Chapter 424 if line-I’m going to be a father!

Pei Lingyun and Wu Yingniang finally made it ashore.

They were exhausted, but fortunately they all survived.

When Pei Lingyun climbed ashore again, he forced a smile at Wu Yingniang:

"Look, I'm not that weak."

After saying that, his body fell back limply.

Pei Lingyun: ...I can’t do anything anymore.

Wu Yingniang: ...

It was Wu Yingniang who carried Pei Lingyun to the shore and found a cave to shelter from the rain.

The inside of the cave was quite clean, and there were even some leftover firewood, flints and simple wooden frames inside. It was obvious that this cave was used by nearby villagers on a daily basis.

Wu Yingniang took some effort to light the fire.

The firelight filled the cave, and it suddenly became much warmer.

The two men took off their outer clothes, hung them on the wooden rack, and placed them by the fire to dry.

The outer coat just served as a barrier between the two of them, like the straw curtains in a house on the mountain.

Behind the straw curtain, both of them lay on the ground exhausted.

From time to time, two sparks flew out of the fire, making crackling sounds.

Pei Lingyun turned toward the fire and asked, "Why are you here?"

He wanted to ask Wu Yingniang if she came to see him on purpose, but he felt he couldn't bring himself to ask, after all, she had been avoiding him before.

But from the other side of the clothes, Wu Yingniang's clear answer came:

"I came to see you."

Wu Yingniang also turned sideways, facing Pei Lingyun.

Due to the heavy rains in the past few days, mudslides occurred on Heifei Mountain.

Later, she heard from people in Heifei Mountain that Pei Lingyun went to the collapsed dam to check the situation.

Wu Yingniang knew that place. The dam had collapsed, and it would be very dangerous if it rained again. In the past two years, people had been washed away there during the summer rainstorms every year.

Wu Yingniang felt uneasy in her heart. After thinking about it, she decided to go and take a look.

She told herself that just taking a look would be enough. Once she saw that he was okay, she would go back to Black Bandit Mountain and just take it as a way to relax.

But as soon as she arrived, she encountered a heavy rainstorm and happened to see Pei Lingyun falling into the river.

She wanted to save Pei Lingyun, but the result turned out like this.

Pei Lingyun: "Why did you come to see me?"

After asking, he suddenly laughed at himself and answered his own question:

"By the way, you said you came to save me for the people of Baiyun County."

Wu Yingniang: "I came to see you because I was worried about you."

As soon as she said this, Pei Lingyun suddenly felt that his heavy body had become lighter, especially his heart in his chest, which felt so light that it seemed to be floating.

Pei Lingyun moved closer to the fire and said with courage:

"I went to Black Bandit Mountain several times before, but you were not there, so I didn't see you."

"I'm the one hiding from you."

"Why?"

"Because I like you a little bit."

Bang!

The sound of sparks suddenly exploded in Pei Lingyun's ears, like fireworks.

Overwhelming joy surged towards him, almost drowning him.

His pupils suddenly shrank, and the heart in his arms, which seemed to be so light that it seemed to float, flew out of his body and floated in the air like a kite with the wind, while the kite string was held in Wu Yingniang's hand.

Pei Lingyun was so happy that he didn't know what to say for a moment, and then he heard Wu Yingniang continue:

"I know you have feelings for me, but I know it won't work out, so I think it's better not to meet."

Just now in the river, neither she nor he was willing to give up the other, so she was naturally moved.

Things had come to this point, so she simply spoke her mind directly. At least she wouldn't have to hide her feelings anymore.

Pei Lingyun felt as if someone had poured a bucket of ice water over his head, so cold that he almost jumped up:

"Why is there no result?!"

"You, do you dislike my lack of martial arts skills and think I'm not worthy of you?"

Pei Lingyun blurted out anxiously.

He had wanted to ask this for a long time.

He suspected that Wu Yingniang thought he was too weak, that his health was not as good as hers, and that he was not as majestic as the masters of Black Bandit Mountain.

Now it was Wu Yingniang's turn to be stunned.

She didn't expect Pei Lingyun to think this way. She had never looked at Pei Lingyun like this before.

Pei Lingyun couldn't see Wu Yingniang's expression through her outer coat, and when he saw that she didn't say anything, he thought he was right.

He said unwillingly:

"Although I don't know martial arts, I'm not weak. I can chop wood and fetch water now."

"If you don't mind my lack of martial arts, I can learn it. I have a close friend in Chang'an whose family is very good at swordsmanship. I can learn from him. I also have a younger sister who can use a whip. I can also learn from her."

"Besides, although my martial arts skills are not as good as yours, as you said, I will govern Baiyun County well, so that you don't have to be a bandit, and you don't have to sleep with a gun at night..."

Pei Lingyun, like a child eager to gain recognition from adults, tried his best to analyze his own strengths.

Wu Yingniang said: "I don't dislike you, and I never thought you were unworthy of me."

Pei Lingyun's remaining words were stuck in his throat: "Then why?"

