Chapter 134. Believe in her, submit to her. ...
It was a thrilling day.
It's also a day when fortune favors the bold!
Shen Lingyue was still wondering what rewards Emperor Qingxi would give her and Yan Yi after he finished his business, so she deliberately lingered in the palace for a long time.
She even found a perfectly legitimate reason for her actions—so many noblewomen had been detained for most of the day, without food or water, living in fear and trembling; surely the palace should offer some comfort?
We must not discourage the meritorious officials and nobles.
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi volunteered to help Consort Gao with palace affairs and take care of some elderly people who were not in good health, which unknowingly earned them another wave of goodwill.
The ladies of the various families looked at them with increasing fervor, thinking to themselves that the Marquis of Changning's mansion truly lived up to its reputation as a staunch royalist; even the two daughters-in-law they had married were both courageous and resourceful, and unyielding.
With things in such chaos outside, they still dared to turn the Crown Prince's wife against him and escape through the window to call for reinforcements!
His Majesty has such excellent taste! How come all these wonderful girls are going to the Pei family?
Some people also recalled that these two marriages were apparently arranged by Consort Gao.
Originally, Consort Gao's reputation among noblewomen was average. After all, she was the kind of girl from a humble family whose beauty alone could outshine everyone else, yet she was able to enjoy the emperor's favor for many years, which made many noble ladies who considered themselves to be of high birth look down on her.
But...who wouldn't want to marry a good wife who can bring prosperity to three generations of their family?
Consort Gao had just finished comforting a Duchess who was suffering from angina and was about to get up to leave when the woman grabbed her wrist and looked at her earnestly: "Your Highness, my youngest son is not yet married. I beg Your Highness to act as matchmaker for him?"
"And mine too."
"These are the birth dates and times of my nephew from my maternal family..."
When Consort Gao came to her senses, she found herself holding a dozen hastily written birth charts.
Everyone looked at her expectantly, giving Consort Gao the illusion that she was the god of marriage descended to earth.
She composed herself and gave a bright smile.
"Thank you all for your trust. I will accept it without hesitation."
Consort Gao instructed her maid to put away the birth charts for her, so she could study them slowly when she had time. When she looked back at Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi, her eyes revealed undisguised favoritism.
Not to mention the Marquis of Changning's residence, she also felt that these two girls were quite lucky for her.
Without Shen Lingyue, there would be no Langhuan Pavilion. She wouldn't have seen so many interesting stories, nor would she have had the opportunity to use it as a channel to exchange messages with Princess Tong'an.
As the favored concubine who controlled the harem, Consort Gao's private treasury was no less than Emperor Qingxi's imperial treasury. Therefore, when the three women from the Pei family left the palace, she gave them all a generous gift.
Consort Gao, holding one in each hand, said enviously to Meng Wanyin, "Madam Hou is so fortunate. I really wish I could keep them by my side forever."
Meng Wanyin: ...Absolutely not!
It's best to avoid visiting this palace!
...
They were among the last to leave the palace. As night fell, candles were lit throughout the imperial city, and patrols of imperial guards marched past in perfect unison, as if the daytime battle had been nothing more than a fleeting illusion.
But Yan Yi could still feel a lingering fishy smell around her nose, and her stomach churned slightly uncontrollably.
She quickly took out a handkerchief to cover her mouth and nose, but accidentally grabbed the wrong one that had been spiked.
The pungent smell of ginger instantly hit Yan Yi, causing her to cough incessantly and tears to stream down her face.
Shen Lingyue and Meng Wanyin were both startled and were frantically patting her back to help her catch her breath when they suddenly felt a gust of wind coming towards them. The next second, Yan Yi was completely encircled in Pei Jingyi's arms as he strode over.
His tightened arms trembled slightly, as if he wanted to use this gesture to confirm that she was alright.
Enveloped in his familiar embrace and scent, Yan Yi's body and mind, which had been tense all day, relaxed. She let herself lean against his chest, her hands wrapped around his waist, her fingertips unconsciously tracing his back, pressing down hard.
Pei Xian and Pei Jinghuai were a step too slow. When they met the wide eyes of the gatekeeper, they forgot all about etiquette and quickly stepped forward to take their wives' hands, asking in unison, "Are you alright?"
Meng Wanyin was startled and immediately pulled her hand back, awkwardly fiddling with her hair. "Don't worry, Lord Marquis, we're all fine."
Pei Xian: "...Oh."
He looked to his left and saw that the eldest couple were still holding each other tightly.
Looking to the right, Shen Lingyue had already thrown herself into Pei Jinghuai's arms and was acting coquettishly, "So many people died... I thought I would never see you again..."
She used to be obsessed with zombie and monster movies for a while, especially those with blood and gore everywhere, which was a great way to relieve stress during finals week.
