Chapter 36 Why Be So Loyal
The stone pavilion was suddenly so quiet that one could hear the sound of the mountain spring.
Luo Zhaohan stared at the cocklebur seeds stained on the corner of Pei Ji's robe when he heard the soft clatter of a teacup. The veins on the back of Pei Ji's hand, where he was pouring tea, were slightly bulging, and his knuckles were stained with ink. "Teacher always loves to joke, Miss Luo, don't mind."
"It's the junior who's being rude." Luo Zhaohan hurriedly stood up, her hairpin caught on the tassel of the bamboo curtain. When she reached out to untie it, Pei Ji suddenly leaned forward and said, "Don't move."
The scent of rosin mixed with ointment hit Luo Zhaohan's face. Her neck was stiff, and she dared not breathe. Pei Ji's fingertips brushed her earlobe, causing her to shudder.
The moment the ear of corn fell to the ground, she caught a glimpse of the scar on the side of his neck - the old wound she saw in the Jieying Hall yesterday.
"Thank you, Lord Pei." Luo Zhaohan took a half step back, and his embroidered shoes crushed the dead leaves outside the pavilion.
Pei Ji suddenly placed the teacup on the stone table and said, "That day at Prince Duan's mansion, Miss Luo reminded me to be careful of the people around me. Was she talking about my mother?"
Luo Zhaohan's throat felt like it was blocked by cotton.
She clutched the dark pattern on her sleeve and simply followed up the conversation by asking, "Just now I saw a memorial tablet in the temple. Was it your name engraved on it?"
Amidst the steam rising from the celadon teapot, Pei Ji didn't even raise his eyelids. "Miss Luo, what kind of thing do you think someone has to go through to suddenly change their personality?"
Those words pierced Luo Zhaohan's heart like a needle. She stared at the moss growing from the cracks in the rocks, remembering the sweet, fishy taste in her throat when she died in her previous life. "Either he suffered a calamity, or he contracted a strange disease."
Or, like her, be reborn after death.
The words turned around on the tip of his tongue and he swallowed the rest back.
"My mother always felt that the 'me' before the age of ten was her son." Pei Ji stroked the rim of the cup, the tea reflecting the dark tide in his eyes. "Over the years, she tried to summon spirits, invited shamans, and finally set up a memorial tablet in the Jieying Hall."
Luo Zhaohan felt a chill on the back of his neck.
Speaking of ghosts and gods... She glanced at Pei Ji's profile. Could it be that this man has also changed his heart?
"Madam, you're being used as a pawn." She dug her nails into her palm. "If someone instigates this by claiming they can bring back the old spirits, and then takes advantage of the situation to stuff some witchcraft items into her, I'm afraid it will harm the Changning Marquis's Mansion."
"Miss Luo is indeed insightful." Pei Ji suddenly leaned forward, his sleeves flipping over two fallen leaves. "But your ability to predict the future is even more intriguing than witchcraft."
The paint on the pavilion pillar had peeled off. Luo Zhaohan stared at the gap and asked, "My lord, are you going to put me in jail?"
"Pei just hopes that the young lady will act with caution." He suddenly reached out and brushed away the fallen petals on her shoulder, "After all, that person in the dark..." His words were shattered by the sound of the bell in the wind.
Luo Zhaohan shuddered. The situation at Prince Duan's mansion and the fire at Xiangguo Temple were likely orchestrated by the same hand. She forced a cold smile, "Since you're being so open with me, aren't you afraid I might betray you?"
"If the young lady wanted to sell it, she wouldn't have risked warning me that day." Pei Ji took out an oil-paper bag from his sleeve, which turned out to be candied plums. "Just like the silver needle hidden in the young lady's sleeve right now, if you really wanted to make a move, the time when I served the tea was the best."
The pavilion fell silent, and Pei Ji broke the silence: "This place is not safe, Miss Luo should go back early."
Luo Zhaohan didn't move his feet. "May I ask, Master Pei, which distinguished guests have come to Xiangguo Temple today?"
Pei Ji paused. Luo Zhaohan immediately waved his hand: "I am being presumptuous."