Wu Yingniang: "Your father is the former Minister of the Chancellery, your brother is the Junior Secretary of the Supreme Court, and you are the newly crowned top scholar. With your family background and talent, you will surely rise to prominence in the future. Would someone like you marry a woman from the underworld like me? What will you do if your family disagrees?"

"If you think I would be a concubine, you are wrong. I, Wu Yingniang, would rather be a bandit in the mountains than be a concubine of a noble."

The sound of rain outside has subsided.

The fire is still burning.

The clothes on the rack were half dry.

The two people in the cave were speechless for a moment.

Pei Lingyun was silent for a long time before he said:

"You said you liked me but you didn't see me. Is that why?"

Wu Yingniang: “…Yeah.”

Pei Lingyun suddenly laughed, his laughter was as gentle as a spring breeze, and even his voice began to float:

"That means that if my family were to propose marriage, you would definitely be willing to go with me."

Pei Lingyun clenched his hands together, and his face turned red and hot when he said the last few words.

Wu Yingniang:……?

Although this was not her focus, Pei Lingyun's summary was correct.

She murmured "hmm" again softly.

The answer was very simple, without a single extra word.

But after hearing this, Pei Lingyun's face was not the only one that turned red and hot, his whole body felt like a cooked river shrimp.

He wanted to stand up, but he was too tired to do so and could only roll back and forth excitedly on the ground.

As soon as I turned over, I felt a sudden pain in my back.

"Squeak——" Pei Lingyun couldn't help but take a breath.

When Wu Yingniang heard this, she thought something had happened, so she immediately lifted up a corner of her coat and looked across.

Just then, I saw blood seeping out of Pei Lingyun's shirt on his back as he turned over.

I think it was probably scratched by a stone in the river before.

Wu Yingniang frowned, stood up, opened her coat, and walked to Pei Lingyun:

"Take off your clothes so I can see you."

Pei Lingyun saw Wu Yingniang, who was wearing a thin shirt, suddenly coming over and reaching out to pull his shirt.

He was so nervous that he stuttered and held the collar of his shirt tightly.

"Yingniang, no, no, not here..."

Wu Yingniang pushed Pei Lingyun's hands away and pressed them on his head, then used her other hand to lift up his still wet shirt.

"What's wrong with that? Take off your clothes, turn around and let me see you, and don't talk nonsense."

Pei Lingyun twisted his body back and forth, looking like he was struggling to death.

"You and I are not yet husband and wife. This matter must not only be consensual, but also legitimate. How could I possibly damage your reputation in a place like this..."

Wu Yingniang raised her eyebrows and paused for a moment:

"Is it legitimate to show you the wound on your back? And you have to be husband and wife first?"

Pei Lingyun closed his mouth and stopped talking. He looked relieved and obediently let Wu Yingniang turn him over.

As soon as the clothes were taken off, the wounds of various sizes on the back were exposed.

They were all scratched in the river just now.

Wu Yingniang checked it out and it looked scary, but fortunately, it was just superficial injuries with no injuries to the bones or muscles.

"The injury isn't serious. Once we get back, we'll be fine after a few days of treatment and treatment."

When Wu Yingniang lowered her head to talk to Pei Lingyun, she noticed that Pei Lingyun's ears were red.

She thought of the night when Pei Lingyun was drunk, and a hint of cunning flashed in her eyes.

Wu Yingniang supported herself with both hands above Pei Lingyun and smiled at him.

Pei Lingyun swallowed his saliva: "What?"

Wu Yingniang put her lips close to his ear and asked softly:

"Do you like this?"

"Do you like me to corner you and hold you like I did the night before last?"

The breath of Wu Yingniang's voice sprayed into Pei Lingyun's ears.

Pei Lingyun forced himself to remain calm: "What do you mean the night before last? I didn't—"

Halfway through speaking, the voice stopped abruptly.

The scenes from the winter night dream unfolded in my mind.

At that moment, Pei Lingyun felt that all the blood in his body rushed to his head, and his face was red as if it was about to bleed.

"You...you...that night, was it you?"

Wu Yingniang's eyes curved into crescents.

Pei Lingyun was not wearing any clothes.

He balled up his clothes to cover his red face.

Help!

He is too embarrassed to see anyone!

…

Wu Yingniang and Pei Lingyun waited until the rain stopped, then supported each other and walked out of the cave.

They headed upstream and encountered rescuers before dark.

When the yamen runners who came to look for someone saw Pei Lingyun, they all rushed to help him.

One of them said, "Go find a doctor quickly! Master Pei must have a severe fever. His face is so red!"

Pei Lingyun: ...

Wu Yingniang and Pei Lingyun returned to Baiyun County safely.

Wu Yingniang returned to Black Bandit Mountain.

After Pei Lingyun returned to the county government office, the first thing he did was to write letters back to Chang'an and Hedong.

After writing the letter and sending it off, he fell into bed. After waking up, he immediately dealt with the flood disaster.

Fortunately, there were no more heavy rains in the following days.

Two months after the late rice was planted, he was busy leading people to dredge the river and rebuild the collapsed embankment.

Wu Yingniang and the people from Heifei Mountain would often go to help during their spare time.

If any evil people wanted to cause trouble, they would be suppressed by the bandits of Black Bandit Mountain before it got out of hand.

