Chapter 54 They knew it all along, yet they still indulged it…

"...You were actually pregnant, and you even publicized my pregnancy, causing me to be the subject of gossip throughout Chang'an."

Pei Shang'er rolled her eyes and curled her lip. "I had no grudge against you back then. You're such a wicked woman."

Ling Zhenli was a little embarrassed and smiled apologetically: "Back then, you were at odds with Pei Xuanlin, so I had to side with my husband, didn't I?"

"Never mind, it doesn't affect me at all anyway. On the contrary, it has brought me and Chengxiu together. You've gotten away with it by accident... By the way, do you know who hired your sixth-rank female official?" Pei Chang'er raised an eyebrow.

Ling Zhenli answered without hesitation: "Who else could it be but my father?"

"No, no, it's my cousin Xie Yu, the one who went to Shengguang Temple to visit you on behalf of Pei Xuanlin, do you remember him?"

How could I not remember?

To Ling Zhenli's surprise, Xie Daojian actually requested an official position for her.

"I remember." Ling Zhenli nodded slightly.

Pei Shang'er smiled gently: "I think my cousin likes you quite a bit, so why don't I make the decision for you to remarry him?"

Wh...what?!

Ling Zhenli's face instantly stiffened.

"Why does your face look so pale? You look down on my cousin? Yes, he's not my uncle's biological son, but my uncle's future title and power will all go to him..."

Before Pei Shang'er could finish speaking, Ling Zhenli interrupted her with a smile.

“How could I dare to look down on Lord Xie? I am a second-marriage woman, and I had an ambiguous relationship with Xiao Chongheng before my marriage. I am not worthy of Lord Xie.”

Pei Shang'er was delighted to hear this; it was rare to see Xue Yingyue so humble.

“Aren’t you always arrogant? Besides, no one knows about your past. Pei Chanlian is dead. As long as I don’t say anything and Xiao Chongheng doesn’t say anything, isn’t that enough?”

Ling Zhenli smiled meaningfully. As long as Pei Shang'er still held her secrets, there was no guarantee that Pei Shang'er wouldn't make things difficult for her in the future. She would not let Pei Shang'er manipulate her.

"I appreciate Your Majesty's kindness, but I will not marry Lord Xie..."

Before she could finish speaking, Pei Chang'er suddenly burst into laughter, but the next second, her expression changed, turning cold and gloomy.

"You don't think I'm consulting you, do you? I'm just informing you."

...

Ling Zhenli emerged from the Taiji Hall with a gloomy expression, her chest filled with resentment.

The sky was dark and gloomy, and a light rain began to fall, spreading a hazy, watery mist that enveloped the entire palace.

Ling Zhenli, already in a bad mood, was splashed with rainwater as soon as she stepped out of the palace, which made her furious. Seeing the spacious carriage waiting outside, she got on without saying a word, not even caring that the palace servants were holding an umbrella for her, and half of her body got soaked.

Ling Zhenli lifted the curtain and crawled into the carriage, only to find that half of her body was soaked. The silk fabric clung to her skin, outlining the lines of her shoulders and neck.

She frowned, about to lash out, but when she looked up, she saw Fang Wenzhou leaning against the cushion, looking up at her. His eyes reflected the dim light of the lanterns outside the car, like two deep, still lakes.

"How could it be you?" Ling Zhenli froze.

“There have been many things going on in the palace lately, and your elder brother, being the Minister of the Imperial Household Department, is too busy to come. He asked your cousin, Cui Haoxu, to pick you up. It just so happens that Miss Lu has sprained her ankle, and Brother Cui wants to visit her, so he asked me to pick you up.”

Fang Wenzhou's gaze fell on her hair, which was wet with rain.

Water droplets slid down her temples, flowed over her fair neck, and finally disappeared into the depths of her collar.

His eyes darkened slightly as he took a clean handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it over.

"Wipe it off, be careful not to catch a cold."

Ling Zhenli didn't take it, but coldly raised her eyes to look at him: "When did my brother become so familiar with you? Are you sure you didn't come uninvited?"

Fang Wenzhou spoke calmly, but his fingertips lightly traced the edge of the handkerchief, remaining noncommittal: "Think what you want."

Upon hearing this, Ling Zhenli scoffed, turned her face away, and her brows furrowed even more deeply.

Fang Wenzhou observed her change and suddenly asked, "Are you in a bad mood? Are you angry? Why are you angry?"

These words seemed to strike a nerve with her, and Ling Zhenli turned her head sharply, a suppressed fire burning in her eyes.

