Fueling the fire for revenge
Somehow, Xiao Yucheng used to dislike Pei Zhaoying's tough personality and disliked her always opposing him, but now he is moved and thinks that this is the wonderful thing about her that makes her different from other women.
It would be boring to live with a docile cat for a long time, but if it is a fierce-tempered cat, it will be slowly subdued and softened, and occasionally stretch out its claws to scratch a few harmless bloody marks, wouldn't it be fun to live with it every day?
Xiao Bo hoped that Xiao Yucheng was just having a crazy attack as usual, but he hoped that Xiao Yucheng would find out something that would destroy his happiness... He ignored Xiao Yucheng's provocation, pretending that this person didn't exist. His palms were sweating, but he calmly asked Pei Zhaoying if there was anything else she wanted to eat or see. If they were satisfied, they would leave first, regardless of what others said.
They shouldn't have come.
I shouldn't have supported Pei Heng.
At this moment, Xiao Caizhen tugged at Xiao Yucheng's sleeve, the golden butterfly wings on her hair fluttering. She was eager to remind him of something important:
"Brother! Brother, you must not break your promise. Don't forget what you promised me."
"...Have you thought it through? How about I find you a husband who will obey you in everything? Wouldn't it be nice if you can stay with me and I can keep an eye on him for you for the rest of your life? Why do you have to go into the bottomless palace gates..."
Xiao and Cheng were helpless in dealing with their sister, who was from the same mother.
"No! I only want to marry that one person! My brother promised me, so hurry up and ask for it while the guests are here. When there are fewer people, the Queen Mother will definitely use tricks to refuse! You don't know, the young ladies in the capital are all talking about it, saying that the position of Queen must belong to Sang Ningyun... Brother, you are a very capable man, can you just watch others suppress me?"
It was not appropriate to make a noise or shout. Xiao Caizhen was sweating anxiously. She pulled Xiao Yucheng's sleeve tightly and urged him to ask for this grace.
Xiao Yucheng's headache eased a little, but Xiao Caizhen heard the news and became anxious. She cried and begged Xiao Yucheng to marry Pei Heng every day. Otherwise, what's the point of living if she can't be with the one she loves in this life?
If Xiao Yucheng could just watch her suffer from lovesickness without helping her, she might as well cut out her hair and become a nun!
Xiao Yucheng was forced to agree, but at the critical moment, he still hoped that Xiao Caizhen could think it through and not be obsessed with that incompetent emperor.
If it were any other powerful official, he would have been eager to send his sister into the harem so that the former dynasty and the harem could be united and work together to control the government. He could even depose and enthrone the emperor after giving birth to a dragon heir and seize power as regent!
The only emotions and conscience that Xiao Yucheng had left as an ordinary person were all placed on his sister. He had not read many books, but he knew that the royal family was ruthless and there were three thousand beauties in the harem. Xiao Caizhen was the apple of his eye. How could he bear to let her become a resentful woman in the deep palace, waiting for the king's summons every day?
"Brother!"
Xiao Yucheng sighed.
He left his seat with difficulty, walked to the center, bowed to Pei Heng who was sitting at the top, and seemed to want to ask for something. His arrogance subsided, and he seemed to be hesitant to speak.
Pei Zhaoying and Xiao Bo were about to leave holding hands, not knowing what Xiao and Cheng were going to do. The couple looked at each other and nodded, tacitly preparing to see what Xiao and Cheng would do next.
Pei Heng felt very uncomfortable and asked Xiao Yucheng what they wanted to report. While asking, he looked at his sister and brother-in-law with a worried look and looked earnestly for help.
"Your Majesty, your sister deeply loves you and has long been committed to you. I am determined to serve you for the rest of my life. I know your sister is young and unprepossessing, but please, Your Majesty, have pity on her sincerity! I do not seek any reward for suppressing the rebellion. I am willing to use all my military merits to ensure that your sister's wish is fulfilled and that she lives a peaceful life."
After saying that, Xiao Yucheng couldn't stand up anymore and felt his face burning with pain.
Everyone was speechless with shock. No woman in the world would dare to ask for marriage in public. Xiao Caizhen, despite her stubborn will, pursed her lips and remained silent when the moment finally came. She followed her brother in prostrating. Lowering her head, she hoped Pei Heng would notice the meticulous design of her outfit. Her earrings were the peach blossom pattern Pei Heng favored, and her dress was specially dyed by the embroidery workshop, striving to reproduce the color of peach blossoms as seen with the naked eye.
How she wished Pei Heng could sense these small gestures. She was still young and beautiful, and Pei Heng must have had a fondness for her. She remembered the first palace banquet she attended, dressed lightly, and the noble ladies of the capital mocking her as a wild girl from the countryside. Alone and unwilling, she leaned against the railing, gazing at the water. It was the young emperor who had the eunuchs bring her a cloak to keep her warm...
Pei Heng's face was pale and his lips had lost their color:
"What do you think, my dear sister? My dear sister just got married, and she has also formed a friendship with the Xiao family. Logically speaking, I and you are already close enough..."
Another hot potato was passed to Pei Zhaoying!
Pei Zhaoying was speechless, so Xiao Bo naturally took over the conversation and thrust a knife into Pei Heng's throat without any hesitation:
"Your Majesty's harem is empty. Even without Miss Xiao, you should consider expanding your harem for the sake of the country's longevity. Your Majesty will decide on this matter. However, Miss Xiao's true feelings are not for the sake of the friendship between the two families."
Xiao Bo and Pei Zhaoying sat side by side, with his knees touching Pei Zhaoying's tense knees.
Silently telling her that even if her family betrayed her, he was still there.
Thinking back to the beginning, Pei Heng did not hesitate to sacrifice Pei Zhaoying's marriage in order to protect himself. As time went by, he finally tasted the bitter fruit of karma.
