Marriage Crisis
Pei Zhaoying's fingers were hooked around the handkerchief as soft as snow, and her red ears were burning along with her breathing.
A woman's personal belongings should not be given to outsiders. That day, Xiao Bo broke an arrow and injured his hand. She was anxious and temporarily wrapped it with a handkerchief. Afterwards, no one reminded her and she forgot about it.
Xiao Bo should have known this in his mind, but he didn't mention it either.
"You--" Pei Zhaoying wanted to scold him for not saying anything, but instead put it into his sleeve and kept it close to his body. Wouldn't it damage his reputation if outsiders saw it?
However, they had already gone through the engagement ceremony, and everyone knew about it, so there was no one to blame. Pei Zhaoying hit her head, and was confused and couldn't find any reason to blame.
Xiao Bo lowered his body, extended his hands, and his wide sleeves slipped down, revealing wrists as strong as iron with distinct muscles and bones:
"Thank you, Your Highness. Please return the item to its rightful owner."
Why did he come to ask for the handkerchief? Was he supposed to take it back and keep it close to his body?
Pei Zhaoying's cheeks were still flushed. There was no one around, so she blurted out the words without thinking:
"This originally belonged to me. How can I return it to its original owner? Master Xiao Bo didn't say a word and just kept collecting my handkerchief. It's really strange."
"Your Highness has rewarded me, so it belongs to me now," Xiao Bo did not withdraw his hand. He was not angry with her, but spoke softly, each word in accordance with her mood, "Your Highness, I am deeply grateful for your kindness. I was not paying attention today, but I will sincerely offer it to you in the future and accept it well."
In the past, everyone was afraid when Pei Zhaoying lost her temper.
Xiao Bo frowned, knowing her temper. He would rather she acted a little silly and scolded him a few times, so as not to feel depressed. After all, he could bear it.
Pei Zhaoying could no longer tell whether the warmth on the handkerchief came from Xiao Bo. Xiao Bo acted obedient, but with a smile on his face, he looked like a seductive fox. Pei Zhaoying's heart was beating wildly, and she muttered that this was not necessary. She quickly handed it back to him, not wanting to continue the argument.
In front of her, Xiao Bo slowed down his movements, folding and gathering his body, his skin pressed tightly against the embroidery patterns. Pei Zhaoying turned her head to look at the water of Taiye Lake, where ripples were rippling wildly.
Xiao Bo knew when to stop, suppressed his thoughts in time, and returned to his indifferent state.
He just needs to plant his own shadow in Pei Zhaoying's heart. With time, it will take root and grow, and there will always be time for them to live a long and stable life.
"There's still a lot of time ahead of us. Your Highness and I are family, on the same boat. We'll still be in the mansion after our marriage, and nothing will change. Your Highness, don't feel constrained; just carry on as usual."
Xiao Bo whispered to Pei Zhaoying about serious matters, wanting to make it clear that their alliance would not be affected by their public marriage. Given Pei Zhaoying's current situation, it was premature to talk about love; her safety was paramount.
Pei Zhaoying nodded, already showing gratitude. She looked around and lowered her voice, unable to suppress her indignation.
"I'm trapped in the palace waiting to get married. Who knows if anyone will have other ideas? I brought too few personal servants with me today. I'm afraid my hands and feet will be tied. I hope nothing goes wrong!"
"Don't worry. Your Highness can ask the maids you're used to in the palace to accompany you. They're just maids for hairdressing and washing, so it won't be a big deal. But having more familiar people around will make your Highness feel more at ease. The biggest problem in the palace is the inconvenience of mobilizing troops. I believe that during the wedding, there won't be any need for fighting in the palace. I will also come to accompany Your Highness more often to prevent him from being blinded by the news."
Xiao Bo analyzed the situation in a few words, saying that Pei Heng's move might not have been so malicious.
Pei Zhaoying responded silently, feeling constrained, which was enough to make her uncomfortable. In the vast palace, apart from Qiluo and others she brought with her, only the beautiful fiancé in front of her had any real plans for her.
