Chapter 61. He fed her until she was very full.
After spending nearly seven days in Xiping Village, Pei Duo was about to set off for Longchang County.
Zhao Zhixue also went along. This time, he did not ask the two elders to let Jiang Ninghui stay and take care of them. After successfully passing the provincial and municipal examinations, he became even more convinced that what the fortune teller said was true.
Therefore, it is safest to keep his wife with him at all times.
Last night, Jiang Ninghui learned from her husband that the prefect had gifted Pei Duo a house.
Pei Duo proposed that the young master move in with him so that they could discuss academic matters together, which would be helpful for the imperial examinations the following spring. Pei Duo also asked the prefect to help the young master get a position as a teacher at the prefectural school.
Upon hearing what her husband said, Jiang Ninghui understood.
She didn't want to think about it too much.
In short, Pei Duo will leave after the palace examination next year.
At that time, she and Pei Duo will no longer have any entanglement.
On the day the carriage left the Zhao family, both Mr. and Mrs. Zhao and Mr. and Mrs. Pei came out to see them off. Many households in Xiping Village also came out to see them off. For the people of Xiping Village, it was a great honor that the village had produced two scholars at once.
The village head led his men and escorted Pei Duo and the others to the village entrance before leaving.
Before going to Longchang County, Jiang Ninghui had to go to Qingping Town to pack up the clothes and bedding in the courtyard and hire a horse-drawn carriage to take them to Longchang County. Before leaving, Jiang Ninghui went to Sister Mu's house to say goodbye.
Mu Hua was genuinely happy for Pei Xiucai and Zhao Xiucai, who had both passed the imperial examinations.
She pulled Jiang Ninghui aside and whispered a lot of instructions, which were nothing more than to keep a close eye on her man and make sure she could hold onto his heart, otherwise, as he climbed higher and higher, he might set his sights on other things and no longer care about his wife.
Jiang Ninghui felt a warmth in her heart: "Sister Mu, you're overthinking it. My husband isn't that kind of person."
Mu Hua smiled and said, "It's not the best, but it's always good to be careful."
Jiang Ninghui: "Okay, I've got it."
Mu Hua chatted with Jiang Ninghui for a few more minutes before seeing her out.
Jiang Ninghui was the last to board the carriage. Zhao Zhixue asked, "What did Sister-in-law Hu say to you? Why did she talk for so long?"
Not wanting her husband to know about Sister-in-law Mu's instructions, Jiang Ninghui made up an excuse. As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a gaze that seemed to see right through her.
She didn't dare to look up and meet that gaze.
That gaze was directed at no one but Pei Duo.
It takes some time to travel by horse-drawn carriage from Qingping Town to Longchang County.
At the hour of Shen (3-5 PM), the carriage finally arrived outside the mansion gate.
Jiang Ninghui stepped down from the carriage and was truly stunned when she saw the magnificent mansion in front of her.
This mansion was more impressive than the best house she had seen in Qingping Town.
Two women in their forties and an elderly man were waiting outside the gate. Upon seeing the three of them, they stepped forward and bowed respectfully. The elderly man said that the three of them had been sent by the prefect to serve Pei Jieyuan's daily needs.
The old man said, "Young Master Pei, my name is Zhou Zhuang."
Pei Duo nodded indifferently.
Zhou Zhuang stepped aside: "This servant will lead my lord into the house."
After speaking, he gave the two women a wink. Seeing this, the two women very perceptively stepped forward to take the heavy bundle from Jiang Ninghui's arms and invited her and her husband into the house. Jiang Ninghui had never seen such a scene before, let alone been served like this. For a moment, she was restrained and uneasy, and even walked with her hands and feet moving in unison.
She stood close to her husband, trying to ease the unease and awkwardness that emanated from her heart.
As soon as Zhao Zhixue got off the carriage, he felt a surge of frustration in his chest.
Although there was no abnormality on his face, several veins on his neck were clearly bulging with anger.
Without Pei Duo, he would be the only successful candidate in the imperial examinations in Longchang County, this house would be his, and he would be the one treated with utmost respect, not Pei Duo. Zhao Zhixue glanced at the magnificent house and the obsequious servants, his obsession with wielding power growing ever stronger.
He must study even harder and strive to be among the top three in next year's imperial examination.
Only in this way can one gain access to the powerful and wealthy.
He also wants to become a powerful and influential person, instead of being like this, constantly subservient to others!
