Chapter 19. Lock her up, imprison her...
Snowflakes fell softly, covering Jiang Ninghui's dark hair and shoulders with a layer of snow.
She buried her head in her arms, a section of her snow-white nape exposed to the snow.
Snowflakes landed on the back of her neck, their cool, wetness melting into water the moment they touched her skin and slid deep into the side of her neck.
She seemed oblivious to the cold.
Jiang Ninghui was lost in her own world of sorrow, and the sound of her sobs, which seemed to be being chewed up, escaped from the crook of her arms.
Pei Duo gestured to the coachman to fetch an oil-paper umbrella so that he could leave first.
He opened the umbrella and sheltered Jiang Ninghui from the sun.
The young man lowered his eyes and stared at the woman's bare nape.
Very fine.
It is also very fragile.
It is so brittle that it can be broken with just a little force from two fingers.
The woman's soft sobs made Pei Duo's forehead veins bulge clearly, and his jawline also tightened with a cold and frightening line.
He glanced at the food box at Jiang Ninghui's feet.
She had just gone to the school; she was there to deliver lunch to her husband.
Her husband didn't appreciate her feelings, which is why she cried so sadly.
Why cry over a useless piece of trash?
And she cried so heartbrokenly.
Pei Duo didn't want to hear her crying anymore, so he called out to her, "Sister-in-law."
That clear, melodious voice rang out from above, and Jiang Ninghui's crying abruptly stopped.
She froze, almost unable to believe her ears.
She thought she heard Young Master Pei's voice.
Before she could catch her breath, the young man's voice rang out again: "Why are you squatting here crying in this freezing weather, sister-in-law? Did Brother Zhao bully you?"
Jiang Ninghui looked up in astonishment, her almond-shaped eyes, wet and red from crying, meeting Pei Duo's gaze.
They really do look like rabbit eyes.
It's red.
They are so pitiful.
"Young Master Pei—"
Jiang Ninghui never imagined she would run into Pei Duo here.
Didn't he say he wouldn't be back until the afternoon?
Jiang Ninghui hurriedly stood up, but because she had been squatting for a while, her legs were a little numb, and she staggered uncontrollably. Pei Duo reached out and grabbed Jiang Ninghui's forearm to help her steady herself, and also let her use her own strength to relieve the numbness in her legs.
A faint scent of cedar wafted into her nose, and the five fingers that gripped her forearm seemed to grow wildly like vines, creeping into her sleeve.
Young Master Pei was clearly polite and knew how to behave appropriately.
Yet Jiang Ninghui still inexplicably felt the power and predation emanating from that hand.
It's very strange.
Jiang Ninghui also felt that she was very despicable for thinking such things about Young Master Pei.
She withdrew her hand, lowered her head, and said in a soft voice with a nasal tone from crying, "Thank you."
Pei Duo tilted the umbrella towards Jiang Ninghui and asked again, "Sister-in-law, did Brother Zhao bully you?"
Jiang Ninghui shook her head. She had stopped crying, but as soon as someone asked her questions, the grievances she had managed to suppress resurfaced. She bit her lower lip tightly, swallowing the sobs between her teeth, before saying, "My husband treats me very well. It was my fault. I said the wrong thing."
Pei Duo: "What did your sister-in-law say?"
Jiang Ninghui was unwilling to continue the conversation.
The reason why the young master was angry with her was that he felt he was inferior to Young Master Pei in every way.
Young Master Pei did nothing wrong and shouldn't have been dragged into this.
Jiang Ninghui hastily wiped away the tears on her face with both hands, took a deep breath, raised her head and forced a smile, asking, "Didn't Young Master Pei say he would be back this afternoon? Why are you back early?"
Pei Duo knew she didn't want to continue.
But I could tell from her hesitant and awkward manner.
Zhao Zhixue was angry with her, perhaps because he went to see the prefect of Longchang today.
What a useless piece of trash.
He only vents his incompetence on his wife.
If he had known this would happen, he would have brought Zhao Zhixue with him today, so that his sister-in-law wouldn't have cried her eyes out for him.
It's really not worth it.
Pei Duo bent down and picked up the food box from the ground, glancing at Jiang Ninghui's moist almond-shaped eyes: "I was in a hurry to get to school, so I came back early. Has my sister-in-law had lunch yet?"
Jiang Ninghui shook her head truthfully: "Not yet."
Pei Duo: "Perfect timing, I'm also looking for lunch, let's eat together."
Jiang Ninghui was somewhat surprised.
Young Master Pei visited the prefect's residence for a short chat, but the prefect didn't even provide a meal.
"I was in a hurry to come back, so the prefect didn't keep me."
The young man's abrupt explanation made Jiang Ninghui blush slightly; once again, Young Master Pei had seen through her thoughts.
Back home, Jiang Ninghui heated up the food and served it.
Having been in town for nearly half a year, this was the first time she and Young Master Pei were eating together at the dinner table.
Jiang Ninghui had something on her mind and didn't have much of an appetite; she only ate a few bites before giving up.
Suddenly, an oil paper package appeared before him. The young man tapped the table twice with his long, slender fingers: "These are pastries sent by the Prefect. I don't like sweets, so please have them, sister-in-law."
Jiang Ninghui was about to refuse when she heard Young Master Pei say, "When the prefect gave me the snacks, he said a few words and asked me to tell him how the snacks tasted when I visited his residence next time. So, I'd like to trouble you, sister-in-law, to taste them for me. I get dizzy easily when I eat sweets."