Pei Zhaoying's throat moved, worried that whatever she said would seem like a sign of weakness.
Xiao Bo softened his tone and promised, "I will definitely come to the palace often to accompany Your Highness."
These words touched Pei Zhaoying's heart, just like someone handing her a pillow when she was sleepy. Pei Zhaoying felt much more at ease.
The sunlight was scorching, and she raised her hand to shield her eyes. After they became husband and wife, they had plenty of time to spend together, and it was hard for Xiao Bo to fill the gap before marriage.
"It suddenly occurred to me that Your Highness's swordsmanship is exquisite and unmatched in the capital. I would like to borrow Your Highness's sword manual to read later."
"Okay, but I'm afraid that even after practicing so hard, you still won't be as good as I was before."
Pei Zhaoying hurriedly left the venue after the Prince Consort's martial arts test, deeply moved by the scene. When Xiao Bo used martial arts to engage her, she felt no discomfort or embarrassment, and was able to chat and laugh as usual. After her worries were revealed, they were no longer an untouchable haze.
In the distance, someone led two teams of palace servants in fluttering robes towards this place. Pei Zhaoying squinted his eyes and saw the person leading the group, and his face darkened on the spot.
Meng Jingxue smiled kindly and conveyed the Queen Mother's intention:
"Your Highness, Xiefang Palace has been prepared. Please proceed. The Empress Dowager is delighted to learn that you are awaiting your wedding in the palace. She has specially gifted you eight clever and nimble palace maids to serve you as part of your dowry. They will accompany you to your residence upon your wedding. She has also increased your dowry bill, making every effort for Your Highness."
What a big deal, they sent eight people.
Pei Zhaoying glanced around and thought to himself that once they left the palace, these eight people sent by the Queen Mother would never be able to get close to the inner courtyard.
Meng Jingxue signaled the eunuchs to push Pei Zhaoying's wheelchair. Pei Zhaoying never liked eunuchs with rough hands and feet, especially those from the palace whose backgrounds he didn't know. He glared at them, scaring the young eunuchs away.
"I'll do it. Thank you, Lord Meng, for leading the way."
Xiao Bo stood behind Pei Zhaoying, using just the right amount of strength to protect her most vulnerable back, with such skill that it seemed as if he had practiced this a thousand times.
Pei Zhaoying relaxed her stiff back. How could she allow anyone to sleep soundly beside her bed? Ever since she became disabled, everyone who had pushed her wheelchair had been a close confidant! The Queen Mother was becoming increasingly aggressive.
Meng Jingxue was unwilling to give in, but since her husband was serving her impeccably, she had no choice but to walk in front with a stern face.
It was quite a distance from Xiefang Palace, enough for them to talk on the way. Xiao Bo noticed that Pei Zhaoying seemed to be lost in thought, so he slowed down his pace and created some space between him and Meng Jingxue.
The enemy and us were clear. If Pei Zhaoying kept thanking him, it would seem that she was alienating Xiao Bo. She looked at the lotus buds sprouting in the pond and sighed:
"In the past, whenever I entered the palace, I always stayed away from streams and ponds. My mother said that there were many wronged souls in the water in the palace. Every now and then, a palace maid would 'fall into the water'. During the previous palace coup, a concubine was even drowned..."
"I am afraid too. Your Highness and I both stay away from it. When I was a child, I fell into the pond in the backyard and nearly drowned. Even after I learned to swim, I still avoided the pond."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Bo pushed Pei Zhaoying to the outside and exchanged a glance with Qiluo, who quickly changed her position to protect the inside. Qiluo was puzzled. This new son-in-law was so thorough and orderly, like one of the family members who had been raised in the mansion for many years.
Pei Zhaoying was surprised, "Master Xiao Bo is so rigorous and meticulous, but could he also be playful and make mistakes? I thought that only my playful and naughty nature as a child could cause so many troubles."
