Chapter 251 Don’t Seduce Me
The next day, Pei Jing entered the palace as usual. He did not come yesterday, and some matters were pending, so they were brought up for discussion today.
When it came to the matter of the state-run salt and iron industry, the eldest prince did not dare to speak a word from beginning to end because of the previous incident at Tieshanfang, for fear that he would be implicated again.
After a moment of silence in the hall, Emperor Zhaowen looked at Pei Jing and said, "Prince Zhaoning was not here yesterday. Tell me what you think."
Pei Jing leaned back in his chair, his posture looking somewhat nonchalant, but every word he spoke hit the nail on the head.
"If the salt and iron industry were to be run entirely by the government, corruption would easily arise. If it were to be left entirely to the private sector, the powerful would seize the land and the profits and power would fall to others. It would be better to divide the land among the people."
A minister asked, "How does your Majesty think the land should be divided?"
"In important areas like Guanzhong and Heluo, the salt and iron industries are still directly under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Agriculture. In border counties and remote areas south of the Yangtze River, private individuals are allowed to trade with government-issued salt and iron permits. Payment is made on a household basis, and a 30% tax is levied on each permit..."
Pei Jing seemed to be in a good mood today. He spoke a lot in a relaxed tone. When encountering other things, he no longer waited for others to ask before answering as he did before. Occasionally, he would take the initiative to say a few words.
The eldest prince Pei Yi had a gentle smile on his face, but his hands were clenched white under his sleeves.
After Emperor Zhaowen had set the tone, he slowly spoke, "Prince Zhaoning's talent in governing a country is truly beyond reach."
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent.
Several old ministers lowered their eyes and no one responded. Prince Zhaoning's talent was real, and his background was tacitly known to all the civil and military officials in the court, but there were many taboos about it.
Pei Jing didn't even raise his eyelids, as if he didn't hear what was said.
Emperor Zhaowen paused, took a sip of tea, and then said calmly, "It's a good thing that Prince Zhaoning can help the court. This matter is settled. Everyone should go back to their duties."
The words were ambiguous, but Pei Jing vaguely understood the meaning. Sharing his worries meant letting him be a contented minister assisting in the administration.
The corners of his lips curled up slightly, but there was no smile in his eyes. He stood up and was about to leave.
Pei Yi stared at Pei Jing's smug face, and the doubts in his heart grew like weeds.
Is the emperor planning to have Pei Jing assist in governing the country? Or even... maybe even intending for Pei Jing to inherit the throne?
Once this thought came up, it could no longer be suppressed.
He is the legitimate eldest son, and the position of crown prince belongs to him.
But now, the emperor is showing favoritism to an illegitimate son who is not allowed to see the light of day, and every word he says is about sharing his worries. It is clear that he is paving the way for Pei Jing.
Good, very good. Father is actually going to shake his foundation for such a thing.
When Emperor Zhaowen saw Pei Jing running so fast, he opened his mouth to say something, but after thinking about it, he gave up. He probably couldn't stop talking about his wife Xiao Cui, and it was annoying to hear about her.
After Pei Jing left, the ministers left the hall one after another, walking out in groups of three or four, and started discussing in low voices as soon as they left the hall.
"Look at Prince Zhaoning's hurried steps. I guess he's worried about his family and is anxious to go back."
"Is it the one called Xiao Cui?" A civil official frowned, his tone filled with disapproval, "That name does sound... a bit rustic."
Someone chimed in, "It's more than just dirt. I also heard that the girl can't read or embroider, and her lacework is so messed up that it's a mess. It's really strange. What do you think Prince Zhaoning sees in her?"
"Who knows? Prince Zhaoning's mind is unpredictable," he said, lowering his voice. "How can ordinary people like us guess what a madman is thinking?"
Upon hearing this, everyone shut up tacitly, exchanged glances, and then dispersed.
Pei Yi stood in front of the hall and watched Pei Jing's back getting farther and farther away. Until he completely disappeared, he suddenly loosened his hand, and his knuckles turned an abnormal bluish-white.
"Pei Jing, you mad dog!" He lowered his voice very low.
His trusted confidant Zhou Xian stood nearby and whispered to him, "Your Highness, please be careful with your words. Mad dogs can bite, so be on guard."
