Chapter 20 A Kiss Across Two Lifetimes
The sound of the bells under the eaves gradually faded away, and Yang Songjian and Pei Ning parted ways from behind the veranda outside the polo field.
A few peach branches occasionally peeked over the wall, and the morning light shone through them onto Yang Songjian's face, causing him to suddenly stop in his tracks.
Fei Yu, following behind Yang Songjian, nearly bumped into his back. "Young Master, what happened?"
In the third month of spring, all things revive and peach blossoms begin to bloom. Even before stepping into the peach grove, one can feel the fragrance of the garden lingering in the air.
Fei Yu rubbed her nose haphazardly, then saw Yang Songjian suddenly change direction, so she quickly followed, asking suspiciously, "Aren't we going to look for Miss Wen?"
Yang Songjian did not answer, but his eyes darkened slightly.
His cool fingertips gently twirled the jade thumb ring on his hand, his brows furrowing as the image of the sandalwood flower on Wen Lingxiao's handkerchief flashed through his mind again and again.
People at that time loved flowers and admired elegance. In daily life, they mostly chose plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, chrysanthemums, lotus and white crabapple, and paired them with eight-sided patterns, ball patterns, and meandering water patterns.
Patterns like the rose of the wood are quite rare; even he had only ever seen them in the hands of An Xiangru, the heir of the Yongchang Marquis's mansion.
His steps suddenly stopped, and when he came to his senses, he was greeted by a scene of carved pillars and green railings, with flying pavilions and painted red walls.
That's the direction to Zhezhutai!
Is young master going to find the official?
Fei Yu was stunned for a moment, then saw Yang Songjian walking forward and quickly followed.
He seemed to hear Yang Songjian sigh softly, "This guy is the only one who can cause trouble!"
As the light passed by, even the layers of rubble appeared dazzling.
Song Jinghe led Yaoguang into hiding, the blood on his shoulder trickling down his clothes, the vibrant color gradually fading, leaving only dark red marks.
His face was as pale as snow, and his steps became unsteady, but he kept his hands taut and refused to loosen his grip.
"Song Decheng! What's wrong with you?"
"Cousin? —"
Suddenly, two familiar voices came from the other end of the corridor, and Song Jinghe's extremely tired eyelids lifted slightly.
The blurry face gradually magnified as the distance closed.
—It's Luo Xu and Pei Ning!
Song Jinghe's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, eased slightly.
Losing his last breath, he staggered and almost fell to the ground, but was caught by Luo Xu who ran over. Yao Guang, whom he was holding in his arms, was taken by Fei Yue, who was beside Pei Ning.
"This is... Yao Guang?"
"Where's A-Zheng? Where did she go?"
With his last ounce of strength, Song Jinghe gripped Luo Xu's collar, his pale, dry lips trembling slightly.
"Luo Congping, Cousin Ning, don't worry about me! Go quickly, go save Miss Wen!"
"She...she went up Fragrant Hills!"
The sharp weapon, gleaming with a blinding cold light, drew ever closer, and Wen Lingzheng couldn't help but sigh.
Having been given a second chance at life, how could things have escalated to the point where there was no way to undo the damage?
—It seems she overestimated herself and underestimated her opponent.
only……
The sounds of trampling, screams, crowding, and crying... those sounds, like a tidal wave, that had become her nightmares in the middle of the night, once again filled her surroundings.
She was truly unwilling to accept it!
The sharp blade sliced through the sky, shredding the fallen leaves that blocked its path into fragments in the chilly north wind.
The warm blood turned cold as it flowed out, congealing on the clothes along the way, and Wen Lingzheng's head grew increasingly dizzy.
Those arrows were probably poisoned!
The surrounding sounds gradually faded away, and her increasingly weak limbs made it impossible for her to even move, but her thoughts became clearer and clearer.
All the calculations and worries of the past seemed to have faded away at this moment; she only felt a little regret.
If she had known things would turn out this way, she shouldn't have cared about those ridiculous social customs! She should have gone to see him the day he returned, and wouldn't be in this situation where she couldn't even see him one last time!
Silently closing her eyes, Wen Lingzheng thought she was doomed, but unexpectedly, someone put their arms around her shoulders, and the sharp arrows were blocked by someone!
Warm drops fell one by one onto slightly cool skin, meandering along the surface.
—Blood? Whose blood?