Unconsciously, I gave up calling myself "Gu" for him. The palace was cold and they were connected together.
Xiao Bo explained in a low voice: "My sister was young and naive, and I was tricked by her."
"You have a sister? I haven't heard of it."
"She is Xiao Caizhen, Xiao Yucheng's biological sister from the same mother. To the outside world, the Xiao family is one, so she is considered my sister."
With that mentioned, Pei Zhaoying knew about the dirty tricks in the harem without having to point them out. She gently pulled Xiao Bo's sleeve, showing sympathy and trying to comfort him.
Xiao Caizhen's temperament is no different from that of his brother. After entering the capital, he competed for attention with the noble ladies from the capital's century-old families. Whenever he was ridiculed and treated coldly, he would use the name of Xiao Yucheng to act domineeringly.
Several noble ladies who were familiar with her cried and complained to Pei Zhaoying about Xiao Caizhen's temper. Pei Zhaoying comforted them and said that if there was no destiny, they would part ways. The relationship between ladies in the boudoir was not a life-and-death battle. There was no need to force them together if they couldn't get along. They should just stay away from each other and not mind other people's affairs.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Caizhen also inherited Xiao Yucheng's cruelty, and was able to plot against his cousin when he was young.
Pei Zhaoying deliberately avoided Xiao Bo's heartbreak and told him about her free-spirited childhood. As she spoke, memories brought her back to that time, and she smiled carefreely. Her parents had only one daughter, and as a marginal member of the clan, they had no heavy responsibilities, so they always let her childish nature take over, climbing trees, fishing, practicing martial arts, and doing whatever pleased her.
Pei Zhaoying felt that the reason she was able to face the harsh hardships of her life at this age was all thanks to the love and courage that her parents had instilled in her over the past decade.
Pei Zhaoying smiled, and Xiao Bo laughed too. They finally understood how such a kind, brave and wonderful person was brought up.
Qiluo made a few jokes from the side, laughing continuously, which made Meng Jingxue look back and frown unhappily.
When they arrived at Xiefang Palace, Pei Zhaoying was not in a hurry to settle down. He chatted with Xiao Bo casually, waiting for the maids from his own house to enter the palace. He asked the eight palace maids given by the empress dowager to do some cleaning chores, while Qiluo led her people to make the bedding.
Meng Jingxue gritted her teeth and laughed, "Your Highness, these eight palace maids are from good families carefully selected by the Queen Mother herself. They are raised with more dignity than ordinary officials' daughters. Asking them to do menial work, are you ignoring the Queen Mother's good intentions?"
Pei Zhaoying happened to not want to drink the tea of unknown origin, so she took the opportunity to throw the celadon teacup:
"What do you mean by this, Lord Meng? They are noble, but how can they be more noble than me? Do they not share my worries and expect me to serve them? I have accepted and used the people given by the Queen Mother, so as not to disappoint her. But Lord Meng wants me to fetch water and sweep the floor?"
Water splashed everywhere, and the crisp sound of celadon startled everyone in the room, who knelt down to apologize. Qiluo was particularly hard at work, her legs trembling, tears welling up in her eyelashes.
Most of the new palace maids had heard of Pei Zhaoying's vicious reputation long ago, and they thought this scene confirmed the rumors, so they gave up the idea of wandering around.
As a seventh-rank official serving the prime minister, Meng Jingxue had served the empress dowager for many years. Even Pei Heng had to give her face, and she unconsciously regarded herself as the master of the Forbidden City. She was scolded mercilessly by Pei Zhaoying, and her heart was chilled.
She kept muttering words of forgiveness, feeling ashamed and angry. She was mad that Pei Zhaoying had always been as stubborn as a piece of clay in the palace. It would have been better if she could have just kept silent and let others push her around, but she had to lose her temper in front of all the palace people, making her lose face.
Xiao Bo pretended to smooth things over and said:
"Your Highness, this is likely Lord Meng's first offense. He has been diligently performing his duties for many years. A single misstep wouldn't be enough to make Your Highness so angry. Your Highness, with your wedding imminent, please show some mercy."
