Chapter 63 Pei Lang's runaway husband's domineering aura brushed against her ear...

"Grand Secretary Pei Lang, descended from a loyal and prominent family, has served for many years with unwavering loyalty, diligence, and upright character. The second daughter of the He family, from a distinguished family in the capital, is well-versed in etiquette and possesses elegant manners. Their union is a match made in heaven; by imperial decree, their marriage is hereby granted..."

Pei Lang didn't hear the rest of the decree clearly, but simply raised his hands expressionlessly and said, "Your subject Pei Lang receives the decree."

Upon receiving the imperial decree, Pei Lang discovered that Xiao Ting had not only granted him a marriage but had also set the wedding date for a month later.

It is unknown whether He Xiang was involved, as if he was afraid that He Xiang would change his mind.

After Pei Lang got up, he quickly helped Lin Zhi, who was kneeling with difficulty, to her feet. Looking at her calm little face, he suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

“A-Zhi, about this matter…”

Lin Zhi patted his arm to comfort him and said, "Husband, rest assured. Now that the marriage is settled, I will not think about it anymore."

"The marriage of He Xiang's daughter to you will be a great help to you. If your official career goes smoothly in the future, my child and I will also be able to live well."

Even though Lin Zhi was so understanding, Pei Lang still frowned slightly, staring at her face trying to find subtle changes in her emotions, but to no avail.

Lin Zhi gently moved her hand away, "My husband doesn't understand these subtle skills, so I'll do it for him. At least we should keep the He family from making a scene."

Looking in the direction Lin Zhi left, Pei Lang's eyes were complicated, and he frowned slightly as he watched her somewhat slow steps.

From the day the imperial decree was received, the entire Pei household was busy. In addition to decorating the entire mansion with red silk, even the flower branches in the mansion were adorned with double happiness symbols.

Lin Zhi, with her slightly protruding belly, checked everything every day, including the betrothal gifts to be displayed on the wedding day. The Emperor bestowed the marriage upon Pei Lang, saying that both families would only go through the motions and that there was no need to exchange betrothal gifts or dowries.

Chun Tao followed closely behind Lin Zhi, watching her calmly water the famous peony in the courtyard, and always felt uneasy in her heart.

“Madam, if you are feeling unwell, you should tell me. I’m afraid you’ll get sick from keeping it all bottled up inside.”

Lin Zhi casually handed her the exquisite water bottle, glanced at her, and said, "When the main wife enters the mansion in the future, she should be mindful to call me the concubine."

"If someone overhears this, they'll think you're being disrespectful to Miss He."

Hearing Lin Zhiping's calm tone, Chuntao disregarded the hierarchy between master and servant and hurriedly put down what she was holding to help him sit down and rest.

"Madam... are you really not worried that Miss He might make things difficult for you?"

"Not only are you and the master childhood sweethearts, but you're also pregnant now. I'm afraid she might cause you trouble if she enters the household..."

Staring at Chun Tao's pained little face, Lin Zhi's eyes held a bitter look, yet she chuckled softly, "Then tell me, what should I do?"

"In the past, when I wanted to leave, I couldn't; now, when I want to stay, I can't."

But then she changed the subject: "But don't worry, I'm not greedy. I've known for a long time that I'm not the only one by Pei Lang's side. He's no ordinary man, and I never thought of trying to hold him in my hands."

"All I want now is to give birth to the child safely. Even if Pei Lang or He Luochen want to do something in the future, I don't want to interfere."

"But......"

"There are no 'buts'." Lin Zhi grabbed Chun Tao, who suddenly stood up, and patted her hand: "I figured it out the day I gave in. Someone always has to compromise. Otherwise, if everyone refused to give in, how many troubles would there be in this world?"

Chuntao sighed: "The way you say this, Madam, doesn't sound like an ordinary woman who cares about her husband at all. Anyone who didn't know better would think that you have no feelings for the Lord at all."

That being said, Chun Tao knew all too well that if Lin Zhi didn't have Pei Lang in her heart, how could she have been pregnant for ten months and given birth to his child?

However, after the mistress and servant left the courtyard, Pei Lang suddenly appeared outside the gate. He had already returned and overheard their conversation.