The familiar scent of sandalwood wafted over, and Wen Lingzheng suddenly felt a pang of panic. Before she could even open her eyes, she was swept up in someone's arms.
"Watch out! There's something on the arrow..."
Before Wen Lingzheng could finish speaking, she felt a finger touch her lips, and then a bitter pill was rubbed against them.
"This is a poison-repelling pill."
When she opened her eyes one night, the profile that met Wen Lingzheng's eyes was as sharp as the frost and snow of the northern desert.
He pursed his lips, his slightly cool earlobes trembling gently with the sound of the wind in the forest, his sharp gaze fixed on the front, never wavering.
Although it was the height of spring, the daylight could not obscure the vibrant blossoms beneath the arrows caught by the man with his bare hands.
"Pei Lin? —"
"Don't speak!"
The hand around Wen Lingzheng's lower back suddenly tightened. Pei Lin released the arrow and took two steps to the right with her.
Then came the rustling of wind and the cry of cranes in the forest. In the blink of an eye, the long sword at his waist was drawn. Pei Lin put one arm around the girl's waist and held her protectively in his arms.
His sword aura was even more formidable than in the past, as if nurtured by the frost and snow of the northern border, its power penetrating to the utmost, carrying an unstoppable momentum, and instantly severing all the incoming arrows.
Pei Lin glanced silently at the broken arrow lying at his feet, his eyes suddenly turning icy.
It's that kind of arrow again!
—An arrow that ambushed him during the battle between the two armies in the wilderness not long ago!
In the spring, Fragrant Hills is lush with trees, and five dark figures emerge from the shadows of the trees.
Their quivers were empty, and their crossbows had been replaced by soft swords, which gleamed coldly in the dim light.
The situation is on the verge of erupting.
The man had no time to pay attention to anything else. Wen Lingzheng felt his hand around her waist tighten an inch, and in the blink of an eye, the world spun around her.
The sound of wind mingled with the clashing of weapons, echoing and swirling around Wen Lingzheng's ears.
She saw several invisible, soft blades barely blocked by the longsword in his hand. The sharp sword energy had just dissipated when an even more ferocious attack came in an instant.
Even though Pei Lin possessed unparalleled bravery, it was still difficult for him to fight five opponents at once.
The sword flashed through the air, and a bead of crimson blood was drawn out.
The bright red blood felt like a sharp thorn piercing Wen Lingzheng's heart, causing sharp, throbbing pain.
She couldn't hold back her tears, which soaked Pei Lin's shoulder, seemingly mingling with his blood.
"Pei Lin, don't worry about me!"
"Go quickly, go quickly..."
The attacks from the opposing group intensified, and another soft blade came flying towards Wen Lingzheng. Pei Lin quickly turned around and used his longsword to block it, but before he could react, he suffered another injury.
He only glanced at her briefly, completely unconcerned, and instead gently stroked the girl's hair with his chin in a comforting manner.
"Ah Zheng, close your eyes, don't look at these!"
"I won't abandon you, don't be afraid, trust me!"
The boy's voice was unhurried, gentle yet powerful amidst the clanging of swords and the flashing blades.
Wen Lingzheng felt a lump in her throat as the fear and unease she had felt during her escape finally dissipated.
She reached out and hugged him back, greedily inhaling his scent, her voice broken and choked with sobs, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."
Noticing the girl's change, Pei Lin was taken aback at first, but when he looked at the five people, his gaze was even colder than the snow in the north. "You all deserve to die!"
As if his sore spot had been touched, this young general, who had fought his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, carried an imposing aura in every move. His silver-white longsword, gleaming with cold light, sliced off a person's head in the blink of an eye.
The head rolled to the ground, blood splattering everywhere. The other four men in black felt a chill, but the sudden turn of events left them no room for hesitation.
The sword light narrowly grazed her hair. Wen Lingzheng's eyelids grew heavier and heavier. All she could see in her peripheral vision was the man's sharply defined jawline.
The whistling wind lashed past her ears, and her thoughts became muddled.
In a daze, memories surfaced. It was the late summer of the tenth year of Xuanren's reign. They had been married for only three months and traveled together by water to Lin'an to bring Jingge'er home.
The Jiangnan region was known for its flourishing literary culture, and Lin'an was particularly prosperous.
The taverns and restaurants of Qinlou stood side by side;
The singing and dancing at West Lake have continued for days.
