Chapter 90 Went to Find a Man
When Li Yuanshu slowly woke up, it was already broad daylight outside the window.
The golden sunlight streamed in through the cracks in the window, stinging her eyes.
She has no idea how she endured the excruciating pain of last night.
It felt like ants were crawling all over my body, itchy and uncomfortable. My limbs felt like they were being crushed by stones, and even breathing felt like a burning sensation.
Even now, just thinking about it for a moment makes my fingertips tremble uncontrollably, and my back instantly breaks out in a cold sweat.
The outside was empty. The guard who had stood guard at the door and refused to let her out last night, no matter how much she begged or threatened, was nowhere to be seen.
She leaned against the wall, staggered to her feet, and it took her half an hour to walk back to her palace.
Upon entering, she found her mother sitting in a grand chair, looking at her with a gloomy expression.
Where did you go last night?
Li Yuanshu's heart clenched, and she instinctively gripped the hem of her dress.
How dare she say that?
She dared not reveal that she had failed to poison Li Yuanzhao the night before and had instead been given a potion of aphrodisiac.
It not only makes me look incredibly stupid.
If this matter were to reach her father's ears, she would surely be scolded and despised by him.
Moreover, my mother values a woman's chastity the most. Even if she actually suffered alone last night, how will my mother view her if she finds out?
Seeing that she remained silent, the Imperial Concubine's expression grew even worse. "I searched for you all night with my maids, turning the palace inside and out completely. Where have you been?"
Last night's palace banquet was crowded and noisy, and she was afraid that her daughter would learn everything from Li Yuanzhao and be tricked by some restless young master into going astray, which would be the end of her.
Seeing that she was not saying a word, he became more and more anxious.
Li Yuanshu opened his mouth, but only managed to utter a few indistinct words, "Didn't do anything..."
"Didn't you do anything?!" The Imperial Concubine slammed her hand on the table, her voice filled with rage. "You're an unmarried young lady, and you haven't returned home all night. Do you know how worried I was about you?"
Then she started nagging, "Can't you be a little more obedient and sensible? Your brother is still locked up in confinement, and your father's anger hasn't subsided! I thought you'd been good lately and would try to please your father and beg him to release your brother, but what you've done is..."
Li Yuanshu couldn't listen any longer and abruptly interrupted her, "Royal brother, royal brother, it's royal brother again!"
"Mother, is there only my brother in your eyes?"
Her voice carried a long-suppressed sense of grievance and frustration.
The Imperial Concubine was stunned, then her face darkened: "What nonsense are you spouting? Your imperial brother is the only hope for our future! Only when he ascends the throne will we have a chance to rise above our circumstances, and stop having to depend on Li Yuanzhao, stop being at her mercy..."
Li Yuanshu wouldn't listen to a word that followed.
She felt a ringing in her ears; the pain from last night was intertwined with the suffocating feeling she was experiencing now, making her want to escape.
She didn't look at her mother again, and turned to leave.
"Hey! I haven't finished speaking yet, why are you leaving?" The Imperial Concubine hurriedly called out to her, "Where did you go last night?"
Without turning her head, Li Yuanshu said directly, "I went to find a man."
"Li Yuanshu!" Upon hearing this, the Imperial Concubine trembled with anger.
Her worst fears were actually "confirmed"!
But by the time she chased after him, Li Yuanshu's figure had already disappeared at the end of the corridor.
After Li Yuanshu walked out of the main hall, he suddenly felt relaxed all over.
She looked up at the cloudless sky and suddenly smiled.
His laughter was tinged with self-deprecation, yet also carried a sense of relief.
She only realized it at that moment.
It turns out that so-called chastity and purity can only bind those who care.
If she doesn't care about these things at all, what does it matter to her what others say or how angry they are?
After court, Pei Huaijin went to the Central Academy as usual.
The morning dew had just dispersed, and the bluestone slabs on the palace path were still slightly damp when a clear voice suddenly called out from behind: "Pei Huaijin".
He turned around and saw the Third Princess, Li Yuanshu, standing not far away under the red wall, looking at him with a serious expression.
When Li Yuanshu saw him looking over, he took two more steps forward and walked straight up to him.
She used to address him respectfully as "Young Master Pei," but now, for some reason, she suddenly didn't want to use that distant title anymore.
Pei Huaijin wore a dark green official robe today, and standing under the bright red palace wall, he appeared even more upright with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, like a pine tree.
