Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Her husband who died in the battlefield returned...

Wu Jingxun stared at him blankly, his fingers gripping the wooden door unconsciously tensing.

Her husband who died in the battlefield has returned.

He had changed a lot. A scar ran across his left cheek. It was easy to imagine the terrifying moment of near-death experience he had endured. But his gaze towards her remained the same as before. Wu Jingxun gradually relaxed under that deep, gentle gaze, but her face suddenly paled when she felt the hand on her waist.

"Brother, when did you come back? Why didn't you tell me first?" Pei Huaiguang's eyes passed over the scar on his face. His tone was casual, and the arm across Wu Jingxun's waist was slightly tense. "Tongcheng is not a big place, and it took a lot of effort to find it. I feel a little embarrassed that you went through so much trouble and looked forward to seeing this scene."

Having said that, there wasn't a trace of guilt on his face.

Wu Jingxun whispered, "Let me go first."

The faint, empty smile on Pei Huaiguang's face was instantly frozen.

"Are you afraid he'll find out? What a pity! Brother has a sharp eye, I'm afraid he's already seen it. We've already—" He deliberately dragged out his words, turning to Pei Jinguang with a half-smile, "Brother once told me to follow the rules of first come, first served. Now that you're late, don't blame me."

Pei Jinguang avoided his brother's gaze, which was filled with boiling fighting spirit, and looked at the pale and beautiful face.

Wu Jingxun lowered his eyes in panic, not wanting to and not daring to look at Pei Jinguang's expression at this moment.

He must be very angry. Less than a year after the news of his death in battle reached him, his newlywed wife had already left him and thrown herself into the arms of his younger brother...

Just imagining Pei Jinguang showing such contempt, disgust and regret, Wu Jingxun unconsciously tensed his shoulders and even found it difficult to breathe.

Among the people and memories she left in Jinling, Pei Jinguang was the one who treated her best and was the most innocent.

He had survived a near-death experience to stand before her, so why should he endure such humiliation?

"Erlang, she is my wife." They were married in a formal ceremony, and all that was missing was the couple bowing to each other and spending the wedding night together.

Pei Jinguang looked at her lips that had lost their color from being bitten by her, reached out and pressed on Pei Huaiguang's arm, signaling him to let go.

The two brothers looked at each other, neither willing to give in.

"You're fighting and grabbing like this because you're afraid that if you let go she'll come to me?"

Pei Jinguang slightly emphasized his tone: "Erlang, it seems that you don't have much confidence in yourself."

Pei Huaiguang's expression was cold. He was no longer the young man from the grassland who had just arrived in Jinling. Even though he was deeply moved by his father's ruthless words, he refused to show any sign on his face.

"Brother, you haven't been home for a long time. I'm afraid you don't know. The wife of the Duke of Huguo, also known as the wife of the Prince of Pingning, tragically fell off a cliff a few months ago and passed away." Pei Huaiguang paused for each word, his eyes catching her trembling eyelashes. He sneered, "Your wife isn't here. If you don't believe me, ask her."

She was so eager to get rid of everything that bound her and come here. Would she rather return to Jinling for Pei Jinguang?

Pei Huaiguang shook off his brother's hand that was holding him.

Wu Jingxun signaled him to let her go.

"I have something to discuss with...Prince Pei." Wu Jingxun was at a loss as to how to address him. After thinking about it, he decided to stick with the old address.

The title of Duke of the Protectorate was conferred posthumously by Emperor Qing of Zhou on him because he died on the battlefield. It would be too unlucky to call him that now.

Pei Huaiguang refused to let go of her hand. The words Pei Jinguang had said before were so vicious and every word pierced his heart. He couldn't help but care about them, and he couldn't suppress the panic and anger that kept overflowing from his heart.

He was afraid that she would follow Pei Jinguang and go far away without leaving him with any thoughts.

He knew that he was not a likable person, and she didn't like him either.

Wu Jingxun looked at his stubborn eyes, sighed softly, put her hand on him and pushed him away a little.

Pei Huaiguang didn't move at all, like a stiff puppet, his amber eyes staring at her without blinking, and it was obvious that his stubborn temper had come back.

Wu Jingxun wanted to sigh again.

"Erlang, don't embarrass her." Pei Jinguang frowned slightly, obviously not appreciating his brother's rogue appearance. He extended his hand to Wu Jingxun, "Come here."

Pei Huaiguang's gaze drifted to the two people's gently intertwined hands, and a gorgeous red hue appeared at the corners of his eyes.

Wu Jingxun looked back.

Pei Huaiguang immediately met her gaze, his lips moved slightly, but he said nothing.