When the two arrived at the old house, it was already late. Pei Zhun and his wife, Xiao Song, led Jing Ge'er to greet them.
That day happened to be the Qixi Festival. After dinner, the four of them got into the mood and took Jing Ge'er on a boat trip on West Lake.
In my hazy memory, I vaguely recall colorful ribbons fluttering on the green trees on both banks, flower-adorned boats with gold and jade carvings depicting mandarin ducks playing in the water, and twin lanterns shimmering on the water, overflowing with colorful light.
Restaurants on both sides of the river hung up their lanterns early in the morning. Amid the hustle and bustle of the crowds, even the exquisite and magnificent glass lanterns seemed to have taken on a touch of everyday life. Some even set up stages on the riverbank to entertain everyone.
The pleasure boat docked at the lakeside. Pei Zhun and his wife took Jing Ge'er to the next room for drinks, while Wen Lingzheng leaned against the window, bored, to watch the play.
Jiangnan Thirteen Lang is renowned for his graceful figure, melodious singing voice, and the touch of vermilion under his eyebrows that adds to his charm, making him utterly captivating.
Pei Lin had somehow walked up to her side. Seeing that she was engrossed in what he was watching, he reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.
Summer days are hot and humid; even a cool breeze can't prevent the stickiness.
His loose strands of hair brushed against her neck, and a slight shiver ran through her, reminding her of their wedding night. A blush crept onto her cheeks.
She secretly squeezed his hand, annoyed, which made him gasp softly. She pulled away from him slightly, saying, "Don't make a sound! The scene is getting really seductive!"
Unwilling to let her off the hook, Pei Lin maliciously blew a few breaths into her neck.
The fine, continuous heat sprayed onto her neck, and even with Wen Lingzheng's strong willpower, she couldn't help but tremble.
"itch!--"
"what you do?"
Wen Lingzheng turned her head and reached out to pinch him, but when she saw that the man's eyes, which reflected the shimmering light, were full of a sly smile, she was stunned.
But in the blink of an eye, he found an opening.
The hand that had been resting on her waist suddenly turned her around with an irresistible force.
Her chin was slightly lifted by his slightly bent fingers. The force of her resistance was as gentle as a feather to him. The sudden kiss came like a hot tide, and she had no chance to dodge at all.
Their bodies drew ever closer, the gentle licking and biting between their lips and teeth, the sandalwood scent filling their nostrils, and the intense heat of the other's palm...
Her body began to weaken, and the force with which she pushed away gradually loosened.
She heard the soft chuckle escaping his lips, and in a fit of embarrassment and annoyance, she lightly bit his lip, a faint taste of blood lingering on her tongue.
Sobbing began, and when the man noticed her flushed face, he kindly let her go this time.
He held her as they sat by the window, playing with her hair.
As her breathing gradually evened out, Wen Lingzheng craned her neck to look out the window, only to see a high stage erected, the music over and the audience gone, which made her annoyed.
"Pei Jianwei!"
"The Thirteenth Prince's plays are renowned! I've rarely had the chance to see one since I went to Shengjing, and you've ruined it all!"
The hand that was holding her hair suddenly loosened its grip.
She caught a glimpse of the faint, dangerous smile playing on his lips, and heard his sigh, which seemed to be hidden in the spring snow.
"So, in my wife's heart, her husband is less important than a play? I guess I'll never see the day when she takes the initiative to kiss me!"
The boy's mournful sigh mingled with the dazzling fireworks outside the window. Wen Lingzheng understood his desire for a kiss but refused, only gently rubbing his earlobe with her warm lips.
"You want me to take the initiative to kiss you? Then you'd better work hard, my husband! Become my... Thirteenth Prince as soon as possible."
No one could have imagined that the Qixi Festival that year would be the only Qixi Festival they spent together in their six years of marriage.
"Ah Zheng! Wake up! Don't sleep!"
The familiar voice, like fireworks from that year, rang in Wen Lingzheng's ears.
She forced herself to slightly lift her eyelids. The surroundings seemed calm, and all that came into view was the bloodstains on his face.
He bent slightly, embracing her, pressing his hand firmly against her blood-soaked left arm, his eyes filled with countless worries and self-reproach.
"Okay... I won't sleep."
Wen Lingzheng managed a weak reply, her dizzy head causing double vision to appear before her eyes.
She unconsciously reached out and wiped away the drop of crimson from the corner of his eye.
My thoughts became increasingly hazy.