His angry eyes were even more intense when he heard Lin Zhi's indifference towards him than when he was confronting Xiao Ting.

However, when the two were together, they tacitly stopped mentioning He Luochen, as if as long as they didn't mention it to each other, they could pretend that the obstacle between them did not exist at all.

By the bright candlelight, Lin Zhi looked down at the person who had condescended to massage her calves, and couldn't help but feel a little dazed.

Those slender, jade-like hands that once held a pen and ink, which she could only look up to but never reach, are now truly moving across her calves, relieving her soreness.

Pei Lang, who was once high above and like a banished immortal, is now being broken by his own hands.

Even though she still felt a pang of indescribable sorrow, Lin Zhi couldn't help but reach out her hand to him.

"What's wrong?"

Pei Lang readily agreed and grasped her hand, leaning closer and placing his arms firmly on either side of her body to ensure he wouldn't press down on Lin Zhi. He then lightly pecked her soft cheek twice.

"It's nothing, I just suddenly felt like I missed you a lot."

Pei Lang was pulled forward slightly by her arm around his neck. He inhaled the sweet fragrance emanating from his young mistress, his eyes darkening. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his throat bobbing slightly: "Although it's been over three months, your health is still weak..."

"Don't provoke me..."

Pei Lang, like a wolf smelling meat, gently rubbed his teeth against Lin Zhi's cheek, making her flinch.

Lin Zhi instinctively sensed the danger, but forced herself not to hide. She met Pei Lang's gaze and stared at him for a long time until she realized something was wrong. She then let go of his hand and tried to turn around, but someone blocked her way.

Her husband's powerful breath sprayed against her ear, so hot it almost burned her.

"It's too late to run now, Azhi. Let me serve you..."

With her softest and most vulnerable earlobe being grabbed, Lin Zhi felt like a cat whose scruff of the neck had been pulled, unable to run away or make a sound.

Having finally had a good, uninterrupted sleep, Lin Zhi woke up to find the sunlight streaming through the window blinding her. She frowned and rubbed her aching lower back, but upon waking, she found the bed beside her already cold, and a sense of unease crept into her heart.

With difficulty, I got up and looked around. Sure enough, I found a thin piece of paper on my pillow.

After a quick glance, Lin Zhi couldn't help but gasp. Pei Lang had actually said that the Emperor had sent him to inspect the flood-stricken areas of Jiangnan, and that he had already left!

The wedding day for He Luochen is in three days. What should we do if he just leaves like this!

She's usually a light sleeper, so if she had known about this long ago, Pei Lang probably wouldn't have been able to leave. No wonder he acted like that last night...

The thought that all his troubles were just a scheme to scheme against her made Lin Zhi angrily slap the bed, her hand going numb.

"When did the master leave?"

Lin Zhi's face turned extremely ugly after catching Xingyun, who hadn't followed him.

"At the hour of Yin... he headed to the dock with a swift wind."

Xingyun rarely saw his usually gentle wife so angry, and even his voice dropped as he replied.

"What about the wedding day three days from now?"

"Does this mean Miss He is to chase after them all the way to Jiangnan?!"

Xingyun shuddered in fright and quickly said, "Madam, don't worry. The master has already instructed his subordinates on this matter, and there is a way to handle it."

"Besides, this is also His Majesty's order, and you cannot delay it, sir."

Carefully observing Lin Zhi's expression, Xingyun breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her deep in thought.

But Lin Zhi thought about it over and over again and still felt that something was wrong.

This marriage was bestowed by the Emperor, so he naturally knew when the wedding would take place. Why would he specifically choose this day to send Pei Lang away?

Could it be that His Majesty does not wish for the Pei and He families to marry smoothly? Then why did he grant the marriage in the first place, regardless of the consequences?

A vague idea seemed about to break through Lin Zhi's doubts, but it was interrupted by the visitor: "Madam, Young Master Xie and Young Master Fang have come to pay a visit."

Lin Zhi frowned slightly and looked at the servant outside the door: "Didn't you tell the two of you that the master is not at home right now?"

The servant quickly replied, "I already told them, but the two young masters said they came to see you."