"Don't follow me, don't eavesdrop." Wu Jingxun knew his temper and gave him a few words of warning before turning around. His shimmering, affectionate fox eyes had already lowered before meeting that gentle gaze. "Let's go."

Pei Jinguang's eyes passed over the peonies on her cloud-like hair, then glanced at his unwilling brother and hummed.

…

There is a green river not far from the courtyard. It is mid-spring now, with green willows drooping, peach and plum blossoms in full bloom, and fallen petals covering the embankment.

The two people who originally had the closest relationship in the world let go of each other's hands at some point, walked side by side, and were silent all the way.

The spring breeze mixed with the sweet fragrance of flowers blew across her face, bringing a little coolness. Wu Jingxun tucked her messy hair behind her ears and heard Pei Jinguang speak hesitantly.

"Banpan, my coming back... is it a trouble to you?"

Wu Jingxun was full of thoughts and looked up in surprise when he heard that. Pei Jinguang raised his hand and touched the horrifying scar on his left cheek.

"My face is disfigured, and my future is like a candle in the wind, which may be extinguished at any moment. I... am far inferior to Erlang."

Emperor Qing of Zhou is seriously ill, Prince Rong and his gang are apprehended, the battle for the crown prince is treacherous, and the rebel generals in the army have deep backgrounds. At this moment, he cannot even give her everything he promised her in an open and aboveboard manner.

Pei Jinguang's tone was as calm as water, calmly speaking of his future fate, but beneath the surface was a turbulent and painful mood. Such deep sadness silently enveloped Wu Jingxun, and she found that she could not bear Pei Jinguang's self-harming words.

"You don't have to compare yourself to him, and you're not inferior to him." When Wu Jingxun said this, she couldn't help but close her eyes, suppressing the shame that spread in her heart. She met his gaze that seemed to see through everything, yet was still gentle and calm. She had many things in her stomach that she wanted to say to him, but when she said them, she choked up and said, "You are not my problem, it is me, it is me..."

She cried very quietly. She was so beautiful and radiant, but she made no sound when she cried. Only the big tears rolled down her snow-white and soft cheeks, wetting the flower petals piled under her skirt.

Pei Jinguang felt a pain in his heart, and he couldn't help but reach out and hold her in his arms, letting her hot tears soak his clothes.

What a perfect match.

Pei Huaiguang broke the willow branch in his hand expressionlessly.

A pair of narrow amber eyes were cold and dark.

Pei Jinguang naturally discovered his younger brother who was secretly following him.

He gently raised his hand and stroked the beautiful peony in her hair. Wu Jingxun felt a little uncomfortable, but he gently held her back: "Banban, do you like Erlang? Are you truly happy with him?"

Her husband asked her if she liked another man. Wu Jingxun was so shocked by this realization that she subconsciously shook her head, but her speed became slower and slower.

Pei Jinguang noticed her hesitation and began to caress the peony more and more gently.

The moment the wooden door opened, the gap slowly widened, and Pei Jinguang could see clearly that the girl with the peony hairpin had just turned her head, and the smile that remained in her eyes and on her face was so bright and soft.

That was clearly the look one would have when facing someone they liked.

She had never shown herself so defenseless, joyful and charming to him.

The soft, shimmering light in her eyes froze when she saw him. Pei Jinguang closed his eyes. Even just recalling it, he still felt his heart and soul torn apart, the pain unbearable.

After going through many hardships, he did not go directly to Jinling, but instead took the route to Tongcheng, simply because he was not sure whether he could leave Jinling alive again.

Since that’s the case, why not do one more thing for her?

He lowered his head. If he leaned down a little more, he would be able to kiss the face that had been smiling shyly at him in his dreams.

"Let me be selfish for once, okay?"

Wu Jingxun was stunned, feeling the strange male breath gradually enveloping her. She subconsciously wanted to step back, but a hand gently held her waist.

His eyelashes brushed across her trembling cheek.

Pei Huaiguang's face was gloomy, and the willow branch that was broken into pieces fell from his palm.

He could no longer bear it and wanted to run over to pull them apart, but he saw Pei Jinguang taking a step back and smiling gently at the girl with a rosy face.

From a distance, Pei Huaiguang couldn't hear what they were saying. Even the arc of their lips was so small that he couldn't make out the content of their words.

This feeling is not good.

Especially...she didn't push him away.

When Pei Huaiguang wanted to kiss her, she subconsciously blocked his hand on his chest.

I was so vigilant, afraid that he would become beastly and take another step forward.

When he treated his brother, there was only a red face and a soft, raised neck.

Why? Why?

Pei Huaiguang looked at the couple's backs as they walked away. The wound on his back opened again, and a warm current slowly spread out. Deep bloodstains appeared under his blue clothes, but he seemed unaware of it.