Chapter 15 First Impressions

Pei Yanzhi, standing behind him, took the lantern from the stall owner and thanked him.

Ji Shu asked softly, "Why didn't you explain just now, my lord?"

Sensing the subtle displeasure in her words, Pei Yanzhi simply smiled faintly: "Why bother explaining? It was just a brief encounter."

He watched her take the river lantern, and as she drew closer, a sweet, delicate fragrance wafted over. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the ring on his thumb, his eyes darkening slightly.

Ji Shu deeply agreed; people in this world come and go in a hurry.

Pei Yanzhi's gaze, sharp as a hawk's, swept over her begonia-like profile: "Madam Ji seems to be somewhat afraid of me?"

“Your status is so noble, how could I not be afraid?”

A hint of a smile flashed across his eyes, but he ultimately said nothing more.

Ji Shu took the river lantern from his hand and pointed it to the river: "Look, these are the lanterns that we in Chongzhou release every year on the Lantern Festival to express our longing for our loved ones... but this year, there are especially many."

The scars of war will never be erased, but for Pei Yanzhi, this is an inevitable path—even if he were not the one to attack, other forces would vie for the strategic location of Chongzhou.

He examined the slight furrow between her brows and said calmly, "If it weren't me, it would have been someone else."

Ji Shu remained silent. She knew he was telling the truth, yet a chill still crept into her heart.

As the river lantern in her hand drifted further and further away, she asked softly, "Aren't you going to write anything on the lantern?"

Pei Yanzhi turned his head and looked into the depths of the night: "I never entrust my wishes to the gods. I only believe in my own two hands."

Suddenly, he turned to look at her: "Tonight... wasn't Xingjian traveling with you?"

Ji Shu nodded first, then shook her head, not hiding the fact that he was Pei Xingjian's father: "At first we were together, but then we had some arguments, so I left first."

Pei Yanzhi looked directly into her eyes, his expression indifferent: "What caused the argument?"

Seeing his persistent questioning, Ji Shu felt a strange unease. After a moment of silence, she looked towards the distant lights:

"The passion of youth may be captivating, but it is precisely because of this that I am more aware of the vicissitudes of life and the countless worries and fears that lie ahead. Rather than that, it is better to stop before it even begins."

She knew she did have some appreciation for Pei Xingjian, and she knew where that appreciation came from—in this chaotic world, how precious it was to have someone who treated her sincerely.

But that's all.

Pei Yanzhi remained silent for a long time, his gaze calmly fixed on her face, before finally speaking:

Are you afraid he can't protect you, or are you unwilling to be a concubine? Or perhaps both?

Ji Shu was taken aback.

She hadn't expected that he would so clearly see through all her hidden worries.

Yes, Pei Xingjian was too impulsive. He hadn't even sorted out his relationship with his fiancée before he started bothering her.

If she were to truly enter the Pei household, what would await her? What woman could bear to see her husband's heart belong to another?

For these men who were fighting on the front lines, the battlefield was at the front; but for women, the battlefield was in the deep courtyards of their homes.

She never believed she could live peacefully in that tiny place. She understood better than anyone that only by living could she have a future.

Pei Yanzhi avoided her astonished gaze, turning instead to look at the lake, his voice devoid of emotion:

“Xingjian treats you with utmost sincerity. If you enter his household, he will certainly not let you down—I can vouch for that.”

He was slightly taken aback after saying it. He didn't know why he had said those words, and even harbored a secret thought in his heart—he wanted to watch her for a long time.

Ideally, it should be right in front of you, whether as a son's concubine or in some other capacity.

For him, this kind of uncontrollable emotional turmoil was something he had never experienced before in his life.

He had lived a restrained and composed life in the first half of his life, but in this turbulent time, he encountered such a change.

Fortunately, he has always been good at self-control.

Ji Shu was taken aback by his words. Her eyelashes fluttered suddenly, and she was startled to realize that she was talking to a father about his son. Had she drunk too much and lost her mind?

Moreover, that inexplicable, strange feeling in her heart was becoming increasingly clear. She steadied herself and said decisively:

“I have made it clear to Prince Pei that I will never become a concubine, no matter who the other party is.”

The casual conversation suddenly froze.

Ji Shu abruptly changed the subject: "I didn't know what kind of fragrance you liked, so I prepared a little of each kind. Please take a look."

She took out a sachet, its gold-embroidered auspicious beast pattern adorned with plum petals, making it exceptionally elegant.

"I have never thanked you for your help that day. These sachets were embroidered by my own hands... This one is benzoin, which can be placed under the pillow to help you sleep and calm your mind. This one is sandalwood, which is suitable to be worn on the waist or in the sleeve, and the fragrance lasts a long time."

Pei Yanzhi's eyes flickered slightly: "Embroidered by hand?"

"yes."

She embroidered three in total. She had already given one to Pei Xingjian, and she would give him the remaining two.

Pei Yanzhi stared at the exquisite sachet in his palm, lost in thought for a moment.

His daily life has always been managed by a dedicated person, and even when the Gu family wanted to interfere, he refused.

Wearing such a personal item would surely cause a stir if seen by outsiders.

Ji Shu was naturally unaware of these things.

Even though he knew she was just expressing her gratitude, he felt inexplicably relieved. He always understood that some things couldn't be forced.

"Thank you for the gift." He closed his palm, his voice gentle, "But in this chaotic world, if one does not rely on others, the road ahead will be much more difficult."

She knew all along, but she simply didn't want to choose that path.

He stepped away from the riverbank: "Let's go."

At this moment, Chunzhi rushed over with Lu Changfeng, almost crying, "My lady! I've been looking for you everywhere!"

Lu Changfeng then bowed and said, "My lord, Lady Ji."

Chunzhi, panting, said, "I went to the restaurant first, but I only saw the young master sitting alone inside. When I asked him, he didn't know where you were either, so I had to search along the riverbank all the way here... It really scared me."

Ji Shu's ears turned slightly red, like a child caught sneaking out for a trip. She explained in a low voice, "The streets were lively, so I walked a few more steps... Now that the war is over, why be so tense?"

Upon seeing Chunzhi, she felt as if she had been granted a pardon and immediately refused to stay any longer: "Lord Yan, I will go home with you now. You may place the purple sachet under your pillow; it has a calming effect."

Pei Yanzhi nodded slightly, watching her leave in a hurry with Chunzhi.

Even after walking a long way, Ji Shu could still feel that deep gaze following her like a shadow.

She quickened her pace unconsciously, almost as if she wanted to escape the overly quiet night.