Chapter 77, Size Just Right
The area outside the examination hall was crowded with people, and even the streets not far away were congested with people.
Jiang Ninghui looked at the young man approaching her, and her face immediately turned pale. She tried to shake off Pei Duo's hand in panic and fear, but the young man held it very tightly. Not only could she not shake him off, but his fingers also slipped through her fingers and squeezed into hers.
Jiang Ninghui thought to herself, "It's over."
It's completely over.
She closed her eyes in despair, waiting for her husband to come up to her and loudly accuse her of being promiscuous and having affairs with other men, waiting to become a slut despised by everyone in public.
She waited and waited, until her heart was filled with desolation and loneliness, until she almost suffocated, but she didn't hear her husband's scolding. Instead, she heard his voice calling out with great joy, "Lady Li!"
Jiang Ninghui's eyelashes fluttered, and she suddenly opened her eyes, only to see her husband running towards her from a few steps away.
He did not see her.
He didn't even glance at her.
He stared ahead, his dark eyes gleaming, his face filled with joy, and strode over to her and Pei Duo, a few steps apart.
Jiang Ninghui followed the gaze and saw a woman in a green dress standing not far away. She had bright eyes, white teeth, and skin as white as snow. It would not be an exaggeration to say that her face was as beautiful as an angel.
She had never seen such a beautiful woman.
Presumably, this woman is Li Fu.
She watched as her husband ran up to the woman and stopped, saw the smile on his face, and noticed the carefulness with which he spoke to Lady Li. This side of her husband was one that Jiang Ninghui had never seen before.
She stood there, her eyes vacant, her heart heavy.
In an instant, panic surged forth like a relentless tide.
Jiang Ninghui's body trembled uncontrollably, and even her lips trembled.
If she hadn't seen it, so be it. Perhaps she still held onto a sliver of hope that her husband would one day forget that young lady named Li Fu, that he would come back, that he would see her, and that he would live a good life with her.
But now that she has seen the young woman's face with her own eyes, she realizes that all her hopes have been dashed.
Pei Duo glanced casually at the couple who had already walked away.
He lowered his eyes and looked at the pale, sorrowful face of the woman beside him.
He seemed puzzled: "What is your sister-in-law looking at? Why are you so engrossed?"
Jiang Ninghui lowered her head, as if her energy had been drained in an instant: "I didn't see anything, I want to go back and rest."
After saying that, she tried to pull her hand away, but the young man gripped it even tighter: "Sister-in-law hasn't come with me to see the list of results yet."
Jiang Ninghui was led by Pei Duo and forced to follow him to the less crowded southeast direction. At a distance that was neither too close nor too far, she saw the names on the list of successful candidates. Pei Duo was unsurprisingly number one. When she looked down, she saw that Zhao Zhixue's name was third.
Jiang Ninghui was quite surprised.
She never expected that her husband would do better in the provincial examination than in the imperial examination.
On the way back, Jiang Ninghui clasped her hands together in front of her, refusing to let Pei Duo hold them no matter what.
Looking at the bustling city of Kyoto and the people coming and going on the street, Jiang Ninghui felt a sense of etherealness in every place and every person. She felt out of place here and did not belong here. Her only connection to this place was her husband. As long as her husband was there, she was there. But if one day her husband abandoned her for Li Fu, where would she go?
All the sounds around her seemed to be shrouded in a layer of fog when they reached Jiang Ninghui's ears.
Only a clear, melodious voice pierced through the fog and resounded in her ears.
"Sister-in-law, have I kept my promise?"
Jiang Ninghui looked up slowly, puzzled, and her tearful eyes met Pei Duo's.
Is she still heartbroken over that good-for-nothing?
She saw with her own eyes that that good-for-nothing had someone else in his heart, yet she still wouldn't give up?
Shouldn't she just abandon the person who betrayed her?
Jiang Ninghui: "What do you mean by that?"
Pei Duo: "I promised my sister-in-law that I would help your husband pass the provincial examination and the metropolitan examination. Now, with my help, he has passed the provincial examination and the metropolitan examination. Now, he only needs to pass the palace examination. So, have I broken my promise?"
Jiang Ninghui suddenly realized.
She almost forgot that Pei Duo had made terms with her when they were in Qingping Town.
She didn't move out and lived under the same roof with him until the end of the imperial examination. He helped her husband pass the exam with flying colors and helped her escape the calamity set up for her by the fortune teller. After that, he parted ways with her again and never contacted her again.
Jiang Ninghui lowered her head: "I did not break my promise."
There are only half a month left until the palace examination.
After the imperial examination, she and Pei Duo went their separate ways.
Jiang Ninghui pursed her lips, trying to suppress the pain that was spreading in her heart, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't. Instead, when she tried to breathe, waves of pain rose from her throat to her chest.
The two returned to the courtyard.
Jiang Ninghui wanted to go back to her room when a warm body suddenly pressed against her back.
Pei Duo pulled the woman into a tight embrace from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder, and said in a very intimate tone, "I've done what I promised you, sister-in-law. Now, could you grant me a favor?"