"The Crown Princess brought the Emperor's grandson, the Rui Prince and his wife, the Jin Prince and his wife, and the Duan Prince and his wife." Pei Ji suddenly spoke, "plus several palace maids and eunuchs."
Luo Zhaohan went over the names in his mind and stood up to leave. Pei Ji also stood up to see him off.
Just as he reached the entrance of the pavilion, Luo Zhaohan suddenly turned around and said, "By the way, Xie Wuqi is also in the temple. He just followed Liu Yueli into the Zunrong Treasure Temple."
Pei Ji frowned.
Luo Zhaohan finished speaking and quickly left with the maid. Old Man Chu didn't come back until the figure disappeared around the corner of the mountain path. He winked at his apprentice and said, "How's it going?"
Pei Ji turned his head and saw the old man's playful smile, his blood jumped: "Don't talk nonsense in front of outsiders."
"How is this nonsense?" Old Man Chu stamped his feet anxiously. "Prince Duan personally asked me to be a matchmaker, saying that he wants to bring you and Miss Luo together. Shouldn't I sound out the girl's opinion first?"
Pei Ji's expression suddenly changed, and his voice was as cold as ice: "Absolutely not!"
"Hey you kid!"
"Teacher," Pei Ji turned and walked towards the Zunrong Treasure Temple, "let's not talk about this matter."
The old man chased after him and shouted, "Why don't you give me some sense?"
Pei Ji kept walking and his voice drifted over: "For someone like me, how can I talk about starting a family?"
Old Man Chu's hand, raised in the air, froze, and finally slapped his thigh hard: "Stubborn donkey!"
…
The venerable temple had always been reserved for the royal family, but Pei Ji was an exception. Seeing him, the guards quickly made way. Compared to the tranquil Zen temple outside, the sandalwood incense here was choking, and the golden tiles and red walls were suffocating.
The palace maids and eunuchs along the way all bowed their heads in greeting when they saw Pei Ji. He strode into the Ten Thousand Buddha Hall, where the walls were densely packed with golden Buddhas, which were said to have been built by the old emperor specifically for the deceased prince.
The only people in the palace were the Crown Princess, the young grandson Chao Yunye, and the Prince of Jin and his wife. Hearing the footsteps, all four of them looked over, their eyes glancing at the red mark on Pei Ji's face, then pretending not to notice.
At this time, the eunuch came in to serve the meal. As the Prince of Jin passed by Pei Ji, he reached out and patted him on the shoulder, sighing and shaking his head. Pei Ji quickly bowed in return.
Chao Yunye suddenly broke free from his mother's hand: "Mother, I want to stay a little longer."
The Crown Princess patted her son's head and glanced at Pei Ji: "Please, Lord Pei, send Yunye over later."
After everyone had left, the little grandson immediately tugged at Pei Ji's sleeve: "Sir, squat down quickly and let me see your injury."
Pei Ji knelt on one knee, and Chao Yunye stood on tiptoe to touch his cheek: "Did the Madam hit you again? I'll ask the Emperor to issue an order to forbid her to hit you again!"
"Your Majesty is busy." Pei Ji smiled and held the child's hand. "How can such a small matter disturb His Majesty?"
"But sir is so nice!" Chao Yunye pouted, "My mother is reluctant to even touch my fingers." As he said that, he stretched out his chubby little hand.
Pei Ji raised the corner of his mouth: "Your Highness must eat well so that you can grow taller and protect the people you want to protect in the future."
"Then I will protect you, sir!" Chao Yunye suddenly hugged his neck, "When you get too old to walk, I will carry you to see the lanterns!"
Amidst the lingering sandalwood scent, Pei Ji stiffened. The child's warmth filtered through the fabric of his clothes. He hesitated for a moment, then gently patted his little grandson's back.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard outside.
"Sir Pei!" The guard rushed in, "We found something in the back mountain..." He swallowed the words back and glanced at the little grandson.
Pei Ji immediately stood up and said, "Your Highness, I will take you to dinner."
Chao Yunye nodded sensibly, but his little hand still clenched Pei Ji's index finger. When the two of them reached the dining hall door, they ran into Princess Rui and her maid coming out.