The bustling scene of West Lake cruise ships seems to reappear, but amidst the ups and downs of memory, images of the couple's mutual distrust also emerge.
Wen Lingzheng felt inexplicably annoyed. She grabbed his shirt from his shoulder, hooked her arms around his neck, tilted her head back, and gently kissed the corner of his lips.
"Thirteenth Young Master".
"You've succeeded..."
——
A faint light flickered before my eyes, beneath which lay a thin layer of wax, almost gone.
A small amount of black smoke mixed with the bright light was particularly glaring and pungent, but Pei Lin seemed oblivious to it.
He sat at the desk by the window, almost motionless, only his fingertips lightly brushing against the corner of his lips, stroking them back and forth.
On the desk lay his unfinished memorial, which he had inexplicably covered with a book.
—On the exposed corner, one can vaguely see the phrase "requesting the Emperor to grant a marriage."
Because Pei Lin had only recently returned from the palace, Pei Ning arrived at Lixin Courtyard at 3:45 PM.
As soon as she entered, the pungent smell hit her face, and all the words she had been composing were thrown to the back of her mind. She hurriedly stepped forward to extinguish the candle, then lit another one, her slightly furrowed brows filled with anger.
"Second brother! What are you thinking about?"
"Are they going to burn this entire Lixin Academy down?"
Coming to his senses, Pei Lin looked at Pei Ning, somewhat caught off guard. He quickly hid the memorials on the desk even deeper and asked, "Has Fu Chun sent any message?"
Pei Ning stopped herself from speaking, took two steps forward, and replied, "Brother Shen just sent his medicine boy over."
"He told you not to worry. A-Zheng took the antidote pill after being poisoned. She is still unconscious due to residual poisoning and excessive blood loss. She should wake up tomorrow."
Pei Lin breathed a slight sigh of relief, but seeing the hesitation on Pei Ning's face, he couldn't help but guess, "Why aren't you asleep at this hour? Did Grandmother send you to find me?"
Pei Ning: "You guessed it right!"
After sitting down next to Pei Lin, Pei Ning hesitated for a long time before saying, "Do you still remember your second aunt's youngest niece? She's the third daughter of the Cheng family, Cheng Qiuru!"
Pei Lin looked blankly at him and shook his head: "I've seen her before?"
Speechless, Pei Ning said directly, "She's the little girl who fell into the pond and was rescued by you when my second aunt took my second brother and me to the Cheng family mansion when we were little."
“I do have some recollection of that matter,” Pei Lin pondered for a moment, “but it’s been so many years that I can’t remember the person anymore.”
Pei Ning retorted, "You old man have such a bad memory that you don't remember me? I've been thinking about you all along!"
Changing the subject abruptly, Pei Ning turned Pei Lin's shoulder and looked him straight in the eye: "Answer me honestly, although today's events were an accident, you and A-Zheng..."
Not wanting to be too direct, Pei Ning took Pei Lin's finger and pressed it to his lips, "I know about our family and the Wen family... even if only Luo Wu and I saw it, but..."
"What do you know?" Pei Lin glanced at her, stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked out. "Let's go, Grandmother is probably already waiting for us."
—What do you know?
Pei Lin's simple five words shattered all of Pei Ning's guesses almost instantly.
She blinked and hurriedly followed, looking at Pei Lin's back with a puzzled expression.
—Could she have guessed wrong? Wasn't he hesitating here because the gap between the two families was too large? Then what was it because of?
Lixin Courtyard was only two corridors away from Rongshou Hall. When Pei Lin and Pei Ning arrived, all the maids in the courtyard had been sent out, and only Granny Chang was waiting in front of the moon gate.
"The Marquis has arrived?" Granny Chang walked up to Pei Lin with a lantern. "Please come in, Marquis! The Old Madam is waiting for you!"
Pei Lin: "Thank you for your trouble, Granny."
Pei Ning wanted to follow, but Granny Chang pulled her back from behind. "The Old Madam instructed that you go to the storeroom to choose a decent gift. It's Cheng San Niangzi's coming-of-age ceremony in a couple of days, and she wants you to go with the Second Madam!"
Plain-colored curtains hung low, and neat rows of yellow pearwood armchairs were placed on both sides. In the center, on the daybed, Old Madam Pei was arranging flowers.
Hearing the noise, Old Madam Pei looked up towards the door. "You've arrived?"