Pei Yi sneered, "Since he's a mad dog, then grab his leash."
"What does your Highness mean?"
Pei Yi walked down and whispered, "He really has a girl named Xiao Cui by his side. Isn't she his weak spot? As long as I tighten Xiao Cui's leash, he won't dare to stand even if I tell him to crawl."
Zhou Xian looked embarrassed and hesitated, "Your Highness, this Xiao Cui...I'm afraid she's not easy to move. Pei Jing protects her like the apple of his eye, and there are always guards around her. Our people tried to get close several times, but were turned back."
He paused, as if remembering something, and lowered his voice, "Pei Jing... doesn't he still have a weak spot? It's on Tingquan Mountain."
Pei Yi's footsteps suddenly stopped, and he fiercely kicked him in the knee, "Idiot! Is that Pei Jing's weak spot? That's my father's reverse scale! You let me touch it, are you afraid of losing your life?"
Zhou Xian finally realized that he had said something he shouldn't have said, and kowtowed repeatedly, "I deserve to die. I was foolish."
…
As Pei Jing stepped out of the palace gate, Duan Jiu followed quietly.
After Pei Jing got on the carriage, Duan Jiu said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report to you. Recently, many people have been secretly inquiring about the young lady."
"Let them find out."
Duan Jiu hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help asking, "I don't understand. Since the young lady is the prince's weak spot, why doesn't he keep her hidden more securely? Now that she's like this, won't anyone with ulterior motives be targeting her?"
"Hide?" Pei Jing sneered. "Why would you hide? Weaknesses aren't meant to be hidden, they're meant to be protected. I want to tell you that if anyone dares to touch my weakness, I'll make them feel like they're doomed."
The carriage galloped all the way into Prince Zhaoning's Palace.
Pei Jing got off the car and walked towards Xiesongzhai, asking as he walked, "Where is she?"
The maid knelt down and replied, "Your Highness, the young lady said she was tired and is resting in the inner room."
Pei Jing said "hmm" and walked into the inner room with light steps.
I thought Jiang Fei had fallen asleep, but when I walked around the screen, I saw her curled up in the quilt with her eyes open. Her exposed eyebrows were drooping and she looked listless.
"Why are you awake?" Pei Jing sat down beside the bed and tucked the quilt for her. "Are you feeling unwell?"
Jiang Fei's eyes were red, and she said sullenly, "My period has come."
"Does it hurt a lot?" Pei Jing looked at her slightly red eyes and asked, "Do you want to call a doctor?"
Jiang Fei shook her head.
"Then let me rub it for you?"
Jiang Fei didn't respond, but gently pulled his hand and pressed it against her chest, "It hurts here."
Pei Jing's palm was pressed there. The arc under his palm was round and soft to the touch, which made his Adam's apple roll unconsciously.
"I've read in medical books that menstruation can sometimes cause pain here. Forget it today. I'll massage it for you first. Don't try to seduce me this way in the future. You know I don't have much willpower. Do you understand?"
Jiang Fei was originally feeling sad, but she was almost amused by his train of thought. "Who seduced you?"
She felt distressed, thinking about what would happen to Pei Jing if she couldn't keep the child.
But looking at Pei Jing's serious expression, most of the depression in my heart was dispelled. Let's cherish the present first.
She shifted her body and teased him deliberately, "And this side, it hurts here too."
Pei Jing's breathing became noticeably heavier, his voice hoarse as he warned, "Jiang, Xiao, Cui! You're asking for trouble!"
"Then you clean it up." Jiang Fei raised her chin, looking like a dead pig that was not afraid of boiling water. Anyway, she was having her period, and Pei Jing couldn't do anything to her.
"Hey." She poked Pei Jing's leg, "Do you like to rub through clothes, or do you like-"
Before she could finish her words, Pei Jing bit her lip hard.
Duan Jiu was holding the secret report and just walked to the door when he saw his own prince walking out with a gloomy face, his body tense, and his lips seemed to have a bit of unnatural red.
Are you having trouble with the lady again?
"What's the matter?" Pei Jing asked coldly.
Duan Jiu reacted and stepped forward with the secret report, "Your Highness, there's new activity from the eldest prince's side."
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