Chapter 97: Fake Play Becomes Reality (Part 3)
Temporary palace.
More than half a month had passed since Zhuang Wan left, and the weather was gradually turning cooler as autumn approached.
But the servants of Lingxiao Courtyard felt that winter had arrived early. Since Miss Zhuang left, Lingxiao Courtyard had suddenly become colder, and their masters, in particular, had become increasingly difficult to serve.
This was mainly reflected in his becoming picky about food. In the West Garden alone, he replaced two chefs, and it was the emperor himself who requested the replacement.
As for why this was so? Why would the emperor, who was so busy with state affairs, care about his subjects to such an extent?
This story begins when Pei Xingju's beloved woman abandons him...
According to an insider (although the identity of this insider is still unknown), Miss Zhuang bribed the kitchen manager and secretly left one night.
This was no idle talk, for a steward in the kitchen named Cheng was given fifty lashes and relegated to the lowest position, cleaning toilets. Furthermore, Miss Zhuang's maid had been crying lately, asking where the young lady had gone and why she hadn't been taken with her.
Therefore, everyone knew that Zhuang Wan had left the palace without saying goodbye.
The news spread quickly in the small but crowded palace. The eunuchs, ladies, ministers, and others all knew about it. Later, even the emperor heard about it.
The emperor valued Pei Xingju and respected this minister who had once served as his tutor. So one day, after inquiring about the situation at Lingxiao Courtyard and learning that Pei Xingju didn't eat much for three meals a day, he changed his cook.
Since the emperor was so concerned, the ministers also took action. They would never disturb Pei Xingju or cause trouble for him on matters that they could decide on their own.
After all, as men, we can all understand that being abandoned by a woman is really...too miserable.
There was sympathy for Pei Xingju, some expressed regret, and some even gloated over his misfortune. However, Pei Xingju, the person involved, knew nothing about these things and remained indifferent.
At this moment, he was sitting in the study of Lingxiao Courtyard playing chess with himself.
When Shen Yi came, he saw him playing chess with an expressionless face.
He tutted his words and sat down: "I'm actually a little envious of you."
Pei Xingju didn't even raise his head: "What do you envy me for?"
"Don't you know?" Chen Yi couldn't help laughing: "You are now the focus of the entire palace's attention."
“…”
Chen Yi continued, "Other people don't dare to bother you when they have problems, but I'm not so lucky. All the problems are piled up on me. Look, look..."
He stretched his lips and said, "I've been so busy these past few days that I haven't been able to eat or sleep well. My mouth is even covered in blisters."
Pei Xingju slowly picked up a white jade chess piece, his eyes fixed on the chessboard, without saying a word.
"But then again," Chen Yi asked, "Why did Miss Zhuang leave? I've never understood this. Miss Zhuang was born in the capital, her mother is still in the village, and her brother... never mind her brother. She, a woman who grew up in the capital, actually left her hometown, her family, and..."
Glancing at the peerless, miserable man, he continued, "And you, weren't you having an affair? From her previous appearance, she seemed to love you so much, so why did she just leave like that? Leaving the capital, where could a weak woman like her go?"
In a moment, the white jade chess piece fell on the chessboard, blocking the black chess piece's path.
"You want to know?" Pei Xingju said slowly, "Actually, I want to know too."
Shen Yi's doubts were exactly his doubts.
There are probably only two possibilities for a person who would rather abandon his family and hometown and go far away.
Either they are not blood relatives, or she is taking orders from someone else.
However, these two possibilities are the least likely to happen to Zhuang Wan. She seems to be hiding many secrets and has become a mystery.
He wants to solve the mystery of her!
Seeing him so calm, Shen Yi asked curiously, "She's been gone for so many days, aren't you anxious?"
"What's the rush?"
"You remember everything," Chen Yi said. "If you didn't remember, it would be fine, but you remember everything. All the love and affection you had in the past is still there, but the woman you loved has left you. Aren't you sad?"
Pei Xingju laughed mockingly.
"What do you mean?" Shen Yi was puzzled.
Pei Xingju put down his chess piece and wiped his hands with a handkerchief. "I have no personal relationship with her. All the things in the past are lies she made up to protect herself."
"Huh?" Shen Yi was dumbfounded.
A gust of wind blew in, and he hurriedly pressed down the file on the table, asking in disbelief, "Miss Zhuang actually lied to you? You...you really don't have any past?"
Pei Xing remained silent.
Chen Yi murmured: "If everything is made up by her, but she not only knows your name but also knows that you have lost your memory, how do you explain this?"
This is exactly what Pei Xingju finds difficult to understand.
"But one thing is certain, Miss Zhuang has no intention of harming you." Shen Yi said.
Otherwise, Pei Xingju would not be able to sit here safely.
Chen Yi asked again: "Since you know the whole truth, why did you let her go?"
Pei Xingju wrote slowly, "Since she wants to leave, why should I force her to stay?"
Besides, he also wanted to see where she was going and what she was doing.
Chen Yi took a long time to digest this news before finally realizing, "So... you knew she was lying to you a long time ago, so why did you still act like it was real?"
“…”
"Oh..." Chen Yi understood: "Could it be that you have secretly developed feelings for her and want to make it real?"
""
Shen Yi, who guessed the truth, was happy.
He suddenly burst into laughter.
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