Every word confirmed Meng Jingxue's mistake of "offending" and "distorting the Queen Mother's intentions". Pei Zhaoying calmed down in time and waved goodbye.
After leaving Xiefang Palace, Meng Jingxue finally came to her senses and trembled with anger - she was the empress dowager's confidant! Could Pei Zhaoying still bully her in the palace and punish her?
The young palace maids who followed were shaking with fear, tears falling like broken beads. They called out "Aunt" and "Aunt" to bring Meng Jingxue back to her senses, saying that if Pei Zhaoying really dared to beat and kill people, they must not confront him head-on since the empress dowager was not around.
When the outsiders left the hall, Xiao Bo commented calmly:
"I have severely offended Lord Meng, and will inevitably bring shame upon myself in front of the Queen Mother."
"It's better to have too much debt than to be burdened. The Queen Mother doesn't like me no matter what I do, but Your Majesty has to use me, so I'll just make myself comfortable first."
Qiluo checked the tea leaves brought by the people in the mansion and brewed a new pot of white tea. Pei Zhaoying then took a sip to moisten her lips and teeth.
"It's okay that I've been bullied by the Queen Mother for so many years. She's the Queen Mother after all, but what's Meng Jingxue? She's still bullying me by taking advantage of the power of others. I've tolerated her for so long, and now she's just lost her temper. What the hell is going on?"
With her guard down, Pei Zhaoying opened up. No longer needing to maintain a superior posture or be bullied, she had a lot to say to Xiao Bo, speaking from the heart. Finally, she had the free and easy spirit of a girl her age.
Xiao Bo admired sincerely: "Yes, Your Highness is very generous, just handling it with care."
Pei Zhaoying smiled, holding her chin and scolding him: "Don't give me that, you and I were clearly in sync just now."
The graceful and beautiful face was right in front of her. Pei Zhaoying stretched out her finger restlessly. Xiao Bo's forehead was full and round. She wanted to point at that spot, but she felt something was wrong halfway and her arm hung stiffly.
The distance between his slender fingers and Xiao Bo's forehead was only wide enough to accommodate a few sheets of rice paper.
Xiao Bo lowered his head to sip the tea, and unnoticeably lowered his head to touch Pei Zhaoying's fingertips.
His forehead was a little cold, icy, just the right contrast of hot and cold compared to hers.
It really hit the nail on the head.
Pei Zhaoying quickly withdrew her hand, thinking that she had done nothing wrong and that it was all Xiao Bo's fault for walking into her trap.
"Good tea." Xiao Bo could still enjoy the tea peacefully, as if nothing had happened.
Pei Zhaoying was most angry at his immovable presence, which contrasted with her turmoil. She retorted, "What's wrong with that?"
"I can't explain it, I just know it's good. Just like people, I can't explain what's so mysterious about them, but they're different from others."
Pei Zhaoying, with a glaring expression, peeked through the embroidered screen to ask how Qiluo was getting on with the cleaning. Then, fanning Xiao Bo with a round fan, she urged him to leave the palace, lest he miss his assignment at the Dali Temple. In reality, serving as the Princess was Xiao Bo's biggest task at the moment, and Shangguan didn't dare bother him with trivial matters.
Xiao Bo reiterated that he would come to see her often, turned around and left with a smile. When no one was around, he took out her embroidered handkerchief from his sleeve and stroked it again and again. Now, with his eyes closed, he could memorize the patterns on it.
"The person really left, Your Highness." Qiluo saw Pei Zhaoying staring at the empty seat in a daze and reminded her carefully.
"I'm leaving now. I'm so annoyed. I wonder which concubine of the previous emperor lived here. It's a bit creepy. Qiluo, you better guard it carefully."
The person left, but the seat was still warm, and the steam from the tea that Xiao Bo had moved had not yet dissipated. Pei Zhaoying was suddenly angry that he left in such a dirty way, so she opened her arms and angrily asked someone to serve her.