Pei Lin: "Greetings to Grandmother."
"Please sit down," said Old Madam Pei, gesturing to the seat below. "What is His Majesty's opinion on today's events?"
Pei Lin shook his head: "This matter involves a great deal of issues, and it is not appropriate to draw a conclusion in a short time. The Emperor has only recently assumed power, and the Yi family's son is still in Shengjing. We need to take our time to consider this matter."
Grandma Pei sighed but didn't press the matter further. She simply pushed the newly arranged flowers towards Pei Lin, saying, "You children have good eyesight. Help your grandmother take a look and see what you think of these flowers your second aunt sent."
On the string-patterned vase, clusters of flowers are arranged, with two unopened buds placed among them.
“What Second Aunt sent is naturally good.” Pei Lin disliked beating around the bush. “It’s just a pity that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Please forgive my poor eyesight, Grandmother.”
Old Madam Pei was not angry; she simply placed the vase on the inside of the kang table.
She looked at her grandson, who had been very opinionated since childhood, and said, "Do you know that your Uncle Cheng was promoted some time ago and appointed Minister of Justice, a second-rank official, Silver Seal Grand Master?"
Pei Lin: "I know, I have already instructed Xingyun to prepare a generous gift."
Old Madam Pei understood, her calm voice revealing no emotion: "Have you made up your mind?"
Recalling that fleeting, brief kiss on the corner of his lips, Pei Lin lowered his eyes: "Yes."
"It has to be her?"
"Yes, it has to be her!"
Pei Lin's crisp and decisive answer left Old Madam Pei momentarily dazed.
“They all say your elder brother looks most like your father, but I think you look more like him! That’s what your father told me when he insisted on marrying your mother.”
Old Madam Pei smiled and said, "If you don't want to talk about matters of the court, that's fine. But since you've already made your decision, I'll send someone to the Wen residence tomorrow to deliver the invitation."
Pei Lin: "No rush, let's wait a bit longer."
Old Madam Pei: "Not in a hurry? What are we waiting for?"
Pei Lin: "Wait for her answer. She is free, and she has the right to choose. Just because I want to marry her doesn't mean she has to marry me."
The spring banquet had just ended when, without warning, it rained for half the night in Shengjing City.
The light rain continued, and fallen flowers and leaves covered the ground, soaking in the vast curtain of water, stirring up a sense of unease.
"Baiyu, Xuanji, is the young lady's medicine ready?"
Yuheng carefully placed the prepared food into the food box, then turned to look at the two little girls, around ten years old, watching the medicine being decocted under the eaves.
The Wen family had a set rule that each young lady's courtyard should generally have two first-class maids and two second-class maids, as well as countless little maids responsible for cleaning and sweeping.
The people around you are the ones you should trust the most.
Bai Yu and Xuan Ji were both carefully selected by Yao Guang and Yu Heng.
The former was quick-witted and decisive, while the latter, though taciturn, had some martial arts skills. What was even more remarkable was that both of them were extremely discreet, which is why they caught Yao Guang's eye.
After Wen Lingzheng personally inspected the candidates, they were appointed to the positions of the two second-class maids and began serving in the courtyard. It has been more than a year since then.
"Sister Yuheng, it's almost done, it's almost done!" Bai Yu put down the palm-leaf fan, yawned, got up, wrapped the handle with a cloth, picked up the medicine pot, and Xuanji had already set out the medicine bowl.
After the rain, the sun shone through the gently hanging curtains, and although it was daytime, lamps were still lit in the Tu Nan courtyard.
Hearing footsteps, Yao Guang got up and walked outside.
Yuheng happened to come in, placed the food box he was carrying on the table, and then handed over the medicine bowl, asking, "Is the young lady awake?"
"Not yet!" Yao Guang gently stroked her swollen eyes, feeling a little sorry for her, but still instructed, "It's alright for the two of us, but Bai Yu and Xuan Ji are still young. They've been keeping watch all night. Let them go and rest first!"
"After I finished decocting the medicine, I told them to go and rest."
As Yuheng placed the snacks on the table, he said, "I also gave them an extra twenty coins as a reward, and promised to give each of them a new handkerchief later."
Yao Guang said with relief, "That's good! That's more like how an older sister should act!"
The faint sounds penetrated the obstruction and reached her ears. In the instant her consciousness returned, Wen Lingzheng couldn't help but hiss.