"Pei Shang'er wants me to remarry Xie Daojian." She enunciated each word clearly, her voice laced with suppressed anger. "Pei Xuanlin isn't dead yet, what right does she have? Why should I listen to her? I..."

She paused, as if realizing she had lost her composure, and bit her lower lip, remaining silent.

Fang Wenzhou's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't reply. Instead, he took out a long handkerchief and began to wipe her face.

Ling Zhenli was startled and instinctively tried to dodge, but he grabbed her wrist with his other hand.

"Don't move," he whispered, his hands continuing their work.

The handkerchief had absorbed water and become slightly cool, but his fingertips were surprisingly hot. He wiped her very gently, from her shoulder to her collarbone and then to the side of her neck, each stroke seemingly slowed down as if testing her reaction.

Ling Zhenli's breathing became slightly sluggish, and her heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably.

She should have pushed him away, but for some reason, she couldn't move.

“You don’t want to marry Xie Daojian,” Fang Wenzhou said in a low, husky voice, looking up at her. “Then what do you want?”

Ling Zhenli looked up at him, met his unfathomable eyes, felt her throat tighten, and couldn't speak.

"I..." She started to speak, but was interrupted by Fang Wenzhou's approaching breath.

Fang Wenzhou placed his palm on the back of her neck, his fingertips gently caressing her sensitive skin.

His breath was close enough to touch, carrying a faint smell of alcohol, and burning hot.

"Ling Zhenli." He called her name softly, his voice seductive, "Are you sure... you really don't want to marry Xie Daojian just because of Pei Xuanlin?"

Her heart skipped a beat, and before she could react, his lips were already pressed down on hers.

...

In the private room of Zuixianlou, the candlelight flickered, casting overlapping shadows of people.

Ling Zhenli's back pressed against the soft quilt, Fang Wenzhou's hands held her waist, and his kisses lingered from her lips to her neck and down, leaving a trail of warm, wet marks.

Her fingertips dug into his hair, her breathing became erratic, and her consciousness was already blurred.

The sound of rain outside the window grew louder, masking the breathing and groans inside.

Clothes were scattered all over the floor. In the midst of the surging emotions, Ling Zhenli vaguely heard Fang Wenzhou whispering in her ear.

Fang Wenzhou's voice was hoarse, carrying an irresistible possessiveness.

"You'd be better off marrying me than Xie Daojian; at least I won't take advantage of you."

"Don't even think about it... I won't let anyone manipulate me..."

"Alright."

Fang Wenzhou kissed her, and Ling Zhenli did not dodge. Her body became very light, like a drifting cloud, crushed into rain by the wind, all falling into his raised veins.

She closed her eyes, letting herself sink into this absurd rainy night.

***

Jiangnan Song Mansion

Late at night, Song Zhaoye used his light-footed skills to leap across rooftops and walls, quietly arriving at the backyard.

Xue Xianzhu waited for a long time, glancing out the window every now and then. Finally, Song Zhaoye arrived, much to her delight.

"Oh dear, I'm so suffocated."

As soon as Song Zhaoye arrived, Xue Xianzhu rushed to complain, "It's really easy to invite a god but hard to send him away. Pei Xuanlin really is living in the mansion now. The Empress wrote that the Crown Princess doesn't know I'm still alive, and that the Crown Princess is now working as a lady-in-waiting in the palace. Pei Xuanlin doesn't know any of this."

"His information network might not be that bad, so you don't need to worry too much. Maybe the Crown Princess is a good person, and even if she finds out you're still alive, she won't kill you," Song Zhaoye comforted her.

Xue Xianzhu waved her hand: "Forget it, her behavior doesn't seem like that of a good person. The main problem is Pei Xuanlin. If he finds out that he married an imposter, he might accuse my parents of deceiving the emperor, and then everything will be over... We need to think of a way to get him to leave quickly. Second Uncle's house isn't small either, why not let him stay at Second Uncle's place?"

Song Zhaoye shook his head and sighed: "My second uncle doesn't know the truth. He just feels that he can't let my father down and is wholeheartedly helping me to become the head of the family. I've offered to him three times, but he always says that this is a good opportunity for me to show myself in front of the Crown Prince, and that my future promotion and wealth depend entirely on this."

Xue Xianzhu leaned against the headboard, looking at Song Zhaoye, her fingertips gently stroking the quilt. Song Zhaoye leaned against the inside, and after speaking, he gazed absently at the moonlight outside the window.

Their shadows were cast on the wall, very close together, and neither of them spoke for a moment.

After a long silence, Xue Xianzhu spoke first: "You used to travel around and enjoy yourself, but now that your father is gone, you really can't be so unrestrained anymore."