However, it's unclear when it started, but his gentle and refined temperament has faded considerably, leaving only the composure and aloofness honed by his time in the imperial court.
"Third Princess." He nodded slightly, his tone so flat it betrayed no emotion. "What are your orders?"
Li Yuanshu was speechless at his polite yet distant address of "Third Princess." The pent-up frustration she had just suppressed resurfaced, and she blurted out, "Do you speak to my elder sister in this tone?"
Pei Huaijin didn't understand why she suddenly mentioned Li Yuanzhao.
He suddenly remembered the unfamiliar palace maid from last night, and later found out that it was the Third Princess who had secretly arranged it.
Although he didn't know what she was trying to do, his tone turned cold as he remembered that this matter had displeased His Highness. "Third Princess, I don't understand your meaning."
Li Yuanshu also felt that it was inappropriate to mention Li Yuanzhao at this moment, as if he were deliberately trying to compete with her even in such a matter.
She took a deep breath and changed the subject, "There's something I want to ask you."
Pei Huaijin nodded. "Please speak, Third Princess."
Looking into his calm, unwavering eyes, Li Yuanshu suddenly mustered her courage and asked directly, "Would you be willing to be my son-in-law?"
She had kept these words to herself for a long time.
Since her mother and uncle disagreed, she decided to fight for herself.
As long as he agrees, she will immediately go to her father, the emperor, to request a decree to grant them marriage.
Pei Huaijin was completely stunned.
Do these two sisters always speak so directly?
When Li Yuanzhao asked that question, he politely refused, and in an instant became a prisoner.
And what about now?
Pei Huaijin gave a bitter smile to himself and refused, "Third Princess, I'm sorry."
He looked up at her and said, "I already have someone I like, so I'm afraid I can't accept your offer."
Li Yuanshu found that hearing him say those words didn't make her feel as upset as she had imagined.
"The person you admire is Li Yuanzhao, isn't that right?"
She looked directly at Pei Huaijin, her tone unreadable, neither questioning nor certain.
Upon hearing this, Pei Huaijin's face showed a rare moment of astonishment.
He quickly looked away, his voice lower and slightly ambiguous, "You...you're overthinking it."
It is neither a straightforward denial nor a frank admission.
In Li Yuanshu's view, this ambiguous response was the obvious answer.
"Since you don't like me, I won't bother you anymore. Goodbye."
After saying that, she turned to leave, but then stopped as if she remembered something. "But there's one more thing I want to ask you."
Pei Huaijin remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.
"Why do you like her?" Li Yuanshu's voice softened, carrying a hint of confusion that even she herself didn't realize. "There are so many men around her, all revolving around her. Why do you squeeze in among them, belittling yourself?"
She didn't understand; in her view, Li Yuanzhao's world was always filled with power struggles and scheming.
Why should someone like that be able to win the hearts of others?
Sometimes, she was really envious and jealous.
The palace path was so quiet that you could hear the wind blowing through the eaves.
Pei Huaijin lowered his eyes and looked at the bluestone slabs under his feet, asking himself: Why?
He had seen her kill without blinking an eye, and he had also seen her plead for the people before the emperor.
He knew she was ambitious, and he also knew that to her, he was nothing more than a useful pawn.
She can give him life, and she can kill him.
But he still... fell in love.
Perhaps she brought a ray of "light" when he was framed, suffered, and was trapped in darkness.
Even if the light is black, and carries calculation and manipulation, it is still light.
Moreover, Li Yuanzhao possessed a vitality that defied comprehension.
This vitality is toxic and deadly, like a wildfire burning in the wilderness, with a resolute determination to destroy everything.
Yet it possesses an inexplicable allure, drawing people in step by step despite the danger, until they are ultimately captivated and unable to extricate themselves.
He was fully aware of his situation, watching himself grow from initial apprehension to later admiration, and now to gradual succumbing and being unable to control his own destiny...
“Third Princess…” he finally spoke, his voice a little hoarse, “Some things are not as they seem on the surface.”
Seeing that he only said this much and then fell silent again, Li Yuanshu couldn't help but scoff: "Forget it, I'm not really interested in your business either."
She turned and left, leaving behind the words, "Pei Huaijin, you'd better watch yourself."
Since you're going to work for Li Yuanzhao, then we can only be enemies.
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