Zhou Zhuang led them inside and showed Jiang Ninghui and Zhao Zhixue their accommodations.
Their courtyard was adjacent to Pei Duo's, separated only by a flower bed.
After the group had lunch, Pei Duo took Zhao Zhixue to the prefect's residence.
Jiang Ninghui was quite bored being alone in the house.
Back in Qingping Town, she cooked three meals a day, and when she had nothing to do, she could chat with Sister Mu to pass the time. Sometimes she could even weave tassels and sew sachets, so life wasn't boring. Now, she doesn't have to cook, there's no one to chat with, and she has no handicrafts to do. She can only sit in the house and stare blankly out the window.
When the hour of Xu (7:45 PM) arrived, only Pei Duo returned, but his lover was nowhere to be seen.
Zhou Zhuang came to the courtyard to tell her that Pei Duo wanted her to come over.
Jiang Ninghui hesitated for a moment, then followed Zhou Zhuang to the neighboring courtyard.
She walked into the room nervously and saw Pei Duo sitting at the round table, fiddling with the food box on it.
The young man glanced at her and tapped lightly to the side with his finger: "Sister-in-law, come and sit here."
Jiang Ninghui walked over, but just as she sat down, she heard the door close. Turning around, she saw that Butler Zhou, who had been waiting outside, had closed the door. Her heart tightened for no reason, and she was extremely afraid of being alone in a room with Pei Duo, fearing that he would break his promise and do something inappropriate to her again.
Jiang Ninghui hurriedly got up—
Before she could get up, a hand with distinct knuckles gently pressed down on her shoulder and neck.
Pei Duo's dark eyes stared straight at her, a sly smile playing on his handsome face: "Sister-in-law, are you afraid of me?"
Jiang Ninghui felt uncomfortable under his gaze and could tell that he seemed angry.
She gently shook her head: "No, no."
The young man slightly raised his sparse eyebrows: "Is that so?"
Jiang Ninghui nodded: "Mm."
The young man lifted his hand from her shoulder, his fingers gently stroking Jiang Ninghui's warm cheek. Feeling the woman's trembling face beneath his fingers, he chuckled, "Since I have promised you, sister-in-law, that I will not force you to do anything that would betray your husband, I will not go back on my word. You need not be afraid of me."
Jiang Ninghui tried her best to ignore the gentle caress on her cheek, lowering her eyes to avoid looking at those dark, cold eyes: "Okay."
“I brought back some dinner, and my sister-in-law ate with me.”
Pei Duo took out the exquisite dishes from the food box one by one, and the fresh and rich aroma wafted straight to his nose.
Jiang Ninghui had never seen such exquisite dishes before, and there were also two plates of soft and sticky pastries that she had never seen before.
It goes without saying that this meal and pastries were extremely expensive.
She really couldn't bring herself to pick up her chopsticks.
Jiang Ninghui asked in a low voice, "Young Master Pei, has my husband mentioned to you that he is staying at your house and that there are expenses for his meals?"
The young man replied in a cool tone, "I have."
Jiang Ninghui breathed a sigh of relief.
That's enough.
She added, "Why don't you eat first, Young Master Pei? I'll wait for my husband to return before having dinner. Young Master Pei, do you know when my husband will return?"
From the moment she entered the room, she couldn't stop talking about her husband.
That good-for-nothing, she really cares about him that much?
If he were gone for half a day, would she miss him so much?
Pei Duo's dark pupils flashed with a hint of malice, and then he suddenly let out a cold laugh.
His sister-in-law probably doesn't care about him.
Perhaps, she would be relieved if he didn't come back.
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became, as if a condensed flame was spreading and burning, making him both angry and agitated. His murderous intent spread uncontrollably, clamoring—he wanted to kill Zhao Zhixue immediately.
I want that good-for-nothing to be completely erased from Jiang Ninghui's memory!
I want her to have only her in her memories.
Jiang Ninghui's mouth was still chattering on and on, questioning Zhao Zhixue.
Before she could catch her breath, Pei Duo suddenly pressed in front of her, grabbed the back of her head, and sealed Jiang Ninghui's chattering lips with his.
Jiang Ninghui was stunned, and pitiful tears quickly welled up in her almond-shaped eyes.
Jiang Ninghui was so bullied that she had no strength left, and she didn't even know when she collapsed into Pei Duo's arms.
She wanted to leave, but she couldn't.
My nose stung, and tears welled up in my eyes.
They are so pitiful.