“But I’ve only ever wanted to roam the martial world with my sword since I was little, I never wanted to be the head of a family.” Song Zhaoye smiled weakly and gently tucked a stray hair behind Xue Xianzhu’s ear. “Luckily I did that back then, otherwise how would I have met you?”

A cool night breeze occasionally rang out, making the copper bells on the eaves ring softly, which made the room feel even more tranquil.

Xue Xianzhu smiled faintly, her dimples appearing slightly: "My husband, if you want to shoulder the responsibilities of the Song family, whether Pei Chang'er or Pei Xuanlin becomes emperor, my father is the powerful prime minister. With me here, the Song family's prosperity can be guaranteed. I know my mother wants you to enter the court as an official, and my second uncle also places his hopes on you. But if you want to live a carefree and unrestrained life, that's fine too. Everyone has their own ambitions. If we, husband and wife, have seen all the beautiful landscapes, wouldn't that be a worthwhile life?"

After listening, Song Zhaoye nodded slightly, then asked, "Xianzhu, what kind of life do you like to live?"

"I like freedom and being unrestrained." Xue Xianzhu raised her eyes and smiled gently, her eyes rippling like spring water. "That's why I like you."

"Then we won't listen to them."

"Then how do we get Pei Xuanlin to leave?"

Song Zhaoye pondered for a moment.

"Why don't we just burn the house down?"

"...What nonsense are you talking about?"

As the two were talking, a servant came and knocked on the door: "Sir, His Highness the Crown Prince is looking for you."

Xue Xianzhu couldn't hold back any longer. She had finally managed to spend some time alone with Song Zhaoye, but Pei Xuanlin had ruined it again, and she was furious.

"Why is this Pei Xuanlin so persistent? Why doesn't he go find the King of Hell in the middle of the night?"

Song Zhaoye's eyes suddenly lit up: "Xianzhu, I've figured out how to get Pei Xuanlin to leave on his own. Just wait for my good news."

***

Prime Minister's Residence

Late at night, Xue Haoting had just finished his work and returned to the Prime Minister's residence. Exhausted from a day's work and caught in the rain, he was about to go back to his room to bathe and rest. He had just finished instructing the maid to boil water when he opened the door to find his father, Xue Wenmian, waiting for him in his room.

Upon seeing this, Xue Haoting bowed respectfully: "Father, why are you still up so late?"

"You wretched child! Kneel down!" Xue Wenmian shouted sternly.

Xue Haoting frowned slightly, wondering what he had done wrong, but seeing his father's stern expression, he still knelt down as instructed.

"Tell me! Where have you taken your sister in the middle of the night? You bastard, she's your sister now, and you still dare to do such a thing to her!"

Xue Haoting was completely bewildered by the scolding: "Father, what do you mean? I have never done anything improper to Yingyue."

Xue Wenmian realized something was wrong, but still asked Xue Haoting for confirmation: "She hasn't gone home yet. Did you take her somewhere else?"

“My son just returned home from the palace. He’s been very busy lately, so he asked my cousin to pick up Yingyue.”

Xue Wenmian pondered for a moment: "...Then it seems she may have gone to the Cui residence. His Majesty's personal guard just came to the residence not long ago to deliver a message saying that His Majesty wants to remarry Yingyue to General Chen's son, Xie Daojian. Well, I will send someone to the Cui residence to call her back to discuss this. I was worried and confused, and I misunderstood you. The ground is cold, get up."

Xue Haoting stood up, but was very puzzled. Ling Zhenli and Cui Haoxu were not familiar with each other, and it didn't seem like she would go to the Cui residence as a guest.

...

Half an hour later, Cui Haoxu arrived at the Prime Minister's residence with a servant sent by the Xue family.

“Uncle, it’s like this. The Lu family’s daughter sprained her ankle, and I was worried about her, so I went to visit her. I asked a friend of mine to pick up Yingyue. He works as a guard in the palace and it was on his way. Maybe it was because of the rainy weather, and Yingyue is now in charge of taking care of the new crown prince, so His Majesty may have granted him permission to stay overnight at the East Palace.”

Cui Haoxu explained, but Xue Wenmian still found it strange: "If she stayed overnight at the East Palace, she should have sent someone back to inform us. It's even more impossible to kidnap someone at the foot of the capital. Last time she didn't go home, it was because His Majesty sent her to harm Princess Roujia. Don't let her send Yang Chongzheng on his way again this time."

"His Majesty will not harm Yingyue, Uncle, please do not worry. Yingyue has been living in the East Palace before, so nothing will happen to her."