But when this scene actually appeared before her eyes, Shen Lingyue felt that she still couldn't quite accept it.
She couldn't convince herself that these were all fictional characters and NPCs. She didn't even dare to look closely at the faces lying on the ground with their eyes still open, wondering if any of them were palace servants who had led her to a banquet in the palace.
She hadn't noticed it while she was busy, but now that she suddenly saw Pei Jinghuai, she relaxed completely and could reveal her vulnerability to him without restraint.
Pei Jinghuai felt the person in his arms trembling slightly, her clothes soaked with her tears. He felt even more heartache and gently patted her back, soothing her with a rare gentle tone: "It's okay, let's go home. Qingchan boiled a big pot of water. You can soak for as long as you want, and then get a good night's sleep. You'll forget everything, okay?"
Shen Lingyue clutched his belt, pleadingly adding, "...I also want you to give me a massage!"
Pei Jinghuai agreed to everything and promised to take her shopping tomorrow, to a restaurant downstairs at Fengle Restaurant the day after tomorrow, and the day after that... He filled up her schedule for the next two weeks in one go, finally managing to coax Shen Lingyue into smiling through her tears.
Pei Xian stood in the middle, unable to bear it any longer. He coughed twice and said in a serious tone, "It's good that everyone is alright. We can talk about it when we get home."
Staying here any longer would make him feel extremely superfluous.
Just as the family was about to get into the carriage and leave, the gate guard suddenly bowed in another direction and said, "Princess Tong'an."
Princess Tong'an alighted from the carriage, gestured to Pei Xian's family that they should dispense with the formalities, and then asked, "Is the Marquis here to fetch his family?"
Pei Xian responded cautiously, "I've heard that some unforeseen events have occurred in the palace, and we are deeply worried. We wonder if Your Majesty is in good health?"
"Don't worry, my lord, Father is well and everything is under his control."
Princess Tong'an then turned her gaze to Yan Yi, and seeing that her face was pale and her eyes were filled with tears, she couldn't help but ask her a few more questions.
Yan Yi shook her head and said she was fine. After thinking for a moment, she gave Princess Tong'an a wink, indicating that she had something to say.
The two walked to the other side of the carriage, which conveniently separated them from the view of the palace gate guards.
Princess Tong'an asked in a low voice, "Is this some kind of omen?"
Yan Yi shook her head. "I just overheard someone from Consort Gao's side mentioning that Prince Yu has entered the palace?"
“It doesn’t matter, he’s just here to kick me when I’m down.” Princess Tong’an waved her hand. “Third brother doesn’t understand at all. The more he tries to kill eldest brother, the more it will arouse Father’s pity for his son.”
It was precisely because she saw through Emperor Qingxi's thoughts that she chose to protect Prince Heng amidst her father's relentless questioning.
“Uncle An has been imprisoned in the imperial prison for half a year, but Father has not ordered his execution.”
Princess Tong'an slightly curled the corners of her lips, "Although Father Emperor is domineering and tyrannical, he is old after all. When people get old, they are more likely to soften their hearts. He always wants his children and family to live in harmony around him, even if it is destined to be just an illusion."
Prince Yu is too impatient.
Yan Yi then asked, "Does His Majesty mean exile or confinement?"
“Father hasn’t made up his mind yet,” Princess Tong’an said. “Besides, my elder brother has caused too much trouble this time. First, the ministers submitted a memorial to create momentum, and then he colluded with the Imperial Guards to launch a palace coup. Just wait and see, tomorrow there will be another great purge in the court.”
However, this is also an opportunity; it remains to be seen how many of these vacant official positions she can secure.
Yan Yi also thought of this, and a faint smile appeared on her face. Even the discomfort in her stomach lessened a bit. She was genuinely happy for Princess Tong'an.
“Your Highness, I have a plan.” She stepped forward and whispered to Princess Tong’an, “Today I saw the Ministry of Revenue’s memorial regarding copper mining in the Wenhua Hall, actually…”
Princess Tong'an listened attentively, her eyes shining with a new light, and asked Yan Yi, "Is that really so?"
Yan Yi nodded affirmatively, "This will not only satisfy His Majesty's love for his son, but also add to your merit of expanding the territory."
If this plan succeeds, Princess Tong'an's prestige in the court will be unmatched within three years at the earliest.
“No problem, I’ll find a way to persuade Father.” Princess Tong’an readily agreed. “Even if my elder brother doesn’t have the guts, isn’t there Rongcheng?”
Her niece is ruthless and heartless; we mustn't let her down.
Princess Tong'an was so happy that she spun Yan Yi around in her arms, her eyes beaming with undisguised elation.
"Good girl, you've really solved a huge problem for me..."
A low cough was heard inside the carriage.
Wei Shao lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the two of them with a deep gaze: "Your Highness, it's getting late. Don't keep the Pei family waiting too long. Why don't we talk about it tomorrow?"
