Chapter 64 A Slap and a Sweet Treat Pei Lang wanted to get closer, but instead...

Xingyun, though scolded, did not feel aggrieved. She stood straight in front of He Luochen and said, "I hope Miss He can understand that His Majesty sent an official who could not be refused."

"Isn't the imperial decree of marriage the same?"

"Besides, since many important officials from the court have come today, if Miss He doesn't mind losing face, it wouldn't be unreasonable to let the bridal sedan chair return to the He residence."

He Luochen's hair, beneath her phoenix crown, was somewhat disheveled. She glared at Xingyun with resentment in her eyes: "You dare threaten me, a mere servant?"

Xingyun bowed slightly and said, "Miss He, you flatter me. It is the Emperor's order and the Lord's order. I am merely following orders."

"Get out! Get out!"

He threw the teapot on the table at Xingyun, but Xingyun nimbly dodged it, which made He Luochen even angrier.

Seeing her like this, the maidservant quickly comforted her: "Miss, please don't be angry! The auspicious time is almost here, let's think of a solution!"

He Luochen turned around and slapped Ziyu across the face: "Think of a way! Pei Langren has gone to Jiangnan now, you better think of a plan for me!"

Ziyu covered her face and knelt down with a thud: "Miss! Master instructed you to become the matriarch of the Pei family and to make the Pei and He families one family."

"If the wedding is delayed today, I'm afraid the master will blame you, and the Imperial Concubine will also think you are being unreasonable."

Seeing that He Luochen had gradually calmed down, Ziyu crawled forward on her knees and said, "Miss, think it over carefully. If you were to have a wedding ceremony with a rooster today, it wouldn't be shameful. On the contrary, it would prove that you are a person of your word."

"Rules have existed since ancient times, and there's nothing shameful about them today."

"The Pei family is showing such disrespect to you today, it must be the concubine who is instigating this. If you break off the engagement, it will be exactly what that person wants."

"Miss, why don't you think about it? If you become the matriarch of the Pei family in the future, wouldn't a mere concubine be completely at your mercy?"

Hearing Ziyu's words, He Luochen's ferocious expression gradually returned to normal, and he nodded thoughtfully: "You're quite clever, girl."

"It must have been Lin Zhi who instigated this, otherwise even Pei Lang wouldn't dare treat me like this!"

A sinister glint flashed in He Luochen's eyes. After dressing up, she pulled a fan over her face, pushed open the door, and went out.

He didn't even glance at Xingyun, who was standing to the side holding a rooster.

Let's go.

Although no one said anything, everyone knew that Miss He was already disliked by her husband before she even entered the house.

Lin Zhi originally thought Pei Lang had some brilliant move, but she didn't expect it to be such a move that would hurt the enemy eight hundred while also injuring herself a thousand!

With someone else suddenly in the household, she couldn't sleep until late at night.

Chuntao walked in, protecting the candlelight, and couldn't help but ask with concern, "Why hasn't Miss gone to bed yet?"

"Today's events must have been exhausting. Tomorrow we still have to pay our respects to Madam. Miss, you should get some rest."

Hearing how she addressed her, Lin Zhi frowned slightly, displeased: "Chun Tao, I've reminded you several times that you should call me Concubine."

Chun Tao knelt down and put down the candle, speaking with a wronged tone: "My mistress is only Miss. Before, I called Miss Madam, but now that there is a principal wife, I don't want to call Miss Concubine."

"This is an insult to Miss."

Lin Zhi, her belly protruding, sighed and reached out to help her up: "Good Chun Tao, I don't understand what you're thinking?"

"But you know He Luochen's personality. She's never been easy to get along with, and I've offended her before. She looks down on me, so why would she treat you kindly?"

Even if you do everything perfectly, she might still find fault with you. If she catches even the slightest mistake, I'm afraid I can't save you.

Looking at Lin Zhi's face, which appeared even more gentle in the candlelight, Chun Tao felt a sudden pang of sadness and couldn't help but whisper, "Miss has had a tough time, always being suppressed..."