But to be precise, they are no longer bandits.

Wu Yingniang said that they had to take the lead in being good citizens, so a new village was built on the hilltop, called Good Citizen Village.

We are all good citizens now who do good things.

After the autumn harvest, everyone finally put their minds at ease with the good harvest.

Every household was filled with rice, and Pei Lingyun felt that his heart was as full and swollen as an ear of wheat.

The Pei family arrived in Baiyun County on an autumn afternoon.

Pei Dingli and his wife, as well as Pei Xuan, all came to Lingnan.

They received a letter from Pei Lingyun.

In the letter, Pei Lingyun praised Wu Yingniang to the utmost, saying that she was omnipotent, and also mentioned her kindness in taking him in and saving his life.

Finally, he said firmly that he loved Wu Yingniang and that she was the only one he wanted in his life.

The Pei family was very surprised.

They all knew that Pei Lingyun was arrogant since he was young, and this was the first time they saw Pei Lingyun praising others like this.

Pei Lingfeng was on business in Beijing and could not leave, and Pei Shu was in the northwest, so Pei Dingli and his wife and Pei Xuan came to Lingnan together, wanting to see Wu Yingniang with their own eyes.

Along the way, the three of them discussed this matter from time to time.

Pei Xuan: "The one who can be praised like this by my second brother is definitely not an ordinary person. I have to go and see it with my own eyes."

Pei Dingli: "Our Pei family has already married into the Yan family and the Xue family, and we don't intend to marry into a higher-class family again. Family background is secondary. The key is to look at the girl's character."

Mrs. Pei: "Didn't you see what's written in the letter? This girl saved my son from danger several times."

After arriving in Baiyun County.

When they saw Pei Lingyun, they almost didn't recognize him.

The child who used to be so fair has become so much tanned.

However, he seems to be stronger and more steady in his work.

Pei Lingyun arranged for them to meet Wu Yingniang.

Wu Yingniang was graceful and confident, and did not seem awkward at all in her conversation.

Be responsible, have ideas, and act with courage.

Pei Dingli and his wife both admired Wu Yingniang.

Pei Xuan and Wu Yingniang got along very well. They were the same age and often practiced together.

Pei Xuan said with regret:

"If you don't become my second sister-in-law, I will definitely become your sworn sister."

Wu Yingniang smiled and said, "I am your second sister-in-law, and you are also my sister."

Wu Yingniang has no father or mother, but she has many of the etiquette that the Pei family should have.

The Pei family found a matchmaker and prepared a betrothal gift.

The two got married in Lingnan.

The Pei family only went back with peace of mind after watching them get married.

Before leaving, he repeatedly reminded the couple to get along well.

After getting married, Pei Lingyun and Wu Yingniang lived in a small house in Baiyun County.

The bailiffs in the county government office noticed that since Mr. Pei got married, his face was red every day when he came to work.

Everyone is used to it.

Until a few months later, one day, when Lord Pei came to work, his face was not red, but the corners of his mouth were raised to the sky.

Yamen runner: "Master Pei, are you in a good mood today?"

Lord Pei: "Very good, I am going to be a father."

Passerby: "Master Pei, be careful, the road is slippery."

Lord Pei: "No, I'm going to be a father."

Vendor: "Master Pei, are you thirsty? Have some of our rice wine."

Lord Pei: "I can't drink anymore. I'm going to be a father."

Everyone: "??? Oh, congratulations, Master Pei!"

Within three days, the entire Baiyun County knew that Wu Yingniang was pregnant and Lord Pei was going to be a father.

The following year, June.

Lingnan is full of lush flowers and plants, and the sound of cicadas is endless.

Wu Yingniang gave birth to a baby girl.

A small one with a red and wrinkled face.

Pei Lingyun sat beside Wu Yingniang's bed, holding the child, his eyes red and looking like he was about to cry.

He said, "Yingniang, thank you for your hard work."

The hair on Wu Yingniang's forehead was soaked with sweat, and her face looked a little tired, but her eyes were full of spirit:

"Don't cry, you look like this, people will think the baby came out of your belly."

Both husband and wife looked at their newborn baby lovingly.

A small ball, pink and wrinkled.

He started crying as soon as he opened his mouth.

The cicadas in the trees outside the window are still chirping.

Wu Yingniang said that when the child cried, it was as non-stop as the chirping of cicadas in the trees.

"Just call him Zhizhi." Wu Yingniang decided the child's nickname with just one sentence.

Pei Lingyun also laughed: "It sounds very nice, Zhizhi."

The sunlight shines through the branches and window frames and falls on little Zhizhi's face.

She stopped crying and grinned.

Wu Yingniang looked at the child carefully and said something for no apparent reason:

"This kid looks... a little familiar."

Pei Lingyun couldn't help laughing, thinking that Wu Yingniang was joking. How could such a young child, whose facial features had not yet fully developed, look familiar?

But strangely, when he looked down at the child again, he actually felt a sense of familiarity.

He gently put his forehead against the child and said half-jokingly:

"This must be the child destined for us."

She came to this world by chance and was destined to be our daughter.