The dim light made Wei Shao's face appear even paler, his weakness tinged with a hint of resentment.
Princess Tong'an had no choice but to release Yan Yi and arranged to meet her at the princess's residence the next day for a detailed discussion.
Yan Yi nodded politely to Wei Shao in the carriage, then asked in a low voice, "The Prince Consort's health?"
What if in the future... leaving the central palace empty is not a good omen.
Before Princess Tong'an could speak, Wei Shao slightly tugged at the corner of his lips, revealing a meaningful smile.
"Thank you for your concern, Madam. I should be able to stay with A-Ying until we grow old together."
Princess Tong'an gave him a reproachful look: "How old are you? Why are you still arguing with a little girl?"
She held Yan Yi's hand and explained, "The prince consort was injured in his early years, but it wasn't as serious as the rumors made it out to be. It's just that at the time, the emperor and the Wei family were at odds, so we had to keep a low profile and act discreetly."
Emperor Qingxi still cared about his eldest son-in-law. Every now and then, he would send the imperial physician to check his pulse. Over the years, Wei Shao had become quite adept at feigning illness.
Today, he deliberately vomited blood and fainted in front of Emperor Qingxi, putting on a show even when he was only three parts ill.
Yan Yi understood and then solemnly apologized to Wei Shao: "Your Highness has misunderstood. Of course, I also hope that you and His Highness will live in harmony and happiness for a long time."
...
Shen Lingyue saw it all!
Princess Tongan carried Yan Yan and spun her around!
Even the prince consort is jealous of Yan Yan, so she'll be even more jealous!
As Princess Tong'an and Wei Shao left by carriage, Shen Lingyue was about to rush over when Pei Jingyi intercepted her.
He smiled slightly at Shen Lingyue: "Sister-in-law, the manor has sent three carriages over. Shall we each take one?"
Shen Lingyue, pouting, stared at Pei Jingyi for a long time before finally nodding timidly, "Okay..."
Pei Jinghuai smoothed things over and coaxed her into the carriage, saying, "There's plenty of time in the future. We can talk about it tomorrow."
He and Pei Jingyi exchanged a glance without making a sound.
Sigh, other families worry about their sisters-in-law not getting along, but in their family, all they have to worry about is that their sisters-in-law are too harmonious, and they've completely forgotten about their husbands!
Yan Yi and Pei Jingyi got into the car.
Once the car door is closed, the interior becomes its own world, pitch black and not even a sliver of moonlight can penetrate.
Just as Yan Yi was about to bend down to find the candlestick, she was suddenly pulled into Pei Jingyi's arms, and a barrage of kisses rained down on her without any order.
The carriage moved slowly, with slight bumps, but nothing compared to the sudden storm Yan Yi felt in his arms.
He released all his worries, anxieties, and unease throughout the day in a different way, allowing her to empathize with him.
In the past, Yan Yi would never have been willing to be so intimate with him in the car, worried that it would make noise and be heard by others, which would be too embarrassing.
But today she had almost walked through the gates of hell and witnessed the tragic palace coup with her own eyes. The unease and frustration in her chest urgently needed an outlet.
Yan Yi raised her hand to wrap around his neck, and between his kisses and breaths, tilted her head back slightly to kiss his Adam's apple.
Pei Jingyi trembled slightly, the place she had kissed felt like it was on fire, a tingling sensation spreading throughout his body. His breath hitched, and then he pulled her into his arms even tighter, like a wild beast marking its prey, slowly licking her neck, his teeth picking up a small piece of her delicate skin as if he were savoring some delicacy.
They seemed to have forgotten about turning on the lights, amplifying their other senses in the darkness—breathing, smelling, touching—to confirm each other's presence in the most intimate way.
"A-Tan, I'm terrified."
Pei Jingyi tightened his arms, but it still didn't feel enough. It was as if if he relaxed even slightly, she would turn into a wisp of smoke and fly away with the wind.
He gently kissed her earlobe, making no attempt to hide his vulnerability from her. His trembling voice sounded like it was about to choke, "I'm afraid something will happen to you, afraid you'll get hurt, afraid you'll be scared..."
Yan Yi's heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly, and a tremendous shock surged in like a tidal wave, shattering her reason and composure.
She knew, of course, that Pei Jingyi liked her, but he always seemed to be able to push the limits of what is called love.
Yan Yi lay in his arms, in a position where he was on top and she was on the bottom, yet she saw in him the most devout prayer and adoration.
At this moment, it was as if she were the high and mighty goddess, and he was prostrate at her feet, believing in her and submitting to her.
Yan Yi raised her hand, as if bestowing a blessing from the gods, and gently stroked the top of his head, her voice soft and gentle.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here, I've always been here."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Fun Fact: After experiencing a major shock, a person needs—
(PS: Just a kiss!)
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