During the conversation, a servant rushed in to report that, according to the attendant of Young Master Fang, Lord Shangyi was currently with him.

Upon hearing this, Xue Wenmian frowned. A young girl spending the night at a man's house, and besides, the relationship between the Fang family and the Xue family had never been good, especially after Fang Wenzhou's mother, Madam Lu, was rejected by the Xue family.

"Immediately send someone to the Fang family to invite Shangyi back. Tell her that if she still recognizes me as her father, she should hurry home. If she doesn't come home... send some servants who have signed a death contract to tie her up and bring her back to me."

Upon hearing this, Xue Haoting could no longer sit still, his expression tense: "Father, that's the Fang family! Cousin, you're confused! How can you let the Fang family pick up our family!"

Cui Haoxu hesitated slightly: "Young Master Fang is a close friend of the former Crown Prince. He was one of the people who stormed into the palace with the former Crown Prince back then. In addition, the former Crown Prince instructed him to help take care of Yingyue before he left. I don't think he would harm Yingyue."

"Have you forgotten that his mother was jilted by my father, and his father was jilted by my mother? The Fang couple hate the Xue and Cui families to the core. If they were to seek revenge..."

Cui Haoxu was an upright man by nature and naturally never thought too badly of others. After hearing what Xue Haoting said, he realized that he had done something wrong and began to regret it.

"I will personally go to the gatekeeper's house and bring Yingyue back."

"Alright, stop making such a fuss, or the Fang family will laugh at us behind our backs."

Xue Wenmian got a headache as soon as he heard the name Fang family, waved his hand, and sat back down in his chair.

Just then, Cui Yuerong walked out from the inner room, her sleeves fluttering.

"Mother."

"aunt."

"I have disturbed my mother in the middle of the night; I am an unfilial son."

Xue Haoting knelt on one knee, and Cui Haoxu followed suit. Cui Yuerong did not speak, but walked straight to Xue Wenmian and sat down.

"Alright, this isn't the first time you've been unfilial. Go, go to the Fang family yourself and bring your sister back. That'll infuriate those two in the Fang family."

The night rain had just stopped, dripping from the eaves, the wet stone slabs reflecting a faint light, and a cool breeze carrying the earthy smell drifted in through the window.

The two people in the warm room were fast asleep when a series of urgent knocks came from outside.

"Young master, something terrible has happened! Master and Madam are calling you back immediately! Young master! Young master!"

The knocking and shouting started a fight between the two.

"Young Master! Master and Madam order you to bring Lady Shangyi back to the manor immediately! They say the Prime Minister's manor has come to demand her return!" The servant's voice was urgent.

Fang Wenzhou's heart sank upon hearing this.

It's been discovered.

He turned to look at Ling Zhenli beside him. She was clearly startled as well, and hurriedly propped herself up, her long hair falling messily over her shoulders, making her face look even paler.

Ling Zhenli's fingertips trembled slightly, and her knuckles turned white as she gripped the blanket.

"What should we do..." Ling Zhenli's voice was very soft as she looked at Fang Wenzhou with a forced calm.

Fang Wenzhou closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, he had regained some composure.

He reached out and stroked Ling Zhenli's cheek, his thumb gently brushing against her trembling lips, and whispered, "Don't be afraid."

Although he told Ling Zhenli not to be afraid, he knew that the Fang family and the Xue family were at odds, and if his parents found out that he and Ling Zhenli were having an affair, they would definitely make a big deal out of it.

The royal family will not tolerate such a scandal. Ling Zhenli is Pei Xuanlin's wife, and even if Pei Xuanlin is deposed as crown prince, she cannot escape it.

As the eldest son of the Fang family and the second-in-command of the Imperial Guard, he was guilty of seducing Ling Zhenli and overstepping his bounds, a crime for which he could not escape death.

Yet, despite knowing this, they still indulged in this absurd surge of passion.

Fang Wenzhou got off the bed, quickly picked up the scattered clothes and handed them to her, his voice low: "Put these on first, we have to go back."

Ling Zhenli took the clothes, her fingertips still trembling slightly, and she couldn't tie the ties properly several times.

Fang Wenzhou couldn't bear to watch any longer, so he reached out to straighten her clothes. His fingertips inadvertently brushed against the skin on the side of her neck, where there were still lingering red marks, silent evidence of her crime.

He withdrew his hand, his voice slightly hoarse: "Don't panic, just say I saw you kill someone, that I threatened you, and put all the blame on me."

Ling Zhenli looked up at him, hesitated, and finally said nothing, only nodding slightly.

Fang Wenzhou closed his eyes and pushed open the door.