The flickering candlelight cast a faint glow across her face. She frowned, subconsciously shifting her body, only then realizing—
My whole body aches!
"Yaoguang...Yuheng..."
Her dry throat made it difficult to even make a sound, and Wen Lingzheng coughed several times because of the choking.
Upon hearing the noise, Yao Guang and Yu Heng, one carrying medicine and the other carrying water, went into the inner room together.
"Is the young lady awake?" Yao Guang put down the medicine bowl, rolled up the curtain at the head of the bed, and brought over a soft cushion to help Wen Lingzheng lean against the bedside.
Yuheng then handed over some water, saying, "Miss, have some water to soothe your throat!"
Wen Lingzheng drank some water and felt a little better. She tapped her throbbing head, as if she remembered something, and grabbed Yaoguang's hand.
"Where is Lord Pei... Marquis Dingbei?"
"How is he?"
In her fragmented memory, there were those perilous sword fights, his sharp, icy profile, and the drops of blood rolling down his skin...
Panic, helplessness, and a flood of emotions welled up inside her. Before Yaoguang could answer, she asked again, "Is he injured?"
"Don't worry, Miss! Doctor Shen said the Marquis is fine!" Yao Guang hurriedly and carefully put Wen Lingzheng's left hand back in place, and sighed, "Miss, please be careful, or the wound will reopen!"
With her tense nerves easing slightly, Wen Lingzheng glanced at her left arm wrapped in gauze, then looked at Yao Guang's forehead and asked, "Is the injury on your head any better? And how is Prince Song?"
Yao Guang pursed her lips, somewhat annoyed, "You're one to talk! How could you risk your life alone? If anything happens to you, Yao Guang will never be able to atone for this sin!"
Knowing she was in the wrong, Wen Lingzheng could only whisper in defense, "You two were injured back then, and I was the only one who was unharmed..."
"You were fine just now, but look at yourself now! How many bruises are left on your body? You're covered in scrapes and cuts!"
Yuheng picked up the medicine bowl and handed it to Wen Lingzheng, his eyes red and swollen: "If it weren't for the timely arrival of Marquis Dingbei, would you really think you were made of iron? You don't care about yourself, but we do!"
Wen Lingzheng dared not say anything more, for fear of further angering the girl, and could only mumble a couple of responses.
"Miss Yuheng!"
Suddenly, someone knocked on the gate of Tu Nan Courtyard. When Yu Heng heard the noise and came out, Bai Yu, who had just lain down, had already put on his clothes and opened the door.
—It was Granny Ren.
"So it's Granny. What are your instructions, Madam?" Yuheng patted Baiyu's head and then said to her, "You've had a long day. Go and rest!"
Bai Yu responded and left. Granny Ren peered worriedly into the courtyard. "The old lady sent me to ask if Fourth Miss has woken up yet?"
"She just woke up!" Yuheng took a step to the side and asked, "The young lady is awake. Would you like to come in for a cup of tea before you leave, Granny?"
With a wave of her hand, Granny Ren breathed a sigh of relief, clasped her hands together, and couldn't hide her smile.
"It's truly a blessing from heaven. Our fourth daughter is so lucky and has such a long life. I won't drink this tea. I need to hurry and tell the old lady what I'm saying."
"Just now, someone from the Marquis of Dingbei's residence delivered a letter. Miss Pei said she wanted to visit you. Now that you've woken up, please ask Miss Yuheng to inquire whether you wish to see her?"
——
Pei Ning never thought her brother was indecisive.
—Except for today.
If she hadn't urged him, it would have taken him an hour just to walk from Shou Kang Hall to Tu Nan Courtyard!
Pei Ningyu moved slightly closer to him, gritting her teeth and lowering her voice: "Second brother! What are you thinking? Where did that imposing manner you had in front of Grandmother go? What's with the shyness now!"
Pei Lin frowned slightly, shook his head, and did not answer.
Only he knew that he had truly heard Wen Lingzheng's soft "Thirteenth Prince" before she fell into a coma.
He was afraid of causing her trouble, afraid that all of this was just wishful thinking on his part, and even more afraid that he would not be able to be friends with her in the future.
He had never felt so timid before. Even with the Great Yue army at the gates and holding all the advantages, he was confident that he could break the deadlock.
But today...
He loathed himself for his timid and cowardly demeanor.