Only when the knife falls on oneself will people feel the pain.
Pei Zhaoying bit her rosy lips, hardened her heart, and stood in line with Xiao Bo.
The sisterly bond between her and Pei Heng had vanished along with the cold medicine that was placed in her medicine bowl that day.
Her parents died on the battlefield, never returning from the war. Their only wish was that the royal family could protect their daughter. Counting everything one by one, it was clearly Pei Heng and his mother who owed her!
Even if the throne becomes unstable and is pulled down by others, it is not her, Pei Zhaoying's fault!
Pei Zhaoying's eyes moistened. Without Xiao Bo's support, she probably wouldn't have been able to make this decision. She would have been held hostage by the thin ties of family time and time again, going through fire and water. She finally had a true lover. Although it was painful to sever the false feelings, she understood that living a clear-headed life was more important. She didn't want to be fooled again.
At the banquet, court officials from Xiao and Cheng's faction kept echoing:
"Miss Xiao's affection is so touching! Such a virtuous woman is worthy of entering the harem and becoming a role model for women all over the world."
"The Grand Marshal has put down the rebellion with great success and bravely escaped death. This is his only wish. Your Majesty, please do not disappoint this meritorious official."
If Pei Heng was determined to refuse this big hat, his reputation would be ruined.
Some noble ladies could not help being surprised, and when they came to their senses, they whispered to each other:
"Hasn't the position of Queen always been reserved for Sister Sang? Is Xiao Caizhen deliberately trying to compete with Sister Sang for it?"
"It's amazing to have a powerful brother, tsk tsk."
"Oh my god, is there really a woman in this world who would ask for marriage in public? How afraid are they of not getting married? If it were me, I'm afraid my parents would be so ashamed and angry that they would bang their heads against the wall."
Therefore, Xiao and Cheng had to sacrifice their reputation and were in a difficult situation. The only way out was to get married.
Xiao Caizhen maintained the posture of bowing, her legs were sore, and her eyes were sore and sad. She muttered silently, why didn't Pei Heng accept her happily.
Pei Heng looked in the direction of Pei Zhaoying, hoping to see the familiar tenderness and reluctance, but this time, he was only met with indifference as if it had nothing to do with him.
He...lost a most precious treasure.
The Queen Mother was terrified and anxious, her internal organs almost burning with fear. She opened her mouth to speak, but her throat was blocked by the anger. Her body swayed and she fell headfirst from the throne!
"Oh no! The Queen Mother has fainted, call the imperial physician!"
Amidst the chaos, Xiao Yucheng raised his head and declared word by word to the True Dragon Emperor who was sitting at the head of the group:
"The Queen Mother fainted from joy over this marriage."
Xiao and Cheng staked their entire dignity and prestige on their sister's marriage. The army had just returned to the capital, and they shared the same fate with their commander.
Pei Heng couldn't bear the consequences of Xiao and Cheng losing control.
Defeated.
Pei Zhaoying didn't bother to care how unwilling Pei Heng was. She took Xiao Bo back home during the chaos and acted as if it had nothing to do with her as soon as possible to avoid being harassed by others.
Thinking back to Xiao Caizhen's naive and cheerful appearance, Pei Zhaoying couldn't help but sigh. She didn't know what kind of life such a young girl would face after entering the palace. Xiao Yucheng had raised this sister too innocently, unable to understand the simplest interests.
"I don't know what Xiao Caizhen is thinking. Just considering the fact that powerful officials bully their masters, given their relationship, how could she enter the harem and live happily ever after with the emperor?"
"Every man has his own unique personality. Perhaps, in her eyes, her brother is the backbone of the country, a first-class loyal minister and general. She and the emperor are a perfect match."
Before going to bed, Pei Zhaoying took off her hair ornaments and hairpins. Xiao Bo helped her wash her hair with floral essence and made sure that her hair was thoroughly dried before he went about his nightly routine - supervising Pei Zhaoying to drink her medicine.
Gu Hao tinkered with some strange prescriptions. Not only did they look weird, but the taste was hard to describe. Just smelling them made people feel sour.
Pei Zhaoying understood the importance of her health, and knew that it was important to her health and that no one should cheat on it. But every time she faced this inky potion, she always wanted to cut corners and drink a little less, leaving some at the bottom of the bowl. So Xiao Bo simply watched her drink it all, coaxing her with a mouthful of medicine and a mouthful of candied fruit.
Qiluo joked privately that ordinary people don't have such patience when it comes to coaxing their children.
Gu Hao's medicine, combined with Lu Yunqi's acupuncture, had an immediate effect, causing her leg muscles to spasm and tremble uncontrollably when the initial formula was still unstable.
Gu Hao was particularly indifferent: "Just tell me, did Miss Pei's legs move?"
Xiao Bo was so angry that he couldn't speak. With a gloomy face, he dragged Gu Hao to Huichun Garden and locked him up all day to modify the formula day and night.
That time, Gu Hao hadn't replaced the chickens, ducks, and rabbits he'd been using for his live experiments with new ones. They'd somehow survived the drug and were still frolicking around the courtyard. The servants were even wondering why Dr. Gu hadn't killed them today, considering they'd been collecting the dead birds from Gu Hao's experiments every day.
"Aying, are you trying to change the subject to fool me? Stop it. Drink every sip of today's medicine."
Xiao Bo continued his ruthless style at home. Seeing that Pei Zhaoying intended to get away with it, he filled a spoonful with the last few drops of medicine in the bowl and forced Pei Zhaoying to drink it all.
No one hoped more than he did that Pei Zhaoying would recover soon.
Moreover, for this purpose, he used his mortal body to replace the animals and personally became Gu Hao's medicine man...
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