Jiang Ninghui was practically nestled in his arms.
She tilted her head slightly, feeling the young man's hot breath against her shoulder.
It's hot, itchy, and has a tingling, numbing sensation that's incredibly soothing.
Jiang Ninghui curled her fingertips, surprisingly not resisting his embrace, and let him hold her.
She said, "Tell me what it is first."
Pei Duo: "Could you accompany me on a boat trip on the lake in three days, so we can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Kyoto together?"
Jiang Ninghui hesitated for a moment, then asked, "What time is it?"
Pei Duo: "The end of the You hour (5-7 PM)."
Jiang Ninghui pursed her lips and remained silent.
She wanted to agree, because this was probably the last time she would go out with Pei Duo.
But at this hour, she was afraid that her husband would be at home, and that if she agreed to Pei Duo's request now, it would be bad if she went back on her word three days later.
Seemingly sensing her worries, the young man kindly said, "If Zhao Zhixue is home that day, let's drop this matter. If he isn't, would you be willing to come with me, sister-in-law?"
Jiang Ninghui nodded gently.
Pei Duo lowered his head, his two handsome, thin lips pressed against the woman's porcelain-white neck. She tickled and turned her head to avoid him, but his lips followed closely. His warm, wet tongue pressed against the pulse on the side of her neck, licking it with extreme lightness and gentleness.
"You, you let go."
Jiang Ninghui was panting heavily from his bullying.
She turned away from his embrace, raising her hand to push him away, but he grabbed both her wrists with one hand and pressed them against his chest, while his other hand gripped the back of her neck, pulling her towards him. The young man's lips silenced her incessant chatter.
The kiss was long and tender.
But the way he restrained her hands was anything but gentle.
Jiang Ninghui couldn't break free; his tongue plunged in, entwining with hers.
He took her tongue into his mouth and licked it gently.
Gradually, Jiang Ninghui forgot all her troubles and bitterness, because she simply didn't have time to think about anything. Her mind was in a daze from being bullied by him, and she didn't even know where she was.
Over the next three days, Jiang Ninghui considered agreeing to Pei Duo's request to go boating on the lake.
Since the day the results were announced, my husband has not appeared again.
Even on the day of the lake excursion, he still hadn't returned.
Jiang Ninghui sat on the edge of the couch, gazing absently at the desk where her husband had once sat. She couldn't help but wonder, where was her husband now? Was he at the residence of the Minister of Rites or the Minister of Justice? Was he with Lady Li now? In these past three days, had her husband even thought of his wife waiting for him at home?
Footsteps came from outside, and Jiang Ninghui looked up to see Pei Duo coming in.
The young man wore a jade-colored robe, but his robe was different from his usual robe. His robe was plain and simple with no embroidery, but today the lapels and hem of the robe were embroidered with silver cloud patterns. The young man's thick black hair was half tied up and half tied up, and his hair ornament was not a jade hairpin, but a silver crown with jade and branches.
This attire further accentuated the young man's handsome and noble appearance, making him awe-inspiring.
And it instantly created a strong sense of distance between Jiang Ninghui and him.
Pei Duo lived with her in this small courtyard every day, so much so that she almost forgot that he was the nephew of a high-ranking official in the capital, that his mother was a daughter of a noble family, and that he himself was exceptionally talented.
Pei Duo carried a box in his hand. He placed the box on the table and took out a light yellow dress from it for her to change into.
The fabric of the dress was clearly of excellent quality. Jiang Ninghui looked down at the coarse cloth clothes she was wearing and couldn't help but pinch the hem of her clothes. Suddenly, she felt a warmth on the back of her hand. It was Pei Duo who had taken her hand.
He said, "I specially asked someone to make this dress for my sister-in-law. The embroidered pattern is similar to mine, and the size is just right."
Jiang Ninghui was taken aback: "I haven't even tried it on yet, how do you know the size is just right?"
The young man's dark eyes stared at her bewildered expression, a smile playing on his handsome, thin lips: "Which part of your body haven't I touched, sister-in-law? One touch and I know your limits—"
"Stop talking!"
Jiang Ninghui quickly covered his mouth, her porcelain-white cheeks like red plum blossoms blooming in the snow, her blush alluring.
Pei Duo looked at her innocently, as if complaining to her—you're the one who asked me questions, and you're also the one who told me to shut up.
Jiang Ninghui's bad mood vanished, and she quickly got up and pushed him out: "I'll change, you wait outside first."
After saying that, he quickly closed the door and then bolted it.
Pei Duo stood outside the house, separated by a door. He listened to his sister-in-law's rapid breathing, the sound of her footsteps as she walked to the bed, and the rustling sound of her taking off her clothes.
The young man's gaze seemed to penetrate the crack in the door as if it were a tangible thing, or like an invisible vine.
Each one penetrates into the gap.
Inside the house, Jiang Ninghui dressed very slowly—
Because she had never worn such fine clothes before, she was at a loss for what to do.
After she finished dressing, he went over and opened the door.