When the Pei siblings were welcomed into Tu Nan Courtyard by Yu Heng, Wen Lingzheng was being nagged by Yao Guang to drink her medicine. Upon hearing the maid's report, she choked on the medicine and quickly wiped it with a handkerchief.
Pei Lin, being a man, was not allowed to easily enter a woman's boudoir; he could only sit in the outer room for a short while.
Pei Ning hurried inside, carrying various medicines she had taken from home, as well as a small dish of carved plum blossom balls wrapped in oiled paper.
Pei Lin gave it to her before he left, insisting that she take it with her.
"Ah Zheng! Are you feeling better?" The girl's voice drifted into the inner room through the swaying beaded curtain.
Wen Lingzheng turned her head and saw her. A smile appeared on her pale face. "I'm feeling better! You promised to attend our A Ning's coming-of-age ceremony! How could I break my promise?"
Pei Ning sat down on the edge of the bed and stuffed a pile of wound medicine into Yao Guang's arms.
"These were all brought back from the Northern Frontier by my second brother! They can heal battlefield wounds, so they can definitely heal yours too!"
"Oh, right!" Pei Ning then pulled out a bottle of light green ointment and handed it over, saying, "This is the Jade Skin Snow Cream that the Emperor bestowed upon me earlier! It's said to be most effective for scars, so I brought all three bottles. Remember to apply them!"
Wen Lingzheng took it with a wry smile and put it in the box on the bedside table. "I've been nagged by these two girls all day, and now even you're starting to nag me!"
"Miss Pei, you've come at the perfect time! My young lady was just refusing to take her medicine! I'd really appreciate it if you could help her!" Yao Guang smiled as she left, holding the ointment Pei Ning had brought.
"You won't take your medicine? I'll show you something!"
Pei Ning smiled brightly, took Wen Lingzheng's hand, and placed a bag of candied fruit in her palm. "Look! A certain coward didn't dare to give it to you himself, so he had to trouble me to act as a go-between."
Wen Lingzheng was stunned for a moment, and when she opened the oil paper, she saw a series of exquisitely carved plum blossom balls.
She raised her eyes, ostensibly looking at Pei Ning, but her gaze drifted outwards. "He's here too?"
Pei Ning suppressed a laugh and asked in return, "I have no idea who this 'he' that A-Zheng is asking about is."
How cunning!
Wen Lingzheng was embarrassed and annoyed, and pretended to turn away and ignore her, "Fine, don't tell me then!"
"Alright, alright, I was wrong, I won't tease you anymore!" Pei Ning smiled and gently pulled her back. "Be careful, don't bump your wound, he still has something to ask you!"
"You have something to ask me?" Wen Lingzheng thought for a moment and said, "Is it about Prince Song?"
Startled, Wen Lingzheng quickly gathered her thoughts and said, "It was just a coincidence... I entered the peach grove..."
Pei Ning sighed, "It's not about that!"
"Huh?" Wen Lingzheng was stunned. "What is it?"
Pei Ning glanced at her suspiciously: "A-Zheng, don't play dumb! You really don't remember what you did?"
—What have you done?
Wen Lingzheng thought about it carefully, but still couldn't understand the hidden meaning in Pei Ning's words.
Pei Ning looked puzzled, moved closer to Wen Lingzheng, and whispered in her ear, "I was just saying that my second brother's courage seems to have vanished, how come you've lost your nerve too? Yesterday you even dared to kiss him directly..."
Kiss him!
Her reaction time was stretched out indefinitely, and Wen Lingzheng froze on the spot.
Her mind raced, and the hazy memories gradually became clearer as the ribbons fluttered along the shore of West Lake, and the warm, soft touch on her lips also quietly surfaced.
She unconsciously raised her hand, her fingertips lightly brushing against the corner of her lips.
So, it wasn't a dream after all!
The tea was warm, with wisps of steam rising from the teacup.
Pei Lin sat in the armchair in the outer room, his face calm and composed, but in reality, his back muscles remained taut, and even the palms of his hands placed in front of him were sweating with tension.
How pathetic!
When Pei Ning came out of the inner room, she saw his feigned composure and couldn't help but chuckle, "Don't be silly! She wants to see you!"
"ah?"
Pei Lin looked up at his sister, but she pulled him up and led him outside, stopping in front of a half-window on the side.
The four-panel white ball-patterned window was only half-open, and the screen directly opposite was elegantly colored, with a painting of mountains and flowing water and cranes on it, creating a unique artistic conception.
