Met him there
Pei Zhaoying was worried and didn't know who to talk to about the strange thing that she and her husband had to sleep in the same bed every day but had not consummated their marriage.
She had nothing to complain about being able to become a serious couple with someone like Xiao Bo.
But now she and Xiao Bo are neither ruler nor subject, nor husband and wife, in a state of confusion.
Putting aside the weirdness, they go in and out together, eat together and sleep together. Anyone who sees them would think they are a loving couple.
Ever since her parents died in the battlefield, Pei Zhaoying has never felt the warmth of having someone always by her side. She does not reject Xiao Bo's approach, and even empathizes with Xiao Bo's situation.
Before getting married, Xiao Bo's mother died and his father became a monk. In the Xiao family, he was not an orphan but worse than an orphan. Xiao and Cheng could step on him at any time if they were unhappy with him.
After the marriage, most people in the mansion were wary of the Xiao family and were rude to Xiao Bo. Logically, this was not wrong, but Pei Zhaoying just wanted to make Xiao Bo's life better and feel the joy of life by her side.
The spring flowers are about to fade, the swallows' nests are built, and the courtyard is inevitably monotonous and desolate.
Qiluo hurriedly placed the dining table outside the house to relieve the stuffiness and irritability before the arrival of summer heat.
Pei Zhaoying swallowed the medicinal food, which tasted like wax and had no flavor. The pear blossoms on the branches were listless, and seemed to be about to fall.
"I don't have any work to do these days. How about we... let's go to Feng'en Temple together to burn incense?"
She didn't want to confine Xiao Bo to become a withered and dying flower.
During the wedding, a grand sacrifice was held at the ancestral temple, and her parents were able to enjoy the incense, while Xiao Bo's parents were left alone and ignored. Putting herself in Xiao Bo's shoes, Pei Zhaoying felt bad.
She knew that his father had become a monk in Feng'en Temple and had already renounced the worldly world. Moreover, according to etiquette, she could not serve him as a daughter-in-law. But she could go and burn some incense to let Xiao Bo know that she cared about him, which would make Xiao Bo feel better.
Xiao Bo didn't say yes or no. He took a sip of the soup, put down his chopsticks, and asked with cold eyes full of inquiry:
"Your Highness, do you have any unfulfilled wishes that you would like to seek the help of gods and Buddhas?"
"No, I don't believe in ghosts and gods that much, nor do I think I've been blessed by gods for so many years. I heard that... the scenery of Feng'en Temple is very beautiful."
Pei Zhaoying didn't believe in ghosts and gods. She lowered her head to pick up the food and didn't look Xiao Bo in the eye.
She could still feel the substance of his gaze, so hot it almost burned two holes in her cheeks.
"It's late spring, past the season for enjoying spring. There's nothing much to see here, just a dull green mountain and a bare mountain temple."
Why did this person keep rejecting her and not appreciate it at all?
Pei Zhaoying stared at him, speechless, hoping that he would come down the stairs as soon as possible.
Xiao Bo added, "Feng'en Temple is in a remote area outside the capital. It takes more than half a day to get there and back. I don't want Your Highness to suffer the pain of a bumpy ride."
Pei Zhaoying's rigor and calmness were turned to ashes by Xiao Bo's indifference.
The two of them might be able to stage a scene of respecting each other as equals, and Pei Zhaoying would always be provoked to reveal her true feelings:
"Am I such a delicate person? What's a half-day round trip? I can endure the hardships of marching and fighting, so this little journey is nothing."
Pei Zhaoying was so irritated that she was about to burst into flames, but Xiao Bo remained calm.
"Your Highness needs to take good care of yourself. Is there any reason why you must go to Feng'en Temple? If it's not urgent, I can do it for you."
"...Your father became a monk at Feng'en Temple. Although the abbot cannot follow the usual folk etiquette, I also want to treat your family well and not treat you as a mere possession to occupy the position of a consort. I want others to not look down on you! This is also a small token of my gratitude!"
Pei Zhaoying originally wanted to avoid breaking the window paper. After all, they were two smart people, so they didn't talk about it either. They just lit a stick of incense, accepted the favor secretly, and let it go.
According to the current situation, Xiao Bo seemed unwilling to give in unless she explained herself clearly. Pei Zhaoying was so anxious after being denied by him that she revealed all her considerations in a series of thorough details.
The maids' cheeks flushed when they heard this, and they felt that what the princess said was no different from confessing it in public.
Pei Zhaoying gritted his teeth, secretly hating that his reputation had been ruined by Xiao Bo.
Xiao Bo then slowly revealed a smile, so gentle and soft that it seemed to revive a withered flower and extinguish Pei Zhaoying's restlessness.
He said "OK", lowered his head and continued eating without being affected at all.
Pei Zhaoying continued to stare at him in a daze for a long time. She didn't expect that Xiao Bo had almost no reaction while she was jumping up and down.
Qiluo suppressed her smile, viewing this as a young couple's interest, and added more food to Pei Zhaoying:
"Your Highness is very considerate of those around him. He has a very good relationship with his husband. Please use more so that you can have more energy to burn incense."