The more Pei Zhaoying expressed her joy and anger, the less likely she would feel depressed. Qiluo noticed her changes and felt grateful to Xiao Bo in her heart.
The next day, the Empress Dowager sent the director of the Imperial Medical Bureau to Xiefang Palace to recuperate, saying that it would be beneficial to the relationship between the couple in the boudoir. She also assigned a well-educated nanny.
Pei Zhaoying couldn't bear to offend the empress dowager again and again, so she agreed and continued Lu Yunqi's acupuncture and qi-nourishing treatment. She took an extra bowl of bitter medicine every day and listened to the governess's stories about the boudoir without changing her expression. Only her earlobe was bright red and dripping with blood.
The days of waiting to get married were not that difficult. The Queen Mother's people were strictly kept outside the inner room, and the scope of activities was smaller. As long as her mood was not depressed, she could talk and laugh as usual.
Jiang Yubai often wrote to him, saying that he had never neglected the training of his personal guards. Xiao Bo came as promised, bringing him constant news from the outside world.
Everyone in the mansion was thrown into the palace, and from then on they began to rely on each other more deeply, and their relationship grew deeper day by day.
"Your Highness, look." Qiluo whispered to Pei Zhaoying while adding more tea.
Pei Zhaoying gazed through the carved vermilion lacquer window at the pear tree in the courtyard. Her biggest worry these days was that someone was tampering with the food and medicine.
Lu Yunqi privately read the prescription written by the court judge and found no problem, except that the preparation of the medicinal materials required the involvement of multiple people.
Every time Qiluo poured the medicinal residue at the roots of the old pear tree to test whether it would affect the surrounding plants, it was always diligently cleaned up by the palace maids.
"These lazy bones sent by the Queen Mother are quick at cleaning up the medicine residue. Normally, when we call them, they either have back pain or leg pain." Qiluo spat.
His unusually active hands and feet make people suspicious.
Pei Zhaoying said solemnly, "Next time, keep one-third of the medicine residue and let Dr. Lu take a look when she comes to give you acupuncture."
Coincidentally, when Lu Yunqi came again with the medicine box, Xiao Bo was there. Pei Zhaoying asked Qiluo to guard the door of the palace and not let anyone disturb him, and waited with Xiao Bo for Lu Yunqi to identify him.
Xiao Bo saw sweat on Lu Yunqi's forehead and became worried: "Is it poisonous?"
"It's not poisonous..."
After hearing the first half of the sentence, Pei Zhaoying was about to feel relieved, but Lu Yunqi stuttered and hesitated to speak, which did not seem to be completely fine. She felt something was wrong and suddenly felt a sense of loss of weight and palpitations on the flat ground.
Xiao Bo induced Lu Yunqi to speak: "There are only three of us here. If Imperial Doctor Lu has any findings, just tell us."
"I, what should I say? There's something wrong with your Highness's medicine. Who in the palace could want to harm your Highness?" Lu Yunqi said with a bitter face, trying to protect himself. "Your Highness, Master Xiao, I'm just a small imperial physician..."
"Doctor Lu, please speak quickly. If you haven't seen anything, it would be fine. But since you have seen the problem, if you don't work together with His Highness, someone else will definitely harm you. If you can't stay in the palace, His Highness and I can get you into the Princess's Mansion as soon as possible. It's more comfortable than the Imperial Hospital where people get beheaded at will!" Xiao Bo's smile became more and more warm, but he was actually sharp.
He had made up his mind that if Lu Yunqi didn't say anything, he would find a way to make her speak. At least she couldn't leave Xiefang Palace today.
However, Pei Zhaoying was soft-hearted and must have disliked him attacking Lu Yunqi, so Xiao Bo secretly revealed some hostility, and his eyes were as cold as ten thousand years of ice, forcing Lu Yunqi to tell the truth tremblingly.