In her dazed state, Jiang Ninghui's body suddenly trembled.
She sensed it...
Jiang Ninghui suddenly shuddered.
She's been through it all, so she knows what it is.
She froze, not daring to move an inch.
The young man finally released her lips and preemptively struck: "Sister-in-law, you know I love you, yet you keep mentioning your husband in front of me, making me jealous. Are you doing this on purpose?"
Jiang Ninghui felt ashamed, angry, and extremely embarrassed.
She couldn't have done it on purpose.
He's framing her!
Jiang Ninghui wanted to explain, but Pei Duo didn't give her a chance to speak.
He raised his hand and pressed it to the woman's lips: "If you mention your husband to me again in the future, I will punish you in this way. Every time you mention him, I will kiss you, until you stop saying it."
Jiang Ninghui finally realized that Pei Duo was not only a madman, but also a scoundrel.
Pei Duo continued, "Sister-in-law, do you remember what you promised me that night? You said that as long as I don't betray your husband, you would never refuse any request I make. Does that mean it?"
Jiang Ninghui's lips were pressed down by Pei Duo's fingertips, preventing her from speaking, and she was forced to nod.
Pei Duo smiled.
He was already exceptionally handsome, and this smile made his already beautiful face even more alluring.
"In that case, from now on, whatever I ask you to do, just do it. Don't refuse, and don't ask why."
Jiang Ninghui was forced to nod.
All she wanted now was to escape from Pei Duo's arms as soon as possible.
Pei Duo finally kindly put her down, and Jiang Ninghui slumped into the chair, her chest heaving violently due to her rapid breathing. Her lips, which had been violated, were a tempting red. As soon as she sat down, a soup spoon was offered to her lips, and Pei Duo's clear, deep, magnetic voice came to her ear: "I'll feed my sister-in-law some soup."
Jiang Ninghui was about to refuse when she heard him say, "Sister-in-law, you must not break your promise."
Jiang Ninghui had no choice but to grit her teeth and drink the soup that Pei Duo fed her.
Pei Duo fed her the whole meal, making sure she was very full.
Jiang Ninghui had never been served by anyone before, and now that this was the first time, she truly felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.
During the meal, Pei Duo told her that his friend had contacted him, hoping that she would continue to sew sachets for him. He said that the fabric, spices, and silk threads would be delivered the next day, and that she could sew sachets in his room in the future to avoid being discovered by Zhao Zhixue.
Jiang Ninghui nodded gently.
In this way, she at least had something to do.
After dinner, Jiang Ninghui wanted to go back to her room, but he pulled her to the table by the window. The young man spread out Xuan paper, pressed down the sides of the paper with a paperweight, poured water to grind ink, dipped the brush in the ink, and placed the brush that Jiang Ninghui had given him in her hand: "Since we have nothing to do, I'll teach you how to write your name, sister-in-law."
Jiang Ninghui froze, staring blankly at the calligraphy brush in her hand.
This was her first time holding a pen. She didn't know how to hold it, and her fingers were stiff and tense.
Pei Duo pulled the woman into his arms, his long, slender hand covering the back of her hand, teaching her how to hold a pen and how to write. He was too tall for her, so the young man had to lower his back and rest his chin on her shoulder, so that their eyes were level, as he taught her to draw her name stroke by stroke.
Jiang Ninghui was led by Pei Duo to wander on the Xuan paper.
Her hands were stiff and clumsy, but he guided them as she wrote three powerful characters.
The young man's clear, melodious voice was imprinted on her ear, teaching her to read from left to right: "Jiang-Ning-Sui".
Jiang Ninghui gazed at the words on the Xuan paper.
The characters recognized her, but she didn't recognize them.
So that was her name.
A bright light gradually appeared in Jiang Ninghui's almond-shaped eyes. At this moment, she seemed to have forgotten that she was being held in Pei Duo's arms, and that Pei Duo was taking the opportunity to bite her ear. The young man took advantage of her every opportunity, and all her attention was focused on the three words on the Xuan paper.
The windows were wide open, and the lanterns under the eaves shone with a dim, yellowish light.
The young man bit Jiang Ninghui's earlobe.
immediately.
He lifted his eyelids, his dark and cold eyes suddenly glancing out the window.
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Author's Note: Dear reviewer, it's really nothing more [crying][crying][crying]
There's a red envelope in this chapter! Update will be tomorrow before 6 PM~ [Sprinkling flowers]
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