The young man waiting outside immediately fixed his gaze on Jiang Ninghui the moment the door opened.
As he had thought, his sister-in-law was very well-suited to the light yellow color. The dress clung to her body, hugging her slender figure, with a jade-colored belt around her waist and a crimson sash of light yellow and white hanging around her waist, making her waist appear even more delicate.
Pei Duo stepped across the threshold and entered. His tall figure loomed over her like a rugged mountain. Jiang Ninghui was startled and quickly stepped back. But before she could lift her foot, Pei Duo reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist. He lifted her chin and pressed his lips down on hers without warning.
Jiang Ninghui stared in disbelief, wondering why Pei Duo had kissed her again.
This kiss was different from any other he had ever given.
It possesses an extremely strong predatory and destructive nature.
Jiang Ninghui was almost suffocated by his kiss. Tears welled up in her almond-shaped eyes, and her heart was pounding fiercely. She didn't know how long he had been kissing her, but she felt that her lips had lost all feeling.
Pei Duo removed the wooden hairpin from Jiang Ninghui's hair bun, and in an instant, the woman's long black hair cascaded down her shoulders and back.
The young man's strong fingers pierced through Jiang Ninghui's dark hair, his palm gripping the back of her head.
The kisses grew increasingly fierce.
Finally, Jiang Ninghui, whose body was weak from being kissed, was led to a chair by Pei Duo. He took out a carefully selected hairpin and personally combed her hair.
Jiang Ninghui's muddled mind gradually cleared. She raised her hand to touch the bun Pei Duo had styled for her, quite surprised: "You—"
She couldn't utter a coherent sentence for a long time.
Pei Duo looked at the woman's hair and saw that it was no longer a simple wooden hairpin, but one that he had carefully selected and personally placed on her head.
"I've been learning this skill for the past three days so that I can personally comb my sister-in-law's hair today."
Pei Duo took the bronze mirror out of the box and held it up to Jiang Ninghui: "Sister-in-law, take a look, are you satisfied?"
Jiang Ninghui looked at the woman in the bronze mirror and almost didn't recognize her.
This was the first time she had worn such beautiful clothes, the first time she had ever been exposed to such fine fabric, and even the first time someone had combed her hair. Not even her husband had ever combed her hair before, let alone spent three days learning how to do it for her.
Jiang Ninghui's heart felt as if it had been touched by something, softly and gently.
The feeling was just like when she first ate the pastries Pei Duo gave her; the sweet and creamy taste lingered all the way down to her stomach.
The young man then asked, "Is your wife satisfied?"
Jiang Ninghui lowered her head shyly and nodded gently: "Mm."
As dusk fell, the streets of Kyoto were illuminated by a dazzling array of lanterns.
The only beautiful scenery Jiang Ninghui had ever seen was the Longchang Lantern Festival. She thought it was the most beautiful scenery in the world, but compared to Kyoto, it paled in comparison. Since arriving in Kyoto, she had stayed in that small courtyard day and night and rarely went out. Once night fell, she would not step out of the courtyard even once. She had never seen such a beautiful scene before.
Jiang Ninghui was stunned.
Pei Duo held her hand, letting her admire the beautiful scenery around them.
He led her through the crowd and onto the boat.
Many boats were moored along the riverbank, and the lanterns hanging from them were reflected on the water, creating a gold foil effect of varying sizes.
At this moment, Jiang Ninghui no longer thought about her lover, no longer thought about everything after the palace examination, and didn't even consider whether she would meet him again. Her mind was completely immersed in the beautiful scenery. A soft, sweet pastry was pressed against her lips, and Pei Duo's clear, deep voice whispered in her ear: "Open your mouth."
Jiang Ninghui obediently opened her mouth, and a small, sweet pastry entered her mouth.
The young man asked with a smile, "Is it sweet?"
Jiang Ninghui nodded gently.
sweet.
It's very sweet.
It was the only time in her twenty years that she felt a sweetness that touched her very heart.
Pei Duo took Jiang Ninghui sightseeing for more than an hour and fed her until she was full.
Perhaps it was because she had changed her clothes tonight, and because Pei Duo, unlike her husband, did not avoid her at all, but took care of her in every way and stayed by her side every step of the way, Jiang Ninghui suddenly felt that she was not so embarrassed and uncomfortable.
The two were standing in a private room on the second floor of the ship.
The windows were wide open, and the evening breeze caressed my face.
Jiang Ninghui admired the beautiful scenery outside and the lanterns reflected on the water.
Pei Duo hugged Jiang Ninghui from behind, gently resting his chin on the top of her head: "Did you have fun tonight, sister-in-law?"
Jiang Ninghui rested her fingers on the windowsill and responded in a very soft voice.
A meaningful smile appeared in the young man's dark eyes.
As long as my sister-in-law has fun, that's all that matters.
Next.
The real show is about to begin.
It's time for him to be happy.
Pei Duo lifted his eyelids and glanced at the approaching ship in the distance.
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Author's Note: There's a red envelope in this chapter! Update before 10 AM tomorrow! [Sprinkling flowers]
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