Pei Zhaoying's medicine was mixed with a cold medicine. It would not harm the body of ordinary people, but for someone like Pei Zhaoying who had a leg disease, it would seriously inhibit the circulation of blood and qi.
Pei Zhaoying said nothing, closed her eyes and covered her eyes and half of her face with a round fan. Soon, the silk became damp and dark.
It turned out that the two people in the palace really didn't want her to recover.
"Your Highness, think positively. Since someone is trying to hinder your leg injury's recovery, that just means there's hope for recovery. Don't take the medicine the judge prescribed. Just take it away from everyone. I'll definitely research all the medical knowledge and help your Highness walk normally again..."
Pei Zhaoying burst into tears, and Xiao Bo's eyes were cold, almost murderous. Lu Yunqi was afraid that he would be silenced, so he recalled Xiao Bo's previous advice and quickly expressed his loyalty and chose this side.
Pei Zhaoying asked her to go back in a hoarse voice with a heavy nasal tone. Xiao Bo tentatively pinched the edge of the round fan.
"...If you want to cry, just cry. If you don't want others to see you, I'll get you some hot water, wring out a handkerchief, and wipe your face."
No one responded for a long time.
Pei Zhaoying suppressed her tears for a long time before she burst into tears:
"I did think about it, but I didn't dare to think too deeply about it. They couldn't bear to see me rest and recuperate..."
Pei Zhaoying was about to keep quiet after she had expressed her grievances, but Xiao Bo, holding his round fan, did not cross the line, and held her wrist firmly:
"Alright, they can't bear to see you doing well. From now on, you won't let them have an easy time. When we're well again and stronger, we'll pick up our swords and take them out one by one..."
He knew exactly who those people were, and his tone was extremely protective of them, even at the risk of risking the wrath of the world.
Such desperate support was something she had only seen from her parents. Pei Zhaoying shed tears for a while, and only when she was tired did she lie down and thank the visitor.
In a state of half-sleep and half-wakefulness, Xiao Bo's figure blurred and faded away, like a figure in a dream drifting away. Pei Zhaoying couldn't tell whether the words "I will definitely make you healthy again" were spoken by him or by the musician in her dream.
Lu Yunqi returned home and thought about her actions, realizing how cowardly she had been. How could a doctor be intimidated by the powerful and tolerate acts that harmed their patients? Filled with guilt, she brewed a new Qi-nourishing pill overnight and even used her skills to cheer Pei Zhaoying up.
The woman was meticulous and moved frequently inside and outside the Imperial Hospital. Lu Yunqi brought a lot of fresh and interesting stories.
"I heard that the Grand Marshal's sister submitted a petition and came to the palace to accompany the Empress Dowager. Everyone says that Princess Xiao has a special liking for His Majesty and wants to strengthen the relationship. After she entered the palace to accompany the Empress Dowager to appreciate the flowers, His Majesty has been rooted in the Imperial Study and has not left for a single step."
Xiao and Cheng were in the inner circle. After they had military merits, they wrote a letter to the emperor to ask for the title of county lady for their younger sister.
Pei Zhaoying poked her forehead with a smile and said, "How dare you! Don't tell lies about His Majesty. No one will protect you once you leave this place."
"Really? Princess Xiao has admired Your Majesty for a long time and is currently in the Empress Dowager's palace."
Pei Zhaoying recalled the girl Xiao Caizhen that the young ladies from the aristocratic families had complained about. She had once made a bold statement at a poetry competition that if she were to marry, she would marry the most noble man in the world.
Pei Zhaoying and Pei Heng didn't care how much sincerity there was in this, especially Pei Heng, who was afraid that Xiao Yucheng would send people to his harem and cut off all chances of meeting County Master Xiao.
It seems that Xiao and Cheng, brother and sister, have never given up on interfering in the harem.
Crack.
Pei Zhaoying used her golden scissors to cut off a branch that had grown out of the potted plant, removing the eyesore and smiling.
"Well, then let His Majesty and the Queen Mother have a good headache. County Princess Xiao... is no simple matter."
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