Are they in a good relationship? Pei Zhaoying didn't understand.
Xiao Bo stopped eating after taking a few bites and sat quietly waiting for Pei Zhaoying to finish eating. He was afraid that his hand that couldn't hold the chopsticks steadily would betray his thoughts.
She actually... cared about him so much. The princess didn't have to serve her aunt and uncle, but she was willing to give him as much respect as possible in matters concerning her parents.
He was afraid that he was being too sentimental and had misunderstood, so he pressed the question step by step, demanding a clear and definite answer.
Pei Zhaoying gave it.
That was a kind of warmth that Xiao Bo thought would be out of reach in this life.
Pei Zhaoying was very proactive. She decided to go burn incense. After breakfast, she asked her subordinates to arrange the trip. She also changed into a low-key and simple moon-white Hangzhou silk smock, which was elegant and gentle and would not offend the important Buddhist sites.
"Does it look good? The elders don't seem to like the younger generation wearing heavy makeup. I just put on a layer of powder. Will it make me look haggard?"
Inside the carriage, the two of them rode together. Pei Zhaoying stroked her hair, worried about whether the new bride would be disliked by her father-in-law when she first met him. Should she promise Xiao Bo's father that she would take good care of him? Would he, relying on his status as the eldest princess, keep seventeen or eighteen concubines and embarrass his husband?
"It's beautiful... But you probably won't be able to see my father. Since he became a monk, he hasn't seen any visitors. Even I've been turned away."
Xiao Bo's father was a romantic man. He was originally a heroic and free-spirited hero in Mingjian Villa. He imprisoned himself in a circle for his wife. After his wife's death, he lost all hope and turned to Buddhism, cutting off all worldly ties.
Even seeing his own son reminded him of his deceased wife's voice and appearance, so he sent someone to tell Xiao Bo that all ties with his relatives were severed.
In his previous life, Xiao Bo hated him. He hated him for leaving his young son alone in a den of tigers and wolves, staying out of the matter and refusing to give him even the slightest bit of human warmth.
However, after Pei Zhaoying was assassinated in his previous life, he had no desire to live and massacred the court with blood. He finally understood his father's feelings. Human emotions are limited. After emptying and draining everything he has to give to his lover, he has no ability to care about others.
Therefore, there is no hatred, only letting go.
Pei Zhaoying was very easygoing and open-minded:
"It's alright, if you don't want to see him, then don't. After all, your father has become a monk, and it wouldn't be nice for us, his juniors, to force him to see guests against his will. I'll just burn incense as usual, regardless of anything else. I'm here to seek inner peace and well-being, not to exchange for any false reputation."
Xiao Bo was silent for a moment, then began to thank him. Pei Zhaoying frowned again and didn't allow him to perform such empty formalities when they were together in private.
She is a simple person, and the underlying colors of love, hate and kindness are so clear and easy to understand.
The longer Xiao Bo stayed with her, the more greedy and longing he became.
He couldn't help but sigh:
"Actually, my mother's personality is somewhat similar to yours. I'm not making it up, but it does give me a feeling of...déjà vu."
"What kind of person is your mother? Can she wield a sword or a gun?" Pei Zhaoying was intrigued.
Xiao Bo smiled and shook his head. "My mother didn't know any martial arts, but she had beautiful handwriting and was intelligent and generous, which made my father fall in love with her at first sight. In troubled times, heroes emerge in large numbers, and my mother is no less courageous than any man. Before the Xiao family rose to prominence, she advocated for storing grain and recruiting soldiers, preserving the family and the peace of the area, and gradually contributing to the Xiao family's dominance. But... my mother wasn't so lucky. A woman who was so competitive and eager to be the best was actually the one hated the most by her uncles and brothers in the family!"
The impression he had most of his mother was of her lying on her sickbed, crying. When he grew up a little and heard his father's stories, he realized his mother's wisdom, courage and heroism.
At that time, the head of the Xiao family was just a minor official, and his life was in danger in the war. It was his mother who, while staying at home, proposed to spend all the family wealth to recruit soldiers, store grain and build walls. With the hard power of troops, weapons, grain and other hard power, the Xiao family quickly gained power in the local area and was elected as the prefect. Xiao and Cheng and other younger generations used this as a base to make achievements and move to the capital.
The mother's move to marry into the family was originally to realize her own ambitions, but because the water was not spilled, she became a thorn in the family's side and was cruelly ostracized.
Pei Zhaoying's eyes became hot as she listened.
Xiao Bo's mother's situation is so similar to hers.
This world will never tolerate women.
Pei Zhaoying knew that she was a target and was hated by many people in the court and the country. If anyone could not tolerate her the most, it would be the Queen Mother and her son!
She often joked about her thin blood relationship with the emperor, but she couldn't write two "Pei" characters with one stroke. Pei Heng called her imperial sister so many times, and he was planning to secure the throne forever, but he still wanted to push her out and sacrifice her.
I went out of town to capture the end of spring. It was also the first time for me to travel with Xiao Bo. A talented man and a beautiful woman should not look sad.
