Shen Zhizhang was somewhat surprised when he heard this.
Pei Zhixuan then said, "Father-in-law, I have done many wrong things in the past."
His voice trembled with nervousness, and he could only take a deep breath before calmly saying, "I will change in the future."
Looking at his refined features, Shen Zhizhang was momentarily at a loss for words.
Among the scions of prominent families in the capital, Shen Zhizhang looked down on Pei Zhixuan from the very beginning.
The Pei family was not particularly prominent. Even with the title of Duke of Dingguo, they were only a powerful family with a reputation but no real power.
Later, Pei Zhixuan passed the imperial examination with top honors on his own, and Shen Yunjiao fell deeply in love with him. Only then did Shen Zhizhang decide to help Pei Zhixuan.
Unexpectedly, this person scoffed at his help and had no intention of relying on him at all. In addition, he was also unkind to Shen Yunjiao. Shen Zhizhang had long been considering abandoning him.
But now this person is actually risking his own life to save Shen Yunjiao.
"What's going on now? You've always been dissatisfied with this marriage and my daughter, so why do you want to change things now?"
Pei Zhixuan coughed lightly, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes: "I wasn't dissatisfied with Shen Yunjiao before, I just realized my own heart too late."
Shen Zhizhang frowned as he looked at Pei Zhixuan, who was in such a sorry state. "You, you should say these things to Yun Jiao. If you want to repent, go and repent to her. My daughter will make her own decision."
Pei Zhixuan gave a wry smile: "I know."
Shen Zhizhang looked at his pale face and pondered for a long time before asking, "Are you really planning to pledge allegiance to the Crown Prince?"
Pei Zhixuan knew that Prime Minister Shen had never supported the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne, but if it wasn't the Crown Prince, could it be the Second Prince? But the Second Prince was so young, did Prime Minister Shen want a puppet emperor?
Pei Zhixuan gazed intently at Shen Zhizhang and said with unusual firmness, "I will always follow the Crown Prince."
"Alright, then I hope you won't regret your choice in the future," Shen Zhizhang said meaningfully.
Just as he was about to step out the door, Pei Zhixuan suddenly called out to him, stopping him.
“Father-in-law, I hope you will think this over carefully. Eunuch Gao is not a good accomplice.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Zhizhang's expression turned somewhat strange.
What does Pei Zhixuan, that little brat, know?
The crown prince will soon lose power.
In the sweltering kitchen, Shen Yunjiao was instructing Fuxia to add more firewood to the medicine stove, while she herself was counting the medicinal herbs in her hands.
Did you rinse the licorice root before adding it?
"Yes, I listened to the young lady and rinsed it with boiling water first."
"Well then—oh? Father, what brings you here?" Shen Yunjiao greeted Shen Zhizhang, who was standing at the door, with delight.
She wiped the fine sweat from her face and walked out of the kitchen courtyard.
Looking at Shen Yunjiao, who was now able to brew medicine and do chores, Shen Zhizhang replied with some relief, "I am very happy to see how capable you are."
"It's just brewing medicine, a very simple matter. It seems Father must be annoyed that I was lazy and didn't do any chores at home before," Shen Yun said with a smile.
“You are born into a noble family, so naturally you don’t need to do any work.” Shen Zhizhang patted his daughter’s head.
With a smile, Shen Yun led Shen Zhizhang into the main hall, saying, "Father, please sit down."
“Yun Jiao, I’ve come here because of the questions you’ve been asking, which I simply cannot answer in writing,” Shen Zhizhang said solemnly.
Shen Yunjiao looked at her father nervously, waiting for him to say what he was going to say next.
Shen Zhizhang said, "You ask me why I don't want the Northern Hu to visit. Do you know what their purpose is?"
"Didn't you come here to negotiate?"
Shen Zhizhang sneered: "How could that be? He's trying to collude with the Crown Prince!"
"The Northern Hu are plotting a rebellion with the Crown Prince; the Crown Prince is preparing to betray the country!"
"How is this possible?!" Shen Yunjiao stared wide-eyed at her father.
How could Xiao Huaijin possibly rebel?
He and Yao Zhan had clearly discussed sending troops to defend against the Northern Hu, so how could Xiao Huaijin be a traitor?
“Why not? Xiao Huaijin has never been favored by His Majesty. He may have long harbored the desire to replace His Majesty as emperor. Anyway, Yun Jiao, your father will handle the affairs of state. Don’t worry. In a few days, there will be the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet. You and your brother can accompany Father there.” Shen Zhizhang patted Shen Yun Jiao’s shoulder and said.
Upon hearing this, Shen Yunjiao knew that her father now had his own opinion and believed that the Crown Prince was bound to rebel.
On the day she enters the palace, she must ask Xiao Huaijin in person if this is truly the plan.
"And then there's Pei Zhixuan's matter." Shen Zhizhang looked at his daughter and tentatively asked, "What are you going to do about it?"
Shen Yunjiao was taken aback upon hearing this, "What do you mean, how do I do it?"
"He risked his life to save you, will you forgive him?" Shen Zhizhang said calmly.
“One thing at a time. Pei Zhixuan saved me, and I am naturally grateful to him, but it is impossible for me to go back.”
After talking with Shen Zhizhang in the room for a while, Shen Yunjiao finally escorted her back to her residence.
Exhausted after a long day, Shen Yunjiao changed into a casual jacket without saying a word and lay down on the chaise lounge by the window to rest.
After resting for an hour or two, Shen Yunjiao returned to the west wing to visit Pei Zhixuan.
Surprisingly, he didn't rest; he was sitting at his desk carving something.
As Shen Yunjiao approached, she saw Pei Zhixuan holding a small knife in his right hand with his long, slender fingers, and carving a piece of wood in his left hand.
At first glance, the piece of wood already resembled the shape of a rabbit's head, round and cute.
"You've come?" Pei Zhixuan saw her walk in, her cheeks still flushed from just waking up, looking soft and lovely.
But he didn't deliberately glance at Shen Yunjiao; instead, he heard her ask curiously, "Are you carving a rabbit?"
“Yes, I don’t think I’ve ever given you a gift before. I wanted to carve a rabbit, but I don’t know if you’d like it,” Pei Zhixuan said in a low voice, his hands moving quickly without stopping.
Shen Yunjiao didn't want to accept it: "You don't need to bother with this. Just rest and recover quickly. That would be the best gift for me."
Having been rejected repeatedly, Pei Zhixuan now didn't know what to say to Shen Yunjiao.
But he knew perfectly well in his heart that from the moment he walked towards her and pulled her back from the brink of danger, he had already decided to give up struggling, and the bitterness in his heart had faded considerably.
If Pei Zhixuan were to try to "start over" with her now, or try to get close to her in any obvious way, she would definitely shut him out and wish she could never see him again.
Pei Zhixuan knew in his heart that he had to be careful and take it slowly.
No matter how cold Shen Yunjiao is, they are still husband and wife.
No matter how fun those random men outside are, you'll eventually get tired of them.
As long as he doesn't give up, Shen Yunjiao will definitely change her mind.
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