Pressing her aching back, Lin Zhi thought of Pei Lang's good friends after all, and endured the discomfort to go to the main hall to greet the guests.

"Young Master Xie and Young Master Fang, what brings you here together today?"

"Everyone's saying Pei Lang is getting married, is that true?"

The two of them seemed to have just had an argument, standing far apart from each other, as if afraid to get close to each other, but Fang Shiyun couldn't hold back and spoke first.

Lin Zhi, sitting in the main seat, changed her expression slightly: "...Yes, His Majesty has bestowed a marriage upon my husband and Miss He, and the wedding will take place in three days."

"Lin Zhi, are you really willing to just stand by and watch Pei Lang marry someone else?"

Xie Zheng sat to the side, his brows furrowed as he stared at her slightly protruding belly. He found it incredibly irritating and clenched his fists to barely maintain his composure before speaking.

Lin Zhi's faint smile faded, and she vaguely realized that these two people had come to stand up for her.

Xie Zheng is one thing, but what about Fang Shiyun?

Upon seeing the unfamiliar look in her eyes, Fang Shiyun knew that Pei Lang must not have told her that he was the one who saved the person!

Gritting his teeth, he couldn't help but remind her, "Madam, have you forgotten that I saved your life, mother and son?"

Lin Zhi then remembered that Chun Tao seemed to have mentioned it, but she had inadvertently overlooked it.

"So it was Young Master Fang who saved us. Lin Zhi thanks you..."

Seeing Lin Zhi slowly rise and bow, Fang Shiyun quickly waved his hand, "Never mind! No need for your thanks."

"We've come here today only to ask you if Pei Lang has bullied you?"

"If you'd like, we're willing to help you."

Seeing the identical look in their eyes, Lin Zhi was stunned and didn't know how to speak.

After a moment, she sighed softly, "I understand what you two gentlemen mean. I appreciate it."

“But this is a marriage bestowed by the Emperor. Even if Pei Lang is unwilling, he cannot refuse. Besides, it was I who persuaded him to agree.”

"You're pregnant now, has he gone mad?"

Although Xie Zheng did not understand He Luochen, he did understand He Xiang.

One of his daughters was sent to the Eastern Palace at a young age, while the other was kept until now and placed in the Pei family mansion.

What kind of cunning is this?

Even if Pei Lang could resist the charms of a beautiful woman, Lin Zhi was too soft-hearted to be a match for Miss He.

Xie Zheng frowned, but he also understood that he had no right to speak.

Lin Zhi was grateful for Xie Shaoqing's concern, but he could not disobey the emperor's orders, so he accepted his fate.

"If you two have some free time, why not come over in three days for a celebratory drink? It would be a fitting way to show your good relationship with your husband."

Lin Zhi's expression was sincere, but it only made the two of them feel more uncomfortable. They silently got up, said goodbye, and left.

"Didn't you say you were honest and upright? Why don't you say you're willing to help her leave?"

As soon as he left the Pei residence, Fang Shiyun couldn't help but complain, "If I didn't have no official position, I would have spoken up long ago."

But Xie Zheng, standing to the side, only lowered his eyes and said, "You know she doesn't want to leave."

Even if Pei Lang were to marry a legal wife, she would still be willing to stay by his side.

"What's more, there's a child involved. Pei Lang is such a despicable scoundrel."

Fang Shiyun raised an eyebrow at Xie Zheng, but surprisingly did not question him. For the first time, he even felt a sense of mutual respect with Xie Zheng.

Will you come in three days?

Anyone who tries is a fool!

Watching Xie Zheng turn away and mount his horse, Fang Shiyun glanced back at the Pei residence and returned to his own carriage.

Three days later

"Didn't you say whoever comes is a fool?" Fang Shiyun, dressed in a newly made brocade robe, saw Xie Zheng sitting upright in his seat as soon as he entered.

He scoffed lightly, "So you're stupid, you've come."

The two remained silent, and as the auspicious hour approached, Pei Lang still did not appear.

"I would never marry a rooster!"

"Where do you think I'll put my face?!"

He Luochen flicked his wide sleeves, sweeping everything off the table and screaming for Xingyun to grab the rooster and get out.