"Oh, isn't this our Lord Pei?" Princess Rui waved her round fan and glanced at Pei Ji's face. "I heard there was a commotion in the mansion this morning? If you ask me, this is a good time to hit someone in the face."
"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words." Pei Ji moved the little grandson behind him and said, "I will escort His Royal Highness here."
Princess Rui wanted to say something when the voice of Princess Jin suddenly came from the inner room: "Second sister-in-law, come and try this vegetarian meal." Then she twisted her waist and went in.
Pei Ji held Chao Yunye's hand and walked into the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Three incense sticks were burning straight in the incense burner.
Chao Yunye looked up at the golden characters "Late Crown Prince Chao Yi" on the ebony tablet and suddenly tugged at his sleeve. "Sir, does my father... like to laugh?"
These words were like a small hook, drawing out all the memories hidden deep in Pei Ji's heart. He squatted down and adjusted the ribbon of the jade crown for the child. "On the day of your highness's hundred-day banquet, the prince carried you around the courtyard and insisted that you smiled at him three times."
He laughed as he spoke, "Later, you'll call me 'Father,' and he'll ride his horse past curfew and come knocking on my door, his hair disheveled and looking like a madman."
Chao Yunye chuckled, his eyes turning red as he laughed. People outside said his father was a virtuous crown prince, but only the teacher remembered that he would jump up and down when scalded by hot soup, and that when he got tired of reviewing memorials, he would use a red brush to draw turtles on his attendants' faces.
"Your father," Pei Ji said, looking at the ever-burning lamp on the altar, "is a greedy cat who steals the tribute peach cakes."
Suddenly a gust of wind blew outside the hall, making the copper bells jingle.
Chao Yunye buried his face in Pei Ji's robe and said in a muffled voice, "Sir, my father must have loved me very much." Pei Ji rubbed the back of his head, his throat choked with pain - when the prince died holding his hand, his blood soaked half of the mattress, and he was still thinking about finding a wet nurse for Yunye who could make kites.
On the way to send Chao Yunye to the dining hall, Pei Ji always felt that there was a figure swaying behind the pillars.
As expected, just as they passed the pagoda, a young eunuch knelt on the bluestone slab and said, "Sir, we've caught someone trespassing in the forbidden area! They say he's the young master of General Wuwei's family."
Pei Ji brushed off the incense ash on his sleeves and said, "Lead the way."
From a distance, Xie Wuqi could be heard shouting, "I'm really here to look for someone! The girl in green." His voice abruptly stopped when he saw Pei Ji. A dozen guards drew their swords, their cold glare turning Xie Wuqi's face pale.
"Thank you, Deputy Commander, for your elegance." Pei Ji walked up the stone steps, crushing half a dead leaf with the sole of his boot. "Last time at Prince Duan's Mansion, this time at Xiangguo Temple, I always see you saving the damsel in distress."
Xie Wuqi's back teeth were clattering as he suddenly caught a glimpse of a green shadow flashing at the end of the corridor.
He lunged forward, but was held to his neck by two steel knives: "Yueli! Liu Yueli, come out!"
"What are you arguing about?" Princess Rui's personal maid came over slowly, followed by a girl in green with her head bowed.
Xie Wuqi's eyes widened - the girl was wearing a silver hairpin with a lotus pattern in her hair, which was the birthday gift he gave her last month.
Pei Ji watched coldly as Xie Wuqi pounced on her and tugged at her sleeve, but the girl dodged behind the maid. As the two tugged, half a gold-inlaid jade bracelet slipped from the maid's sleeve, dazzling Pei Ji's eyes in the sunlight.
"Since she's the princess's man, send her away." Pei Ji waved his hand and, turning around, seemingly accidentally stepped on the hem of Xie Wuqi's clothes. With a crackling sound, the dark brocade robe split open, revealing the lining embroidered with gold thread and cloud patterns.
Xie Wuqi's ears turned red with embarrassment, and he dragged Liu Yueli out as if escaping.
Pei Ji stared at them as they turned around the release pond, and suddenly remembered what Luo Zhaohan said that day, "The young master of the Xie family is probably being used as a gun by someone," and a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth.
Suddenly, a splash of water exploded on the surface of the pond, startling the koi fish and scattering them all - it turned out to be a fallen leaf that had swirled into the water.