A slender girl sat behind the screen, her graceful shadow flickering in and out of sight, making Pei Lin feel dazed.
"I heard that Your Excellency has something to ask me?"
Pei Ning, always sensible, pushed Yao Guang and Yu Heng to the small kitchen at the back to find some snacks.
When Pei Lin turned around, she was already gone, so he could only answer himself, "Is your injury any better?"
Behind the screen, Wen Lingzheng chuckled, a hint of worry in her eyes, and replied, "It's just a minor injury, nothing to worry about! But has the Marquis's injury fully healed?"
Pei Lin: "I'm thick-skinned, it's nothing."
"It's not like you're made of copper or iron, so it's not like you're immune to anything! You still need to be careful these next couple of days and avoid getting it wet."
Pei Lin stammered in response, then hesitated before continuing, "I've got it."
"I have something to tell you!"
"I have something to tell you!"
"You go first."
The two spoke almost simultaneously. Pei Lin smiled and took a step back. "You go first!"
"Has Prince Song woken up?"
"woke up."
Did they say anything?
"I've said everything I can say." Pei Lin paused. "You must never mention this matter to anyone else again."
"But you are not just anyone!"
Wen Lingzheng smiled, then her expression became serious, revealing only half of what she meant.
“That day I saw a palace maid in the peach grove. She was carrying a food box and running in a hurry, which made me suspicious. As a result, I encountered the matter of Prince Song.”
"When we jumped out of the window, we vaguely heard people talking outside. They mentioned a 'master' and the position of the wife of the heir of the Marquis of Xiangyang."
Someone from the palace? The master?
Pei Lin frowned. "Do you still remember what that person in the palace looked like?"
Wen Lingzheng pondered for a moment, “She is not tall, and has a mole under her eye, but it is not obvious... Oh right, there is a scar on the web of her hand! It is not big, but the mark is deep, it should be an old injury.”
Pei Lin: "This matter is very dangerous, we can't rush it, you..."
Wen Lingzheng: "I promise you, I will never rashly interfere in this matter."
The corridor was quiet. The spring breeze blew the raindrops at an angle, scattering them into the corridor, and even the sound of the wind chimes became a little muffled.
"I've finished what I had to say, now it's your turn." Wen Lingzheng stepped out from behind the screen, stood by the window, and traced his features, suppressing a smile. "Didn't you have something to tell me?"
Pei Lin looked at her, serious and earnest, "Yes, I have something very important to tell you."
“My family’s ancestral home is in Lin’an, where there are thousands of acres of fertile land, as well as many estates and hills, bestowed by the founding emperor in the early years.”
"We have quite a few shops, mostly in Shengjing City, except for the few in Lin'an. The largest rice shop on Ma Xing Street is my family's..."
After rambling on for a long time, he took out a sheet with a long string of words written on it from his pocket and handed it to Wen Lingzheng.
“My family has not divided the property, and I only know the general contents of the mansion, so it is not easy to list them all, but everything on this list is my private property.”
"Inside are the rewards from the government over the years, the salary I've earned over the years, and the shops and land that my deceased mother gave me after she passed away."
Peeking at Wen Lingzheng's expression, and seeing that her expression did not change much, Pei Lin assumed that she was dissatisfied, and became even more cautious in his words.
"If you think it's too little, I'll go to the palace again."
"Originally, the Emperor was going to reward us for this triumphant return, but the floods in Jiangnan had just passed and the northern border had just been pacified, so I declined."
Unable to suppress a laugh, Wen Lingzheng blinked and said playfully, "You've said so much, do you want to hear what I have to say too?"
Pei Lin was stunned. "Go on, I'm listening."
"I don't have many shops in Shengjing City, just three. The most famous one is Sanweizhai outside Zhuque Gate. A few years ago, I also set up a caravan to travel to the northern border, and the profits were quite good."
“I still own quite a few estates and fields in the suburbs of Beijing, which are temporarily managed by my mother’s maid, Granny Zhuang. They bring in a considerable income every year. When I get married, my father and grandmother will surely give me a dowry of cash!”
Wen Lingzheng bent down and leaned slightly towards the window.
She stared at Pei Lin, her gaze slowly sliding from his brows to his thin lips. "Pei Jianwei, I'm very rich! I can buy you the best weapons, armor, and medicine. Do you want me to take responsibility for you?"
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