A seemingly casual remark appeared to be the last straw that broke Lin Zhi's back. Before she could even react, tears streamed down her face, wetting the back of her hand.

The master and servant huddled together and cried for a while before Lin Zhi told them to go back and rest, as she would have to pay her respects the next day.

The next morning, Lin Zhi was woken up by the knocking on the door.

Since becoming pregnant, she has been sleeping for several hours every day, and when she wakes up in a daze, she can still vaguely hear noises outside the door.

"What are you shouting about! Our concubine hasn't woken up yet!"

"To pay respects to the Madam, one must naturally rise early and attend to her washing and grooming!"

Xia Ying was arguing with an unfamiliar female voice. Lin Zhi took a while to come to her senses and remembered that there was now another lady in the mansion.

She quickly got up and opened the door. "Xia Ying! Shut up!"

Xia Ying shut her mouth, feeling a little aggrieved, and silently went to fetch water to help her wash up.

After a moment of stunned silence, Ziyu regained her somewhat arrogant demeanor: "Since the concubine has woken up, then this servant will take her leave first. Please go and serve the lady as soon as possible."

He gave a perfunctory bow and then turned and left.

As Xia Ying combed Lin Zhi's long, smooth hair, she grumbled, "Why is the concubine so easy to talk to? It was clearly that girl who offended you first."

"Even if her mistress is a lady, she is still a servant!"

Seeing that she had finished putting the last strand of hair in her hair, Lin Zhi sighed, turned around, and pinched her cheek.

"You know she's the lady, so this is just a show of force. The maid's provocation is just an appetizer. Just wait and see how she'll torment me today."

Xia Ying looked somewhat surprised. Lin Zhi glanced at the time but dared not delay any longer. Even if Pei Lang was not at the mansion, she could not disrespect He Luochen.

"I hope you are well, Madam."

"Sister Azhi, please rise quickly!"

He Luochen was washing his hands when he saw Lin Zhi arrive, so he quickly wiped his hands and helped her up.

"Why did my sister come so early, given that she's pregnant? Shouldn't she have rested a little longer?"

Following behind Lin Zhi, Xia Ying couldn't hold back her words and muttered indignantly, "Zi Yu went to knock on the door so early in the morning, how could anyone get any rest..."

Lin Zhi frowned slightly and gently scolded, "Xia Ying! Don't talk nonsense!"

"Please don't be offended, Madam. This girl has been spoiled by me all this time and speaks without thinking."

But He Luochen's expression had already changed. "Ziyu! Come here."

Seeing Ziyu kneeling on the ground, He Luochen didn't hesitate to slap her across the face, the force of which almost threw her to the ground.

Lin Zhi and Xia Ying were so frightened that they both gasped and didn't dare to speak.

"Please don't be angry, sister. It's all my fault for not disciplining the servants properly, and that little brat disturbed your peaceful sleep."

“You are now carrying my husband’s eldest son, who will also be my child in the future. Naturally, I cannot allow these ignorant servants to disturb you.”

Although Lin Zhi's face remained expressionless, her heart was in turmoil.

She didn't think He Luochen was someone with a bad memory; the two of them had just been provoking each other in the palace not long ago.

Now that this person has suddenly shown him kindness, how can he not overthink it?

Seeing Lin Zhi's hesitation, He Luochen didn't hide anything, pulled her to sit down, and sighed: "It's not without reason that my sister is wary of me now, it's just that I was too arrogant in the past."

"I hope my sister can understand. I also admire my husband. How can I save face if I am rejected in person by an arranged marriage?"

"I only had a few words with my sister in the heat of the moment, and I hope she will forgive me!"

Lin Zhi felt a little uncomfortable and tried to pull her hand back but failed.

“Madam, there’s no need to apologize. I also made mistakes that day.”

But He Luochen leaned closer and said, "Now I understand. My husband values ​​my sister so much, and he is fearless even in the face of imperial orders. This proves that my husband is a man of great affection and righteousness."

"How could I possibly have any complaints about marrying someone like him?"

He Luochen was exceptionally handsome, and now that he was being sincere, his eyes shone brightly as he looked at Lin Zhi.