…
In the blue cloth carriage at the entrance of Xiangguo Temple, Xie Wuqi raised his hand and swore to the sky: "Yue Li, believe me, Luo Zhaohan and I really don't have any personal feelings for each other. Everything I do is for our future."
Liu Yueli looked up at the handsome face in front of her that had once captivated her, her ears buzzing. Xie Wuqi's mouth opened and closed, but his words of defense were like willow catkins blown away by the wind, not a single word entering her heart.
She suddenly couldn't remember whether she had approached Xie Wuqi because she was truly moved, or because she couldn't stand seeing Luo Zhaohan always being flattered. Perhaps it was a combination of the two that made her use all her strength to forcibly draw Xie Wuqi's soul away from Luo Zhaohan.
I thought I could live a peaceful life by climbing up the Xie family's ladder, but who knew that Feng Linyu, the son of the Marquis of Changtai, would show up unexpectedly, and then...
She had tried so hard to coax Mrs. Xie into agreeing, and was just planning a good marriage with Xie Wuqi, but then this guy was secretly meeting with Luo Zhaohan. If that was the case, why should she be loyal?
Seeing her expressionless and silent, Xie Wuqi panicked and hugged her tightly in his arms, his voice trembling: "Yueli, tell me something. Do you believe me this time?"
Liu Yueli slowly raised her arms and wrapped them around his waist, then whispered against his chest, "I believe you." Xie Wuqi was overjoyed and hugged her tighter, but he didn't know that the woman in his arms had drooping eyelashes, with a dark light in her eyes. After struggling for a while, she finally turned into determination.
…
In the west courtyard of Fuyuan General's Mansion, Luo Zhaohan had just stepped over the threshold when his mother Qin Wan followed him in.
The general's wife clutched her handkerchief, her eyes rolling. "Zhao Zhao, did you have a good time today?"
Luo Zhaohan tilted his head and pondered for a moment. Although running into Xie Wuqi and Liu Yueli was a bit off-putting, it had at least given Pei Ji a heads-up. With his abilities, he figured he'd be able to avoid that disaster.
Thinking of this, she smiled and nodded.
Qin Wan's brows lit up instantly. It seemed her daughter and the wife of the Marquis of Changning were having a great time. Her impatience was unbearable. Seeing Luo Zhaohan leisurely discussing the incense-burning Bodhisattvas of Xiangguo Temple, even sipping his teacup, she finally slapped her thigh and let the cat out of the bag: "So, Zhao Zhao is really attracted to Master Pei?"
"Puff——" Luo Zhaohan choked on a mouthful of hot tea, his face flushed red.
Qin Wan was still shy as a girl, patting her back and handing her handkerchief, muttering, "Mother understands, mother understands everything. Although there are many troubles in the Changning Marquis's Mansion, Pei Ji is a hundred times better than that bastard Xie Wuqi."
Luo Zhaohan finally caught his breath, then suddenly remembered Old Chu's nonsensical question, "What do you think of Pei Ji?" He jumped up in shock, "Oh no! Where did this nonsense come from?"
After going through great pains to explain things to his mother, Luo Zhaohan watched Qin Wan wilt like a frost-bitten eggplant. He felt both amused and helpless: "Hurry up and have Dad pass on a message to Prince Duan's Mansion. Lord Pei and I really don't mean that."
Qin Wan clutched her handkerchief and sighed.
She had been asking around for a while these days, and the more she inquired, the more she felt that Pei Ji was a good man. Although he had made many enemies in the court and his actions were dangerous, the Luo family had been in the military for generations, and who hadn't been on the edge of a knife?
When she married General Luo, didn't she get scolded by her father?
"What a perfect couple!" Qin Wan couldn't help but murmur. Her Zhao Zhao had a very good eye for people, and Pei Ji's personality was clearly to Zhao Zhao's liking!
Luo Zhaohan was planning to write a letter to Aunt Zhang to remind her, but when she heard these words suddenly, she imagined herself leaning in Pei Ji's arms and calling him "husband". She immediately got goose bumps all over her body, and she clasped her hands together and chanted "Amitabha".
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