A day spent with tears is a day spent, and a day spent with laughter is also a day spent.
Pei Zhaoying forced a smile, patted the back of Xiao Bo's hand in a comforting manner, and found a small detail to joke:
"You know, I'm a very restless person. My handwriting was so ugly that it even made the late emperor sigh. Your mother is talented and has a steady temperament. How can I be similar to her? I think you are making fun of me."
Xiao Bo laughed out loud at this, "However, you really should practice calligraphy more when you have free time, so as not to be laughed at by the officials."
After staying by her side day after day, Xiao Bo found that he could no longer maintain his expressionless appearance.
Filled with flesh and blood by Pei Zhaoying, the person in the painting can laugh and make noises, and walks leisurely into the world of mortals.
The person who was originally sitting behind the scenes planning and arranging things has become an iceberg melted by the spring breeze.
Pei Zhaoying was unhappy to hear this, and grumbled and asked him for an explanation:
"It's fine if others complain about my ugly handwriting, but why do you agree with them? I sit in a wheelchair every day, and my bones are aching from the grinding, and you still have the nerve to urge me to practice calligraphy! Just let me be free!"
Xiao Bo didn't really want to put pressure on her, he was just saying it in agreement. Pei Zhaoying's aggressive look was so cute and lively that he didn't really want to explain.
How could Pei Zhaoying let him off easily? With a gloomy face, she started to complain to her about the difficulties of sitting in a wheelchair for a long time.
Worried that Xiao Bo couldn't hear clearly while the carriage was moving, he moved his head closer.
"I'm telling you—"
Perhaps it was because the official road in the suburbs was not well maintained, or perhaps Jin Chenxiao was distracted while driving, but as he was speaking, the wheel hub ran heavily over a low pothole.
The carriage shook.
Pei Zhaoying fell down before he could finish his words.
No matter how quickly Xiao Bo reacted, he only put his arms around her shoulders and failed to pull her entire head out in time.
That alone isn't embarrassing...
The embarrassing thing was that due to the bumpy ride, Pei Zhaoying dove headfirst between Xiao Bo's legs...
It seems like it hit something.
She was not so ignorant of common sense that she was so ashamed and angry that she wished she could faint and pretend nothing had happened.
Xiao Bo had never seen such a scene before, and was stunned, not knowing what to do.
When men are nervous and excited, there will be things that they cannot express in words.
Pei Zhaoying noticed the change and her desire to die became stronger. She only thought that Xiao Bo was well-dressed, but in fact he had that indescribable thought! At this time, he would feel it! His usual high-sounding appearance was probably all a disguise!
Jin Chenxiao quickly reined in the horse and shouted from outside:
"Your Highness, it's my fault. I didn't notice the difference in road conditions between the city roads and the suburban roads. Is Your Highness okay?"
"It's okay..." Pei Zhaoying said weakly.
"Your Highness's voice is so muffled. I should stop and take a look."
Pei Zhaoying's words seemed to be covered by a layer of cloth. Jin Chenxiao was confused. To be safe, he slowed down the horse and prepared to check.
"I said it's okay! Keep going, don't stop!" This time Pei Zhaoying's voice was like a bell, just like usual.
After being stunned, Xiao Bo offered help in time, holding Pei Zhaoying's shoulders with both hands and helping her sit steadily again.
The man's reaction was not so easy to subside.
"You--!" Pei Zhaoying was angry and wanted to blame Xiao Bo.
She had never experienced this in her life. Just thinking about it made her breath unstable and rapid.
Xiao Bo tilted his head, pretending to be asking for clarification: "If I have violated any rules, please tell me clearly."
In short, he did nothing.
Pei Zhaoying bumped into him directly.
If it weren't for the angle error, he would most likely have been killed by Pei Zhaoying's iron head skill.
So, this can't be blamed on him.
"Forget it, I'm generous and I won't bother with you."
Pei Zhaoying thought for a long time but couldn't think of a reason to blame Xiao Bo, so he shook his sleeves and made up an excuse to justify himself. As if to avoid suspicion, he remained arrogant and dignified throughout the rest of the journey, deliberately not talking or laughing with Xiao Bo, and not looking at him.
Xiao Bo found it funny and wondered how long she could endure it.
Sure enough, when they reached the foot of the mountain, Pei Zhaoying was embarrassed to order other guards to carry her up the mountain. She didn't want other men to touch her so intimately. Qiluo and Jin Chenxiao were both women, and she didn't want to burden them, so she hinted to Xiao Bo with her eyes.
Xiao Bo didn't want to make things difficult for her, so he squatted down in front of her wheelchair. Qi Luo and the others helped Pei Zhaoying climb onto his back.
The mountain temple was not high, and Xiao Bo took one step at a time, walking very steadily and firmly, not wanting to let Pei Zhaoying suffer any bumps.
My neck felt itchy and I could feel my daughter's breath.
Xiao Bomo counted the steps to divert his attention, but the man on his back became restless and asked quietly:
"Xiao Bo, your ears are red. Hey, why are your ears red?"
Xiao Bo almost fell down.
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