"From now on, we are family. I hope my sister will forgive me and not hold a grudge."

Lin Zhi is someone who responds better to gentleness than force. If He Luochen punishes or reprimands her today, she definitely won't give him a kind look.

But Lin Zhi realized that she had been judging a gentleman by her own petty standards...

"Madam, you are too kind. Since it was just a misunderstanding before, I will naturally not take it to heart."

"From now on, the most important thing for you and me is to serve our husbands well."

"My sister is so considerate! Quickly bring up the things I prepared!"

No sooner had He Luochen finished speaking than servants came in one after another carrying trays, filling the space in front of the two of them.

“These are all supplements I brought from home. My sister is pregnant but still so thin. I’m afraid she will suffer during childbirth.”

Please accept these small tokens of my appreciation.

Lin Zhi looked at the various precious tonics in front of her with some fear and wanted to refuse, but He Luochen said that refusing would mean that no one wanted to befriend her, so she had no choice but to bite the bullet and accept them.

When Chun Tao returned to her residence with so much stuff, she was startled. After He Luochen's men left, she quickly closed the door and asked, "What does Madam mean by this? Has Miss thought it through?"

Lin Zhi shook her head thoughtfully: "I don't understand. Even if this person really wanted to befriend me, I wouldn't believe it."

Chun Tao thought about it carefully, then her face suddenly turned pale: "This servant understands! Madam intends to use so many tonics to make Miss's pregnancy too large and difficult to deliver!"

It sounded a bit scary at first, but Lin Zhi quickly tapped her on the forehead: "I don't have a good appetite to begin with, and I can't eat much. Plus, I'm having a difficult labor. Let her send it to me, whether I eat it or not is up to me."

"Does she think she can force me to eat it?"

Chun Tao then realized what she had said and tapped her head, saying, "I was really overthinking it."

"But Miss, you should still be careful. I have a feeling that Madam is not a kind person."

Lin Zhi sighed: "How could I not know?"

"What exactly does He Luochen want? Something that's worth her compromising so much..."

Lin Zhi couldn't understand it. She always thought that the fox's tail would eventually be revealed, but she never expected that Pei Lang would return so soon.

Pei Lang returned in the middle of the night. As soon as he dismounted, he hurriedly headed towards Lin Zhiyuan, but bumped into He Luochen on the way.

Seeing her waiting for him on the only way to find Lin Zhi, Pei Lang, who was hiding in the shadows, showed a hint of impatience, but quickly concealed it and revealed a hint of emotion.

What are you doing here so late?

He Luochen, who had carefully made up, spoke coquettishly, "Every night I would come here hoping to see if my husband would return, but I never expected that my dream would come true today."

"My husband must be missing his sister Azhi after his long journey. Go and rest quickly."

"I...will now return to my room..."

He Luochen turned to leave dejectedly, but his steps were slower than usual. Sure enough, before he had taken five steps, he was stopped by someone.

"Thank you for waiting for me. I will come to see you tomorrow."

He Luochen nodded slightly, but thought to himself that his father's advice was indeed useful. All men are the same; how could they not be tempted by a fresh and obedient beauty?

With this in mind, He Luochen's steps became much lighter.

Pei Lang pondered that such a clumsy trick must have been taught to her by that old fellow He Xiang. A mocking glint flashed in her eyes as she hurried toward Lin Zhi's room.

Only two candles remained lit beside the bed. Standing at the door, Pei Lang could still faintly hear Lin Zhi's soft voice reading a story to the child in her womb.

A slight twitch appeared on her lips as she quietly pushed open the door and slipped inside.

Lin Zhi was focused on the storybook in her hands when she suddenly felt a dark shadow flash past her. When she looked up, she saw Pei Lang, whom she hadn't seen for a month, returning home looking travel-worn.

He had lost some weight and gotten a bit darker, and he exuded a strong, masculine aura.

“A-Zhi…”

Pei Lang was about to get closer when he received a light slap across the face.

It doesn't hurt, but it's very itchy; it itches inside.

Lin Zhi bit her lip and muttered under her breath, "Bastard!"