Jiang Ninghui, unsuspecting, nodded gently: "Okay."
She opened the oil paper package. This time, the pastries were different from the previous ones. The pastries were small and soft, the crystal cakes were snow-white and delicate, and the plum blossom cakes were carved with exquisite patterns. It was the first time Jiang Ninghui had realized that the pastries of the wealthy and powerful could be so exquisite and beautiful.
It looked so good that she didn't want to take a bite.
Jiang Ninghui picked up the soft and glutinous crystal cake and took a bite. It was fragrant and soft, and with her limited knowledge of food, she couldn't tell what precious ingredients were in it. She just thought it was extremely delicious.
Pei Duo saw a deep, pleasant smile appear on Jiang Ninghui's reddened eyes.
The bitterness in her eyes was masked by the sweetness of the pastry, making her look much more pleasing to the eye.
Pei Duo: "How is it?"
Jiang Ninghui: "It's sweet, soft, and melts in your mouth."
Pei Duo lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the remaining pastries: "Try the other four."
Jiang Ninghui took a bite and shared her impressions.
Upon hearing this, Pei Duo nodded in understanding.
He stood up: "In that case, I thank you, sister-in-law. When the prefect invites me to his residence for a chat again next time, I will know how to respond."
Jiang Ninghui felt unworthy of Pei Duo's gratitude.
After all, she ate all those beautiful and exquisite pastries; if they were sold outside, they could probably fetch a good price.
After lunch, Pei Duo went to the school.
Jiang Ninghui cleaned up the kitchen and went to Pei Duo's room to light a charcoal fire.
I don't know if it's because I ate some delicate and sweet pastries, but I don't feel as bitter and upset as before.
Dusk had fallen.
Jiang Ninghui prepared dinner and waited in the snowy night with a kerosene lamp in hand.
Everything was covered in white snow, making the night as bright as day.
A figure walked through the heavy snow. Despite the cold winter, the person was still wearing a thin, dark blue robe, with his black hair half-tied up and a book bag slung over his shoulder. His tall and imposing figure stood out in the snowy night like a proud pine tree on a mountain peak.
It was cold and desolate.
It is Young Master Pei.
He returned alone; his lover was nowhere to be seen.
The disappointment in Jiang Ninghui's bright eyes was fully reflected in Pei Duo's eyes.
The young man approached, his dark eyes sweeping over the woman's red, frostbitten nose, and he inwardly scoffed.
How pitiful.
Her beloved husband went to the tavern to warm wine and eat meat, while she stood alone here waiting for his return.
Jiang Ninghui clenched her fingers, her lips and teeth shivering from the cold, and looked up to ask, "Young Master Pei, did your husband go to see the teacher again?"
Pei Duo made no attempt to cover for Zhao Zhixue: "He went to a tavern with his classmates and will be back later."
Jiang Ninghui's heart sank suddenly, and the empty feeling of falling made her purse her lips uncomfortably.
She lowered her head: "I understand."
For the first time in six months of their marriage, she heard her husband go to a tavern for drinks.
Jiang Ninghui had no appetite for dinner and went back to her room to rest.
Pei Duo stood in the courtyard, his once clear and aloof brows now tinged with a sinister aura.
To ruin your body for an incompetent person.
That's incredibly childish.
The food in the pot in the kitchen gradually cooled down, and no one touched it to eat.
As the night grew deeper, the young man left his room windows wide open, letting the raging cold wind rush in.
He stood before the table, holding a purple brush, and added a small nose, rosy lips and teeth, a wooden hairpin, and the outline of the ears to the portrait that only had the outline of almond eyes. The earlobes were empty, without any earrings.
She wore no earrings, and apart from a cheap wooden hairpin, she had no other jewelry.
It's truly a shame that someone like her married Zhao Zhixue.
The portrait, depicting a beautiful woman moved by the spring tide, adds a rich and vibrant touch to the small, dark room.
The creaking sound of the door opening next door followed.
Pei Duo lifted his thin eyelids and looked at Jiang Ninghui, who was wearing coarse cotton clothes and carrying a kerosene lamp.
She walked toward the gate of the courtyard, which was bolted shut.
The young man gripped the purple-tipped brush tightly, his gaze cold and indifferent: "Is your sister-in-law going to the tavern to find Brother Zhao?"
Jiang Ninghui was startled by the sudden sound coming from the darkness.
She turned her head and saw Pei Duo standing by the window. The candlelight in the room flickered in the cold wind, casting the tall and slender figure of the young man in the dim light. His deep and indifferent eyes were like a bottomless abyss, sucking up her soul, as if he wanted to bind her and her soul into it.
Lock her up, imprison her, so that even if she grew wings, she couldn't fly away.
Jiang Ninghui was frightened by this sudden and terrifying thought.
Young Master Pei is a refined and elegant gentleman, as beautiful as an orchid and as precious as jade.
How could she suddenly think of Young Master Pei in such a way!
Jiang Ninghui was afraid that Pei Duo would see through her thoughts, so she lowered her eyes guiltily and happened to see a large sheet of Xuan paper on the table in front of him.
A portrait of a beautiful woman was painted on the rice paper.
Those familiar eyes and brows...
A note from the author:
----------------------
There's a red envelope in this chapter!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com