't done it on purpose.

Xiao Chengci turned his head and asked, "Want to do another look on this side of my face?"

Pei Zhi was amused by Xiao Chengci and gently explained to him that she didn't mean to hit him; her hand slipped.

Xiao Chengci then held Pei Zhi's hand and kissed the back of it.

"It's okay, even if it was intentional, it's okay."

"You can hit me as many times as you want, it doesn't matter."

Pei Zhi pursed her lips, saying that it was really true that Xiao Chengci was a simp.

I'm hungry.

"Shall we wash up first?"

Pei Zhi responded with a soft "Mm".

Xiao Chengci quickly put on his clothes and then helped Pei Zhi wash up.

There were palace servants and servants serving outside, but Xiao Chengci preferred to personally help Pei Zhi get dressed and wash up.

Pei Zhi originally planned to have her meal in the house, but when the people in the master bedroom heard that they were going to have a meal, they said they would eat together.

This saves us the trouble of making two portions in the kitchen.

Pei Zhi had no objections and nodded in agreement.

Pei Zhi nodded, and although Xiao Chengci wanted to eat with Pei Zhi alone, he did not refuse.

Pei Minxue and Madam Pei arrived relatively quickly; however, when Pei Minxue entered, his hand unconsciously went to his waist.

Hmm... it's somewhat similar to Pei Zhi's movements when she got up today.

Pei Zhi raised an eyebrow. "No, they're all men."

Why is it that when it comes to her, she's the one who's supporting her waist?

When Pei Zhi was getting dressed, she noticed fingerprints on her lower back.

It was probably left behind by Xiao Chengci in his excitement this morning.

Pei Minxue didn't look well; he hadn't slept well yesterday, and he looked somewhat weary.

Pei Minxue had to admit that he was indeed getting middle-aged and was starting to feel a bit weak. It seemed that he should ask his wife to instruct the kitchen to give him some nourishment.

Madam Pei curiously examined the handprint on His Majesty's face, but even if she had the courage, she wouldn't dare to ask.

Xiao Chengci held chopsticks and occasionally served food and soup to Pei Zhi.

Everyone at the table was preoccupied with their own thoughts, and they were all hungry, so they ate their meal quietly.

After eating and drinking to her heart's content, Pei Zhi regained much of her strength and felt much more energetic.

Pei Zhi didn't want to be with Xiao Chengci; Xiao Chengci's gaze was too cloying.

Pei Zhi took her sister-in-law's hand and went to see her little nephew.

Just then, the palace officials delivered the memorial this morning, and Pei Minxue only remembered it now.

The memorial was placed in the study, and Pei Minxue led the way for Xiao Chengci.

Pei Minxue walked behind Xiao Chengci, but after only a few steps, he fell behind.

Pei Minxue reluctantly supported his lower back, gritted his teeth, and followed.

Xiao Chengci asked bluntly, "What happened to your back? Are you injured?"

How could Pei Minxue possibly admit that he had gone too far?

Pei Minxue touched his nose guiltily, "Well, I accidentally rolled off the bed yesterday and fell."

After Pei Minxue finished speaking, his gaze fell subtly on His Majesty's waist.

His Majesty's waist... seems to be fine.

Pei Minxue looked up; he couldn't help but see.

"Your Majesty, your face..." Pei Minxue changed his words, "How did you get injured?"

What Pei Minxue really wanted to say was, "Who slapped His Majesty in the face?"

But in the whole world, even the Empress Dowager wouldn't dare to slap Xiao Chengci like that.

There is only one person who would be so bold, and coincidentally, he is still at his residence.

Xiao Chengci lightly touched his cheek with his fingertips. "It's nothing, it was an accident."

Although Pei Minxue didn't understand what His Majesty meant by "accidental,"...

Was he accidentally hit, or was he accidentally injured?

None of this concerned Pei Minxue. In any case, Pei Minxue couldn't detect any sign of anger from His Majesty.

Just as Pei Minxue arrived at the study door, the gatekeeper announced that it was Shang Huai, the Marquis of Shang, who had come to pay a visit.

"Your Majesty, would you like to deal with the memorials first, or have General Shang come and pay his respects?"

Since His Majesty is here, it is only natural that Shang Huai should come over and pay his respects to His Majesty.

"You may entertain him yourself; I have no time to see him."

Xiao Chengci was thinking that he should finish his memorials as soon as possible so that he could go and keep Pei Zhi company.

Pei Minxue nodded without surprise, and then set off to entertain Shang Huai.

Shang Huai had already been seated in the reception room. When Pei Min learned about it, Shang Huai was drinking tea.

Shang Huai was a military officer, and he noticed that Pei Minxue's gait was somewhat strange.

After the two greeted each other, Shang Huai asked.

"Brother Minxue, are you injured?"

Pei Minxue used the same excuse he used to deceive His Majesty to fool Shang Huai.

Shang Huai said enthusiastically, "Would you like me to give you a massage?"

"I learned a thing or two from the military doctors in the barracks."

Pei Minxue refused without even thinking.

Pei Minxue was worried that Shang Huai would see through him.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. The doctor has already checked it. There's no bone injury. It's just a little sore when I walk."

After hearing this, Shang Huai did not insist.

Where's Zhizhi?

Pei Minxue replied, "She's in the main courtyard looking after my son."

Shang Huai and Pei Minxue chatted idly for a while.

It wasn't until a servant from the kitchen came to disturb Pei Minxue that the Emperor instructed the kitchen to prepare a nourishing soup for the young lady.

As a result, the soup was ready, but the young lady disliked it and refused to drink it.